Eliza Cross

Dr. James Roberts is a leading researcher on consumer behavior, a professor at the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University, and the author of the new book Shiny Objects: Why We Spend Money We Don’t Have in Search of Happiness We Can’t Buy. I recently reviewed his book for Happy Simple Living, and if you visit the site you can enter the giveaway to win a new hardcover edition of this thought-provoking book. James generously agreed to answer some questions about his writing routine, finding an agent, and his path to publication.

EC:  What inspired you to write about the perils of consumption?

James:  When I take a second to look back, I see that Shiny Objects has really been a life-long work in progress. I grew up in a family that recycled and where my brothers and I were expected to earn money for the things we wanted. Outside of the basics of food, shelter, underwear and socks, we worked to pay for everything else. I worked cutting grass and trees, and doing odd jobs for an older gentleman by the time I was eleven years old. I also worked 80 hour weeks at the end of each summer when the corn came in for processing. It was at these and many other similar jobs that I learned the true value of money. Along the way I may have complained about not having what others had, but it was a lesson that has stayed with me to this day.

After college, I worked as a stock broker and found that a life spent solely in the pursuit of money was not for me. A later stint in the consumer loan division of Norwest Banks opened my eyes to the devastating impact poor money management could have on individuals and their families.

For the past 15 years I have studied the psychology of consumer behavior including the topics of materialism, compulsive buying, and credit card abuse. I have always been fascinated with what many might call the dark side of consumer behavior.

EC:  When you were drafting the book, did you have a regular writing routine?

James:  I did. As a college professor my work week is very structured. I usually teach on Tuesdays and Thursdays and keep those two days entirely devoted to teaching, preparing for the next class, grading, and meeting with students. With a few exceptions Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays were devoted to research and writing. Shiny Objects is very much a popular press book but the research that went into it was vast. For each chapter I probably spent more time doing the research than I did the writing itself. My choice of topic (materialism and happiness), however, played to my strengths given that I have been conducting research in the areas of compulsive buying, credit card abuse and materialism for the past 15 years. After fleshing out an outline for the entire book, I wrote three chapters for my proposal whose purpose was to attract an agent to represent me.

For a typical chapter I would gather all of the relevant research together both from my files of articles and after a careful library and online search for relevant information. I would then read the articles (1-2 weeks) and then write a detailed outline of the chapter. I would then sit down and put pen to paper. Yes, I still write all my papers (including Shiny Objects) by longhand. And publicly in this place, I want to apologize to Barbara Wiedman for my terrible handwriting. She typed everything I gave her with unerring accuracy and a great spirit. She was truly the wind beneath my wings. The entire book writing process from start to finish took about four years.

EC:  Can you tell us a little bit about your path to finding a literary agent?

James:  Like many new writers I started the process of landing representation by purchasing a copy of Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, and Literary Agents. I then looked for agents who represented books in my genre which included self-help as well as social commentary, etc. I wrote many letters to agents that seemed to be a good match with my book but sent more e-mails to those agents that accepted e-mail solicitations. I thought I had a compelling subject and powerful query letter and was ready to set the world on fire with my new offering.

The road to an agent, of course, was strewn with rejection letters, and a handful of charlatans who said they could help get my proposal ready but it would take at least $7,500.00 to do so. I ignored these requests and others to attend writing seminars, etc. Persistence is the key. I had a number of potential agents request my proposal but for one reason or another passed on it. Finally I was blessed to cross paths with Mollie Glick of Foundry Media & Literary. Mollie is an agent who doesn’t mind working to develop a proposal before sending it around to publishers. I cut my publishing teeth with Mollie and we eventually landed a contract with Harper One – a West Coast unit of Harper Collins publishing. Roger Freet is my editor and he has been very helpful (and supportive) in helping me put together a book that would strike a chord with the reading public.

EC:  What has been the most personally gratifying aspect of having this book published?

James:  There’s a saying in academia that goes, “The only good dissertation is a finished dissertation.” I think that applies to trade publications as well. I am extremely happy to have completed the process. From starting my writing alone in my office during the quiet summer months nearly four years ago, to finding an agent, securing a publisher, and then surviving the editing process has been a good experience but at times an exhausting process. One that I could not have completed without the support of my wife and children, parents, siblings, my agent, my editor, and the cadre of others at Harper Collins who have helped in bringing this book to market. I wrote this book because I am passionate about the subject matter and want to be a positive force in the world. Please visit the Shiny Objects blog to find out how this book can change your life.

EC:  Do you have another project in the works?

James:  I am always working on several projects at any given time. Currently, I am looking at the role self-esteem plays in our behavior as consumers. When how we feel about ourselves is contingent upon the approval of others, as is often the case with materialism, our self-esteem is fragile and open to damage. A healthy self-esteem is a key ingredient to living a happy life. In the end we all want to have lived lives of meaning and feel that our short time here on earth mattered. Removing the stumbling block of material possessions from our path can help us achieve such worthy pursuits.

EC:  Thanks, James, and best wishes for your continued success.