From time to time in this space, Balboa Press publishes articles written by our authors in which they share some aspect of their self-publishing journeys. These are the words of Matteo Charles, author of “My Disease, My Teacher”. For more information about Matteo, check out his website, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Download the Balboa Press free publishing guide to receive more information on self-publishing your book with Balboa Press.

Tell us a little bit about your book. Was this your first book? What inspired you to write it?

The name of my book is  “My Disease, My Teacher’ which is loosely based on my life. Growing up I constantly felt “different” always unsure of the world and the only refuge I found was through art. As I grew older, It was ingrained within me that I couldn’t earn a living and support a family through art so I was forced to “get” a job. For years I worked in various industries that not only did I feel like I wasn’t  serving my true purpose as a being, but constantly finding myself in a repetitive cycle of abuse from employers, ultimately leading myself to develop a non curable chronic disease. After years of suffering, even facing death, I eventually took my life back into my own hands, cracked the code of inspiration and  today I live my true passion and purpose to the fullest. This is my first book to be published which I am truly blessed and grateful to have had the opportunity to have it self published via Balboa Press as they have made the process a very enjoyable experience. My inspiration behind the book was really to reach all silent sufferers of the world, to allow them to have a voice when it has been taken away from them through fear and manipulation. I hope this book resonates with the readers within their personal lives of within some one they may know to help them crack their code of inspiration leaving pain behind them serving the world and themselves sharing their gift for all eternity.

How do you hope your book will impact readers?

I really hope my book impacts readers with various elements of my life aligning with something in their personal lives or some one they may know. I hope the words are the voice the readers need to break
from the jail of fear and abuse, to allow them to sing once again and spread their wings flying high more than ever painting the world their greatest masterpiece.

You appear so effortless in the creation of your paintings. How would you compare the creative process of creating one of your works to that of writing a book? Art is my happy place, creating art takes no thought as I allow the paint and colours to guide me as I am their vehicle to creation. Writing a book takes some what a little more care as the words have to marry and make sense to the reader. Unlike a canvas where you are free to create and the viewer makes the image to what ever it is they wish to see. Writing a book, I think you must be quite precise in the message you are trying to deliver so a lot more time and effort is used within the creative process. I think art and writing are both great vehicles to inspire in different ways. There is no wrong or right in any of the processes in my opinion.

Did you pursue an arrangement with a traditional publisher, and if not, what factored into your decision to ultimately self-publish?

Matteo with the Prime Minister of Australia after demonstrated his talent and painted him.

I really never thought of even publishing my book at all until a friend said that perhaps my story would be something other people in similar situations would need to hear. When I had decided to then take the plunge I had actually had a brother that self published through Balboa Press so I really didn’t purse the traditional methods as he was happy with the overall outcome and process of his book so naturally i traveled the same path.

What’s some advice would you give to someone who aspires to write and publish a book, to encourage them to do it?

Well its simple, let the book guide you and the rest will happen when it needs to. Don’t write a book to become rich and famous, or to say you are an author, write your book to serve. I think when there is an intent of love behind anything the universe works behind the scenes to make it happen. Its not always to our timing, but when the time is right, your book will be in the right persons hands, that need to hear the words from your souls to theirs, that could save their life at that particular time of need, and to me that’s the true meaning of writing.

Balboa Press authors who’d like to share a 350-600 word experience related to the self-publishing of their books, are invited to do so by sending a message through our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BalboaPress, by tweeting us @BalboaPress, or by emailing blog@ balboapress.com. We may not be able to use every story, but we will read and consider them. Balboa Press reserves the right to edit stories for content, grammar and punctuation accuracy; as well as for space.