PublishHer Podcast: Recent Episodes
Alexa Bigwarfe
For all the writers out there - we're talking all routes to publishing, book launches, book marketing, tips, tools, and resources to write, publish, and sell your book. Self-publishing, hybrid publishing, and traditional publishing. Author interviews and industry experts. Hosted by Alexa Bigwarfe of the Women in Publishing Summit.
In this episode, Alexa Bigwarfe and Joel Pitney of Launch My Book unpack the biggest self-publishing myths. Learn what it really takes to succeed, from production costs to metadata, bookstore distribution, and pre-order strategies.
In this podcast, Alexa and Joel discuss:
* How Joel went from science major to journalist to book coach and publisher
* The origin story of Launch My Book and how it differs from hybrid publishing
* The importance of author business plans, no matter the publishing path
* Why platform building matters just as much in traditional publishing
* Five big myths of self-publishing (and the reality behind them):
+ Self-publishing makes you more money
+ Your book will be in bookstores
+ Self-publishing is easier than traditional publishing
+ You can’t judge a book by its cover (spoiler: readers do!)
+ Amazon metadata hacks are all you need
- Why quality editing and design are non-negotiables
- The truth about Amazon bestseller campaigns and what actually drives discoverability
- Pre-order strategies—and why most self-published authors should skip them
- Using soft launches and slow build strategies for success
- How AI is helping his company run better ads and streamline production
- Launch My Book’s unique approach to collaborative, high-quality book production and marketing
Resources Mentioned:
Launch My Book* – Full-service publishing and promotion for self-published authors.
* Bookshop.org – Supporting local bookstores with online sales.
* Blog on Launch My Book’s website: A resource for authors to learn about self-publishing and marketing.
Important Links:
www.launchmybook.com
About Joel Pitney:
Joel Pitney is a collaborative writer, former journalist, and the founder of Launch My Book, Inc.
As a collaborative writer, Pitney has written a variety of non-fiction books on leadership, conscious business, education, and health and fitness. His books have been published by Penguin, Public Affairs, and Wiley.
As a journalist, Pitney has published articles under his own name in What Is Enlightenment? magazine and Religion Dispatches, and has ghost-written and published articles for clients on a
variety of platforms, including Fast Company, The Huffington Post, and Inc magazine. Pitney has also worked in the development of TV and film projects with his company Time Future
Films, including a TV series based on the true story of his ancestors’ journey across the Oregon Trail, sold to A&E in 2015.
In addition to his work as a writer, Pitney is also founder and president of Launch My Book, Inc, a book-production and promotion company he founded in 2013. In that role, he has run
marketing campaigns for nonfiction books spanning business, self-help, spiritual, and other genres, including multiple New York Times bestsellers. The company also runs a full-service self-publishing company and published a wide variety of educational content for writers on their website: www.launchmybook.com.
From Overwhelmed to Empowered: 5 Authors Share Their Book Marketing Journeys
In this special panel episode of Alexa’s Publishing Chat, Alexa Bigwarfe brings together five incredible authors—Linda Needham, CC Robinson, Zariah L. Banks, Tracy Myhre, and Pat Black-Gould—who represent a wide range of genres and publishing journeys. All graduates of the Book Launch in a Box program, they open up about their unique paths to publication, the toughest marketing challenges they’ve faced, and the tools and tactics that helped them overcome the overwhelm. Whether you're just getting started or looking to level up your next launch, this episode is packed with relatable experiences, actionable insights, and plenty of laughs.
In this podcast, Alexa and her panel of authors discuss:
* Why marketing feels so hard (especially at first) and how they each overcame that feeling
* The unique challenges of launching under a pen name
* Why building a street team and ARC reviewers early is essential
* How to think like a business from book one—and why it matters more by book two
* How Book Launch in a Box helped them simplify their launch strategy
* The power of positioning and knowing your comp titles
* Why marketing starts while you’re still writing your book
* Using timelines and templates to manage overwhelm
* Keeping momentum post-launch with tools like Kindle Unlimited and virtual book tours
* How community makes all the difference
* Their best book marketing tips, from launch prep to long-term strategy
Connect with the AuthorsLinda Needham
📚 Historical romance and nonfiction author of Brainstorming Your Novel: From the First Spark to Blockbuster
🌐 LindaNeedham.com (currently being updated — check back Fall 2025)
📖 Find her books on Amazon and all major retailers
CC Robinson
📚 Award-winning author of YA dystopian series The Divided Series
🌐 ccrobinsonauthor.com/alexaspubchat – Get her prequel Upheaval free!
📬 Join her newsletter and follow her on social for launch updates
📖 Available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited
Zariah L. Banks
📚 Contemporary romance author of Beauty Beheld and Missile Towed
📷 Follow on Instagram: @authorzariahlbanks
🛠 Book coach, developmental editor, and publishing consultant
📖 Books available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited
Tracy Myhre
📚 Author of post-apocalyptic romantic thriller Escape, book one in a seven-book series
🌐 tracymyhre.com
📷 Instagram & Facebook: @tmywriter
📖 Books available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited
Pat Black-Gould
📚 Author of The Crystal Beads: Lalka’s Journey and All the Broken Angels
🌐 patblackgould.com
🛠 Workshop presenter on creative presentations and genre hopping
📖 Books available through Purple Butterfly Press, Amazon, IngramSpark, and Kindle Unlimited
🎯 Learn More About Book Launch in a BoxReady to launch your next book with clarity, confidence, and a supportive author community?
👉 Check out the Book Launch in a Box program here:
🔗 https://writepublishsell.com/blab
The next cohort begins June 23, 2025 – don’t miss your chance to join the program that helped each of these authors succeed!
In this episode, Alexa teams up with her longtime collaborator Hannah Jacobson of Book Award Pro to dive deep into the business side of publishing. Whether you’re bootstrapping your first book or scaling a freelance editing business, this conversation is packed with practical tools, hard-earned lessons, and a whole lot of encouragement.
In this episode, Alexa and Hannah discuss:
* Why authors, editors, and publishing professionals must see themselves as entrepreneurs
* The origin stories behind Alexa’s publishing journey and Hannah’s creation of Book Award Pro
* Bootstrapping vs. investors vs. crowdfunding—and when to use each
* Real-life pricing mistakes and how to avoid undercharging for your time
* The power of business systems, automation, and templates (and why they matter)
* Learning to love the “yucky business stuff”: contracts, invoicing, websites, and CRMs
* Tools like Stripe Atlas, 17 Hats, Squarespace, and PubSite for business setup
* Website ownership 101: what it means to own your digital property
* Why AI (like ChatGPT!) can save you hours of time, especially for marketing and metadata
* How to grow a freelance business from scratch—plus Alexa’s tips from her early VA days
* The three traits of the most successful authors Alexa has seen
* Book reviews, trade reviews, and building visibility with Book Award Pro
* A sneak peek at the upcoming Business Bootcamp for publishing pros
As we observe Memorial Day here in the U.S., we honor the brave service members who gave their lives in defense of our country. And while many names are known, too often the women who served—and died—remain overlooked.
As the founder of the Women in Publishing Summit, I’m passionate about helping women write stories that matter. And today, I want to take a moment to honor seven remarkable women who gave everything in service: women like Lori Piestewa, the first Native American woman killed in combat; Elizabeth Jacobson, the first female airman to die in Iraq; and Major Megan McClung, the first female Marine officer to fall in that war.
These women’s stories are powerful, courageous, and often untold. I believe they deserve books, biographies, films—but most of all, remembrance.
Read the full tribute with expanded stories:
👉 https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/servicewomen-killed-in-combat/
Featured Fallen Heroines: Lori Piestewa (PEE-ess-tuh-wah) – First Native American woman killed in combat (Hopi tribe) * Elizabeth Jacobson – First female airman killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom * Ashley White-Stumpf – Cultural Support Team soldier featured in Ashley’s War * Hilda Clayton – Combat photographer who captured her final moment * Ramona Valdez – Young Latina Marine killed in Fallujah * Jeannette Winters – Early Operation Enduring Freedom casualty * Megan McClung* – First female Marine officer killed in Iraq
Take Action:* Write, share, and preserve the legacies of these incredible women * Encourage young readers, writers, and researchers to explore women’s military history * Follow Alexa and the Women in Publishing Summit for more ways to lift up powerful women’s stories
📢 Stay Connected:
📚 Women in Publishing Summit: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com
📝 Alexa’s Write|Publish|Sell Substack post
📸 Instagram: @writepublishsell @womeninpublishingsummit
🎙️ Podcast Archives: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/podcast
In this episode, Alexa chats with Damon Courtney, creator and CEO of BookFunnel, about how indie authors can grow their readership, build their email lists, and sell more books using BookFunnel's ever-expanding toolkit. Whether you're just getting started or looking to maximize your existing account, this episode is packed with insights.
In this podcast, Alexa and Damon discuss:
* How Damon’s author journey inspired the creation of BookFunnel
* Why BookFunnel remains essential for digital book delivery, especially to non-tech-savvy readers
* The launch and impact of BookFunnel’s audiobook delivery system
* How authors can use reader magnets to grow their email lists
* Strategies for using welcome emails to convert readers into superfans
* The importance of segmenting your email list by reader behavior and source
* Print codes: how to hand out ebooks and audiobooks in-person (at conferences, festivals, etc.)
* Multi-book print codes and why they’re game-changing for bundles and events
* Using BookFunnel for sales promos and group author collaborations
* Why author collaboration is powerful—not competitive
* Tips for getting the most out of group promotions
* How to craft an engaging welcome email that leads to long-term reader relationships
* Why every book should include a CTA to join your mailing list
* Why email marketing is still the most powerful tool in your author toolkit
* New features coming soon, including more tools for in-person selling
* How BookFunnel’s webinars, podcast, and support help authors unlock more value
* A special offer for Women in Publishing Summit listeners
🔗 Links Mentioned: BookFunnel Website * Special discount via Women in Publishing Summit: womeninpublishingsummit.com/bookfunnel * Check out the BookFunnel Podcast * Sign up for the upcoming August 2025* webinar with Damon on the Events Page
In this inspiring episode, Alexa sits down with Danielle Anderson, founder of InkWorthy Books and the Soulful Nonfiction School. Danielle is a certified nonfiction book coach and editor with more than 14 years of experience helping writers bring mission-driven, healing-centered books into the world.
They discuss what it means to write "soulful nonfiction," how to prepare yourself emotionally and structurally for the journey of writing a book, and why rushing the process can dilute your impact. Danielle walks us through her six-phase framework for writing and publishing, from mindset to marketing, and shares why self-revision is often the most transformational part of the process.
If you’re writing a memoir, personal growth book, or other nonfiction work that’s rooted in purpose, this episode will meet you where you are and help you see what’s possible.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
- What soulful nonfiction really means and how it differs from other nonfiction genres
- Why Danielle transitioned from a career in law to the publishing world
- The most important questions to ask yourself before you start writing
- Danielle’s 6-phase framework for nonfiction book development
- Why "sketchy drafts" are better than “shitty first drafts”
- How to revise your book effectively before you hire an editor
- What to expect when working with a full-service publishing support team
- Why self-publishing doesn’t mean doing it alone
- When to let go of arbitrary publishing deadlines
- How her Soulful Nonfiction School offers flexible, ongoing coaching and support
Resources Mentioned:* Download Danielle’s Free Self-Publishing Checklist * Learn more about Inkworthy Books * Connect with Danielle on Instagram: @inkworthybooks * Learn about her Soulful Nonfiction School: Soulful Nonfiction School
Memorable Quotes:
“What lives in a story but your soul?” — Danielle Anderson
“It heals you first. Then it heals me. And finally, it heals the world.”
“Publishers don’t help you write the book. That’s what a book coach does.”
Special Offer for Our Listeners:Get Danielle’s Self-Publishing Checklist + access to her publishing services at womeninpublishingsummit.com/inkworthy
About Danielle:
Danielle Anderson is a trained nonfiction book coach and editor, bringing over fourteen years of writing and publishing experience to help amplify the story, voice, and message of passionate writers.
Danielle is the birth mother of Ink Worthy Books, a full-service editorial and publication services company providing support to self-publishing authors of soulful nonfiction, and the Soulful Nonfiction School, a sacred community of soulful creatives writing books that move the world forward.
Outside of business, words continue to color her life through music, books, movies, art, and writing. Danielle thrives on staying active. You can find her going on adventures and making magic with her four kids, lifting heavy in the gym, reading, writing, playing her guitar, exploring the parks and river valley near her home, geeking out about cool rocks, or taking cat naps with her furry feline friend Layla.
In this episode of Alexa’s Publishing Chat, bestselling author JD Barker joins Alexa to share the bold, strategic decisions that helped him build a powerhouse fiction career. From ghostwriting and indie publishing to launching his own imprint with Simon & Schuster, JD has built a career grounded in talent, creative risk-taking, and entrepreneurial smarts.
Today, he’s known for his high-octane thrillers—and yes, for co-authoring multiple novels with James Patterson. But that partnership didn’t happen by luck. JD walks us through how focusing on quality, branding, and business helped him scale his fiction career far beyond the page.
Highlights from this episode:
JD’s origin story—from ghostwriter to indie author to publishing imprint owner
* How his wife’s bold decision kickstarted his full-time writing career
* What it’s really like to co-author with James Patterson (including pantsing vs. plotting!)
* Why JD trademarked his author name—and how he licenses it like a brand
* Using books as marketing tools: hotel placements, real estate investments, and haunted house giveaways
* Creating multiple income streams: from real estate to co-authoring as mentorship
* The myth of “just writing”—why successful authors need to market like entrepreneurs
* The truth about indie publishing: when you should and shouldn’t go solo
* A sneak peek at JD’s terrifying new book, Something I Keep Upstairs* (May 13 release)
* Advice for fiction authors ready to treat their writing like a business
Mentioned in the episode:
Something I Keep Upstairs* – JD Barker’s upcoming haunted house thriller
* Contest for a haunted overnight stay: Enter here before June 13, 2025
* JD’s co-author mentorship model
Best Advice from JD:
“Your book needs to be a 5-star story—before you worry about marketing or publishing. Word of mouth only happens when the book is that good.”
J.D. Barker (Jonathan Dylan Barker) is an international bestselling American author whose work has been broadly described as suspense thrillers, often incorporating elements of horror, crime, mystery, science fiction, and the supernatural.
https://jdbarker.com/
As hybrid presses become a more popular option, we're often asked about the difference between hybrid presses and self-publishing. Here's a breakdown of the differences at Luminare Press
📚 Self-Publishing Assist vs. Hybrid PublishingSelf-Publishing Assist (Luminare Press)
Offers fee-for-service publishing help: editing, cover and interior design, layout, POD setup (via KDP and Ingram), ebook formatting.
* Authors retain full control and 100% royalties* by publishing under their own accounts.
* Best for authors who want a high-quality product but maintain ownership and marketing responsibility.
* Ideal for personal legacy projects, entrepreneurs, or authors with built-in audiences.
Hybrid Publishing (Lucent Book Group - launching soon)
Offers curated publishing partnership: more involvement in editing, development, and marketing.
* Patricia and team select manuscripts they believe in and help authors from developmental edits to post-launch marketing.
* Author still retains creative control, but receives hands-on collaboration* and a professional publishing experience.
* Higher cost, but greater long-term support and potential reach.
In this episode, Alexa and Patricia discuss:
How a family self-publishing project sparked Patricia’s publishing career
* What sets self-publishing assist services apart from hybrid publishing
* How to align your publishing path with your goals and budget
* The risks of unprofessional book design and formatting
* Why editing is the first step* in effective book marketing
* How scams are targeting indie authors—and how to avoid them
* Trends in cover design, metadata, and the evolving expectations of readers
* The upcoming launch of Patricia’s new hybrid imprint: Lucent Book Group
* How authors can build long-term publishing partnerships
🔗 Learn more about Luminare Press and get their Women in Publishing Summit special offer:
https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/luminare
🎙️ About Patricia Marshall and Luminary Press
Patricia is the founder of Luminare Press, offering publishing assistance and hybrid publishing since 2011.
* Inspired by helping her 89-year-old mother self-publish a novel, Patricia saw the need for a professional, author-supportive publishing service*.
* Luminare Press has evolved from a family venture into a company of 10+ professionals with editors, designers, and contractors.
📚 In this episode of Alexa’s Publishing Chat, Alexa shares:
- The terrifying moment every author faces—wondering if people will hate your book—and how to overcome it.
- Why marketing doesn’t have to feel icky or overwhelming—and how to make it fun.
- The power of early feedback: how to build and use an advance reader team.
- What to do if talking about your book feels deeply uncomfortable (hint: there are other ways to market!).
- Creative and personality-aligned approaches to book marketing—whether you’re a writer, talker, or behind-the-scenes strategist.
- A real-life example of word-of-mouth magic—from Alexa’s hairdresser to a book club obsession.
- Why authentic buzz beats big ad spend (and how to get people talking organically).
- Ways to work with influencers, bookstagrammers, and booktokkers to generate excitement.
- A love letter to gluten-free cookbooks (yes, really) and niche book marketing.
- How to reframe your mindset to fall in love with the process of sharing your book.
🔧 Tools + Resources Mentioned:
- ARC Teams: Send your book out early to gather honest feedback and build buzz.
- AI Tools: Let AI compile your reviews, praise, and blurbs into marketing content.
- Publicity Partners: Aurora Publicity, Love Book Tours, Children’s Book Tour, Written Word Media, BookBub, Fussy Librarian, Robin Reads, and more.
- Influencer Outreach: How to engage book lovers with audiences to help spread the word.
💡 Key Takeaway:
Marketing your book doesn’t have to feel like a chore. It can be a joyful extension of your creativity—one where you celebrate what you’ve created and connect with people who genuinely want to hear from you. Start by doing what feels good, then build from there.
👋 Connect with Alexa:🌐 writepublishsell.com
📬 Sign up for upcoming webinars & events
If you’ve been hearing the buzz about Substack but aren’t sure what it is—or how it could actually help you as a writer—you’re going to love today’s conversation. I’m joined by Claire Tak, a tech writer turned aspiring memoirist, who shares how Substack became her go-to platform for building an authentic writing community, sharing her journey, and even exploring monetization. Whether you’re curious, cautious, or ready to dive in, this episode will give you a real-world look at how Substack works and why it might be the perfect fit for you.
In this episode, Alexa and Claire discuss:
Why Substack is suddenly everywhere and why writers are flocking to it
* Claire’s journey from tech writer to aspiring memoir author—and how Substack helped her build community along the way
* The real reason Substack is so appealing (hint: it’s free and easy to use!)
* How Substack combines the best of blogging and email newsletters—and why it might just be the blog 2.0
* Whether it’s worth turning on paid subscriptions (spoiler: Claire finally did it!)
* Growing a following organically and the power of meaningful engagement* on the platform
* Why Substack isn’t a magic bullet—but it can be a powerful tool with the right plan
* Using Substack categories to organize your posts and help readers find what they want
* How to avoid content burnout and set a sustainable posting schedule
* Tips for using Substack as an author to connect with your audience—even before your book is published
Claire also shares how Substack became the perfect place for her to share pieces of her memoir, connect with other writers, and document her journey. Whether you're new to Substack or have been lurking but haven't taken the leap, this episode offers an honest, real-world look at what it's like to grow an audience there—without being glued to social media.
📬 Want to see how Claire does it?
Check out her Substack: https://clairetak.substack.com
Or visit her website: https://clairetak.com
🛠️ Resource:
👉 Want to learn how to set up and grow your own Substack? Join the upcoming workshop: Substack Deep Dive
📝 Show Notes:
In this episode, Alexa Bigwarfe chats with Brooke Black of Black Bear Communications about the power of author community, the journey from editing to full-service support, and how The Hive Collective helps authors thrive. From self-publishing to traditional routes, Brooke shares wisdom, encouragement, and practical strategies.
💡 Key Topics Covered:
* Why community is essential for authors
* Common misconceptions about the writing journey
* The evolution of The Hive Collective
* Preparing authors for querying and pitching
* Navigating both traditional and self-publishing paths
* Social media, brand amplification, and coaching support
* How to confidently share your book’s premise and pitch to agents
* Special offers for listeners and Women in Publishing Summit attendees
🔗 Resources & Links:
Learn more about The Hive Collective & Brooke’s services:
womeninpublishingsummit.com/blackbear
* Email Brooke directly: hello@blackbearcoms.net
* Use code WIPfamily10 for 10% off The Hive Collective annual membership
* Summit ticket holders:* Check your portal for an exclusive 25% discount
🎙️ Show Notes
In this episode, Alexa and Karen discuss:
How Karen’s journey as an illustrator led her to launch Get Your Book Illustrations and Children’s Book Mastery
* Common struggles children's book authors face and how Karen helps solve them
* Why writing a short children's book is actually harder than people think
* The essential elements every children's picture book should include (like proper word count and age targeting)
* The power of understanding your publishing goals before choosing your path
* Why self-publishing is often the best route for children’s book authors—and where traditional publishing falls short
* Real-world examples of how authors have succeeded with school visits, events, and Amazon ads
* How to align your marketing strategy with your personality and energy
* The importance of mentorship, support, and being educated* before publishing
* Karen’s free resource: “Mastering Show, Don’t Tell” for children's book authors
📌 Free Resource:
Grab Karen’s free course on mastering show vs. tell for picture books:
👉 womeninpublishingsummit.com/childrensbookmastery
In this episode, Alexa and Nathalie discussed:
- 💡 How it all began: Nathalie reflects on her first book, Grieving Parents: Surviving Loss as a Couple, which grew from sharing her own story online and realizing it could help others.
- ✍️ The unexpected journey to six books: She never set out to be an author, but over time felt called—intuitively and emotionally—to write each one. Every book had a unique purpose and a specific audience in mind.
- 🧠 Writing through grief and trauma: Nathalie shares how her personal losses and professional background as a therapist informed her writing and offered deep healing—both for herself and for her readers.
- 🛠️ Turning pain into purpose: The books weren’t just therapy; they became vital tools for others and opened doors in her business organically.
- 🧭 Advice for nonfiction authors: She emphasizes the importance of knowing why you're writing and who you’re writing for—before anything else.
- 📚 Books as authority-builders: Writing helped Nathalie deepen her expertise and connect with a broader community, even if marketing wasn’t her primary focus.
- 🌉 Bridging understanding: One of her most recent books was born out of the need to help support networks understand grieving loved ones—a powerful reminder that books can change lives.
- 🔁 The circular path of content and connection: From podcasting to speaking to client work, Nathalie shows how different platforms support and reinforce each other, even without traditional marketing.
- 📦 Creative outreach: She offers examples of how her books are used in care packages, support events, and more—demonstrating that marketing can be organic, meaningful, and aligned with your mission.
💬 Memorable Quotes:
“I never thought I’d write a book. But when the idea came, it wouldn’t let me go.”
“Every book I wrote had a purpose: to answer a need I kept seeing again and again.”
“You don’t have to be a marketing expert—if your work resonates, it finds its way.”
🔗 Resources & Links: Nathalie Himmelrich’s Website – Home to her podcast, books, and more. * How to Deal with Grief and Trauma* Podcast – Nathalie’s show on grief, trauma, and healing. * Alexa Bigwarfe’s Publishing Resources for authors.
Panelists:
* Karen Strauss (Hybrid Global Publishing)
* Pam Sheppard (Sheppard Edits)
* Alesha Brown (Fruition Publishing)
* E. Danielle Butler (EvyDani Books)
* Linda Ruggieri (Editor, The Insightful Editor)
Panel Discussion Highlights:
Karen Strauss shared her experience leaving corporate publishing due to gender bias and lack of upward mobility. She founded her own publishing company to create more equitable opportunities.
* Alesha Brown spoke passionately about the challenges of being a Black woman and a hybrid publisher. She highlighted how systemic inequities impact access, legitimacy, and success in publishing, yet emphasized empowerment and resilience.
* Linda Ruggieri, a white Latina, reflected on her experiences with cultural assumptions and the value of building diverse global teams. Her editorial team spans countries and cultures, bringing richness to her publishing work.
* E. Danielle Butler addressed misrepresentation and tokenism in the industry, and the distinct struggles faced by Black women. She emphasized the power of choice, ownership, and storytelling.
* Pam Sheppard* reminded us that much of our work is about fighting for credibility. She highlighted how women have professionalized the industry and brought passion and power to every role.
In this podcast episode, you will learn:
* The current state of women in publishing, including workforce and authorship trends
* Ongoing challenges with leadership representation and pay equity
* The intersectional experiences of Black and Latina women in the publishing industry
* Why building community and diverse support systems is essential for publishing success
* The importance of unmuting your voice and sharing your story
* How to pivot and innovate in challenging times
* Insights on balancing personal health, entrepreneurship, and creativity
* Inspiration from award-winning women who are blazing trails in publishing
* How collective action, mentorship, and empowerment are driving the industry forward
This powerful and emotional finale to the Women in Publishing Summit reminds us all to keep writing, keep creating, and to keep lifting one another up. ✨
In this podcast episode, Alexa and Karen discuss:
- Karen’s Publishing Journey
- Started in publishing by accident while working at Macy’s, where she managed book events.
- Moved into traditional publishing, working at Bantam, Random House, McMillan, and Crown in sales, marketing, and publicity.
- Noticed that her voice was being muted in the corporate world, which motivated her to start her own company.
- Founding Hybrid Global Publishing
- Left the corporate publishing world amid industry instability and mergers.
- Transitioned to selling books for independent publishers before founding her own hybrid press.
- Personal challenges, including breast cancer, reinforced her decision to help others, particularly women, amplify their voices through publishing.
- Focus on Business and Personal Development Books
- Hybrid Global Publishing specializes in books by entrepreneurs, coaches, and speakers.
- Helps authors use books as lead magnets to grow their businesses and gain speaking opportunities.
- Expanding into memoirs, especially those that can help authors build a brand, podcast, or business.
- Why Choose a Hybrid Publisher?
- Traditional publishing offers limited royalties and control, while self-publishing can be overwhelming.
- Hybrid publishing provides expert guidance without taking ownership of an author’s work.
- Many authors underestimate the complexity of publishing—editing, design, distribution, and marketing all require professional input.
- The Hidden Costs of Publishing
- Many authors overlook essential costs, such as editing, formatting, and marketing.
- Some hybrid publishers charge extra for necessary services like return policies and copy editing.
- Karen emphasizes the importance of vetting publishers carefully and knowing what’s included in a package.
- How to Submit to Hybrid Global Publishing
- Interested authors can submit their book idea on the website.
- A 30-minute call helps determine if it’s a good fit.
- The submission process includes reviewing a synopsis, a couple of sample chapters, and an editorial assessment.
- Advice for Aspiring Authors
- Publishing is a business investment—paying for expertise ensures a higher quality product.
- Authors should focus on what they do best and leave the publishing logistics to professionals.
- Choosing the right publishing path depends on the author’s goals—whether it’s book sales, business growth, or speaking engagements.
- Final Thoughts & Women in Publishing Summit
- Karen praises Alexa’s work in building a supportive publishing community.
This episode provides a deep dive into the world of hybrid publishing, offering practical advice for authors looking to publish their books effectively and strategically.
Karen has held various positions in the Publishing industry for over 35 years. She worked at Random House, Macmillan, Crown and Avon in Sales, Marketing, and Publicity.
She has worked with celebrities such as President Jimmy Carter, Jimmy Stewart, Martha Stewart, George F. Will and Og Mandino. In 2010 Karen founded Hybrid Global Publishing, a firm that works with Entrepreneurs, Speakers, and coaches to help them write, publish, distribute, and promote their books in order to generate unlimited leads, get on more speaking stages, and grow their business by attracting more clients. Karen has helped over 1000 business owners become successful published authors and has helped 700 authors reach #1 bestselling status.
Learn more here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbstrauss21/
https://hybridglobalpublishing.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kbstrauss
If you've ever dreamed of writing a book but felt overwhelmed by the process, you’re not alone. Many aspiring authors struggle to put their ideas into words, whether due to lack of time, writing challenges, or uncertainty about structure and flow. That’s where ghostwriting comes in.
Alexa Bigwarfe and award-winning ghostwriter Roxanne McCarty-O’Kane discuss the ins and outs of ghostwriting, who can benefit from it, and why hiring a ghostwriter isn’t “cheating.” If you're curious about the process or considering ghostwriting for your own book, this conversation is packed with valuable insights.
In this podcast episode, Alexa and Roxanne discuss:
Roxanne’s journey from journalist to award-winning ghostwriter and mentor.
* How she helps nonfiction authors bring their messages to life with clarity and structure.
* The global reach of ghostwriting and how she works with authors worldwide.
* The differences between ghostwriting and co-writing—and why ghostwriting is not cheating.
* Why nonfiction books (memoirs, business books, self-help) are the most common for ghostwriters.
* The various reasons people hire ghostwriters, from lack of time to language barriers to personal challenges.
* The cost of ghostwriting—what factors influence pricing and why it’s a premium service.
* Her step-by-step ghostwriting process, including strategy sessions, interviews, writing, and revisions.
* The importance of capturing the author’s unique voice and making the book feel authentic.
* Why she doesn’t ghostwrite fiction and the key differences between fiction and nonfiction writing.
* How authors can determine if ghostwriting is right for them and what to expect from the process.
* Roxanne’s Ignite and Write book series and workshops for DIY writers who want guidance.
* Where to find Roxanne’s services, resources, and books* at roxannewriter.com or on Amazon.
Since 2007 Roxanne’s unique and multi-award winning method of storytelling has changed the lives of thousands of budding authors, allowing them to bring their messages to life in nonfiction books with structure, connection to the reader and potential profit.
A prolific ghostwriter, author, workshop facilitator, writing mentor and journalist, Roxanne’s presentations are charged with powerful content and tangible tools that remove the mystery from storytelling and ignite a thought-provoking and emotion-evoking theatre within the mind.
Her Ignite & Write series has become a powerful resource for aspiring authors around the world to craft their manuscripts with confidence, clarity and a true sense of purpose and passion.
Learn more here:
www.roxannewriter.com
https://www.facebook.com/roxannewriter
https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxannemccartyokane/
In this episode, you will learn all about offset printing and MCRL!
Topics covered includeL
Offset Printing vs. Print-on-Demand (POD)* What is offset printing, and how does it differ from POD? * Pros and cons of each method depending on your book’s goals. * Why offset printing is a better choice for high-quality, bulk book production.
Why Bulk Printing Saves Money* How per-unit costs decrease as your print quantity increases. * The financial drawbacks of POD for full-color books (especially children's books). * Why printing 500+ copies can significantly boost your profit margin.
Exciting News for Kid Lit Authors: Board Books Are Now Available! MCRL now prints board books—a highly requested service. * The advantages of board books for young readers. * How MCRL’s new board book website & online calculator* make getting a quote easier.
Customization Options for Board Books* Tactile pages (e.g., textured materials to mimic different surfaces). * Pop-ups and peek-a-boo tabs for interactive engagement. * Sound buttons and other multimedia features. * Finger puppets and mirrors to make books more engaging. * Custom packaging options, including kits with flashcards, puzzles, and more.
Avoiding Common Printing Pitfalls Why formatting is crucial for getting a high-quality printed book. * The importance of hiring a professional book formatter—even if you have an illustrator. * How to access MCRL’s free artwork and formatting guides* to get your files print-ready. * The most common file submission mistakes and how to avoid them.
Shipping & Fulfillment Tips Shipping & Fulfillment Tips + Why storing hundreds (or thousands) of books at home might not be the best idea. + Logistech Solutions, is a fulfillment and storage provider* in North Carolina that many authors use and MCRL recommends + How Logistech Solutions integrates directly with your e-commerce store (e.g., Shopify) for seamless order fulfillment. + The benefits of temperature-controlled storage and having a professional pick/pack/ship team.
Pricing & Hidden Costs: How to Compare Quotes Like a Pro Not all printing quotes are created equal—how to spot hidden fees. * Why some low-cost quotes may not include essential services like shipping, duties, and tariffs. * The importance of checking whether shipping includes delivery to your doorstep or just to the nearest port (a HUGE cost factor). * What to look for in a fully inclusive quote* to avoid surprise costs later.
The Importance of Bound Proofs What a bound proof is and why it’s non-negotiable for any bulk printing project. * The differences between a digitally printed proof and the final soy-ink offset print run.* * What to check for in a bound proof before approving a full production run. * How skipping this step can result in expensive mistakes or unexpected design issues.
Where to Get $100 Off Your First Order Exclusive discount for Women in Publishing Summit listeners: + Save $100 on your first order* when you print with MCRL. + Offer available at womeninpublishingsummit.com/MCRL. * How to use MCRL’s board book calculator at boardbookprinting.com.
In this episode, Alexa and Kelley discuss:
The importance of estate planning for authors and publishers
* Alexa’s personal experience with a medical crisis that made her rethink the future of her business and books
* Why copyrights are considered part of your estate and what happens to them when you pass away
* How copyright transfers work and why it’s crucial to have a legal plan in place
* The difference between a will, a trust, and an LLC—and how they impact the management of your creative assets
* How to ensure royalties continue being paid to the right people after you're gone
* Special estate planning considerations for single-member LLCs and small publishers
* Why having a beneficiary form for authors under a publishing contract is a smart move
* The legal process of transferring copyrights into a trust
* Why a simple text to your loved ones about your assets is not enough
* How probate can be a nightmare (especially in states like California and South Carolina)
* Why the termination right in copyright law is a key factor when considering who will inherit your creative works
* The steps authors and business owners should take today* to start planning for the future
🔹 Guest Speaker: Kelley Way
Kelley Way is an estate planning attorney specializing in copyright, trademark, and estate law. She also writes young adult fantasy fiction and provides resources for authors looking to protect their work legally.
📌 Action Step:
Visit Kelley’s website at kawaylaw.com to check out her blog, sign up for her newsletter, and find more resources on estate planning for authors.
🎤 Upcoming Event:
Kelley will be speaking at the 2025 Women in Publishing Summit on copyright and fair use—covering what authors need to know about protecting their work and legally using content in their books.
Grab your ticket here or join us at an upcoming event from the Events Page.
📚 Additional Action Steps:
Find an estate planning lawyer in your state
* Consider creating a trust or adding copyright transfers to your will
* Ensure your business has a clear plan in place for royalties, contracts, and book rights*
✨ Don't wait until it's too late! Take steps today to secure the future of your creative work.
💡 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow author or entrepreneur who needs to hear this!
In this podcast episode, Alexa and Markeyla discuss:
🎉 From Summit to Collaboration – How a standout presentation at the 2024 Women in Publishing Summit led to an exciting partnership between Alexa and Markeyla.
* 📝 Markeyla’s Journey in Media & Publishing – From a book-loving kid to running Against the Stream Magazine and building a thriving business helping women succeed.
* 🏆 The SNAP Method – Markeyla’s five-step process for helping Christian women entrepreneurs grow their platforms and businesses.
* 🚀 Being Contagious vs. Going Viral – Why chasing virality isn’t the best strategy and how you can instead build sustainable momentum.
* 🎤 The Power of Media & PR – How strategic media placements and PR can help authors and entrepreneurs stand out.
* 📸 What is Media Blitz Day? – A game-changing event where women walk away with professional branding assets, PR placements, and a solid media strategy—all in one day!
* 🎯 Execution Over Information Overload – Why taking action matters more than endlessly consuming courses and workshops.
* 🔥 Leveraging Relationships – The key to sustainable success isn’t just visibility—it’s building meaningful connections.
* 💡 Marketing and PR Tips for Authors & Entrepreneurs – Practical ways to use your media placements to grow your brand.
* ❤️ Encouragement to Take the Leap* – "You can handle it!" Markeyla’s empowering advice for stepping into your next big opportunity.
* Markeyla's speaking at the 2025 Women in Publishing Summit! Visit https://womeninpublishingsummit.com to get your ticket to this or upcoming events!
🔗 Want to learn more? Check out Blitz Media Day and connect with Markeyla on Facebook!
Markeyla Henton is a dynamic media strategist, publisher, and business coach dedicated to empowering Kingdom entrepreneurs in the marketplace. A graduate of Howard University with a Bachelor's in English, she founded Against the Stream Magazine, transforming it from a solo endeavor into a publication boasting a team of five writers and over 25,000 monthly visitors. As the CEO of The Faith Edit, a Chicago-based publishing agency, Markeyla specializes in enhancing clients' confidence, execution, and authority. She is also the founder of Boss Believher, where she offers masterclasses and resources to help entrepreneurs succeed. Coming from a lineage of faith leaders, including her grandfather, televangelist Richard Henton, Markeyla integrates her rich heritage into her work, guiding clients to achieve their marketplace goals. Through her innovative strategies and programs, Markeyla has become a sought-after speaker and consultant, known for her passion in helping others elevate their brands and achieve their visions.
https://www.bossbelievher.com/blitz
Alexa Bigwarfe chats with Danica Favorite, Community Manager at PublishDrive and a multi-published hybrid author, about how authors can leverage AI and PublishDrive’s powerful tools to streamline their publishing journey. They discuss how metadata impacts book sales, how AI can help optimize book descriptions, keywords, and pricing, and why PublishDrive’s subscription model helps authors keep more of their royalties. Danica also shares insights on using AI responsibly, overcoming writing challenges, and maximizing book visibility. Plus, learn about PublishDrive’s special offer for Women in Publishing Summit attendees! Don’t miss this insightful and empowering conversation.
In this podcast episode, Alexa and Danica discuss:
🎙️ Meet Danica Favorite: Community Manager at PublishDrive, multi-published hybrid author, and passionate advocate for helping authors navigate the publishing world.
* 📚 What is PublishDrive? An all-in-one self-publishing platform designed to support authors at every stage—from formatting to global distribution, royalty splitting, and even Amazon ad management.
* 💰 A Different Pricing Model: Instead of taking a percentage of royalties, PublishDrive operates on a subscription basis, allowing authors to keep 100% of their earnings after store fees.
* 🆓 Try Before You Buy: PublishDrive offers one free eBook upload so authors can test the platform risk-free.
* 🛠️ Sales Calculator: A handy tool on their website that helps authors determine whether a percentage-based model or subscription is more cost-effective for them.
* 🚀 Metadata Matters! Many books struggle with sales because of incorrect metadata, poor book descriptions, or being in the wrong categories.
* 🤖 AI & Publishing: AI is changing the way authors market and optimize their books. Danica shares insights on how authors can leverage AI tools without losing creative control.
* 📝 AI Metadata Generator: PublishDrive’s new tool analyzes your manuscript and generates optimized book descriptions, keywords, categories, BISAC codes, and even price suggestions based on Amazon trends.
* 🎨 AI for Covers: The platform also offers an AI-generated cover option—perfect for concept ideas or quick designs.
* 🎙️ Brave New Bookshelf Podcast: Danica co-hosts this podcast, diving deep into AI in publishing and featuring experts from all corners of the industry.
* 🔧 Other AI Tools Authors Can Use: ChatGPT for market research, developmental editing, and repurposing content like blog posts from transcripts.
* 💡 AI for Writers, Not Instead of Writers: AI can enhance writing, not replace it—whether helping overcome writer’s block, brainstorming next scenes, or summarizing reviews for insights.
* 🎟️ Women in Publishing Summit: PublishDrive is offering a 20% discount* for summit attendees! Learn more at womeninpublishingsummit.com/publishdrive.
🔗 Resources & Links:
* PublishDrive: womeninpublishingsummit.com/publishdrive
* Brave New Bookshelf Podcast: bravenewbookshelf.com
* Women in Publishing Summit: womeninpublishingsummit.com
Danica Favorite is the Community Manager at PublishDrive. A multi-published hybrid author, Danica understands the many challenges faced by authors today, and seeks to help them navigate those challenges, both in her role at PublishDrive and as an author. Her mission is to empower people to tell their stories, because every story matters.
PublishDrive is the all-in-one self-publishing platform designed to support authors at every stage of their journey. From formatting your manuscript and crafting perfect metadata and descriptions to help your books sell, to distributing across thousands of stores worldwide, we've got you covered. Once your book is selling, you can track sales, split royalties seamlessly, and even manage your Amazon ads—all in one place.
In this podcast episode, Alexa and Alida discuss:
* The importance of honing your writing craft, regardless of genre or experience.
* Understanding the fundamentals of story structure, including the three-act structure.
* Breaking down the key elements of Act 1: hooks, setup, inciting incidents, and points of no return.
* How story craft applies across genres, from literary fiction to romantic comedies and beyond.
* Tips for transitioning between different writing styles and genres (e.g., nonfiction to fiction).
* The balance between showing and telling in storytelling—and why both are necessary.
* The role of workshops, coaching, and community in developing writing skills.
* Navigating the plotter vs. pantser debate and finding a process that works for you.
* Recognizing the reflection of Act 1 in the entire novel and why it matters.
* Learning to handle feedback constructively and viewing revisions as part of the growth process.
Key Takeaways:
* "You don’t know what you don’t know"—the importance of learning and improving craft as a writer.
* Every story element—plot, character, setting, and theme—must work together to serve the reader.
* Act 1 should introduce the protagonist, their world, and the stakes while keeping tension and momentum.
* Writers should focus on crafting compelling stories first, then determine genre and marketing strategies.
* The stories we are meant to tell often stay with us, waiting to be written at the right time.
About Alida Winternheimer: Alida is an award-winning writer, developmental editor, writing coach, and teacher with an MFA from Hamline University. Her accolades include a Pushcart Prize nomination and her novel, Saving Annabelle, winning the 2023 Page Turner Awards. Alida also hosts the StoryWorks Roundtable podcast with over 280 episodes and has published two craft books: The StoryWorks Guide to Writing Character and The StoryWorks Guide to Writing Point of View. When she’s not writing or teaching, you can find her kayaking or exploring Minneapolis with her golden retriever.
Resources Mentioned:
Website: Visit WordEssential.com for coaching, workshops, and free office hours.
* Podcast: Check out the StoryWorks Roundtable for more insights on writing craft.
* Newsletter*: Subscribe to Alida’s Substack for reflections on writing life and workshop updates.
Don’t Miss Alida at the Women in Publishing Summit: Alida will be returning to teach writing craft at the upcoming Women in Publishing Summit. Details and registration at WomeninPublishingSummit.com.
In this podcast episode, Alexa Bigwarfe interviews Mindy Kuhn, CEO of Warren Publishing, a hybrid publishing company with over 36 years of history. They discuss the unique benefits of hybrid publishing, including retained author rights, professional editing and design, and higher royalty rates. Mindy shares tips for authors on choosing the right publishing model, polishing manuscripts, and marketing their books. Ideal for authors seeking collaboration and control, hybrid publishing offers a balanced approach between traditional and self-publishing.
In this podcast episode, Alexa and Mindy discuss:
About Warren Publishing: What is Warren Publishing?*
+ A hybrid publishing company with over 36 years of history.
+ Acquired by Mindy Kuhn nearly nine years ago.
-
Types of books they publish:
- Children’s books, fiction, nonfiction, and business books.
- Less focus on religious publications or urban fiction.
-
Key benefits of working with Warren Publishing:
-
Authors retain their rights (like self-publishing).
- Professional editing, design, marketing, and distribution included.
- High selectivity—only 20% of submissions are accepted.
- Higher royalty rates compared to traditional publishing.
Tips for Authors Seeking Publication:
1. Make Two Lists:
* A wish list of what you want in a publisher or publishing route.
* A "no-go" list of what you don’t want (e.g., no upfront costs or specific deadlines).
2. Research Your Publishing Options:
* Understand the spectrum: traditional publishing, self-publishing, hybrid, and others (e.g., AI-based publishing platforms).
* Choose a model that aligns with your goals and budget.
3. Polish Your Manuscript:
* Ensure it’s as refined as possible before submission.
* Even if a publisher offers editing, first impressions matter.
4. Prepare to Market Your Book:
* Be ready to actively promote your work, regardless of the publishing model.
* Know your target audience and comparative titles (comp titles).
* Set up a dedicated author social media presence.
Why Hybrid Publishing is a Strong Option:* A balance between traditional and self-publishing models. * Offers professional support while allowing authors more control. * Growing acceptance in the publishing industry (e.g., award recognition for hybrid presses). * Ideal for authors seeking collaboration and engagement in the publishing process.
Encouragement for Writers:* Writing and publishing are a marathon, not a sprint. * Be realistic about expectations—focus on creating quality work and enjoying the process. * Publishing a book is always exciting, no matter how many you’ve done before.
Where to Learn More:* Visit warrenpublishing.net for: + Submission guidelines. + Company information. + Contact details for questions.
Mindy Kuhn
Mindy has over thirty years of marketing, design, and branding experience. She holds Photojournalism and Journalism Graphics degrees from Ball State University and a Leadership in Publishing Certificate from the Yale Publishing Course; Yale School of Management and has worked in many aspects of advertising, marketing, and branding for companies ranging in size from Fortune 500 to small boutiques. Mindy has extensive experience in the print platform and excels at developing an author’s vision into a polished, finished product. Publication design is one of her specialties and she has earned many design and publication awards for her work.
Learn more here: https://www.warrenpublishing.net
https://www.facebook.com/warrenpublishinginc/
In this podcast, Alexa and Nikki discuss:
Nikki Nash’s journey to becoming a Hay House author and marketing expert:
From wanting to be a journalist to becoming a Fortune 100 marketer and finally starting her own entrepreneurial journey after a wake-up call about family health, Nikki’s inspiring story highlights the power of following your purpose.
* The power of big-picture thinking:
Nikki emphasizes creating a bold vision and leveraging your book as a tool to connect with larger audiences, organizations, or opportunities. For example, positioning your book as a vehicle for massive impact rather than focusing solely on individual clients.
* Monetization strategies for authors:*
+ **Beyond book sales:** Acknowledge that most authors don’t become wealthy from book sales alone.
+ **As a feeder:** Use the book to introduce coaching, memberships, or courses.
+ **For leverage:** Build a brand and vision that attracts collaborations, large-scale deals, or other major opportunities.
-
Practical advice for dream building and impact creation:
- Dedicate specific time each week to think big, whether that’s reaching out to influencers, pitching large-scale collaborations, or refining your vision.
- Limit working hours for "lifestyle money" (e.g., 25 hours per week or less) to focus on generational wealth and impactful projects.
-
Key tips for writing and aligning your book with your vision:
-
Get on the playing field: Understand your audience’s pain points and write a book that solves their problems.
- Utilize beta readers: Share your drafts with a group who can comment on clarity, resonance, and areas for expansion.
- Ensure alignment with your big vision while focusing on practical solutions you’ve already mastered.
- Nikki’s actionable mindset shift:
Don’t get stuck in survival mode. Pay your bills, but allocate time and resources to dream-building and thinking beyond the day-to-day grind. -
Special resource for listeners:
Nikki offers scholarships to a university program sharing strategies for thinking big, creating opportunities, and leveraging your book. -
How to apply: DM Nikki the word “Alexa” on Instagram @NikkiNashOfficial for details.
- Check out her bestselling book, Market Your Genius, for strategies to turn your expertise into a profitable business.
Globe-trotting Jersey girl, Nikki Nash is a Hay House Author and marketing expert. Her bestselling book Market Your Genius has helped thousands of entrepreneurs turn their experiences and expertise into a profitable online business. A lover of superheroes, sci-fi, and British murder mysteries, she's your go-to gal for Marvel marathons, card games, and globetrotting adventures with family and friends. When she's not guiding entrepreneurs how to get more dream clients, she's working on her next books.
Important Links:
https://instagram.com/nikkinashofficial
https://nikkinash.co/book
Be sure to grab your ticket to the Women in Publishing Summit to learn more from Leanne as she teaches the workshop Working with a Service Provider to Self-Publish Your Book
In this podcast episode, Alexa and Leanne discuss:
Introduction to Leanne Janzen and FriesenPress:*
+ Leanne’s journey in publishing, starting as a publishing specialist and now leading the sales team at FriesenPress.
+ FriesensPress, a 15-year-old self-publishing service provider, has celebrated publishing its 10,000th title.
+ The range of services offered, including editing, cover design, formatting, distribution, and personalized support through a publishing specialist.
-
FriesenPress and Women in Publishing Summit Partnership:
- FriesenPress is sponsoring the Women in Publishing Summit for the first time.
- Special offer: $150 off manuscript evaluations for summit attendees.
-
Manuscript Evaluation Benefits:
-
Detailed editorial feedback tailored to the manuscript.
- Metadata recommendations, including BO codes and search keywords.
- Examples of how the manuscript could look after editing.
- Editing recommendations from proofreads to developmental edits.
-
Self-Publishing Considerations:
-
The importance of budget and timeline when deciding between self-publishing and traditional publishing.
- How self-publishing allows for greater control, especially for time-sensitive or niche projects.
- Budget planning: Evaluating money vs. time in the publishing process.
-
Benefits of Working with a Service Provider:
-
Simplifies project management by coordinating all publishing steps.
- Offers ongoing support, such as adapting to industry changes (e.g., returnable status for online retailers).
- Empowers authors through coaching on marketing tools, website management, and social media strategies.
-
Debunking Misconceptions About Self-Publishing:
-
High-quality self-published books can be indistinguishable from traditionally published ones.
- Many well-known books, like Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, started as self-published works.
-
Traditional Publishing vs. Self-Publishing:
-
Traditional publishing requires significant marketing efforts from the author, similar to self-publishing.
- Even if traditional publishing is the goal, self-publishing can be a valuable stepping stone or alternative.
-
Marketing and Promotion:
-
Essential for both traditionally and self-published authors.
- FriesenPress educates authors on building their platforms and developing marketing strategies.
-
Key Takeaways for Authors:
-
Self-publishing is a viable and respected option in today’s industry.
- Authors should prioritize editing, professional design, and marketing efforts to create a polished product.
- The publishing journey is unique to each author, and understanding your goals will help determine the best path forward.
Links and Resources Mentioned:
* Women in Publishing Summit and FriesenPress collaboration: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/friesenpress
* Manuscript evaluation offer: $150 off for summit attendees.
* FriesenPress services and author support.
Important Links:
friesenpress.com/
instagram.com/friesenpress/
facebook.com/friesenpress/
About Leanne Janzen
Starting her journey in the publishing world, Leanne began working as a Publishing Specialist - guiding authors through the self publishing process with care and attention. Her ability to form relationships and desire to continually improve and learn led her to the University of Winnipeg.
There, Leanne completed Leadership training shortly before transitioning to her new role with FriesenPress and now leads the sales team.
Her passion for educating others on the current publishing landscape and the benefits of self publishing led her to launching a successful speaking program at FriesenPress, where she and her team present to organizations and groups around North America.
When she is not keeping busy with her children and dogs (there are three of both!), you can find her on the beach with a good book and a glass of wine in hand.
In this podcast episode, Alexa shares:
- Reflections on a Personal Anniversary: Alexa commemorates the 13th anniversary of her daughter Kathryn’s passing and shares how this event shaped her journey as a writer, publisher, and creator of the Women in Publishing Summit.
- The Power of Writing to Heal: Writing became a vital tool for Alexa's healing, leading to her first book, which has since helped thousands of grieving mothers. She later created a beautiful Journal for Grieving Mothers as well. You can find both of these books in the resources section below.
- Importance of Community: She emphasizes the value of community in the publishing world, highlighting how authors, editors, designers, and marketers all play crucial roles in supporting each other.
- Leveraging AI for Efficiency: Alexa discusses how AI tools can be used to create marketing content quickly, sharing her own experience with using ChatGPT to generate a blog post on short notice.
- Encouragement for Writers: A powerful message about the impact of words and the importance of believing in the value of your stories, regardless of genre or subject.
- Resilience and Overcoming Challenges: Alexa candidly shares the personal and professional challenges she faced in 2024, including medical issues, and how she used them as fuel for growth and inspiration.
- Updates on the Women in Publishing Summit: Insights into the upcoming 2025 virtual conference, its workshops, networking events, and how it supports authors and publishing professionals.
- The Role of Publishing Professionals: A heartfelt acknowledgment of how editors, graphic designers, and other industry professionals contribute to the success of books and authors.
- Exciting New Projects: Alexa announces her upcoming talk at the Independent Book Publishers Association’s Publishing University on how authors and publishers can protect their work and businesses.
- Gratitude - to the community, to the team behind Alexa at WritePublishSell and the Women in Publishing Summit and how much everyone has been so incredible
- Looking Ahead to 2025: Alexa shares her hope for a renewed spirit and bigger accomplishments in the new year, encouraging listeners to persist with their dreams and goals.
- Upcoming Podcast Episodes: A sneak peek at interviews with sponsors of the Women in Publishing Summit, focusing on their services and advice for authors.
This is a heartfelt and motivational episode packed with personal stories, practical advice, and a call to action for writers and publishers to keep striving toward their goals.
Resources:* The Sisterhood of Healing Hearts: Permission to Thrive Journal A Six Month Guided Journal for Grieving Mothers * Sunshine After the Storm: A Survival Guide for the Grieving Mother * The Women in Publishing Summit
Grab your ticket to the 2025 Women in Publishing Summit!
In this podcast episode, Alexa and Danika discuss:
- The importance of building an author network and community for long-term career growth.
- How connecting with other authors helps manage the inner critic and provides motivation.
- The value of having a purposeful network to support marketing efforts and book promotion.
- Collaborations like book swaps, newsletter swaps, and co-authoring as great ways to expand reach and promote books.
- The benefits of attending conferences, meeting like-minded authors, and participating in shared world anthologies to grow your audience.
- Tips for finding the right collaborators, including reaching out to authors in your genre and fostering genuine relationships.
- How maintaining relationships through regular meetings or mastermind groups can nurture collaborations and spark new ideas.
- Encouragement to be brave and reach out to others in the writing community, even if you're just starting out.
- Danica’s recommendation to try her 21-day SMS course for new authors
Resources Mentioned:
* Author Ever After: Danika’s community and support platform for romance authors.
* Romance Author Mastermind – A conference for romance writers.
* Various collaboration formats: Shared worlds, anthologies, newsletter swaps, and BookBub review swaps.
Important Links:
https://www.danikabloom.com/
https://www.authoreverafter.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@authoreverafter
About Danika Bloom:
USA Today bestselling romance author, Danika Bloom has been building and supporting author communities for almost 20 years. Danika's author superpower is connecting people and helping new authors find the allies they need to succeed. She was a two-term VP for her RWA chapter, founder of the membership community Author Ever After, and creator of the Passion Project to Published framework, a done-with-you program that helps pre-published romance authors earn their first royalties.
Don't forget to grab your ticket to the Women in Publishing Summit!
In this podcast episode we discuss:
- What Are Writing Rituals?
- The Importance of Writing Rituals
- Examples of Writing Rituals
- Writing Rituals in Community
- Post-Publication Rituals
- Elizabeth’s Coaching and Retreat Offerings
Resources Mentioned: (affiliate links included)
- Atomic Habits by James Clear – inspiration for habit stacking.
- Elizabeth’s books: Smart Self Care for Busy Women and Sacred Celebrations.
- Elizabeth’s website: ElizabethBarbour.com
- WIP School – Alexa’s community for structured writing sessions and accountability.
Important Links:
www.elizabethbarbour.com
www.facebook.com/elizabethtbarbour
www.instagram.com/elizabthbarbour
About Elizabeth Barbour:
Elizabeth Barbour has spent 23+ years helping people integrate mind, body and spirit for wholeness.
As an intuitive life and business coach, shamanic practitioner, speaker and author, she is a creative force when to comes to releasing pain, healing wounds, transforming old stories into new beginnings, and celebrating the beauty and joy of life’s milestones.
She is the author of two books: Smart Self-Care for Busy Women: Find the “Me Time” You Crave and the newly released Sacred Celebrations : Designing Rituals to Navigate Life’s Milestone Transitions.
Elizabeth firmly believes that the world’s health and well-being is dependent upon emotional and spiritual practices that keep each one of us grounded and centered, especially during times of change.
In this podcast episode, we discuss:
- the importance of knowing how to refer to and write about Native Americans; terminology matters - differences between “American Indian,” “Native American,” and “First American.”
- Is it okay for authors who aren’t Native American to write about them?
- How to start researching a tribe's history and culture and whether or not you should approach a tribal community for researching their story
- How to build relationships so that you avoid common stereotypes in your writing
- Cultural sensitivity - for example, is it okay to say Happy Thanksgiving?
- Sarah's course designed to help writers authentically represent Native American characters.
(Special discount code for podcast listeners.)
Resources Mentioned:
Five Stereotypes to Avoid When Writing About Native Americans – Free eBook by Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer.
* Fiction Writing American Indians* course: Available at fictioncourses.com/americanindians with the code “WIPFWA” for a $50 discount.
* Sarah’s book on Choctaw Code Talkers of World War I.
Important Links:
https://www.fictioncourses.com/americanindians
https://www.fictioncourses.com/stereotypes
https://www.choctawspirit.com
About Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer
As a tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, she has written and published 17 historical fiction books with Native main characters, and over 275 non-fiction articles on Native artists and organizations with representatives from dozens of North American tribes. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian honored her as a literary artist through their Artist Leadership Program for her work in preserving Choctaw Trail of Tears stories, and she is a First Peoples Fund Artist in Business Leadership alumni.
Discover more at www.fictioncourses.com/americanindians. (And don't forget your coupon code WIPFWA to save $50.)
Grab your ticket to the Women in Publishing Summit, where we'll be networking a LOT!
In this episode, the key points discussed are:
- How JF has successfully published short fiction in books that are not advertised, launched a literary podcast and became the President of the Canadian Authors Association’s Toronto Branch
- Why an author network is important
- The 3 biggest mistakes one can make when networking and how to avoid them
- How to use the author network
JF Garrard is an award-winning speculative fiction writer, editor and publisher. She is the President of Dark Helix Press, Host of the literary podcast The Artsy Raven, President for the Canadian Authors Association’s Toronto Branch and Deputy Editor for Ricepaper Magazine. Her portfolio of books and short fiction is listed on jfgarrard.com and you can find her on Twitter/Instagram @jfgarrard or Facebook @JFGarrardauthor.
Learn more here:
https://jfgarrard.com/
https://darkhelixpress.com/
https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard
In this podcast episode, we discuss:
1. Transitioning into Romance Writing: Kristi Dosh (Savannah Carlisle) and Lindsay Gibson share how they moved from careers in sports journalism and grief memoir writing into romance fiction. Both found joy and fulfillment in creating heartwarming love stories.
2. The Therapeutic Power of Fiction: Lindsay talks about how writing fiction allows her to control the narrative, offering a therapeutic escape from real-life trauma. Kristi echoes this, noting how she used writing to rewrite her own personal stories with happier endings during difficult times.
3. The Long Road to Publication: The authors highlight the importance of persistence, with both sharing stories of extensive revisions, rewrites, and years spent polishing their manuscripts before landing publishing deals. The message: writing a marketable book takes time and patience.
4. The Benefits of Working with a Small Press: Both authors speak highly of their experience with Harpeth Road, a small woman-owned press. They discuss the hands-on support they received, from developmental editing to marketing strategies, and why it’s important to thoroughly research publishers to find the right fit.
5. Organizing a Collaborative Book Tour: Kristi and Lindsay, along with fellow author Nancy Nagle, organized their own book tour. It was Kristi’s idea, and the trio planned a series of events along the East Coast. They discuss how working with other authors made the tour more fun, less daunting, and helped draw a bigger crowd. They emphasize that collaborating with fellow authors is a great way to reach more readers and build connections.
6. Collaboration Over Competition: They also highlight how teaming up with other authors helps increase visibility, foster a sense of community, and create opportunities for cross-promotion rather than competition.
7. The Power of Cross-Promotion: The authors discuss how promoting each other’s books helps build a larger, more engaged audience. They emphasize that readers of romance want more stories, and sharing the spotlight with other authors can benefit everyone.
8. Staying True to Your Passion: The authors stress the importance of writing what you love. They advise aspiring authors to read widely in their genre and stay true to their own voice, rather than chasing trends.
Links:
https://www.authorlindsaygibson.com/
https://savannahcarlisle.com/
https://www.harpethroad.com/authorsubmissions
https://www.bryndonovan.com/2021/01/19/romance-publishers-a-list/
Romancing the Beat
In this episode, we discuss:
- Maximizing Book Sales Globally: opportunities in the international markets for expanding book sales and reaching a wider audience.
- Finding the Perfect Literary Translator: what you should look for in a translator to make sure that your investment has better chances to pay off
- what the main features of a literary translation contract in most European countries are when it comes to copyrights.
- The impact of machine translation on book publishing and how it can affect the authenticity of your translated work.
- Boost Translated Book Marketing: Explore effective marketing strategies tailored specifically for promoting translated books to a diverse audience.
- Understand Legal Aspects of Translation: Gain insights into the legal considerations and implications of international book translations to navigate potential challenges and protect your work.
Isabella Nanni graduated in Foreign Languages and Literature in Bologna, Italy, in 1994 and is listed as Expert Interpreter and Translator at the local Chamber of Commerce. In 2019 she won the "Bottega deiTraduttori" (The Translators Workshop) literary translation contest. She is a native Italian speaker and her language pairs are English to Italian, Spanish to Italian and German to Italian. She has worked for major international companies as well as publishers and specializes in literary translations and marketing materials. Literary translations and scouting comprise books in the following categories: Romance, Young Adult, Children, Crime fiction, Comic and Graphic Novels, Non Fiction and History. Her translations of Jess Michaels’, Tess Thompson's and Crystal Kaswell's books made it to the top 10 best-selling kindle romances on Amazon Italy. Isabella is Top Reviewer on Netgalley since 2016 and is an active member in several online literary groups, both in her home-country as well as internationally. She is in contact with several book bloggers and is a passionate marketer of the books she translates.
Learn more here: https://doublefacetraduzioni.altervista.org/
https://www.instagram.com/doubleface.traduzioni/
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Isabella-Nanni/author/B0CC5PDVWR
UNCOVER YOUR POWERFUL STORY
Overview: Karen shares everything you need to know if you want to write a book, which includes when you should do it, common mistakes to avoid, and some strategies and hacks to help you get started on your book right away.
In this episode, Alexa and Karen talk about:
- Why is there a fear of putting your voice out into the world?
- Crafting Powerful Stories: Discover the art of storytelling in nonfiction writing and captivate your readers with compelling narratives.
- Full-Service Writing Solutions: Explore a range of comprehensive writing services to support and enhance your nonfiction author journey.
- Who am I Writing For? (Ideal Reader): Uncover effective strategies to identify and connect with your target audience in the nonfiction genre.
- Avoiding Common Writing Mistakes: Learn to steer clear of pitfalls and errors commonly made by nonfiction authors, ensuring a smoother writing process.
- Success tips and when you should write a book
A #1 International Bestselling author, Karen Rowe is the owner of Front Rowe Seat, a full service writing firm. She is a nonfiction expert who, for the past fifteen years has specialized in working with first-time authors and entrepreneurs to uncover their own unique and powerful story. Karen has a special fondness for memoir, self-help, business and leadership books. Helping authors create an instant connection with themselves and with their marketplace, she has worked on over 140 books to date! A transplant from the Great White North, Karen lives in Tampa, FL with her husband, and two rescue cats. When she is not writing, she enjoys reading, yoga, riding her bike and going to the beach.
Learn more here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkarenrowe/
Website: https://www.karenrowe.com
Book writing course: http://bookwritingmaster.com
In this episode, we discuss:
- The importance of finding a missionally aligned publisher (in TCP's case: feminist and queer with a commitment to BIPOC writers)
- how to find mission-aligned publishers who share your values and support your vision as an author.
- Angela's story of why she created Tehom Center Publishing to fill a lack in the industry
- the importance of intersectional feminism in the publishing industry and how it can shape the future of literature.
- effective marketing strategies for books on social justice causes
- creative strategies for launching books that align with your values and reach a wider audience.
- how to empower BIPOC queer feminist authors through inclusive and supportive publishing practices.
- The role of publishing in social justice and activism
- How writing/telling the stories of revolutionary women and nonbinary kindred can change the world
- Angela's free Feminist Editing Guide: https://mailchi.mp/0e9a4144e769/feminist-editing
Dr. Angela Yarber is an award-winning author of eight books and the founder of Tehom Center Publishing, an imprint publishing feminist and queer authors, with a commitment to elevate BIPOC writers. In addition to traditional, independent publishing at no cost to authors, Tehom Center Publishing also offers 1:1 and group coaching aimed at empowering authors in their book writing, book marketing, and authorpreneurship. Dr. Yarber holds a Ph.D. in Art and Religion from UC Berkeley and her work has been featured in Forbes, NPR, HuffPo, Ms Magazine, The Independent, and the television show Tiny House Nation. For more, please visit www.tehomcenter.org
Alexa and Sharissa talked about the following key points:
- Sharissa's project to fund women's writing projects: Project Seed Money
- Project Seed Money provides a monthly grant funding female authors at $1,500.00 a month to be used for writing expenses
- How women are still underrepresented in the publishing industry, her reason for starting this program
- How to amplify female voices
- the expenses of self-publishing and strategies to obtain financial support for your writing journey as a woman author.
- how to bring your story to life in a compelling way
- tips for successfully writing a memoir
- crowdfunding as a tool for funding your book publishing journey and connecting with your audience.
- techniques for building a dedicated and engaged audience for your memoir, paving the way for successful book promotion and sales.
Sharissa Bradley is the co-owner of Project Seed Money, helping to fund women's writing dreams. While running her publishing house 5 Two Press, she learned the hard way how much it costs to publish books. In order to help fellow creatives she started Project Seed Money with her partner Wendy to help offset the costs involved with writing and to help get funding into underrepresented communities.
Learn more here: www.projectseedmoney.com
www.instagram.com/projectseedmoney
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrKNeFjrn7AboZk19jeTg2g
In this episode, Derek and Alexa discuss:
- how Derek went from being a broke valet parker to a bestselling author, selling over 100,000 books using mostly free and low-cost marketing strategies (he got into personal development and started writing fitness blogs, which eventually led him to publish a book.)
- Why you shouldn't give up after a launch that isn't successful. (first book didn’t do well, but he kept learning about marketing until his third book became a big hit, making $6,000 in 11 days!)
- Derek focused on learning marketing strategies, and his book consistently hit #1 in competitive categories.
- the importance of book reviews for authors, especially when launching a new book (aim for 10 to 20 reviews early on to help with promotion)
- Build your email list! This is key to anyone serious about selling more books!
- Strategies for Reviews: ask for genuine feedback from readers and use methods like viral giveaways to build an email list. From there, authors can engage with readers and ask for reviews.
- Hollywood Pitch Formula: Derek shares a strategy called the Hollywood Pitch Formula, which helps your book stand out. It’s all about combining two concepts to create a memorable hook (e.g., "Die Hard on a bus" for the movie Speed).
- How to engage reviewers: To find reviewers, he suggests reaching out to people who already review books in your genre and giving them a clear and engaging pitch.
- Follow-Up with Readers: To encourage readers to leave reviews, Derek recommends using surveys. This approach allows authors to get feedback and, potentially, a review with minimal effort on the reader’s part. He emphasizes following up in a non-pushy way, asking questions like, "How are you enjoying the book?" before asking for a review.
- Final Thought: Getting positive reviews can be a great motivator for authors to push harder in their marketing efforts.
Derek Doepker went from being a broke valet parker to a bestselling author who's sold over 100,000 books sold using mostly free and low-cost marketing strategies. Now he shares these strategies with entrepreneurs to turn their knowledge into a bestselling book.
Learn more here: https://bestsellersecrets.com
Two book marketing experts, Alexa Bigwarfe of Write|Publish|Sell & the Women in Publishing Summit and Keri-Rae Barnum of New Shelves Book, dish out book marketing advice and trends for authors.
- We discuss why authors hate marketing and how to make it fun.
- Best tips for growing your audience.
- Why finding new readers is critical to your success.
- And more.
Also, learn about the book marketing conference in Charlotte, NC.
Get your ticket here! https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/charlotte
About Keri-Rae Barnum:
Keri-Rae Barnum is the owner and CEO of New Shelves Books. One of the most sought-after book marketing experts in the U.S., Keri has personally created and managed over 3,000 successful book sales campaigns, several of which led to USA Today Best Sellers. www.NewShelves.com
In this episode, Alexa and Joni discuss (among other things!):
- Joni's Writing Center in Vermont, and how she started that
- The ways we writers get in our own way... and how to move past them
- The importance of being inspired when you're writing
- How to deal with feedback and the power of positive feedback
- Dealing with self-sabotage and negative self-talk
- Joni's book for writers: Good Naked: How to Write More, Write Better, and Be Happier (Amazon aff link)
- Joni's new book: Party Like It's 2044: Finding the Funny in Life and Death (Amazon aff link) - finding the funny in life
Joni B. Cole is the author of seven books, including two popular writing guides: Good Naked: How to Write More, Write Better, and Be Happier (listed as a “Best Books for Writers” by Poets & Writers magazine); and Toxic Feedback: Helping Writers Survive and Thrive ("I can't imagine a better guide to writing's rewards and perils than this fine book,” American Book Review). Her second collection of personal essays, Party Like It’s 2044: Finding the Funny in Life and Death, published from the University of New Mexico Press this September, 2023. Joni teaches writing online and in person at her own writer’s center in White River Junction, Vermont, and at a diversity of academic and nonprofit programs. She is a contributor to The Writer magazine, and hosts the podcast “Author, Can I Ask You?”
Learn more here: www.jonibcole.com
www.thewriterscenterwrj.com
What happens when a company reaches out and tells you: you have to stop using the name you're using for your brand, podcast, website, courses, business, or other items?
Well, if they have a trademark to back them up, you can either go through a fight, or you can choose to rebrand.
Option 3 - if you can prove you were using the brand/name/logo prior to their use, you might have a chance at canceling their trademark.
In this episode, Alexa discusses: * how this happened to her - Alexa received a demand to cease using the PublishHer name for the podcast, because it is too similar to another company. * Alexa's lawyer's response and suggested response * Why you should consider trademarking your brand and what you can do to protect your own business and brand (recommend seeking advice from a trademark lawyer) - Do you need a Trademark? A trademark typically protects brand names and logos used on goods and services. https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/basics/trademark-process#step2 * Resource: The USPTO allows you to search Trademark's - no need to hire a lawyer to see if something already exists. Search HERE
The PublishHer podcast is being rebranded as Alexa's Publishing Chat. We hope you'll continue to follow and support.
Amy Goldmacher will guide you through what agents and publishers look for in the components of a proposal, how to write proposal sections effectively, and how the proposal will help you write your book and achieve your publication goals.
Amy Goldmacher's journey into the world of writing and publishing began with a deep-rooted passion for sharing stories and ideas. Her initial role as an academic publisher ignited her desire to become an editor, leading her to take on the challenge of a sales representative position. It was during this time that her experience in anthropology became intertwined with her professional aspirations, ultimately culminating in the co-authoring of an academic textbook. Amy's decision to pursue graduate studies in anthropology coincided with the publication of the textbook's second edition, marking a significant turning point. Harnessing her expertise, Amy ventured into the realm of book coaching, guiding aspiring nonfiction authors through the intricate process of crafting book proposals. Amy's unique blend of professional experience and academic insight forms the foundation of her approach, offering aspiring authors invaluable support as they navigate the complexities of the publishing industry.
Amy Goldmacher is a traditionally published nonfiction author and Author Accelerator-certified nonfiction book coach. She has coached writers from book ideas to polished, pitch-ready proposals and manuscripts that get book deals. You can find her work on JaneFriedman.com, The Brevity Blog, Pipeline Media Group, and The New York Times, among others.
Key Takeaways:* learn how the elements of a book proposal attract agent and publisher interest * clarify your book idea so you can write it * learn how the proposal is actually the scaffolding of the book you want to write * take steps to start your publication journey
Learn more:
Amy can be found on social media at @solidgoldmacher
https://www.amygoldmacher.com/
https://www.amygoldmacher.com/podcast https://www.npr.org/2024/04/08/1243433868/authors-scramble-after-the-main-distributor-for-small-publishers-suddenly-closed
In this episode, you will learn about:* Mastering the Art of Podcasting: Unlocking Proven Strategies for Authors and Creators to Amplify Their Reach and Impact. * Captivating Audiences: Unveiling the Power of Podcast Tours for Successful Book Launches. * Crafting Compelling Speaking Topics: Empowering Authors to Command Attention and Inspire Action Through Engaging Presentations. * Embodying Authenticity: Harnessing the Influence of Podcast Guest Presence to Forge Meaningful Connections with Listeners. * The Power of Storytelling: Building Lasting Relationships and Cultivating Loyalty through Author-Centric Podcasts.
Michelle Glogovac, aka THE Podcast Matchmaker™, is an award-winning podcast publicist and host of the My Simplified Life podcast. She matches her clients with the perfect podcast hosts and teaches them how to share their story, vision, and expertise in ways that generate new business opportunities. Michelle speaks on a variety of topics, including PR, entrepreneurship, and life lessons and has interviewed and worked with Emmy Award winners, international bestselling authors, advocates and activists, and many other individuals. She is the founder and CEO of The MLG Collective®, a podcast public relations agency.
You can learn more about Michelle Glogavac here:
https://themlgcollective.com
https://michelleglogovac.com
https://instagram.com/michelleglogovac* Visit the MLG Collective website to access free pitching tips and tips on how to be a great podcast guest under the Free Resources section.
* Check out Michelle Glogovac's personal website, MichelleGlogovac.com, to learn more about her services and access additional resources.
* Purchase the book How to Get on Podcasts by Michelle Glogovac, available on various platforms including Amazon, Bookshop.org, and Books-A-Million.
* Connect with Michelle Glogovac on social media platforms such as Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook to stay updated on her latest insights and offerings.
* Attend the Women in Publishing Summit workshop hosted by Michelle Glogovac to learn about creating a podcast book tour and maximizing the promotional potential of podcast appearances.
In this episode, Alexa and Jenna O'Malley discuss the differences between alpha readers and beta readers, as well as covering some of the ways subscription models can enhance a writing career.
Key Takeaways: Alpha Readers: Early-stage readers who see raw drafts and help keep the story on track, particularly valuable for serial fiction. * Editing Process: Sometimes editors are used before beta readers, especially for early books in a series, to address major plot holes. * Beta Readers: Read more polished drafts and provide feedback on the overall reader experience. * Editing Costs: Discussion on reducing costs over time with strong alpha and beta teams, emphasizing the importance of continuous feedback. * Community Feedback: Importance of genre-specific and fan feedback in shaping the narrative and deciding on content visibility within the platform. * Tools and Platforms: Mention of Ream Stories, a platform for authors, and its subscription model for chapters, highlighting its features for author and reader engagement. * Subscription Platform Concept: Similar to Patreon, where tiers are set by authors offering various benefits like free books and exclusive content to subscribers. * Community Engagement: Discusses involving super fans in decision-making, such as website design, through higher-tier subscriptions. * Comparative Value: Contrasts traditional publishing (like Disney's vault) with the ongoing access and community engagement of subscription models. * Time Management and Commitment:* Highlights the challenge of balancing writing with other responsibilities and emphasizes the importance of planning and consistency.
Jenna O’Malley, the Soul Writer, blends sci-fi/fantasy with dashes of romance with nerdy references to create raw stories with characters throughout time and space. The worlds she weaves highlight issues including women’s rights, the importance of all voices in leadership, LGBTQIA+ alliance, mental health awareness, and anti-racism. She also helps fellow writers to (re)set their creative processes to phoenix mode through her modalities as a trauma-informed educator, editor, and creativity empowerment coach.
To learn more about Jenna O'Malley, visit:
https://www.jennathesoulwriter.com
https://linktr.ee/jennathesoulwriter
https://jennathesoulwriter.substack.com
In this episode, Alexa and Amy discuss best practices in the process of writing, publishing, and selling your book, whether fiction or non-fiction using proposals and successful pitch packages.
In this episode, Ellie and Alexa discuss:* How nonfiction book proposals differ from fiction queries. Nonfiction requires a detailed proposal, including an overview, competitive analysis, audience analysis, marketing plan, and annotated table of contents. Memoirs, although nonfiction, often follow different rules and may use a hybrid approach. * Identifying competitive titles and its importance. * Defining a specific audience rather than claiming a broad appeal. This helps in targeted marketing and increases the book’s chances of success.
Amy L. Bernstein writes stories that let readers feel while making them think. Her novels include The Potrero Complex; The Nighthawkers; Dreams of Song Times; and Fran, The Second Time Around. She is an award-winning journalist, speechwriter, playwright, and certified nonfiction book coach. Amy also teaches writing workshops and is a frequent guest on podcasts to discuss writing, publishing, and creativity. Her nonfiction book, Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears, Finding Inspiration will be published in October 2024.
Learn more about Amy L. Bernesein here:
https://facebook.com/AmyLBernsteinAuthor.com
https://instagram.com/amylbernstein
https://linkedin.com/in/amylbernstein
Join Alexa Bigwarfe, with guest, Mel Torrefranca on this new episode of PublishHer Podcast for a fascinating interview with a very interesting young author. Mel and Alexa cover Mel's unique experience becoming a published author at the age of 17 while she was still a student in high school. Fascinatingly, YouTube accidentally played a role in attracting readers to her book and she is now in the process of cowriting the screenplay for Leaving Wishville's short film adaptation of her book with director Sebastian Delgado.
She has now published four books, is still writing and her publishing company, named after a location in her debut novel, Lost Island Press, is publishing for many other authors and constantly growing. She offers advice for other young writers is to "share your work, even when it's scary."
Mel Torrefranca is an award-winning author from the San Francisco Bay Area, now residing in the jungle mountains of Northern Thailand. She is known for writing stories with dark vibes, morally ambiguous characters, and bold endings. In addition to her own projects, Mel shares the work of others at her indie publishing house Lost Island Press. She also drinks way too many lattes.
https://www.meltorrefranca.com
https://www.youtube.com/meltorrefranca
https://www.lostislandpress.com/book
Ellie set her sights on writing and publishing as many books as she could, and for years, operated on an aggressive timeline of publishing one book every month! With insights into her rapid publication model, disciplined writing routine, and challenges of maintaining a sustainable income, Ellie offers valuable lessons for aspiring indie authors seeking to achieve bestseller status. Her candid discussion about the fluctuating nature of book sales, the significance of building an email list, and the use of newsletters to connect with readers provides practical strategies for navigating the complexities of self-publishing. Ellie's commitment to meeting reader expectations while staying true to her creative passions underscores the importance of aligning personal interests with market demands.
In this episode, Ellie and Alexa discuss:
- Writing - a LOT - to publish frequently and grow the backlist
- The importance of building an email list for increased engagement and readership.
- The benefits of newsletter swaps to expand your author network and reach new readers.
- How Ellie Achieved bestseller status as an indie author
- Her rapid book release strategy to maximize impact and visibility in the market.
- The importance of collaboration and the changing landscape of book lists.
- Writing schedules, outlining process, and the challenges of maintaining a fast-paced writing routine.
- Reflections on the challenges of balancing writing, social media engagement, and administrative tasks.
- The importance of meeting reader expectations in writing.
- Why having a healthy backlist and diversifying formats like audiobooks and large print matters
- Ellie's three indispensable tools in the writing business: Mailerlite for newsletters, Canva for graphic design, and Vellum for book formatting.
Ellie Hall is a USA Today bestselling author known for her expertise in romance novels. With a strong focus on collaborative efforts, Ellie achieved bestseller status as a self-published author, emphasizing the significance of a rapid release model and the advantages of connecting with a community of authors. Her commitment to a monthly release schedule since 2018 underscores her dedication to engaging with her audience.
Ellie's journey as an indie author exemplifies the importance of balancing creative output with the demands of administrative work and audience engagement, providing valuable insights for aspiring authors seeking to achieve bestseller status.
Learn more:
Ellie Hall Author Books
Ellie Hall | Facebook
Ellie Hall (@elliehallauthor) • Instagram
Productivity and time blocking - these are important for authors, especially those who are busy trying to balance all of the things!
Throughout the conversation with Alexa, Stacy Ennis emphasizes the significance of time blocking and energy management in enhancing productivity, advocating for the creation of consistent, dedicated time for deep work.
Stacy also addresses the challenges writers face in finding time for their craft amidst other obligations, advocating for scaling down goals and starting with small time increments to build self-trust and make progress. Ennis's practical advice and personal anecdotes provide a rich resource for writers seeking to optimize their creative process and achieve writing goals while leading a fulfilling life.
Key takeaways:
- Learn to maximize your writing productivity with effective time management strategies.
- Discover the benefits of outsourcing for authors and how it can streamline your writing process.
- Explore the lifestyle benefits of building a location-independent writing career.
- Uncover the importance of incorporating rest into your creative professional routine for optimal productivity.
- Discover how to use time blocking and energy management to 4x your productivity—and free up more time for rest
- Learn why most of us have the definition of productivity wrong—and how we should define it instead
- Understand why hustle culture is dangerous to our health and how to reframe toward balance—while scaling your business, brand, or impact
- Listen to the power of discretionary time and how it can transform your work (and life!)
- My top tips for productivity: email/social/news-free mornings, move meetings to the afternoon, email blocking, etc.
- Why you need to start from the vision and work backwards to build a business to support the life you want
- Stacy's program, Idea to Launch, is launching soon! Find out more here!
Idea to investment: Drawing on Stacy's work with 100-plus books throughout my 14 years in publishing, she's developed a step-by-step system to help aspiring authors write their nonfiction books. Over six months, they’ll walk through targeted trainings; the live program also includes workshops and group coaching alongside a community of other future authors. Stacy guides future authors through each step of writing their nonfiction book, from idea to finished manuscript, and teach a clear system to take the guesswork out of writing and unleash their creative genius—even if they don’t think they’re writers. Find out more here! Stacy Ennis is a best-selling author, coach, and speaker on a mission to help leaders clarify their ideas and harness their unique story to make an impact. Along with being the founder of Nonfiction Book School, an accelerated author program, her background includes ghostwriting for a Nobel Prize winner in medicine and leading as executive editor of Sam’s Club’s Healthy Living Made Simple, a publication that reached around 11 million readers. Her best-selling book, cowritten with Ron Price, is Growing Influence: A Story of How to Lead with Character, Expertise, and Impact. She’s also the host of Beyond Better, a podcast that explores how to create a business and life you love.
Learn More about Stacy Ennis:
https://stacyennis.com/
https://www.instagram.com/stacyennis/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacylynn/
In this episode, Alexa Bigwarfe and Jess Ekstrom dig into what it takes to create a fruitful speaking career. These strategies are aimed at empowering women writing nonfiction books who want to take the stage to make a bigger impact.
Key Takeaways* How to leverage connections as starting points for speaking engagements * Negotiating for assets beyond speaking fees, such as professional event photos, testimonials, and referrals * Essential steps to kick start a successful and impactful speaking career. * How to empower yourself to seize public speaking opportunities and break barriers in the professional world * Crafting a Captivating Keynote Speech: Learn the secrets to building a keynote speech that captivates and inspires audiences * How to structure your talks and her formula to deliver concise, impactful messages * The Mic Drop Workshop: A comprehensive program to learn everything you need to know to build your speaking career * Visit here to learn more about her upcoming FREE challenge and the full program. https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/micdrop
Jess Ekstrom is the founder of Headbands of Hope and Mic Drop Workshop, investor in women, 2x best-selling author, Forbes Top Rated Speaker and new mom. Her first brush with success was selling all of her toys on eBay when she was twelve. Since then, Jess and her companies have been featured on Today and Good Morning America and in Seventeen, Vanity Fair, Forbes, and People. More importantly, they've helped millions of women and girls around the world. She’s the bestselling author of Chasing the Bright Side and Create Your Bright Ideas. Her hobbies include writing, hiking, board games with her husband, playing peekaboo with her baby, and searching for the best breakfast burrito in America.
www.instagram.com/jess_ekstrom
www.twitter.com/jess_ekstrom
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-ekstrom-59160342/
In this episode:
- Alexa Bigwarfe gives a short overview of what's to come in Season 4
- Alexa shares some encouragement around taking the small steps to see big wins
- Habit stacking - what is it, why is it important
- Life's short - don't push off til tomorrow what you can do today
- Join for upcoming webinars and workshops at https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/events
In this episode of the PublishHer Podcast, host Alexa Bigwarfe engages in a conversation with Katherine Graham from Autocrit, shedding light on the significance of AI-driven tools in the writing and editing process.
Autocrit is an incredible tool that helps authors write and edit their books, analyze their chapters, and even brainstorm if you're stuck.
Key Takeaways:
- Analyzing your manuscript with the Autocrit tool enhances quality and reduces editing costs for self-publishing authors.
- Dictating your voice to text streamlines the writing process and improves manuscript quality while minimizing editing expenses.
- Mastering fiction writing skills elevates the quality of your manuscript, resulting in reduced editing costs for self-publishing authors.
- Implementing genre conformity in book writing optimizes manuscript quality and decreases editing expenses for self-publishers.
- Check out Autocrit and get your lifetime license at https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/autocrit
Katherine Graham, from Autocrit, is recognized for her expertise in the self-publishing and editing landscape. Her proficiency in utilizing Autocrit as a tool for authors positions her as a valuable resource for self-publishing authors seeking to enhance manuscript quality and reduce editing costs. With a thorough understanding of Autocrit's applications across various writing genres, including fiction and nonfiction, Katherine offers essential insights and support to authors looking to refine their writing and align with specific genre criteria. Through her unwavering commitment to empowering writers and her significant contributions to the writing community, Katherine has established herself as a respected authority in the field of self-publishing and editing.
In this episode of the PublishHer podcast, Alexa Bigwarfe interviews Larissa Sohen, an established author and founder of Next Page Publishing Inc. Larissa shares her journey to becoming a book coach and provides insights into writing, publishing, and marketing books.
Key Takeaways:
- Larissa's Writing Journey: Larissa shares her unexpected entry into writing when she created a sci-fi novel based on a game she and her husband developed. This experience led her to become passionate about helping others tell their stories.
- Book Release: Larissa discusses her recent book, "How to Write a Book: Memoirs and Autobiographies," which focuses on guiding individuals through the process of writing and sharing their life stories.
- Transition to Book Coaching: Larissa explains how she transitioned from a career in the chemical industry to become a book coach, emphasizing the importance of making connections, networking, and learning from mentors in the writing industry.
- Advice for Aspiring Authors: Larissa encourages aspiring authors to start writing without waiting for the "perfect time." She highlights the importance of taking the leap and pursuing the dream of writing a book.
- Details on Coaching Program: Larissa describes her coaching program, targeting coaches in service-based industries who are looking to grow their businesses by incorporating book writing into their marketing strategy.
Larissa Soehn is a well-established author and the founder of Next Page Wellness Coaching. She has extensive experience in writing, publishing, and marketing books from various genres.
As the company’s founder, Larissa serves female entrepreneurs in client-based industries, namely coaches and service providers. Larissa’s mission is to help powerful women boost their businesses with a book. She guarantees a high level of service in all aspects of writing and publishing. Her programs include one-on-one writing, editing, publishing, and marketing support for all her authors.
Larissa is a certified professional coach from the International Coach Academy with training in applied psychology and communications. She has developed skills that directly support the writing and promoting of exceptional books. She has knowledge of human motivation, drive, and communication methods that coincides directly with what it takes to write, publish and market a book.
Larissa finds motivation in her family and works hard to be the best mom and wife she can be to her young daughter and wonderful husband.
Learn more here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/484234667003573
https://www.linkedin.com/in/larissa-soehn-4a67b01b9/
As a reminder, as this show publishes, we are counting down the days to the 2024 Women in Publishing Summit! Get your ticket today, and save $50 with either of the coupon codes: ALEXA50 or LOVEYOURSELF
In this episode, Alexa and Emily discuss:
- Her new book of poems and love, I Still Have Love to Give
- Exploring different genres to expand your writing skills and finding your unique voice in the literary world.
- Why she started writing in the genre of Mafia romance (largely because she understand its marketability)
- How poetry is a powerful tool for personal healing and emotional expression.
- Marketing challenges specific to writing nonfiction poetry as a romantic suspense/mafia author and what it was like to try to reach a new audience
- Finding your niche as a writer to stand out in the competitive literary landscape.
- And more!
Emily A. Myers is an award-winning author of romantic suspense. Her first novel, The Truth About Unspeakable Things, was a First Place winner for the Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBA) Clue Award (2021) for suspense/ thriller fiction. The Truth About Unspeakable Things was also a finalist for the CIBA Chatelaine Award (2021) for romance and a semi-finalist for the Somerset Award (2021) for contemporary fiction.
Emily followed up her stellar debut with the sequel Bound by the Unspeakable, completing the Unspeakable duet and releasing her first mafia romance, Mine to Protect, in December of 2022.
In January of 2024, Emily released her first poetry collection,I Still Have Love to Give. The collection is like a wine night with your bestie--raw, emotional, conversational, inspirational, and helpful. The poems and personal essays discuss her struggles with overcoming heartbreak post-divorce and re-entering the dating scene. It also includes a heartbreak survival guide with tons of big-sis advice for those going through the same things.
When not writing, Emily enjoys traveling, devouring the latest Netflix series, and scouring the shelves of Sephora. To keep up with her, you can find her on all social media platforms @emilymyersauthor
If finding an editor, learning more about editors, and getting discounts on editing services is what you need, be SURE to grab your ticket to the next Women in Publishing Summit. We have an entire day focused heavily on production and editing, and are featuring great sponsors like FirstEditing, Speak Write Play, Inkworthy Books, ProWritingAid, and more. Grab your ticket to the Women in Publishing Summit to connect with YOUR just right editor!
In this episode, Alexa Bigwarfe and Jenny Hubert discuss:
- Finding the Right Editor: The conversation explores the factors to consider when finding the right editor. Genre expertise is highlighted as crucial, and the Editorial Freelancers Association and Reedsy are suggested as valuable resources for discovering editors.
- Understanding Types of Editing: Jenny outlines the five main types of editing: manuscript critique, developmental editing, line editing, copy editing, and proofreading. The conversation stresses the importance of understanding the order of these edits and their focus on different aspects of the book.
- Author's Mindset During Editing: The discussion touches on the emotional aspect of the editing process, acknowledging that it can be overwhelming for authors. It emphasizes the role of an editor as a supportive partner rather than someone aiming for perfection.
- The Role of an Editor: Jenny shares her philosophy as an editor, stating that the goal is not necessarily to achieve a perfect book but to elevate it to the next level. The importance of manageable and achievable feedback for authors is highlighted.
- The Importance of Genre Knowledge: The conversation stresses the significance of an editor understanding the author's genre and even subgenre. This knowledge helps in providing relevant guidance and maintaining consistency with genre conventions.
- Resources for Finding an Editor: The episode suggests utilizing platforms like the Editorial Freelancers Association and Reedsy for discovering suitable editors. It also emphasizes the value of author referrals for finding trusted editors.
Jenny Hubert is a freelance editor and writer based in the NYC area. She has edited #1 New Releases on Amazon for fantasy authors. She is also the author of The Book Editor Matchmaker, a short e-book that teaches authors how to vet and hire a book editor. Her favorite authors are Jane Austen and Agatha Christie. You can follow her for free editing tips on TikTok (@sweeter_than_fiction) and Instagram (@grammarwithjenny).
Learn more here:
www.jennyhubertedits.com
https://books2read.com/thebookeditormatchmaker
In this episode Alexa discusses:
- How community was important to her journey even early on.
- The significance of community in publishing for mutual growth and success through things like joint promos and sharing resources.
- The theme of the 2024 Women in Publishing Summit is Better Together. (Get your ticket here.)
- Different types of support - from encouragement and commiseration to mentorship and parts of your publishing process.
- The benefits of being a part of the Women in Publishing Summit Community
In this episode, Alexa and Mary discuss various Enneagram types, their motivations, and how writers can tailor their writing goals based on their personality traits. Mary encourages aspiring authors to embrace their unique approaches and dispels the notion that extensive time is required to write a book. She also emphasizes the importance of finding the right writing schedule that aligns with one's lifestyle.
Key points from the episode:
- Understanding Enneagram Types for Writers: Mary Adkins, a writing coach, discusses how knowing your Enneagram type, a personality assessment tool, can help writers understand their motivations and navigate through challenges.
- Personal Writing Journey: Mary shares her personal journey as a writer, from quitting her law job to becoming a novelist. She emphasizes the challenges of finding a literary agent, highlighting the importance of persistence and finding the right fit.
- Traditional Publishing Timeline: Mary sheds light on the lengthy timeline involved in traditional publishing, from acquiring an agent to the book hitting shelves. This insight is crucial for aspiring authors to set realistic expectations.
- Working with Enneagram Types in Writing Goals: Mary explains how she helps writers set goals based on their Enneagram types. Different types may struggle with distinct challenges, and tailoring writing goals to individual personalities can enhance productivity.
- Writing Goals Beyond Word Count: Mary suggests various writing goals beyond word count, such as page count, scene count, or finding pockets of time for writing. The goal is to align writing practices with an author's Enneagram type and lifestyle.
- Encouragement for Aspiring Authors: Mary emphasizes that authors don't need extensive time to write a book. With the right goal-setting and understanding of their motivations, writers can complete a draft even in the midst of a busy life.
- Book Incubator Program: Mary introduces her program, the Book Incubator, which helps writers finish their books and prepare them for pitching to agents. The Enneagram aspect is just one component of this comprehensive program.
- You Can Make It Happen: Mary leaves listeners with the message that aspiring authors can make their writing goals a reality if they truly want it. Despite life's challenges, commitment and determination can lead to successful book completion.
Mary Adkins is a writing coach and founder of The Book Incubator, a 12-month program to write, revise, and pitch your novel or memoir. She is author of the novels When You Read This (Indie Next Pick, “Best Book of 2019” by Good Housekeeping and Real Simple), Privilege (Today.com “Best Summer Read,” New York Post “Best Book of the Week”), and Palm Beach (recently named one of the New York Post’s “Best Books of 2021”). Her books have been published in 13 countries, and her essays and reporting have appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Slate, and more.
A graduate of Yale Law School and Duke University, she helps aspiring authors finish their books with joy and clarity. You can apply for The Book Incubator by going to apply.maryadkinswriter.com.
Learn more here:
https://maryadkins.lpages.co/the-book-incubator/
https://www.maryadkinswriter.com/
https://www.instagram.com/adkinsmary/?hl=en
The Reach Framework, introduced by Becky Robinson, highlights the role of a website, email marketing, and social media in achieving a broader reach. The message encourages authors to approach book marketing with a focus on making a meaningful difference with their ideas and connecting authentically with their audience over time.
In this episode, Becky and Alexa discuss: Definition of Reach: Reach is more than just having a larger audience. It includes expanding the audience plus creating a lasting impact. * Effective Strategies for Social Media Marketing: * Show up consistently on social media with value. * Understand the importance of moving your audience from social media to your website. * Use social media to find and form relationships but recognize that these relationships can be somewhat superficial. * Building Online Presence: * Start early and be patient. Building an online audience takes time. * Translate online connections into offline relationships for a more holistic connection. * Consistency over time is crucial for building an audience. * Long-Term Approach to Book Marketing: * Book marketing is a long-term commitment, more like a daily commitment to something rather than a race with a finish line. * Utilize the calendar to find thematic opportunities to promote your book throughout the year. * The Reach Framework: * The book "Reach: Create the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book, or Cause" introduces the Reach Framework, focusing on the importance of a website, email marketing, and social media. * Four Reach Commitments: Value, Consistency, Longevity, and Generosity. * Generosity in Marketing:* * Generosity involves giving away valuable content, ideas, and time. * Giving away as much as possible can help build trust and connections with the audience. * Amplifying marginalized voices and providing support for their messages is crucial.
Final Thoughts: * Building reach is about making a lasting difference with your ideas and inspiration, not just about fame or making money. * Authors should stay focused on the value they aim to bring to the world and persevere in their efforts.
Connect with Becky Robinson: Becky's company, Weaving Influence, can be found at Weaving Influence. * Connect with Becky personally at Becky Robinson. * Listen to Becky's podcast, the "Book Marketing Action" podcast, for book marketing tips. Be sure to check out my podcast with Becky - Demystifying Amazon. * Grab her book Reach: Create the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book, or Cause * Offer for the Audience:* * Becky offers a free copy of her book to those interested. Email her at becky@weavinginfluence.com for details.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Sara's upcoming poetry collection Wild Gardens, which is coming out through Kelsay Books in 2024
- Sara's take on “show, don’t tell”: why it's important to use both showing and telling in your writing, and when it's ideal to use one or the other
- Her work as a book coach and editor
- Get her special offer for our Women in Publishing Summit Community
Sara Letourneau is the book editor, writing coach, and workshop instructor at Heart of the Story Editorial & Coaching Services. She works with authors and writers to help them develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need so they can finish their manuscripts, polish them for publication, and stay focused and motivated as they reach for their writing goals and embrace their creativity. Sara is also an award-winning poet and the cofounder of the Pour Me a Poem open mic in Mansfield, Massachusetts. Her debut poetry collection, Wild Gardens, will be published by Kelsay Books in 2024.
Learn more here:
Website: https://heartofthestoryeditorial.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara_heartofthestory/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heartofthestoryeditorial/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-letourneau/
In this episode we discuss a variety of topics including:
- Wendy's writing journey & how she found her way into children's books
- challenges of finding an illustrator for children's books
- how Wendy started illustrating
- how and when she created Create Away Design and Publishing, offering services from illustration to book design and publishing guidance.
- as the author of children's books AND paranormal fiction, Wendy discusses the challenges of marketing diverse genres, and building audiences for each.
- Wendy shares her experiences participating in events, festivals, and author alley events at bookstores as part of her marketing strategy
- We delivered into tips on Bookstore and local Events
Advice for Authors:* Wendy encourages authors not to put all their eggs in one basket, especially in traditional publishing. * She advises authors not to let minor obstacles, like obtaining ISBN numbers or barcodes, hinder them from self-publishing.
Wendy Fedan is a full-time freelance illustrator/designer, living in Amherst, Ohio. She graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art where she also teaches Continuing Education courses for teens and adults. Wendy launched her own design for publishing biz in 2021 named Create-a-Way Design & Publishing to act as a book shepherd, helping other authors through the self-publishing process. She has 14 indie-published books under her belt so far, mostly picture books which she's also illustrated, but she also has her own novel series called Somewhere In-Between to explore her personal interest in the paranormal.
Learn more here:
https://www.cawpublishing.com/
Art Website: http://wfedan.weebly.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendy.fedan
In this episode we discuss:
- Why writing is such a powerful tool for healing
- Tools for writing to heal
- Different ways you can write to heal
- Resources - which can be found at https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/healing
In addition to hosting the Women in Publishing Summit and hosting the PublishHer podcast, Alexa Bigwarfe is an author, author coach, speaker, publishing consultant, and community builder. Her writing career began after her infant daughter passed away at 2 days old and she turned to writing for healing. Her first book, Sunshine After the Storm, A Survival Guide for the Grieving Mother, has helped thousands of grieving mothers. Since then, she has continued to help others use writing as a tool to heal, in addition to all of her courses, events, and resources to help aspiring authors write, publish, and sell their books. Her most recent tool for grieving mothers, Sisterhood of the Healing Hearts: Permission to Thrive. A 6-Month Guided Journal for Grieving Mothers is now available everywhere books are sold. Access her free Writing to Heal Challenge at https://writepublishsell.com/writing-to-heal
In this podcast episode with Leslie A. Rasmussen, we discuss:
- Transition from Television to Novels: Leslie's shift from writing for TV shows like "The Wild Thornberrys" and "Sweet Valley High" to novel writing highlights the fluidity and adaptability in a writer's career.
- The Art of Writing Dialogue: Emphasizing her love for writing dialogue, Leslie underlines its importance in bringing characters to life, a skill honed from her TV writing days.
- Journey of Self-Discovery: Leslie's novel isn’t just about romance but also about the protagonist’s journey to self-love and empowerment, a theme she passionately advocates.
- Challenges of Writing a Novel: Leslie candidly shares the challenges she faced while writing her first novel, especially in constructing a cohesive middle section. Her experience underlines the importance of planning and structuring a novel.
- Learning from Mistakes: Her first novel took 4.5 years due to a learning curve, emphasizing the value of learning from mistakes and the iterative nature of writing.
- Role of a Developmental Editor: Leslie stresses the importance of working with a developmental editor from the early stages of writing to streamline the process.
- Multi-Perspective Storytelling: She discusses experimenting with different narrative perspectives, providing readers with a more rounded understanding of the characters.
- Embracing the First Draft: Leslie encourages embracing the “crappy first draft” as a necessary step in the writing process.
- Community and Networking: She underscores the importance of building a community, networking with other authors, and leveraging social media for marketing and getting feedback.
- Marketing and Publishing Insights: Leslie gives practical advice on marketing and finding a publisher, highlighting the necessity of investing in marketing, even when working with traditional publishers.
Leslie A. Rasmussen is the award-winning author of the novel, After Happily Ever After. She was born and raised in Los Angeles and graduated from UCLA. She went on to write television comedies for Gerald McRaney, Burt Reynolds, Roseanne Barr, Norm McDonald, Drew Carey, as well as The Wild Thornberrys and Sweet Valley High. After leaving the business to raise her boys, she attained a master's degree in nutrition and ran her own business for ten years. Recently, she’s written over twenty essays for Huffington Post, and MariaShriver, and spoken on panels discussing empowering women in midlife. Leslie is a member of The Writers Guild of America, as well as Women In Film and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. In her free time, Leslie loves to read, exercise, and hang out with friends. She lives in Los Angeles and is married and has two sons.
Learn more here:
Website: https://www.lesliearasmussen.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslierauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lesliearasmussenauthor
What a great time I had, learning, networking, and meeting authors! I attended the 20Books Vegas conference for Indie Authors. The name is changing to Author Nation - and you should definitely follow them on social to learn what changes are coming and all about next year's conference. Nov 11-14, 2024 in Las Vegas.
In this episode we discuss:
- Dr. Ellington's journey to write this book, despite it being outside of her normal areas of focused
- Why she was so passionate about bringing the topic of Black hair to the forefront
- Writing about difficult topics
- Why writers shouldn't be afraid to bring their message to the world
- Tips for authors who do want to advocate/ bring about activism through the books
- Her book, Black Hair in a White World
Dr. Tameka Ellington brings high energy and real-life examples of struggle to triumph and poverty mindset to growth mindset. She grew up in the inner city of Cleveland, Ohio and was raised by a single mother. Her father was absent due to alcoholism and drug use which landed him in a 15-year prison sentence. Despite the violence and crime surrounding her, Dr. Tameka always strived for excellence. She is a TRIO Upward Bound Alum and was the first person in her family to obtain a college degree. She attributes education, TRIO Programs, and the dedicated mentors in her life as resources that helped her escape poverty and attain the peace of mind needed to go after her dreams.
Dr. Tameka is CEO and Founder of Dr. Tameka Ellington Enterprises, a personal, professional, and spiritual wellness company. She is a speaker, internationally acclaimed and awarded fashion scholar, and confidence coach. She’s the author of four books, including the award-winning book, TEXTURES: the history and art of Black hair written for its namesake exhibition co-curated by Dr. Tameka, featuring artifacts and contemporary artworks musing on Black hair and Black culture. Her fifth book, Black Hair in a White World is set to be released summer 2023 with Kent State University (KSU) Press. Dr. Tameka is also the host of the Black Beauty Activist Podcast where she has critical conversations with her guests to disrupt Westernize beauty standards and raise the consciousness and confidence of Black women.
Dr. Tameka is dedicated to empowering her clients to achieve new levels of self-confidence, and helping them break down cultural barriers in their personal and professional lives. “On the other side of fear is your beautiful confidence.”
Learn more here: https://www.facebook.com/tameka.ellingtonphd
https://www.instagram.com/dr.tamekaellington/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-tameka-ellington-93659212/
In this episode, we discuss:
- The power of storytelling in promoting social justice issues and how to amplify your message through books; story telling as a form of activism
- The impact that books can have in raising awareness about social justice issues and gain insights on how to effectively engage readers.
- The unique and powerful role that books can play in emotional marketing among Gen Z and Millennial readers, connecting with them on a deeper level.
- The value of collaboration and the expansion of services in the publishing industry, and learn how to leverage partnerships to amplify social justice efforts through books.
- Insights into how to leverage books as a platform to create various productions and platforms for social justice stories, expanding the reach and impact of your message.
Samantha is the founder of Flourishing and Feminism, a publishing house with its own marketing and media company, Witchcraft Creative. Under this hybrid model, Flourishing and Feminism and Witchcraft Creative work together to write, distribute, market, and sell books that tell the heroic and inspiring stories of nonprofit organizations and their founders that serve as an evergreen marketing and revenue strategy for the mission.
While she serves as founder and CEO, her favorite title is Activist. Samantha started her journey in activism rallying for animal rights and climate justice in 2010. In 2016, she traveled to India where she learned about the horrors of fast fashion. Shortly after her return, she began traveling the United States giving presentations on what she had learned along with actionable steps to take to make an everyday impact. She loves combining her love of social justice with the power of publishing and marketing to serve nonprofits and bring their stories into the hands of consumers, sponsors, impact investors, and activists.
She lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her husband, two dogs, and cat.
Learn more here: www.heywitchcraft.com
Getting started and accountability in your writing are important pieces of the author journey. It can be difficult and challenging. Michelle Vandepas of Empower Press and Alexa Bigwarfe discuss this topic, and so many other topics about publishing!
In this episode, we discussed:
- The challenges and solutions to starting and completing a writing project
- The importance of setting realistic goals and accountability in your writing process,
- Insights into various publishing options and models for authors, including hybrid publishing, giving you the knowledge to make informed decisions about your own publishing path.
- The challenges of making a living solely from book sales and the need for multiple revenue streams in the writing industry, enabling you to strategize and diversify your income sources.
- The long-term nature of building a successful writing career and the importance of persistence and adaptability, inspiring you to keep going and evolve as a writer even when faced with setbacks.
- The FREE webinar they'll be hosting to help authors through the process.
Michelle Vandepas: Best-selling author of three books, author coach to Brian Tracy and Jack Canfield clients, TEDx speaker, Michelle has helped publish over 1,000 books in the last two decades. As an entrepreneur, Michelle combines her book knowledge with marketing and business sense to create a book that will sell!
In this episode we cover:
- How it all began, from the publication of Sunshine After the Storm: A Survival Guide for the Grieving Mother to Kat Biggie Press, Write|Publish|Sell and eventually the Women in Publishing Summit - and all the other things in between
- Our favorite projects along the way
- The 10 year celebration page
- The new healing journal for grieving mothers: The Sisterhood of Healing Hearts: Permission to Thrive. A 6 Month Guided Journal for Healing Mothers
- The importance (and power of) community
- What we love about the Women in Publishing Summit
- What's coming up next
- And so much more!
Grab your tickets to the Women in Publishing Summit and join us at our next conference in March!
Who wants to be a bestseller? Paige Dungan is dishing out the tips to prepare for the most impactful book launch you can have!
Be sure to grab her free masterclass for authors over on our WIP Summit Sponsors page!
In this episode we discuss:* How to identify key media outlets, journalists, and influencers in your niche or industry, and create a plan to reach out to them and land coverage for your book. * Being a source of expertise for magazines - reach out to the editors with information for potential stories * Utilizing your BYLINE in articles to gain more attention * When to start your marketing efforts and the key things you need to be doing * The importance of your email list * Why National media is critical if you want to land on a best sellers list * Why you need to GET SOCIAL * And more!
Paige Dungan is a communications expert who knows how to get authors and books noticed. She was the former head of PR & Talent at SUCCESS magazine and is known for her creative media launch strategies. Paige has landed multiple authors on best-seller lists and is always looking for new and innovative ways to promote books. You can find her work inside Gurus Magazine and Reach TV where she helps readers and viewers discover the next book on their nightstands.
Learn more about Paige:
https://thefrontporchcollective.co/
https://www.instagram.com/thepaigedungan/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgPkEzlc3UF34KJijQ3yoyQ
Do you want to maximize your book's visibility and engagement in the marketplace? Are you looking for a solution to effectively position your book for success? Look no further! Join us as we welcome guest, Pam Sheppard, who will be sharing her expertise on how to achieve greater recognition and reader engagement for your indie book. Get ready to discover the key strategies that will help you attain the desired outcome of increased visibility and engagement for your book.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How to unearth the benefits and necessities that collaboration introduces in the dynamic landscape of publishing.
- Explore the powerful impact of diversity in shaping fruitful collaborations.
- Grasp dynamic techniques to assert your book's position effectively in the competitive market.
- Witness the significance of uplifting fellow authors through literary citizenship and what that means.
- Decipher the relevance of the perspective on professional services payments in publishing.
Resources:
- Visit the YouTube channel to watch the special episode of the Publisher podcast where Alexa Bigwarfe and Pam Sheppard discuss collaboration in the publishing industry. Be sure to subscribe while you're there!
- Check out the IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association) conference, which brings together small and medium-sized publishers, author publishers, and self-publishing authors who are serious about the business of publishing.
- The Women in Publishing Summit Community! Get on the email list to learn about all upcoming opportunities, or check out the events page at https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/events
Pam Sheppard
Pam Sheppard shares her unique skill sets and insight developed in over 35 years in Sales and Marketing for Big 5 publishers and other fine publishers for her work as publishing consultant, metadata analyst, and developmental editor. As a marketing consultant, she uses an instinct for positioning a project in an ever-changing market to align the trends with a project's potential to support and maximize marketing efforts. With her 'Street Smart Edits' she not only addresses structural issues in manuscripts of many genres, she also identifies the assets of the work that will anchor a strong marketing plan.
Learn more about Pam here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamsheppardedits/
https://www.shepedits.com/
Have you heard these myths about improving your writing as a fiction or genre writer?
Myth 1: You need an expensive MFA degree to be successful.
Myth 2: Following genre conventions limits your creativity.
Myth 3: Writing a bestseller is all about luck. In this episode, our guest Gabriela Pereira will reveal the truth and help you develop a stronger foundation for success in your chosen genres.
In this episode, you will be able to:
- Understand how DIY MFA homes in on fiction and genre writers, opening up new avenues of storytelling and engagement.
- Gain insights into the unique analytical techniques taught by DIY MFA, geared towards enriching your literary perspective and writing abilities.
- Recognize the convenience and adaptability of DIY MFA's courses, designed to accommodate diverse interest levels and schedules.
- Uncover the smooth enrollment procedure and the ready accessibility of DIY MFA's courses, bringing superior writing instruction to your doorstep.
- Grasp the fundamental values of DIY MFA and their indispensable part in guiding your literary journey, inspiring originality, and enhancing your narrative capacity.
Resources:
- Visit the DIY MFA website: This is the official website of Gabriela Pereira's DIY MFA program. Here, you can find information about the program, including courses, resources, and community opportunities.
- Check out the DIY MFA book: Gabriela Pereira is the author of DIY MFA: Write with Focus, Read with Purpose, and Build Your Community. This book is a comprehensive guide to creating your own MFA experience and is available for purchase on various online platforms, such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Gabriela Pereira is an author, speaker, and self-proclaimed word nerd who wants to challenge the status quo of higher education. Her mission is to empower writers to apply an entrepreneurial mindset to their professional growth.
Gabriela earned her MFA from The New School, in New York. While undercover as a graduate student, she learned the inside scoop on MFA programs, invented a slew of writing tools all her own, and developed a new, more effective way for writers to learn their craft. Now she shares what she discovered and helps writers around the world get the “knowledge without the college.”
For more information check out her LinkedIn profile or follow her on social media.
Twitter: @AuthorGabriela
Instagram: @AuthorGabrielaPereira
In this episode, we discussed:
- The indispensable contribution of archives in supplementing research and crafting insightful write-ups.
- How to exploit archives for polished research work essential in writing.
- Amy Tector's riveting encounter with using primary sources from archives to fuel her literary creations.
- Canada's National Archives Library and Archives Canada collection of historical records and documents.
- Why you should explore the archives in your local area or the archives related to your specific writing interests to uncover hidden stories and insights.
- Consider incorporating archival research into your own writing process to bring a unique perspective and depth to your stories.
- The importance of encouraging people to support indie authors by buying their books and spreading the word!
- Amy Tector's debut novel, The Honeybee Emeralds, available now.
Unveiling the mysteries of the past, Amy Tector takes us on a thrilling journey through archives in her latest book, The Honeybee Emeralds. But what happens when the young archivist stumbles upon a body hidden in the art vaults? With historical authenticity and unexpected twists, this gripping novel will leave readers on the edge of their seats, desperate for answers.
Learn more about Amy:
Amy Tector has spent more than 20 years plumbing the secrets squirrelled away in archives — whether it's uncovering a whale's ear (true story) in a box of old photographs, or working in The Hague for the United Nations' International Criminal Tribunal for War Crimes in the former Yugoslavia, she has been privy to hidden records and extraordinary secrets.
She now works at Canada’s national archives, Library and Archives Canada, and is adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa and a sessional instructor at Carleton University.
Amy’s debut novel, THE HONEYBEE EMERALDS was published in spring 2022. Her second novel, THE FOULEST THINGS, is the first in a loose trilogy centered on murders and mayhem in the archives. It will be published autumn 2022.
Amy has a PhD in English literature from the Université Libre de Bruxelles and lives in Ottawa, Canada with a daughter named Violet, a husband named Andrew and a dog named Daffodil. She is an enthusiastic, but incompetent, cross-country skier.
Find more here:
www.amytector.com
www.amytector.substack.com
https://www.instagram.com/amytectorwrites/
In this episode, we discuss:* Scribe Media shutting down - amongst rumors that AI is killing the Ghostwriting industry - https://ghostwritersandco.com/scribe-media-shutting-down/ * The fear around AI * Authors Guild - taking a position against AI (Not part of the Author's Guild? They are the premier organization for supporting and protecting Authors. Save $20 on your membership here.) * How AI is impacting the publishing industry * The positive uses of AI for business owners * Copyright protections for AI - see the guidance and information put out on AI and copyrights by the copyright office * The challenge of proper citation when you're using AI * The dangers of getting advice from people who claim to be "experts" in the industry * As publishers - how do we even know if we've received a book written by AI? - There's software like plagiarism software - but it gets quickly outdated * Hopefully AI will never be able to capture the emotions and human experience in fiction books but nonfiction books are at risk for high AI * AI is here now and we have to deal with it; can't hide from it
Learn more about Alesha Brown
Alesha is an award-winning global entrepreneur, publisher, best-selling author, and transformational speaker. She has appeared on and hosted various radio podcasts, media platforms, and magazine outlets.
https://thejoyguru.net/
In this episode, Lanette and I discussed:
- Writing and publishing a book can feel slow, confusing, and lonely... but it doesn't have to.
- Accountability
- Mindset Awareness
- Guidance & mentorship
- Community
- She Gets Published Mastermind Info & Application: shegetspublsihed.com/mastermind
More about Lanette Pottle:
Lanette Pottle isn't just a respected Transformational Book Coach and Publishing Mentor; she's dedicated to uplifting and empowering women. Her guiding principle is reflected in the Mother Teresa quote: "You can do things I cannot. I can do things you cannot. Together we can do great things."
She's in the business of helping women tap into their knowledge and wisdom then translate it into compelling self-help, personal development, and business how-to books that make an impact.
Beyond books, Lanette also orchestrates events and masterminds that are game-changers. These gatherings become platforms for women to network, learn, and elevate their visions.
In the publishing arena, she's made her mark as a trusted guide and mentor. She's a multi-book bestselling author, founder of Positivity Lady Press, creator of the She Gets Published brand, and has helped dozens of women become bestselling authors.
But her contributions aren't restricted to print.
If you've caught an episode of She Gets Published – The Podcast, you've experienced Lanette diving deep into topics and offering her blend of warmth, wisdom, and actionable advice. Together with her handpicked industry experts, they ensure each conversation is rich with insights, providing every listener with real value.
She's been a guest on numerous podcasts, featured on Hay House Radio, and has shared her expertise in Authority Magazine. Additionally, she's collaborated with notable names like Next Advisor and TIME, appeared in Woman’s Day magazine, and been spotlighted on the nationally syndicated television show, The Lis', discussing how books boost credibility.
With a TEDx talk under her belt and having shared the stage with New York Times #1 Bestseller Jack Canfield, Lanette's influence is far-reaching, even with her home-base being in small-town Maine.
Website: shegetspublished.com
Podcast: shegetspublishedpodcast.com
Instagram: @shegetspublsihed
She Gets Published Mastermind Info & Application: shegetspublsihed.com/mastermind
A New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Alessandra Torre has written over thirty novels.While published with Hachette, Harlequin, and Thomas & Mercer - Alessandra is a fierce self-publishing advocate and speaker. Torre’s novels have been translated in eighteen languages and are distributed in over thirty countries.In addition to writing, Alessandra is the co-founder of Inkers Con, an annual conference for indie fiction authors.
We talk about:* Her author journey * The things that made a difference in her book sales, pushing her up to the top of the charts * Why she's decided to self-publish AND traditionally publish - simultaneously! * How InkersCon came to be * Save $50 with the coupon code ALEXA until mid August, 2023!
Key links from the episode:
- Interview with Fauzia Burke on marketing your book through your website
- Pub Site free trial and discount: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/pubsite
In this episode we discussed:
- SEL or social emotional learning and why it is important to teach it to children
- Why Sheryl wrote her book: Baby Dragon's Big Sneeze: A Picture Book About Empathy and Trust for Children Age 3-7
- Pros and cons of self-publishing versus traditional publishing from a self-published author perspective
- Tips for children's book authors
- So much more!
Sheryl Bass holds a master’s degree in Social Work and has studied child development. She uses these insights to inform her picture book writing. Sheryl also holds a master’s degree in Journalism and is currently working in public relations. Her goal in creating Be-Kind Publishing is to produce lighthearted rhyming stories with gentle themes of teamwork and friendship. Sheryl resides just outside of Chicago, IL with her husband and two terriers.
Learn more here: http://www.be-kindpublishing.com
In this podcast episode we discuss:* Adventure Writing - Why Travel is THE Way Hone Your Craft * Travel is the best thing we know to spark an adventurous spirit and inspire creativity * Travel WRITING offers opportunities to be inspired by PLACE and CHARACTER like nothing else. * The Wayfaring Writer Retreats - a rare opportunity for a small group of writers to immerse themselves in their craft while experiencing the food, drink, art, and history of foreign places * Writers to step out of their comfort zones and into using all their senses. * Together Cami and Lisa have visited nearly 50 countries and know first-hand the impact that travel has had on their writing
Lisa Dailey is an avid traveler and writer. In 2015, she traveled around the world with her husband and two teenage sons visiting 14 countries and nearly 100 locations. In her time abroad, she unearthed new ways of looking at her life through her discoveries in remote corners of the world and she continues to enrich her life through travel. Lisa is a voracious reader and writer, and has published more than 20 titles and 200 authors at her company, Sidekick Press, including her own travel memoir, Square Up. A native Montanan, Lisa now makes her home by the ocean in Bellingham, Washington, but returns to her roots every summer for a healthy dose of mountains and Big Sky.
Cami Ostman has traveled to all seven continents and to twenty-four countries. She’s run 25 marathons and zillions of races of other distances, always at the back of the pack. She is the author of Second Wind: One Woman’s Midlife Quest to Run Seven Marathons on Seven Continents and co-editor of Beyond Belief: The Secret Lives of Women in Extreme Religion (Seal Press). Cami holds a Bachelor’s of Education in English and Theater from Western Washington University and a Master’s of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Seattle Pacific University. She has a special interest in helping women live more authentically and freely. She is also a dog lover, a wine connoisseur, a runner, and a blogger. She runs a program for writers called The Narrative Project and has a passion for changing unhelpful narratives so people can be in charge of her own stories. She coaches people into their truest expression of themselves. Cami lives in Seattle, Washington.
Learn more here:
https://wayfaringwriters.com (sign up for the next retreat!)
https://sidekickpress.com
https://thenarrativeproject.net
Dave Chesson is a rockstar and one of the most knowledgeable people in the book publishing industry, certainly with respect to how to get more visibility through your keywords and categories.
His software, Publisher Rocket, has been a game changer to many authors in helping them identify the best keywords and categories for their books, saving hours of time and money in searching for this data. Best of all, it's available to purchase for a one time licensing fee of $97.
Get Publisher Rocket TODAY!
The folks at Kindlepreneur have updated their information on how to choose your categories based on the changes at Amazon, so be sure to check that out here!
Sherry Paris (she/her) is an educator, author, illustrator, and Diversity Trainer who was named as the National Liberty Museum's first Teacher as Superhero in 2017. Sherry proudly collaborated with young people for nearly 20 years to create a culture of belonging, acceptance, and ally action through her leadership of a high school-based Diversity Training program. Sherry is the author of You Can Make a Difference! A Creative Workbook and Journal for Young Activists and the co-author of Being a Super Trans Ally! A Creative Workbook and Journal for Young People.
Photo by The Fancy Francy
Learn more here:
The publisher’s website (to buy the books): https://us.jkp.com/collections/author-sherry-paris-pid-219758
My website (currently under construction): https://betogetherllc.com/
We covered: Why Sherry wrote You Can Make a Difference! A Creative Workbook and Journal for Young Activists* and included interviews with four student leaders * Why this book is needed now (all actions by people of all ages are more important than ever!) * How to empower others through your writing * How she created and sustains a supportive container for writing (making writing and illustrating a sanctuary space/ritual) * Tips for authors who want to be more inclusive in their writing * How to be the beacon of love for marginalized people
In this episode, we discuss:
- Who the best candidates are for self-publishing
- Tips for self-publishing
- Working with a copy editor - for self-publishing
- Tips for submitting to an agent if you want to go that route
- Conventions of a standard manuscript and how to submit it
- Carol's articles on the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) website
- Does your novel need a copyeditor before submitting to an agent?
- Fiction+ on the CMOS website - topics that plague fiction and creative nonfiction writers
Carol Saller’s books include The Subversive Copy Editor and several books for children. A career copyeditor at the University of Chicago Press, she now serves as contributing editor to The Chicago Manual of Style and writes for the manual’s Shop Talk blog. In the past, she was a senior editor of children’s books for Front Street/Cricket Books.
To help writers understand the writer-editor relationship and prepare their manuscripts for submission, Carol has given keynotes, sessions, and workshops at national, regional, and local conferences, serving as faculty at Novelists, Inc., Midwest Writers Workshop, and the Willamette Writers Conference. She guest lectures for the University of Chicago Graham School’s publishing program and has appeared on Chicago’s PBS news program Chicago Tonight as well as at writers' events, bookstores, panels, webinars, and workshops on writing, editing, and publishing.
Carol’s young adult historical novel Eddie’s War was named a Best Book of the Year by Bankstreet and Kirkus Reviews, and a Best of the Best Fiction for Teens by the Chicago Public Library. Her picture book The Bridge Dancers received the Carl Sandburg Award for Children’s Literature. George Washington Carver was a NCSS/CBC Notable, and Pug, Slug, and Doug the Thug was a main feature on PBS Storytime television. Now in its second edition, The Subversive Copy Editor was Publishers Weekly Online’s starred “Pick of the Week.”
Please include up to 3 links here: https://www.carolsaller.com/
https://www.subversivecopyeditor.com/blog/
https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/S/bo23530364.html
***Note - in the interview we talk about Draft2Digital - the assumption was that they only did ebooks, but they do in fact distribute print books. We apologize for this incorrect info.
Bookshop.org is a nonprofit, online retail store that sells books - donating profits back to book retailers across the United States.
Be sure to check out Bookshop.org and support local and regional book sellers by making your book available through them.
To do so, your book must be available through IngramSpark.
Useful resources:* Bookshop.org affiliate program * Contact form if your book is in Ingram but not showing up on Bookshop * Transferring your book from KDP to IngramSpark (yes, it can be both places!) * Loading your book to IngramSpark
Have questions? Contact us support@womeninpublishingsummit.com
Antoinette Truglio Martin is a seasoned author of children's picture books and middle grade books. She made the decision to republish a beloved picture book, Famous Seaweed Soup, an adorable, beautifully illustrated book about independence and resilience, which re-published with a new publisher on May 9, 2023.
As a multi-published author, Antoinette has a lot of great advice for authors about the process of working with several different types of presses, both hybrid and traditional, and great marketing strategies that have worked for her.
Support indie book stores and get your copy of Famous Seaweed Soup here!
In this episode we discuss:
- Why republish a previously published book, Famous Seaweed Soup
- The journey to update illustrations and resubmit the book
- Marketing efforts - from the author and the publisher
- Challenges in the journey
- What worked well
- Tips for authors marketing a book
Antoinette Truglio Martin is a children’s book author, memoirist, and blogger. The memoir, Hug Everyone You Know: A Year of Community, Courage, and Cancer (She Writes Press 2017) chronicles her first year battling breast cancer as a wimpy patient. Becoming America’s Stories (Red Penguin Books), a middle-grade historical fiction series, debuted in 2020. The award-winning three-book series includes The Heart of Bakers and Artists (formally titled Daily Bread), The Dreams of Singers and Sluggers, and The Wishes of Sisters and Strangers. The stories take place in 1911 and follows nine-year-old Lily Taglia, an American-born child of Sicilian immigrants, coming of age in New York City’s Lower East Side tenement while important milestones of American history unfolds.
Currently, Antoinette’s beloved picture book, Famous Seaweed Soup, was reissued in May 2023 with Purple Butterfly Press. This new edition will feature new illustrations by Penny Weber and updated content.
Antoinette proudly holds an MFA in Creative Writing and Literature from Stony Brook/Southampton University. Be sure to visit her website and blog, Stories Served Around The Table at hhttps://storiesserved.com/. She lives on Long Island with her husband and is surrounded by the sea and the people she loves.
In this podcast episode, we discussed:
- Why getting media for authors is so important
- How to make it less scary
- Creating your WOW story to pitch to the media - & how to share it in 8 seconds!
- Costs for publicists & How Authors can get Free Publicity / Earned Media (TV, Print, Radio and Podcast interviews - that are 3x more valuable than any Paid Ad)
- How can you reach your niche audience with podcast interviews? (with examples)
- How can you get $50k in free publicity from 1 TV interview?
- How to stand out from the crowd
- And more!
Liz H. Kelly (Santa Monica, CA) is the Goody PR Founder, Award-Winning Author (New Book: "8-Second PR: New Public Relations Crash Course" – 2nd Edition - 2022), Podcast Host ("8-Second Branding") & Founder of the New Goody Business Book Awards (Launched January 2022). Kelly started Goody PR to magnify GOOD after working for myspace, Paramount Pictures, Sprint PCS, and Los Angeles startups. With 15+ years of marketing/PR experience, Kelly's booked thousands of major media interviews for clients, including: TODAY Show, CNN, BBC, PBS, FOX Business, TIME, Entrepreneur, NPR, The Washington Post, and more. Kelly teaches digital marketing at UCLA Extension, is a Johns Hopkins University Carey School of Business alumni, grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and is an Autism Advocate.
Follow @LizHKelly and/or visit https://8SecondPR.com or https://GoodyPR.com
A well written book blurb is key to your book marketing success! In this interview, we discuss:
- What a book blurb is
- How it's different from endorsements
- How to craft an attention getting book blurb
- How Jessie can help you
Jessie Cunniffe is a professional blurb-writer and book blurb coach from Sydney, Australia, and she's passionate about demystifying blurbs for self-publishing authors so they can take charge of their book description and sales! She offers an affordable DIY course, Book Blurb Magic, as well as 1:1 blurb critique and custom blurb writing services.Check out Book Blurb Magic course!
Check out her Book Blurb audit program!
Want a custom written book blurb? Check that out here.
Save 10% off all BBM products and services: **WRITEPUBLISHSELL
Download your freebie:**Freebie: anatomyofabookblurb.com
Learn more on the main website: www.bookblurbmagic.com
JoEllen Nordstrom of FirstEditing chats about editing, types of editing, when you should start editing, and more!
Check out FirstEditing for a free sample edit and a quote!
Authors often ask if they really need a website. Fauzia Burke discusses how a website can be used to help you market your book.
In this episode, we covered the following points:
The Importance of an Author Website Even Before You Publish Your Book
— Why you need a website even before you finish your book
— Why your website should be a workhorse and not a show pony
— Why you need a content strategy that makes your website a unique place to visit
— How to sell more books by making your website the hub of all your marketing
— How to build a website to gain attention from the media
— Common mistakes authors make in their marketing
— How PubSite can help you easily create a website designed specifically for authors. Check out their special offer for authors and get a free 2 week trial at https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/pubsite
Fauzia Burke is a book marketing expert and pioneer of online book publicity. As the founder and president of FSB Associates, she has spent more than 25 years publicizing books by bestselling authors such as Alan Alda, Arianna Huffington, Deepak Chopra, Sonya Renee Taylor, Ken Blanchard, Charles Spencer, as well as many first-time authors. In 2019, she co-founded Pub Site, a platform for building author websites and used by authors like Tom Clancy, Robin Cook, and hundreds more. Fauzia also does consulting and offers a "power hour" for authors needing marketing advice. Whether you’re a first-time author overwhelmed by the idea of building a brand or an experienced author wanting to take your marketing and publicity to the next level, Fauzia can help! She’s the author of Online Marketing for Busy Authors, and is based in San Diego, CA.
Learn more here:
https://fauziaburke.com/
https://fsbassociates.com/
https://pub-site.com/
Choosing to self-publish your book means you have to do the work to make sure your book stands out! Jen Craven brings forward her best tips for helping authors stand out above the enormous sea of indie authors!
In this episode we discuss:* Why Jen shifted from historical fiction to contemporary * Why it's okay to shift genres early on without worrying about having to rebuild an audience * Writing the story that calls to you rather than sticking to a genre * Traditional vs. self-publishing; why she shifted from trying to find an agent to self-publishing * Why your first book doesn't have to be perfect and your efforts should be on writing the story and improving your craft; you're gonna get better the more you do it * Pros and cons of going the self-publishing route * Making sure you have a book cover that stands out while meeting expectations of the genre * Tips for making your book stand out as a self-published book * Time management for doing "all the things"
Jen Craven is the author of upmarket women's fiction, where one decision changes everything. The author of two historical fiction novels, "Best Years of your Life" is her debut contemporary work. She writes from northwestern Pennsylvania, where she lives with her family.
Learn more about her here:
https://www.instagram.com/jencravenauthor/
https://www.jencraven.com/
https://www.facebook.com/JenniferCravenAuthor/
In this episode we discuss:
- Transitioning from nonfiction to fiction writing & telling the story
- 4 Days in Paris by Lexi Haddock
- Tips for first time novelists to get started
- The importance of play in the writing process
- Letting your characters drive the story
- Why your first draft will suck, and why you should embrace that fact.
- What StoryBilder is, and how it can help
- Writing short stories and how those can help you work on your craft
- Free month on StoryBilder - go to https://Storybilder.com/WIP coupon code WIP
Tanya Gough has been an ESL teacher, a retail store owner, a corporate digital marketer, and a freelance content strategist, intelligence researcher, and web developer. Today, she is the founder of StoryBilder, a creative writing platform for new and aspiring writers. Tanya also writes middle-grade fantasy fiction and science-infused fantasy short stories for adults.
Learn more at:
https://storybilder.com
https://twitter.com/storybilder
https://instagram.com/storybilderapp
Don't worry, no nakedness is actually required!
In this episode we discussed:
- Taking the stage confidently and impacting the audience with your stories
- His book, The Power to Speak Naked: How to Speak with Confidence, Communicate Effectively, & Win Your Audience (aff link) which is all about finding the confidence through your message and finding comfort in who you are
- Once you can find this, you can have a much greater impact on your audience
- Why he traditionally published this book AFTER self-publishing
- Why a book is a necessary resume tool if you want to get speaking events
- Giving away copies of your book to create more buzz
- Marketing tips and his experience with marketing his book
- Why he uses Bookshop.Org (and so should you!)
- How to load your book to IngramSpark so that you can use Bookshop.org
- Launch events & ideas
- And more!
Sean Tyler Foley is an accomplished film and stage performer and has been acting in film and television since he was 6 years oldt. He has appeared in productions including Freddy Vs Jason, Door to Door, Carrie, and the musical Ragtime. Tyler is passionate about helping others confidently take the stage and impact an audience with their stories. He is currently the Managing Director of Total Buy In and author of the #1 best-selling book The Power to Speak Naked.
Learn more about Sean here: https://seantylerfoley.com/
https://stages.seantylerfoley.com/
Happy International Women's Day 2023 (3/8/23). Paige Allen of IngramSpark delivered a beautiful keynote for the Women in Publishing Summit, and we wanted to share it with you!
Paige Allen is the director of IngramSpark (ingramspark.com).
Paige Allen is a brand and marketing strategist developing innovative channels for content delivery. She partners with companies and executives to sharpen their professional operations, define their brand identity, and engage audiences for maximum conversion. Her work and professional achievements span across various industries, included but not limited to airport technology, sports teams and facilities, as well as legal practices. Paige knows what truly drives conversions and brand engagement; she is passionate about helping people and connecting companies to their right consumer.
After nearly a decade of working within digital marketing agencies, she is excited to bring her expertise and join Ingram Content Group as the Director of IngramSpark. In addition to her extensive PR and marketing experience, Paige is a trained Sweet Adelines International a cappella barbershop singer and member of Metro Nashville Chorus.
Paige attended Vanderbilt University.
Follow her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paige-allen-she-her-7230b727/
Be sure to check out our EVENTS page, to see what we have coming up soon at the Women in Publishing Summit!
In this episode we cover:* How hard and scary it can be to get out in front of others (fear of public speaking) * Social media aps - what they are and how they can be useful for authors * Using Breakout, Clubhouse, and other social media tools to build connections and relationships and practice your craft of speaking publicly
About our guests:
Julie Lokun, JD. a legal eagle and facilitator of dreams, is changing the trajectory of underserved entrepreneurs who are using their voice to make an impact. As a mom of four (4) boys, Julie has learned to leverage her power to lead a bustling household while also serving as the head maven of Crown & Compass Life Coaching. She adeptly "anoints and points" -- directing the strategic growth of businesses and professionals around the globe. Julie has delivered presentations on the big stage, and in virtual events. With a background in law, she teases through complex information and gets to the root of issues, telling deep, compelling stories that resonate with audiences far and wide. She is a celebrated best-selling author of the entrepreneurial series, Hustle Smart, the owner of The Mediacasters Publishing House which boasts several bestselling titles, and is a 5-star business coach. In the spring of 2021, Julie launched a swiftly growing podcast, Obsessed with Humans On The Verge of Change which is already in the top 2.5% of all podcasts globally.*
In November 2021 these two business besties and podcasting partners (with 6 boys between them) co-founded Femcasters to elevate the voices of women through podcasting, branding and public speaking. In February 2022 they merged this effort with The Media Queens Publishing House to form The Mediacasters. The Mediacasters is a podcast, a community, a publishing house and a launch platform that elevates the voices of inspired people of all ages and identities with the power of “The 3 P’s”: Podcasting, Publishing and Presenting/Performing.
*as reported by Listennotes.
We love helping authors get seen and heard!
Learn more here: https://themediacasters.com
https://www.podpage.com/network/themediacasters/shows/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mediacasters-formerly-femcasters/id1594499253
Nicki Pascarella
With the help of two hyperactive Shetland Sheepdogs, Nicki Pascarella writes Women's Fiction, Sexy Mysteries, Humor, and Romance for The Wild Rose Press. She also coaches writers and edits for the MediaCasters. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and teenage daughter. When she isn't writing and editing, you will find her running, and belly dancing.
https://www.nickipascarella.com/
In this episode:
Emily discusses the framework behind her Plot Marketing approach, which details how an author's marketing strategy should mimic the basic elements of a story's plot outline. It's a simple framework divided into four phases that are easy to remember. We cover each of these phases and the marketing elements within.
Emily Enger is a book marketing and publicity coach. She teaches poets, fiction, and creative nonfiction authors how to incorporate minimalist marketing strategies into their creative process so they become successful without feeling overwhelmed. Emily has worked in the marketing and PR field for over ten years. Her career boasts titles such as Assistant Editor for a national trade magazine company and Communications Director for a Minnesota arts nonprofit that serves nine rural counties and three Native American reservations. Visibility and creative networking were an early passion for Emily. Her first marketing job was at only 16 years old, when she convinced a small summer camp to give her a shot at their Communications Coordinator position. Emily holds a B.A. in English, a Minor in Music and a Certificate in Publishing from Minnesota State University-Moorhead. She is also a certified content marketer. Emily lives in the northwoods of Minnesota with her husband and two children. Learn more about her company at goodenoughbookmarketing.com or follow her on Instagram at emilyengerwrites.
Learn more here: emilyenger.com/marketing
instagram.com/emilyengerwrites
In this episode we discuss:* Rainy's lessons learned after rushing her book to market * How the nasty reviews she received after publishing with mistakes led her to re-evaluate * Steps she took to fix it * What she learned in the Women in Publishing Summit that changed the trajectory of her publishing career * How sales have gone since republication * Other tips for success
Rainy Horvath is a writer who began her writing career creating award-winning technical documentation for Fortune 500 companies from Silicon Alley to Wall Street. After earning an MFA in Creative Writing and an MA in Arts from Manhattanville College, she turned to her first love, creative writing. Today, Rainy writes fiction, non-fiction and songs. Her first book, The Able Queen, is a World War II memoir about her father's experiences as a Hump Pilot, was released in 2020. She is currently working on her next book and learning about the publishing industry.
Find Rainy at: https://www.rainyhorvath.com
Short story: https://breadcrumbsmag.com/blog/178
Poetry: https://www.origamipoems.com/poets/359-rainy-horvath
Crazy things can happen in your publishing journey! But Gloria Coppola encourages our audience to keep your eye on the prize and moving forward.
Don't forget to grab your ticket to the upcoming Women in Publishing Summit, the virtual conference running March 1-4, 2023. Use the coupon code 50OFFWIP23 to save an additional $50!
In this episode we talk about:* The things that can go awry and why you have to keep moving forward * Picking the right editor and team to help you publish * Creating opportunities to market your book * Gloria's tour to Italy and her experience with speaking to a group of students * Writing Retreats
Gloria Coppola, Educator and life coach, award winning Educator and best selling author she has been inspiring individuals to heal and reach their potential for 3 decades.
She loves to travel, host retreats, has 2 kids and 4 grandkids and her side kick Maltese dog.
Gloria is an intuitive empath and visionary. She takes on challenges and even when they may be harder than expected she does not give up.
Her newest and 1st fictional book was one of those challenges. After a whirlwind book tour in Italy last Sept she had the opportunity to speak to 65 high school students. They wanted to know how to address life challenges and they loved Lexi, her main character. This opportunity showed Gloria that every challenge has a greater lesson.
Learn more about Gloria at her website gloriacoppola.com
Www.gloriacoppola.com/italy
Get your ticket to the Women in Publishing Summit! Save $50 with the coupon code 50OFFWIP23
When marketing your book, it's important to focus down on the most impactful actions, not just doing ALL the things to see what works.
Stephanie recommends:
- Know your why
- Create laser focused marketing strategies
- Target audience - focusing on the ONE to reach the MANY
About Stephanie Feger:
Throughout her life, Stephanie Feger has been in the business of empowering people. From empowering teams to motivating volunteers in communities across the nation and now, empowering authors, she’s passionate about empowering people to achieve success.
However, it was a dream — literally — that changed everything for her. That dream charged her to write a book, and it became the catalyst for her to redefine her own success, re-evaluate her personal goals and turn her “what-ifs” into “why-nots.” Stephanie is the author of Color Today Pretty: An Inspirational Guide to Living a Life in Perspective and Color Today Pretty Guided Journal, where she shares her secrets to harnessing true perspective, the ones she has used to discover the difference between living an ordinary life and an extraordinary one.
After working in the communications and marketing industry for years, Stephanie merged her unique expertise with her life’s passions, founding the emPower PR Group where she, and a team of highly skilled marketing experts, help nonfiction authors write books that sell; promote books to those who need them, want them and will buy them; and help authors build or grow meaningful businesses around their books’ empowering messages.
The emPower PR Group blends personal experience with innovative marketing solutions to ensure those who need to hear of a message, a book, an author or a brand, do! Success books require strategic marketing – and Stephanie knows this because she has lived it. Learn more about Stephanie Feger and the emPower PR Group at www.emPowerPRGroup.com.
https://www.empowerprgroup.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-feger/
https://empowerprgroup.com/podcast/
Get your ticket to the Women in Publishing Summit and use the code 50OFFWIP23 to save $50!
Are you using IngramSpark to publish your book? You should if you want your book in bookstores and libraries. But there are some key things you need to know to make sure you don't wind up having returns and owing money back for the fees incurred after your launch.
In this episode, Alexa Bigwarfe digs into a recent situation in which a book received heavy returns, eating all of the royalties earned and resulting in a debt to the distributor.
A simple change can avoid this - making your book NOT returnable.
Listen in to hear what happened and how to avoid returns.
Links of interest:* Tutorial for loading your book to IngramSpark * How to set your pricing on IngramSpark * IngramSpark (set up your free account) * Get your ticket to the Women in Publishing Summit! Use coupon code 50OFFWIP23 to save an additional $50!
We're back for Season 3! Stay tuned for some really great interviews for authors, editors, publishers, and other professionals in the publishing industry!
This episode is all about identifying the trajectory you want to be on as an author, and figuring out how to make it happen!
Do you know what you really want as an author? And how badly do you want it? In this episode, Alexa Bigwarfe goes through her 10 Steps To Getting What You Want as an Author, outlining some of the key steps she's taken, or will be taking, to having her dream author career.
In this episode, Alexa covers the following key points: Recap of what's to come in Season 3 and why you should subscribe so you don't miss a thing! * What is the Women in Publishing Summit and why you should get your ticket! (Use coupon code 50OFFWIP23 to save an additional $50 on your ticket!) * 10 Steps for Getting What You Want * Face the Vulnerability * Make the Commitment * Find time to write! * Create a Schedule and hold to it! (Mentioned author Kasie Whitener and her books After December and Before Pittsburgh*) * Create a Plan * Give Yourself Grace * Surround yourself with community * Invest in tools and education * Show up! * Access the Woo Woo! * Visualize your business future
So, what is it that you want, and what steps will you take to get there?
*Amazon Affiliate links
Show Links:
Check out our trends post and grab your free 30 days of Reels!
Add Yours Sticker: https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChlIxicgxzE/ (You can use this if you open this link in the app.)
Laura Formentini's Viral Video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CUqELsyjxis/
In this episode we discussed:* Christine's journey and process * Time management tips for managing to write all of her own books and build a thriving publishing house * Submission process to Christine's Press, Sapphire Publishing, and what they're looking for * The importance of following submission guidelines * Treating your author journey as a business
Congrats to Isabella for winning three Indie Book award for Faithful Valor and Cigar Barons. Isabella is an award winning author for Sapphire Books. She lives on the central coast of California with her wife. she teaches at a local college and has three wonderful son and rides motorcycles when she's not writing or remodeling a cabin in the Sierra foothills.
Isabella has written sixteen novels and just finished, Dusty Road Home, a stand alone in the strong women Series. If you want to read her current work, check out her newest release, Blood Honor, or Cigar Barons, a complete divergence from her usual romance, you can find them below or on any book vendor website.
She shares her love of writing through her own Podcast with McGee Mathews called 2 Chicks Talk Writing and through seminars and masters classes. She's taught several Master level classes on how to mind-map your novel, series arcs, working with editors and how to power up your writing. Isabella is a member of the Mystery Writers of American, Sisters in Crime, Romance Writers of America and the Gold Crown Literary Society.
Her novels include - the Faithful Series. Always Faithful based loosely on being a former officer's wife and the adventures of living on a military base. Forever Faithful revisits Nic and Claire as they navigate the waters of deployment, injury and role reversals. Isabella is working on the third book in the series, Faithful Valor, out in Dec 2019.
Uniform Series - Broken Shield covers the topics of spousal abuse and how it can lay hidden in a relationship, even when the abused is a cop. Broken Shield also looks at how the death of a spouse can be so overwhelming for the survivor that she actually considers suicide to ease her pain.
In American Yakuza I, II, III and IV, where she develops complex character arcs with a multicultural character who tackles the male dominated world of the Japanese mafia. Razor's Edge, the third in the Yakuza Series was an honorable mention in the Readers' Favorite award in the cultural genre.
The Executive series includes Executive Disclosure and Surviving Reagan, about Chad Morgan, an executive protection specialist and Reagan Reynolds, a daughter ready to take the reins of her father's company, until her plans get derailed by her own misguided determination.
Jett Abbott - Writing under the pen name, Jett Abbott, she's written two books in the Scarlet series - Scarlet Masquerade and Scarlet Assassin.
Short stories abound as she released the erotic short - Last Train, The Tinderella Chronicles.
Her new novel, Dusty Road Home - is due out in Spring of 2022.
Learn more at:
www.isabella.rocks
isabella@sapphirebooks.com
find all of her books at:
http://www.sapphirebooks.com/isabella/
Amazon page with Isabella's books.
Writing a novel is a big undertaking! Alexa Bigwarfe, host of the PublishHer Podcast and the Women in Publishing Summit, digs into her experiences in shifting from a nonfiction writer to writing her first novel.
In this episode Alexa covers:* Her process to write her first novel, 4 Days in Paris, by Lexi Haddock (pen name) - including editing, revisions * The Beta reader process * Why she went to Paris to finish the book and what she learned in that experience * Realistic expectations as a first-time novelist * Realistic timelines and making sure to plan accordingly - and why she pushed her publishing date back * Marketing tips - when to start, what to do, and when * The importance of social media in launching a book and tools you can use to make it easier * Author collaborations and the important role this can play in a book launch
If you're a new fiction writer or thinking about writing a fiction book, you'll want to check out this episode!
In this episode we talked about:* The importance of storytelling when marketing your book * How storytelling can help you with social media * Writing for major publications to grow your audience and gain exposure * How to get connections with editors at major publications * How the publishing world is changing * Why giving yourself "space" is so important to your creativity.
Imagine a world without gatekeepers and censorship. This is what inspired Adriana Monique Alvarez to start AMA Publishing and train a global network of female owned publishing houses. She’s a USA Today bestselling author and has been seen in Forbes, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, International Living, America Daily Post, London Daily Post, and Grit Daily. She is currently living in the middle of nowhere Colorado where she is renovating her grandparents´ home and learning how to homestead with her husband Derek, and two sons, Sam and Grant. Website
Learn more here:
https://adrianamoniquealvarez.com
https://amaspeaks.com
https://www.facebook.com/AdrianaMoniqueAlvarez/
Want to support the podcast? You can now leave tips at Buy Me a Ko-Fi. We sure appreciate your help in supporting the time and investment that goes into creating, producing, and sharing this podcast!
In today's episode - all about personal brands!
How much have you thought about the BRAND you're creating as an author. In this really interesting interview, we dig into what a personal brand is for an author and how you develop your own brand.
We covered:* What is personal branding, and why is it so important NOW! * What's the difference between fictional branding and NonFiction Branding? * How do new authors create their brand? * Why should I be creating and codifying my personal brand? * How to differentiate yourself from others in the same space. * I hate social media. Why should I use it? * What do you mean when you say if you're not a brand, you're a commodity? * What are the easiest ways to begin building a personal brand right away?
DP Knudten, Chief Collaborator, COLLABORATOR creative
DP’s worked on some of the biggest brands in the business including Coca-Cola®, The Athlete’s Foot®, and ClosetMaid® during tenures at DDB Needham (Chicago), McCann Erickson (Atlanta) and creative shops in Denver, Sarasota, and Madison, WI. He is the author of NONFICTION BRAND—Discover, craft and communicate the ‘completely true / completely you’ brand you already are,” and co-author of ROTOMA—The ROI of Social Media ‘Top of Mind/’ and the creator-host of the popular podcasts, The ROTOMA Podcast and NONFICTION BRAND. He is also a keynote speaker and clinician in branding, social media, creativity and culture for groups throughout the United States.
Learn more here:
nonfictionbrand.com/gift
dpknudten.com
Get DP's book: NONFICTION BRAND: Discover, craft and communicate the 'completely true / completely you' brand—you already are.
Reyna left a career in the law and discovered her passion for writing. She was fortunate to fall into several classes and writing workshops that were supportive and fostered a sense that she could write and put herself out there in a positive way.
In this show we talked about:* following your dreams to be a writer and writing her first novel at age 50 * trying to find an agent (unsuccessfully) and pursuing other options * hybrid presses and why this might be a great fit for you * traditionally publishing with a small press and the pros and cons of publishing with a small press * Struggling with promoting her books * Whether paying for a publicist is worth it. * How much she loves interacting with readers
Reyna Marder Gentin grew up in Great Neck, New York. She attended college and law school at Yale. For many years, she practiced as an appellate attorney with a public defender's office before turning to writing full time. Reyna has studied at the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College, and her work has been published widely online and in print. Her debut novel, a romantic legal thriller entitled UNREASONABLE DOUBTS, was named a finalist for the Women's Fiction Writers Association Star Award in 2019. Her first novel for children, MY NAME IS LAYLA, (TouchPoint Press, January, 2021) is the story of a young teen with undiagnosed dyslexia. Reyna's latest novel, BOTH ARE TRUE, is contemporary fiction set in New York City, was released by Moonshine Cove Press in October, 2021. Reyna lives with her family in Scarsdale, New York. To learn more, please visit reynamardergentin.com.
Learn more about Reyna here:
reynamardergentin.com.
bit.ly/botharetrue
https://www.facebook.com/reynamardergentin
This episode is all about self-publishing children's books!
April Cox is an author, founder of Little Labradoodle Publishing, and mentor/coach helping authors self-publish their books. Her 12-week author workgroup has helped more than a thousand people self-publish their books with a proven framework and all the tools, resources, and coaching needed to get it done.
Join Aprils Self-Publishing Program!
Learn more here:
https://www.selfpubmadesimple.com
https://www.selfpubmadesimple.com/author-workgroup
https://www.youtube.com/self-publishingmadesimple
How much fun is it that Booky Call has created a book marketing app that is designed like a dating app? I met the owners and Nicole at the Publishing University Conference put on by IBPA each year, and was immediately intrigued.
In this episode we discuss:* What the app is and why they created it * How Booky Call works (it's super smart and ingenious!) * How authors can get a full year of marketing on the app, connecting them to readers they may have never found * The process for applying to be on Booky Call * Booky Con which will be November 12th (this is a change - in the recording it was stated it would be October!) * and more!
Nicole is so much fun and the conversation was so great! I recommend you go to your App store right away and get the Booky Call app and start using it as a reader to explore. Then, when you're ready, head over to https://www.bookycall.com/ and check out the opportunities for authors and publishers. They also have a ton of fun Merch, a podcast, and other fun stuff.
Nicole Talbott is the VP of Sales and Marketing at Booky Call, an innovative book discovery app disguised as a dating app. Bringing two decades of experience in communications, relationship management and promotions for various global brands, as well as a data-driven understanding of the Booky Call app, Nicole has a unique ability to work with clients to develop achievable marketing plans that deliver significant results.
In this episode we discussed:* the importance of the writing community to an author's publishing journey (and where to find it) * the importance of giving back to the writing community (and how to do it) * writing conferences and zoom launches * tips for crime and thriller writers
Emilya Naymark was born in a country that no longer exists, escaped with her parents, lived in Italy for a bit, and ended up in New York, which promptly became a love and a muse.
She is the author of the novels Hide in Place and Behind the Lie.
Her short stories appear in A Stranger Comes to Town, edited by Michael Koryta, Secrets in the Water, After Midnight: Tales from the Graveyard Shift, River River Journal, Snowbound: Best New England Crime Stories 2017, and 1+30: THE BEST OF MYSTORY.
When not writing, Emilya works as a visual artist and web developer and reads massive quantities of psychological thrillers, suspense, and crime fiction. She lives in the Hudson Valley with her family.
Learn more here: https://www.emilyanaymark.com/author/
https://www.amazon.com/Emilya-Naymark/e/B07XX96LCB
https://www.facebook.com/ENaymark/
In this podcast episode we discussed:* The importance of starting your marketing earlier * Simple steps you can take to start growing your audience even while you're writing your book * How to use author groups and collaborations to enhance your launch * What types of activities and events to do while marketing your book * and more!
Aimee Ravichandran is the Owner of Abundantly Social and Perceptive Public Relations. Aimee has been working in PR for Authors and small businesses for 10+ years. She loves working with authors and her community to market books.
Learn more about Aimee and Abundantly Social here:
https://abundantlysocial.com
https://www.facebook.com/aimee.oran/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aimee-ravichandran-353848124/
If you enjoy what we're doing and would like to support the time and investment put into the podcast, here's a fun way you can leave a tip! https://ko-fi.com/wipsummit
Sandi has had an interesting journey as an author. Her first book, a nonfiction book, was picked up by a traditional publisher. And then she decided to self-publish a children's book, on the same topic and in the same timeframe. So she's got a well rounded perspective of publishing!
We discussed:* Sandi's journey and what she learned through the process taking two different routes * Why and how she went with a traditional publisher for the first book * The marketing struggles * Marketing successes! Different ways she has gotten free media coverage including The Washington Post and Authority Magazine. * Key aspects of my marketing plan including regional parenting magazines, niche Facebook groups, podcast and Facebook Live interviews. * And so much more!
Sandi Schwartz is an author and journalist specializing in parenting, wellness, and the environment. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, Scary Mommy, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and more. She founded the Ecohappiness Project to help families build a nature habit to feel happier and calmer by exploring positive psychology tools, such as mindfulness and gratitude, through a nature-loving perspective. Her new book, Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer, is filled with simple, practical tips for parents to incorporate these tools into their daily routine to help their children thrive. Sandi has a Masters in Government (Environmental focus) from Johns Hopkins University and Specialization Certificate in Foundations of Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She is an active member in environmental and writing organizations, including the Women in Publishing Summit. She splits time between Florida and New Jersey with her husband and two children.
Learn more:
www.ecohappinessproject.com
Get the book: Finding Ecohappiness
Link to free Nature Habit Quiz: https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/60eb0dd25f6ef400171cdf67
Shelly Longenecker was a wife, mother of four, an author, and her book Dinner for a Dollar - launched her business of the same name. It was Shelly's goal to teach people that it is possible to eat a clean, wholesome diet, even with a large family, for about $1 per serving.
Shelly was absolutely motivated to revolutionize the way we look at clean eating, and help families create simple, inexpensive, and delicious meals. She had plans to write other books and create more programs, but was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and lost her battle when it came back and spread aggressively the 3rd time.
Shelly had a brilliant mind for business and this interview shares some excellent tips on book marketing, audience growth, and how to grow your business with a book.
She will be greatly missed. She was a close friend, a business colleague, and just so much fun. Learn from her amazing story!
Learn more about Dinner for a Dollar here: https://dinnerforadollar.co/
Get her book here.
Watch her full interview on YouTube here.
In this episode, we discussed:
- Telling the difficult story
- If you have lived a story, you need to tell that story because there is someone out there who needs to hear it.
- You are not your worst mistake
Get Toby's Book, Living With Conviction.
On February 12, 2006, Toby Dorr liberated a convicted murderer from Lansing Correctional Facility. For a handsome younger man, doing life, Toby dared the unthinkable, a prison escape. Like eloping honeymooners, the fugitives ran for twelve days until the authorities tracked them to Tennessee, where at a hundred miles per hour officers forced them into a highway median and into a tree.
The arresting U.S. Marshall advised Toby, “Don’t let this be who you are.”
Twenty-seven months later, Toby completed her time in Federal Prison. Since then, she’s remarried, achieved two master’s degrees and rebuilt a broken life.
Toby knows the escape will surely be her most extraordinary experience, but her gift to the world is greater. Inspired by women who said, “That could have been me”, she wrote a memoir. The Unleashed Series, where Toby implores women, “escape your prison.”
Featured in the Wall Street Journal, Anderson Cooper, Brooke Baldwin, Inside Edition, The Atlantic and Dateline, Toby is a regular guest on podcasts, including the nationally-ranked Criminal podcast, a screenplay is in the works.
Learn more about Toby:
Website: https://tobydorr.com/
Media:
https://www.nbc.com/dateline/video/breakout/4372313
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPyeSHpvRTU
https://thisiscriminal.com/episode-121-off-leash/
There's story telling - ie, the ability to write a great story for readers, and then there's STORYTELLING - in which a business owner, author, creative, etc create the message behind who they are and what they are doing in order to attract the right followers, readers, clients, etc to their platform.
In this episode we discussed:* How authors get visibility and build an audience * Why authors should share their story * how the story of the author relates to building their brand, followers, readers * How you craft your story if you don't have major tragedy, loss, or trauma (you've still got a story!) * Finding the right pieces of your story to share
More about April Pertuis:
Helping business leaders expertly tell their story -- on stage, in books, on podcasts, for social media, and engaging an audience in general.April is the CEO & Founder of LIGHTbeamers and also a teacher and hands-on guide inside her VIP membership The Visibility Accelerator. She is also a best-selling author, podcast host andspeaker. Her first collaborative book, Elevate Your Voice, has been named one of the Top 10 Women & Business books by Amazon. Her podcast, The Inside Story Podcast, is ranked among the Top 200 Business Podcasts on Apple Podcasts.April is based in New Braunfels, Texas and is available for speaking opportunities across the US, global and virtual summits, podcasts and interviews.
CONNECT* Website https://www.lightbeamers.com/
* Email april@lightbeamers.com
* Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lightbeamers/
* Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lightbeamers
* LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lightbeamers/
Jennifer and I cover a lot of ground in this episode. From determining whether or not you need a developmental editor to how Jen became a developmental editor, when you need to reach out and engage with a developmental editor... and all sorts of other fun topics!
Jennifer is also the developmental editor for the forthrcoming romance book, 4 Days in Paris.
Jennifer Milius is an entrepreneur, developmental editor, coach and accomplished author having published seven children’s titles in the Einstein and Moo series, and most recently, co-authored You Know it’s a Verb, Right? which blends personal development, business, and leadership tenets.
Jen believes that each of us have something special to offer, but sometimes it takes a leap of faith to be willing to share that gift. Yet, when people are doing what they love, there’s a joy that they radiate. Tapping into your full potential means that joy, purpose, and possibility is coming together through you. Jen leverages her 20-year corporate career, undergraduate Communications degree, and Master in Business Administration to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way and leave a legacy by telling their stories through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. As the host of The TufFish Show podcast, Jen features authors from different genres and businesses, but with one thing in common – they had a message or story they wanted to tell and courageously got out of their own way and made it happen.
Jen enjoys spending time with family, yoga, creating delicious food in the kitchen, visiting schools to share her love and knowledge about writing, and listening to music.
Check out her website at www.jennifermilius.com or connect at one of the places below:
Learn more about Jen here:
podcast - https://anchor.fm/thetuffishshow
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo2Koti2pBdupY1AoVizfLg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjennifermilius
Welcome to the 2nd Season of the PublishHer podcast! We've got some great content heading your way in our second season - book writing, publishing, and marketing tips from authors, coaches, publishers, service providers, and more!
In this episode, host Alexa Bigwarfe gives a run down of exciting events that have happened since the podcast went on hiatus in February, fun exciting programs happening in the upcoming weeks and months, and what is to come in Season 2!
Be sure to visit https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/events for all upcoming webinars, workshops, and training
Check out:
Book Launch in a Box
WIP School
April 2022 IG Trends Report
Ep. 61 is about Kindness. Host Alexa Bigwarfe interviews author Christina Dankert about her book, The Kindness Machine. We talk about why she wrote this book, her journey to get it published, marketing a picture book on kindness, and more!
Alexa Bigwarfe sits down with Linda Jamsen to discuss what her journey was like to write, publish, and market her memoir, Odyssey of Love. The discussion digs into why Linda decided to write this memoir after her father died, the decision to self-publish her book, what went well for Linda, what her challenges were, and how she's continuing to learn new marketing tactics to grow her audience and sell more books.
Alexa Bigwarfe takes a look at some of the biggest WIP and WritePublishSell moments of 2021 and talks about biggest lessons learned over the year.
Boundaries are important. If you don't know how to set them, people, work, and situations can take over your life. As writers, setting boundaries around our writing time is critical. Christine Seibold shares why boundaries are important and how you can learn to set them in your own life.
Sometimes it takes some time before we see significant royalties from book sales. In this episode, Alexa Bigwarfe interviews Becky Kopitzke about creating simple digital products that authors can sell easily on their website to generate additional revenue to supplement book royalties.
How much do you think about your mindset when it comes to PR and promoting your book as an author? Alexa Bigwarfe chats with Lilian Sue about this very topic. PR matters, and so does your mindset!
One of the fastest ways to grow more readers and sell more books is by participating in paid promos. Samantha and Ashley talked to Alexa about the types of promos their company LitRing runs for fiction authors, as well as a lot about understanding and why you need to use BookBub.
It's NaNoWriMo time, and as many of us scramble to hit high word count goals and actually write a novel in 30 days, protected writing time, systems, and boundaries become crucial!
There are so many things to do when launching a book. How do you decide where to prioritize your book marketing efforts?
Heather Vickery discusses why now was the time to write her book: F*ck Fearless: Making the Brave Leap, and some of her adventures along the way in writing, publishing, and selling her book. We also discussed what it means to make the Brave Leap.
I published my first book, Sunshine After the Storm: A Survival Guide for the Grieving Mother, 8 years ago today, officially launching Kat Biggie Press on October 15, 2013, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day.
It's our 50th episode and Alexa is talking with her team about the biggest lessons learned over the last few years.
We cover a lot of ground in this episode. Alexa Bigwarfe interviews author Daniel Fallon about his long journey to research, produce a high quality book, and launch his amazing book. Filled with great insights and information, this is a great interview!
Emily A Myers recently debuted her book The Truth About Unspeakable Things. In the process to publish her book, she realized she was trying to market to the wrong people. Once her book was positioned properly, the crowd went wild.
Are you looking for some support in formatting your book? A professionally designed interior of your book is a step that should not be overlooked. Formatted Books is here to help!
Have you been hearing about #booktok and wondering what it is? My team members Cayce, Sarah, and I, Alexa Bigwarfe, dig into Tiktok and the phenomenon of Booktok.
What does optioning mean? How do you get your book optioned for TV & film? Eileen Cook dishes out all the details on how your book makes it beyond the page. She also goes through different types of "rights" so that authors have a bigger understanding of all of the different rights that are available for you, including foreign rights.
We all want to create a fun launch event that is more than just a book signing, but is actually an experience. This way more people attend, which means more book sales! Loud Pen is an event planner and has some great tips for creating fun launch events.
Want to know how to have your book show up in local media outlets, big journals, magazines, and more? Kasie Whitener provides the timeline, where to find them, and when to pitch editorial reviewers.
Want to know all the things about finding and working with your "just-right" editor? Stacey Aaronson explains how to find the right editor, timeline for working with an editor, and more.
Eva Natiello got fed up with her growing stack of rejections, so she decided to self-publish. In this episode, she spills the beans on what she did to make it onto the NY Times Bestseller list.
If you've written a book on a very sensitive topic, you may be struggling with how to market it. Rachel Thompson explains how she marketed her books on Sexual Assault and Trauma and shares her best tips.
Publishing a book can be very expensive, especially if you're doing a specialized project, like a cookbook. Kristi Carlson shares her tips for creating a massively successful Kickstarter campaign - and her tips are awesome for all genres! If you're a fan of the Gilmore Girls, you are especially going to love this interview!
Do you want to know how to engage with the media? How to craft a press release that will actually get their attention? AND use live video to share your story in a way that's going to help you create attention around your book? Join Roshanda to learn now!
Do you deal with imposter syndrome and fears around being an author? We all have these fears! Angela Hosking digs into imposter syndrome and her tips for moving beyond the fears and taking giant leaps forward to succeed with your big goals as an author.
Is self-publishing the right option for you? Alexa Bigwarfe and Jodi Brandon discuss why some authors might want to go the self-publishing route.
An attendee in my WIP School asked a great question the other day - should I be spending time getting better at social media or working on my writing craft? It's hard to balance all of the things, but here's my {not so simple} answer.
Angela Engel talks about her publishing model, a different and unique form of partner publishing, and how their model, based on traditional publishing and packaging, helps authors to get their books into the world.
Stacey Aaronson, an editor, ghostwriter, and now author of her own memoir, shares about her experience with writing her memoir, how it was different from ghostwriting, and tips for those working on their memoir.
Growing an email list is an essential part of developing your fans, gaining reviews, and selling more books. In this episode, we talk about what these things are, why you need them, and what you do with them. If you're looking to sell more books, an email list is a key element to book marketing.
Opening your heart and your mind to the possibilities of what you can give to the world. Connecting with yourself to make a bigger impact in the world with your creative works. Hayley Hunter Hines talks about mindset, blocks, and fears around creativity.
I know... goals is a really boring, snoozefest topic. But one thing I have found is that if you don't know what you are working towards, how do you know what to do? You have to have goals for your book marketing efforts, so that you can start creating the action steps for reaching those goals.
This is a basic recap of what you'll want to have ready before working with a publishing partner, self-publishing assist, or freelance cover designers and book formatters.
Are you suffering from book marketing fatigue? Overwhelm at ALL THE THINGS you're being asked to do? You are not alone! Focusing on a few key areas can help you reduce the fatigue and overwhelm. Alexa Bigwarfe talks about the importance of goals and key action steps.
An email subscriber recently sent us the question: “What are the best ways to make your book launch interactive and interesting both if it’s virtual and if it’s in person?” So I'm tackling that question today!
Are you considering using Amazon Ads to market your book? Or maybe you're already using them and need some additional guidance? Guest expert Brian Berni of BookAds.co dishes out the details on success with Amazon Ads.
Do you need some motivation? It's hard to feel down on yourself that you just can't DO all the things, when you listen to the inspirational author journey of Lois Strachan, a blind children's book author and rock star! She's also got some great tips on re-publishing a 2nd edition of a book.
Layne Booth uses data and metrics to help business owners grow their businesses. In this episode, we discuss how authors can use metrics and data to determine where they should spend their time marketing their books, and growing their author businesses.
Numerology can be a really cool tool to help you identify your strengths and weaknesses. If you're interested in learning how you can use the code you were born with to give you better insight into who you are and how to attract the right people, you're going to love this interview with Meaghan Alton.
Finding your ideal reader is key to unlocking your ability to market well. But how do you know who that ideal reader is? And how do you learn how to effectively market your book to them?
Your health is important as a writer. I talk to Joanna Penn about why she's started talking more about health for writers, and how we all need to consider our mental and physical health on our journey as author entrepreneurs.
It's the end of Women's history month. We've been talking a lot about marginalized voices and making sure they are heard. This is a fantastic view into the importance of transgender voices as part of this discussion. Thank you to special guest, Nathan Carol Frechette.
Tips for authors, plus why having a marketable idea is the most important thing, how to go from blog to book, and much more with Nina Amir.
Alexa Bigwarfe interviews Jane Friedman about the changes in the publishing industry in the digital age and how this impacts authors.
Looking to gain media exposure so you can grow your audience and market your book? Christina Nicholson, aka the Media Maven, has all the tips!
In this session, previously recorded for the 2018 Women in Publishing Summit, we're talking about the different types of editing, working with an editor, things you should know about getting your book edited. Special Guest panel" Stacey Aaronson, Liz Thompson, Jenny Kanevsky, Jodi Brandon, Dakota Nyght
You can still hit the NY Times Best Seller list, even if it takes a year or two. AK Turner shares her journey of publishing and how she hit the list.
The importance of diversity and representation in publishing with author and publisher, E. Danielle Butler.
If you're writing fiction and you want to make sure you have characters that your readers will love (or love to hate), you want to catch this episode - writing great characters!
On this historic day of the first woman elected into the white house, I share an important interview with Desiree Peterkin Bell about the importance of conversation to open your mind to those are different from you.
Lucy Hay, in her interview for the women in publishing summit, shares about screenwriting for novelists as well as writing noir fiction.
What you need to know if you want to publish a children's books with children's book author and publisher at Cardinal Rule Press, Maria Dismondy.
What do you need to know about legal issues for authors? Helen Sedwick dishes it out.
How to get more opportunities for visibility, get in front of more people, grow your platform, and sell more books.
Do you know the different routes to publishing? We'll cover the differences between vanity, hybrid, self-publishing, and traditional publishing.
I interviewed Brooke Warner in a previous Women in Publishing Summit about why she started She Writes Press and about Hybrid presses. This is a great interview opening doors to other routes to publishing.