Authoring to nurture Hope

By Allan Olingo

“I went to Rwanda to do volunteer work as a language teacher doubled up with teaching computer studies, in 2003. One day when I talked to a tour guide who was showing me around, he told me the genocide happened because of ‘lack of hope’,” says Kim.

During his classes, Kim noticed that whenever he talked to the student about hope, they seemed stirred and this made him consider the idea of writing a book from where they could draw inspiration.

Despite teaching computer and the English language, he spent a lot of time doing guidance and counselling and it is from here that the idea of penning his experiences down came in.

When he came back to Kenya, he gave a talk at a function he had been invited to and, touched by his message, the audience advised him to write a book. It was all the nudging he needed

After thorough soul-searching, Kim says he decided to write the book The Greatest Secret, which talks about giving what you expect to receive.

“The book helps you to understand that what you are looking for is within you. You need to understand that the cause of what is shaping your life rather than trying to change it,” says the author.

His second book Born Without a Choice’ basically informs the reader that as much as we did not have a choice of who we are, we can definitely have control of what we become.

Says Kim: “I wrote these books to motivate and inspire people so that they can produce such strong leaders and results so that we enjoy a consistent, strong work force,”

The third book, The Power of Self Image, addresses the self-image problem amongst most of us. Through it, he tries to address the potential of understanding whom you really are and pursue what you become.

“What we have is an image problem. At the end of the day it is not who we are that matters but what we truly are.” Says Kim.

It has taken Kim close to seven years to write these three books, adding that it depends on the inspiration and the level of depth to come up with a book.

“I must do self-marketing because I initially went through the self publishing way. In 2008, I approached a number of publishers with my manuscript and it was very difficult. That why I decided to go the self-publishing way,” Kim explains.

Just like any other authors, Kim was not spared the challenges especially those that come with self-publishing.

“Initially I lost the entire manuscript of my book Working beyond Your Limits to the lady doing the typing and it did not have a back up,” he shares.

Finance was the other challenge, as was the need to have the right and captivating design, editing the manuscripts and getting a legalised publisher.

The author has a word of advice to other aspiring authors noting that unlicensed publishers are on the prowl and they can make your hard work go to waste.

“It is also important for them to take each step at a time. You only need a pen and paper, then do the typing of the manuscript and with a good editor and publisher, you have a book to your name.”

He also cautions that it is important to let your editor understand the concept from the onset, so that they do not alter it too much.