Welcome Jill Dobbe
Author of:
Here We Are & There We Go, and
Kids, Camels & Cairo
(There are links to both books at the end of this interview.)
Please tell us a little about yourself
I am an international educator and am currently living in my 7th country, Honduras. I am a U.S. citizen, married to another international educator, and have two adult children, Ian, who is a doctor and Ali, a high school teacher. I also have a Yorkie-Poo named Mickey who is my constant companion and a great travel buddy.
What first inspired you to write?
When my husband and I returned from India (our 5th country), he mentioned the idea of writing a book about our experiences living overseas and working in schools around the world. My first book is about our early years when we took our two toddlers across the world and during 10 years worked in four different countries (Guam, Ghana, Mexico, Singapore).
In what genre(s) do you prefer to write?
I write travel memoirs/travelogues. That’s what I know and they say you should write about what you know.
Are you working on another book?
I am currently working on my 3rd travel memoir about my time living in Gurgaon, India, and working at an international school, which included a mostly Indian national student population.
If your books have required research: What do you consider the best resources?
I keep personal journals and diaries in each country I live in. I use those as resources for my writing. I also pick my husband and children’s brains about events that occurred.
Do you consider your book(s) convey messages to readers?
The theme or message in my first book, HERE WE ARE & THERE WE GO, was that it is possible to travel with kids. In my second book, KIDS, CAMELS, & CAIRO, I included some advice on what to keep in mind while living overseas such as, keeping a sense of humour, being open minded, respectful toward other cultures, and accept what can’t be changed.
What advice would you give to authors who are just starting out?
I would tell authors to write what you know and to keep putting words into print. Write as much and as often as you can. Look for writing contests and enter them.
Biographies, autobiographies, memoirs: What advice would you give, about using real names and descriptions, to authors who write in this genre? I ask because many raise concerns about the issue.
I don’t use real names in my books, but I do write and describe true events. It is my story and I want it to be as entertaining as possible, so I write about the good and the bad.
Do you self-edit or do you think a book should only be professionally edited?
I self-edit over and over again, but also have fresh eyes go over my writing. Getting a book professionally edited is a very smart thing to do. I have also learned the hard way to have more than one line editor look it over before sending it off to the publisher.
How do you go about marketing your books?
Amazon.com and Goodreads are important sites to be on. I also scope out other travel writing sites and or women writer sites.
How important do you think reviews are?
I think reviews are another method of getting interest for your book. However, they are very subjective.
If you consider reviews important, how do you go about obtaining them for your books?
I peruse travel websites and request interviews for my travel memoirs.
Do you have a preferred genre for when your read?
I read mostly memoirs especially travel memoirs and memoirs about brave and inspirational women who have made a difference in the world. I am partial to female authors and also enjoy humorous stories about families and women, fictional or nonfictional.
Please share with us links to where readers may obtain more information and insight into who you are.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jilldobbeauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jilldobbe
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6451013.Jill_Dobbe
Thank you Jill for sharing your experiences and knowledge with us.
If interested T. R.’s review may be read here.
T. R. Robinson Publications 
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