Meet Alison Woods | Children’s Book Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alison Woods and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alison, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
I’ve had two very distinct and different careers.

I spent 40 years in corporate America, working for IBM, ARCO Chemical Company, Independence Blue Cross and PepsiCo. In my role as an IT leader I learned that although rules may be broken – me and people who look like me are not the ones this applied to. For example, you have to be in a role 3 years to get promoted. Others would get promoted in less time. At first I was angry and then I decided to not look at it as a career but as a job that allowed me to provide for my family.

I retired in 2017 and got serious about writing and publishing my books. I knew nothing about the process and quickly discovered that by the time I got an agent and then a publisher I might not be alive to see one book published. The alternative to self-publish allowed me to break the rules. In this new career I learned that I couldn’t do it all and have relied on several partners (illustrators, editor, formatter, printer and a warehouse/shipping firm).

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
There was so much I didn’t know about book publishing so I stay busy.

My goal is that each of my books builds on the lessons I’ve learned from the ones I’ve already published.

I’ve written (still a draft) my first rhyming book. Not sure how I feel about it – but it’s a work in progress.

I’m also working on a course to help new authors who want to self- publish. I’ve completed the workbook and will start doing the videos next.

I do my own Social Media and that can really tie me up. I’m not so focused on perfection like I was when I started. I just show up as me and keep it moving.

Alison Woods

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in the Dallas area. I’d take them to a game (Rangers, Cowboys, Mavericks) – whoever is in town.
I’d take them to see a performance of the Dallas Black Dance Theatre and a play at Fort Worth’s Jubilee Theatre.
I’d take them to church with me: Greenville Avenue Church of Christ
A quick shopping trip to Northpark with lunch at Eataly.
Sunday Brunch: Via Real
Dinner: Ocean Prine
Casual lunch: The Slutty Vegan
Casual Breakfast: First Watch
Concert: Toyota Music Factory

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shout out to Annette Wood. She formats books and without her expertise not one of my books would’ve been published.

Shout out to my oldest granddaughter, Kayla. She’s the reason I started writing books.

Website: alisonwoodswrites.com

Instagram: alisonwoodswrites

Facebook: alisonwoodswrites

Image Credits
Willie and Kim Photography