Saturday 7 July 2012

Guest Post, Interview & Giveaway: : Ec-o-nom-ics - A simple twist on Normalcy

Original Title: Ec-o-nom-ics: A simple twist on Normalcy
Author: Kersten L. Kelly
Publisher: Talisman Book Publishing LLC
Release Date: March 5th, 2012
Genre: Non-fiction
Buy Links: Amazon | B&N | Createspace | BooksAMillion


Professional football players, corporate tobacco advertisers,  volatile gasoline prices, and the Cold War all share an undetected commonality—each is an intrinsic part of economics. Though not obvious to the naked eye, each entity shares a pattern with the others. This book helps to shed light on these mutual characteristics. It is an extensive compilation of theories interpreted using supportive examples.

A person with a professional degree graduates from high school at age eighteen. At an average of eight years to fully earn their education, the age they start a professional position is twenty-six. They must also factor in the debt of $150,000 that will have to be paid back for their education. If the person works the same number of hours per year and retires at the same age as a person with less than a high school diploma, the average lifetime earnings of a person with a professional degree is $3,115,080 after educational debt repayment. This is a 287 percent lifetime increase for an eight-year average investment in human capital. If that isn’t a worthwhile payout, I don’t know what is!

Economics is an enthralling science that encompasses our actions, thoughts, and emotional rationality every day in the unconscious. This book dissects economic theory into bite-size, entertaining snippets that anyone can understand and apply to their daily routines. It is a compelling depiction of history, business, pop culture, and social movements intertwined with relevant economic trends. Economics is part of daily life, and this book challenges readers to question how and why people make decisions by adding a simple twist on normalcy.

GUEST POST BY KERSTEN L. KELLY

When I first started writing as a kid, I never dreamed that I would be able to compose an entire book and actually publish it. The process seemed overwhelming and a massive undertaking, as it most definitely was. I began the writing process, and I found that I was writing little excerpts about economics that really interested me. Usually, I would encounter something in my life and think how economics played a large role in it. The majority of the time, these things seemed like they were unconnected to the naked eye. In particular, my interest in economics blossomed during my college years when I actually started studying it for my degree.

I love economics, and I majored in it during my undergraduate work at Indiana University. As a student, many of the examples in my textbooks were irrelevant and made the subject one that many students did not enjoy. I wanted to change the negative connotations associated with the topic. I wanted to make it something that people understood and relished learning about. I want to shed light on economics as a topic for the average reader. I want them to realize that economics is not just graphs, charts, and theories. It can be applicable in almost any situation. The theories that I explain in the book are developed with multiple examples that readers can relate to. Purchasing gasoline is one of them, and education is another. It is amazing how economic theory can help to explain both.

I liked the ability to argue my opinions, compile them in a written publication, and have readers be able to communicate with me via my website and through reviews. There has been nothing more rewarding than working for a year to create a publication that people can pick up and read. I like the idea that someone else can read what I wrote and discuss it with others. I wanted people to be able to learn from what I wrote, so I took the chance and created the book.

The book is a unique compilation of examples of pop culture, history, social media, business, sports, and education all explained through an economic lens. It uses current market trends and examples that can be applicable and enjoyable for anyone. It is written in a narrative non-fiction format so it flows easily and does not read similarly to a textbook. Economics is part of daily life, and this book challenges readers to question how and why people make decisions by adding a simple twist on normalcy.

INTERVIEW WITH KERSTEN L. KELLY
  1. Tell us something about your book that is not part of the book description (blurb)..
Anyone can enjoy the book because it uses examples like online dating, the value of higher education, and buying gas as simple yet sophisticated economic theories. Many people think that they have to be extremely into economics to enjoy it but this is false. Many people who have never studied it have given very positive feedback for the book.

  1. Who is your book cover designer and what do YOU think about the cover?
The book was designed by Lauren M. Harrington who is a professional in the marketing field in Chicago. She is fantastic to work with, and I’m really glad she created the cover. It is a perfect representation of the essence of the book. It is naturally simple but the tree of economic theories encompasses almost everything in the book.

  1. What are your current literary works?  Any sneak peaks?
The most current book is called Paper Airplane, and it is a compilation of stories from people that I’ve met on an airplane. I travel for my full-time job, and I’ve met a ton of people all with something to share. It’s funny, quirky, sad, scary, and inspiring all in the same book.

  1. What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?
I am looking forward to the movie Ted.

  1. If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?
Justin Bieber, Gerard Butler, Ryan Gosling, Barack Obama, and Chester Bennington.

  1. Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book. 
By reading the book, you will come away with a better understanding of everyday activities and life in general through an economic lens.

  1. Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
The most rewarding experience since being published was being summoned by my local newspaper for the book. The article outlined the book and some of the other projects I have been working on. It was great to see my family, friends, neighbors, and people I didn’t even know reach out to me and grasp the concepts I explain in the book.

  1. What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?
Interview an experienced author. The advice that someone can give you is invaluable. If you have the chance, interview a bunch of authors. Ask them everything you can think of. The sky is the limit, and most people are willing to help.

  1. If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?
Never Stop Moving: A Quest to Experience My Dreams

  1. What TV show/movie/book do you watch/read that you'd be embarrassed to admit?
I love all TLC shows. Some of my friends and family give me a hard time about it, but they are all so great. They really give people a perspective on a variety of topics.

  1. What is one book everyone should read (apart from yours)?
Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner.

QUICK ANSWERS

   1. Favorite place? Amsterdam, The Netherlands
   2. Best christmas present? Being with my family during the holidays
   3. Favorite book? Freakonomics
   4. Favorite author? James Frey
   5. Favorite smell? Clean laundry
   6. Favorite series? The Hunger Games
   7. Nickname? Ker
   8. Favorite writing spot? Anywhere outdoors or on my couch
   9. Favorite movie? Donnie Darko
  10. Favorite dish? Crabcakes
  11. Favorite color? Yellow
  12. Favorite quote? “I can sum up what I’ve learned about life in three words…it goes on.”
  13. A bunch of small gifts or one big expensive one? One big one.
  14. Your best trait? Humility
  15. Your worst trait? I work too much.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kersten L. Kelly is a self-published author of narrative non-fiction and semi-fiction books. She grew up in Munster, Indiana, and currently works in a sales role based out of Chicago, Illinois. She started writing at an early age and graduated from Indiana University with a dual Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Communication & Culture. She then went on to earn a Master’s in Business Administration from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. She has a passion for learning, teaching, and writing as well as international travel in her spare time. This book is her first piece of published work.


AUTHOR ONLINE: Website | Facebook | Twitter

GIVEAWAY

The author is giving away 3 e-copies of her book to the Rafflecopter winners.  If the Rafflecopter below is not loaded properly, please refresh the page.  The giveaway is INTERNATIONAL and ends July 21st.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

1 comment:

  1. Kersten, congratulations on your new release. Thank you for writing something so thought provoking.
    minadecaro@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete

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