Laura Vanderkam - All The Money In the World

Laura Vanderkam is the author of 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think (Portfolio, 2010) and Grindhopping: Build a Rewarding Career Without Paying Your Dues (McGraw-Hill, 2007). She is here today to share the news about her newest book, All The Money In The World: What The Happiest People Know About Getting and Spending, which will be released on March 1, 2012.
She is a member of USA Today’s Board of Contributors, writes the “168 Hours” blog for CBS MoneyWatch, and her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, City Journal, Scientific American, Reader’s Digest, Prevention, Fortune.com, and other publications. She has appeared on numerous television programs, including The Today Show and Fox & Friends, hundreds of radio segments, and has spoken about time, money and productivity to audiences ranging from the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association to MTV’s employees to graduating seniors at her high school, the Indiana Academy, who brought her back as their commencement speaker in 2006.

A 2001 graduate of Princeton, Laura enjoys running, writing fiction, and serving as president of the Board of Trustees for The Young New Yorkers’ Chorus, an organization which specializes in commissioning new music from composers under age 35.She lives outside Philadelphia with her husband, two young sons and baby daughter.

Laura, welcome to Writers in Business! Please tell us about your new book.

All The Money In The World: What the Happiest People Know About Getting and Spending demonstrates that we have more money than we think—enough, in fact, to create the lives we’ve always wanted but never thought we could have. It is a practical and inspiring guide that shows how money can buy happiness, if we spend it wisely.

There’s no question that having more money may make our lives easier. But All The Money In The World shows how each of us can figure out better ways to use what we have to build the lives we want. Drawing on the latest happiness research as well as stories from real people who have reached fiscal fulfillment, this new book offers a contrarian approach that forces us to examine our own beliefs, goals, and values.

I found the following quote about your book from Kirkus Reviews insightful. "A key tenet is that our happiness is not based on the accumulation of big-ticket items—diamond engagement rings, super-sized homes and cars—but on the accumulation of everyday pleasures, especially those activities we share with friends and family." This is something many of us struggle with. I understand you are offering a free companion publication.

Yes, The Happiness Handbook is a useful companion guide to All The Money In The World. You can get a free copy on my web site.

Laura, thank you for joining us!

Readers will find a sneak peak from Laura's new book and can sign up for her newsletter by visiting her online.

Best Selling Author Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult, 44, is the bestselling author of several novels including Songs of the Humpback Whale (1992), Keeping Faith (1999), Perfect Match (2002), Second Glance (2003), My Sister's Keeper(2004), Nineteen Minutes (2007), Change of Heart (2008), House Rules (2010), and Sing You Home (2011) and her newest novel, Lone Wolf.

Her books are translated into thirty four languages in thirty five countries. Four – The Pact, Plain Truth, The Tenth Circle, and Salem Falls - have been made into television movies. My Sister’s Keeper was a big-screen release from New Line Cinema which is now available in DVD.

Jodi, her husband, Tim, and their three children live in Hanover, New Hampshire with two Springer spaniels, a rescue puppy, two donkeys, two geese, one duck, eight chickens, and the occasional Holstein.

Welcome to Writers in Business! Jodi, I have read all of your books and am astounded at the depth of your characters. They come to life through your written words. The topics you cover in each novel are thought-provoking and I find it impossible to put your books down! Can you tell us how you started as a writer?

I studied creative writing with Mary Morris at Princeton, and had two short stories published in Seventeen magazine while still a student. Realism, and a profound desire to be able to pay the rent, led me to a series of different jobs following graduation. I've worked as a technical writer for a Wall Street brokerage firm, as a copywriter at an ad agency, as an editor at a textbook publisher, and as an 8th grade English teacher. I ended up at Harvard pursuing a master’s degree in education then received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Dartmouth College in 2010 and another from the University of New Haven in 2012.

Can you tell us about your new release, Lone Wolf?

Yes, Lone Wolf looks at the intersection between medical science and moral choices. If we can keep people who have no hope for recovery alive artificially, should they also be allowed to die artificially? Does the potential to save someone else’s life with a donated organ balance the act of hastening another’s death? And finally, when a father’s life hangs in the balance, which sibling should get to decide his fate?

That's a very intriguing topic to sort through. Your books usually offer a balanced approach to looking at both sides of a sometimes controversal issue. I'm looking forward to reading Lone Wolf!

I understand you will be releasing a second book in June of this year.

Yes, Between the Lines will be released on June 26th. It's my first tween/YA novel and it's co-written with my daughter Samantha van Leer!

It’s an absolutely STUNNING book - with the coolest illustrations that remind me of Arthur Rackham’s work from the turn of the century and silhouettes that take my breath away. In other words, it’s a book you want to keep on your shelves and just look at because it’s so pretty. But it’s also sweet, and funny, and charming, and it was a delight to have the experience of writing it with my own daughter! I’m incredibly excited for its publication and we’ll be on tour this summer to promote it!

We wish you all the best with Lone Wolf and look forward to reading more about Between the Lines! Readers can learn more about Jodi's books by visiting her website.

Jodi is currently on a book tour for Lone Wolf which continues through March in the US, Canada and the UK. Check her calendar to find out if she's visiting your area.

Living with Wild Animals? Read SERVAL SON by Kristine M. Smith

Did you ever wonder what it would be like to share your life with a wild animal? Author Kristine M. Smith has released a new book, SERVAL SON, based on her experiences raising a wild cat. She is an animal advocate with decades of combined experience as a wildlife rehabilitator, captive animal caretaker, and humane educator.

She is also a well-regarded author and copywriter, writing for businesses around the world. You can learn more about her writing services by visiting KristineMSmith.biz.

Welcome Kristine! This is such an interesting topic. Can you tell us about your new book and what inspired you to write it?

SERVAL SON: Spots and Stripes Forever is a cautionary true story about what it’s like to own—and be owned by—a wild animal for its entire lifetime; in my case that was 17 years.

I wrote the book for anyone considering getting a knee-high or taller wild animal as a pet or for those who would like to vicariously raise one without all of the accompanying rules, regulations, and responsibilities. It’s so temping to get a little ball of fur when they’re babies—and then they grow up, which is a whole new ball game.

I couldn't imagine my life without animals. We have three dogs and three cats right now. I assume caring for a wild animal is much different. What do you see as the pros and cons?

People want wild animals as pets for a number of reasons. Some have an abiding love for wildlife and want to experience them up close and personal. Others want a wild pet as an ego boost or status symbol—a way to stand out in the mass of humanity. Others feel the tug of wanting to rescue a wild animal that seems to be living in less ideal conditions than they believe they can provide—these are the “rescuers” in our midst.

Pros: If you do it right and absolutely nothing goes wrong (which rarely happens), watching a captive wild animal grow into its own without changing or corrupting its basic nature and personality is heartwarming beyond description. Having them respond to you with affection and trust is fabulous. Being able to visit schools, fairs, TV shows and other public venues to help foster awareness and understanding of their plight in the wild and as pets is always a big perk if you can remain calm enough in those situations not to set them off and cause them to become anxious.


Cons: Too many people, I’m sad to say, get them as status symbols or centerpieces for how they want other people to think about them. I had one interested party ask me at the time “What’s it like to walk Deaken (that was my serval’s name) in the neighborhood on a leash?” He thought that would be quite the rush. The fact is you don’t parade a wild animal in your neighborhood or anywhere else except under rigidly controlled circumstances. Guaranteed—some of your neighbors will NOT like knowing there’s a wild animal nearby and they can make your life a living hell. Fearful people do fearful things.

Would you do it again?

I wouldn’t have missed it for the world; I would never do it again. It was the most heartwarming, the most traumatic 17 years of my life. Raising a happy, healthy wild cat—keeping it safe from people and people safe from it—requires complete attention, nerves of steel, and an insane amount of good luck. Animal sanctuaries are overflowing with the forlorn castoffs of people who tried to do what I did and failed. It's heartbreaking to see former wild pets watching wistfully for owners they never will see again.

You can order SERVAL SON through Amazon.com.

These days, Kris is owned by two geriatric cats, and two fun-filled goats, Laverne and Shirley. You can follow their antics at AlmostFamousByDesfault.blogspot.com.

Self Employed Tax Tips from the IRS

There are many benefits that come from being your own boss. If you work for yourself, as an independent contractor, or you carry on a trade or business as a sole proprietor, you are generally considered to be self-employed.

Here are six key points the IRS would like you to know about self-employment and self- employment taxes:

Self-employment can include work in addition to your regular full-time business activities, such as part-time work you do at home or in addition to your regular job.

If you are self-employed you generally have to pay self-employment tax as well as income tax. Self-employment tax is a Social Security and Medicare tax primarily for individuals who work for themselves. It is similar to the Social Security and Medicare taxes withheld from the pay of most wage earners. You figure self-employment tax using a Form 1040 Schedule SE. Also, you can deduct half of your self-employment tax in figuring your adjusted gross income.


You file an IRS Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business, or C-EZ, Net Profit from Business, with your Form 1040.

If you are self-employed you may have to make estimated tax payments. This applies even if you also have a full-time or part-time job and your employer withholds taxes from your wages. Estimated tax is the method used to pay tax on income that is not subject to withholding. If you fail to make quarterly payments you may be penalized for underpayment at the end of the tax year.

You can deduct the costs of running your business. These costs are known as business expenses. These are costs you do not have to capitalize or include in the cost of goods sold but can deduct in the current year.

To be deductible, a business expense must be both ordinary and necessary. An ordinary expense is one that is common and accepted in your field of business. A necessary expense is one that is helpful and appropriate for your business. An expense does not have to be indispensable to be considered necessary.

For more information see the Self-employment Tax Center, IRS Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business, IRS Publication 535, Business Expenses and Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax, available at www.irs.gov or by calling the IRS forms and publications order line at 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

Links:

Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business
Publication 535, Business Expenses
Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax
Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business and instructions
Schedule C-EZ, Net Profit from Business
Schedule SE, Self-Employment Tax and instructions
Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals