Interview With Author Jonathan Pultz
1. What inspired you to write
this book? The inspiration for writing this book was to
help people improve their interpersonal skills. On a daily basis I deal with
individuals who are violent, suicidal, or mentally ill. People often ask me how
is it possible to communicate with people in these states. My answer is that
with proper patience and training anyone can do it. I then ask them, if you had
the ability to effectively communicate with people in a state of crisis, how
could that help you communicate better in your daily interactions? Having improved negotiation and conflict
resolution skills have the potential to make you a better boss, parent, spouse,
friend, and co-worker. Learning these skills will give you more confidence when
buying a car or debating contentious political topics. Everyone should have the
confidence to articulate their opinion without the fear of confrontation. My
goal is to make people comfortable having uncomfortable conversations without
becoming adversarial.
2. What exactly is it about
and who is it written for? The book covers multiple interpersonal
topics such as empathy, active listening, emotional management, body
language, and dealing with addiction and mental illness. Each skill is broken
into short easy to read chapters. Each skill has a unique story demonstrating
proper use. The book is written for anyone who is interested in becoming a more
confident and competent communicator.
3. What do you hope readers
will get out of reading your book? I hope readers will walk away with a renewed
interest in interpersonal communication. I want them to engage in face to face
or voice to voice communications. I want them to read and interpret body
language and feel comfortable dealing with conflict. Resolving conflict through
compromise will lead to trust and understanding.
4. How did you decide on your books title and
cover design? The books title came from my love of
negotiation. I consider myself a student of all types of negotiation, whether
it is business, crisis, or diplomacy. Politicians, Mediators, Arbitrators, and
business professionals often tout the high stress high stake negotiations they
are involved in. I would often shrug and say, it's not like anybody is going to
die. That is when it came to me, the skills I use do have the potential to save
lives. I wanted everyone to understand that our words and interpersonal
connections can, and do save lives. Hence, Negotiating Like Lives are on the
Line. The cover art came from a photograph taken of
my colleague and I while we were negotiating with a suicidal man. He was on top
of a multi-story structure. The Los Angeles skyline and city hall are the
backdrop. The image was just surreal. One of my co-workers took the photograph
while we were engaged in dialogue and he gave me permission to use it. I just
knew that it was the perfect complement for my story.
5. What advice do you have for fellow
writers-other than run!? Ha, definitely a great question. I would tell
them to graciously listen and accept everyone's feedback. However, at the end
of the day it is your book. Have fun and enjoy
the process. Accept that you will make mistakes and it is a marathon. Don't cut
corners on things like editing and format. You put lots of work into telling
your story, make sure it flows well and is grammatically correct for your
audience.
6. What trends in the book world do you
see--and where do you think the publishing industry is heading? I am still a newbie in the book world but, I
do see more authors going the indie route and co continued growth in audiobooks.
As a newer author the majority of my book sales came from friends and family.
Many of them were very honest and admitted that they are too lazy and don't
have time to read. I was told many times if you had an audiobook I could listen
to it in traffic or while on a walk or doing chores around the house. Since the
launch of my audio version I have seen sales increase and have been invited to
do more interviews and podcasts.
7. Were their experiences in your personal
life or career that came in handy when writing this book? Absolutely, the whole book is based on my life
and career experience. How my experience as a Hostage Crisis Negotiator can
help others be a better communicators. I was fortunate enough to have these
experiences and want to share them with you in the hopes it improves your
quality of life.
8. How would you describe your writing style?
Which writers or books are you similar too? My writing style in my opinion is
definitely informal and casual with a splash of humor. I wanted my writing to
reflect my natural conversational style. Books that are similar to mine would
be, Chris Voss' Never Split the Difference and Extreme Ownership by Jocko
Willink and Leif Babin. The authors of these works use the skills they learned
in their careers in the FBI (Voss) and Navy (Willink & Babbin) and
demonstrate how they translate into the civilian world.
9. What challenges did you overcome in the
writing this book? I learned that I had the ability to finish and
produce a product that added value to peoples lives. There was several days
where I contemplated never publishing my work because I wasn't sure if anyone
would be interested. I discovered that the ability to teach through
storytelling is an effective and wonderful tool.
10. If people can buy or read
one book this week or month, why should it be yours? Learn to negotiate like a pro. Negotiating
Like Lives are on the Line is a practical guidebook that provides readers with
the knowledge and skills to become an effective negotiator. Read a book that
offers strategies, advice, and insights based on years of experience. Real
world experience and effective solutions for dealing with conflict resolution,
emotional management, and leadership. This book is not theory it has actionable
steps you can apply immediately. This book will teach you how to negotiate with
confidence!
About The Author : I am a 25-year veteran of the Los Angeles
Police Department. I am a Hostage Crisis Negotiator and SWAT Team leader. I
hold a Masters degree in Dispute Resolution and a Certificate in Negotiation
Mastery from Harvard Business School online. for more info, please see: linkedin.com/in/jonathan-p8663241a3
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