Beyond Better with Stacy Ennis: Recent Episodes
Stacy Ennis
Beyond Better is a podcast that explores a simple but profound idea: we all deserve to live lives that are not just better—but beyond better. I’m Stacy Ennis, an author, mom of two, and long-time location independent entrepreneur living in Portugal. Join me as I talk business, location independence, writing, travel, and so much more, all focused on building a life that is beyond better.
Have you ever dreamed of writing a book—but felt unsure where to start or how to actually make it happen? In this special episode of Beyond Better, originally recorded as a live on LinkedIn, I sit down with three incredible authors to take you behind the scenes of their journeys from idea to published book.
You’ll hear real, honest stories about how these authors overcame writing gremlins, built habits that fueled their success, and grew through the transformative process of becoming published authors.
Whether you’re in the early stages of dreaming about your book or deep in the writing process, this discussion will give you practical insights, encouragement, and the motivation to take action on your own author goals.
I hope you enjoy this conversation with the wonderful Hady Méndez, Kevin Hutchison, and Arivee Vargas.
Show notes:
- Learn more about Hady Méndez, author of Calladita No More
- Learn more about Kevin Hutchison, author of Alchemy From Ashes
- Learn more about Arivee Vargas, author of Rise Up
- Learn more about my Idea-to-Draft program
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This week, I’m celebrating a big milestone—my 40th birthday.
I’ve been reflecting deeply on what this new decade means for me: my family, my career, and how I want to move through the world. In this episode, I share the ways I’m leaning more fully into purpose and presence, why I’m prioritizing harmony at home, and how I’m envisioning the next decade with intentionality. From a birthday trip under the stars in Portugal to big creative and professional goals. I’ll take you inside my reflections on growth, love, and contribution.
If you’re thinking about your own next chapter—or simply curious about how to embrace milestones with meaning—this episode is for you.
Show notes:
- Read the full blog post that inspired this week’s episode: Are 40s the Best Decade Yet? Birthday Reflections from a 39-Year-Old
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Are you really ready to write a book?
In this episode, I’ll guide you through the key factors to consider before starting your author journey, from timing and emotional readiness to the practical realities of writing and publishing.
This episode is packed with practical guidance, mindset shifts, and encouragement to help you step into your role as an author with clarity and confidence.
If you’ve ever wondered, Am I ready to write my book?—this video is for you.
👉 Be sure to subscribe for more insights on writing, publishing, and building an author-led business.
📘 Download my free 10 Things You Should Know Before Writing a Nonfiction Book.
📩 Want to know more about coaching? Reach out here: hello@stacyennis.com
After a decade in corporate leadership, Marissa Rodriguez made a bold choice: She left the traditional path behind and embraced freedom, building a career that’s helped clients generate over $100 million in e-commerce revenue. In this episode, we dive into Marissa’s journey from CMO and COO to fractional consultant and founder of Through Experience—an online platform sharing the strategies, mindset, and lessons behind her success.
Marissa opens up about navigating career pivots, mastering e-commerce, achieving location independence, and creating long-term impact through disciplined action and ethical business practices.
You will discover how to turn uncertainty into opportunity, design meaningful work-life balance, and harness the power of e-commerce to build the businesses and life you love.
Learn more about Marissa:
- Website
Show notes:
-
Entrepreneurship for social change, with Vanita Badlani
-
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness, by Eric Jorgenson
Follow me on: * Instagram @stacyennis * Facebook @stacyenniscreative * LinkedIn * YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Are you staring at that blank page wondering if you’re really cut out to write a book?
I'm a bestselling author, book coach, and someone who used to wrestle with those exact doubts. What if I told you that writing a book isn’t reserved for experts, perfectionists, or people who “already know it all”? It’s a learnable skill. And yes, you can absolutely do this.
In this episode, I’ll walk you through:
👉 Why feeling “not enough” is totally normal
👉 How consistency and mindset win over “talent” any day
If you’ve been holding back because you’re not sure you’re “qualified enough,” or because fear keeps showing up—this is your sign to move forward.
Your story, your message, your voice matters more than you realize.
🔗 Get the full blog post here.
📘 Download my free 10 Things You Should Know Before Writing a Nonfiction Book.
📩 Want to know more about coaching? Reach out here: hello@stacyennis.com
What does it really take to step into entrepreneurship—and build a life rooted in freedom and choice along the way? In this episode of Beyond Better, I sit down with Heather Udo, founder and CEO of Shoppable and entrepreneur business coach.
Heather shares the early experiences that set her on the path to entrepreneurship, the story behind launching Shoppable more than 13 years ago, and the mindset shifts that helped her own her role as a founder and CEO. We also dig into practical tips you can use to step confidently into entrepreneurship, whether you’re just starting out or scaling your business.
This is an honest conversation about the realities of building a company, making intentional choices, and creating a business—and a life—that aligns with your values.
Shoppable is an embeddable e-commerce technology that enables brands, retailers, creators, and publishers to power shoppable experiences anywhere online. Beyond her role leading Shoppable, Heather also coaches early-stage tech entrepreneurs as they navigate the challenges of building and growing their businesses.
If you’ve ever wondered how to merge business-building with life design—or how to truly embrace your identity as an entrepreneur—you won’t want to miss this inspiring conversation
Learn more about Heather and Shoppable:
- Shoppable website
- Build or Bail Bootcamp Course by Heather Udo
- Instagram @heatherudo1
Book recommendation:
- Built to Sell by John Warrillow
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
You’ve got a big idea—a message you know the world needs to hear. But how do you take that idea and actually turn it into a best-selling book?
In this episode, I share the three rules every impactful author follows to transform their ideas into a powerful, unforgettable book:
- Make a bold statement
- Uncover the simplicity
- Tell great stories
Whether you’ve been dreaming about your book for years or you’re just starting to explore the possibility, these three rules will help you move from “someday” to creating the book that truly changes lives—including your own.
📚 Read the full blog post here.
📹 Watch the full YouTube video here.
📩 Want to know more about coaching? Reach out here: hello@stacyennis.com.
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this video with a fellow aspiring author—I can’t wait to see the book you’ll bring into the world.
In this week’s solo episode, I’m freshly back from vacation, feeling recharged, and excited to share some reflections with you. In this episode, I pull back the curtain on what it looks like to scale both a business and a life, and how my team and I have reached a really sweet spot that allows me to do the work I love while living fully.
With this renewed energy, I’m thrilled to be launching a brand-new cohort of Idea-to-Draft and to invite you to a free live training on September 17: Unlock the Book Within You to Grow Your Brand.
And this is just the start—we have some really exciting episodes coming your way. I’d love to know what you want to hear about and who you’d love to see on the show. Send your thoughts directly to my producer, Rita, at rita@stacyennis.com.
Show notes:
- Register to the live training on September 17: Unlock the Book Within You to Grow Your Brand
- Learn more about Idea-to-Draft
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
As part of my summer podcast replay series, I’m sharing a replay of a powerful podcast episode with author Joel Pérez.
If you’ve been following my work for any length of time, you know social equity is deeply important to me. So when I met Joel Pérez and learned about his work, I instantly knew I’d love to support his work as a book coach.
In our vulnerable conversation about how culturalhumility can improve leadership, we talk through how to intentionally build a life that is more diverse and open, and why cultural humility is the foundation of connectedness in our workplaces and communities. And we get specific about how to create a more inclusive everyday by surrounding yourself with people whoare different from you. Joel also shares some behind-the-scenes on his author journey, what it was like writing a book, and advice for others who want to become authors too.
Dr. Joel Pérez is an executive and leadership coach, speaker, and consultant, passionate about helping leaders and organizations achieve their goals and develop a posture of cultural humility, so they can have the impact and create the culture they desire. Joel is owner of Apoyo Coaching and Consulting, LLC, and a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation (ICF). His first book, Dear White Leader, came out earlier this week!
Learn more about Joel:
- Website
- Instagram @apoyocoaching01
- Dear White Leader: How to Achieve Organizational Excellence through Cultural Humility
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
As part of my summer podcast replay series, I’m sharing a replay of a powerful podcast episode with author Arivee Vargas.
In this episode, I talk with client and published author (!) Arivee Vargas to explore her journey of professional reinvention. Arivee shares how she transitioned from a high-achieving legal career to a purpose-driven role as a coach, navigating an identity crisis along the way. We dive into the challengesof redefining success, unlearning limiting beliefs, and embracing personal growth beyond traditional career markers.
Arivee also opens up about her book-writing experience, discussing the obstacles she faced and the power of mentorship while writing Your Time to Rise. She offers real, practical strategies for overcoming writer’s block, managing self-doubt, and navigating the editing process.
Whether you're considering a career shift, working on a creative project, or simply looking for inspiration to step into your next chapter, this episode is packed with insight and encouragement.
Learn more about Arivee:
- Website
- Instagram @ariveevargas
- Your Time to Rise: Unlearn Limiting Beliefs, Unlock Your Power, and Unleash Your Truest Self
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
As part of my summer podcast replay series, I’m sharing a replay of a powerful podcast episode, with Karen McNally from Girl Friday Productions.
When you first enter the world of book writing and publishing, the options can feel overwhelming. That’s why I’m excited to welcome Karen McNally of Girl Friday Productions (GFP) to talk all things publishing.
Karen has been with GFP for ten years. Prior to joining, she worked for Amazon Publishing, as well as Amazon’s retail division. She’s passionate about helping authors achieve their goals and ensuring an excellent client experience. Areas of expertise include end-to-end book production, distribution, complex book design, and illustration management, as well as all stripes of print management.
- In this episode, we discuss: How she accidentally ended up in publishing
- Tips for selecting the rightpublishing route for you
- What hybrid publishing is andhow to know if it’s a good option for you
- Why you have to run your booklike a business
- Three things she wishes everynew author knew about publishing
This is a great episode with a lot of heart and useful information. Don’t miss it!
Show notes:
- The True ROI Of Writing A Book (Replay)
Learn more about Karen and Girl Friday Productions:
- Girl Friday Productions website
- Facebook @girlfridayproductions
- YouTube @girlfridayproductions9620
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
I love hearing from you about topics you’re interested in. So in this week’s replay solo episode, I address a very interesting question from a listener:
I do have a question that I’ve been thinking about when I see your posts and wondered how you approach your research for the books you write. I’m curious as to how research factors into the process for you. I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences. I also appreciate your snippets of life in Portugal; it’s been many years since I have visited, but I have great vivid memories!
Join me as I discuss my process for gathering research (a process I love!) for the books I write.
Show notes:
- Transcripts for everyday use: fireflies.ai
- Transcripts for ghostwriting projects: CLK Transcription
- Google Scholar
- Copyright And Intellectual Property 101 For Writers With Attorney Brad Frazer
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
As part of my summer podcast replay series, I’m sharing a replay of a powerful podcast episode with book strategist Richelle Fredson.
Nearly every author I meet wants to be traditionally published. But the path to get a book deal can feel darn near impossible. Not only do you have to create a book proposal, which is a massive project in and of itself, but you then need to pitch agents. Where is an aspiring author to start?
Well, Richelle Fredson is here to help in this week’s episode. As a book proposal coach and publishing consultant, Richelle has worked with aspiring and published authors to create impactful book concepts and competitive book proposals. In this episode, we cover:
- What a nonfiction book proposal is and why authors need one
- The key components of a nonfiction book proposal
- How an author’s platform, credentials, and other aspects factor into their ability to get signed by a publisher
- Common misconceptions about the process of looking for an agent and landing a deal
- Tips for making your proposal stand out and getting your dream book deal
Richelle is the former director of publicity and book marketing for Hay House, and also served in acquisitions, so she knows her stuff. This was a fantastic conversation—don’t miss it!
Learn more about Richelle:
- Instagram @richellefredson
- @richellefredson
- Website
- Podcast: Bound + Determined
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Think you’re too busy to write a book? Think again.
In this episode, I’m sharing 3 powerful secrets that have helped hundreds of busy professionals finally start (and finish!) their books. If you’ve been dreaming of writing a book but feel like life is just too full, this is for you.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- How to build a sustainable writing routine—even if you only have 15 minutes a day.
- Simple tools to organize your ideas and avoid overwhelm.
- Why writing alone is a mistake—and how to build support systems that keep you moving forward.
You don’t need to quit your job or wait for the “perfect time.” You just need systems that support your dream—and that’s what I’m here to help you build.
Resources:
🔗 Get the full blog post here.
📘 Download my free 10 Things You Should Know Before Writing a Nonfiction Book.
📩 Want to know more about coaching? Reach out here: hello@stacyennis.com
As part of my summer podcast replay series, I’m sharing a replay of a powerful podcast episode with Alexa Bigwarf.
Writing a book and being successful as an author is hard work. This week on the podcast, I unpack the hardness and amazingness of the author journey, from writing to marketing and beyond, with Alexa Bigwarfe, a USA Today best-selling author, publisher, and founder and CEO of Write, Publish, Sell. In this episode, we discuss:
- Alexa’s moving, personal journey into publishing
- What authors should know about the big-picture process of writing, editing, publishing, launching, and marketing a book
- The difference between integrating your book into your business growth strategy and making a living as an author
- Advanced author marketing strategies
Alexa owns three hybrid publishing houses: Kat Biggie Press; Chrysalis Press; and Purple Butterfly Press, a children's book publishing company. Her courses and training focus on author professional development, platform growth, and fun, creative ways to market books.
No matter your stage of authorhood—idea to ongoing marketing—I know you’ll find value in this episode. Enjoy!
Learn more about Alexa:
- Website
- Instagram @writepublishsell
- Facebook @WritePubSell
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Writing a nonfiction book doesn’t require magic—it’s a learnable skill. In this video, I walk you through 10 essential tips that have helped hundreds of aspiring authors finally write and finish their books. Whether you're just getting started or stuck mid-draft, these practical, proven strategies will move you forward.
Resources:
🔗 Get the full blog post here.
📘 Download my free 10 Things You Should Know Before Writing a Nonfiction Book
📩 Want to know more about coaching? Reach out here: hello@stacyennis.com
In this episode, I’m sharing a quick update on what’s been going on with the business and life, and what you can expect over the next couple of months. We’re officially pressing pause for a summer break, and we’ll be replaying a few of our most-loved episodes through August.
In September, we are back with fresh content every week. I’m excited to bring you new content that aligns even more deeply with what this community values.
I also share a few updates from behind the scenes, including a huge thank-you to our growing newsletter community and some love for the amazing team that makes it possible to deliver content every week to you.
Thanks for being here. I’m so grateful for this community and excited for what’s ahead.
Show notes:
- Learn more about Idea-to-Draft
- Join my email list.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this episode, I’m walking you through a realistic book publishing timeline—from first idea to finished book launch.
Whether you’re planning to self-publish or go hybrid, this guide will help you understand what takes how long, what tasks overlap, and how to create a schedule that fits your life.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- How long writing the firstdraft actually takes
- What editing involves and howto plan for it
- All the moving pieces in thepublishing process
- What your launch timelineshould really look like
- Why rushing rarely leads togreat results
- And two timeline options tohelp you plan your own path: a 12-month sprint or an 18-month steady marathon.
🔗 Get the full blog post + timeline breakdown here:https://stacyennis.com/publishing-timeline/
Resources: 📘 Download my free 10 Things You Should Know Before Writing a Nonfiction Book
📩 Want to know more about coaching? Reach out here: hello@stacyennis.com
This week’s guest boldly approaches a topic that is often taboo in many families and cultures. Abbe Large, a managing director at Lenox Advisors, discusses how shame and silence often pervade conversations about finances. She talks about the underlying causes and how we can start normalizing healthy, open conversations about money, especially with our children and partners.
Many of us have dreams—like writing a book—but often feel unsure about investing time or money in our goals. We explore, from a financial planning perspective, how we can intentionally invest in ourselves, and some practical tips to save and invest toward those goals. Abbe breaks down the three financial phases—accumulation, distribution, and preservation—by showing what each looks like in real life and why it’s important to plan intentionally for each phase.
Abbe F. Large, CLU®, CLTC, has three decades of experience dedicating herself to her clients’ best interests. Specializing in financial, estate, and retirement services, she also assists corporate clients with strategic employee benefits. She was named on Forbes Top Financial Security Professionals in both 2022, 2023, and 2024. A devoted family woman and active community member, she enjoys paddleboarding, skiing, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Learn more about Abbe:
- Contact: alarge@lenoxadvisors.com
Book recommendation:
- The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself, by Michael A. Singer
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Ever feel stuck? Unmotivated? Distracted? You’re not broken—you’re just human. And more often than not, the issue isn’t your creativity or drive. It’s your habits.
In this video, I’m sharing how I help students and clients get unstuck—whether they’re struggling with writing, strategy, or showing up to create in the first place. I’ll walk you through the surprising questions I ask, what we usually uncover, and the shifts that lead to focus, clarity, and flow.
If you’ve been staring at the blinking cursor, hoping forinspiration to strike…this one’s for you.
Resources: ✍️ How to Write Your Book During anOverwhelming Season
📩 Want to know more about coaching? Reach out here: hello@stacyennis.com
This episode is extra special—because I’m not the one doing the interviewing.
To celebrate 200 episodes of Beyond Better, we’re flipping the script! My amazing podcast producer, Rita, is stepping into the host role to interview me…on my own show.
Together, we explore the original spark behind Beyond Better—why I launched the podcast, what it meant to me then, and how it’s evolved over seven incredible years. We talk about the powerful conversations that have shaped me, the deeper purpose that continues to drive this work, and what I hope for in the next 200 episodes.
Whether you’ve been with me since episode one or you’re just joining, this conversation offers a personal look behind the mic into the mission, vision, and heart of Beyond Better.
Thank you for being here. Truly. This milestone means the world to me, and I’m honored to share it with you.
Book recommendation:
- The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
If you've ever thought, "I should write a book someday," this video is for you.In it, I walk you through the six key steps to turn your expertise, idea, or story into a book that truly makes an impact. Whether you're a business owner, thought leader, or someone with a powerful story to share, this process will help you gain the clarity and confidence to finally get started.Resources:📘 Download my free Life Visioning Guide here: https://stacyennis.com/lifevisionguide 📘 Download my free Author Platform Guide here: https://stacyennis.com/platformguide📘 Download my free 10 Things You Should Know Before Writing a Nonfiction Book here: https://stacyennis.com/10things 📩 Want to know more about coaching? Reach out here: hello@stacyennis.com
What happens when you lose everything—your business, your home, your sense of direction? For Peter Murphy Lewis, aka, Strategic Pete, it was the start of something deeper: a reimagined life and business, built with intention.
Peter is a fractional CMO, documentary filmmaker, and former TV host who once led one of South America's top travel companies. In this conversation, we explore how he rebuilt from the ground up, choosing freedom, family, and sustainability over hustle culture.
We talk about the power of simplicity in marketing, why most campaigns fail to deliver ROI, and what business owners can do differently to create real results. Peter also shares how he's structured his business to support the life he wants to live—and the lessons he's carried with him from the trails, the road, and the stage.
Whether you're building a business, rethinking your marketing strategy, or simply seeking a more aligned way to live and work, this conversation is a grounding and energizing listen.
Show notes:
- The Eisenhower Matrix: How to prioritize your to-do list
Learn more about Peter:
- Website
Book recommendation:
- The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts, by Gary Chapman
- Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, by Gino Wickman
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this episode, I’m joined by Madison Wetherill, the creative force behind Cook at Home Mom and a true champion of realistic, wholesome living. A former self-proclaimed picky eater turned food blogger and mom of three, Madison shares her transformation story—from hesitant eater to confident home cook—and how she’s now inspiring thousands of families to make real food part of everyday life.
We dive into practical strategies for cultivating a home culture centered around wellness (without the overwhelm), how to navigate healthy eating while traveling, and the behind-the-scenes of building a blog and brand that truly serve. Madison’s approach is refreshingly real, filled with grace, and rooted in her values—and this conversation is full of wisdom for anyone who wants to lead their life with more intention.
Learn more about Madison:
- Website
- Instagram @cookathomemom
- Facebook @cookathomemom
Book recommendation:
- The Unplugged Hours: Cultivating a Life of Presence in a Digitally Connected World, by Hannah Brencher
- Do Less: A Revolutionary Approach to Time and Energy Management for Ambitious Women, by Kate Northrup
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This week I have an inspiring conversation with Kevin Hutchison, a newly published author and wonderful person I worked with in my author program, Nonfiction Book School. We talk about his unique path from pastor to marketing professional, with a journey from self-rejecting into self-love. Kevin was inspired to share his story through his upcoming book, Alchemy from Ashes: Bringing My Shattered Faith, Mental Health, and Sexuality into Wholeness. We also explore the roadblocks he encountered during the writing process and how he was able to move through them.
Writing and publishing a book alone is difficult, and creative work can be a slow, nonlinear process. We discuss how Kevin surrounded himself with key people who helped him bring his book to life and how their contributions impacted the final product.
Kevin Hutchison is a marketing professional and former pastor, whose talent and expertise have been leveraged in both profit and not-for-profit organizations. He has worked for national and global agencies, held tenure in communications with a Midwestern mega-church, and has served on boards such as the American Marketing Association and RESPECT, an education-and theater-based anti-bullying nonprofit.
Learn more about Kevin:
- Website
Book recommendation:
- Greenlights, by Mathew McConaughey
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Writing a book as an entrepreneur isn't just about authorship—it's about amplifying your vision, expanding your reach, and building your business. In this episode, I walk you through my proven step-by-step system—used by 100+ successful authors—for writing a nonfiction book that aligns with your entrepreneurial goals.
You'll learn:
- How to clarify your author vision and align it with your business strategy
- What goes into creating a powerful book concept and outline
- How to calendar your writing time for consistent, productive output
- Why editing is a team effort (and what kind of editor you really need)
- How to choose between self, hybrid, or traditional publishing
- The marketing strategies that turn your book into a long-term growth asset
If you’re ready to add “author” to your title and scale your brand with purpose, this episode is your roadmap.
Today’s a special day: Sun Shining on Morning Snow: A Memoir of Identity, Loss, and Living Boldly, the deeply moving memoir by Ingrid Hu Dahl, is officially live! What better way to celebrate this powerful milestone than by revisiting our beautiful conversation on the podcast?
When I first met Ingrid, I knew we were meant to create something meaningful together. She was working on a memoir about identity, loss, and living her truth—and I had the honor of walking alongside her as her book coach. Spoiler: her book is now out in the world, and it's absolutely stunning!
In this episode, Ingrid shares her story of growing up mixed-race, finding her voice through music, and navigating leadership and life transitions as the founder and CEO of her own coaching and consulting firm. We also talk about what it means to own your story—on the page and on the stage—with practical tips for showing up authentically in every space you step into.
Ingrid’s incredible career has spanned leadership roles at Meta, Gap Inc., Capital One, KQED, and beyond. She’s a TEDx speaker, musician, filmmaker, and now, published author.
Learn more about Ingrid:
- Website
- Instagram @ingridhudahl
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Most aspiring authors don’t struggle because they lack talent—they struggle because they’re making the same 3 avoidable mistakes.
In this special introductory episode, I’m kicking off a brand-new format designed specifically for new and aspiring writers—whether you’re working on your first book or finally trying to finish one that’s been sitting in a folder for years.
You’ll learn:
- Why “pantsing” without a plan killsmomentum
- How to actually build a sustainablewriting habit
- Why you shouldn’t write alone—andhow to get support
🎯 Take the free quiz to discover your writingsuperpower
💬 Got a writing mistake story? Share it with me—I’d love to hear it.
📩 Subscribe to get weekly episodes that move you closer to a finished manuscript.
What does it look like to build a life of true harmony, one where your wellness practices aren’t just another item on your to-do list, but an integrated part of how you show up in the world?
This week, I’m joined by Erin Clifford, a National Certified Counselor, NBC-HWC, and author of Wellness Reimagined: A Holistic Approach to Health, Happiness, and Harmony. Erin is also the managing director at Clifford Law Offices, which gives her a unique perspective to support high-achieving professionals in aligning personal wellness with demanding careers.
In our conversation, Erin shares the personal journey that led her to this work, and offers practical, grounded strategies for living well—from applying SMART goals in a meaningful way to discovering your core values and using them as a compass in daily life. We also dive into her book-writing process and what it taught her about sustainable wellness.
Whether you’re looking to reset your routine, reconnect with your purpose, or simply find a bit more harmony in your day-to-day, this episode offers inspiration and actionable insight for wherever you are in your wellness path.
Learn more about Erin:
- Website
- Facebook @erincliffordwellness
- X: @erinwellness
- Instagram: @erinwellness
- YouTube @erincliffordwellness
Book recommendation:
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this episode of Beyond Better, I introduce the Writing Superpower Quiz specially designed to uplift those of you writers who often focus on your weaknesses. This insightful quiz helps you identify your unique writing superpowers, while drawing on my expertise of working with over 100 books.
You will learn about the four superpower types: Super Verbalizer, Super Ideator, Super Learner, and Super Discipline, each accompanied by growth opportunities and practical tips.
By focusing on strengths, the quiz offers a personalized approach to enhance the writing process, combining fun with practical advice to support aspiring nonfiction authors. Don’t miss this week’s episode and jump in to take the quiz and share your experience!
Show notes:
- Writing Superpower Quiz
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This week’s episode highlights an insightful conversation I have with Lata Hamilton, a change leadership and confidence mentor based in Sydney, Australia. We talk about how she carved her own path for change—both professionally and personally—and the turning point that led her to leave a traditional career path to step into independent consulting.
We also discuss her book, Pioneer Your Career Change, and the one thing she wished she’d known at the start of her author journey. (You know we have to talk books!)
After tripling her salary in just three years to almost $200,000, Lata’s mission is to help women carve their own paths for change in career, leadership, and life, and find the confidence and authenticity to truly earn what they’re worth. She is the creator of the Leading Successful Change program and the founder and CEO of Passion Pioneers. Lata has worked with some of Australia’s biggest companies to initiate changes that have impacted over 100,000 people: operating model changes impacting thousands, global cultural transformations, and digital transformation that is changing the way that we work.
Show notes:
- The Instance Change Consultant Retreat
- Free Coaching Action Guide
Learn more about Lata:
- Website
- Podcast: InsightTimer
- Instagram @latahamilton
- YouTube @LataHamilton
Book recommendation:
- The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this week’s episode, I have a delightful conversation with Louise Brogan about how she helps people boost their online visibility through content marketing, specifically through LinkedIn. Louise walks us through how to build a sustainable presence using four key pillars of her LinkedIn strategy—especially valuable for busy entrepreneurs and thought leaders.
She also shares how to effectively use video to strengthen your LinkedIn presence, as well as common mistakes to avoid when developing your profile. We also talk about her book, Raise Your Visibility on LinkedIn, and how the book-writing journey impacted her growth personally and professionally.
Louise is an award-winning LinkedIn expert, author, podcaster, YouTuber, and mother of three who runs a boutique marketing agency working with B2B clients to create their LinkedIn content with a focus on video marketing. She is a Small Business Champion in the UK and was recognized by King Charles at a special reception at Buckingham Palace. She is very proud to champion other entrepreneurs, especially women over forty.
Learn more about Louise:
- Grab Your FREE Guide: 3 Easy Ways to Get Started with Video
- Raise Your Visibility Online podcast
- YouTube @RaiseYourVisibilityOnline
Book recommendation:
- The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver
- Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You, by John Warrillow
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In today’s podcast episode, I give an update on my life in Portugal. When my family and I decided to move here, we understood that no place is perfect. There are trade-offs wherever you decide to land. It’s important to understand your personal hierarchy of needs—a crucial element when deciding to relocate. For instance, decide what your non-negotiables are when choosing living arrangements. We also made an intentional division of household roles, with my husband being a stay-at-home dad.
We have lived in four countries, and we don’t know if Portugal is our forever home, but for now it’s the perfect place for our family.
Join me as I talk all things Portugal and answer your questions about the challenges and rewards of living abroad.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this week’s episode, I welcome sales expert and communication strategist Nikki Rausch to explore the art of selling with intention, clarity, and heart. With over 25 years of experience working with powerhouse organizations like NASA, HP, and the Gates Foundation, Nikki brings a wealth of knowledge to the table—along with a deep commitment to helping women sell with integrity.
We dive into how shifting your sales mindset from “selling to win” to “selling to serve” can transform your business. Nikki shares how her background in neurolinguistic programming helps clients authentically connect with their audience, navigate sales conversations with confidence, and overcome the common mistakes that keep entrepreneurs from closing with impact.
Whether you’re growing your business, launching a book, or learning to trust your voice, this conversation will leave you feeling equipped and inspired. If you’ve ever felt that sales isn’t your thing—this episode will change your mind.
Show notes:
- Seal the Deal: Hone Your Skills in Asking the Right Questions to Close More Deals
- Hidden Brain podcast
- Nikki’s book recommendation: The Go-Giver
Learn more about Nikki:
- Website
- Facebook: @yoursalesmaven
- Instagram:@ your_sales_maven
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
In this episode of the podcast, I talk about accountability and following through on personal and professional goals, particularly when it comes to writing a book. I share how to increase your success in goal achievement by a massive 95%, and delve into the significance of calendaring and habit formation. I also walk through options to drive accountability to support your success, and how to cultivate a future-focused success mindset.
If you have a big goal you want to make happen, don’t miss this episode.
Show notes:
- Learn more about my Idea-to-Draft Accelerator and Author Mentorship program here.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
What can I say but: wow. I had a wonderful conversation with four fabulous authors last week on LinkedIn—and I’m sharing that conversation with you. Join authors Hady Méndez, Dr. Luissa Kiprono, Joel Pérez, and Kevin Hutchinson as they share about how their books are creating an impact in the world.
This is a powerful listen for anyone who has ever considered writing a book. We focus on the why behind their books, and how they are making an impact through authorhood. You’ll get to hear from real authors about how they showed up, put in the work, and dug deeply to achieve their dream of authorhood, and are now creating positive change in the world.
Going it alone is hard—and often leads to countless beautiful books in digital drawers, waiting to see the sunlight. These authors organized both support and community around them to make their dream happen.
Show notes:
- Learn more about my Idea-to-Draft Accelerator and Author Mentorship program here.
- Learn about Hady Méndez
- Learn about Dr. Luissa Kiprono
- Learn about Joel Pérez
- Learn about Kevin Hutchinson
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this week’s solo episode, I’m sharing a bit about my post-vacation work life and answering your questions about my book-writing program, Idea-to-Draft (ITD). From how it works to the investment to how much 1:1 time you’ll get with me, I break it all down so you understand the core elements of the program.
It’s one of my shorter episodes to date but packed with information you’ll want to know if you have a goal of writing a nonfiction book.
Show notes:
- Learn more about my Idea-to-Draft Accelerator and Author Mentorship program here.
- Learn more about the Author Influence Circle community here.
- Book a call here.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Disciplined habits are the cornerstone to my life. In this week’s solo replay episode, I explore how the mindset and habits I’ve honed and taught my clients and students for more than a decade lead to success. Specifically, I cover how to:
- Overcome obstacles to goal achievement, even if the challenges feel insurmountable
- Develop a mindset of self-belief, worthiness, abundance, and potential
- Make incremental progress toward big goals—and achieve them!
- Create the necessary habits and behaviors to support your success in all areas of your life
- Build self-trust by honoring commitments you make to yourself
This is one from the heart. I hope you enjoy it. And if the episode adds value to your life, I’d be deeply grateful if you would rate and review the show.
Show notes:
- Learn more and apply to Idea-to-Draft here.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This week on Beyond Better, I talk with client—and soon-to-be published author—Hady Méndez. I’ve had the honor of guiding Hady through my six-month program, Idea-to-Draft. As I’ve gotten to know her in the program, I knew I had to share her insights with you.
In this episode, we talk about her personal story of freedom and empowerment. She shares about key themes in her book, including using your voice, championing yourself, celebrating your successes, fostering community, and practicing self-care. And of course, we talk about her author journey, and she shares how she maintained momentum during the six months of our program to not only finish her first draft but also complete editing and sign with a publisher, plus begin organizing her marketing team.
Hady Méndez is a New York-based best-selling author, Latina speaker, and ERG coach. She is the founder and CEO of Boldly Speaking LLC, a company that is transforming the professional experiences of underestimated professionals by providing them with the skills to rise and thrive in the corporate world or in whatever path they choose. I can’t wait for you to meet her in this episode!
Show notes:
- Free Masterclass: Grow Your Business by Writing Your Book
Learn more about Hady:
- Substack Hady Unfiltered
- Website
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this solo episode, I discuss the transformative power of writing a book and how to accomplish your goal of becoming an author. Along with sharing my personal experience of how authorhood has affected my life, I show you how author status can unlock opportunities for personal and business growth.
There are lots of programs out there that offer a “quick write” solution, but I advocate instead for a deep engagement in the writing process to foster meaningful insights and a transformational experience. If you would like to identify and develop your catalyst book, check out my , complete with an ideation process and road map.
Don’t miss this opportunity to step boldly into your purpose.
Show notes:
- Free Masterclass: Grow Your Business by Writing Your Book
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
I love this week’s interview on Beyond Better with guest, Nina Sossamon-Pogue. We had a real, raw conversation about resilience and mental health, drawing from Nina’s remarkable journey through elite athletics, television news, and corporate leadership.
After leaving home at age thirteen to train as a gymnast, she became a USA Gymnastics team member and later an SEC athlete at LSU, until an injury ended her gymnastics career. This injury was a catalyst for a twenty-year career as an Emmy-winning journalist and news anchor.
Nina later transitioned into tech and corporate leadership, playing an integral role in a successful IPO. Today, she is a sought-after speaker, best-selling author, and podcast host who helps individuals and organizations thrive through challenges and change to reach new levels of success.
This was such an honest, valuable conversation. Don’t miss it.
Show notes:
- Nina's workshop
- Grow Your Business by Writing a Book Masterclass
Follow Nina on:
- Website
- This Seriously Sucks podcast
- Instagram @nina_sp.eaks
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
I love getting to talk shop with other publishing pros, and book proposal coach Richelle Fredson is one of my very favorite in the industry.
In this episode of Beyond Better, we discuss how great books are formed at the intersection of strategy and creativity and explore the magic of the book-writing process. Pairing Richelle’s expertise in crafting winning proposals that land dream book deals with my expertise in the book-writing process from idea to draft, we share practical tips to marry strategy and creativity in your author journey.
This conversation originally aired as a LinkedIn Live, and it was so good I had to share it with you on the podcast too. If you’re an aspiring author, don’t miss this episode!
Follow Richelle on:
- Instagram @richellefredson
- Website
- Podcast: Bound + Determined
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In today’s episode of Beyond Better, I’m joined by client Dr. Amanda Hanson, a leading voice in the world of psychology among women. Known as the Midlife Muse on social media, Dr. Hanson’s spiritual approach to aging has reached hundreds of millions of women worldwide.
Many of us look at aging as something to fight against—something we don’t want to accept, let alone embrace. Yet when Dr. Hanson reached midlife, she made a bold choice to see aging as a spiritual experience.
In this episode, we discuss how women can choose a beautiful path, one that sheds past beliefs and anchors into a new way of being a woman. She shares about the concept of being “magnetic” and how to show up with true presence and authenticity. We also talk about her journey of writing her book and how the deep introspection she invested throughout the process created a book that is sure to fuel the spiritual aging movement.
Dr. Amanda Hanson’s unique approach merges clinical psychology with ancient holistic practices. Her powerful debut book, Muse: The Magnetism of Women Who Stop Abandoning Themselves, will be released in March 2025.
Follow Dr. Amanda Hanson on:
- Website
- Instagram @midlife.muse
- TikTok @midlifemuse
- YouTube @midlifemuse
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
One of the first questions people ask me when they learn I live in Portugal is whether I speak Portuguese. That’s why I’m thrilled to share my conversation on Beyond Better with Anita da Silva, a certified teacher with nineteen years of experience and founder of “Portuguese with Anita,” one of the biggest communities of Portuguese learners that boasts 100,000 students on its social media platforms.
Along with sharing about my language-learning journey, we discuss the impact of learning the local language and how it affects one’s experience as an expat. Anita shares about what motivated her to support expats in Portugal.
People often underestimate what it’s like to navigate life in an area that speaks a different language. And Portuguese is tough to learn! We discuss how language shapes one’s understanding of culture and opens a door to experiencing life abroad more fully.
Anita also offers tips for those relocating to a country like Portugal when they don’t speak the language:
- Digital tools and platforms to make relocation easier
- Benefits of a coach or language teacher
- What happiness in a new country can look like
If you’re considering location independence, this episode gives valuable tips and insights on how to approach a new language when living as an expat.
Follow Anita on:
- Website
- Instagram @portuguesewithanita
- YouTube @PortuguesewithAnita
- Join her newsletter
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
There have been a lot of changes happening in my beloved home country. And over the past weeks, I’ve had countless conversations with aspiring authors who are uncertain about the future and how their message, mission, and story fit into all that’s going on around them.
In this solo episode, I share why now is the exact right time to lean in, and why your work—and book—is important now more than ever.
Show notes:
-
- I Moved Abroad — Now I Don’t Know if I’ll Ever ReturnFollow me on:
- Instagram@stacyennis
- Facebook@stacyenniscreative
- YouTube@stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, emailhello@stacyennis.com or visithttp://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Christina’s personal story is as powerful as her professional journey. She grew up as an outsider in Utah—one of the few Black, female, liberal individuals in a predominantly white, conservative, and Mormon environment. Experiencing firsthand how narratives about race, religion, and identity shape behavior and interactions, she realized how powerful stories can be in defining our sense of self and how we relate to others. This realization fueled her career.
As the founder of The New Quo, Christina helps leaders recognize the stories that influence their beliefs about power and leadership, so they can rewrite them in ways that foster deeper trust, belonging, and innovation. She’s trained over 14,000 leaders across nine industries, teaching them how to break through conventional leadership models and create equity-driven, status-quo-breaking organizations.
Christina brings a mix of personal and professional insights:
- Her experience growing up as a racial and religious minority in Utah, and how it shaped her understanding of the stories we tell ourselves about power and self-worth
- How narrative intelligence helps leaders identify and disrupt biases, improve communication, and create more inclusive and innovative environments
- The transformative power of storytelling for behavioral change and social impact
If you’re looking for ways to move beyond better to achieve something truly transformational, join us for today’s podcast.
Learn more about Christina:
- Instagram @christinablacken
- The New Quo website
- Christina’s Learning community
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this episode of Beyond Better, I talk with client and published author (!) Arivee Vargas to explore her journey of professional reinvention. Arivee shares how she transitioned from a high-achieving legal career to a purpose-driven role as a coach, navigating an identity crisis along the way. We dive into the challenges of redefining success, unlearning limiting beliefs, and embracing personal growth beyond traditional career markers.
Arivee also opens up about her book-writing experience, discussing the obstacles she faced and the power of mentorship while writing Your Time to Rise. She offers real, practical strategies for overcoming writer’s block, managing self-doubt, and navigating the editing process.
Whether you're considering a career shift, working on a creative project, or simply looking for inspiration to step into your next chapter, this episode is packed with insight and encouragement.
Learn more about Arivee:
- Website
- Instagram @ariveevargas
- Your Time to Rise: Unlearn Limiting Beliefs, Unlock Your Power, and Unleash YourTruest Self
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
This week on Beyond Better, I welcome Scott Osman and Jacquelyn Lane of 100 Coaches Agency, an organization cofounded with Marshall Goldsmith in 2016, designed to amplify the collective impact of the world’s most iconic leadership thinkers and executive coaches.
This conversation was a pure delight. Scott and Jacquelyn share their company’s proprietary curation process of a relationship-first philosophy, and pull back the curtain to detail their journey writing their Wall Street Journal best-selling book, Becoming Coachable. We also discuss their new book imprint, 100 Coaches Publishing, and how authorhood has scaled their impact.
If you value personal growth and impact, don’t miss this episode.
Learn more about Scott and Jacquelyn:
- Becoming Coachable: Unleashing the Power of Executive Coaching to Transform Your Leadership and Life
- 100 Coaches Website
- Scott Osman LinkedIn
- Jacquelyn Lane LinkedIn
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Do you have an explorer’s spirit when it comes to personal growth? I love that framing—it elicits a sense of curiosity and discovery, two qualities embodied by this week’s guest on Beyond Better, author Seline Shenoy.
In this conversation, we dive into the six core needs of The Nomadic Soul—the title of her book—and explore how visionaries like Maya Angelou, Walt Disney, and Jane Goodall embodied their approach to both personal and spiritual freedom. She also shares behind the scenes of her author journey and how she’s been able to expand her impact through her book.
Learn more about Seline:
- Instagram @selineshenoy
- Website: https://selineshenoy.com/
- The Dream Catcher podcast
- The Nomadic Soul: A Seeker’s Guide to Finding a Sense of Self and Belonging in the Modern World
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Have you ever wondered how best-selling authors and media icons write so many books? What is their process like? What marketing strategies do they use to get their book into readers’ hands?
This week, I’m excited to welcome back Farnoosh Torabi, one of America’s leading personal finance authorities. In this candid discussion, she shares behind the scenes on her author journey writing four books across fifteen years, including support along the way and her publishing journey. Bring your pen and paper to this one, because you’ll want to take notes!
Farnoosh is a multi-best-selling author, former CNBC host and creator of the Webby-nominated podcast So Money. Her most recent book is A Healthy State of Panic: Follow Your Fears to Build Wealth, Crush Your Career and Win at Life. Her award-winning and critically acclaimed podcast has surpassed 25 million downloads, thanks to its one-of-a-kind interviews and deep conversations about money. The New York Times calls her advice, “perfectly practical.”
Show notes:
- Book to Brand event
Learn more about Farnoosh:
- Website: https://farnoosh.tv/
- Podcast: So Money
- YouTube @FarnooshTorabiTV
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Listen to a short and sweet message from me to you, sharing a holiday message and a sneak peek into the new year. I share a bit about what we’re working on for authors (so excited!) and what I’m looking forward to both in business and life here in Portugal.
Show notes:
- FREE Live Webinar New Year, New Book: How to Finish Your Nonfiction Book in 2025
- Author Influence Circle community
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Along with supporting our team on all things words, and fixing all my typos in my newsletter every week, Kim is a masterful book editor and writer. In this episode, we discuss:
- Her journey in the field, including going back to university post-master’s in music to pursue editing and writing
- The types of editing needed for books (hint: there are four!)
- How she helps authors bring out the best in their books
- How aspiring authors can avoid lengthy/costly editorial work
- What authors should know about the editing process and choosing an editor
Kim’s clients include business owners, thought leaders, and industry professionals, many of whom are first-time authors and new to sharing their ideas with the world. She is an expert in various genres of nonfiction, including business, self-help, faith-based, memoir, and academic works.
Show notes:
- Why discipline is everything by Kim Foster
- How to do book research by Kim Foster
- Episode 41 | Copyright and Intellectual Property 101 for Writers with Attorney Brad Frazer
Learn more about Kim:
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This week’s guest is a dear friend of mine I connected with on a shared mission of entrepreneurship for social good. Vanita Badlani’s passion for vegetarianism and fashion led her to address a gap she found in the fashion industry—making high-quality products that were not only beautiful and vied for but were also cruelty-free and sustainable while being accessible.
Join us as we discuss driving change in the fashion industry through sustainable innovation and delivering excellence in an ethical way—and how consumers can be discerning when purchasing products labeled as “ethical.”
Vanita Badlani is a sustainability warrior and impact entrepreneur, leading LaBante London, a luxury vegan accessories brand dedicated to ethical fashion and environmental stewardship, to promote the power of conscious consumerism.
Show notes:
- Labante’s gift collection
- Labante’s laptop bags
- Labante’s Alder Clutch & Cross-Body Bag
Learn more about Vanita:
- Instagram @vanitabadlani
- Labante London Website
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
As a child, my dream was to have a career in books—a desire most writers share. This week’s guest on Beyond Better, Dwight Garner, gets to live that dream every day as a book critic for The New York Times.
In this delightful conversation, we talk about Garner’s latest book, The Upstairs Delicatessen. This smart, thoughtful book about reading and eating had me laughing out loud and reaching for a snack. We also discuss his writing and research process, as well as his role as a book critic. And as you might expect, I ask about his writing process, including how he balances writing with a demanding job at The Times.
Alongside book-related talk, we explore the role of food in family connection—and he answers a special question from my eleven-year-old daughter.
If you love reading, writing, and eating—and listening to two book lovers talk about these topics—don’t miss this week’s episode.
Show notes:
- Eat Your Books
- Dwight's book: The Upstairs Delicatessen: On Eating, Reading, Reading About Eating, and Eating While Reading
Learn more about Dwight:
- X: @DwightGarner
- Facebook: Dwight Garner
- Instagram: @dwightgarner
- Threads: @dwightgarner
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Many people have an unrealistic idea of self-care as bubble baths and expensive shopping sprees. These can be quick fixes, but they aren’t what truly nourishes us. My conversation with Amber Wardell explores what healthy self-care is all about, which includes confronting self-limiting behaviors and beliefs, challenging our inner demons, and pushing past our comfort zone.
Amber walks us through her own journey, confronting traditional beliefs about settling for what life gives, challenging the notion of reaching for the toxic, unhealthy “potato chips” that are offered by our quick-fix culture. And of course, we talk about how her pursuit of healthy self-care impacted her book-writing journey, including a few tips for aspiring authors.
Amber Wardell is a doctor of cognitive psychology and author of the upcoming book Self-Care Potato Chips: Choosing Nourishing Self-Care in a Quick-Fix Culture. She is also a contributor for Psychology Today where she writes about contemporary feminism, and runs a blog where she tackles topics related to marriage, motherhood, and mental health.
Show notes:
- How to do a dream week
Learn more about Amber:
- Website
- Beyond Self-Care Potato Chips
- YouTube @Amberwardell
- Instagram @sensible_amber
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Here’s part two answering your questions after my recent Katie Couric Media piece. In this episode, I answer a few more questions:
- What is the path to citizenship in Portugal?
- How did you end up in southern Portugal?
- How did you decide where to move abroad?
If you’ve ever considered moving abroad, don’t miss this week’s episode!
Show notes:
- Katie Couric Media piece: I Moved Abroad — Now I Don’t Know if I’ll Ever Return
- Portugal resources on my blog
- Join the newsletter
- Episode 164 | Portugal QA: Part 1
Follow me on:Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
After my recent Katie Couric Media piece, I received so many questions about life in Portugal—wow! In this episode, I answer a few of the questions:
- What advice can you offer for the process of moving?
- What is the schooling like there?
- What’s the best tax structure as a small business owner?
Tune in next week for part 2 on taxes, citizenship, and how we picked where we live.
Show notes:
- Katie Couric Media piece: I Moved Abroad — Now I Don’t Know if I’ll Ever Return
- Portugal resources on my blog
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Bill Gates does a Think Week every year, and I do something similar: Dream Week.
In this episode, I walk through my Dream Week plan and talk you through what I’m doing this year to dream and strategize for 2025. I also share some of the challenges I ran into with this year’s Dream Week, and my plans for later in the month, when I travel to London for another layer of thinking and planning for the year ahead.
Do you do a Dream Week or set aside time for thinking and planning for the next year? Tell me about it in the comments of this week’s episode.
Show notes:
- Dream weak routine ✨@stacyennis on Instagram
- Life Visioning Guide
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
The moment I met this week’s guest, Ingrid Hu Dahl, I knew we’d create something beautiful together. She was working on a memoir about identity, loss, and living her truth, and needed a coach to walk the author journey with her. Spoiler: it was me. Her beautifully written book comes out next year.
In this episode, we discuss her story growing up mixed-race, including her rock background and current work as the founder and CEO of her coaching and consulting business, specializing in leadership and inclusion, and life transitions. She also shares about her author journey and how she navigated sharing a highly personal story alongside her work as a leadership coach and speaker. And we talk about owning the stage, including some practical tips to show up as your authentic self in front of hundreds of people.
Ingrid’s career journey includes leadership roles at Meta, Gap Inc, Capital One, KQED, and several nonprofit organizations. She is a TEDx speaker; a founding member of the Willie Mae Rock Camp for girls in Brooklyn, NYC; has performed in multiple touring bands; and has written, filmed, and directed two short films on identity and mixed-race experiences. Her memoir, Sun Shining on the Morning Snow, will be published in May 2025 by Page Two Publishing.
Learn more about Ingrid:
- Website
- Instagram @ingridhudahl
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this episode of the podcast, I talk about accountability and following through on personal and professional goals, particularly when it comes to writing a book. I share a stat on how to increase your success in goal achievement by a massive 95%, and delve into the significance of calendaring and habit formation. I also walk through options to drive accountability to support your success, and how to cultivate a future-focused success mindset.
If you have a big goal you want to make happen, don’t miss this episode.
Show notes:
- Learn more about Idea-to-Draft group coaching program
- Join the Author Influence Circle community
- Are you ready to learn more about 1:1 coaching? I would love to connect, book a call now!
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This week’s episode is a bit different than others I’ve published—and that’s exactly why I’m excited to share it with you.
In it, I have a conversation with Mara Mureş, an artist traveler who left Portugal by bicycle in February 2024 and is currently in Pakistan. We talk about the logistics of traveling alone as a single female by bicycle, how she captures her experiences through art, and how she’s funding her travels through a book she created about her journeys.
Join us as we look at travel and art from adifferent angle and how writing a book can fuel your impact.
Learn more about Mara:
- Instagram @muresmara
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Money. It’s on everyone’s mind but something people rarely have conversations about.
This week, we’re changing that. We’re talking all about money with Samanda Morales, the founder and owner of WellFin360 LLC. Samanda shares her money story and early money challenges, including maxed-out credit and zero dollars in the bank—and how she overcame them to write a new money story. Today, she has built a life of abundance and helps others do the same through her fee-only financial planning and investment advisory boutique firm, offering personalized services to early and mid-career professionals, business owners, and companies seeking alternatives to one-size-fits-all solutions.
If money is on your mind, don’t miss this week’s inspiring, practical episode.
Learn more about Samanda:
- WellFin360 website
- Instagram @samanda.morales
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
It’s been a hot minute since I’ve hosted one of these! On October 3, I hosted a live discussion on LinkedIn to talk about the journey of some wonderful authors I had the pleasure of guiding through their book-writing journey.
I can’t wait to introduce you to five incredible future and published authors: Jacquelyn Wright, Ingrid Hu Dahl, Regina Lawless, Joe Pérez, and Mike Green.
This was a fun and valuable talk for anyone who has ever considered writing a book. You’ll get to hear from real authors about how they showed up, put in the work, and dug deeply to achieve their dream of authorhood.
Going it alone is hard—and often leads to countless beautiful books in digital drawers, waiting to see the sunlight. These authors organized both support and community around them to make their dream happen.
Show notes:
- Learn more about my Idea-to-Draft Accelerator and Author Mentorship program here.
- Book a call here.
Authors books:
- Wandermust: A Hero's Journey to Seven Truths by Mike Green
- Do You: A Journey of Success, Loss, and Learning to Live a More MeaningFULL Life
- Dear White Leader: How to Achieve Organizational Excellence through Cultural Humility
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this episode, I share a replay of my recent master class on proven strategies to write a book, even when you’re busy.
In fact, nearly every client I work with is incredibly busy! Many future authors are surprised to learn that my coaching isn’t just about the skill of book writing and accountability—it’s about lifestyle design too. An optimized schedule equals an optimized brain, which helps you tap into focus and flow faster, helping you 4x your productivity.
In this master class replay episode, I teach strategies to:
- Generate time abundance
- Create rock-solid boundaries around your focus
- Be wildly creative and productive
- Create a road map for yourself through an outline and writing plan
- Develop the discipline to accomplish your dreams
And I detail how writing a book is the one thing you can do to move the needle on all your other goals, from personal development to social impact to business revenue growth.
Show notes:
- Learn more about my Idea-to-Draft Accelerator and Author Mentorship program here.
- Learn more about the Author Influence Circle community here.
- Book a call here.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this week’s solo episode, I’m sharing a bit about my post-vacation work life and answering your questions about my book-writing program, Idea-to-Draft (ITD). From how it works to the investment to how much 1:1 time you’ll get with me, I break it all down so you understand the core elements of the program.
It’s one of my shorter episodes to date but packed with information you’ll want to know if you have a goal of writing a nonfiction book.
Show notes:
- Click here to join the master class How to Make Time to Write a Book—Even When You’re Busy, happening on September 26.
- Learn more about my Idea-to-Draft Accelerator and Author Mentorship program here.
- Learn more about the Author Influence Circle community here.
- Book a call here.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Past client and published author Mike Green is living his dream life leading Alaskan leadership adventures. He says his life today in large part is a direct result of writing and publishing his book, Wandermust: A Hero’s Journey to Seven Truths.
In this week’s episode of Beyond Better, we talk about the ways publishing Mike’s book positively impacted his life, including helping him step into who he is as a leadership coach and solidifying his message to the world. We also cover roadblocks he encountered throughout the writing process and his experience in my accelerated author program, Idea-to-Draft.
Click here to join the master class “How to Make Time to Write a Book—Even When You’re Busy, happening on September 26”.
Connect with Mike:
- Mike’s book: Wandermust
- Mike’s website
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
A little while back, I hosted an author celebration and meetup for my clients and students. It was a beautiful celebration of the amazing authors I get to work with, and I left overflowing with gratitude. I had such a good time that I was inspired to record a podcast episode with a look behind the scenes at the work I do with authors.
In this week’s replay episode, I share:
- A recap of the meetup (it was so good!)
- Why I’m so passionate about growing authors
- How I work with authors, including my Idea-to-Draft program
- My criteria for taking on clients and inviting students into my cohorts
- Why celebration is such an important part of being successful as an author
- How my clients and students are living their purpose in this world—and scaling their impact
This episode is a bit sappy, I’ll admit. I love what I do. I love the authors I work with. I believe in them and in their ability to make a difference in this world.
Learn more about the group coaching program, Idea-to-Draft.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Burnout is real, and it’s something a huge percentage of people will experience in their lives. In this week’s episode with former head of DEI at Instagram Regina Lawless and public speaking expert Misty Megia, we dig into what burnout is, how to recognize it, and what to do about it.
Regina is also a past client whose book is a wonderful read if you’re experiencing a big personal shift, including grief, loss, burnout, or other big challenges—or just want to read a great book.
Misty Megia CEO and creative director is a business strategist extraordinaire with over 20 years’ experience in market strategy, project management, public speaking, corporate branding, and channel marketing.
Regina Lawless helps high-achieving women of color find purpose beyond their paycheck in order to experience more bliss in their lives and sustainable success at work and at home.
Learn more about Misty:
- Website
- All social media platforms: @mistymegia
- Public speaking program for women: https://mistymegia.com/work/program/
Learn more about Regina:
- Instagram @regina.lawless
- Website
- Do You: A Journey of Success, Loss, and Learning to Live a More MeaningFULL Life
- Work-Life Alignment Quiz
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This week on the podcast, I’m excited to have a conversation about aptitudes and uncovering hidden genius with author and YouScience cofounder, Betsy Wills. I met Betsy years ago and was inspired by her passion for aptitudes and how they play into uncovering one’s genius and living a full life. I even took the aptitude assessment through YouScience, which helped me understand myself and my gifts better.
Now, she’s gearing up for the publication of her book, Your Hidden Genius: The Science-Backed Strategy to Uncovering and Harnessing Your Innate Talents—and that’s exactly what we discuss in this episode: how to uncover your innate talents.
We dig into:
- What aptitudes are and how understanding aptitudes help us understand ourselves better
- Betsy’s personal story and how it led her to cofound YouScience, a career guidance company for students that uses aptitudes as the foundation
- How understanding innate aptitudes contributes to career wellness
- Her book journey and how she hopes her book will impact lives
Listen in on this conversation and get ready to be inspired!
Learn more about Betsy:
- Instagram @betsywills
- Preorder her book: Your Hidden Genius
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this week’s podcast episode, I’m answering your questions on business and writing tips:
- What customer relationship management (CRM) do you use?
- I’m just finishing my book and have been approached by several publishers whose prices range from $1,000 to $10,000. Do you have a word of direction?
- I am looking to expand my writing portfolio and would appreciate some tips and resources if you have any to share.
I love getting questions from listeners, and I had an especially great time responding to these!
Show notes:
- Idea-to-Draft group coaching program
- Determining Your Publishing Path With Jane Friedman
- The True ROI of Writing a Book
- How This Writer Created a Profitable Business Through Ghostwriting With Stacy Ennis
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this week’s episode, I share my update on life, work, and living in Portugal—five years in.
It’s hard to believe we left the US six years ago, moving first to Thailand and then to our home in Portugal’s Algarve. There have been ups and downs, and you might be curious: Is this our forever home? I’ll answer that question in this episode.
I also detail the opportunities and challenges I face in business, along with my assessment of the private medical system here, education, cost of living, safety, food, and overall quality of life. I try to be as detailed as possible in this episode to give you a look into the real life of a long-term expat in Europe.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Sometimes you meet people you automatically vibe with—and that’s how I felt when I met this week’s guest, Patrick Buchanan. In this episode, he shares his story as a Black, gay man in a lower-income family to becoming the VP of marketing at one of the top fashion companies in the US.
Patrick has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music and entertainment industry, crafting culture-defining campaigns. Named one of Brand Innovator’s Top 40 Marketers and earning a spot on Nice Kicks’ Future 50 list, Patrick’s passion for marketing shines through his numerous accolades.
In our conversation, Patrick details some of the challenges he’s overcome and lessons gained from those experiences. Importantly, he explains how self-reinvention has helped him reach where he is today, and how you can lean into self-reinvention too.
We also talk fashion design, thrifting, and minimalism—all topics I love!
Show notes:
- Elevate your personal style, with Laura Tully
Learn more about Patrick:
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This week’s conversation with author Paul Weigel is moving, inspiring, and sure to get you thinking differently about your life.
When a cancer diagnosis rocked Paul’s world, he turned to his daughter for strength, and she became his role model. From her, he drew perseverance and strength, overcoming cancer and moving into a more purposeful life.
Paul Weigel is a father, a six-time Ironman triathlete, a college professor and consultant, and a self-described professional dabbler. A lover of the outdoors and hiking, he spent much of his life in the Pacific Northwest, finishing countless races and climbing many mountains, including Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Adams. But his real passion, and his real inspiration, is creating unforgettable memories with his daughter.
In this episode, we discuss Paul’s athletic background, cancer journey, and book-writing process for his recently published book, Iron Dad. If you’re looking to be inspired to live more fully and curious about the process of authorhood, don’t miss this episode.
Learn more about Paul:
- Iron Dad: A Cancer Survivor’s Story of Discovering Strength, Life, and Love Through Fatherhood
- Website
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
We are back with fresh new content just for you!
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This Ask Stacy episode is full of writing and publishing-related questions from my listeners. Topics covered in this episode include:
- What to do if English is your second language and you’re finding it challenging to write.
- Whether traditional publishing is better than self-publishing.
- If ChatGPT is an ethical route to write a book.
- The average word count for a nonfiction manuscript and what to do if you’re struggling to create enough for a whole book.
Show notes:
- Determining Your Publishing Path with Jane Friedman
Learn more about my Idea-to-Draft Accelerator and Author Mentorship program here.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
I’m excited to reshare a conversation on my podcast with an individual who has had a profound impact on my career: Tim Vandehey.
Tim is a friend and business mentor—not to mention a renowned writer. A freelance writer since 1995, he is an award-winning New York Times best-selling ghostwriter of more than sixty-five nonfiction books.
In this week’s episode, we talk about why we humans are notoriously awful at finishing projects and what we can do about it. We discuss how we’ve each been able to tackle and complete big projects—you know, like writing dozens of books—and share practical strategies to get things done. Plus, we talk about the business of ghostwriting and share insider tips for writers looking to succeed in the field.
Learn more about Tim:
- Website
- Facebook and Linkedin
- Tim’s most recent book: Swipe: The Science Behind Why We Don’t Finish What We Start
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
I get emails every week from listeners and readers who want to know about life abroad. Questions cover: What is it like to uproot everything and move somewhere new? What is the visa process like? What should I consider when deciding on whether to move abroad? These questions get more specific when it comes to dating, raising a family, and everything in between.
That’s why I loved this conversation with Cepee Tabibian of She Hit Refresh. We discuss what it’s like to move abroad as a single woman thirty and older, what it’s like to raise a family abroad, and some of the real-life consideration for people looking to build a new life abroad. Since Cepee and I come from different life situations, we brought our experiences to this discussion, sharing our experience living in different countries. If you’ve ever considered moving abroad, don’t miss this episode.
Learn more about Cepee:
- Website: shehitrefresh.com
- TikTok
- Youtube
- Facebook Group
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
As I shared earlier, I’m on a needed podcasting break, so I’m sharing some listener favorite episodes. This week’s replay is “How to build a following, with TikTok influencer and financial educator Giovanna Gonzalez.”
Giovanna Gonzalez is not only a TikTok influencer and financial educator, but she is also a soon-to-be author. During the Great Resignation, she quit her ten-year corporate career in financial services to pursue her true passion: teaching financial literacy to young adults. Since then, Giovanna has been featured in The New York Times, Fast Company, and Business Insider—and has hundreds of thousands of fans across the world—in just two years as a content creator.
Giovanna’s powerful book, Cultura and Cash, was released earlier this year and became a bestseller its first week. She has more than 150 positive reviews on Amazon and has been on fire in the media! It’s been wonderful watching Gio’s success.
In this candid conversation, Giovanna and I discuss:
- How she left corporate to pursue being a full-time creator
- BTS on what it’s really like to create content all day (hint: it’s not what you think)
- How to build an engaged, loyal following on multiple platforms
- Why first-gen money advice should be different
- What it was like to win a $50,000 writing grant—and what she did afterward to be successful in completing her book
- The highs and lows of her book-writing process
- The journey we went on together (this was my favorite part—I teared up!)
Get to know Giovanna:
- TikTok @thefirstgenmentor
- Instagram @gigithefirstgenmentor
- Website
- Cultura and Cash: Lessons from the First Gen Mentor for Managing Finances and Cultural Expectations
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
As I shared earlier, I’m on a needed podcasting break, so I’m sharing some listener favorite episodes. This week’s replay is “How to live your dream life abroad, with Vanessa Menchaca-Wachtmeister.”
Vanessa Menchaca-Wachtmeister is living her dream life in Europe, and she has made a career out of helping others do the same.
In this episode, we talk through how to transplant your career—essentially, how to do the same thing you’re doing now, but in another area. We discuss practical steps to move abroad, how to set expectations, and the mindset needed to successfully move to another country. We also cover Vanessa’s fifteen income streams (!) and how she is working hard now to secure her financial future.
Vanessa and I are in different life stages. She’s younger than I, without kids, and in the phase of hustle and build. I remember so well the stage of building, and I love that while Vanessa is able to bring a different perspective than I have, we connect on so many aspects of this beautiful, challenging, wild, unpredictable, amazing life that is location independence.
If you’ve ever dreamt of living abroad, this is your episode.
Connect with Vanessa:
- Instagram @wanderonwards
- TikTok @wanderonwards
- Facebook @vanessa.wanderonwards
- Youtube @wanderonwards
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
It’s been an intense first half of the year, and to be completely honest, I need a break. In this episode, I reflect on the year so far and share a bit about what we’re working on.
During this break, I’ll be sharing some listener favorite episodes. So don’t take a break from listening—you’ll want to hear these great conversations!
Join the Author Influence Circle community!
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
If you’ve been following my work for any length of time, you know social equity is deeply important to me. So when I met Joel Pérez and learned about his work, I instantly knew I’d love to support his work as a book coach.
In our vulnerable conversation about how cultural humility can improve leadership, we talk through how to intentionally build a life that is more diverse and open, and why cultural humility is the foundation of connectedness in our workplaces and communities. And we get specific about how to create a more inclusive everyday by surrounding yourself with people who are different from you. Joel also shares some behind-the-scenes on his author journey, what it was like writing a book, and advice for others who want to become authors too.
Dr. Joel Pérez is an executive and leadership coach, speaker, and consultant, passionate about helping leaders and organizations achieve their goals and develop a posture of cultural humility, so they can have the impact and create the culture they desire. Joel is owner of Apoyo Coaching and Consulting, LLC, and a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation (ICF). His first book, Dear White Leader, came out earlier this week!
Learn more about Joel:
- Website
- Instagram @apoyocoaching01
- Dear White Leader: How to Achieve Organizational Excellence through Cultural Humility
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Join the FREE writing challenge here.
How it works: sign up at this link, then join me LIVE online every day next week on LinkedIn, May 27–31.
Each day, I’ll be doing a short training and giving you homework to complete, including a daily worksheet and writing prompt. Plan about 30–60 minutes each day to complete both the training and work.
Because of this challenge, participants have:
- launched entire brands
- added new revenue streams
- began—and finished—writingtheir books
- formed new writing habits thattransformed their daily lives
When you sign up, you’ll get access to the worksheets and a private LinkedIn group. I’ll also be giving away daily prizes and reading and commenting on anything you publish on LinkedIn during that time. Talk about winning!
See you at the writing challenge!
Join the FREE writing challenge here.
How it works: sign up at this link, then join me LIVE online every day next week on LinkedIn, May 27–31.
Each day, I’ll be doing a short training and giving you homework to complete, including a daily worksheet and writing prompt. Plan about 30–60 minutes each day to complete both the training and work.
Because of this challenge, participants have:
- launched entire brands
- added new revenue streams
- began—and finished—writingtheir books
- formed new writing habits thattransformed their daily lives
When you sign up, you’ll get access to the worksheets and a private LinkedIn group. I’ll also be giving away daily prizes and reading and commenting on anything you publish on LinkedIn during that time. Talk about winning!
See you at the writing challenge!
Join the FREE writing challenge here.
How it works: sign up at this link, then join me LIVE online every day next week on LinkedIn, May 27–31.
Each day, I’ll be doing a short training and giving you homework to complete, including a daily worksheet and writing prompt. Plan about 30–60 minutes each day to complete both the training and work.
Because of this challenge, participants have:
- launched entire brands
- added new revenue streams
- began—and finished—writingtheir books
- formed new writing habits thattransformed their daily lives
When you sign up, you’ll get access to the worksheets and a private LinkedIn group. I’ll also be giving away daily prizes and reading and commenting on anything you publish on LinkedIn during that time. Talk about winning!
See you at the writing challenge!
Join the FREE writing challenge here.
How it works: sign up at this link, then join me LIVE online every day next week on LinkedIn, May 27–31.
Each day, I’ll be doing a short training and giving you homework to complete, including a daily worksheet and writing prompt. Plan about 30–60 minutes each day to complete both the training and work.
Because of this challenge, participants have:
- launched entire brands
- added new revenue streams
- began—and finished—writingtheir books
- formed new writing habits thattransformed their daily lives
When you sign up, you’ll get access to the worksheets and a private LinkedIn group. I’ll also be giving away daily prizes and reading and commenting on anything you publish on LinkedIn during that time. Talk about winning!
See you at the writing challenge!
Join the FREE writing challenge here.
How it works: sign up at this link, then join me LIVE online every day next week on LinkedIn, May 27–31.
Each day, I’ll be doing a short training and giving you homework to complete, including a daily worksheet and writing prompt. Plan about 30–60 minutes each day to complete both the training and work.
Because of this challenge, participants have:
- launched entire brands
- added new revenue streams
- began—and finished—writingtheir books
- formed new writing habits thattransformed their daily lives
When you sign up, you’ll get access to the worksheets and a private LinkedIn group. I’ll also be giving away daily prizes and reading and commenting on anything you publish on LinkedIn during that time. Talk about winning!
See you at the writing challenge!
Join the FREE writing challenge here.
How it works: sign up at this link, then join me LIVE online every day next week on LinkedIn, May 27–31.
Each day, I’ll be doing a short training and giving you homework to complete, including a daily worksheet and writing prompt. Plan about 30–60 minutes each day to complete both the training and work.
Because of this challenge, participants have:
- launched entire brands
- added new revenue streams
- began—and finished—writingtheir books
- formed new writing habits thattransformed their daily lives
When you sign up, you’ll get access to the worksheets and a private LinkedIn group. I’ll also be giving away daily prizes and reading and commenting on anything you publish on LinkedIn during that time. Talk about winning!
See you at the writing challenge!
I’ve been a loud voice in publishing about the future of AI—and today, I’m taking that conversation a step further. In this powerful discussion with diversity, equity, and inclusion leader Manpreet Dhillon, we discuss the intersection between inclusion and AI and dig deeply into inherent bias and how AI is silencing our voices. We also explore her work nurturing authentic, human-centered workplaces and the idea of “holistic leadership.”
My guest, Manpreet Dhillon, is the founder and principal inclusion officer for Veza Global, an equity, diversity, and inclusion consulting firm. She is passionate about the Future of Work and how it is inclusive for women of color and those with invisible disabilities in the workplace. Manpreet brings over twenty years of experience in holistic leadership coaching, human resources, change management, internal audits, and community development. She focuses on creating systemic change to address institutionalized inequalities through representation from the communities served.
Learn more about Manpreet:
If in you’re interested in future-shaping conversations, listen to this week’s episode.
- Veza Global Instagram @vezaglobal
- Veza Global LinkedIn
- Instagram @iammanpreetdhillon
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
I’ve been on a personal journey to understand the gut and how it impacts overall health, including the brain and chronic disease. And wow—it’s a fascinating area of study!
This week, I’m excited to welcome a guest to share more about this important area of wellness. Greer McGuinness, MS, RD, CDN, CLT, DTSP, CMH, is a registered dietitian, certified detox specialist, certified master herbalist, and certified lyme specialist who owns a virtual private practice called Biomedical Healing for Kids.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Greer’s personal story and how her son’s level-2 autism diagnosis inspired her work today
- How the gut impacts the brain and body, including brain development, mood, and more
- What conventional medicine is missing with neurodevelopmental conditions and chronic disease
- Steps you can take right now to heal the gut and remove the toxic load in your body
She is a published researcher on her work with autism and alternative medicine, and trained in herbal medicine with expertise in detoxing toxins, gut health, and improving nutrient status. Using her rebalance road map, she created the first-ever detoxing toxins in pediatrics course to help parents and providers learn how to safely and effectively detox toxins in children through biomedical testing and integrative treatment, so children can advance in their developmental abilities and grow to lead an active and healthier life.
Learn more about Greer:
- Website Biomedical Healing for Kids
- Instagram @biomedicalhealingforkids
- The Ultimate Guide to Toxic-Free Living
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
It’s no secret that the publishing industry is riddled with inequity. Basically every stage is white: authors to staff at publishing houses to marketing campaigns targeting white readers, the system is not designed to amplify marginalized voices.
That’s why I’m grateful for this week’s conversation with Rebekah Borucki, founder and president of Row House. Along with sharing her personal story, we discuss:
- The inequities in publishing
- How Row House is aiming to change the publishing landscape at scale
- Their innovative 40/40 model
- Some behind-the-scenes of their submissions process
Along with being the founder and president of Row House, Rebekah is a mother to five, grandmother to one, self-help and children’s author, and founder and president of Wheat Penny Press and the WPP Little Readers Big Change Initiative. She is driven by a commitment to make wellness, self-learning, and literacy tools available to all and to help others recover the freedoms stolen from them by white supremacy through activism centering on Black liberation and trans rights.
Learn more about Rebekah:
- Website Rebekah Barucki
- Row House Publishing
- Instagram @rowhousepub
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
A key part of my entrepreneurial journey has been uncovering a simple truth: I am almost always my own biggest roadblock. Not my skills, because I can learn. Not my connections, because I am highly connected. But my mindset.
This week, I speak with Amira Alvarez, founder and CEO of The Unstoppable Woman and host of The Unstoppable Woman podcast. She shares how she achieved a fivefold income increase in a single year and built a multimillion-dollar company.
In this episode, we explore how women (and men) can go beyond success and achievement to create a meaningful life. We discuss:
- The hidden shadows of success and how they show up in our lives
- Why a certain level of success doesn’t automatically bring contentment and happiness
- Strategies to drive awareness during the journey to success
- What the doer trap is and how to overcome it
I also share some of my personal journey, how I’ve dug into mindset to shift my work and life, and why this has been a deeply profound journey for me.
Show notes:
- Captivating Power: Transformative Strategies for Visionary Leaders Video Series
Learn more about Amira:
- Podcast The Unstoppable Woman
- Instagram @alvarezamira
- Website
- YouTube
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This week’s guest is a dear friend and someone who has had a profound impact on my life. Laura Tully is a fashion stylist who speaks with power and heart, and by the end of this episode, she’ll have you convinced that personal style can be a profound part of personal growth.
Laura has worked in the fashion industry for the last twenty-plus years. As a style expert, she lives in the creative intersection between fashion, compassion, and self-expression. Laura has built her company on a simple philosophy: great style is for everyone. The way you dress tells a story about how you choose to show up in this world. You get to craft your story—and look good doing it.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Laura’s fashion origin story (it’s so good!) and how she arrived at her philosophy
- How style supports personal evolution and development by helping you fully take up the space you’re meant to in this world
- How to find your signature style
- How style elevates a personal brand
- Style principles and wardrobe staples to help you level up your wardrobe
Don’t miss this powerful episode. After all, as Laura says, “You’re worth it!”
Learn more about Laura:
- Website
- Instagram @lauratully.co
Show notes:
- Join the Author Influence Circle community
- Episode 31 | Great Style Is For Everyone: A Conversation With Wardrobe Stylist Laura Tully
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
For years, I have been talking about building a community for authors. And for years, I felt like I didn’t have the time or bandwidth to make it a reality. In this episode, I share behind the scenes on the new community for authors, the Author Influence Circle, and how I got past my recovering perfectionism to finally launch this community.
I get vulnerable sharing the ways I have held myself back in achieving my purpose in this world and share some ideas for how you can get out of your own way to take action on the big thing that’s on your heart.
This is a celebratory and raw episode, and I hope you love it as much as I enjoyed recording it.
Show notes:
- Join the Author Influence Circle community
- Get your ticket for the virtual training
- Join my next Idea-to-Draft cohort
- Nonfiction Book School self-study program
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
A few months ago, I saw author Alex O’Brien on stage at Web Summit. Not only did she give excellent answers to questions on writing, AI, and beyond at Web Summit, but she also beautifully represented how I hope every author shows up when they talk about their work: with confidence, passion, and a genuine care to make a difference in this world.
Alex is a science writer and professional poker player whose work has appeared in publications such as The Guardian, BBC, New Scientist, and The Times. Her first book, The Truth Detective, is a nonfiction science book on how to think like a poker player. In this week’s episode, we talk about:
- Alex’s journey as a science writer (and mine too)
- Stories from the poker table and how the rules of poker apply to daily life, including improving one’s mindset and decision-making
- Her writing process: how she came up with the concept of her book, The Truth Detective, and what the writing process was like (spoiler: it took her four years to finish)
- Challenges she faced during the writing process and how she overcame them to write a book she’s proud of
- How to get involved in science writing—a passion of hers
As you’ll learn in this week’s episode, Alex is an advocate for early critical thinking and works closely with educational institutions to help guide future generations into asking the right questions to then make smarter and wiser decisions for themselves. There are so many gems in this conversation—don’t miss it!
Learn more about Alex:
- Website
- The Truth Detective: A Poker Player's Guide to a Complex World
- Resources from the Association of British Science Writers
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
When I first set out to grow my business a few years ago, I knew I had a knowledge gap. I needed to understand how to transition from a solopreneur, service-based business (ghostwriting and book coaching) into a business that could serve more people. Today, I have a small team and big plans to continue to serve our community, including my new Author Influence Circle.
In this episode, I detail how I reconnected to my inner wisdom. After doing a multiyear deep dive into all the advice, I realized I needed to stop going to everyone and everything else and start coming back to myself. I rediscovered that I am wise. And I started making smart, aligned decisions that have truly leveled up my business.
Join me in this episode, as I share how I shifted my decision-making, along with strategies to support you in doing the same.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
I talk a lot on this podcast about location freedom. Financial wellness is part of the location independence equation, and if you’re a parent, your financial life may include paying for college. With two kids myself, I’m especially excited to welcome this week’s guest.
Jeannie Burlowski is a past client and full-time academic strategist, podcast host, and speaker for students ages 12–26, their parents, and the professionals who serve them. Jeannie is the author of the book LAUNCH: How to Get Your Kids Through College Debt-Free and Into Jobs They Love Afterward. She helps parents set their kids up to graduate college debt-free, ready to jump directly into careers they excel at and love. Her work has been featured in The Huffington Post, USA Today, Parents magazine, US News and World Report, and CBS News.
In this episode, we discuss her work—and her author journey. You know I had to ask about this! Specifically, we cover:
- How people can build a life of financial freedom from student loans
- How she got into this work and why she’s so passionate about helping families
- How publishing a great book completely revolutionized her professional life and helped her step fully into her big vision
- What it was like working with a book coach
Listen to this insightful conversation, and learn from Jeannie’s expertise!
- Student Loan Dept Articles by Jeannie Burlowski
- CliftonStrengths Assessment Articles
- Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment
- Strong Interest Inventory assessment
- Website
- YouTube @jburlowski
- Her book LAUNCH: How to Get Your Kids Through College Debt-Free and Into Jobs They Love Afterward
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Show notes:Learn more about Jeannie:Follow me on:
I talk regularly about all the help I have in my life and work, and how outsourcing is how I “do it all” without really doing it all. That’s why I’m so excited this week to share all about how to outsource—specifically with a marketing virtual assistant (VA).
In this week’s episode, I talk with guest Kirsten Graham about how to work with a trained marketing VA who takes care of video/audio editing, social media, and email marketing. We have a thoughtful conversation about:
- How we each outsource and some of the misconceptions around outsourcing
- Ideas for starting to outsource—so you can free up time to make more money
- How to avoid burnout
- How video marketing builds trust
We also dig into some of the specifics of working with a marketing VA. This is an honest, fun, and practical episode you won’t want to miss!
Show notes:
- You Need a Budget - YNAB app
- What to do when you hit rock bottom, with Amy Mangueira
Learn more about Kirsten:
- Website
- Six Figure Business Mastery Podcast
- YouTube @SixFigureBusinessCoaching
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Disciplined habits are the cornerstone to my life. In this week’s solo episode, I explore how the mindset and habits I’ve honed and taught my clients and students for more than a decade lead to success. Specifically, I cover how to:
- Overcome obstacles to goal achievement, even if the challenges feel insurmountable
- Develop a mindset of self-belief, worthiness, abundance, and potential
- Make incremental progress toward big goals—and achieve them!
- Create the necessary habits and behaviors to support your success in all areas of your life
- Build self-trust by honoring commitments you make to yourself
This is one from the heart. I hope you enjoy it. And if the episode adds value to your life, I’d be deeply grateful if you would rate and review the show.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
If you’ve been part of my community for any length of time, you know that health and wellness are a massive part of my life. So when I met this week’s guest, Kisha Stewart, I knew I had to have her on the podcast. Kisha is a wife, mother of three, nurse, heart attack survivor, and a national advocate for heart health dedicated to improving the quality of cardiovascular health care for everyone. Since her heart attack, she has conducted extensive research about the specific health risks that women, particularly Black women, face.
Along with talking about Kisha’s mission—health care equity and heart health education—we also talk about how she went from discovering her purpose to building a successful platform to scale her influence.
In this episode, we cover:
- How Kisha went from surviving a heart attack at 31 to becoming the national spokeswoman for the American Heart Association (AHA)
- What heart attack symptoms young women should look for
- How to confidently advocate for yourself in the doctor’s office
- Needed systemic changes to achieve health care equity
- Practical steps Kisha took to grow her platform—including writing a book—that helped her scale her influence
Today, Kisha educates and inspires others to improve heart health through lifestyle changes and is a fierce advocate for systemic changes in the health care system to guarantee equity and social justice for all.
Listen to this week’s episode—it’s a great one!
Follow Kisha:
- Website
- Go Red for Women is the American Heart Association's national movement to end heart disease and stroke in women
- Instagram @kishaandscad
- Sonata for a Damaged Heart: A Young Mother's Journey of Survival After a Near Fatal Heart Attack
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
I love hearing from you about topics you’re interested in. So in this week’s solo episode, I address a very interesting question from a listener:
I do have a question that I’ve been thinking about when I see your posts and wondered how you approach your research for the books you write. I’m curious as to how research factors into the process for you. I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences. I also appreciate your snippets of life in Portugal; it’s been many years since I have visited, but I have great vivid memories!
Join me as I discuss my process for gathering research (a process I love!) for the books I write.
Show notes:
- Transcripts for everyday use: fireflies.ai
- Transcripts for ghostwriting projects: CLK Transcription
- Google Scholar
- Copyright And Intellectual Property 101 For Writers With Attorney Brad Frazer
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Branding can feel overwhelming, especially for authors who are new to this whole “personal branding” thing. That’s why I’m so excited this week to welcome Taja Dockendorf, founder and creative director of Pulp + Wire a 100-percent female-founded and run creative agency.
Taja has consulted, created, and grown hundreds of brands while fostering a culture around growth and intuitive leadership for her female-forward team. Taja and her team have directed creatives for both start-up and national brands, such as Petco, Hasbro, Bob’s Red Mill, and more. In this episode, we discuss:
- Taja’s founding story and why she loves her niche work in consumer packaging branding
- Tips for building a great brand (these are so good!)
- Common branding and marketing mistakes and how to avoid them
- Core leadership lessons that have helped scale a successful creative agency
- Diversity in the marketing and branding space and how Pulp + Wire is helping influence the industry
Taja is also an active investor in emerging CPG brands, a mentor to other creative founders, creator and host of The Brand Alchemist Podcast, and a contributing writer for both national business and creative publications with a focus on creative leadership. As you listen in, I know you’ll benefit from Taja’s expertise.
Learn more about Taja:
- Website: https://www.tajadockendorf.com/
- Instagram @taja
- The Brand Alchemist Podcast
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This week, it’s a joy to share my conversation with the wonderful Dr. Luissa Kiprono, who went from a refugee from former Communist Romania to one of the most sought-after medical specialists in maternal-fetal medicine—and wrote a book about it. Her mission is helping women heal, both physically and spiritually, through her own story and vulnerability. It was an honor supporting Luissa as her book coach, and I know her story will inspire you as much as it did me.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What inspired her to share her painful personal story to help others
- How she achieved her goal of becoming a doctor, despite the many obstacles in her path
- What her book-writing process was like and why she decided to write her book, Push, Then Breathe
- How she’s transitioning from the doctor’s office to the digital world and growing her platform as a speaker and impact-maker
- How women can embrace a limitless mindset
Through her telemedicine practice, TeleMed MFM, Luissa provides high-risk pregnancy care to all women, beyond borders or geographical limitations. Her debut book, Push, Then Breathe, is based on the first fifteen years of her reborn life. On her platform, she invites women to join together in self-empowerment, intentional presence, and resilience.
Listen now to this inspiring conversation!
Learn more about Dr. Luissa:
- Website
- Facebook @Dr. Luissa K
- Instagram @drluissak
- TeleMed MFM
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Happy book birthday to my wonderful client, Regina Lawless! I’m so excited to share our conversation during the publication week of her new book, Do You: A Journey of Success, Loss, and Learning to Live a More MeaningFULL Life.
Regina Lawless helps high-achieving women of color find purpose beyond their paycheck in order to experience more bliss in their lives and sustainable success at work and at home. Before starting Bossy & Blissful, Regina served as the head of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at Instagram. We met while she was still in the role—and it’s been an honor guiding her along the book-writing journey as she wrote her book and launched her business.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Regina’s book-writing journey, including the challenge of writing a book about a deeply painful period of her life
- How she navigated the sudden loss of her husband to eventually find her new bliss
- Lessons she learned along the way that can help others find their bliss too
- Why the blueprint for success is broken, especially for women of color
- How people can tap into their inner wisdom to define success for themselves
Regina has worked with Fortune 500 companies across various industries, including Target, Intel, and Micron Technology. Her first book, Do You, is published by Greenleaf Book Group, in partnership with Fast Company.
Join me in this insightful conversation.
Learn more about Regina:
- Instagram @regina.lawless
- Website
- Do You: A Journey of Success, Loss, and Learning to Live a More MeaningFULL Life
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
When you hear the word “equity,” most of us will think of gender, race, and ethnicity. But oftentimes, disabilities are left out of the conversation—and that needs to change.
That’s why I’m thrilled to welcome this week’s podcast guest, Heather Markham, a woman on a mission to show businesses how to make their space warm, welcoming, and accessible to the more than 1 billion persons with a disability. With her background in electronic warfare and assistive technologies, she has honed her engineering skills and an eye for otherwise unseen details. Heather has fifteen years of experience as a power wheelchair user, and she taught me so much in this episode! In it, we discuss:
- Heather’s life-changing diagnosis of progressive muscular dystrophy at age 34
- How she leaned into a life of adventure and focuses on what she can control
- How she’s created a community around her and how listeners can build their own community
- Challenges she faces while traveling as a power wheelchair user
- How businesses can become more accessible, both in physical locations and online
- Why she wrote her memoir and what her writing process was like
Heather is an inspiring woman who embodies her personal belief: the one thing she can absolutely control every single day is how she chooses to react to things. She expresses herself creatively through her memoir Rough Waters: From Surviving to Thriving with a Progressive Muscular Dystrophy and fine art photography.
This is an important, inspiring, and practical episode—don’t miss it!
Learn more about Heather:
- Website
- Rough Waters: From Surviving to Thriving with a Progressive Muscular Dystrophy
Show notes:
- This Little Miggy Instagram
- Disability Reframed Instagram
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Nearly every author I meet wants to be traditionally published. But the path to get a book deal can feel darn near impossible. Not only do you have to create a book proposal, which is a massive project in and of itself, but you then need to pitch agents. Where is an aspiring author to start?
Well, Richelle Fredson is here to help in this week’s episode. As a book proposal coach and publishing consultant, Richelle has worked with aspiring and published authors to create impactful book concepts and competitive book proposals. In this episode, we cover:
- What a nonfiction book proposal is and why authors need one
- The key components of a nonfiction book proposal
- How an author’s platform, credentials, and other aspects factor into their ability to get signed by a publisher
- Common misconceptions about the process of looking for an agent and landing a deal
- Tips for making your proposal stand out and getting your dream book deal
Richelle is the former director of publicity and book marketing for Hay House, and also served in acquisitions, so she knows her stuff. This was a fantastic conversation—don’t miss it!
Learn more about Richelle:
- Instagram @richellefredson
- Website
- Podcast: Bound + Determined
Show notes:
- How to Create an Influential Author Platform guide
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
It’s mid-January, the period where momentum around New Year’s resolutions start to wane. In fact, statistics show that only 8 percent of people achieve the goals they set at the start of the year. In this week’s episode, I share my thoughts around achieving big goals and practical strategies to be part of the 8 percent.
I detail my secrets for how I’ve built a mid-six-figure business, moved abroad, and written multiple books. It’s not rocket science, but the tips I share may just be the needle-mover you need today.
This episode is short and practical.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
I have to say: wow! I had a wonderful time connecting withyou. Thank you for bringing energy, questions, and fun to our timetogether.
I hope you gained new insights and practical strategies to finish your book in 2024—and make the impact you’re meant to on this world.
As I shared during the training, I am a book coach and author educator who has spent my entire life developing my expertise in writing. From falling in love with reading at age seven to my master's in professional writing and editing, helping future authors like you is my life's work. I’m honored to coach smart people like you as they write powerful books that change readers’ lives.
I’m also an author myself. I’ve ghostwritten or authored seventeen books and thousands of content pieces over the last fourteen years. And I was able to do so by developing a successful, repeatable book-writing system.
I’ve helped others learn this system and become authors both through 1:1 book coaching and through my live coaching program,Idea-to-Draft Accelerator and Author Mentorship. But I only offer this program twice per year, with limited seats available (yes, I really will close enrollment once it's full!).
Shownotes:
- Book a call with Stacy
- Apply to Idea-to-Draft Accelerator and Author Mentorship program
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This week, I’m joined by Catherine Fishman, who has been a part of my team since before we moved to Thailand. She’s been an integral support as I’ve grown from solopreneur to a small global team.
In this episode, Catherine and I talk about:
- How my work has shifted over the years—from book editor to ghostwriter to coaching to programs
- Where we niche in author support
- How a book supports our clients as they grow their thought leadership, businesses, and overall impact
- How we track and manage the many moving parts of the team, content creation, client work, and more
- How we celebrate clients (my favorite part!)
This episode is packed with client love and practical tips, because we share some of our own areas of learning as the business has grown, as well as reflect on our clients’ success. It’s also such a fun conversation with someone who has been along for the ride with me for so long!
Learn more about Catherine:
- Website
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Oh, hey, podcast listeners—I’m back this week with a solo episode. I don’t do these enough, thanks to the many wonderful guests I have the honor of speaking with on the pod.
This week, I’m reflecting on all the things 2023. To guide this episode, I’m drawing on a team meeting we had recently, where we talked through big wins, challenges, and even our theme song for the year and what type of car the business would be. Specifically, we looked at:
- BTS on how I do vision work, our strategy planning, and how we use our annual work to guide the year
- High points, including Instagram catching fire and the podcast drastically growing, adding new team members, and our social equity impact
- Low points, including my personal challenges and the eclipse (this is the woo on my team—I’m too practical to think of these things!)
- Three major accomplishments . . . OK, five
- Two things we learned
- Our theme song and car for the year 😊
- Our big, hairy, audacious goal and what we are doing in 2024 to reach it
I hope this episode inspires you to reflect too. Here’s to a flourishing 2024!
Shownotes:
- Life Visioning Guide
- A free worksheet to guide your team through year-end reflection
- Idea-to-Draft Accelerator and Author Mentorship Program
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
On the pod this week, I’m excited to share a thoughtful conversation about book writing, business, and growing beyond the book. I’m joined by Dave Goetz and Melissa Parks, cofounders of Journey Sixty6, an editorial services company and independent publisher for the family business community.
In this episode, we cover:
- How a book integrates into overall marketing strategy
- A client case study that integrates a documentary, book, and more
- How to uncover the thesis of your book (what I refer to as a “core message”)
- How to self-diagnose your own needs on your book project
- Nerdy industry talk from long-time publishing pros 😊
Even if a book isn’t on your radar, this episode will get you thinking about all things marketing, messaging, and more.
Learn more about Journey Sixty6:
- Website
- The Writing Podcast
- Dave Goetz: LinkedIn
- Melissa Parks: LinkedIn
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Writing a book and being successful as an author is hard work. This week on the podcast, I unpack the hardness and amazingness of the author journey, from writing to marketing and beyond, with Alexa Bigwarfe, a USA Today best-selling author, publisher, and founder and CEO of Write, Publish, Sell. In this episode, we discuss:
- Alexa’s moving, personal journey into publishing
- What authors should know about the big-picture process of writing, editing, publishing, launching, and marketing a book
- The difference between integrating your book into your business growth strategy and making a living as an author
- Advanced author marketing strategies
Alexa owns three hybrid publishing houses: Kat Biggie Press; Chrysalis Press; and Purple Butterfly Press, a children's book publishing company. Her courses and training focus on author professional development, platform growth, and fun, creative ways to market books. Alexa also has a publishing conference coming up: Women’s Publishing Summit. Sign up with my link here—this affiliate link helps support my ability to produce the pod.
No matter your stage of authorhood—idea to ongoing marketing—I know you’ll find value in this episode. Enjoy!
Learn more about Alexa:
- Website
- Instagram @writepublishsell
- Facebook @WritePubSell
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
I recently hosted an author celebration and meetup for my clients and students. It was a beautiful celebration of the amazing authors I get to work with, and I left overflowing with gratitude. I had such a good time that I was inspired to record a podcast episode with a look behind the scenes at the work I do with authors.
In this solo episode, I share:
- A recap of the community meetup (it was so good!)
- Why I’m so passionate about growing authors
- How I work with authors, including my Idea-to-Draft Accelerator and Author Mentorship program
- My criteria for taking on clients and inviting students into my cohorts
- Why celebration is such an important part of being successful as an author
- How my clients and students are living their purpose in this world—and scaling their impact
I love what I do, and I love the authors I work with. I believe in them and in their ability to make a difference in this world.
Shownotes:
- Learn about Giovanna Gonzalez
- Learn about Regina Lawless
- Learn about Dr. Luissa Kiprano
- Learn about Joel Perez
- Learn about Misty Megia
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Cherie is the cofounder and CEO of Saalt, a women-owned B Corp that creates reusable and sustainable period care products that replace disposable pads and tampons. You may have seen Saalt on the shelves at Target or other major retailers, but you might not know the mission behind the company.
Period poverty keeps underprivileged women and girls out of school and other activities that would further their economic success and participation in broader society. Saalt is looking to change that. Since their launch in 2018, Saalt has donated over 70,000 period cups and underwear to underprivileged women and girls in 50 countries as part of their 2% give-back program.
In this conversation, we discuss:
- Cherie’s founding story and why she wants to end period poverty
- How travel impacts her as an entrepreneur and mom
- Her journey as a writer and how it impacts Saalt’s marketing, including practical tips
- Challenges she’s faced along her entrepreneurial journey and how she overcame them
- How she’s leading “outside of the norms of the patriarchal structure to improve the workplace for working women”
I left this conversation feeling inspired, moved, and encouraged to make a difference in the world—and I know you will too.
Learn more about Cherie and Saalt:
- Website: saalt.com
- Facebook @saaltco
- Instagram @saaltco
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
When I met Kevin O’Connor in my book-writing program, I instantly knew he was going to add great energy to our group of future authors. It was no surprise when he not only reached his goal of publishing his book, Two Floors Above Grief, but also leaned fully into marketing, garnering nearly 100 reader reviews on Amazon—an impressive feat for any author! In this episode, we discuss:
- How Kevin reached his goal of authorhood
- How “collaborative discipline” supported his success
- What it’s really like to write and self-publish a book
- Marketing lessons learned one year in, including success tips
- How to balance the “difficulty and discipline of writing with joy and self-acknowledgment” (this discussion is so good!)
- His top advice for aspiring authors
This episode is full of both great information and inspiration for anyone looking to reach their next big goal. Don’t miss this episode!
Learn more about Kevin:
- Website
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this week’s solo episode, I share what life is like after living in Portugal for four years. I talk about:
- How I feel about living in the Algarve
- Challenges we’re facing right now, including schools and medical care
- What it’s like running a location independent business in Portugal
- How our trip to the US impacted my feelings about living abroad
- One thing I’m missing professionally—and how I’m trying to solve it
- What the future holds for our family
This episode is highly personal and raw, and I hope it gives you insight into the beauty and challenges of living abroad.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
During my recent trip to New York, I spent time with this week’s podcast guest, Farnoosh Torabi. We talk about how to lean into fear—how to hone it, tap into it, and make it work for you. I loved everything about this conversation, and I know you will too.
Farnoosh has written multiple books, and her latest book, A Healthy State of Panic: Follow Your Fears to Build Wealth, Crush Your Career and Win at Life, came out last month—to fast acclaim. She is one of America’s leading personal finance authorities. She is also a multi-best-selling author, former CNBC host, and creator of the Webby-nominated podcast So Money. The New York Times calls her advice, “perfectly practical.” Her award-winning and critically acclaimed podcast has surpassed 25 million downloads, thanks to its one-of-a-kind interviews and deep conversations about money.
Learn more about Farnoosh:
- Website: https://farnoosh.tv/
- Podcast: So Money
- YouTube @FarnooshTorabiTV
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this solo episode, I’m answering reader questions that focused on the same topic: How did you get to where you are—and how can I get there too?
If you want to hear my long, windy story of entrepreneurship, from my first job as a high school language arts teacher in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, all the way to the location independent life I lead today in Portugal, listen in. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed recording this!
Show notes:
- Live From New York: On Investing In Your Dreams
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this week’s episode, we talk about Debbie’s journey to reach where she is today as the founder of The Offbeat Life, a podcast and website that highlights the journeys of remote workers and digital nomads. We also talk about how she makes money, both in her day-to-day work and from her travel content. Today, she has accumulated over half-a-million downloads and shares what is possible when you work outside a cubicle and live life before retirement, while also creating sustainable income.
We even discuss celebrating failures because we learn the most important lessons and recognize all we have to be grateful for. This is a thoughtful conversation—and one that I hope will leave you feeling inspired and encouraged as you embark on the next great journey of your own life.
Learn more about Debbie:
- Website and podcast: https://www.theoffbeatlife.com/
- Instagram @theoffbeatlife
- YouTube @debbiearcangeles5101
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
When the producer of Beyond Better, Rita Domingues, told me she’d booked an 86-year-old first-time author for the podcast, I was both curious and impressed. And as I readied for our conversation, I could see why Rita had selected her as a guest.
- One of the first female hospital CEOs in Canada
- Climbed Kilimanjaro at age 64 (!)
- Cofounded the Panama Hospice and Respite Foundation
- Breast cancer survivor who is also blind in one eye
- Published her first book at age 86
Recording this episode felt like sitting with a friend over coffee, listening to her incredible stories. It’s rare to get an opportunity to learn from someone who has lived such a choice-filled life like Joyce. I hope you gain as much from this conversation as I did.
Show notes:
- JourneyWoman: Leading Women’s Solo Travel Since 1994.
Learn more about Joyce:
- Website: https://www.joyceperrin.com/
- Facebook @JoyceEPerrin
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
I dream big. Like b-i-g big. Big to the point that I catch surprise on even my closest friends’ faces when I share my vision. And I work with people who dream big. They share their aspirations for the keynote stage, their desire to write books of meaning, the scaled impact they want to make with their story or message. Yet we know a lot of people just won’t get it.
But we don’t just talk. We take action. We get up early to focus on our creative projects. We invest in programs and coaching and people and equipment and software. We know that all the manifestation in the world ain’t nothin’ if you don’t put your boots on and go to work.
Join me in this live episode as I share thoughts on investing in your dreams—while I’m on the road, investing in mine. I detail why I’m in New York, why I made the decision to invest in a mentorship program, and how my investment and action are already showing up in big ways in my life.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this solo episode, I share my reflections on my time abroad this summer. I spent the month of August in the US, mostly disconnected from work and present with my family and friends. I hadn’t taken a meaningful trip to the US since early 2020, just before lockdowns started. And I noticed a lot of surprising things. Join me as I share my observations about environmental signals that reflect on the culture at-large.
(Of note, while my podcast is generally clean, this might not be one to listen to around young children.)
Show notes:
- Special Episode: Behind The Scenes With Our Amazing Team
- Portugal Update: Is This Our Forever Home?
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
When you first enter the world of book writing and publishing, the options can feel overwhelming. That’s why I’m excited to welcome Karen McNally of Girl Friday Productions (GFP) to talk all things publishing.
Karen has been with GFP for eight years. Prior to joining, she worked for Amazon Publishing, as well as Amazon’s retail division. She’s passionate about helping authors achieve their goals and ensuring an excellent client experience. Areas of expertise include end-to-end book production, distribution, complex book design, and illustration management, as well as all stripes of print management.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How she accidentally ended up in publishing
- Tips for selecting the right publishing route for you
- What hybrid publishing is and how to know if it’s a good option for you
- Why you have to run your book like a business
- Three things she wishes every new author knew about publishing
This is a great episode with a lot of heart and useful information. Don’t miss it!
Show notes:
- The True ROI Of Writing A Book (Replay)
Learn more about Karen and Girl Friday Productions:
- Girl Friday Productions website: https://www.girlfridayproductions.com/who-we-are
- Facebook @girlfridayproductions
- YouTube @girlfridayproductions9620
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this week’s episode, I get to pull back the curtain on the elusive world of writing for television and movies with my guest, Katiedid Langrock, and share some behind-the-scenes on what it’s like to write for major animated series, including Barbie, Paw Patrol, and Hello Kitty.
Katiedid is a screenwriter, television writer, longtime syndicated humor columnist, adjunct professor, author, and writing coach. Shows she codeveloped have been nominated for a number of awards, including an Emmy for Best Children's Series and multiple NAACP Image Awards, and won the 2020 Diversity Media Award for Best Kid Series. She recently worked as a writer or head writer for shows on Disney Jr., Nickelodeon, and Amazon, and just published a humorous book on pregnancy called Baby Bump Bucket List.
Katiedid is also location independent, so you know I had to talk about that! We discuss her year traveling the country in an RV while working on Hello Kitty, as well as her philosophy on taking risks and living a bold life. You don’t want to miss this episode.
Learn more about Katiedid:
- Instagram @writeinthewild
- Katiedid’s website
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
For this first episode of season 5 (!), our team got to record in person! For the first time ever, three of us were in the same room—normally we work from the U.S. and Portugal. Our time together inspired us to record an episode all about our work. We cover:
- What it's like meeting for the first time in person
- The pros and cons of remote team dynamics
- What it's been like for me (Stacy) to go from working on my own to leading a team
- How we've stayed connected while living so far apart
- The risks we've each taken to go after our dreams
- Our wonderful clients and why we love working with them
- What we value in each person on the team
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
As part of my summer podcast replay series, I'm excited to share this week’s episode with my good friend Amanda Turner (writing as AK Turner). In this episode, she shares how her family travels two to four months a year—all while running a business and writing New York Times best-selling books.
Amanda's Vagabonding with Kids series was inspirational for me as we were dreaming of moving to Thailand way back when I was pregnant with my oldest child. As kindred travel and writing souls, we had a lot of fun in this episode talking about our travel experiences and what we've learned about the book-writing process. Amanda shares so many great pieces of advice! If you’ve ever wanted to travel the world or write a book—or both—you won’t want to miss this episode.
Learn more about Amanda:
- Join her Facebook group for writers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/255224582360857/
- Access her free video series: https://www.bookwrite.org/getting-started-book
- Check out her excellent and inspiring Vagabonding with Kids series: http://vagabondingwithkids.com/
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
Learn more about my Idea-to-Draft Accelerator and Author Mentorship program here.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
As part of my summer podcast replay series, I'm excited to share this week’s episode with author David Morales. His book, American Familia: A Memoir of Perseverance, was released in February 2022 and already has dozens of five-star reviews and has impacted readers across the US and beyond.
In this conversation, David shares the inspiration behind the book and his larger vision of impact, including the work he’s doing through Ahora Inc., a nonprofit organization he cofounded with his wife, Samanda Morales, focused on increasing economic mobility and empowering individuals and families to gain financial freedom. We discuss how two qualities, self-agency and critical thinking, helped him overcome both rural and urban poverty to become the person he is today. He also delves into how he navigated publishing a vulnerable memoir while working as a high-level executive in the health-care industry.
If you’re an aspiring author on the journey to impact, David’s insights about his own author journey will inspire you to take action.
Learn more and connect with David:
- American Familia on Amazon
- David’s website
- Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter
- Ahora Inc.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
Learn more about my Idea-to-Draft Accelerator and Author Mentorship program here.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
As part of my summer podcast replay series, I’m excited to share this week’s episode with Michael Zipursky, CEO of Consulting Success®, a consulting business that specializes in helping entrepreneurial consultants grow profitable, scalable, and strategic businesses. We talk about Michael’s journey through multiple businesses and how he transitioned from burning the midnight oil to structuring his business in a way that supports a lifestyle of freedom. He shares what a healthy entrepreneurial work-life balance looks like for him and the mindset shifts necessary to achieve it. Hint: the key is to optimize our business and our lifestyle so we can start enjoying more of what we want today and not delaying it for the future.
Michael explains how authorhood impacted his business (Michael has published three books to date), as well as the four pillars of developing a highly profitable, scalable coaching business (the components of his Clarity Coaching program); content marketing; social media; and more.
This is a value-packed episode you don’t want to miss!
Get to know Michael:
- Consulting Success website
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zipursky
Learn more about my Idea-to-Draft Accelerator and Author Mentorship program here.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
As part of my summer podcast replay series, I’m sharing a replay of a powerful podcast episode with a past student, May Lam Rocco.
May’s memoir, Confi-Dance: Memoirs of an Asian Businesswoman’s Journey from a Traditional Upbringing into Unconditional Love, has been endorsed by an impressive list of people, including the former president of Gucci China; the speaker-elect of the US House of Representatives; and my friend and coauthor, Ron Price, president of TTI Success Insights.
During her time in my program, May went from thinking her memoir was meant for an audience of one—her son—to realizing that her book had a significant role in fulfilling her newfound purpose of helping other people up-level their confidence in business, parenting, and life. She’s a shining example of using one’s voice for impact, stepping into a bold message, and helping further other women (and all people!) through her story.
Get inspired by this week’s pod replay on building confidence, writing a book, and making an impact.
Learn more about May
- Get May’s book: Confi-dance
- Follow May on TikTok: @maylamrocco
- Follow May on Instagram: @maylamrocco
Learn more about my Idea-to-Draft Accelerator and Author Mentorship program here.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
About five years ago, I sat down in my home office in Thailand to record the first episode of my podcast, which I called The Stacy Ennis Show. The little show I started with my iPhone has reached 100 episodes!
It’s been a delight to see how my expertise in public speaking and interviewing—the latter developed from ghostwriting so many books—has translated into hosting a podcast. I share more in my celebratory 100th episode, as well as reflect on clips from some fan-favorite episodes. If you want to hear a little more of my backstory, how the podcast is fueling my personal and business growth, and how I’m shaping the future of the pod to deliver even more value, don’t miss this very special 100th episode of my podcast, Beyond Better.
Show notes:
-
56. Determining your publishing path, with Jane Friedman
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65. You, author: The nonfiction book-writing process (replay)
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6. The ups and downs of living in Portugal
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69. One year later: What I learned from publishing my first book, with Amy Lafko
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71. Ask Stacy: Your writing and publishing questions, answered! (Part 1)
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76. Working with a ghostwriter: Why, what, how, and how much, with Robin Bethel
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70. Grit, grace, and writing a book as a high-level executive, with author David Morales
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- YouTube @stacyennisauthor
Learn more about my Idea-to-Draft Accelerator and Author Mentorship program here.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This week’s podcast guest (one of my former students!) has learned how to capture attention, grow an audience, share her opinion, and use her platform—now hundreds of thousands of people—to influence for good.
Giovanna Gonzalez is not only a TikTok influencer and financial educator, but she is also a soon-to-be author. During the Great Resignation, she quit her ten-year corporate career in financial services to pursue her true passion: teaching financial literacy to young adults. Since then, Giovanna has been featured in The New York Times, Fast Company, and Business Insider—and has hundreds of thousands of fans across the world—in just two years as a content creator. Giovanna’s powerful book, Cultura and Cash, will be out in January 2024.
In this candid conversation, Giovanna and I discuss:
- How she left corporate to pursue being a full-time creator
- BTS on what it’s really like to create content all day (hint: it’s not what you think)
- How to build an engaged, loyal following on multiple platforms
- Why first-gen money advice should be different
- What it was like to win a $50,000 writing grant—and what she did afterward to be successful in completing her book
- The highs and lows of her book-writing process
- The journey we went on together (this was my favorite part—I teared up!)
Learn how to capture the attention of hundreds of thousands of people—and make an even bigger impact with a book.
Get to know Giovanna:
- TikTok @thefirstgenmentor
- Instagram @gigithefirstgenmentor
- Website thefirstgenmentor.com
- Sign up for book updates: thefirstgenmentor.com/my-book
Learn more about my Idea-to-Draft Accelerator and Author Mentorship program here.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Megan McCaleb is a masterful improv trainer, comedian, author, and the creator of Improv Team Culture, with a specialty in coaching executive leadership and their teams to adopt the simple and effective principle of "yes, and," the core rule derived from performance improvisation.
In this podcast episode, we discuss:
- Megan’s journey as an author and what it was like to publicly share a personal, vulnerable story
- Writing craft tips, including adding sensory details and varying sentence lengths
- What improv is and how it can support healthy team culture
- The power of “yes, and” for healthy teams and relationships
If you want to develop your voice—both on and off the page—don’t miss this week’s episode.
Learn more about Megan:
- Website: improvteamculture.com
Learn more about my Idea-to-Draft Accelerator and Author Mentorship program here.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This Ask Stacy episode is full of writing and publishing-related questions from my listeners. Topics covered in this episode include:
- What to do if English is your second language and you’re finding it challenging to write.
- Whether traditional publishing is better than self-publishing.
- If ChatGPT is an ethical route to write a book.
- The average word count for a nonfiction manuscript and what to do if you’re struggling to create enough for a whole book.
Show notes:
- Determining Your Publishing Path With Jane Friedman
Learn more about my Idea-to-Draft Accelerator and Author Mentorship program here.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
I’ve collaborated with Reedsy on a few learning resources over the years, including a course and webinar, always working with Martin Cavannagh, Head of Content. He does a fantastic job running their content and has been successful positioning the company at the top of search results, helping drive a steady stream of leads to the marketplace. So when he agreed to come on the podcast to share some BTS on how he runs content strategy and execution for Reedsy, as well as tips for authors, I knew this episode would be packed with value.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Martin’s journey to publishing and work as the Head of Content
- His advice for creating content people are searching for—and how to show up in the top three of search results
- How to build a content ecosystem if you’re just starting out or grow an empire if you have support
- His thoughts on publishing pathways and how to ensure you’re working with real pros
Whether you’re dreaming of writing your book or marketing a recent release, don’t miss this thoughtful, fun, and informative conversation.
Learn more about Reedsy:
- Three-month online course from idea to draft for novel: reedsy.com/learning
- Learn more about Reedsy and check out my profile
Learn more about my Idea-to-Draft Accelerator and Author Mentorship program here.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
I get emails every week from listeners and readers who want to know about life abroad. Questions cover: What is it like to uproot everything and move somewhere new? What is the visa process like? What should I consider when deciding on whether to move abroad? These questions get more specific when it comes to dating, raising a family, and everything in between.
That’s why I loved this conversation with Cepee Tabibian of She Hit Refresh. We discuss what it’s like to move abroad as a single woman thirty and older, what it’s like to raise a family abroad, and some of the real-life consideration for people looking to build a new life abroad. Since Cepee and I come from different life situations, we brought our experiences to this discussion, sharing our experience living in different countries. If you’ve ever considered moving abroad, don’t miss this episode.
Learn more about Cepee:
- Website: shehitrefresh.com
- TikTok
- Youtube
- Facebook Group
Follow me on
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
A book launch party is a special moment for an author. After many months—often years—of working on a book, the launch party is the moment to celebrate the incredible achievement of authorhood.
But here’s the thing: while a launch party can be fun and exciting, a successful party requires planning and execution. That’s why I’m so excited to get to share this week’s episode, a conversation with Virginia Frischkorn of Partytrick.
Virginia is the founder and CEO of Partytrick, a tech platform built to disrupt the event industry, helping to make planning and executing highly curated events accessible and convenient for everyone. Throughout her fourteen-year career in the event industry, she has gained prestige among her peers as one of the top event planners in the country, including being named best wedding planner by Vogue, Brides, and Over the Moon.
Get to know Virginia:
- Website http://www.partytrick.com
- Facebook @partytrick
- Instagram @partytrick
- Use the code STACYENNIS, for two months free subscription with Partytrick
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To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
I’ve been in the publishing industry for more than thirteen years. And while I don’t claim expertise as a publisher—I anchor heavily to the writing side of the industry—I’ve been around long enough and seen enough to know things are not as they should be.
In 2020, I was cautiously optimistic that things might change. As racial protests broke out across the country, big publishers sought out more voices of color. But it turned out that they were offering these voices a fraction of what their white counterparts made. The hashtag #publishingpaidme went viral as authors began sharing numbers. The discrepancies were shocking. One white author, for example, shared her $400,000 advance as a relatively unknown first-time author; a black author who had won a National Book Award shared how she had to fight for a $100,000 advance.
To put this into perspective, most authors only pocket about one-third of their advances after taxes and expected marketing expenses. A book can take a year or more to write. A net gain of $30,000 isn’t much, especially for a proven author.
Compound that with an assessment by The New York Times. After reviewing fiction books published by major publishers between 1950 and 2018, they found that 95 percent were written by white authors.
Things have gotten better, but they’re nowhere near equitable. More in this week’s episode.
Research references:
- https://www.vox.com/culture/2020/6/17/21285316/publishing-paid-me-diversity-black-authors-systemic-bias
- https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/12/11/opinion/culture/diversity-publishing-industry.html
- https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/87923-prh-contributors-skew-heavily-white.html
- https://fortune.com/2020/12/20/women-bestselling-business-books-2020/
- https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/04/24/upshot/women-and-men-named-john.html
- https://www.forbes.com/lists/innovative-leaders/#4031af1926aa
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- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this week’s podcast episode, I share an update on our life here and what we’re thinking through as the kids get older. I talk through some of the cons of living in the Algarve and the pros of the life we lead. I talk through the balance we’ve been able to achieve here and how intertwined our everyday life is with nature. And I share the challenges we’re facing as we consider life beyond our kids’ elementary school years.
We love our life here—but will it be enough for us in the long term? Listen in this week as I share where we are and what we’re exploring next.
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
Learn more about our journey in Portugal here.
Follow me on:To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Jeffrey is often described as an advocate for self-employed business owners. His journey began with selling eggs door-to-door at fourteen years old to becoming one of the most sought-after portrait photographers for affluent families in the U.S. in his twenties, a business he ran for more than three decades.
Today, Jeffrey is an author, the host of The Self-Employed Life podcast with nearly two-million downloads, and the founder of the Self-Employed Business Institute.
In this episode, we talk about the journey of self-employment and why he doesn’t love the term “solopreneur.” We also dig into marketing strategies for attracting ideal clients, including his Hug Marketing method.
This is a fun conversation about the joys and hardships of self-employment, the challenges business owners face, and how to build a business you love.
Get to know Jeffrey:
- Jeffrey’s book, The Self-Employed Life
- Fill out this application form for a free website review by Jeffrey
- Website https://jeffreyshaw.com
- Facebook @JeffreyShawAuthor
- Instagram @jeffreyshaw
- Twitter @jeffreyshaw1
- Youtube @jeffreyshawauthor
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
Amy Mangueira experienced the full range of life’s wild ride, all the way to rock bottom, when she hit such extreme burnout that she permanently lost hearing in her left ear. On the pod this week, we talk about what led her to this moment—and what she’s done to find her way back to balance.
Amy is a 4x entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker on a mission to rid the world of burnout. Amy’s goal is education and coaching women to find balance in their careers and live by putting themselves first.
In this episode, we discuss how Americans are conditioned for “grind mode,” a hustle-til-you-have-a-breakdown mindset that keeps many people exhausted and dissatisfied with their lives. She shares how she took steps to break free from burnout and rebuild her life—and offers ideas for how you can do the same.
Get to know Amy:
- Amy’s Book, The Path to Break Free from Burnout
- Instagram: @projectamy
- Website: amymangueira.com
- Burnout coaching
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Looking to build a platform to establish yourself as a thought leader? I've got you covered. This week's solo episode dives deeply into both the experience of building one (mine) and nine practical steps to build yours.
Whether you're an aspiring or published author, entrepreneur, or looking to build a powerful personal brand, this episode is for you. Best of all, I’ve created a free, detailed guide to walk you through each of the steps.
Download the guide here: stacyennis.com/platformguide
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- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Jovelle Fernandez is the author of The Expat. She’s also an obstetrician gynecologist with a subspecialty in reproductive endocrinology, infertility, and oncology, as well as a multi-award-winning and highly respected health care executive.
In this conversation, we talk about her unique experiences of an expatriate, including various challenges living and working as a foreigner in academia in a male-dominated society and in the corporate world, while juggling the demands of work and family as a wife and mother. She shares her advice for getting out of your comfort zone and becoming the best version of yourself.
We also discuss her book-writing journey and why the experience of writing was deeply meaningful for her. She shares how she grew through her author journey and why everyone should write a book. If you’ve ever dreamed of living abroad, writing a book, or following another big dream, don’t miss this episode.
Connect with Jovelle:
- Jovelle Fernandez's Website
- The Expat: Powerful Life Lessons From Living, Working, and Traveling Around the World
- Instagram: @jovelle_fernandez
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This week, I’m answering some of my guests’ latest questions about the book-writing process. From refining and clarifying your book idea to how to properly cite others’ work, this episode is highly practical. I also discuss some behind the scenes about ghostwriting, including different ways you can engage a ghostwriter and how I structure fees.
Show notes:
- Nonfiction Book School Self-Study Program
- Life Visioning Guide
- How to Create an Influential Author Platform
- Brad Fraser podcast episode: stacyennis.com/episode41/
- Article on understanding and avoiding plagiarism
- Pro tip: outsource end notes! Grammarly has a citations editor: https://www.grammarly.com/citations
- Chicago Manual of Style: chicagomanualofstyle.org
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
In this episode, we talk through how to transplant your career—essentially, how to do the same thing you’re doing now, but in another area. We discuss practical steps to move abroad, how to set expectations, and the mindset needed to successfully move to another country. We also cover Vanessa’s fifteen income streams (!) and how she is working hard now to secure her financial future.
Vanessa and I are in different life stages. She’s younger than I, without kids, and in the phase of hustle and build. I remember so well the stage of building, and I love that while Vanessa is able to bring a different perspective than I have, we connect on so many aspects of this beautiful, challenging, wild, unpredictable, amazing life that is location independence.
If you’ve ever dreamt of living abroad, this is your episode.
Connect with Vanessa:
- Instagram @wanderonwards
- TikTok @wanderonwards
- Facebook @vanessa.wanderonwards
- Youtube @wanderonwards
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
- Youtube @stacyennisauthor
In this podcast episode, I speak with Plottr’s founder, Cameron Sutter, and education lead, Troy Lambert, about their powerful outlining software.
I am a planner. I build a vision, strategy, and tactical plan for nearly everything I do. And that includes book writing. In my own work, I create detailed book outlines. And in my self-study book-writing program, I spend the first four lessons teaching aspiring authors how to outline a powerful nonfiction book. That’s why I get excited about tools like Plottr.
For professional writers and editors, Plottr could be a game changer for client communication—aiding in showing versus explaining a writing or editing plan. Plottr can also be a helpful diagnostic tool for self-editing. If you’ve struggled with book outlining, or if you’re following my system and want to bring your sticky notes into a digital format, don’t miss this episode.
Learn more about Plottr:
- Go to Plottr.com for a free trial
- Facebook community
- Youtube channel
- Troy Lambert’s LinkedIn (Plottr’s Education Lead)
- Cameron Sutter’s LinkedIn (Plottr’s Founder)
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit www.stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Learn more about Plottr:Follow me on:
Connect with Mike:
- Mike’s book: Wandermust
- Mike’s website: mikegreenleadership.com
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
I’m excited to share a conversation on my podcast with an individual who has had a profound impact on my career: Tim Vandehey. =
Tim is a friend and business mentor—not to mention a renowned writer. A freelance writer since 1995, he is an award-winning NewYork Times best-selling ghostwriter of more than sixty-five nonfiction books.
In this week’s episode, we talk about why we humans are notoriously awful at finishing projects and what we can do about it. We discuss how we’ve each been able to tackle and complete big projects—you know, like writing dozens of books—and share practical strategies to get things done. Plus, we talk about the business of ghostwriting and share insider tips for writers looking to succeed in the field.
Learn More About Tim:
- www.timvandehey.com
- Facebook and Linkedin
- Tim’s most recent book: Swipe: The Science Behind Why We Don’t Finish What We Start
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- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
Not only is Misty a dear friend, but she’s also a lighthouse for women around the world. We recently hosted a conversation live on LinkedIn that ended up being so powerful I had to share it again on my podcast. It’s short—about twenty minutes—and so inspiring.
Listen to this week’s episode on how to set yourself up as an expert.
In our conversation, we also talk about the transition from expert to thought leader and how to fully step into your powerful purpose.
Misty also shared about her public speaking program for women, which sadly is not open anymore. If you want to get in on the next cohort, be sure to join her waiting list. Misty’s speaking program is world-class and life-changing—just like everything she touches!
Learn more about Misty:
- www.mistymegia.com
- All social media platforms: @mistymegia
- Public speaking program for women: https://mistymegia.com/work/program/
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
This week, I’m joined by parenting and confidence coach, May Lam Rocco. May is an author, entrepreneur, businesswoman, and former Nonfiction Book School student who recently released her memoir, Confi-Dance: Memoirs of an Asian Businesswoman’s Journey from a Traditional Upbringing into Unconditional Love. Her book has been endorsed by the former president of Gucci China; the speaker-elect of the US House of Representatives; and my friend and coauthor, Ron Price, president of TTI Success Insights.
During her time in Nonfiction Book School, May went from thinking her memoir was meant for an audience of one—her son—to realizing that her book had a significant role in fulfilling her newfound purpose of helping other people up-level their confidence in business, parenting, and life.
Join us as we talk writing, publishing, social media, traveling, and much more.
Connect with May:
- Get May’s book: Confi-dance
- Follow May on TikTok: maylamrocco
- Follow May on Instagram: instagram.com/maylamrocco/
- Email: maylamrocco@gmail.com
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
This week, I’m joined by Shaheen Shamavati, a fellow US expat and business owner living in Malaga, Spain. Shaheen is CEO and Founder of Vera Content and is a multilingual context expert, managing global social media and marketing channels for international brands.
I met Shaheen through an entrepreneurship group I’m part of and instantly connected with her. Not only is she a smart business leader, but she’s also chosen to build a unique life in Spain, where she lives with her family and co-leads a remote team.
In this episode, we discuss building an unconventional life, family, and business abroad—and the challenges and joys of being an expat business owner.
We also dig into her area of expertise: global social media and content marketing channels. She shares advice for showing up with consistency and tips for scaling a truly global brand.
Learn more about Shaheen:
- Vera Content: veracontent.com
- Social handle: @veracontent
- Co-hosted podcast: The Content Mix – veracontent.com/mix
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
At least once a week, but often more frequently, I get questions on all things Portugal. They range from how we afford our life to how we do schooling to why we would choose to leave everything we know in pursuit of an unknown life abroad. This week, I am digging into the looooong list of questions to . . . well, answer them.
In this episode, I dive into more of the visa and legal specifics, digging into some of the steps we researched to make this move, things to consider, and lessons learned along the way. I also share some behind the scenes of our lives here and why it’s a wonderful fit for our family.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
To submit a question or an inquiry, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Many aspiring writers want to be able to make a living as a writer. But how in the world does someone go from dreaming to doing the thing?
This week, I’ve got answers for you. Along with sharing my own experience in nonfiction, I’m joined by novelist Mindy McGinnis to share her journey on the fiction side.
Mindy is an Edgar Award-winning novelist who writes across multiple genres, including post-apocalyptic, historical, thriller, contemporary, mystery, and fantasy. Her experience has not always been rosy, and, as you’ll learn in this frank and open discussion, she has experienced hardships along the way to make her dream happen. But she’s done it—she’s doing it—and she shares some of the behind-the-scenes of a novelist living the dream.
I also share insights from my world of nonfiction and offer insights for nonfiction authors who are writing books connected to a bigger purpose. We also dig into marketing and social media, and Mindy shares what she does to attract new readers and book paid speaking gigs.
Learn more about Mindy at her website: www.mindymcginnis.com.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
To submit a question or an inquiry, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
At least once a week, but often more frequently, I get questions on all things Portugal. They range from how we afford our life to how we do schooling to why we would choose to leave everything we know in pursuit of an unknown life abroad. This week, I am digging into the looooong list of questions to . . . well, answer them.
In this episode, I answer questions on why we chose to move, how we selected schools, what it’s like to live in a different country, how learning the language is going, and much more. If you’re thinking of moving abroad—maybe even to Portugal—or you’re just curious about our life here, this episode is for you.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
To submit a question or an inquiry, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Ghostwriting has been made more visible recently with Prince Harry’s writer, J. R. Moehringer. But the practice has been around long before the prince’s memoir—and is utilized by people other than princes.
In fact, an estimated 60 percent of all nonfiction books and 70 percent on the New York Time’s best-seller list are ghostwritten.
In this episode, I am demystifying all things ghostwriting with writer, developmental editor, and book coach Robin Bethel. This episode is like listening in to two ghostwriters talking shop, trading notes, and discussing the many misconceptions about our craft.
Not only do we dive into a detailed discussion of how ghostwriting works, why someone might hire one, and our approach to the craft, but we also talk dollar bills. As in: How much will this cost you?
Ghostwriting is not only a powerful process but also a smart investment for entrepreneurs, CEOs, consultants, coaches, and people who want to uncover their unique story and message to make an impact. We discuss how to create a “shelf stable” book that becomes a business sustainability tool—and how to engage fully in the process with a ghostwriter to uncover new insights about yourself and your business.
This is a detailed, fun, and insightful episode.
Learn more about Robin
- Stacy’s website: www.stacyennis.com/about
- Robin's website: www.prosestudio.com
- On Instagram @robinbethelwriting
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
To submit a question or an inquiry, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Last year, I hosted an alumni celebration for graduates of my program, Nonfiction Book School. As part of the event, I asked past students to share their stories. And—wow—I was so inspired! I knew I had to share their stories with you too.
This week, I’m sharing a live Facebook broadcast with five authors discussing how they accomplished their goal of authorhood. Don’t miss this inspiring episode!
Some themes: courage, action, discipline. Believe in your big vision. Commit to your goal. Show up and do the work.
No matter where you are on your author journey, I know this episode will inspire you to take action just like these five phenomenal authors. Don’t miss this episode!
If you’re ready to uncover your unique story, write your book, and step into your purpose, join me in Nonfiction Book School! Enrollment closes January 23, 2023: https://www.nonfictionbookschool.com/.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Many aspiring authors anchor to one thing early in the book-writing process—often before they’ve even written a word: potential book sales. They do the math: how many books will I have to sell to make back my investment (time and money)?
But that’s a false equation, because the true ROI of a book isn’t as simple as calculating the number of books sold by your author royalty per book. In fact, the greatest benefits are harder to measure—but can equate to tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of opportunities. This week, I explore the true internal and external ROI of writing a book, including speaking engagements, media attention, a steady stream of inbound clients, new career opportunities, or stepping into your “next level” professionally—whatever that may be for you.
If you’re ready to write your book and step into your purpose, join me in Nonfiction Book School! Enrollment closes January 23, 2023: https://www.nonfictionbookschool.com/.
Listen to past episodes with NBS students Lindsey Weigle and Mike Green.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Answers to your burning questions on all things writing, publishing, platform, and more—part 2!
I often say that entering the world of publishing is like learning a new language.
I should know. I’ve tried to learn Spanish, Vietnamese, Thai, and Portuguese. And I’ve only been successful at near-fluency in one so far! (Portuguese is also coming along. Slowly.)
First, you embark on a project to achieve one of the hardest goals out there: write a book. Not only do you need to learn the skill of writing a book, but you need to show up with discipline and consistency to actually get it done. Then, you have to navigate self-editing, professional editing, and the publishing process (which has its own language!). Meanwhile, you need to build an author platform and put together a launch plan so your book doesn’t do a not-so-graceful flop on release day.
It’s a lot. But I’ve got you.
Show notes:
- Access a life visioning guide at stacyennis.com/resources
- Access a platform guide at stacyennis.com/resources
- I have a helpful book checklist at stacyennis.com/learn
- Great episode on copyright with attorney Brad Frazer: stacyennis.com/episode41/
P.S. At the beginning of the episode, I say "2023 was the shortest but longest year ever.” I meant 2022. Case and point!
Get my accelerated author self-study program, Nonfiction Book School: www.nonfictionbookschool.com/selfstudy.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Joseph Perry is a publishing attorney and literary agent. As an attorney, Joseph counsels clients in the publishing industry, where he drafts and negotiates various publishing agreements, gives legal reads of manuscripts, registers copyrights, and helps authors start their own publishing companies. As an agent, he represents best-selling cookbook authors, athletes, musicians, journalists, influencers, academics, and more.
In this episode, we discuss the difference between a publishing attorney and a literary agent, when someone might need a publishing attorney, how authors can better protect themselves in publishing negotiations, what to consider when assessing which publishing route is the right fit for you, and tips for getting represented by a literary agent.
Show notes* Listen to the Beyond Better podcast episode about copyright with Brad Frazer * IBPA.org * Learn more about Joe and his work at www.josephperrylaw.com and www.perryliterary.com * Nonfiction Authors Association
Get my accelerated author self-study program, Nonfiction Book School: www.nonfictionbookschool.com/selfstudy
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This week, I’m answering your burning questions on all things writing, publishing, platform, and more.
I often say that entering the world of publishing is like learning a new language.
I should know. I’ve tried to learn Spanish, Vietnamese, Thai, and Portuguese. And I’ve only been successful at near-fluency in one so far! (Portuguese is also coming along. Slowly.)
First, you embark on a project to achieve one of the hardest goals out there: write a book. Not only do you need to learn the skill of writing a book, but you need to show up with discipline and consistency to actually get it done. Then, you have to navigate self-editing, professional editing, and the publishing process (which has its own language!). Meanwhile, you need to build an author platform and put together a launch plan so your book doesn’t do a not-so-graceful flop on release day.
It’s a lot. But I’ve got you.
Show notes:
- Publishing resource: www.JaneFriedman.com
- Listen to the Beyond Better podcast episode about the ROI of a Book
Get my accelerated author self-study program, Nonfiction Book School: www.nonfictionbookschool.com/selfstudy.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This week, I’m joined by author David Morales. His book, American Familia: A Memoir of Perseverance, was released in February 2022 and already has dozens of five-star reviews and has impacted readers across the US and beyond.
In this conversation, David shares the inspiration behind the book and his larger vision of impact, including the work he’s doing through Ahora Inc., a nonprofit organization he cofounded with his wife, Samanda Morales, focused on increasing economic mobility and empowering individuals and families to gain financial freedom. We discuss how two qualities, self-agency and critical thinking, helped him overcome both rural and urban poverty to become the person he is today. He also delves into how he navigated publishing a vulnerable memoir while working as a high-level executive in the health care industry.
If you’re an aspiring author on the journey to impact, David’s insights about his own author journey will inspire you to take action.
Learn more and connect with David:
- American Familia on Amazon
- David’s website
- Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter
- Ahora Inc.
Get my accelerated author self-study program, Nonfiction Book School: www.nonfictionbookschool.com/selfstudy.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This short and sweet episode details my plans for season 4 (!!!) of this podcast.
I need your support to reach more listeners. Please rate and review this show—and share with a friend!
Get my accelerated author self-study program, Nonfiction Book School: www.nonfictionbookschool.com/selfstudy.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com.
Follow me on:
- Instagram @stacyennis
- Facebook @stacyenniscreative
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Meet Amy Lafko, a client who has seen great success—both with her book and her business—after the publication of her best-selling book, People First: A Proven Method for an Exceptional Healthcare Practice. While surprised at becoming an author, Amy’s love for People First concepts drove her to writing a book that she loves. It has elevated her keynote career and shaped the work she does with clients.
In this conversation, Amy shares about her author journey before and after publishing her book, and shares wise advice for any authors on the same journey.
In this episode, we cover:
- What the journey of authorhood has been like and what she’s learned
- How her book has been a catalyst for achieving her big vision
- Roadblocks she faced and how she overcame them
- What the publishing process was like for her
- Wisdom and practical advice for aspiring authors
Get to know Amy:
- Learn more about her book: www.thepeoplefirstbook.com
- Learn more about her work: www.cairncs.com
- Connect with her on LinkedIn
- Follow her on Instagram
- Email her at amy@cairncs.com
Join the waiting list for my accelerated author program, Nonfiction Book School: www.nonfictionbookschool.com.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis, on Facebook @stacyenniscreative, and on LinkedIn.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
As an expert in traditional publishing, Meghan Stevenson helps clients get the book deal of their dreams. She helps entrepreneurs and experts become published authors and has helped her clients earn more than $4 million from major publishers.
In this conversation, she explains the importance of the three p’s—potential, platform, proposal—when it comes to having the highest chance of success in getting a traditional book publishing deal.
In this episode, we cover:
- book marketability
- the difference between writing and writing a book
- how to establish the purpose and desired outcome of your book
- what an author platform is and how to build one
Get to know Meghan:
- Follow her on Instagram @megstevenson
- Check out her website: meghanstevenson.com
- Get the free guide, 3 Tips Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know About Writing a Book
- Register for Meghan’s September 17th workshop here
Join the waiting list for my accelerated author program, Nonfiction Book School: www.nonfictionbookschool.com.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis, on Facebook @stacyenniscreative, and on LinkedIn.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
I’m pleased to welcome one of the foremost publishing experts, Jane Friedman.
Jane has spent nearly 25 years working in the book publishing industry, with a focus on author education and trend reporting. She is the editor of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, which was named 2020 Media Outlet of the Year by Digital Book World.
I’ve been following Jane’s work for years, and her site was a critical resource for me early in my writing career (and still is!). In this candid discussion, we cover:
- the three main types of publishing and considerations for each
- an overview of traditional publishing, including working with an agent and a basic time frame
- why an author might self-publish or work with a hybrid publisher
- what makes a nonfiction book marketable
- how to get crystal clear on your reader and niche
- what Jane says all aspiring authors should know
We also have a lot of fun talking shop, sharing our personal perspectives about the publishing industry, writing, and much more. No matter what stage you’re at in your author journey, you won’t want to miss this episode.
Join the waiting list for my accelerated author program, Nonfiction Book School: www.nonfictionbookschool.com.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Get to know Jane:
- Access her valuable free content at https://www.janefriedman.com.
- Subscribe to her paid newsletter at https://hotsheetpub.com. I’m a subscriber and highly recommend it if you want to keep up on publishing industry news, trends, and more.
Content discussed in the interview:
- Questions to Ask Your Publisher Before Signing:
https://www.janefriedman.com/questions-to-ask-your-publisher-before-you-sign-the-contract/ * How to Define & Describe Your Readership (gluten-free example):
https://www.janefriedman.com/define-readers-book-proposal/ * Using Partnerships to Land a Book Deal (getting forewords/intros from other experts):
https://www.janefriedman.com/using-partnerships-to-help-land-a-nonfiction-book-deal/
Additional links from Jane:
- How to Write a Book Proposal (+ template)
https://www.janefriedman.com/start-here-how-to-write-a-book-proposal/ * Key Book Publishing Paths
https://www.janefriedman.com/key-book-publishing-path/
Misty Megia is a creative producer extraordinaire who has helped craft and produce keynotes on some of the biggest stages in the world. After leaving her high-profile Fortune 500 position on February 26, 2020, to start her own company, Misty lost $85,000 in contracts in one day as events around the US were cancelled due to the pandemic—income she’d been counting on for the first few months of her new enterprise. Quickly, she reframed the situation, came up with a new strategy, and took action, applying insights from helping tech companies reach multi-hundred-million-dollar exits. Today, she helps speakers and event producers create phenomenal presentations and keynotes, and inspires people around the globe with her business insights and positivity. This episode is full of practical tips, inspiring storytelling, and lots of laughter. (So much laughter!) Don’t miss this insightful, practical discussion.
Learn more about Misty at http://mistymegia.com/.
Join the waiting list for my accelerated author program, Nonfiction Book School: www.nonfictionbookschool.com.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis, on Facebook @stacyenniscreative, and on LinkedIn.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This podcast episode is a recording of past webinar I did on the book-writing process. This training replay covers an overview of the book-writing process, including the why behind a book (so important!). You’ll learn the difference between the creation and production processes, and we'll deep dive into creation: idea, outline, write, and revise. We’ll also take a high-level look at production: design, proof, publish, and launch.
Join the waiting list for my accelerated author program, Nonfiction Book School: www.nonfictionbookschool.com.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis, on Facebook @stacyenniscreative, and on LinkedIn.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Growing your influence and impact as an author requires more than just writing a book people want to read. You need to show up with passion, purpose, and consistency to develop a solid author platform that attracts an audience. In this episode, I talk with founder and CEO of Amplify Publishing and Mascot Books, Naren Aryal. Along with solid advice for growing a thought leadership platform as an author, Naren shares insider publisher secrets. If you’re an aspiring or published nonfiction author, don’t miss this informative (and fun!) episode.
Learn more about Naren’s publishing companies:
- Learn more about Mascot Publishing: www.mascotbooks.com
- Learn more about Amplify Publishing: www.amplifypublishing.com
- Learn more about Real Clear Publishing: www.realclearpublishing.com
Join the waiting list for my accelerated author program, Nonfiction Book School: www.nonfictionbookschool.com.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis, on Facebook @stacyenniscreative, and on LinkedIn.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Money. It’s one of the biggest sources of stress entrepreneurs face. This week, Octavia Conner, founder and CEO of Say Yes to Profits, shares some of her top strategies to go from financial distress to abundance—and grow your company as you grow your money mindset.
Octavia Conner has been quoted in Forbes and featured in Afro Tech and Intuit. Selected as a top-50 accountant in North America for two consecutive years and acknowledged as an award-winning, best-selling author and professional speaker, Octavia combines over 20 years of business, accounting, and financial experience. Basically, she knows her stuff!
If you want to reclaim your financial power and grow your business, you won’t want to miss this episode!
In this episode, we cover:
- money moves to reach six and seven figures in your business
- how to go from money drought to six-figure cash flow
- why and how Octavia left a cushy role as CFO to start her own business
- what Octavia learned when she failed the first time launching her business
- how to achieve financial peace of mind
- why having a financial strategy matters in reaching your business goals
Get to know Octavia:
- Say Yes to Profits website
- Follow her on Instagram
Join the waiting list for my accelerated author program, Nonfiction Book School: www.nonfictionbookschool.com.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis, on Facebook @stacyenniscreative, and on LinkedIn.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Michael Zipursky is the CEO of Consulting Success®, a consulting business that specializes in helping entrepreneurial consultants grow profitable, scalable, and strategic businesses. We talk about Michael’s journey through multiple businesses and how he transitioned from burning the midnight oil to structuring his business in a way that supports a lifestyle of freedom. He shares what a healthy entrepreneurial work-life balance looks like for him and the mindset shifts necessary to achieve it. Hint: the key is to optimize our business and our lifestyle so that we can start enjoying more of what we want today and not delaying it for the future.
Michael explains how authorhood impacted his business (Michael has published three books to date), as well as the four pillars of developing a highly profitable, scalable coaching business (the components of his Clarity Coaching program); content marketing; social media; and more.
This is a value-packed episode you don’t want to miss!
Get to know Michael:
- Consulting Success website: www.consultingsuccess.com
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/zipursky
Join the waiting list for my accelerated author program, Nonfiction Book School: www.nonfictionbookschool.com.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis, on Facebook @stacyenniscreative, and on LinkedIn.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this week's solo episode, I share three core stages of my business, the mindset changes I made along the way, and the support I leaned on to make my dreams happen. I also share why my husband decided to be a stay-at-home dad, and how we have made decisions in alignment with the life we want—not what society thinks we should do.
I recorded this episode on Independence Day in the US, as I was reflecting on what independence means to me. (Hint: It's not the American value of self-sufficiency.) I can’t think of a better topic to share this week as I reflect with gratitude on thirteen years of business and all the help my family and I have gotten along the way.
Join my email list: http://stacyennis.com/join
Join the waiting list for my accelerated author program, Nonfiction Book School: www.nonfictionbookschool.com.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis, on Facebook @stacyenniscreative, and on LinkedIn.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This week, I’m joined by Jeffrey Shipley, cofounder of TONIC Site Shop. In this insightful, vulnerable discussion, we cover effective website design, and Jeffrey shares practical action steps to create a website that effectively communicates your brand and converts.
My favorite part of this interview? His story. We discuss mistakes and lessons learned along his entrepreneurial journey cofounding TONIC Site Shop and building it into the wildly successful company it is today. Plus, we pull back the curtains on our businesses to explore working within one’s zone of genius, and the power of entrepreneurship and choice.
(I teared up while interviewing Jeffrey for this episode. Our conversation is that powerful!)
Whether you’re looking to revamp or refresh your site, or want to listen in on two entrepreneurs sharing the hard and great stuff, you won’t want to miss this episode!
Join the waiting list for my accelerated author program, Nonfiction Book School: www.nonfictionbookschool.com.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Get to know Jeffrey
- Check out the TONIC Site Shop and sign up for their phenomenal newsletter: tonicsiteshop.com
- Follow TONIC Site Shop on Instagram: instagram.com/tonicsiteshop
- Follow Jeffrey on Instagram: instagram.com/jeffreyshipley
Rhea Allen is the president and CEO of Peppershock Media, a full-service marketing and advertising agency with creative production services that has been building brands and bottom lines since 2003. In this episode, Rhea shares how she took a sports marketing and television background and turned it into a successful marketing company. We talk building business brands, evolving into the “new” media of social media, culture building, transitioning to remote work, and so much more.
Join the waiting list for my accelerated author program, Nonfiction Book School: www.nonfictionbookschool.com.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Get to know Rhea
- Learn more about Rhea’s agency at: www.peppershock.com
- Check out the Marketing Expedition Community: www.themarketingexpedition.com
- Listen to The Marketing Expedition Podcast: www.themarketingexpedition.com/podcasts/
This week, I speak with Renée Warren, an award-winning entrepreneur, inspirational speaker, author, and founder of We Wild Women, a platform that helps women grow wildly successfully companies. She has over 23 years of experience as an entrepreneur running marketing and PR agencies.
In this episode, we discuss her personal journey to entrepreneurship, founding and running a PR company, the challenges and lessons of raising two boys as an entrepreneur, and coauthoring a book. After she shut down her company (you’ll have to listen to find out why!), she started business coaching and founded We Wild Women.
We talk about the role of commitment, bravery, and growth in being an entrepreneur and running a small business.
Join the waiting list for my accelerated author program, Nonfiction Book School: www.nonfictionbookschool.com.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Get to know Renée:
- Get her coauthored book, Get Covered! How to Craft, Pitch and Tell Your Startup’s Story to Get More Customers
- Check out her website: https://www.wewildwomen.com/
- Listen to her podcast: https://www.wewildwomen.com/podcast
This week, I’m joined by my friend and marketing leader Madeline Pratt. Madeline Pratt is the founder and CEO of Fearless Foundry, a creative consulting firm that specializes in helping ambitious entrepreneurs with their marketing, branding, and business development.
Madeline is a thoughtful, intentional business strategist and marketer. In this episode, we discuss her personal journey to entrepreneurship and how she grew a connected, dynamic team. We also get real about the challenges of growing a small business and cover what a business development strategy is, how joyful marketing fits into that strategy, and some practical steps for anyone looking to be more effective with marketing.
If you want to grow your business and level up your marketing at the same time—plus hear real talk from two seasoned entrepreneurs—don’t miss this episode.
Join the waiting list for my accelerated author program, Nonfiction Book School: www.nonfictionbookschool.com.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Get to know Madeline:
· Learn more at https://www.fearlessfoundry.com/.
· Listen to the Finding Fearless podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-fearless/id1320634079.
· Access her library of resources here: https://fearlessfoundry.podia.com/.
This week, I’m pleased to welcome one of the foremost publishing experts, Jane Friedman.
Jane has spent nearly 25 years working in the book publishing industry, with a focus on author education and trend reporting. She is the editor of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, which was named 2020 Media Outlet of the Year by Digital Book World.
I’ve been following Jane’s work for years, and her site was a critical resource for me early in my writing career (and still is!). In this candid discussion, we cover:
- the three main types of publishing and considerations for each
- an overview of traditional publishing, including working with an agent and a basic time frame
- why an author might self-publish or work with a hybrid publisher
- what makes a nonfiction book marketable
- how to get crystal clear on your reader and niche
- what Jane says all aspiring authors should know
We also have a lot of fun talking shop, sharing our personal perspectives about the publishing industry, writing, and much more. No matter what stage you’re at in your author journey, you won’t want to miss this episode.
Join the waiting list for my accelerated author program, Nonfiction Book School: www.nonfictionbookschool.com.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Get to know Jane:
- Access her valuable free content at https://www.janefriedman.com.
- Subscribe to her paid newsletter at https://hotsheetpub.com. I’m a subscriber and highly recommend it if you want to keep up on publishing industry news, trends, and more.
Content discussed in the interview:
- Questions to Ask Your Publisher Before Signing: https://www.janefriedman.com/questions-to-ask-your-publisher-before-you-sign-the-contract/
- How to Define & Describe Your Readership (gluten-free example): https://www.janefriedman.com/define-readers-book-proposal/
- Using Partnerships to Land a Book Deal (getting forewords/intros from other experts):https://www.janefriedman.com/using-partnerships-to-help-land-a-nonfiction-book-deal/
Additional links from Jane:
- How to Write a Book Proposal (+ template): https://www.janefriedman.com/start-here-how-to-write-a-book-proposal/
- Key Book Publishing Paths: https://www.janefriedman.com/key-book-publishing-path/
A couple weeks ago, I hosted an alumni celebration for graduates of my program, Nonfiction Book School. As part of the event, I asked past students to share their stories. And—wow—I was so inspired! I knew I had to share their stories with you too.
This week, I’m sharing a live Facebook broadcast with five authors discussing how they accomplished their goal of authorhood. Don’t miss this inspiring episode!
Some themes: courage, action, discipline. Believe in your big vision. Commit to your goal. Show up and do the work.
No matter where you are on your author journey, I know this episode will inspire you to take action just like these five phenomenal authors. Don’t miss this episode!
If you’re ready to uncover your unique story, write your book, and step into your purpose, join me in Nonfiction Book School! Enrollment closes March 31, 2022: https://www.nonfictionbookschool.com/.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Many aspiring authors anchor to one thing early in the book-writing process—often before they’ve even written a word: potential book sales. They do the math: how many books will I have to sell to make back my investment (time and money)?
But that’s a false equation, because the true ROI of a book isn’t as simple as calculating the number of books sold by your author royalty per book. In fact, the greatest benefits are harder to measure—but can equate to tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of opportunities. This week, I explore the true internal and external ROI of writing a book, including speaking engagements, media attention, a steady stream of inbound clients, new career opportunities, or stepping into your “next level” professionally—whatever that may be for you.
If you’re ready to write your book and step into your purpose, join me in Nonfiction Book School! Enrollment closes March 31, 2022: https://www.nonfictionbookschool.com/.
Listen to past episodes with NBS students Lindsey Weigle and Mike Green.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Important: I’m running a FREE 5-day writing challenge March 14–18. Register now.
In this episode, I answer your questions, gathered from a survey sent to my email list. They include:
- How do you make time to create and write?
- Aside from growing your business, what work-related topics are you interested in (my answer goes beyond work!)?
- Can you dig into how to build an audience?
As always, I aim to provide valuable, meaningful content in this episode to support your growth and success.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- How to Create an Influential Author Platform – this is my newly updated author platform guide, helpful for non-authors too!
- Core Message and Professional Story Writing Guide – this training will help you uncover your core message. Don’t forget to access the free training that accompanies the guide and download the training handout.
- ConvertKit– this is the software I use for my email list growth, landing pages, and more. They also offer valuable education for creators. (Note that I am a paid affiliate of ConvertKit—but I wouldn’t recommend them if I wasn’t a loyal user.)
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a five-star rating and review, and subscribe! Doing so helps me reach more listeners with the important message that we all deserve lives that are beyond better.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Your kid opens your door. Your email chimes. The delivery person rings the doorbell . . . three times. Your partner calls out from the other room to ask what you need from the grocery store.
We’ve all been interrupted while writing, and sometimes those interruptions can completely derail focus and flow. In this episode, I detail my best advice for reengaging your brain, so you can reconnect with flow and have a productive writing session. I also dig into preventive strategies to avoid interruptions before they happen. If you’ve ever struggled to regain writing focus after interruptions, this episode is for you!
If you’re ready to achieve your dream of writing your book, join me in my LIVE accelerated author program, Nonfiction Book School.
Please rate and review the show! If you enjoy this episode, please leave a five-star rating and review, and subscribe! Doing so helps me reach more listeners with the important message that we all deserve lives that are beyond better.
Let’s connect. Connect with me at stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis, on Facebook @stacyenniscreative, and on LinkedIn.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
If you’ve never heard the term “go-to-market strategy,” this week’s episode will shift everything about how you approach marketing. I’m joined by Christina Del Villar, author, marketing expert, and client who has rocked the marketing world since releasing her book, Sway: Implement the GRIT Marketing Method to Gain Influence & Drive Corporate Strategy. With over twenty-five years of experience at Fortune 100 companies and more than twenty startups, Christina knows her stuff.
Whether you’re a CEO driving revenue growth, an author launching a book, or a solopreneur building an audience or launching a program, I know you’ll gain value from both the insights and practical advice Christina shares in this discussion. While her expertise is in corporate strategy, we dig deep in this discussion to apply her corporate strategies to personal brands and small businesses. Along with methodology, we dig into practical steps you can implement immediately.
If you’re building an author platform, be sure to check out my valuable free guide, How to Create an Influential Author Platform.
About Christina Del Villar Christina Del Villar is a Silicon Valley marketing executive, consultant and author who geeks out on helping companies transform, grow, and scale, leveraging technology with over twenty-five years of experience at Fortune 100 companies and more than twenty startups. Christina has developed go-to-market and marketing strategies for exponential growth, new product launches, acquisitions, and IPOs, particularly for high-growth companies where she leverages her experience and industry perspective to take them to the next level.
Christina’s GRIT Marketing Method focuses on helping marketing professionals build smarter programs, be more efficient, and exponentially grow revenue to improve overall company performance. Her book, Sway: Implement the GRIT Marketing Method to Gain Influence & Drive Corporate Strategy, arrived in bookstores in August 2021.
Learn more about Christina at https://christinadelvillar.com/.
Please rate and review the show! If you enjoy this episode, please leave a five-star rating and review, and subscribe! Doing so helps me reach more listeners with the important message that we all deserve lives that are beyond better.
Let’s connect. Connect with me at stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis, on Facebook @stacyenniscreative, and on LinkedIn.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This week, I speak with lawyer-turned-Indie Business Network founder, Donna Maria. In this episode, we talk about creating a clear life vision, building a lifestyle business, growing an audience, and leveraging that audience for business success. Donna Maria is an author, award-winning home-based business advocate, and Certified Entrepreneur Mentor. Her personal story will inspire you to build your own lifestyle business.
If you enjoy this episode, please leave a five-star rating and review, and subscribe! Doing so helps me reach more listeners with the important message that we all deserve lives that are beyond better.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Life Visioning Guide: https://stacyennis.com/lifevisionguide
- Indie Business Network: https://indiebusinessnetwork.com/
- Lifestyle CEO: https://lifestyleceo.com/
Connect with me at stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis, on Facebook @stacyenniscreative, and on LinkedIn.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Looking to build a platform to establish yourself as a thought leader? I've got you covered.
This week's solo episode dives deeply into both the experience of building one (mine) and nine practical steps to build yours.
Whether you're an aspiring or published author, entrepreneur, or looking to build a powerful personal brand, this episode is for you. Best of all, I’ve created a free, detailed guide to walk you through each of the steps.
Download: How to create an influential author platform: stacyennis.com/platform
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a five-star rating and review, and subscribe! Doing so helps me reach more listeners with the important message that we all deserve lives that are beyond better.
Connect with me at stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis, on Facebook @stacyenniscreative, and on LinkedIn.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Have you ever wondered how people become a go-to authority in their industry? Back when I started my business in 2009, I wondered that very question. I looked at successful people in my space, scratched my head in confusion, and wondered how the heck they ended up so successful. Today, more than twelve years and multiple national and global brand campaigns later, I understand that being seen as an expert is as much about feelinglike an expert as it is about marketing strategy and execution.
That’s why I’m so excited to welcome Jaclyn Mellone to this week’s podcast episode. Jaclyn is the founder of Go-To Gal Media, an online business coach for entrepreneurs, and host of the Go-To Gal podcast, named one of Forbes Top 21 Podcasts for 2021 and a top 200 Marketing podcast on iTunes. From mindset shifts to practical strategies, Jaclyn shares her advice for busting through mental blocks to become a go-to authority in your industry and exponentially grow your business.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a five-star rating and review, and subscribe! If you’re one of the first ten people to leave a review and send a screenshot to hello@stacyennis.com, I’ll send you a digital copy of my latest book, Growing Influence. Your reviews help me reach more listeners with the important message that we all deserve lives that are beyond better.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Listen to the Go-To Gal Podcast and take Jaclyn’s Villain quiz here: www.jaclynmellone.com/quiz.
Anyone building a personal brand knows that the more attention, the better. But how do you gain the right kind of attention—media features and audience growth—that positions you as an expert in your industry? This discussion with public relations pro Kristen Elworthy details the intersection between a personal brand and PR, and offers practical advice for an expert positioning strategy. Whether you’re in the early stages of brand building or looking to up-level your impact, this episode is full of useful insights and advice to grow your influence.
Tools and resources mentioned in this episode:
- HARO (Help a Reporter Out)
- Qwoted
- One Pitch Podcast
Learn more about Kristen Elworthy at http://sevenhillscommunications.com/.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a five-star rating and review, and subscribe! Doing so helps me reach more listeners with the important message that we all deserve lives that are beyond better.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
When I started my business as a side hustle in 2009, I dreamed of becoming my own boss someday. I know what it’s like to look to people who are doing the thing and wonder, how the heck did they get there? In this episode, Melinda Emerson, known as America’s #1 small business expert, shares her advice for anyone looking to start or grow a small business. She also shares hard-won insights from twenty-two years in business in her new book, Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months, Revised and Expanded, recently released from Simon and Schuster. If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming your own boss, don’t miss this content-rich discussion!
Learn more and order Melinda’s new book at www.becomeyourownbossbook.com. Follow her on LinkedIn and Twitter.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a five-star rating and review, and subscribe! Doing so helps me reach more listeners with the important message that we all deserve lives that are beyond better.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to break the 9-to-5 and run a business completely of your design? Kate Peterson, author-illustrator of the newly released travel journal, Around the World and Back Again, did just that. In this episode, she shares how she journeyed from unhappy, full-time employee to landing a coveted book deal with Penguin Random House; overcame fear and self-doubt to pitch her next book; and embraced adventure and travel. We also discuss how travel influences and supports creativity, and the power of intentional discomfort. Kate is insightful, smart, and an inspiration to every daydreaming creative out there.
Learn more and order Kate’s new book: https://www.katepeterson.art/. Follow her on Instagram @katepetersonart.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a five-star rating and review, and subscribe! Doing so helps me reach more listeners with the important message that we all deserve lives that are beyond better.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this episode, I answer your wonderful questions, gathered from a recent survey sent to my email list. They include: How do you make time to create and write? Aside from growing your business, what work-related topics are you interested in (my answer goes beyond work!)? Can you dig into how to build an audience?
As always, I aim to provide valuable, meaningful content in this episode to support your growth and success.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Growing Your Influence as a Nonfiction Author – this is my author platform course, helpful for non-authors too!
- Crafting an Effective Pitch (training for QuickBooks by Intuit) – this training will help you uncover your core message. Don’t forget to download the handout and bonus free writing guide.
- ConvertKit – this is the software I use for my email list growth, landing pages, and more. They also offer valuable education for creators.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a five-star rating and review, and subscribe! Doing so helps me reach more listeners with the important message that we all deserve lives that are beyond better.
Laura Tully loves people and fashion. When she realized she could merge the two as a style expert, her world became a hefty dose of happy. She built her company on a simple philosophy: great style is for everyone. She shows individuals how they can look and feel fantastic in what they wear by building an intentional wardrobe. She shows organizations how they can create a cohesive team image that merges each team member’s individuality with the company’s brand and culture.
In this episode replay, Laura shares how she built a thriving wardrobe styling business. We talk about the importance of wardrobe style and how it can impact your mindset and actions; closet edits and other steps you can take to cultivate more intentional style; and how to craft your story and look good doing it. Laura is fun, inspiring, and full of wisdom—don’t miss this episode!
Laura’s favorite places to shop mentioned in the episode are: Shopbop, Net-A-Porter, & Other Stories, and Club Monaco.
Learn more about Laura at http://www.lauratully.co and follow her on Instagram @lauratully.co.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This episode is a must-listen for authors at any stage of the publishing journey, even if you’re in the writing process. Stephanie Chandler is an author, publishing industry expert, and the founder of Nonfiction Authors Association (NFAA). We discuss her phenomenal journey from corporate America to bookstore owner to NFAA founder, including some of the wins and hardships along the way. She shares her advice for new authors and book-marketing advice to support your success, including the power of a solid author platform and specific niche.
Stephanie Chandler is the author of several books including The Nonfiction Book Publishing Plan and The Nonfiction Book Marketing Plan. She is also CEO of the Nonfiction Authors Association, a vibrant educational community for writers, and the Nonfiction Writers Conference, twice-yearly events conducted entirely online since 2010. A frequent speaker at business events and on the radio, she has been featured in Entrepreneur, BusinessWeek, The Writer, Writer’s Digest, and Wired magazine.
Links from this episode:
- Nonfiction Authors Association: https://nonfictionauthorsassociation.com/
- Book launch checklist: https://nonfiction.lpages.co/book-launch-checklist/
Connect with me at www.stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com, message me on Instagram @stacyennis, or visit https://stacyennis.com/contactand fill out the form on the page.
In this episode, I talk with copyright and intellectual property attorney and novelist Brad Frazer. We cover his professional journey (which is fascinating!), the basics of copyright and intellectual property for writers, what constitutes “fair use” and when to attribute a source, and at what point an author needs to retain an attorney for their book. There are so many gems in this episode, and a big one is this: copyright is a noun not a verb. Curious to learn more? Listen in!
Links from this episode:
- Brad’s novel: The Cure: A Thriller
- Learn more about Brad and take him up on his generous off for a free consult on your copyright or intellectual property needs: https://hawleytroxell.com/people/bradlee-r-frazer/.
Connect with me at www.stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com, message me on Instagram @stacyennis, or visit https://stacyennis.com/contactand fill out the form on the page.
In this episode, I get vulnerable as I answer listener questions and offer my thoughts on topics related to parenting, books, and living abroad. Questions include:
- Do you experience mom guilt, or is your parenting as effortless as it looks?
- How do you promote and market a book?
- Where do you want to live next?
- What advice do you have for a friend who wants to move to Portugal?
Links from this episode:
- Life Visioning Guide to help you understand your big vision: http://stacyennis.com/lifevisioningguide
- Nonfiction Authors Association: https://nonfictionauthorsassociation.com/
- Resources on Portugal: https://stacyennis.com/?s=Portugal
Connect with me at www.stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com, message me on Instagram @stacyennis, or visit https://stacyennis.com/contactand fill out the form on the page.
In this replay from 2020, I get to do one of my favorite things: answer your questions! Questions include:
- What were the major mental, emotional, or professional milestones that you had to reach or overcome in your career in order to be where you are today?
- How do you edit/ghostwrite content for projects you don’t love but are paying the bills?
- Are there ways to make a Zoom call flow smoothly?
- Is there anything you can share about productivity, habits, and how you “juggle all the balls?"
Connect with me at www.stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit https://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this replay from 2019, Ron Price joins me to talk about our book, Growing Influence, and how to regain control, take advantage of collaboration, and avoid draining your energy with concern. This episode is full of leadership gems.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this replay from 2019, I talk about how growing up in Idaho, I dreamt of going to NYC like my favorite character in The Baby-Sitters Club, Stacey. But life turned out a little wilder, and now I’m living in my third developing country with my husband and two small children. With this most recent move, I was surprised by how deeply entrenched I was in the American Way. This episode explores the mindset of location independence and what I was most surprised by after our recent move to Thailand.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Many aspiring authors anchor to one thing early in the book-writing process—often before they’ve even written a word: potential book sales. They do the math: how many books will I have to sell to make back my investment (time and money)?
But that’s a false equation, because the true ROI of a book isn’t as simple as calculating the number of books sold by your author royalty per book. In fact, the greatest benefits are harder to measure—but can equate to tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of opportunities. This week, I explore the true internal and external ROI of writing a book, including speaking engagements, media attention, a steady stream of inbound clients, new career opportunities, or stepping into your “next level” professionally—whatever that may be for you.
If you’re ready to write your book and step into your purpose, join me in Nonfiction Book School! Applications close April 20, 2021: https://www.nonfictionbookschool.com/.
Listen to past episodes with NBS students Lindsey Weigle and Mike Green.
I love answering your questions! Send your questions for a future episode at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
Over the past decade-plus in the industry, I’ve heard every reason for notwriting a book. And inevitably, those “reasons” are connected to myths—untrue beliefs that stop would-be authors before they even get started writing their books.
In this episode, I bust five of those myths and explain why now, not later, is the time to write your book. This is a powerful episode that can help you get unstuck, so be sure to listen if you have even the slightest hint that writing a book might be in your future.
The myths include:
- I need to wait to write a book until [insert career or life reason].
- I need to set aside hours and hours every day to write a book.
- Publishing a book is too expensive. I need to make/save a certain amount of money before I get started.
- No one would even want to read what I have to write.
- You have to be a gifted writer to write a book.
If you’re an aspiring author, I hope this episode encourages you. And if you know a friend who wants to write a book, consider sharing this episode. You might be the reason someone writes their book!
Join the FREE 5-day writing challenge I’m hosting April 12–15: https://stacyennis.com/challenge/.
Join the Nonfiction Book School waitlist: https://stacyennis.com/nbswaitlist.
Get your free book ideation guide at https://stacyennis.com/bookidea/.
Access your free book budget guide at https://stacyennislearn.com/budget/.
I love answering your questions! Send your questions for a future episode at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
In 2020, Mike Green's wife said to him, "You should write your book." Like so many of us, Mike was at home, shut off from normal life during the earlier days of COVID. Days later, he joined Nonfiction Book School, my program for aspiring authors. This week on the podcast, Mike Green shares his author story. As a leadership and communication advisor based in the Middle East, he has a lot to share in his book. He gets vulnerable and real, diving into both the good and hard parts of book writing.
Learn more about Mike Green’s coaching at http://www.mwellandgreen.com/. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
Join the waitlist at Nonfiction Book School: https://www.nonfictionbookschool.com/.
Get your free book ideation guide at https://stacyennis.com/bookidea/.
Connect with me and send your questions for a future episode at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
The most asked question I get from aspiring authors: “Do you think my book idea is any good?” Answering this question requires a series of inquiries related to life and work vision, overall goals for publishing, and more. In this episode, I detail a four-step process to come up with a great book idea—plus provide a free guide to walk you through the process. Get your free book ideation guide at https://stacyennis.com/bookidea/.
Join the waitlist at Nonfiction Book School: https://www.nonfictionbookschool.com/.
Connect with me and send your questions for a future episode at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
In this podcast episode, I connect with author and Nonfiction Book School student, Lindsey Weigle. Lindsey joined Nonfiction Book School last fall to finish writing her book, Enough Already. The first two-thirds of the book came easily, and while she was driven to complete the first draft of her book, she was stuck and unsure of how to write the last third of the draft. In this discussion, we talk about how she overcame some of the common challenges aspiring authors face, and Lindsey shares some words of wisdom she learned throughout her book writing journey. If you’ve ever dreamed of writing a book—or need a little inspiration along your author journey—don’t miss this episode!
Join the Nonfiction Book School waitlist at https://nonfictionbookschool.com/.
Learn more about Lindsey and preorder her book, Enough Already, at https://www.bluewateradvisory.com/enough-already/, and connect with her on Linkedin or Facebook.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Laura Tully loves people and fashion. When she realized she could merge the two as a style expert, her world became a hefty dose of happy. She built her company on a simple philosophy: great style is for everyone. She shows individuals how they can look and feel fantastic in what they wear by building an intentional wardrobe. She shows organizations how they can create a cohesive team image that merges each team member’s individuality with the company’s brand and culture.
In this episode, Laura shares how she built a thriving wardrobe styling business. We talk about the importance of wardrobe style and how it can impact your mindset and actions; closet edits and other steps you can take to cultivate more intentional style; and how to craft your story and look good doing it. Laura is fun, inspiring, and full of wisdom—don’t miss this episode!
Laura’s favorite places to shop mentioned in the episode are: Shopbop, Net-A-Porter, & Other Stories, and Club Monaco.
Learn more about Laura at http://www.lauratully.co and follow her on Instagram @lauratully.co.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
In this episode, I share an update on life here in Portugal (hint: another lockdown), how I’m approaching 2021, and a message of hope for the year. Plus, I share about what’s in store for the year, including opening the doors to Nonfiction Book School. (Hooray!) Here’s to an amazing new year, and to building lives that are beyond better.
Join my e-mail list at https://stacyennis.com/joinmylist/and get a love letter in your inbox every Friday.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Misty Megia is a creative producer extraordinaire who has helped craft and produce keynotes on some of the biggest stages in the world. After leaving her high-profile Fortune 500 position on February 26, 2020, to start her own company, Misty lost $85,000 in contracts in one day as events around the US were cancelled due to the pandemic—income she’d been counting on for the first few months of her new enterprise. Quickly, she reframed the situation, came up with a new strategy, and took action, applying insights from helping tech companies reach multi-hundred-million-dollar exits. Today, she helps speakers and event producers create phenomenal presentations and keynotes, and inspires people around the globe with her business insights and positivity. This episode is full of practical tips, inspiring storytelling, and lots of laughter. (So much laughter!) Don’t miss this insightful, practical discussion.
Learn more about Misty at http://mistymegia.com/.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
This week, I get to do one of my favorite things: answer your questions! Questions include:
- What were the major mental, emotional, or professional milestones that you had to reach or overcome in your career in order to be where you are today?
- How do you edit/ghostwrite content for projects you don’t love but are paying the bills?
- Are there ways to make a Zoom call flow smoothly?
- Is there anything you can share about productivity, habits, and how you “juggle all the balls”?
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question, email hello@stacyennis.com or visit http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
Joy, freedom, and friend—these are the words that guide Maryanna Young, CEO and founder of Aloha Publishing. In this episode, she shares how the principles she learned coaching Olympic and world class athletes applies to entrepreneurship. We also have a thoughtful conversation about goal setting, productivity, and focus, all some of my favorite subjects.
Learn more about Maryanna Young: https://www.alohapublishing.com/
Download the life visioning guide mentioned in this episode: https://stacyennis.com/lifevisioningguide
Growing your influence and impact as an author requires more than just writing a book people want to read. You need to show up with passion, purpose, and consistency to develop a solid author platform that attracts an audience. In this episode, I talk with founder and CEO of Amplify Publishing and Mascot Books, Naren Aryal. Along with solid advice for growing a thought leadership platform as an author, Naren shares insider publisher secrets. If you’re an aspiring or published nonfiction author, don’t miss this informative (and fun!) episode.
Email Naren: naren@mascotbooks.com
Learn more about Mascot Publishing: www.mascotbooks.com
Learn more about Amplify Publishing: www.amplifypublishing.com
Learn more about Real Clear Publishing: www.realclearpublishing.com
Be the first to know when doors open to Nonfiction Book School: www.nonfictionbookschool.com
Connect with me and send your questions for a future episode at www.stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennisand on Facebook @stacyenniscreative. Join my weekly email list at www.stacyennis.com/joinmylist.
I’m joined this week by Caitlin Copple Masingill, founder of Full Swing PR. We talk all things location independence, business, courage . . . and even making money with a liquor license. Alongside her PR firm, she is cofounder of Electable Women, a community of women who want to run, win, and lead in local public office. If you’re looking for inspiration and practical advice on how to successfully strike out on your own and lead a location-independent lifestyle, don’t miss this episode!
Learn more about Full Swing PR at https://www.fullswingpr.com/ and Electable at https://electablewomen.com/.
Connect with me and send your questions for a future episode at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative. Join my weekly email list at http://stacyennis.com/joinmylist.
This episode kicks off a brand new season and a new name for the podcast: Beyond Better. I share the story behind the name and how the concept of creating a life that is beyond better impacts every area of my life, including my relationships, work, and more. Be sure to subscribe to the pod and share it with a friend who wants to build a life that is beyond better too.
Download the life visioning guide mentioned in this episode: https://stacyennis.com/lifevisioningguide
Connect with me and send your questions for a future episode at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative. Join my weekly email list at http://stacyennis.com/joinmylist.
This week, I'm sharing an update on all things content-related, including Season 3 of this podcast and the StacyEnnis.com blog. Plus, I share a brief update on Nonfiction Book School. Keep listening for a special guest segment from my five-year-old son, Max.
Connect with me and send your questions for a future episode at https://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
This week, I share the backstory of Nonfiction Book School, my new, live book-writing program for aspiring authors. But it’s not just a 411 on the program—it’s a story. A tale about sticking with your dreams, even when your vision seems hard and far and maybe even overly aspirational. I hope this story inspires you to stick with your dreams too.
Write your book with me at Nonfiction Book School: http://nonfictionbookschool.com/
Connect with me and send your questions for a future episode at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennisand on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
I'm joined this week by “brand alchemists,” Justin Foster and Emily Soccorsy of Root + River. We talk about their novel approach to branding: starting on the inside with deep work, speaking truth as a brand, owning a conversation, and so much more. The three of us also get personal, sharing some of our own challenges as we shape our professional and personal brands. If you’ve ever wondered how the buzz word “authentic” looks in practice as a brand, don’t miss this episode. And be sure to get a copy of their latest book, Rooting Up: Essays on Modern Branding.
Learn more about Root + River: https://rootandriver.com/
Listen to their Being Marketers podcast: https://rootandriver.com/webcast
Join their Being Marketers community for marketing leaders: https://rootandriver.com/being-marketers/
Buy their book: https://www.amazon.com/Rooting-Up-Essays-Modern-Branding/dp/035979632X
Connect with Root + River on Instagram and Facebook. Follow @emilyatlarge and @fosterthinking on Instagram.
Connect with me and send your questions for a future episode at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennisand on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
This week, I'm reading my latest blog post about how I fell, and stayed, in love with writing. Read the post at https://stacyennis.com/writinglove.
Connect with me and send your questions for a future episode at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
When watercolor artist and creative entrepreneur Brittany Sailors and her family got an opportunity to move to Hawaii from Idaho, they leapt at the chance. Within thirty days of accepting the offer, their party of five was in Maui and living a completely new, adventurous lifestyle. In this episode, Brittany also shares her journey as a watercolor artist, and the power of community in helping keep you anchored to your creative endeavor. If you want to be inspired and moved, I highly recommend listening to this episode!
Learn all about Brittany at https://www.brittanysailors.com/.
Connect with Brittany on Instagram @brittany.sailors
Connect with me and send your questions for a future episode at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
This week, I'm reading my latest blog post about what I've learned a lot over the past ten plus years in the publishing industry, working with 100+ books at different capacities (author, ghostwriter, book coach, trainer, and editor). Read the post at https://stacyennis.com/writingtruths/. Download my free e-book, 4 Steps to a Great Book Idea, at https://stacyennis.com/bookidea/. Connect with me and send your questions for a future episode at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
In this extra special bonus episode, my seven-year-old reads her short story about ghost horses titled “Apple and I love you.” Writing and recording this story was her final project for first grade. Enjoy!
I’m joined this week by two-time New York Times bestselling author Amanda Turner (writing as AK turner). We discuss her unconventional life, including traveling the world two to four months every year with her husband and two kids, and how she finds time to write so many books (nine to date). We dig into the writing process, author mindset, and more. Learn more about Amanda’s upcoming master class: www.bookwrite.org/masterclass Join her Facebook group for writers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/255224582360857/ Access her free video series: https://www.bookwrite.org/getting-started-book Check out her excellent and inspiring Vagabonding with Kids series: http://vagabondingwithkids.com/ Connect with me and send your questions for a future episode at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
This week, I'm sharing a short update on our life in Portugal. Each day, I fall more in love with this amazing country. Keep listening for a special reading from my seven-year-old daughter. Read the post and see pictures I’ve taken of Portugal here: https://stacyennis.com/portugalupdate/ Connect with me and send your questions for a future episode at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
One thing most writers struggle with is . . . well, writing! Almost every aspiring and professional writer I know struggles to show up daily and engage in productive creativity. Drawing on a popular 2014 article on my site, I share some strategies on how to create a consistent writing routine. I also share, in detail, my daily routine and why it works for me. Read the original post: https://stacyennis.com/why-a-writing-routine-matters-and-how-to-start-one/. Get your free book ideation guide at https://stacyennis.com/bookidea. Connect with me and send your questions for a future episode at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative. To submit a question about book writing, solopreneurship, living abroad, leadership, productivity, creativity, and everything in between, go to http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
I am joining two movements this week: #theshowmustbepaused and #elevatemelanatedvoices. As such, I’m “muting” my normal show this week to advocate for Black voices and voices of color, and to draw attention to violence against the Black community. In place of my normal weekly episode, I'm sharing a short list of podcasts and resources to help fight racism.
- Read the article "8 ways to be a writer activist": http://www.stacyennis.com/writeractivist
- Listen to Rough Translation: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510324/rough-translation
- Listen to The Moth: https://themoth.org/
- Listen to Story Corps: https://storycorps.org/
- Listen to Girl Tales: https://girltalespodcast.com/
- Listen to The Nod's reunion episode: https://gimletmedia.com/shows/the-nod
- Look for a #BlackLivesMatter section in your podcast app
- Buy the resource, 50 Ways to Fight Bias: https://leanin.org/50-ways-to-fight-gender-bias
The most asked question I get from aspiring authors: “Do you think my book idea is any good?” Answering this question requires a series of inquiries related to life and work vision, overall goals for publishing, and more. In this episode, I detail a four-step process to come up with a great book idea—plus provide a free guide to walk you through the process.
Get your free book ideation guide at https://stacyennis.com/bookidea.
Connect with me and send your questions for a future episode at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
To submit a question about book writing, solopreneurship, living abroad, leadership, productivity, creativity, and everything in between, go to http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page.
I get a lot of questions about our nontraditional home life. We live a location independent lifestyle as a family, my husband stays home with the kids, and I'm the sole earner for our household—and have been for more than seven years. This week, I'm reading my latest blog post, which opens the metaphorical curtain to share the challenges and joys of our unconventional life.
To see photos of my family and me all over the world, visit https://stacyennis.com/unconventional/. Connect with me at https://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
Get a free life visioning guide, and take your first steps toward an unconventional life: https://www.stacyennis.com/lifevisioningguide
This week, I’m answering your questions! I dig into whether to add an epilogue to a book, discuss business and marketing strategies for someone just starting out as a service-based solopreneur, share my not-so-subtle opinion on providing free samples as an editor or writer (and advice for authors looking to hire talent), and share two of my favorite childhood memories. I recorded this episode live on Facebook and Instagram. Connect with me and send your questions for a future episode at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative. To submit a question about book writing, solopreneurship, living abroad, leadership, productivity, creativity, and everything in between, go to http://stacyennis.com/contact and fill out the form on the page. Learn how to grow your influence as a nonfiction author with my Reedsy course here: https://blog.reedsy.com/learning/courses/marketing/growing-influence-non-fiction-platform/
This week, I’m sharing a recent webinar I did on the book-writing process. This training replay covers an overview of the book-writing process, including the why behind a book (so important!). You’ll learn the difference between the creation and production processes, and we'll deep dive into creation: idea, outline, write, and revise. We’ll also take a high-level look at production: design, proof, publish, and launch. Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative. To access the book-writing training and materials mentioned in this episode, go to https://stacyennis.com/webinar/.
This week, I’m reading my recent blog post, "5 lessons I've learned living an off-the-path life." To read the post and see the picture of my family walking down a cobblestone road in Portugal, visit https://stacyennis.com/5lifelessons/. Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative. To access the life visioning guide mentioned in this episode, go to https://stacyennis.com/lifevisioningguide/.
This week, I share eight of my favorite productivity strategies to access your creativity—even when things are a bit chaotic. Have kids? Me too. I promise these strategies apply to you, even if you have a lot on your plate at home. The big goal: emerge from crisis with clarity. Show up and create, do the work, find meaning, and serve others through your art.
To access the book-writing training mentioned in this episode, go to https://stacyennis.com/webinar/.
Order my latest book, Growing Influence, coauthored with Ron Price: https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Influence-Character-Expertise-Impact/dp/1626345570.
Ron Price joins me this week to talk about our book, Growing Influence, and how to regain control, take advantage of collaboration, and avoid draining your energy with concern. This episode is full of leadership gems—enjoy! Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative. Learn more about Ron Price and his work at https://price-associates.com/. To get your Kindle copy of Growing Influence for just $0.99 through the end of April 2020, visit https://amzn.to/2z5mB9G.
Episode 7 | I’m trying something different this week and reading my latest blog post. See photos of Portugal during quarantine at https://stacyennis.com/pandemicinportugal/. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative. To stay connected and receive updates about free trainings, go to https://stacyennis.com/joinmylist
Episode 6 | What’s it like to live in Portugal? In this episode, I detail my experience so far as a location independent solopreneur. Spoiler alert: I love it, but no country is perfect. Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative. To stay connected and receive updates about free trainings, go to https://stacyennis.com/joinmylist Order my latest book, Growing Influence, coauthored with Ron Price: https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Influence-Character-Expertise-Impact/dp/1626345570.
Episode 5 | Exhaustion, fatigue, working nights and weekends—this is no way to live. That’s why this episode is all about taking time away to rest, restore, and connect. I walk you through practical strategies for working rest into your life daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly. Note: I recorded this episode before the coronavirus chaos, and it seems even more pertinent than before. I hope these recommendations support you in this time of uncertainty.
Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative. To learn more and register for Next Level Women Leaders, visit https://www.nextlevelwomenleaders.com/.
Episode 4 | Growing up in Idaho, I dreamed of going to NYC like my favorite character in The Baby-Sitters Club, Stacey. But life turned out a little wilder, and now I’m living in my third developing country with my husband and two small children. With this most recent move, I was surprised by how deeply entrenched I was in the American Way. This episode explores the mindset of location independence and what I was most surprised by after our recent move to Thailand. Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
Episode 3 | I’m digging into the metaphorical mail bag this week to answer your questions! In the episode, we hear from an experienced freelance writer who just quit her day job and is sorting through the early stages of client acquisition. Listen all the way to the end for an interview about Thailand with my sweet kids. Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
Episode 2 | In this episode, I interrupt my regularly scheduled work day (quite literally!) to record this spur-of-the-moment episode on choice and freedom as a solopreneur. Also featuring the musical stylings of my three-year-old son. Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.
Episode 1 | A freelancer asks, “How do I navigate those early days where everything is growing outward, away from the center of your core business purpose? When your end goals are one thing but the work required to sustain you until you reach those goals takes you in a million directions, how do you manage that?” Connect with me at http://stacyennis.com. Follow me on Instagram @stacyennis and on Facebook @stacyenniscreative.