Behind the Scenes of The Perfect Story with Karen Eber
The People and Events Behind The Perfect Story
I've received so many touching messages from all over the world these past two months.
My favorite messages are about specific stories in the book. So I thought it would be fun to take you behind the scenes to many of them.
Below are photos and tidbits behind The Perfect Story, as well as answers to frequently asked questions.
Meet Maria. Yes, THE Maria who dropped her phone down an elevator shaft. She really does know your birthday, last vacation spot, and your favorite meal. She isn't creepy, she is someone who strives to make each person in her life feel seen.
I watched an assistant's eyes well with tears as Maria told her she was the glue in the office. She knows all the Rays in her life and brings out the best of those around her.
One of the questions I'm frequently asked is about the brand of phone case that saved her phone. It's Incipio!
The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile makes an appearance in Chapter 4 and I went to see one.
I now get random texts of Wienermobile sightings...a legacy I didn't anticipate.
Colby Webb's Storytelling Interview at the end of Chapter 10 tells how volunteering at an event and meeting her forever friend Dan changed her life. The interview tells the story of how Dan inspired countless dogs to be adopted.
Part of the campaign included Dan on a video in Times Square and photos around the city. Here is a photo of Dan that Colby took next to one of his photos. Unfortunately, Dan passed away earlier this year, but his legacy continues to save the lives of pit bulls today.
Chapter Sixteen leverages the Fearless Girl to demonstrate where stories can go wrong. The Fearless Girl is the result of a story gone wrong that thankfully pivoted at the last minute.
She stands at four feet tall with her skirt swooshing and her ponytail swinging. Her one-week permit turned into a month, then a year until her final installation across from Wall Street with over five billion impressions on social media.
Chapter 9 starts with a story about a visit to Kimball Farm for ice cream. If you are ever in the greater Boston area, swing by Westford, Massachusetts and take a visit.
A month ago, my dad asked me, "How did you get out of the Marseille airport?" I knew exactly where he was in the book.
I drop that little detail into Chapter 9, describing being stranded in the airport. This is a photo from the next day once I was out!
In Chapter 18 I tell a story about blanking on the TED stage and how it ended up being a wonderful thing. It wasn't in the talk that is on TED.com. It was at TED HQ. This is a photo from that talk, just before my mind went blank.
In the closing story, I describe an afternoon on a beach watching a surfer struggle for over an hour. As he got up to try again to catch a wave, I took my camera out. This is him turning left instead of right, and catching his perfect wave. This was many years ago on a much older iPhone, so it's hard to zoom in with clarity. But rest assured, he had a huge smile on his face.
Frequently Asked Questions
I've heard writing a book is really hard. Was it for you?
No! The writing part was easy. The hard part was publishing and continually marketing the book. What used to work even three years ago when publishing a book no longer applies. It requires many asks (I lost count after 300) and creativity to keep things front of mind.
Was the book tour stuff exciting or exhausting?
Mostly exciting! I am always thrilled to talk to people who have bought and/or read the book. Writing a book is a multi-year isolating experience. Getting the chance to connect with people and hear what they experienced with it is wonderful. It helped me reunite with friends from high school and even meet people that I've only connected with on social media.
Have there been any special moments?
So many! A week after I published the book I was speaking at the TED Women conference. I came across a man who had a copy of the book, having bought it at a local bookstore. People have been sending me notes from all over the world, sharing what they found meaningful. I love getting photos of the book in the world even more than I love getting photos of Oscar Mayer Wienermobile sightings.
Which podcasts were your favorite?
There were so many great discussions...especially when the hosts read the book. Three I particularly enjoyed:
The Futur with Chris Do (this episode has resulted in the most people reaching out)
What is your next book?
I love the enthusiasm behind this question. Also, it lands with as much of a thud as asking, "When are you having a (first, second, third) child?"
I have big plans for this book and am working to get it in as many hands as possible including:
Universities integrating it into the curriculum and executive education
Companies integrating the book and storytelling workshops into their leadership development
Coaches leveraging the book and concepts in their practice
Teachers applying the concepts in their classrooms
Non-profits leveraging it for their messaging and campaigns
Translating the book into several different languages
I'm also speaking to different groups to leverage the concepts regardless of industry. Perhaps a new idea will emerge down the road. But for now, there is much work to do to increase the reach of the book.
Previous Frequently Asked Questions:
What is it like recording an audiobook?
What was your process for writing the book?
How do you sell a book proposal to a publisher?
What goes into a book proposal?
How do you get a literary agent?
By the Numbers
I always find it interesting to look at the numbers at the end of the year. I get a lot of questions about what went into launching a book, so let's look at some numbers specific to the book.
Words written: 147,000
The Perfect Story was 75,000 words
Newsletters: 40,000 words
20 Articles: 20,000 words
Unpublished works I hope you see one day: 12,000
Podcasts: 67 recorded or soon to be recorded
TV appearances: 3
Keynotes: 25
Translations: Two so far. More to come next year, but The Perfect Story is being translated into a few different languages!
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Want to get started with storytelling?
Order The Perfect Story
Check out the Jumpstart Your Storytelling course.
Listen to any of my guest appearances on podcasts through my Spotify Playlist
