Interview with fitness instructor and author Kimberley Payne and her book, Fit for Faith

Today's interview is with Kimberley Payne who is a motivational speaker and a former personal trainer who has taken those two skills and put them together as an author of the book, Fit for Faith - 7 weeks to improved spiritual and physical health. Read on to learn more about her writing and ideas for fitness.

How did you come up with the idea of your current book, Fit for Faith?
Years ago, I began a spiritual and physical health partnership with God. Each morning, I started my day with a prayer. "Dear Lord, I pray that You will remind me every day that You are at work within me and around me.” Or, “Dear God, I pray that You will instill in me a sense of responsibility to care for my body—to both nourish and sustain it.” At the end of the day, I would write in my diary about my new faith and fitness journey.

I also spent time reading my Bible and seeking out scriptural truths about God’s character. I started to memorize favorite verses such as, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Then I felt a God-nudge that this type of program would also help others. So I used what I had learned, including my experiences as a personal trainer, to create a workbook.

What type of background in the fitness or nutrition field do you have?
I certified as a Weight Instructor through the YMCA, then went on to certify as an Aerobics Instructor through A.C.E., then went on to certify as a Personal Trainer through Can-Fit-Pro. I owned my own business, called Within Reach, for over 10 years.

With so many fitness books out there why write another? Why should someone invest in buying your e-book as opposed to others?
Fit for Faith makes no assumptions about the activity level of the reader. All levels, whether a sedentary individual or a seasoned athlete, can benefit from this program. It emphasizes overall health, not just weight loss.

Expertise and professionalism are provided throughout the program in easy-to-read “fit tips” and goal-planning assistance. The program includes strategies that empower people to make small changes in their daily routines to improve the quality of their life.

Fit for Faith makes no assumptions about the reader’s spiritual walk. All levels, whether a new Christian or a mature Christian, can benefit from this program. It is a program for a new Christian who wants to learn about prayer, journal writing and Bible study in the comfort of their own home, but a mature Christian can still be refreshed in their faith and re-commit to a daily relationship with God. It is motivating with inspiring reflections included each day and Christian truths set forth in a non-threatening manner.

How is it different from other fitness and health books?
Fit for Faith is a well-rounded balanced program that follows the stages of change and so inspires confidence and builds esteem.

What motivates you to exercise on those days when you just might want to kick back and do nothing?
I find the best motivator is a partner. When I’m not in the mood, my friend can buoy my spirits and get me moving again.

All your books are in the e-book format. Did you first try the route with a traditional publisher? Do you personally edit or do you have an editor?
I’ve always self-published my works. I believed in my writings and wanted to get them “out there” in a timely fashion. An e-book is just as difficult to market as any other book – you still must put out the best effort. I edit my own stuff for the first round, but always use an editor to complete the project. I wouldn’t ever think of putting something out that hasn’t first seen the red ink of a good editor.

What are some of the most productive ways that you promote your books?
I believe that book reviews are the most productive ways to promote my books. It’s one thing to say that my book is great, but it’s a whole other ball game when someone else says, “Read this book, it’s wonderful!” I wish that I had kept a record of every positive comment and asked people to post reviews.

You are a member of The Word Guild and Inscribe Christian Writer's Fellowship. Can you tell me a little about these groups?
They are both Canadian associations that believe in helping writers and editors who are Christian. Everything I’ve learned about writing has come from these organizations. I attend the regular conferences, read the newsletters, volunteer on teams, participate in contests, join in on discussions on the listserves, etc. They are my connection to the world of writing.

I see you also have a blog entitled Fit for Faith which includes some of your ideas about exercise, healthy eating and includes a matching Bible quote. How often do you follow up on the blog since it is not dated?
Ideally, I like to post every day (except the weekends) and have changed up the format a few times over the years. I started the blog in 2005 and have featured guest writers, contests, current news etc.

Right now, I am matching the style of my book with a prayer, a note about my exercise, a Bible verse and a note about my eating for that day. It helps keep me in check and hopefully motivates others as well.

You also do devotionals for families and individuals. Which is the better seller either of those or the Fit for Faith book?
My natural writing style is a devotional. The devotionals I sell are collections of ones I’ve written over the years in a local newspaper. They are not big sellers, but I do like to make them available to anyone who is interested. That’s why they’re kept inexpensive.

You also do workshops. How long have you been doing those? As a motivational speaker what have you learned about how to keep an audience interested? Have you had any special feedback from those events that have encouraged your spirit?
I’ve done workshops for over 10 years. When I had my business, Within Reach, I regularly offered workshops on many different health and fitness topics. I like to include my audience in my workshops, and I like to get them moving around and applying what they learn.

I don’t like theory only but rather want the audience to walk away inspired and ready for action. I’m encouraged when I get an invitation to talk to a group based on someone’s recommendation who had been in a previous workshop of mine.

That's all for today's interview, but I hope it has inspired you to learn more about Kimberley's writing and ideas on fitness. You can get a visual on her fitness ideas by watching her YouTube video of exercises that can be done right at your computer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN5IG4tuLSM

If you are interested in reading her devotionals, check out her blog at http://www.returnhomeandtell.wordpress.com

If you'd like the opportunity for some freebies check out her newsletter. If you add your name to the mailing list at http://kimberleypayne.com, you'll also receive a coupon for her novel, Tooth for Tooth.