Corey Seemiller
Author Interview - Corey Seemiller
Author of The Soulmate Strategy: My Imperfect Plan to Conquer Heartbreak and Find True Love
Days after Corey’s breakup, a photo of her ex wrapped in the arms of another woman goes viral on Facebook. Confronted with this gleeful boast about “happily ever after,” Corey, a forty something lesbian, decides that she can’t live in a state of perpetual loneliness, plagued with the burden of her own failure in finding happiness and love. Armed with her meticulously crafted checklist, Corey embarks on a mission to heal, move on, and find “the one.” But no matter how many items she checks off her list or how faithfully she follows the sage wisdom of psychics, her breakup coach, and the legendary rapper Eminem, her hope in finding her one true love begins to fade away—until she’s suddenly torn between two. Now, with her heart unexpectedly on the line, Corey must find out what she really wants—and where her true happiness lies.
Author Interview - Corey Seemiller
Author I draw inspiration from:
Judy Blume. That lady was so before her time. And, if it weren’t for her, I would have felt incredibly alone as a teenage girl. I loved Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret and Forever.
Author Interview - Corey Seemiller | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
I listen to audiobooks out while walking. I get lost in the scenes and characters while getting exercise at the same time! There have been instances where I’ve been so enthralled with a book that my legs shift into autopilot and before I know it, I’ve done a 4-mile loop.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
Actually my book character is really the author of a nonfiction book. Her name is Logan Ury, and she’s a “behavioral scientist turned dating coach” who wrote How to Not Die Alone: The Surprising Science That Will Help You Find Love. I would love to pick her brain about all things love and relationships! I would imagine we would make small talk at first, because we are indeed waiting to get rescued from being trapped in an elevator. I’m not a fan girl kind of person. So, if I knew who she was, I would probably just tell her I enjoyed her book and ask if she’s working on anything new. I’d then tell her I was an author and podcast host in the world of love and relationships as well. We’d then swap stories and I’d ask her, “What is the most compelling thing you have learned about love and relationships from your work? Is there a secret?” Then, I’d just listen as she shared her wisdom.
Author Interview - Corey Seemiller | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
When I was in fourth grade, I wrote a play that was selected by an outside theater troupe to perform at our school assembly. While I wasn’t planning on writing a sequel to my play about a king and his bag of gold, I knew right then that writing gave me an energy I couldn’t get anywhere else.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
Audiobook. I’m an avid walker and hiker and listen to countless audiobooks while out and about. It’s so convenient that I can bring the audiobook anywhere with me – even when I’m doing things where I wouldn’t otherwise be able to read an actual book. Plus, I love the intonation and character voices used in audiobooks. It reminds me of being read to as a child, and how much I enjoyed my mom “doing the voices.” My second favorite is a paperback or hardback because I do like the feel of the book in my hands. And, I can highlight particularly interesting passages or make notes in the margins. I don’t tend to read ebooks since either I have to squint to read them on my phone or make sure to have access to an iPad or laptop in order to actually see them.
The last book I read:
All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert. This memoir was unbelievably and profoundly moving. The word choices she used to describe her experience and relationship were so perfect. I could see every image she portrayed and felt like I was inside the story with her. In addition, it was incredibly vulnerable and raw, which affirmed that we are all messy and broken in some ways.
Author Interview - Corey Seemiller | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
Computer, for sure. I write everywhere…in my office, on planes, in airports, at hotels, at coffeeshops, and even in the car (when someone else is driving!). I am an editor at heart. So, being on the computer gives me a chance to delete and rewrite something over and over until I feel it is just right. I do, however, get inspirations for my writing while away from my computer. I often pull out my phone and jot those down in the Notes app to refer to later. I am an intuitive writer. I write what needs to be written when it needs to be written. There are some days I’m called to work on one book project and other days I’m called to work on another. I don’t often have an outline (except for my non-fiction trade books). But, for most books, the writing just flows out of me. I might write something and then skip to a chapter intended for later in the book and then switch back to working on the introduction. Whatever calls me is what I write.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
I would love to be best friends with Miranda in Miranda in Retrograde by Lauren Layne. Like Miranda, I, too, am a college faculty member. We teach different subjects, but both of us are experts in our fields and spend time speaking and being interviewed on our subject matter. I like how she thinks and goes about life – in a very achievement-oriented way. When she is forced to take a year-long sabbatical, she abandons her rational side and instead leans on horoscopes as a way to make her life decisions. It is radical, but also so enticing. I would love to something like this alongside her, comparing notes about our experiences and supporting each other as we both are trying to live outside our comfort zones.
Author Interview - Corey Seemiller | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
I would be a comedian. Since I'm also a professor, professional speaker, and podcaster, I am readily in front of people sharing my wisdom. I think I’m funny, and often people laugh when I’m presenting. It would be great to abandon the informative content, though, even for a bit, and just freestyle it up on stage telling funny stories that the audience can connect with.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
Today. It’s an “everything goes” era where I can get away with track pants from the 80s, flannels from the 90s, and anything else I can find in my closet. I call dressing up professionally as “putting on my costume,” and jeans as “relatively restricting.” So, I’m grateful I can wear whatever feels comfortable to me, and oddly, it’s trendy!
Place I’d most like to travel:
I’d like to hike the Outback in Australia. The trek would take me through a small town called Ayers Rock. I love the desert, as I live in Arizona, and have had this adventure on my bucket list for a while! The Outback is filled with kangaroos, wombats, and emus, unlike Arizona, though. I can only imagine hiking and having a kangaroo hop up beside me. Plus, the Outback is uncharted territory for so many. Being an “off the beaten path” kind of person, I like the idea of traversing places so few have gone.
My signature drink:
I’m known for Gatorades after hiking, Vitamin Water as my daily sip, and Shirley Temples when I’m out on the town! And, I have decaf coffee with far too much vanilla creamer every morning.
Favorite artist:
I love Eminem as a rap artist. His lyrics are compelling, and his talent is unparalleled. His song, “Lose Yourself,” was an anthem of mine while living the story told in my memoir. I love his passion and how he gets lost in the emotions of his own songs.
Number one on my bucket list:
I’m very much looking forward to releasing my memoir after having spent years writing it. I can’t wait to do book signings, readings, and interviews. I wrote my memoir as a way to give back to others struggling with heartbreak and hoping to find love again. I wanted readers to see themselves in my story and know they weren’t alone. If they can benefit from my experience, whether that is to gain ideas on how to heal after heartache or simply just feel affirmed in their own journeys, I know I’ve done exactly what I set out to do.
Anything else you'd like to add:
My life motto is "You can't win if you don't play." I always put myself out there and take chances. And, they almost always pay off!
Find more from the author:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/seemiller/
https://www.facebook.com/coreyseemiller
About Corey Seemiller:
Corey Seemiller
Corey Seemiller is an award-winning professor of leadership and global generational expert. She has authored several books and articles and speaks at events around the world. Her work has been featured in major news publications and media outlets such as NPR, The New York Times, Time Magazine, and Newsweek, and her highly popular TED Talk has garnered hundreds of thousands of views. As an accredited life coach with specialties in Law of Attraction and intuitive development, she also co-hosts the Rock That Relationship! podcast, discussing debacles and successes with breakups, healing processes, dating, and relationships. Corey lives in Tucson, Arizona and is an avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast.
