Janet:  Thanks for stopping by, Vanessa. It’s great to meet you.

Vanessa:  Thank you, Janet! I’ve been a fan of yours for a long time. I’m honored to be here.

J:  Thank you. That’s nice to hear. Why don’t you give my readers an overview of your e-book series?

V:  I’d love to! The Adventures of Vanessa Andruz, Virtual Assistant series is a collaborative effort between me and my writing partner, Melodee Patterson of Short-term Solutions. I knew nothing about the Virtual Assistance industry when I left the SafeRight Insurance Company after being the President’s Executive Assistant for a number of years. But after doing some Internet research on the subject – which I discuss in the first e-book – I decided becoming a Virtual Assistant was the perfect solution for me.

I did tons of research on all aspects of becoming a VA – such as what kind of business structure was best for me, how to set up my home office, how to determine my rates, the best ways to market my business, getting over my fear of networking, and how to blog. It was hard work and took a lot of time!

J:  So you decided to share your findings with other prospective Virtual Assistants?

V:  Yes, exactly! Melodee and I wanted to save other VAs the time and frustration of plowing through all that information themselves. We used my research notes and the forms I created for my own business as a blueprint for the series.

J:  I understand you had some interesting adventures while starting your company. What happened?

V:  Oh, Lordy. For one thing, my mother – she reads auras for a living – was bound and determined to “help” me. You wouldn’t believe the things she mailed me from Sedona, Arizona! And then there’s my ex-husband who had the nerve to tell me I couldn’t possibly start my own business without his help! Luckily, my friend Marci was very supportive and helped me through the rough patches. Anyway, it’s all in the e-books. I wanted prospective Virtual Assistants to know that life may throw some roadblocks their way, but becoming a VA is worth the effort.

J:  How many e-books are available?

V:  At the moment, there are three e-books. The first e-book, Vanessa Has a Dream is free to download. It describes how I left my job and decided to become a Virtual Assistant. It’s an unbelievable story, but I swear my adventures are as real as I am!

In the second e-book, Vanessa Becomes a Virtual Assistant, I discovered my company name – with a little help from the Universe, created a business plan template, and decided on a business structure. And the business plan template is downloadable!

J:  That’s great. What about the third e-book?

V:  Vanessa Sets Up Her Home Office is full of practical advice on choosing the right office equipment and supplies for your own VA business. There are research notes about computers, fax machines, scanners, ways to access the internet, and lots of other good stuff. I even describe my visit to my hometown’s office supply store. Don’t you just love wandering around in the pen and pencil section?

J:  Ummm, yes, I do. Where can my readers download your e-books?

V:  They can go to the E-books page of my current website here.

J:  Are there other ways they can contact you?

V:  Sure! They can email me, and I’m also on Facebook.

J:  It was a pleasure having you here today, Vanessa. I’ve enjoyed the first three e-books in the series and I can’t wait to read the rest!

V:  Thanks again for letting me stop by, Janet. I’ll be sure to let you and your readers know when the next e-book is available.

J:  Before you leave Vanessa, I have to ask…you do realize that you’re not a real person, right?

V:  [Sigh] Yes, I know. I’m just a figment of Melodee’s imagination. But that doesn’t mean my e-books aren’t informative and entertaining.

J:  I certainly agree with that. Thanks again for coming, Vanessa.

V:  You’re very welcome, Janet. I enjoyed talking with you.