Today I’m so excited to be interviewing this weeks #WOW,  best selling “Angels at my door” Author and gallery artist Cindy Adkins . Cindy writes from the heart and I know her words will be like music to your soul, with the melodic tone of her writing, which actually gave me goose bumps when i read her answers and I ain’t a goose bumpey kinda person.

Tell me a little about you , your lifestyle and what you are passionate about? I live in New Orleans, Louisiana. My husband and I moved here after Hurricane Katrina and were part of the extensive rebuilding effort. At the time, I was finishing my Master’s Degree in the midst of renovating our house. I then began a six-month mixed media art project to honor the people of our community and my work was on display in an art exhibit.

I am passionate about art and people and their resilience. I am also a writer and began working for the newspaper. Then, I started writing books about mixed media art, as well as spiritual matters because they are key in my life. I believe that we all have a particular destiny and I also contend that we are given guidance along the way.

Connecting with God and also being open to the messages given to us by angels can make all the difference in each of our lives. Because I have had such poignant personal experiences in that regard, I wrote “Angels at My Door” and “Do You Need a Hug from Heaven?” which are both eBooks that not only detail some of my own miracle stories, but those of other people, as well. They have both become Amazon bestsellers and that is important to me because it lets me know that the message of hope has gotten out there to many people and that was my purpose in writing them. Perhaps the message of my work is described best in my new promo video that was just complete. It is located at: http://tinyurl.com/84nqrlt

 So tell me about your business, who is Cindy Adkins all about? I am a writer and an artist. My work is in various galleries and I also have an online shop. It is difficult to say which is more important to me, as I work on them both in tandem. I had received so many emails over a two-year period from various people asking me about art techniques that I wrote “Mixed Media Art: Living Your Passion,” in which I not only tell readers how to create art, but also where to buy art materials that are cost-effective in places they might not have thought of before. I also let readers know how to promote their art and get it known and seen by the public.

What lead you to making the decision of creating your own business? I actually had no intention of starting a business. It just evolved. I created art and people wanted to buy it. As I discussed various topics on my blog, different visitors suggested I write books about the issues I discussed, so that is how I came to write them.

Has there always been a burning desire inside you to create this or did it your business evolve from your original idea? I have always been creative, both in terms of writing, as well as creating art. I have worked in many different mediums. I think that whatever a person does that uplifts others, that is a worthwhile pursuit.

What did/do you find to be the most challenging part of your business? The most challenging part is having enough hours in the day to accomplish what I need to do!

What have you learned about yourself during the process of setting up your business? I have learned many different skills that are all Internet related. But, as far as myself, I have come to learn that when we have an online presence, it is so similar if not exact to how we are in person. Somehow, our personalities come across.

What advice would you give someone considering starting their own business? I would say that whatever your passion is, pursue it and do not pay attention to what other people think about it. Be true to yourself. I would also say that the Internet provides such vast opportunities for growth and exposure and they can come when we least expect them. My work is in art galleries and the owners saw my work online initially. I don’t know if that would have happened without the Internet and how it connects like-minded individuals. However, my focus has shifted considerably to my books, so when I have been approached recently to participate in various shows and exhibits, I have had to forego those and as my writing takes precedence at this time.

What products and services do you provide ? I have books that are available through Amazon, which are sold worldwide.I also sell mixed media art online in an Etsy shop, which was opened before I began writing my books.

What is the greatest success story for your business? I would say that the greatest success of my business has been through my books because through them I truly connect to people in regard to art and spirituality. Because I am a Humanities major, my work is a reflection of my studies and where I feel grounded.

Thank you so much Cindy. I love how your passions have become your purpose and how you’ve been able to share it with world and offer unique guidance to others.

Next Week I’ll be interviewing Cheryl Scoffield, the Follow U Specialist who’ll be sharing some juicy business growth strategies. Cheryl followed her passions to create a business where she helps others, focus on where they are going and not on what they are going through.