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Written by JJ Barnes
I interviewed author Elijah Stacy about his career, what inspired him to write, and the work that went into his new book, A Small If.
Tell me a bit about who you are.
I’m an author, public speaker and entrepreneur.
When did you first WANT to write a book?
I first wanted to write a book when I was 16 years old. I know how powerful story telling is and I believe I have a story that can really give people hope and inspiration. A book is one of the best ways to tell stories.

When did you take a step to start writing?
When I was 16, I began to lay out of thoughts and ideas for my book and then started writing the chapters. As I continued to write, the book started to become more and more on what I wanted it to finally become.
How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?
It took a year to write. I finished when I was 17 years old and officially published it in 2021 at age 20.
What made you want to write A Small If?
I believe my book can help make my disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, known and, more importantly, cared about. This disease needs a face behind it and I believe my book has the potential to make that happen. I also believe my book can help people become mentally stronger and more resilient towards the adversity they’re going to/are facing in life.
What were your biggest challenges with writing A Small If?
The biggest challenge was to be patient and to keep on going even when there was a lot more to still write.
What was your research process for A Small If?

It was mapping out my entire life so far and figuring out what really stood out about my life and what I learned from each chapter of my life.
How did you plan the structure of A Small If?
Each chapter focused on something significant from my life, followed by a lesson to help people overcome their adversity and live more meaningful and fulfilling lives.
Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did A Small If need?
I did get support editing the manuscript when it was all done; fortunately, there wasn’t a whole lot of editing needed to be done.
What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a book?
Just start. Writing helps you get into the creative process and the thoughts will start to come your way.
Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?
One word: philosophical.
And, finally, are your proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?
I am very proud to say I have written a book that is helping people better their lives and is making my disease known. We still have a long way to get to where I want to be, but it certainly is worth the effort.
Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:
Website: https://www.elijahjstacy.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/elijahjstacy?lang=en
IG: https://www.instagram.com/elijahjstacy/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elijahjstacy?...
FB: https://m.facebook.com/FBelijahjstacy...
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/authwall?trk...
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