In addition to giving advice to my readers, I thought it would be nice to do some interviews with those who have written books on the subject of dating and relationships. My first interview was with Jess McCann, the author of the recently published book You Lost Him At Hello.

Through her business experience, Jess McCann discovered a surprising truth about dating: It's a sale. The process of generating interest in someone, building a strong relationship, and closing on a commitment is the same process in dating as it is in selling. If woman can learn the fundamental tactics that salespeople use to win over customers, they can and will win over any man they chose. I won't give away all her insights, but I highly recommend that you read this book!

Jess McCann

Miss A: Where are you from?

Jess McCann: I'm originally from Northern Virginia.  I moved around when I graduated college (Houston, Austin, Boston) but came back to DC in 2004.

Miss A: Where did you go to college?

Jess McCann: I went to George Mason.

Miss A: What did you do before you became a writer?

Jess McCann: I started my own sales company right after college.  I recruited, trained and managed a large outside sales team that sold business services on behalf of AT&T, Staples, and AOL.  After four years I decided to sell the biz, and do something else, so I got into medical equipment sales. 

Miss A: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? When and why did you begin writing?

Jess McCann: I never "decided" to become a writer. When I was teaching my sales people how to make deals, I used dating as an analogy because it was so relatable.  After training that way for so long, and getting such a good response from it, I realized you could also teach the opposite: how to date using a sales analogy. For years I had in the back of my head that someone should write a book on how to "close the deal" on dates using the tricks of the sales trade, but I never thought it would be me. 

Miss A: What inspired you to write your book? 

Jess McCann: I, like many women, had my share of bad dating stories.  I was dumped, stood up, cheated on and left in relationship limbo.  I kept blaming the guys for all the problems I was having.  Then I realized, the only common demoniator in all my relationships, was me.  So once I learned the truth about dating (that it's just a sale that can be lost or won) I turned my love life around, and wanted to tell other women how to do the same!

Miss A: How did you come up with the title?

Jess McCann: It took 2 years to come up with the title.  I had the book completely written and still hadn't thought of anything to call it.  Then I remembered Jerry Maguire's famous catch phrase, You had me at hello.  I replaced the "had me" with "lost him" and voila! The title was born.