Yes, when you have a book you are now "the author of" and become more sought after than before you wrote your book, but that doesn't have to mean neglecting your business.  It means accepting speaking opportunities when and where you can, and selling books in the back of the room. Meanwhile, you are now the expert in that business you wrote about in your book, and the audience wants to know all about it, all about you, and how they can work with you. Read more →

A book cover is more than the pretty picture people see on the front of your book. If you've traditionally published, you may have a paper cover, over the actual printed book. This is where the pictures go; yours on the back, and a design on the front. If you're already wildly famous, if you're Taylor Swift, for instance, your picture would be on the front cover, not the back. In that case, it's the fame that sells the book, not the book content. Read more →

The world will judge your book by its cover. You have no control over that. People see a book and immediately form an opinion of it. If your cover is not professional, if it does not give the reader the right message about the book, right away, if the colors are off-putting, if they are confused by the title, subtitle, or design, they will look away. And then they will go away. Read more →

Yes, it's true, we don’t pop out of Mom’s womb (what an image that is!) ready to write that phenomenal story, all about us! Learning to write that story, whether it’s just in our diary, or in an eBook, an audio book, in a full-length published print book, or all of the above is a task best done in collaboration – with professionals whose only duty is to serve you - you, the author of...the story. Read more →

As some astute readers may discern, stories are made up of words. In present day U.S. (and all over the world, I dare say – at least, wherever there is ink and paper), some stories include pictures, cartoons, colors and images that purport to be worth 1000 words. I did not cover those, in my presentation. I am focused entirely on words - because even when we see an image we like or don't like, we think about it in words. "Oh this is horrible!" we might think, or say out lout. "Oh this is beautiful!" we might share or think silently. But, we do think it and the thought is in words. Read more →

When you write to save your life, the flow of the story may seem sequential, because you’re composing it from day one of memory, to present time, but when you edit, you will uncover memories that conflict with what is on paper; memories that go deeper, so much so, you wonder if you can share them in this book you are creating. Memories you have hidden, even from yourself. Read more →

First order of business - there are no stupid questions. Yes, you've heard that in every class you've ever attended and maybe in some life settings. Asking questions is the key to education. Learning found in a book is all well and good, but it only supplements what your own experiences and the experiences of others can teach  you. And, hence, why I say more women should write books.  Read more →

We've established in other blog posts that writing a book to become rich and famous is foolish. The reason you write a book is married to the reason you have a story to tell. You write a book to share. You write a book to entertain. You write a book to educate. You write a book to inspire. Read more →

People read to be either entertained, educated, or inspired. It is possible to be all three, in one book. Talented people are able to write books that entertain, inspire, and educate, without much trouble at all. It’s all in the storytelling. Read more →