A Year and Some Change

As Reginald prepared to write his second book, he wanted to speak to a broader audience, one that included emerging adults of any gender. He also wanted to expand the book’s journaling aspects by including thought-provoking activities and exercises. The result is A Year and Some Change: Revealing Your Full Potential through Purpose and Perspective and its companion journal. Reginald challenges his readers to take the next year and a few additional months to look at themselves, explore what they expect from themselves and from life, and answer the question, “What great contribution will I have on my community and family?” He encourages them to pick one area of their lives, communities, or social circles to change and explains how to do it.

A Year and Some Change is now poised for even greater success. The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues selected the book and accompanying curriculum for a nationwide youth program in partnership with the US Department of Justice.

We asked Reginald a few questions about his publishing journey this time around.

What Reginald had to say about SPARK Publications
The SPARK Publications team is a one-stop shop to bringing your ideas to life. SPARK Publications has a wide range of capabilities from ideation to execution, but the most important quality is the people on the team. Everyone brings a special “super power” to your project.

What inspired you to write this book?

Reflecting on my journey and realizing how my life changed the moment I decided to shift my perspective regarding my life, every challenge, every opportunity, and every person. I wanted to share my story of impact once I decided to change my mind, my circle, and my location and ultimately “own” the outcome of my life.

What is your primary goal for the book?

My primary goal for this book is to encourage, better yet challenge emerging adults to take control of their lives. I’d like to remind readers that it’s not up to our parents, the government, or our employers to create change in our lives—it’s up to each individual.

What surprises did you encounter on the road to writing and publishing the book?

If I had to narrow down to one surprise, I’d say that it was finding creative space to write. Conceptually, I knew what I wanted to convey to the readers; however, finding space outside of the normal rhythm of my life was a challenge.

What role(s) did SPARK Publications play in publishing your book?

Wow, let’s start with brutal honesty—I would not have the final product, the look and feel without the SPARK Publications team. They are able to take an idea, vision, or sometimes thoughts from left field and turn them into reality. They have a way of asking the right questions to ensure that you as a writer are crystal clear on the message you intend to communicate. Finally, Fabi has a way of offering little “nudges” to keep everything on track.

Do you have any advice for other authorpreneurs?

Sure, my advice for authorpreneurs is to treat your project as if you’re starting a business. Create a business plan with clarity on your target audience along with budgets, forecasts, and marketing plans. This is my second book, and I realized that writing and producing the book can be the less intimidating part of the process. Convincing someone to buy it is often challenging and the part many authors overlook.

What’s next for you?

A few ideas are floating around in my head. I’d like to publish a book with my daughter on our growth journey together. But first, I’ll spend the next twelve months promoting A Year And Some Change. Once I’m ready to explore the next project, I can promise that the SPARK Publications team will have their prints all over it.