Publishing Secrets

In this episode, you'll hear:A heartfelt reflection on the transformative journey we've shared through the "Leading with Grace" seriesThe exciting announcement of the launch of "The Beacon Show," a brand-new podcast that continues our exploration of servant leadershipA sneak peek into the inspiring content and visionary guests lined up for the first series of interviews on "The Beacon Show"An invitation to join the new adventure and become part of a movement that seeks to navigate the present and shape the futureMEET YOUR HOST: TAMARA M. JACKSONTamara "Tam" Jackson is a dynamic figure in the publishing world and a highly sought-after expert on authentic online visibility. Her journey from struggling to promote her work to establishing the thriving Christian Authors Network and dynamic Beaconship community showcases her tenacity and entrepreneurial spirit. More than personal success, Tam is driven by helping others succeed and now mentors authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs to foster a collective rise in thought leadership, influence, and success. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Tam balances her commitment to serving others with her love for reading, traveling, hiking, kayaking, and spending time with her beloved labradoodle, Spencer. Her story is of perseverance, passion, and dedication to empowering others to transform the world through their work. Her vision for The Beacon Show stems from her unwavering belief that every Christian leader has the potential to become a beacon of guidance, hope, and inspiration. Through this new podcast, Tamara aims to bridge the gap between spiritual goals and the practical realities of leadership, equipping leaders with the wisdom and strategies to navigate their paths with integrity, purpose, and a heart aligned with Christ's teachings. Join Tamara on this transformative journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and spiritual growth as she nurtures wise, compassionate, and resilient beacons of faith who inspire, transform, and illuminate the world with their God-given purpose.ACCELERATE YOUR SUCCESSReady to embrace the journey of transformation? Download Tamara's exclusive new ebook at https://beaconship.co/book/ and empower yourself to lead with purpose and passion.JOIN THE BEACONSHIP COMMUNITYBeaconship is dedicated to empowering and uniting Christian leaders through mentorship and collaboration, enhancing their influence and potential. We are committed to molding visionary leaders equipped to redefine what it means to be a change agent in today's digital landscape. To learn more, visit https://beaconship.co/CONNECT WITH TAMARAFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebeaconshipInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeaconshipLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachtam/ 

In this episode, you'll also hear:How to measure a leader's true impactAn example of a biblical leader whose legacy still transforms lives today — and you can accomplish the sameQuestions to guide you in crafting a truly impactful legacyThe True Measure of Leadership“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” -Maya AngelouThese powerful words remind us that the true measure of our leadership lies not in our individual accomplishments, but in the lasting impact we have on the lives we touch.As Christian thought leaders and authors, we have the incredible opportunity to shape the hearts and minds of those who encounter our work. But we must ask ourselves: What kind of legacy do we want to leave behind? And how can we ensure that our influence extends beyond the fleeting moments of our own lives?The answer lies in crafting a legacy of transformation — one that ignites lasting change and empowers others to reach their God-given potential. This brings us to the heart of our discussion today. You see, a true beacon's legacy is measured not by the momentary brightness of their light, but by the lasting change they ignite in the hearts and minds of others. Our goal as servant leaders is not merely to shine brightly for a season, but to kindle a flame in others that continues to burn long after we've passed the torch. It's about using our platform, our wisdom, and our compassion to empower others to become transformative leaders in their own right. Our ultimate goal is to create a legacy of transformation to inspire and empower others to live out their God-given purpose and potential. Thus, to achieve this goal, the impact of our leadership should extend far beyond our own lives and accomplishments. A Biblical Leader with Transformative ImpactLet's turn to the pages of Scripture for today's example of a leader who was and is known for his transformative impact: the Apostle Paul. Paul was a dedicated persecutor of the early church, but his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus radically changed the course of his life — and the history of Christianity. Through his writings, which form a significant portion of the New Testament, Paul's legacy continues to shape the hearts and minds of believers worldwide. His letters to various churches and individuals — such as the books of Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians — contain timeless wisdom and guidance for living a life of faith and purpose. Standout aspects of Paul's legacy are his unwavering commitment to the Gospel and his willingness to endure hardship for the sake of Christ. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, Paul recounts the many trials he faced, including imprisonment, beatings, and shipwrecks. Yet, through it all, he remained steadfast in his mission to spread the Good News and nurtured the spiritual growth of those he led.Multiplying Your ImpactAs we reflect on Paul's legacy, it is important to consider the lasting impact we hope to have through our own leadership and work. Ask yourself:What kind of transformation do I want to ignite in the lives of others?How can I use my unique gifts and platform to inspire and empower those I lead?One practical way to craft a legacy of transformation is to focus on mentoring and developing others. Invest your time and resources in nurturing the next generation of leaders, just as Paul did with individuals like Timothy and Titus. By pouring into others and helping them grow in their faith and abilities, you multiply your impact and ensure that your legacy extends beyond your own lifetime.The Ripple EffectAs you reflect on the legacy you're building through your leadership and work, let Paul's example inspire you to remain steadfast in your commitment to Christ, and to crafting a lasting change in the lives you touch.Remember, your legacy is not measured by the accolades you receive or the momentary successes you achieve — it's measured by the lives you transform, the hearts you inspire, and the ripple effect of your faithfulness to God's call. So keep leading with grace and purpose, knowing that your legacy has the power to shape eternity. BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: christianauthors.net/fbgroupGet Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: facebook.com/thebeaconshipInteract with Tam on Instagram: instagram.com/thebeaconship/

In this episode, you'll also hear:The essential balance a true leader must strike — and how to do itHow one member of our community leads with authority while nurturing othersOne practical step you can take to improve your servant leadershipThe True Essence of Leadership“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.” -Ronald ReaganAs Christian thought leaders and authors, we have been entrusted with a unique platform by which to influence and guide others. And, as highlighted by the above words from Ronald Reagan, we understand that the true essence of leadership is the ability to inspire and empower others to reach their highest potential. But to exhibit this kind of leadership, we must continually ask ourselves: How can we best uplift and nurture those we lead?How can we strike the delicate balance between providing direction and fostering an environment where others can thrive and grow? Finding that balance can create a powerful ripple effect, not just within our immediate circles, but in the lives and communities we impact through our work. See, leadership is not just about guiding others — it's about empowering them to guide themselves with wisdom and truth. Our authority as Christian leaders should be rooted in our faith and wisdom, while nurturing those we lead so they can grow and flourish under our guidance.An Example of Balanced LeadershipFor an example of a Christian leader who strikes that vital balance, look no further than a member of our own Christian Authors Network: JR Spear. JR is the author of The Success Guide To Building Your Coaching Empire, a strategic battle plan for motivated coaches and entrepreneurs. His journey from serving in Iraq to becoming a successful entrepreneur and consultant exemplifies the balance of authority and nurturing in leadership. In his book, JR provides a step-by-step guide to building a coaching business, emphasizing the importance of discovering your true purpose, creating an irresistible offer, and building a powerful team. These elements require a leader to exercise authority in setting the vision and direction, while nurturing team members to reach their full potential. JR's leadership style is further evident in the Business Leaders Network, a community he founded for emotionally intelligent servant leaders. By creating a platform for entrepreneurs to educate, connect, and collaborate, JR demonstrates the nurturing aspect of leadership. He provides the resources and guidance necessary for members to grow and succeed, while also fostering an environment of mutual support and empowerment.Thank you, JR, for setting such an inspirational example of leading with strength and compassion!The First Step JR's approach to leadership as seen in his book and the Business Leaders Network showcases the delicate balance between authority and nurturing. As established leaders, we must set clear goals and expectations, and doing so requires us to exercise authority. However, we must also invest in the growth and well-being of those we lead, which demonstrates a nurturing spirit. One practical way to achieve this balance is by regularly checking in with your team members as JR does with his network. Ask about their aspirations, challenges, and how you can support them. By providing guidance, resources, and opportunities for development, you can show how your authority is rooted in a genuine desire to see others succeed.Remember, your authority should be grounded in wisdom and exercised with compassion, always striving to empower and uplift those you lead. How can you apply these principles of authority and nurturing in your own leadership today? JR'S BIO:From Getting Blown Up In Iraq To Leading Entrepreneurs On How To Start And Scale Their Business…Hi, my name is JR Spear and I'm the founder of CREED Consulting and Business Leaders Network...Since my return from the hot desert of Iraq in 2007 I've built several successful businesses ranging from the fitness and martial arts industry, marketing and advertising, to consulting...My mission is to arm small business owners with the right tools and resources needed to grow their business, giving them the direct path to bypass the struggles I had to endure so they can achieve the life and business they desire...Since 2017 I have helped hundreds of entrepreneurs 2x, 5x, even 10x their businesses by implementing the proper STEPS (Structure, Technology, Efficiencies, Processes, and Scalability).I've presented to audiences both large and small in a variety of different settings and contexts. As an author and presenter, I use personal stories, and life experiences to not only make a point but to keep the audience engaged and listening. They will leave with practical and applicable steps to take with them beyond what they learned. GET CONNECTED:JR's Website: jrspear.com/speaker_jrThe Business Leaders Network: blncommunity.comFacebook: facebook.com/jr.spear.coach

In this episode, you'll also hear:Why the gifts you have been given aren't actually for youWhat resilience and vision really mean for Christian leadersHow one member of our community leads with perseverance and commitment to her visionHow to move forward even in times of uncertaintyThe Journey of Faith-Driven Leadership“The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it.” C.C. ScottToday, we're diving into a theme that resonates with every leader's journey: rising with resilience and vision. You see, it's in the crucible of trials that authentic leadership is refined. Resilience, then, is what allows us to emerge from those trials with a vision that transcends the immediate to embrace God's greater purpose.Before we further explore the concepts of resilience and vision, however, let's ground ourselves in Scripture. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in various forms.” This means that whatever gift you have received is not just for you — it's for others around you. We must stay focused on using our gifts for others each day. When we do that — when we focus on the people we are called to serve instead of on ourselves — we arrive at a place of resilience and are inspired to “walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). This is the journey of faith-driven leadership. The Meaning of Resilience & VisionSo, as Christian leaders, what does it mean to have resilience and vision? Let's break down each of those terms.ResilienceResilience isn't just about bouncing back. It's about growing, learning, and thriving, and often, that happens in the midst of adversity.Honestly, I haven't learned much from my successes. Instead, the things that could be perceived as failures have caused me to learn and grow the most. I wouldn't be who I am today, or where I am today, without those setbacks. Remember, setbacks can simply be setups for comebacks. So as you reflect on your own leadership journey, consider how pressure and challenges shape your ability to lead gracefully with conviction and fortitude. VisionA leader's vision acts as a guiding star. It illuminates the path not just for the leader, but also for those they lead. Thus, a clear, compelling vision inspires action, provides direction through stormy seas, and mobilizes people toward a shared goal.An Example of PerseveranceTo illustrate the importance of resilience and vision, let's take a look at the example of a remarkable member of our Christian Authors Network community: Aleta Allen. In just four years, Aleta has published two books and is working on her third. Her mission is to encourage everyday people to open their Bibles and let the Holy Spirit guide them, and she constantly shares on social media to support that goal. Despite her dedicated effort, however, Aleta has faced challenges in reaching her intended audience. Yet her resilient spirit stands out. She joined us for our 2-day workshop in February, then for a 90-minute social media workshop in March, and now she's taking her commitment a step further by joining the Christian Author Success School so she can learn how to connect with her audience online.Aleta's spirit of perseverance is a vivid example of James 1:12: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”Resilience is about staying committed to the vision even when the path is unclear. As Proverbs 29:18 reminds us, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Aleta's clarity of purpose and faith guides and inspires us to consider the power of vision in our leadership. Thank you, Aleta, for being such a powerful example of perseverance and commitment to your God-given vision!The Power of VisionTake a moment now to reflect on your own vision for leadership and the challenges you have faced. How has your faith guided you through these trials?What vision propels you forward?How can you commit to remaining resilient in the face of adversity?Then, inspired by Aleta's journey and perseverance, take some time to identify your vision and consider one step you can take this week, despite any challenges you're currently facing, to move closer to that vision. Remember, resilience is embracing each setback as a step forward towards your greater purpose. True leadership and faith are forged in the fires of trials with a vision that sees beyond the immediate to God's greater purpose. Let's keep these words close to our hearts as we navigate our paths to leadership. And let's look to Aleta's story as a beacon of resilience and vision — one that reminds us that our faith and commitment can guide us through the trials, toward the impact we aspire to make.  ALETA'S BIO:Aleta R. Allen was born in 1947 in Springfield, Massachusetts. She is the only child of Nick and Rose D'Emillo. While raising Aleta, her mother, Rose, worked in several manufacturing companies like Milton Bradley Toy Company and the Armory during World War II. Nick, her stepfather, served in the United States Air Force for over 20 years as an auditor in the Auditor General's Office, allowing Aleta to travel throughout Europe and the Near East during her youth. Aleta graduated from Livingston High School in 1965, computer programming trade school in 1974, and Sacramento Theological Seminary & Bible College in 2005. Her areas of study were Computer Programming and System Analysis, Theology, Church Growth, and Church Administration. Currently, she is halfway to earning a master's degree in Theology. Some jobs that Aleta R. Allen had as a young adult included computer programming, system analysis, technical writing manuals, developing warehouse facilities and utilization of space, and designing and developing printed material. While having these jobs, she discovered that she had a passion for helping people and a God-given desire to help people in her communities.Aleta R. Allen started, managed, and grew several businesses, including a printing plus mailing company and a community development corporation that provided essential needs like food and clothing to at-risk populations in the community. Community partners included the Children's Hunger Fund, Feed the Children, Convey of Hope, Jordan Outreach Ministries, and many more. Over 20 years, Aleta's nonprofit organization directly served more than 1 million people. Aleta continued reaching out by doing a radio show. Aleta was a Personal Administrative Assistant to an Author. Aleta R. Allen is now a published author.As a business owner, Aleta R. Allen specialized in workforce development for ex-offenders who were released from jails, prisons, and halfway houses and those who were recovering from alcohol and drug addictions. She has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and enjoys sharing his love with the people she helps. For many years Aleta R. Allen preached at church services and revivals throughout the United States of America. She donated her professional services to several churches and has helped them enhance their audio systems to optimize media development, developed administrative infrastructure, and wrote policy procedures. Aleta R. Allen is a member of the Daybreak Christian Fellowship in Las Vegas, Nevada, a member of the Armed Forces Chamber of Commerce, and an honorary Board Member of the Armed Forces Chamber Community Development Corporation. Aleta owns A Scribesmith LC (a publishing company) and Rephidim LC (a ranch.) GET CONNECTED:Website: ascribesmith.comFacebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076506520156

In this episode, you'll also hear:What to expect from the “Leading with Grace” seriesHow one member of our community exemplifies a spirit of service and empathyHow to measure — and use — your spark of potentialOne simple action you can take today to make an impactIntroducing the “Leading with Grace” Series!Welcome to “Leading with Grace,” a series where the light of faith intersects with the art of leadership, designed for Christian authors and thought leaders! This series is an expedition to the core of servant leadership as exemplified by our Lord Jesus Christ. In this series, we'll uncover the seven leadership principles that can transform lives and the world, so you can be inspired to lead with a servant's heart, uplift others through your words, and create ripples of positive change. Each of the seven principles will shine a light on the pathway to a servant leader approach, helping you not only walk in Jesus' steps, but also stand on His shoulders and view the higher horizon of your calling. Whether you're scribbling your first draft or putting the finishing touches on your latest manuscript, these principles have the power to deepen your influence and elevate your impact. So if you're ready to step into your role as a change maker — to pen not only stories, but legacies — then “Leading with Grace” is where your next chapter begins! Get ready for an awakening, a rebirth into leadership that serves, heals, and harbors the greatest purpose. A Spirit of Service & Empathy“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.”1 Peter 4:10What if the true essence of our potential is not measured by our individual achievements, but by our dedication to uplifting others? What if our greatest legacy is the kindness and understanding we spread through our acts of service?To kick off the “Leading with Grace” series, let's examine the example set by a member of our own community: John Alexander, whose life exemplifies a spirit of service and empathy. John is a Texas resident, an author, and a cherished member of the Christian Authors Network, and he embodies the spirit of service through his passion for poetry and storytelling.After a successful career in high tech, John turned his full attention to writing, crafting stories and poems that have captured the imaginations and hearts of children and adults alike. But it's at the Frisco Senior Center where John's impact truly shines. He regularly shares his poems there, offering words of hope, encouragement, and joy to everyone present. John's book of poetry, Timeless Tales: Rhymes from the Heart, and his Quiet Time Rhymes series are more than collections of verses — they are his gifts of empathy and understanding to the world. And his dedication reminds us of an essential truth: Your spark of potential is God's gift to you; how you nurture it and serve others is your gift back to Him and to the world.Through his poetry readings, John transforms moments into memories, proving that service and empathy can amplify our impact, touching lives in ways we might never fully know.Thank you, John, for being such a luminous example of kindness and creativity in our community!How Will You Nurture & Channel Your Spark?Now it's your turn. How can you channel your unique gifts into service? How can you allow empathy to deepen your connection to those around you and enhance your journey as an author?Here's a simple step you can take today: Share your talent with someone who could use a moment of joy. This could be reading, writing, singing, or simply listening. Remember, the essence of service lies in sincerity and love. JOHN'S BIO:John Alexander lives in Texas with his beautiful wife and his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He spent his childhood in a small town in east Texas. He attended college at the University of Texas earning degrees in Physics and Math, then spent many years developing innovative communications systems. While still working, he began writing fiction in his spare time and published The Enclave, a mystery/suspense novel, in 2010.Since leaving high tech in 2014, he now spends full time pursuing his writing passion. John writes children's books to capture their imagination and help them discover the love of reading early in life. He especially loves writing books that help elementary school children discover that reading is a fun adventure. The chapter books in the Amber-Autumn mystery series, including Christmas Garden, Grandfather's Blessing, Golden Campout, and The Secret Room appeal to elementary school children. His first picture book, Words That Soar, won first place at the 2019 North Texas Book Festival. The Christmas Gift, published by Elk Lake Publishing, Inc., came out in 2019 and was a finalist in the 2020 North Texas Book Festival. His latest children's book, The Young Artist, An Unpicture Book, was just released in November 2020.John discovered his love for rhyme and released his debut book of poetry, Timeless Tales, in 2018. His latest books of poetry, the Quiet Time Rhymes series including Quiet Time Rhymes: Peace in the Pandemic, released August 2020, and Quiet Time Rhymes Volume II: Into the Light, released March 2021, contains poems offering prayers of hope and encouragement, heartfelt cries to God, and words of encouragement. He continues to write and share rhymes on his blog. John is also a monthly contributor to Faith On Every Corner digital magazine. GET CONNECTED:Website: QuietTimeRhymes.comBlog: QuietTimeRhymes.com/blogFacebook: facebook.com/QuietTimeRhymes  

In this episode, you'll also hear:The story of Dee Dee's successful online dating experience — and how she almost settled for less than she'd always prayed to findHow writing her book turned out to be easier than she'd anticipatedTips on crafting an outline that will help the writing flow naturallyThe importance of getting honest, constructive feedback on your writingDee Dee's advice for the writer who is hesitating to start (or finish!) their bookDon't Settle for LessIn her book When You Meet Your Match: My Match.com Marriage, Dee Dee Patterson shares what she's learned from ten years of marriage after meeting her husband online. Prior to that online meeting, however, Dee Dee explains that she was actually in a relationship with someone else — someone she was planning to marry. But though Dee Dee loved the idea of getting married, she realized that she was settling for less than God's best.“I was in my late 20s and I wasn't married yet, and so I was excited about the idea that someone wanted to marry me,” she explains. “But deep down inside, I felt like he did not have the qualities that I always dreamed of when I pictured my future husband.”Trusting that God had a different plan, Dee Dee broke things off and spent some time enjoying being single. That was when she saw an advertisement for an online dating site. Although Dee Dee didn't believe in online dating at the time, she decided to give it a try. But this time, she wasn't going to settle. “I did a search for my perfect guy,” she recalls. “And it was almost just to prove that it wouldn't work.” To her surprise, however, one man on the site met all of her “perfect guy” criteria. At first, Dee Dee hesitated, not wanting to make the first move, but finally she reached out — and the rest is history. Now, Dee Dee says she's thankful she didn't settle for someone who wasn't exactly right for her. If she hadn't listened to God's prompting, she wouldn't be in the amazing marriage she has today. Writing a Book: Not So Complicated After All?Dee Dee says she always wanted to share her story. But after writing an outline for the book that is now My Match.com Marriage, she put it aside for several years. Then Covid-19 hit, and Dee Dee found herself at home, out of work for four months. Wanting to use the time for something productive, Dee Dee pulled out her outline, made a few changes, and started writing. When she was finished, she found an editor, who helped her improve the content and provided instructions for selling the book on Amazon. “I was surprised at how easy it was,” Dee Dee says. “Because when you think of [writing and publishing a book], it's such a big task. But it didn't seem complicated once I did it.”One reason the writing flowed so easily for Dee Dee was because she had that outline to work from. Pulling from her journalism background, she had chosen ten main points to write about, and structured the book so that each chapter focused on one of those points. Not only does this kind of outline make the writing process easier (and often faster), but it also helps keep the book's content organized so readers can navigate it easily and find the information they need. Finally, Dee Dee made sure to get reliable feedback. In addition to hiring an editor and getting her husband's perspective on the personal stories she was writing about, she also asked a trusted family member to read it and give constructive criticism. Dee Dee knew this person would be honest with her even if the book was terrible, which made their positive response even more encouraging. Life Is ShortMaybe you, like Dee Dee, have a story to share, but you're hesitating to take that first step and get it out into the world. If that's you, Dee Dee cautions you to remember that “life is short, and you might as well chase your dreams now, because now is the best time to do it.”None of us is promised a future. But writing a book is a great way to leave a legacy that will remain long after you are gone. It may seem daunting, but as you move forward, you may just find, as Dee Dee did, that it's not as complicated as it seems.  BIO:Dee Dee Patterson is a wife and mother with three children who are all under 6 years old. Before she met her husband, she was frustrated, disappointed, and scared that her dream of being a wife and mother would never come to fruition. One day she did a very specific search on Match.com for her dream guy. She got one result! After contacting the man, they dated for a year before getting married. She has been married for over a decade and is in a happy and loving marriage after meeting her husband online. She wrote a book about what she and her husband do to have a happy marriage. She also blogs about going from dating to her dream life as a wife and mother at www.deedeepatterson.com to help other people get to their dream marriage. GET CONNECTED:Website: www.deedeepatterson.com  

In this episode, you'll also hear:The importance of obeying God's call, even if you don't think you're qualifiedHow God supplied “manna” for Jeaninne during her writing journeyHow to write your story in a way that helps people connect with itWhy Jeaninne refers to writing as a ministryWhat kind of writers this world needs right nowJeaninne's advice on returning to your “burning bush” for renewal and motivation when the journey gets toughObeying the Call to LeaveIn her book Lessons from the Writing Wilderness, Jeaninne Stokes shares the story of leaving her full-time job to pursue a ministry in writing — or, as she puts it, “leaving the ‘Egypt,' if you will, of my career, journeying through the wilderness of preparation, and then finally entering my promised land to become an author.”Jeaninne says she truly loved her job at the time. So when she first heard God calling her to leave, she ignored the prompting for about a year. But God kept trying to get her attention. From an audible voice telling her it was time to go to the words “never be afraid to give up the good to go for the great” mysteriously appearing on her computer screen, the nudges from God became too obvious for her to continue ignoring them. Despite not knowing why God wanted her to leave her job — or what she was supposed to do once she left — Jeaninne obeyed. Now, she encourages others to be obedient to God's call, even if it doesn't seem to make sense. “God will not reveal anything else to you as to what He wants you to do until you take that first step of obedience,” she explains. “And that's what I had to do.”Preparing in the WildernessAfter taking that first step of obedience, Jeaninne found herself at home alone, uncertain of what to do next. But that alone time allowed her to ask God for guidance and to listen for His answer. “When you make yourself an available instrument,” she says now, “God will start speaking and making His plans known.”The first answer Jeaninne received was to get up at 4:00 AM every morning, go to her office, read the story of Moses and the Israelites, and write down the lessons she learned from it. Only after she obeyed this call did Jeaninne begin to understand the purpose for it. “God started speaking to me and saying, ‘I'm having you read this because you're going to be going on a similar journey. I've called you out of your Egypt and put you into the wilderness to prepare for a writing ministry,'” Jeaninne recalls. Although she didn't necessarily want to undergo this “wilderness” period of preparation, Jeaninne came to understand over time that it was necessary. “Before you can do anything great, you've got to prepare for that great,” she explains.For Jeaninne, preparation meant not only becoming a better writer, but also growing in her faith and learning to trust in God's provision and guidance. She didn't consider herself qualified for ministry, but as she continued to follow God's leading, He continued to provide exactly what she needed for each day — just as He provided food and water for the Israelites in the wilderness. Learning to Be VulnerableAlthough Jeaninne had written numerous devotionals, Lessons from the Writing Wilderness was especially challenging to write, because it required her to be more vulnerable and transparent in her writing than ever before. Sharing her personal struggles and hardships with the world was difficult — but it was also important.“I came to realize that people need to hear your story,” she says. “People connect with your story.” Through transparently sharing the story of her writing journey, Jeaninne has been able to help others who are going through similar “wilderness” experiences by offering them hope and encouragement.It was a difficult journey, but Jeaninne says that once her book was finished, she felt a strong sense of closure and relief. “I felt like I had given birth, and that I was now able to really go out and help other aspiring Christian writers,” she adds.Understanding the Ministry of WritingFor many people, ministry is something that happens from the pulpit of a church or out on the streets. But, as Jeaninne has learned, writing can be a powerful ministry as well. What's more, Jeaninne argues that writing is an essential ministry.“The world needs good writers,” she says. “The world needs people who are willing to write from God's perspective and not our own, in light of the hope and hurt and all that's going on in our world. God calls people He wants to use to write, to share His Word, to spread His gospel. And it took me a while to understand that if I'm doing that as a writer, then that is my pulpit.” As writers, we can share the good news of Jesus with a much wider audience than we might otherwise be able to reach. So it's vital that we obey God's calling on our lives and write the message He has given us to share with the world around us. After all, if He can use ordinary people to write the Bible itself, what might He use your written words to accomplish?Returning to the Burning BushMaybe you, like Jeaninne, have felt God tugging at your heart to pursue a ministry in writing, but you're hesitating to obey the call. If that's you, Jeaninne advises following the example of Moses. Go back to your “burning bush” moment and remind yourself that God has called you to do this — and He'll provide the ability and resources if you will just take that first step of obedience. “You're going to have your doubts, you're going to have your struggles,” Jeaninne says in closing. “But you have to go back to the burning bush, to remind yourself of the call that God has placed upon your life, and find a renewal there.” BIO:After beginning her career in higher education and on the trajectory to retire, Jeaninne's life was going the way she planned it until she heard the call to step away to prepare for a career in ministry as a Christian author and Bible-teacher. In 2002 Jeaninne answered the call. She took a leap of faith and left her career to prepare for a new career in ministry as a Christian author, speaker and Bible-teacher. After a season of preparation, in 2015 she founded JStokes Writing Ministries and began her writing ministry by publishing her first book, Living by Faith, a collection of inspirational poetry. Since the publication of her first book, she has authored four more books. Jeaninne has also written numerous devotions and articles and her writings have been published in Cross and Quill, The Christian Communicator, Harmony on the Go and Christian Woman Today Online. In 2009, she founded Inspiration for Living Ministries, her ministry platform where she walks out her calling as a Bible-teacher offering books, keynote messages and other inspirational resources to help people grow in their walk with the Lord.Combining her experience and background as a former educator and her passion to help others being called to the ministry of writing like she was called to do, in 2012 Jeaninne also launched Writing For Him, a ministry designed to help prepare aspiring Christian authors to write and publish for the Christian marketplace. Her service offerings include personal coaching, workshops and keynote messages for Christian writing conferences.Jeaninne's formal education includes a B.B.A in Business Administration from the University of North Texas and a M.Ed in General Education from Texas Christian University. She is a self-taught writer and her training to write professionally included attending numerous writing conferences, participating in several online classes, reading books on the craft, studying the writings of great Christian authors, and the daily practice of writing to perfect her craft.Jeaninne resides in Arlington, TX with her husband and two young adult children. In her spare time, she enjoys walking, reading, watching old movies, listening to old school music and rooting for her favorite professional football team. GET CONNECTED:Website: www.inspirationforliving.netTwitter: https://twitter.com/stokes_jeaninneFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeaninne.stokes

In this episode, you'll also hear:How Candy came to write and publish a book dealing with a very difficult subject, despite people telling her a publisher wouldn't want to pick it upWhat Candy has learned about waiting well — and why waiting doesn't have to be negativeHow to tell if you have enough material to write a book rather than an articleTips on blogging consistentlyCandy's advice for the writer who wants to land a publishing dealFinding Inspiration to WriteCandy Arrington says she has always enjoyed writing. As a child, she constantly made up stories for herself, and she chose English as her college major. But it wasn't until much more recently — while on a church retreat with her husband — that she decided to write a book. “The Lord woke me up early, one morning, and I just had words swirling in my head,” Candy recalls. “I got up and grabbed my journal and began to write.” Later, Candy shared some of what she had written with others at the retreat. To her surprise, multiple people asked for a copy of her words to take home. “That was my first indication that perhaps writing was something that could minister to others, not just a personal way of processing emotions and thinking about things,” she says.Candy's first book, Aftershock: Help, Hope and Healing in the Wake of Suicide, deals with a heavy but important topic, and it was born from personal experience. After a traumatic experience involving an acquaintance, Candy collaborated with a Christian counselor to write the book — and, in the process, learn to better understand why this kind of tragedy happens and how to deal with it. Through Aftershock, Candy endeavors to dispel common misconceptions about suicide and to offer hope and healing to those who have lost loved ones in this manner. Trusting God to Bring it All TogetherWhen it was time to find a publisher for Aftershock, Candy explains that God opened all the right doors at just the right times. While attending a Christian writers' conference, she knew she would have to act fast to secure a meeting with the specific editor she felt drawn to. There were hundreds of fellow writers at the conference, and that particular editor only had three meeting slots available. It seemed impossible that Candy could make her way through the crowd in time, but God had other ideas.“As I walked across the room, it was like the parting of the Red Sea,” Candy says. “Everybody just moved aside, and I could see this editor's name on the table. And I just stepped right through that opening and put my name on the last appointment on that list.” Although the editor turned Candy's book down, she pointed Candy to another agent, who invited her to share her book idea at breakfast the next day. Candy was disappointed to see that she wasn't the only person he'd invited, but she gave her pitch anyway and handed over her book proposal. Then something amazing happened. Each person at the table shared how their lives had been impacted by suicide. Even though the agent had intended to reject her idea, the stories that the other people shared convinced him that there was not just an audience for Candy's book, but a need for it to exist. “If I had tried to orchestrate that breakfast table, it would never have happened,” Candy says in retrospect. But because she trusted God enough to keep going when things didn't turn out the way she expected, God rewarded her by pulling it all together in even better ways than she had planned. Learning to Wait WellCandy's latest book, Life on Pause: Learning to Wait Well, also deals with an important topic: having patience and trusting God when life isn't going the way one wants it to. Periods of infertility and financial insecurity tested Candy's patience over the years, and she admits that during many of these times she did not “wait well.” But one morning, while reading the Bible, she came across the words “Thus far, the Lord has helped us” (1 Samuel 7:12). “I started thinking about all the thus fars in our lives,” she says. “And in doing that, I realized that this waiting season didn't have to be a negative thing, that it could be a time when we benefited from just watching for the Lord at work. Not feeling like we had to make something happen, but just trusting and waiting.” In our fast-paced society, we're often taught that if we don't act quickly and make things happen, we'll miss out. As a result, waiting can feel scary and frustrating. But the more we focus on God's faithfulness, the more we can learn to let those fears go and trust that God will come through yet again, in His own perfect timing. Learning from ExperienceAlongside learning to wait well and trusting God to provide, Candy's publishing experiences have taught her several important practical lessons for success as a writer. Create an Annotated OutlineIn Candy's experience, many aspiring authors have a great idea — but their idea doesn't include enough material to fill an entire book, at least not yet. Starting with an outline helps you determine how much material you have to work with, and how easy or difficult it will be to expand that material into book-length. Sometimes, what you think is a book idea would work much better as an article instead. Be FlexibleWe may have a plan for where we want to go with our writing, but God may have other ideas. It's important to be open and listening for His direction, because He may lead you in a completely different direction than you expected — and inspiration may strike anywhere, at any time. Maintain ConsistencyWhen Candy started her blog, she committed to posting once a week, no matter what. Sometimes, it can be tempting to let that commitment slide, but with God's help, she always finds something to write about. The key is to always be on the lookout for ideas and to ask God for help, especially when it gets hard. Making the Right ConnectionsWith God's help, Candy has achieved many accomplishments and gained valuable experience in the publishing industry. For aspiring authors who dream of having their book picked up by a traditional publisher, Candy's #1 piece of advice is to attend a writers' conference. Not only will you gain valuable insight and have the opportunity to connect with editors and agents, but you'll also be able to connect with and learn from fellow writers. “Often, you can learn as much from other writers as you can from editors and agents, especially if you're just starting out,” Candy explains. “If you can decide to be teachable, and decide that you're going to learn from people who have a little more knowledge than you do because they've been in the industry a little bit longer, then I believe that you can experience success.”  BIO:Candy Arrington is a writer, blogger, and speaker. She frequently writes on the topics of faith, health, personal growth, and methods for moving through, and beyond, challenging life circumstances. Candy's publishing credits include other nonfiction books, including Life on Pause: Learning to Wait Well, and hundreds of articles and stories in numerous print and online outlets including: Focus on the Family, AriseDaily.com, Inspiration.org, CBN.com, Healthgrades.com, Care.com, NextAvenue.org, CountryLiving.com, and Writer's Digest.Candy gains writing inspiration from vintage photographs, historic architecture, nature, and the application of scripture to everyday life. She enjoys teaching at writing conferences, guiding writers in how to best craft their ideas to experience publishing success.Candy and her husband, Jim, live in upstate South Carolina and love their roles as Glam-Glam and Bop to their three precious grandchildren. GET CONNECTED:Website: https://candyarrington.comX (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/CandyArringtonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Arrington.Author

In this episode, you'll also hear:Ann's definition of emotional intelligence, and why she says everything Jesus taught leads us to itWhy Ann says a believer's born-again process follows the classic Hero's JourneyQuestions to help shape your identity after God's purposes instead of after what the world says you should beWhy Ann says losing a month's worth of edits on her first book was an “act of God”The problem with jumping into Christian leadership too quicklyAnn's advice for the aspiring author who struggles to find the confidence to finishEmotional Intelligence for ChristiansAnn Lenaers packs a ton of valuable information into her first book, Perfect Love: A Hero's Journey, but two words stand out from the rest: emotional intelligence. Or, as she puts it, “a smart heart.” Ann explains that throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites are described as having hardened hearts. As a result, God communicated with them through rigid rules and structure. But when Jesus came, He taught discipleship that focuses on what's happening inside of our hearts instead of outward actions alone. “In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus took it out of your head and put it in your heart,” Ann says. “It's not ‘an eye for an eye,' it's ‘turn the other cheek,' because there's more to it.” In other words, to have emotionally intelligent “smart hearts,” we must “know the word in our heads and teach it to our hearts.” While the work of the Holy Spirit is essential to the process of growing in Christ, Ann believes the church has an important role to play in discipling new Christians so they can learn to let Christ reign over their hearts and live emotionally intelligent lives. Faith & the Hero's JourneyAlthough Ann grew up in the church, there was a time when she temporarily walked away from Christianity. “I got to this point where I knew I needed something in the spiritual understanding of my life,” she recalls, “and I'd grown up feeling like the church didn't give me answers. So I started looking everywhere else.”After getting involved with the New Age movement for a few years, however, Ann found her beliefs being challenged to the point that she realized she needed to know who Jesus was. So she cried out to God, and after fasting for three days, she encountered the glory of God. Ann compares her experience to the biblical accounts of Paul's experience on the road to Damascus and the transfiguration of Jesus: “It was just this brief moment standing in the light and presence of God… There are not enough words in eternity to try and explain it. But I tell people that the feeling it gave me was like if I could shove my hand in my chest and rip my heart out, I'd be looking at what love is. Because that's how it made me feel.”That was the beginning of Ann's born-again journey, and she says it really was like starting life over. As God guided her in growing spiritually, He also guided her in writing Perfect Love to share her journey with others. In the book, Ann also compares the journey of being born again to the classic “Hero's Journey” structure found in many works of fiction. “It's not like God was trying to give us this list of hundreds and hundreds of rules we had to follow,” she explains. “He was trying to help our minds be pointed in the direction of love, which is Him.”Although Ann admits that writing this book was an ambitious undertaking, she also says that once God had placed the idea in her heart, there was no way she could keep it to herself — she had to share the fullness of God's amazing love with everyone, however she could. Four Identity QuestionsA huge part of Ann's born-again journey was reshaping her identity to build on her new foundation of faith. To find this identity, she says it's crucial to understand the importance of our relationship with God, others around us, and even ourselves — and to understand who we are in relation to all three.So in Perfect Love, Ann asks readers to answer four key questions:Who am I to myself?Who am I to others?Who am I to God?What needs to change about my answers?That last question is especially important, because we as humans are always going to make mistakes and have lessons to learn. “What I thought I was is not the same as what I actually am,” Ann says. The more we learn to conform to the image of Christ — and to shape our identities according to who He made us to be — the more assuredly we'll be able to stand on the foundation of our faith. A Month of Editing… LostEven after deciding to write her book, Ann wrestled with doubts about whether she was qualified or if anyone would listen to what she had to say. But when she finally surrendered to God's calling and started to write, the words poured out of her.“Once you know that God has called you into something, once you're ready to start, there's nothing that can stop the floodgates from opening up,” she says now. In a matter of months, Ann wrote the entire first draft of Perfect Love. But after she had spent a month editing — and changing parts of it that she now realizes she shouldn't have changed — her laptop crashed. Ann lost all of her edits. But in losing that work, she learned that she had been heading in the wrong direction.Ann returned to her first draft, but this time the only edits she made were to improve the grammar and structure of the writing itself, not to alter the content. “I think losing the edits was an act of God,” she says in retrospect. “Making the edits was Satan messing with my head.” Ann's story is a powerful reminder that sometimes what we think is the work of the enemy is actually God redirecting us to follow His original design. That's why it's so important that we partner with the Holy Spirit, so He can guide us and keep us from straying too far from His plan. Trust & ConfidenceAnn's journey certainly has not been an easy one. And chances are, yours hasn't been easy, either. No matter where you are on that journey — whether you're just starting out, working on putting the message God has given you into the right words, overthinking how to edit your book, or unsure if what you've written is good enough — you're not alone. Ann advises starting by finding and solidifying your identity in Christ, and everything else will follow as you learn to stand on your faith. “If you're standing on a solid relationship with God, there's nothing you can do that would be really wrong,” she explains. “Either it will be exactly what He's guided to you, or He will correct you if you're on the wrong path, and He can use it for your good because He called you.”Ann defines faith as a combination of trust and confidence. When your trust and confidence are 100% rooted in God, you'll be able to follow where He leads and to fulfill the purpose He has placed in your life. Stay close to Him, listen for His guidance and correction, and He'll show you the way.  BIO:Ann Lenaers is first and foremost a loving mother to Ava and a guardian to Hazel who likes to call her fairy godmother. She is also a Christian Author, Public Speaker, and Master Certified Life Coach operating under the business name Peace Is The Road. Her calling is to help raise up the children of God into maturity by aiding in the development of the emotional intelligence and healthy communication skills necessary for love and peace to be lived in balanced truth and grace. She works to bring words to life that have been abused in modern culture through fostering universal understanding of their meaning and calling people to action. She has a passion for community service and puts that love to work as the Community Outreach Coordinator of her home church as well as being a founding board member for Strategies for Life, a local nonprofit partnering with Living Free. GET CONNECTED: Website: www.peaceistheroad.orgInstagram: www.instagram.com/annjolina12Facebook: www.facebook.com/peaceistheroad

In this episode, you'll also hear:Why many men (and women) often find themselves stuck with untapped potentialWhy Josh says we need to look at more than just one side of JesusQuestions to ask yourself to determine if you are building with the right spiritual resourcesWhat to do when you feel called to do something, but can't see the opportunity opening up just yetJosh's advice on finishing what you've startedUnderstanding Jesus as the StandardAs an entrepreneur, Josh Khachadourian has a lot of experience with leadership in the business sphere. Several years ago, this experience helped inspire his book, The Standard: Discovering Jesus as the Standard for Masculinity, as it gave him a fresh perspective on the person of Jesus. “I was looking at the life of Jesus, but this time I was looking with a new lens,” he recalls. “I was looking through the lens of not just the miracles, not just seeing Jesus as the Son of God, but I was really examining His life, His methods, His operating principles, His EQ. And I was looking at him through the lens of leadership that I've been privileged to walk down.”Through conversations with fellow Christian men, Josh realized that many struggled to see Jesus as relevant and accessible in their daily lives. So he wrote The Standard as a resource to help people — especially men — understand and experience Jesus as a real man who modeled how we as humans should live, without separating Him from His divinity. One major issue Josh addresses in the book is the fear of failure. “We're created for dominion,” he says. “It's in our DNA.” According to Josh, this spiritual need to accomplish great things is what drives people to build, create, and conquer mountains. “They're searching for God,” he explains. “They're searching to be reunited with the way they were created.”Unfortunately, many people end up suppressing this desire because they're afraid. They worry about what others will think if they go after their dreams and fail to achieve them. As a result, they end up frustrated, because they know they aren't living up to their God-given potential. Going after our dreams and being vulnerable about our struggles can be incredibly scary, but it's necessary if we're going to live the life God created us for. Following Jesus' ExampleAnother important theme of Josh's book is exploring the different attributes of Jesus as the standard for masculinity. Although Josh believes anyone, regardless of gender, can and should learn from Jesus' example, he writes especially to encourage and inspire Christian men to become leaders according to the model set by Jesus. In Josh's experience, the church often emphasizes Jesus' softer, nurturing side, while placing less importance on His more traditionally masculine traits. “We've highlighted Him so much as the Lamb that we've lost sight of the Lion,” Josh says. Josh's book covers six characteristics of Jesus that set an example for Christian men:Self-leadership and disciplineLeadership of othersCommunication skillsEmpathyConfrontation, especially in defending the vulnerableLove and bearing the crossIn each section, Josh includes not only examples from Jesus' life, but also practical applications for those lessons. For example, referencing 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, he argues that everyone is building something spiritually — the question is, what are you building and why, and is it what God wants you to build?“I don't necessarily believe that wood, hay, and stubble is necessarily bad,” he adds. “You can build really good things with wood. You can build structures, you can build things that can last. But the scariest part for me is, was I called to do that?” As we learn to follow the example of Jesus, we must also learn to examine our motivations and discern whether our actions align with God's plan for our lives. Overcoming Perfectionism & the Fear of FailureMost authors experience some level of fear and hesitation when it comes to putting their work out into the world. Even sharing your writing with a family member or friend requires you to be vulnerable and can feel like you're taking a huge step outside your comfort zone. For Josh, much of that fear manifested as perfectionism. “I do love to do things with excellence, so if I'm going to do it, I want to do it the right way,” he says. “But when it crosses over into perfectionism, that's really the fear of failure. That's what I was scared of: ‘What are people going to think? What are they going to say? I'll tweak some more.' And you can get stuck in an endless cycle of tweaking and never releasing.”Despite his fear and perfectionism, however, Josh knew that the message he'd been given was important and that he needed to release it. He views it as giving God a return on His investment — he'd been entrusted with the message, and it was his responsibility to share it with the people who needed to hear it. So Josh pushed through the fear, and God opened doors for him to publish the book — and he continues to hear from people whose lives have been positively impacted by the book. “I was just obedient with what the Lord told me to do,” he observes. “I released it, and now it's off me. It's out there.”Staying CommittedIf your fear of failure and of what others will think is holding you back from sharing the message God has given you, Josh says the key is commitment. If you are committed to obeying God's call, you'll be able to conquer fear and keep going even when you don't feel like it.So many of us have amazing ideas of what we'd like to accomplish. But if you never actually start writing — or if you start but never finish — all those ideas will never come to fruition. “You're either committed to your excuses, or you're committed to finishing and completing the vision,” Josh says in closing. “And when you do [finish], you will take dominion in life.” BIO:Josh Khachadourian is a husband, father, leader, coach and host of the 'Raising The Standard' podcast. Josh has spent the last 15 years ascending the corporate ladder in a Fortune 500 company where he focused on building high performing teams and developing best in class leaders. Josh has encountered and observed the pressures today's men are facing. Most men are grappling for identity and struggling through challenges in life without a plan. Jesus provides a plan and sets a standard that is relatively unknown to the modern Christian man. Josh has made it his mission to show men everywhere that Jesus is accessible, relatable, real and relevant. His breakout best seller 'The Standard' has been challenging, changing and calling men to raise the standard in their lives. The four areas that all men must take dominion in are their faith, fitness, family life and finances. Josh helps men that feel the call to expand and prosper in all areas. You can connect with Josh, read his blog and be the first to hear about new podcast episodes at www.standard59.com GET CONNECTED:Website: https://www.standard59.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/kingdomathleteFacebook: www.facebook.com/kingdomathlete

In this episode, you'll also hear:How God called Pastor Jim to plant a church in a community that was very opposed to the idea — and how God opened those doors anywayHow to keep going when you feel like giving upThe unique process Pastor Jim went through to turn his thesis into a bookImportant questions for leaders to ask about communicating and connecting with all generationsHow to deal with “us vs them” mentalitiesPastor Jim's advice for those struggling with intense internal battlesPlanting a ChurchWhen Pastor Jim Wickham heard God calling him to leave the church he was already serving in and move out of state, he had no idea why or what God was calling him to do in the new city. But he obeyed anyway, and as he prayed for God's continued guidance, a thought came to him: “Wherever Paul went, he planted a church.”Then something strange happened. People from the community began to visit Pastor Jim and his wife, and without being prompted, many of them asked the same thing: “Are you going to plant a church?” One of those visitors offered the use of his renovated garage for a meeting place, and soon the congregation now known as Living Word Community Church was born. To others who feel a similar call to church planting, Pastor Jim says it's important to first be assured that you are really being called directly by God, and then to be faithful to that calling — because there will be challenges.For Pastor Jim and his new congregation, one of the biggest challenges was finding a space to move into once they outgrew the garage. Many in the local community were hostile to churches that weren't Catholic and refused to rent a storefront to them or allow them to meet on school property. Although Pastor Jim could have pushed back with accusations of discrimination, he chose to be patient and trust God to open doors instead. “I'm here to plant a church that will exemplify the love of God,” he explains. “And those people, they're not resisting me. They're resisting someone else, and that's the one I represent. And I want to make sure that the way I represent Him [communicates] that, ‘Okay, that's okay. The God I serve — and we serve — opens doors, and no one can stop that.'”Ultimately, not only did God provide a building, but He led Pastor Jim's congregation to rent that building from a man who had stepped away from the church at large and needed to find his way back.Persevering Through Insecurity & HardshipGod's provision for Pastor Jim's life wasn't limited to finding a building for his new church. He also opened doors for Pastor Jim to get much higher degrees of education than he would have done on his own. It all started with Pastor Jim finishing his bachelor's degree on the side while pastoring vocationally. Then his university opened up a new program that allowed students to earn a master's degree in just one year. This was an intense program, and Pastor Jim admits he sometimes wondered why he had decided to do it. But he earned the degree, and enjoyed the feeling of freedom and accomplishment at having finished higher education for good — or so he thought. A few years later, someone from the seminary reached out to ask if Pastor Jim had ever considered getting a doctorate as well. Pastor Jim believed there were many reasons he couldn't — he hadn't taken certain prerequisite courses, he thought he wouldn't be accepted — but, again, God opened those doors and made it possible. Throughout his higher education journey, Pastor Jim says there were many times he thought about quitting. But now he sees that God was using the experience to help him grow and conquer his insecurities. “When I have my personal time with the Lord,” he recalls, “I hear another voice that affirms me and speaks life and says, ‘You can do this. Not because of you — you can do this because of Me.'”Reacting to Culture ShiftsPastor Jim's book, Facilitating Change to Reach All Generations, actually started as his doctoral thesis. When his family urged him to turn it into a book, he listened, even though he says he had no clue how to go about it. Again, God opened a door to make it possible, and again, Pastor Jim walked through the door. The book's topic came from Pastor Jim's experience leading Living Word Church. Turmoil involving some of the church's former leaders made it necessary for Pastor Jim and his team to turn their focus inward and prioritize strengthening their own leadership and programs. While this was happening, the culture around them was experiencing shifts and changes that caused gaps in the church's effectiveness at reaching various groups of people. “The culture outside shifted so drastically that I began to see the church was not really acknowledging that,” he explains. People from new generations and different cultural contexts were being turned away because they didn't understand the terminology being used or because the way the gospel was being presented made them feel unwelcome. “I realized there are some shifts here that really need to take place in us,” he says. “We don't need to change our message; we just need to change how we say the message. How do we say this to connect with those people? And how do we do things differently, to connect with them and say, ‘You are welcome too'?”If the church is going to be effective at reaching the lost, Pastor Jim believes Christian leaders must learn to understand how culture and values shift over time and how to appeal to people of different generations without watering down or compromising the gospel. Dealing with “Us vs. Them” MindsetsOften, churches or organizations that fail to reach people from different generations have fallen into an “us versus them” mentality. When that happens, Pastor Jim says it's important to step back and examine yourself first. Ask yourself why you feel that it's you versus the other person or people, and let God show you the answer. Then work alongside Him to deal with the root issue instead of just the surface-level emotions. “Instead of seeing the differences, then I can see what the real need here is,” Pastor Jim explains. “If they don't know Christ, that's the greatest need of all. And they're not going to find it if I'm going to be at odds with them.”As Christians, we know that God lavishes His love on us. Instead of fighting against other humans, we must let His love and grace transform us into His image first, and then we must share that love and grace with everyone around us. Of course, we also know that, ultimately, God is the one who works in other people's hearts to draw them to Himself. But how we treat others and how we market ourselves to our community plays a direct role in either helping draw those people into our church or driving them away from it. That means we need to closely examine how well we are reflecting God's love, and it also means we need to ask real people whether they see God's love reflected in us — and if they don't, we need to make some internal changes. It's not easy, and it can be uncomfortable and painful to hear negative feedback, but as Pastor Jim has experienced, this kind of self-evaluation is crucial to our success at reaching the lost and growing as a church. Looking Beyond the StruggleMaybe you, like Pastor Jim in the past, are battling insecurities and difficulties and are considering giving up on what God has called you to do. If so, Pastor Jim advises you to remember that you aren't in the position you are now because you chose it, but because God loved you enough to put you there. “I don't think there's accidents. I think God is purposely leading us, and so it's always for our good,” he says in closing. “Look beyond the moment, beyond the internal struggle and the stress that's there. You may not be able to see what's beyond that, but we know who is beyond…. And He's always faithful.” BIO:James W. Wickham and his wife, Isla, reside in beautiful Southern Maryland, about an hour and half from Washington, D.C.. In July of 1986, they planted Living Word Community Church, which they still pastor. They led Living Word from its infancy, through the several stages of growth, until today they have their own building with plans of future growth and expansion. Both are passionate about people experiencing the transforming power of Christ's love, the presence of God, and teachers of the Word of God. For almost forty years, James has filled various levels of leadership positions for the District Ministry Network, plus for over 20 years, he has served on the board of a local Crises Pregnancy Center. In addition to the position of pastor, counselor, mentor, and coach, he holds B.Th., B.A., M.A., and D.Min. degrees. He and his wife have three grown married children with eight grandchildren. GET CONNECTED:Facebook: www.facebook.com/people/James-W-Wickham/1788947756/Get Pastor Jim's book: www.amazon.com/Facilitating-Change-Reach-All-Generations-ebook/dp/B08RTVH5TT/

In this episode, you'll also hear:The important first step Marlena took once she had decided her audience and the type of book she was going to writeMarlena's journey to finding the right title for her bookThe difference between a cover designer and an interior designer — and why you need bothWhy Marlena recommends putting together a full presentation to walk potential investors through your vision — and why it's useful even if you aren't looking for investorsMarlena's advice on being fully authentic in your writingWriting AuthenticallyLike many people, Marlena Banks says that growing up often involved not feeling like herself. As a result, she had a strong desire to express herself creatively and to leave her mark on the world. That's why it was important to her that her book, Big Idea Food: A Weekly Devotional for Entrepreneurs, Side Hustlers & Dreamers, be written in her unique, authentic voice. While Marlena clarifies that she didn't necessarily make a conscious choice to “be her most authentic self,” she did take inspiration from her journals while writing, and she made an effort to write in a way that was true to the message she knew God was calling her to share.“There was no other way to write,” she explains. “I didn't hear it any other way except to share what was truthfully shared with me in the way it was shared with me. But, in hindsight, it was very important to me that, if I put this out there, it expresses me. I didn't want to open this book five years later and be like, ‘That is not who I was!' So it really brings me joy to know that this is like a snippet in time of my most ‘selfiest' of selves.”Marlena's authentic voice speaks well to her target audience, in part because she wrote it for people like herself: millennial entrepreneurs. But, although she felt that Big Idea Food was the perfect way to express her faith and share her God-given message, she started by scoping out the market first to see if someone had already done something similar. To her surprise, there were no other books on the market like the one she intended to write. This made her even more excited to write it herself, and it confirmed that she had truly found her niche. Finding the “Big Idea”Before Big Idea Food and the start of her entrepreneurial journey, Marlena worked as a freelancer for almost ten years. “I did a lot of work for up-and-coming startups, mom-and-pop shops — people who have visions and dreams — and I helped create identities for them,” she says. “I just spent so much time with people who were just like me, who felt like, ‘I know I have so much to do in this world. God has shown me a vision.'” Eventually, working with all of these “big ideas” and visions inspired the name of her devotional book, because she wanted to encourage people to view God's Word as fuel for their ideas and endeavors. She describes the book and its bite-sized devotionals as “Red Bull for your faith” or an energy bar to give entrepreneurs a quick boost when they're feeling discouraged or in low spirits. “God's word really fuels all of the seeds that He planted inside of you,” she adds. “The activation that occurs when God's word hits the calling and the seeds that He has planted in you, it really brings the fruit.”For an extra spiritual energy boost, Marlena titled each chapter with an affirmation to help readers immediately ground themselves in God's truth and to deliver maximum value in a relatively short word count. Assembling the TeamEven though Marlena's background is in marketing, she realized early in the self-publishing process that she needed expert help to launch her book successfully. She started by researching and hiring an editor and then branched out to add more members to her little self-publishing team. As a graphic designer, Marlena planned to design the book cover herself — but she quickly realized she was out of her depth and needed help with that, too. “I was too close to the project,” she says in retrospect. “This was a lesson for me that sometimes when God is calling you into those higher levels of your purpose, or to the next season, even, sometimes you've got to let go of those old talents and the old season.”Marlena's experience is an important reminder that everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. It's tempting to try to do everything yourself, but it really takes a team of talented individuals working together to publish a high-quality book. That said, Marlena has also learned that focusing too much on the resources you don't have can prevent you from moving forward. Assembling a dream team can be expensive, and Marlena knew she didn't have enough money yet to hire everyone she needed. But what she did have was the ability to put together a presentation about her idea, which she used to secure financial investments. “You need to communicate your vision,” she says. “You need to get out of your head, get out there, and talk to people about what you're doing. And I'm telling you, that's all you need. God just needs you to take those steps, and He will order them. He will bless them. He will provide what you need.”Building a CommunityOnce you do step out in faith and follow God's leading, trusting that He will provide the resources you need to make your vision a reality, you may be surprised by where you end up. Beyond the book, Marlena's calling led her to establish a community of like-minded people who strive to follow God's direction in their creative and professional pursuits. Not only does this community allow Marlena to build the type of relationships she's always wanted, but it also empowers her and the other members to make an impact for God's Kingdom in their respective spheres of influence. Even starting this community took a leap of faith on Marlena's part, however. Not only did she have to obey God's prompting to leave her job so she could focus on launching Big Idea Food, but she also had to launch before she felt “ready.” “I was going to plan and make things all perfect for the launch,” she recalls. “And then the pandemic hit, and then I felt a push, like, ‘No, you don't need to perfect this thing. People need community right now — your people, the ones that I am sending to you. Right now.'”If you, like Marlena, feel God calling you to do something before you think you're ready, let Marlena's story inspire you to do it. It may be scary, but if you are willing and obedient, God will expand your territory and open more doors than you can even imagine.Telling Your Story in Your VoiceSometimes your calling and your God-given message are easy to follow and express, but often aspiring authors struggle to share their message in their own voice. If that's you, Marlena encourages you to remember that God gave you a unique voice and message — and He gave it to you for a reason. Someone out there needs to hear you tell your story as only you can, and hiding behind an inauthentic voice only gets in the way of that. “When you show up as yourself, you truly, truly, do empower others to do the same,” Marlena says in closing. “And we need more of that. We need fewer copies out here. And we need more of our authentic who God called us and made us to be.” BIO:Marlena Banks is the founder of Big Idea Food™, a Christian media brand that produces faith-fueling content for entrepreneurs & creatives. Since releasing the Big Idea Food™ book, a down-to-earth, faith-based devotional for entrepreneurs in 2018, she's continued to grow the brand's offerings to include a weekly devotional newsletter, edge-snatching social media content, a growing membership community & business coaching. She's found admirers across the globe including Yvonne Orji from the powerhouse show Insecure and other faith based entrepreneurs and tastemakers. When she's not speaking at inspirational events or podcasts like this, you can find her curating faith-filled programming inside her community, Big Idea Food™ TRIBE or coaching early-stage founders to launch & grow their big ideas into the influential businesses God has called them to be. Her ultimate mission is to elevate the influence of more Christian creators so that, together, we can positively impact our world at the level God intended. Learn more about Big Idea Food™ and sign up for the weekly newsletter at bigideafood.com/subscribe GET CONNECTED:Website: www.bigideafood.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/bigideafoodFacebook: www.facebook.com/BigIdeaFood

In this episode, you'll also hear:Why Courtnaye says this generation is one of the busiest of all time, and her advice on being still How Courtnaye started a successful blog with no prior knowledge — and how she's maintained it for ten years The difference between marketing and self-promotion Tips on how to break into writing online Courtnaye's advice on conquering the fear of putting yourself out there Time for God with a Busy ScheduleBetween writing, blogging, speaking engagements, family, ministry, and more, Courtnaye Richard is a woman who wears many hats — or, as she describes it, “My life is on wheels.” But Courtnaye also understands the importance of prioritizing her relationship with God. That was the inspiration for writing her 52-week devotional Inside Out with Courtnaye: to help other women like herself who needed a reminder — and perhaps even a little guidance — to set aside time to study God's word. “When we're sitting with Jesus, we're sitting with Him and allowing Him to teach us,” Courtnaye explains, “but we have to be still. We have to pause.” With that in mind, Courtnaye designed her devotional to include both Scripture and reflection questions in each section, inviting her readers to pause, reflect, and learn from what they read. However, since she wrote the book for women who lead busy lives, she kept each section short enough to be completed on a single day out of the week. “I didn't want them to have any excuse not to get into the Word of God — including myself,” she says. A Blog that Opens DoorsAlthough Courtnaye has been writing since she was a child, it was blogging that opened doors for her professionally. In fact, her very first speaking engagement came about because someone read a blog post she'd written and asked her to speak about it at an upcoming women's conference. But Courtanye admits that when she first decided to start a blogging, she had no idea what it was or how to do it. She only knew that she wanted to reach women far beyond her circle of acquaintance — and blogging was a great way to do that. Over the course of ten years, Courtnaye has grown her blog and audience through:Research: Before Courtnaye started, she researched how to run a blog and even watched a movie about a food blogger for inspiration. Quality: Courtnaye chose to write about topics that would truly help her audience in their everyday lives.Consistency: Instead of blogging whenever she felt like it, Courtnaye “trained her audience” to anticipate her blogs by posting at the same time on the same day each week. As Courtnaye's experience shows, a blog can be an incredible platform and a gateway for many opportunities. But it takes hard work, dedication, and intentionality to do it successfully. A Biblical Perspective on Promotion & SalesCourtnaye self-published her devotional book, and she did so on a very tight schedule. With only three months to edit, proofread, take photos, design the cover, and more, she reached a point where she was afraid she couldn't get it all done in time. But with encouragement from God and her husband, she kept at it and ultimately succeeded. Despite juggling so many other tasks, however, Courtnaye knew that marketing and promoting her book couldn't wait until after it was finished. “If you have a product or service, you need to let people know about it,” she explains. “How are you going to make a sale if nobody knows about it?”Even though many aspiring authors understand that marketing is an essential part of publishing, many still hesitate to promote themselves or to focus on making sales. But Courtnaye believes we shouldn't be afraid of putting ourselves out there. “It's not about you; it's about the message” she says. You are the messenger. You're the vessel that God is going to use.” Think about it this way: God has equipped you to impact others. But that won't be possible if you don't allow Him to make your name — and your book — known to the people who need your help. Likewise, instead of thinking of sales as “doing it for the money,” consider it an exchange of value. People are simply paying for the valuable information and services you have to offer. And, by selling those books and services, you just might be able to support a ministry that goes far beyond what you would be able to accomplish on your own. Opportunities: How & Where to Find ThemEven though we as Christian authors are on a mission to spread our God-honoring message, to be successful we also need to make sure we are grounded in good business principles. That means being good stewards of our resources, but it also means being adaptable and seizing opportunities to grow and develop new skills. According to Courtnaye, sometimes all we have to do to gain new opportunities is to ask for them. First, pray and ask for God's favor, and then reach out to people and pitch your ideas or services. That's exactly how Courtnaye landed a role as a contributing writer to a huge blogging platform that reaches thousands of women around the world. While Courtnaye sent that particular pitch via email, she adds that these days, you can often send direct messages to people's social media inboxes. That said, you should always follow directions — if someone only wants to be contacted by email or through a form on their website, don't insist on reaching out to them in a different way. When sending a pitch — whether it's for a guest blog post, a podcast appearance, or a service offering — Courtnaye recommends contacting the owner, founder, or coordinator and pointing them to your own website so they can view samples of what you can do. That means you need to make sure your website is professional and that your samples represent you well. Finally, don't underestimate the importance of being visible on social media. “Sometimes people don't know anything about you until they start seeing you everywhere,” Courtnaye says. The more people see you show up consistently and talk about what you are doing, the more likely they are to reach out and offer you opportunities. Courage to Step Out of the BoatIf you struggle with the idea of putting yourself out there, you're not alone. It's common to feel insecure about promoting your work and asking for opportunities. But with God's help, you can conquer that fear!Courtnaye advises dedicating time to read passages of the Bible that deal specifically with fear. Be honest with God about what you're feeling, and ask Him for the courage to move forward. “Before you know it, you'll be stepping out of the boat and heading right towards Jesus,” she says. “He's going to hold your hand, and he's going to walk you through every single step. So just step out of the boat, trust Him, and rely on His Word.” BIO: Courtnaye Richard is the founder of Inside Out Media Group, LLC - a faith-based PR, Marketing & Mentorship Agency. In her 15 years of experience, she has worked with platforms such as PBS, CBN, & TCT Networks, as well as local television and print publications. Courtnaye is also the founder of Inside Out with Courtnaye, a ministry that helps women grow in their walk with Christ from the heart and equips them to fulfill their God-given purpose. Courtnaye is also an author and contributing writer for ibelieve.com, Women's Ministry Tools, YouVersion, and is a speaker of a host of women's conferences. Her blog, Inside Out with Courtnaye, reaches thousands of women across the globe and was listed as the Top 50 Christian Women Bloggers Every Woman Must Follow. She's passionate about helping women make a greater impact in their personal lives, homes, church, community, and purpose. To find out more information or to book Courtnaye for your next speaking engagement, please visit www.courtnayerichard.com.  GET CONNECTED: Website: www.courtnayerichard.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/insideoutwithcourtnaye  X (formerly Twitter): www.twitter.com/inoutwcourtnaye  Facebook: www.facebook.com/InsideOutWCourtnaye

In this episode, you'll also hear:The unique approach Kirstyn took in her devotional journal's table of contentsThe importance of taking actionHow to relieve the pressure of worrying about tomorrowWhy you should seek a professional editor for your book — even if you are an editor yourselfKirstyn's advice on moving forward a little bit each dayReceive God's Grace & Take ActionWhen Kirstyn Mayden was putting together her devotional Merciful Moments: A Devotional Journal for Moving Forward With Grace Each Day, she decided to take a different approach to the table of contents than many authors use for their devotional books. Instead of labeling the sections as “days,” she labeled them according to their action-based topics. “I wanted the reader to have freedom to look at the topics and scan whatever topics they may be going through in that season, and whatever resonated with them,” she explains. “And I didn't want anybody to feel like, ‘Oh my gosh, I missed day one! I'm gonna freak out!' Because that's the purpose of receiving God's mercy: to give yourself that grace. So I wanted that to start while reading the book.”It was also important to Kirstyn that each of these sections have a clear action step for readers to follow so they can move forward in faith after receiving God's mercy and being encouraged by His word. Of course, we can trust that God will take care of our needs, but Kirstyn argues that we also have a responsibility to fulfill the role God has empowered and equipped us to play. Focus on the PresentAccording to Kirstyn, part of that responsibility is to understand that we can't always control our circumstances — but we can choose to keep ourselves encouraged and moving forward even in the midst of difficult circumstances. Often, this means focusing on the present day instead of letting ourselves get distracted by worries about the future. “When we take the time to focus on today, it's a way to relieve the pressure off ourselves of having to carry all that weight of wanting to know the outcome,” Kirstyn says. “Then we'll be able to focus more on giving gratitude and focus more on, ‘What needs are being met for me this day?' As opposed to what needs I may not have tomorrow.”Choosing to focus on one day at a time like this allows us to be present and appreciate the small moments of beauty God gives us each day. Scripture tells us that His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23), but if we're always thinking about what's happening tomorrow or next week, we may miss the mercies of today. Let Go of PerfectionWhen it came to actually writing and publishing her book, Kirstyn says it was not a quick process by any means. Although she knew for years that she wanted to write a book — and kept telling herself she would do it — she kept putting it off. Even after she'd started writing, she hesitated to share it with others, because she wanted it to be “perfect.”“I just gave myself a list of all these reasons why it wasn't ready to move forward,” she recalls. “And in that moment, God was like, ‘You know what? You're just going to have to step out and move forward. It's never going to be perfect.”Once Kirstyn accepted that it was time to share her work and hired an editor, she found herself getting frustrated by how long it took to undergo multiple rounds of editing — and then to get it all finished up and ready for publication. “It's been a journey,” she says now. “But I'm glad that at the top of the year, I didn't tell myself again the list of reasons why this wasn't ready to move forward. So it's been about a two year process, but I'm glad that I stayed the course. And I'm glad that I didn't let my pursuit of perfection and my fears totally deter me from moving forward.”Stay the CourseMaybe you, like Kirstyn, are afraid to share your manuscript with others. Or maybe something else is holding you back from moving forward with writing and publishing the message God has given you. Whatever the case may be, Kirstyn urges you not to give up. Pray for God's guidance, and make use of the resources you have to work on your book and your craft just a little each day. When you need help (and you will!), don't be afraid to invest in professional assistance so you can present your God-given message as effectively as possible. “This journey of writing a book is not just about writing the book — ultimately, the message that you have for your reader is going to live on long beyond the book's publishing,” Kirstyn says in closing. “This is your message to the world that God has given you, and it's going to be beautiful, but you have to stay the course. So don't give up, be encouraged, and know that the message that God has given you to write will manifest in its due time.” BIO:Kirstyn Mayden is a Christian blogger who writes devotionals that empower and equip believers in their everyday lives. She is a wife, Mom, Pastor's wife, writer, speaker, non-profit leader and most importantly, loves Jesus with all her heart. She is also a writing contributor for Beloved Women, Bible Study Tools, and iBelieve. She has a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University in Atlanta, GA. For the last 20 years, Kirstyn has served in several ministry capacities serving with children, youth and women. She has a passion to serve with women empowering them to grow and live out their God-given purpose. Currently, she serves alongside her husband in ministry in West Virginia. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. GET CONNECTED:Website: www.kirstynspeakshope.comGet Kirstyn's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Merciful-Moments-Devotional-Journal-Forward/dp/1953000126Instagram: www.instagram.com/kirstynsmaydenFacebook: www.facebook.com/kirstyn.brownmayden

In this episode, you'll also hear:How God got Anita's attention when it was time to share her storyAnita's journey through tragedy, and how writing her book served her first – and also helps encourage others around herThe power of working with a book coachAnita's advice for the aspiring author who hesitates out of fear of judgment or resentment from othersA Book Born from TragedyMany aspiring authors have had a dream of writing a book from the time they were young children. But for Anita Morris, becoming an author wasn't something she dreamed about or aspired to –- it was something that happened as a result of a tragic experience in her life.Six months after Anita's husband retired from his career as a firefighter, he was diagnosed with brain cancer. Eight months after that diagnosis, he passed away. “That was the most devastating thing I've ever experienced,” Anita says, “and I didn't know how I was going to move forward with my life.”That's when Anita was reminded of four words that had come to her while caring for her husband:Stand: Anita thought she knew how to be strong, but now it was time to stand in her faith and use the lessons she'd learned from previous trials to carry her through the grieving process.Trust: Anita also needed to remember the sovereignty of God and to trust that what He allows, He allows for a purpose.Endure: It's one thing to endure, but now Anita had to learn to endure with grace and be present in the process of grief – not run away, fight against, or suppress it. Proceed: Finally, it was time for Anita to continue along the path God had ordained for her and enter into His purpose for this new season of her life. Throughout the entire journey of caring for her husband through his cancer and then dealing with his death, Anita had shared her story with her online communities so they could pray with her. To her surprise, many people urged her to write a book about the experience, because her words had helped them deal with trials in their own lives. “That was the beginning of the promptings on my heart to write a book,” she says. “I heard them, but I kind of brushed it off.”But God has ways of getting our attention. While browsing the internet, Anita kept seeing little nudges – a YouTube video about self-publishing that the algorithm just happened to recommend, for example, and a podcast interview she listened to that featured a book coach. “I was like, that is way too strange to be a coincidence,” she says. So she took the hint and signed up for a writer's conference with that book coach – and the rest, as they say, is history. Writing ChallengesAfter setting out on her author journey, Anita had to overcome some challenges to ensure she was putting out the best possible book. First, she had to learn not to limit herself by constantly editing while writing. Her writing coach challenged her to write an entire book in 30 days, without editing a single word. Although Anita admits it was difficult to resist the temptation to edit, she sees now that getting all the words on paper first and editing afterwards helped her finish much faster and kept her from getting stuck along the way. Another challenge Anita faced had to do with the content of her book itself. She knew God wanted her to share a very difficult, painful story about discovering her husband's affair and how they ultimately reconciled, but she was afraid of how others would respond when they read it. Though Anita says she argued with God over whether to include the story in her book, she finally did – and once it was out, she felt a surge of relief. “I don't even think about that anymore – what people are going to think,” she says now. “I have so much freedom, because I told my own story on my own terms, and nobody will ever be able to weaponize it and use it against me. Because I told it first.”As Anita has learned, sharing the parts of our stories that we are afraid to share often completely frees us from that fear. What's more, it helps other people who are going through similar trials to see that there is hope and a way out.  Following Where God LeadsIn addition to being an author, Anita is also a transformational speaker, bringing “a message of hope, resilience, and triumph for those who are living in the midst and aftermath of devastating life trials.”This path actually began before her book was finished, and Anita shares that her first speaking engagement after losing her husband was extremely difficult to prepare for. She knew what she wanted to speak about, but there was so much material to cover that she couldn't even get through half of it in the allotted time frame. “I remember sitting down in the chair in my bedroom crying, and then I started praying,” she recalls. “And then I heard a sweet, still voice say, “The rest of the content is for the book.'” God may not always speak to us in such a direct, unmistakable way, but as Anita has learned, as long as we follow where He leads, He will order our steps and take care of the details we can't figure out on our own. Beautiful Possibilities AwaitNo matter where you are in the writing or publishing process, if you're struggling to move forward, Anita advises that you first seek help from professionals in the field – like a writing coach – and then simply trust the process. “Allow yourself to go through it without trying to make it what you want it to be,” she says. “Because sometimes, when we go into it with our preconceived notions, we end up trying to stick to one form, one framework, or one thing that we think we know is going to work. But when we release ourselves to just trust the process that we're being taught, so many beautiful things can happen.” BIO:Anita Morris is an Inspirational Speaker, sharing a message of hope, resilience, and triumph for those who are living in the midst and aftermath of devastating life trials. She is the Best Selling Author of “STEP Into It, Overcoming Trials that Lead to Purpose,” where she walks her readers through the process of stepping into purpose through personal storms. She's also the Founder & CEO of the popular DIY Fashion Brand, “Anita by Design,” where she teaches women all over the world how to master the basics of garment construction.Anita understands the struggle that arises when one is faced with a personal storm that threatens to rob you of your peace and happiness. After experiencing two of the most devastating trials in her life, she learned how to navigate the process of overcoming which has led to a transformed way of thinking and living. Anita says, “The trials of life don't come to destroy you, but they have the potential to usher you into the purpose for which you were created.” GET CONNECTED:Website: https://www.anitabydesign.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anitabydesign/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnitabyDesign/

In this episode, you'll also hear:How Julie went from being rejected by a major publisher to self-publishing her book anyway – and why that turned out much better for her in the endWhy Julie says a book is better credentials than another degreeMistakes to avoid when writing nonfiction to keep your book from being boringHow knowing your reader helps you create a successful marketing planDifferent avenues you can take to publish your book, and considerations for eachJulie's advice for the writer who feels discouraged by rejections or lack of supportThe Path to Book PublishingToday, Julie Broad helps business leaders publish books that help grow their impact and influence – but that's not the career path she intended to take at first. Instead, Julie started out as a real estate investor. And yet, even that business venture began with a book: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki. “It's funny how books have such a powerful impact on our lives,” Julie says now. After reading Kiyosaki's book, Julie bought her first investment property. Eventually, that purchase led to a full-time career in real estate. It wasn't an easy job, but as she gained more properties and people expressed interest in her story, Julie started building a platform on YouTube and through an email newsletter. Before she knew it, not only did she have a real estate training and education business, but she was also being approached by publishers about the possibility of writing a book. There was just one problem: the publisher Julie spoke to wasn't interested in Julie's book idea. They offered an idea of their own instead, and helped her develop a proposal, only to shut the whole project down months later because their marketing department decided her platform wasn't strong enough to sell books. Julie was disappointed. But, after taking some time to process the rejection and with encouragement from her husband, Julie decided to write and self-publish the original book she'd suggested. “In many ways, I felt like self-publishing was giving up or that it wouldn't be a real book,” she admits. “But in the end, I think it was the greatest thing that ever happened to me.”Julie's self-published real estate book made it to #1 on Amazon. On top of that, she kept full rights and all of her royalties, allowing her to make much more money from it that she would have under that traditional publishing house. Best of all, her book's success led to an entirely new business venture, because other aspiring authors started coming to her for advice. “My love was in the books, not the real estate,” Julie realized. “Finally, I started Book Launchers, and I feel like everything I have done in my life has prepared me for this company and for what I'm doing right now.”Furthermore, the experience taught Julie that writing a successful book can actually be a greater form of credentials even than earning a degree. Although Julie has an MBA in Real Estate and Finance, her efforts to raise capital for her investment business didn't really take off until her book came out. “The MBA didn't raise money – the book did,” she says. Julie's story is an important reminder for aspiring business owners. Simply having a degree doesn't guarantee that you actually know what you are talking about, and that you are able to apply the information you were taught in school. Books, on the other hand, allow you to demonstrate what you know and prove your expertise – with minimal investment from your audience.The Value of AssistanceAnother important thing for aspiring authors to keep in mind is that your book is a representation of you and your business. And that means sometimes you need assistance in making it the best representation that it can be. As Julie says, “Just because you can do something all by yourself doesn't mean you should.”In Julie's experience, far too many authors end up feeling embarrassed about how their first book turned out. Now that they've grown and improved, they wish they could erase every trace of it and make sure no one ever sees the typos, sub-par cover design, and so on. But here's the thing – once your book is out there, it's out there for good! So you want to make sure you get all the help you need to get it right the first time. Another reason getting assistance is vital is because new authors often underestimate how many different skills are required to put together and sell a successful book. It's not just about writing, editing, and cover design – there's also a ton of work that goes into the marketing side of things, from keyword and category research to scoping out the competition and creating a complete marketing plan. Think about it this way: your book is a business in its own way – a product that you're releasing to the market. So that means, when you prepare to publish a book, you need to be thinking about all the same elements that you would consider when starting up a new business. “The book often becomes the center, and the business builds around it,” Julie explains. “And everything you're doing with that book needs to tie back to your goals of why you're writing the book and what you're going to use it for.”Lessons for Publishing SuccessJulie's experience helping aspiring authors get published has taught her several valuable lessons about crafting and selling quality books. 1. Nonfiction Books Shouldn't Be BoringJust because your book is nonfiction doesn't mean it can't be interesting and engaging. Too often, authors writing for the same industry tend to include the same type of content over and over again. For example, how many books have you read that talked about setting SMART goals? If you're just regurgitating the same information that other authors in your field have already written about, why would readers pick your book over theirs? You want your book to be relevant, of course, but you also want it to stand out from the crowd and offer value that readers can't get from other books. 2. You Need a Solid Marketing PlanJulie credits much of the success of her real estate book to the fact that she intimately knew her audience – because she was her own ideal reader. That doesn't mean you have to be your ideal reader for your book to sell well, but it does mean you need to have a thorough understanding of both who your audience is and what specific problem they are trying to solve. Once you know those things about your ideal reader, you'll know where and how to reach them – plus, you'll know exactly how your book can help them, and why your solution is different from other solutions they may have already tried. “That's the hook,” Julie says. “That's the backbone of your book. So everything that goes into your book has to tie back to that hook – focus on what they need to know in order to achieve that outcome at the end.”3. A Good Writing Coach Can Make a Huge DifferenceOne of the services Julie's business offers is writing coaches who help ensure the finished project aligns to the authors' goals. She explains that these coaches provide three main things:Accountability: A coach keeps the author on track to make sure the book gets done on time.Emotional support: Writing and publishing a book is an emotional roller coaster. Coaches are there to uplift the author when they feel discouraged and help them set realistic expectations. Writing support: A good writing coach will help the author avoid taking detours from the core message and also push them to dig deeper and be more vulnerable – because often the things we hesitate to share are the things that will really resonate with readers. Without a writing coach, it can be very difficult for new authors to strike the right balance between being relatable and truly helping readers solve their problems. Dealings with DoubtsIn addition to internal struggles and marketing challenges, many aspiring authors also wrestle with negativity from other people – including their loved ones. For example, Julie shares the story of moving from Canada to California as a newly expecting mother. Her grandmother – with whom she had a very close relationship – opposed the move so much that she wrote a four-page letter detailing why she thought Julie and her husband were making a mistake. “We were up against a lot of resistance from a lot of people about the move,” Julie recalls, “And to have her – a person I thought would be my supporter – write this letter, was devastating. It was so hard, I couldn't even finish reading the letter, even to this day.” Ultimately, Julie had to come to a place where she understood that her grandmother believed she was protecting her – but that she had made the right decision for herself. And the same is true of writing books. There will always be naysayers who try to stop you because of their own fears and doubts. Instead of internalizing their negative feedback, you've got to believe in the message you've been given and get the support you need to get that message into the hands of the people who need to hear it. Publishing OptionsAnother reason many aspiring authors hesitate to get the assistance they need is because they're afraid of being taken advantage of. And that's a valid fear – vanity press publishers, who only care about getting money from authors, do exist, and you need to be careful to avoid them. But traditional publishing and vanity press are not the only two options available. Julie describes the different types of publishing as a spectrum with three main points: traditional publishing at one end, self-publishing at the other, and various types of hybrid publishers in between. “All vanity publishers are hybrid publishers, but not all hybrid publishers are vanity publishers,” she explains. With any hybrid publisher, the author pays some fees for things like editing and design. Often, hybrid publishers have good distribution to get your book out into stores and may include marketing services. They also typically keep some of the royalties for each book sold. If it's a good hybrid publisher and not a vanity press, that money is going to good use, helping you craft a quality product. And, like with self-publishing, you keep all the rights to your work. With traditional publishing, you get even more support in finishing, refining, and selling your book. But, in exchange, you forfeit not only some of the royalties, but also the rights to your work – including future adaptations for television or audiobooks. Finally, with self-publishing, you have to do all the work yourself or hire people to help you finish, edit, design, and market your book. However, you get to keep all of the royalties and rights. While none of the three options is necessarily “better” than the others, it's important to consider your goals for the book and how much you're willing to give up in terms of rights and royalties. Keeping the Reader in MindLike Julie, many aspiring authors have naysayers in their life, who just don't believe in the dream and who are weighing them down with doubts, fears, and insecurities. If that's you, Julie encourages you to remember that the negative feedback isn't really about you – the other person is simply projecting their own fears onto you. Instead of thinking about what that person is telling you, try to refocus on your message.“I go back to that reader and how I'm going to help them, and what's going to go wrong for that reader if I don't get this book out there,” Julie says. “Then I can kind of push past and say, ‘Okay, thank you for your thoughts. I appreciate you wanting to protect me. But this is something I know I have to do.”Don't let naysayers or well-meaning worriers stop you from getting your God-given message out into the world! There are people who need to hear it – so keep those readers in your mind, and keep moving forward.  BIO:Julie Broad, founder of self-publishing services firm Book Launchers and Amazon Overall #1 Best Selling Author, knows what it takes to successfully self-publish a book. Julie's titles include More than Cashflow, which topped Amazon, The New Brand You, and her latest book, Self-Publish & Succeed which just won an IPPY award. An expert on writing a book with marketing in mind, Julie teaches authors how to write a #noboringbook on her popular YouTube channel BookLaunchers.TV. Her advice for authors and investors has also been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur.com, Yahoo! Business, CTV, the Toronto Sun, and Medium.com. GET CONNECTED: Website: juliebroad.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/booklaunchers/X (formerly Twitter): www.twitter.com/thejuliebroadFacebook: www.facebook.com/booklaunchers/

In this episode, you'll also hear:How John's background as a radio announcer, pastor, and writer prepared him for the platform he would eventually build onlineWhy a major publisher took note of John's online presenceWhy John says writing a good book is only the first half of an author's workWhat John discovered about his own internal dialogue that inspired both a book and supplemental materialsJohn's advice for the writer who feels like giving up for lack of visible results Experience as a Training GroundFrom pastor and church planter to author to podcaster, John Stange wears many creative, ministry-related hats. Many of those pursuits, however, didn't start out as branches of his ministry. Instead, they trace back to his childhood dream of becoming a radio announcer. His first full-time pastoring position was located near a Christian radio station, so when John learned that the station was hiring, he applied despite not being experienced in the field. He was hired, and even received on-the-job training to develop skills in speaking, broadcasting, and editing digital content – all things he could later use as a podcaster, speaker, and more. “I really didn't see the long thread of how the Lord was going to use that,” John says in retrospect. “But it definitely factored into some of the things that I'm doing now.”John's story is an important reminder of how God can use our present experiences as a training ground for things to come. We can only see what's right in front of us, so we must learn to trust that God is a good Father, and that His ultimate plans and purposes for us are good – even when we don't understand them. Like his dream of becoming a radio announcer, John's desire to write a book had been around for a while by the time he actually put one together and self-published it. Even then, it was several more years before he started self-publishing more content and building an audience. Between self-publishing and voiceover work – something else he learned at the radio station – John was able to support his family through financially difficult seasons of church planting. As John's online platform and audience continued to grow, he eventually started up a website to house his various creative endeavors. “That's what ultimately caught the attention of a major publisher, when they saw that this was multifaceted,” he explains. “But this developed over the course of many years, and I had no idea that this would result in a traditional publishing deal. As I felt led to work on one particular thing, I worked on it. And then I added the next piece as I felt led to do it. And then, before I knew it, I could step back and look, and there's a whole kind of system here in place, almost like its own media channel.”Marketing = RelationshipsAs John has learned, cultivating a relationship with your audience is crucial. In fact, marketing is more similar to everyday relationships than you might think! It doesn't happen overnight, but when you put in the work to build relationships and consistently put out valuable content, eventually all those pieces come together. “A lot of times people think that the work of an author is just to write a good book,” John says. “And that's the first half. And then the second half is actually letting people know that the book exists. Because you could write good content, but if no one knows about it, no one's going to read it.” Like many aspiring authors, John says he used to hate the idea of marketing. He didn't want to annoy people or push them away. But over time he learned that marketing – when done well – isn't annoying. It's an opportunity to share the message you're passionate about. When you truly care about your message and the difference it can make in people's lives, and when you've taken the time to cultivate relationships with the audience who needs to hear that message, marketing becomes less of a chore and more of simply being excited to tell people about the message God has given you.  Preach to Your Own HeartOne message John is passionate about can be found in his book Dwell on These Things, which is all about managing one's mindset to line up with what God says instead of the negative things we tend to tell ourselves. John says the inspiration for this book came from his own experience in ministry. As a pastor, he noticed a gap between what he was preaching to his congregation and what he was preaching to his own heart. “From the pulpit, I would encourage my congregation to understand who they are in Christ and find their sense of identity in Christ. And then a lot of times, after I'd preach a message, I would be very critical of myself,” he says. “When I look at Scripture, it tells us that Satan is the accuser of the brethren. And I thought, ‘Wow, my internal dialogue sounds a lot like accusation.'”As John worked on aligning his self-talk with the truth of God's word, he realized that he wasn't the only person who could benefit from this message. So he started writing. He also shared his idea with an agent, and ultimately the book was picked up by a major publishing house. And, in addition to the book, this publisher helped John develop a companion product: a set of inspiration cards summarizing the book's key ideas. More than just a second product to sell alongside the book, these cards make it easy for people to grasp the message and apply it to their daily life. Stick With ItJohn's story is a powerful reminder that achieving our dreams is a journey. It does not happen overnight – often, we have to take baby steps all along the way. But eventually, if we keep at it, we'll end up exactly where God wants us to be. That's why, if you're frustrated with where you are on your journey right now, John advises you to persevere. After all, God uses all sorts of people to accomplish His purposes – so why shouldn't you be one of them?Instead of comparing your progress to someone else's, remember that success takes time and consistency. When John started his podcast, he only received about 10 downloads – but today that number has multiplied to several million!So don't give up if you don't see results right away. You might have to keep at it for a few years, but eventually you will start to see the results of your efforts. “Stick with it one day at a time,” John says in closing. “Be faithful to the tasks the Lord has given to you, and do it for a period of years. And then step back and look at where He brings you. I think He'll surprise you.” BIO:John is a follower of Jesus, husband to Andrea, and father to four great kids. He holds degrees in Bible, Education, and Counseling, is a certified speaker, trainer and coach with the John Maxwell Team, and serves as the Lead Pastor of Core Creek Community Church in Langhorne, PA. John is an adjunct professor at Cairn University, where he teaches courses on church planting, theology, and counseling. He also serves as the Director of the National Mission Board which is a ministry that is focused on church planting and church health.John hosts three podcasts, "The Chapter-A-Day Audio Bible," “Daily Devotions with Pastor John,” and "Dwell on These Things." At present, his shows have been downloaded over 5.5 million times by listeners throughout the world.John's books are focused on spiritual growth, leadership, marriage and the practical and applicational aspects of following Jesus. He recently signed with Penguin Random House to publish his latest book “Dwell on These Things” which is a 31-day-challenge to talk to yourself like God talks to you. GET CONNECTED:Website: www.desirejesus.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pastorjohnstange/Twitter: https://twitter.com/pastorstangeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.john.stange

In this episode, you'll also hear:The long journey that led Beth to find her calling – and the common thread she found throughout all of her many pursuits The importance of having a mentor who can both challenge and uplift youWhy you shouldn't write in isolationWhich numbers and analytics really matter from a digital marketing perspectiveBeth's experiences with both traditional publishing and self-publishingNo Need to WaitAs a coach's wife, Beth Walker says she has seen many fellow coach's wives shrink back out of the limelight as though waiting for their turn to shine – only to realize when they finally get the chance that they could have been working on their own careers all along. That's why, with her book, Lessons from the Sidelines, her mission is to let women know they don't have to wait. They can go ahead and work on the “building blocks” of their own calling, even while supporting their husband's endeavors. “There seems to be this need for a cheerleader of sorts,” Beth says, “or someone to just point these women to resources. So I felt like Lessons from the Sidelines could be that space to say, ‘You've got a calling. God created you with a voice and skills and talents before you married this amazing man. And none of that went away!'”Nothing Is WastedAs is the case for many people, Beth's journey to discovering her calling was a long one. “Figuring out exactly that sweet spot of where God is calling you is not always going to be this light bulb moment,” she admits. But through the seven-step action plan outlined in her book, she hopes to help give people a shortcut to discovering what God may be calling them to do. Beth's own journey carried her from one job to another. Eventually, she realized that although these jobs were all very different – from swim coach to administrative assistant to stay-at-home mom – there were some common elements among them, and each job gave her some skill or experience she could add to her resume. ‘Nothing is wasted,” Beth says. “Even if it feels like we're taking a step back, we can always take that opportunity to say, how can we better ourselves? There are some moments where we have to take what we would consider a space where we're settling… but sometimes we need people to shake us out of those.”Beth's story is a powerful reminder of the intentionality of God in preparing us for our unique purpose. No matter where you are right now, He can use this circumstance to develop and refine the skills you'll need later on – even if you can't see a connection right now.And throughout her long, sometimes difficult journey, Beth says God has always brought people into her life to help cheer her on. One of these people was a fellow coach's wife who Beth describes as a mentor and a voice of wisdom. This woman had already written a book of her own to help coach's wives, but she encouraged Beth to become a new voice in the space, and she also supported Beth with prayer, advice, and much more. Ultimately, she wrote the forward for Lessons from the Sidelines.Other important “cheerleaders” in Beth's author journey were her editor and her mastermind group, all of whom helped her develop and refine her work. “There were certainly chapters that were more difficult to write than others,” she says in retrospect. “But I had a good structure in place, and I had people holding me accountable… I don't think it could have gone any better.”Editing MattersWhen it came to the editing process itself, Beth says she learned that you have to be humble if you're going to have someone else edit your book – but it's well worth the difficult conversations and the discomfort of letting another person critique what you've written. “I know that it is the best book possible because of my editor's input and her willingness to pull more out of me,” Beth says. “She had edited for me for a couple of years prior, so she knew my voice and I trusted her.” Because of that trust, Beth's editor was able to point out sections of the book that didn't reflect Beth's authentic voice or that weren't getting Beth's point across in the way she intended for them to. At the same time, she was able to push Beth to open up and share more than she would have done on her own. For many aspiring authors, letting another person read – let alone edit – their manuscript can be uncomfortable or even scary. But Beth's story is an important reminder that an editor plays an essential role in making your book into the best possible product for you to give your readers. When you write in isolation with no feedback, you risk putting out a book that confuses or even alienates your readers through simple errors, unnecessary repetition, or language that means something different to you than it does to others. Your own writing makes perfect sense to you because you wrote it! But an editor can help you see where adding more context or phrasing things differently will enhance the readers' experience and communicate your God-given message much more clearly.Know Your AudienceOnce the book was finished and ready for publishing, Beth ran into some unexpected challenges in marketing. As a digital marketer herself, she knew her content was reaching and engaging her niche audience, but the agent she was talking to at the time prioritized other metrics that Beth knew didn't really matter. “What it ultimately came down to was I needed to go with a publisher that understood my buyer persona and my audience,” she says. As an author, understanding your buyer persona is crucial. As Beth explains, your book is not for everyone. Instead, you are writing for a specific audience made up of the people God has called you to serve. That means you need to understand who those people are, what they value, and what problem you are trying to help them solve. The better you understand your buyer persona, the better you'll be able to address their pain points, show up in the spaces where they normally go for information, and convince them to buy – and read – your book. For Beth, that buyer persona was fellow coach's wives and anyone else in ministry. And the pain point she addresses is telling these wives, “You don't have to wait in order to make your husband's career thrive. You can both thrive. And when you do that, your marriage will thrive, and you will both be honoring the Lord to the best of your ability.”Beth is passionate about this message, because she has seen it at work in her own marriage. Just as she supported her husband in achieving his career goals, he supported her in writing and publishing her book, each of them picking up the slack around the house when the other needed them to. “Marriage is partnership,” Beth says. “And part of that means you're both thriving in the way you're created. And in order to do that, that means sometimes you sacrifice for each other.”Don't HesitateNo matter where you are in your author journey – whether you're still wondering when it will be your turn to start or you're struggling to make it to the finish line – let Beth's story inspire you to move forward with the message and the talents God has given you. “If you're partnering with God, and you've done the work, and you know who your audience is, you don't have to wait for someone else to tell you that your voice matters,” Beth says in closing. “So if you know who your buyer persona is, your target audience, and you've got a great book to put out there, don't hesitate to pull the trigger.” BIO:Beth Walker has partnered with her husband for twenty years, in leadership and ministry both on and off the football field. Beth is passionate about encouraging women to pursue their individual callings from God. She is a contributor to Friday Night Wives and The Glorious Table. On her own blog, Lessons from the Sidelines, Beth offers practical advice for other coaches' wives as well as a behind-the-scenes look at her family's life as they serve their football players and their community. GET CONNECTED:Website: https://lessonsfromthesidelines.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bw.alker/

In this episode, you'll also hear:The many surprising ways Carol has experienced God's grace in her lifeTips on dealing with “analysis paralysis” when you have too many optionsWhen self-publishing might make more sense than traditional publishing — and how to self-publish a book you can be proud ofThe importance of letting people who don't love you read your work before it's publishedCarol's advice for the writer who's struggling to finish their book and get it publishedCarol's “Come to Jesus” MomentCarol McCracken says her life has been anything but “traditional.” Raising a son with four mental health disorders was incredibly challenging, especially since there weren't many resources available to help her and her husband navigate those challenges. Over time, they both turned to alcohol to cope — until one day, Carol was pulled over for driving under the influence. Now, she calls it a “come to Jesus meeting,” because “He loved me enough to get my attention.” As a Bible study teacher, Carol was terrified and ashamed. “I'm a rule follower,” she explains. “And I knew I had broken so many rules.” But when she appeared in court, instead of being punished, her slate was wiped clean. The judge warned her not to repeat the mistake, returned her bail money, and no record was left on her insurance. “I did not deserve one bit of that,” she says. “But I was like, ‘Lord, I will not mess up again. You literally scared the hell out of me!” Until this experience, Carol hadn't realized how badly her judgment was being impaired. But now she knew she needed to make some significant changes in her life. One of those changes was making the difficult decision to divorce. Though Carol hadn't believed in divorce up to this point, it was becoming clear that the marriage was not healthy for either of them.Carol's story is a powerful reminder that you don't have to be perfect to be used by God and to serve in ministry — in fact, no one is! But God loves us enough to pursue us, to get our attention, and to set us back on the right track so He can perfect us for His purposes. Carol admits that she would have chosen a much more “dignified” path if she could have. “But alas, this is my story, and I'm meant to share it,” she says. Journey to Publishing Non-TraditionallyThough Carol considers herself a speaker rather than a writer, God soon started calling her to write. Almost on a whim, she found herself attending a Christian writers conference and meeting agents, one of whom listened to her idea and asked her to submit a book proposal. Instead of accepting the proposal, however, the agent advised her to publish independently or through a small press — because that agent believed the book needed to be written to support Carol's speaking ministry. Ultimately, Carol published her book, Wisdom: Where To Find It If You've Lost, Forgotten, Or Never Had It, independently. This was a different publishing path than she'd anticipated — after all, for many people, even getting to talk to an agent and submit a proposal is a dream come true! But Carol's story is a valuable reminder to us that just because the traditional publishing route doesn't work out, doesn't mean your story doesn't have value. It may just mean that God has another plan for you and your book. Additionally, Carol's publishing experience highlights that your book is only a piece of the story. For many people, the real income opportunity — and ministry — comes not through the book itself, but by leveraging your book to give credibility and visibility to the other gifts God has given you. Analysis ParalysisWhen it came to actually getting her book published, however, Carol says she wrestled with indecision for a while. “I did a lot of research, and I had a lot of analysis paralysis,” she explains. “If you have paralysis, you cannot do anything. You're in one spot, and you must move forward. And I've got to be honest, I learned just as much by trying things that didn't work as I did with things that did work.”One of the things that did work was joining an international writing critique association. This organization helped her find her unique voice, develop a 15-minute presentation of her message, and connect with people to edit, design, and format her book for publishing. “I have learned, do not ever put anything out there unless somebody has read it first,” Carol says. You want your book to represent you and your message well, and that means you need to make sure it's professionally made. That way, not only are you putting out a finished work that you can truly be proud of, but you're also presenting your God-given message in a way that compels people to buy and read it. In addition to getting feedback and editing help from someone who isn't a friend or family member, Carol recommends having someone read your book out loud. This will help you understand how your message is coming across to the audience, instead of relying on how it sounds inside your own head. Turning “Tests” into Authentic TestimonyFollowing her court appearance, Carol says she was afraid that everyone who knew her as a Bible study teacher would judge her. Instead, people told her what she had been through made her more believable and authentic as a spiritual leader. “I learned that in ministry, if you act like you've got it all together, you're not being authentic,” she says.Of course, there has to be a balance, and Carol adds that you still have to earn credibility from people who have never met you. But being able to share how God brought you out of your mistakes and failures can give people hope that they can also overcome whatever mistakes they've made in their own lives. Not only has Carol been able to grow her ministry and her platform, but she has also found renewed friendship with her ex-husband and used her story to inspire countless others. “I did not go through life traditionally,” she says. “I have had a lot of challenges. But I am still here, and there is still breath in me. And I would like to encourage others that God can use anyone. Stick close to him; He will get your attention, and He'll help get you through some stuff. Because the stuff that you're going through is going to be used in ministry. Somehow, you're going to be able to help somebody else.”Don't Give UpWe all must face some kind of challenge in our lives and in pursuing the path God has called us to. No matter what challenges you are facing right now, Carol encourages you not to give up, no matter how hard it is or how long it seems to be taking. “Stick with it,” she says. “If God has given you that message, He will also give you the way and the timing of that message… Whatever you do, get that message out there. It is important for the kingdom.”  BIO:Carol Ogle McCracken has been a Bible teacher for twenty years and served on church staff and in women's ministry for three decades. She currently serves as the Minister of Discipleship at her home church. Carol is a Christian communicator in many different forums, large and small, and especially enjoys teaching at women's retreats. She teaches a weekly Wednesday night women's Bible study at her local church, which is also a podcast. She has a passion for helping couples prepare for their lives together and presently owns a wedding planning company on the Gulf Coast. But her greatest passion is to make the Bible come alive for women, connecting scripture to a real relationship with Jesus. She continues to search daily for wisdom and appears to be in good company, as she finds many women on the same quest. Her book Wisdom, Where to Find It if You've Lost, Forgotten, or Never Had It was released in November, 2020.  GET CONNECTED:Website: www.CarolMcCracken.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/carologlemccracken  

In this episode, you'll also hear:How one basketball game changed the trajectory of Tyler's lifeThe difference between confidence and arrogance — and why Tyler says confidence is a game-changerThe importance of setting aside time and removing distractions to focus on writingTyler's advice for the writer who feels God's call but wrestles with self-doubt and a busy scheduleReflecting on a Life-Changing Basketball GameBetween youth ministry, sports writing, and high school basketball coaching, Tyler lives what he calls a seasonal life: his focus tends to change depending on the time of year. Many people would find it extremely challenging to make time for more writing alongside all of those other commitments, but Tyler says writing — and in particular, telling and engaging with stories — is something he's always enjoyed. “We as humans connect the most with stories,” Tyler says. Pointing to Jesus as the greatest Storyteller of all time, Tyler adds that, no matter the setting — be it listening to a sermon or watching a sports match — he's always drawn into other people's stories and always looking for a story to tell. That's why he begins his book, Searching for Seven, with the story of a high school basketball game that ultimately changed the direction of his life. During this game, Tyler was not playing well and had been arguing with his coach. “I remember sitting at the end of the bench thinking, ‘This is not looking good for my career in basketball. I'm not where I wanted to be.'” But then, just when Tyler thought he was finished playing for the night, his coach put him back in the game — and he played better than he ever had before. Thanks to his performance that day, his basketball career took off, and a few years later, Tyler was recruited to play basketball at a Bible college. Although Tyler thought he was only attending that college to play basketball, God had other plans. The opportunity to work in youth ministry one summer turned into a long-term calling. But without that one high school game where Tyler found renewed confidence and his basketball career changed, it's possible he might never have ended up at the Bible college that led him to youth ministry. Finding Confidence in GodTyler's story is a valuable reminder for us all. In the moment, we don't always see or understand what God is doing. But sometimes God is working behind the scenes to put the pieces together and bring about a greater good than we could possibly imagine. Additionally, Tyler's story reminds us of an important distinction between confidence and arrogance. While we should always keep in mind that our gifts and talents come from God, it's also important to believe that we are capable of accomplishing great things with God as our strength. What matters is that “we are putting our confidence in God, recognizing where the abilities come from,” Tyler says. “That's a game-changer: when I can face every day and every challenge knowing He's got my back, He's put me in this position. And it's not really my ability, it's what He's given. And I'm going to use that ability through Him.”Making Time & Space to WriteTyler says he had the idea to write his book several years before he actually started working on it in earnest. “I knew at some point it was going to happen,” he explains, “but life is busy. There's a lot going on. And so for many years, I did not make the time to start writing.” Instead, Tyler would write down notes and ideas here and there. He had a general idea of what he wanted to write about and which stories from his life he wanted to include, but it wasn't until later that he made a conscious decision to set aside time to write. When he decided it was time to focus on his book, Tyler took weeks off from work and used the time he would normally have spent at his job working on his book instead. Sometimes he would work at coffee shops, while other times he would go outside to be inspired by nature.Tyler explains that when doing something important — be it praying, writing a book, or spending time with family — removing distractions is key. While some people may be able to multitask effectively, Tyler has found that trying to juggle multiple things at once only divides his focus and prevents him from giving any of those things the attention they deserve. And, as Tyler has learned, environment plays a huge role in eliminating distractions and helping us focus on the task at hand. “Everything should lead us to worship, even if it's sipping a wonderful coffee or listening to a song that I love,” Tyler says. “I see the stars, I'm out in nature, I'm hanging out with friends — all these things should call us into worship. And so for me to be most creative and most in tune with God and what he wants me to do, those environments are key.”As Tyler reminds us, writing the book God has called you to write doesn't have to be a burden or a painful process. By finding the right environment and focus, you can make it into an adventure of sorts, and actually enjoy the process of writing!Pushing Through ChallengesOf course, no matter how enjoyable the process may be or how focused you are able to be, writing a book is a challenging endeavor. While Tyler believes his entire life led up to him writing this book — which made the process much easier than it might have been otherwise — he also acknowledges that setbacks and challenges are unavoidable parts of life. “There will be big challenges,” he says, “But push through. Keep going. Even if you wonder, ‘Is it worth it? Is there going to be anyone who cares?'” You never know where God may lead you, so if you feel called to do something, keep pushing through, even when it gets hard. Think about this way: There are many times in life when we, like Tyler in that high school basketball game, get second chances. But how we respond to those opportunities can make all the difference. Maybe you, like Tyler several years ago, have heard the call to write but haven't actually taken action yet. Maybe you're in that space between having an idea and following through on it. If so, Tyler advises you to take action on what God has called you to do instead of putting it off, and surround yourself with people who will help and encourage you to keep going. “Believe fully that, if you've ever felt even a nudge from God, there's a reason for it,” Tyler says in closing. “Celebrate the fact that you have a call, that you have the ability to do it. Find some help. And go after it.” BIO: Tyler D. Smith is a pastor, NBA sportswriter, basketball coach, and author; he has also worked in the Christian music industry. He graduated from Lincoln Christian University and has served in ministry since 2005. Tyler resides in Indiana with his wife, Katelyn, and their two daughters, Addi and Ellie.  GET CONNECTED:Website: www.searchingforseven.com  Instagram: www.instagram.com/searchingforseven

In this episode, you'll also hear:How Cheryl found 67 authors to partner withWhy Cheryl says you shouldn't accept a “no” – even from yourselfThe importance of what Cheryl calls the “Noah Effect,” and how her faith enables her to walk in purposeHow Cheryl handled a less-than-excellent book launch with grace – and how that response helped establish her reputation of integrity and credibilityCheryl's advice on believing in yourself and in your ability to fulfill your God-given dreamsCommit to ExcellenceDr. Cheryl Polote-Williamson says the inspiration for her book Soulful Affirmations — for which she partnered with a total of 67 authors! — came from realizing how many people struggle to believe in their own God-given capabilities. She wanted to inspire people to unapologetically believe in themselves and relentlessly pursue God's excellence. While finding 67 authors to work with may sound like a daunting feat, Cheryl says it didn't take long at all. She started by writing “I receive 60 people for this book every day,” and then advertised in private groups on social media. Many of her co-authors for Soulful Affirmations had already worked with Cheryl on other books, and she believes they were willing to do so again because she is committed to operating in excellence. “It's important that people see what excellence is supposed to look like so they have something to measure it against,” she says. “So having these 67 people work on this book gave me the opportunity to pour into people everything God is pouring into me.”This commitment to excellence meant Cheryl had to be strict about deadlines and the quality of work produced. After all, books are a business and should never be taken lightly. But the result is a finished product that demonstrates the outcome of having integrity and following through on one's promises. When choosing people to work with, Cheryl makes an important distinction between people who are “assignments” and people who are “attachments,” adding that her 67 co-authors fall into the former category. “Assignments give you life; attachments drain you,” she explains. “These 67 people were specifically assigned to be a part of this project, by God, to me. And I don't take it lightly. The project that we're going to place out into the world is a seed… So I'm just the vehicle and the vessel that God used in order for them to gift their affirmations to the world.”Ask So You Can ReceiveWhen it comes to writing and publishing a book, Cheryl emphasizes the importance of fully committing to the project — because if you aren't willing to put in the work yourself, you're wasting money, time, and other resources. As Cheryl says, “your best marketer and promoter will always be you.” So how much time and money are you willing to put into writing, publishing, and marketing your book? Even if you hire people to do many of those things for you, you still need to take ownership of your project, and sometimes that means doing the legwork and making important phone calls yourself.Both in life and in business, Cheryl has learned that if you don't ask for what you want, you won't get it. But if you conquer your fear of being told “no,” you can achieve far more than you might think. “As an author, as a business person, you can't accept ‘no' — even from yourself,” she says. Too often, we talk ourselves out of reaching for our dreams because we tell ourselves we aren't good enough to achieve them. But Cheryl has seen, time and time again, that taking a chance, even when it seems impossible, pays off.“If you don't write your book, it'll never be written,” she adds. “If you don't publish your book, it will never get out to the masses. If you don't get your book out to the masses, you can hold nobody responsible but yourself.”Cheryl says her faith has given her the confidence and capability to do things other people would consider impossible. She doesn't allow anyone — not even herself — to talk her out of what she knows God has called her to do. She calls this confidence the “Noah Effect”: being willing to follow God's leading — even when it makes no sense to others, and even if it means she has to do it alone and afraid — and trusting that God will make good on His promises. “As long as I'm aligned properly with God, I don't worry about all this other stuff that people are panicked about,” she concludes. “I can't panic and walk in purpose.”This is an important reminder for us all: stop second-guessing what God has called you to do and worrying about what could go wrong. Simply follow God's leading, and let Him take care of the details.Hire the Right PeopleCheryl's faith and commitment to excellence has led her to great success. But she has still experienced many challenges and learned important lessons along the way about what not to do. One of those lessons is being careful with how she spends her time. While she's happy to pray for anyone who asks, she has firm boundaries about not giving away information and advice for free every time someone asks her to. Instead, she offers a (paid) consultation, and doesn't let herself react when people respond angrily. “I have a finite time here,” she explains. “I can make more money, but I can't make more time. So I have to be very conscious of how I spend the time that God allows me.Another lesson Cheryl has learned is to ask for referrals and carefully vet the people she hires for various tasks. Unfortunately, not everyone can or will deliver on their promises, so if you're paying someone to build a website, edit your manuscript, or anything else, don't feel bad about asking for referrals and samples of their previous work. Remember, as an author, you are a business owner. That means you need to surround yourself with people who are good at their jobs, and hold people accountable for what they say they will do. On the other hand, another pitfall many aspiring authors often fall into is not hiring the help they need because they're trying to save as much money as possible. This may seem like a wise decision in the moment, but it can really hurt your business in the long run. Everything about your book, from the cover to the content, must be of the highest quality if you want it to sell. While it may be easier and faster to do all the designing, editing, and formatting yourself, it's also very easy to make big, obvious mistakes simply because you're too close to the work or because you don't have the right expertise. Of course, we're all human, and sometimes errors occur despite our efforts to prevent them. When this happens, Cheryl says it's important to make the effort to fix those errors. When you take the time and spend the money to fix your mistakes, people will notice and remember that you have integrity and that you care about the quality of your work.Finally, when writing and marketing your book, always keep in mind who you are writing for and how your book will help them. “At the end of the day, people want to know, ‘How are you the solution to my problem?'” Cheryl says. When you can clearly show people how your book solves their problems and answers their questions, you don't have to beg people to buy it — they'll see the value in what you have to offer, and they'll come to you. Believe in YourselfFear can be a difficult obstacle to overcome, but you CAN overcome it, operate in excellence, and put out a book that you can be truly proud of. If you're struggling to find the courage to move forward with your book, Cheryl advises writing down positive things that you see within yourself. Things like:I am blessedI am healedI am a bestselling authorI am a filmmakerI have no debtI attract wealthy donors to the vision that God has given meI receive preferential treatmentAs Cheryl explains, it all starts with you. You are the writer of your book, the liver of your dreams. You are the person who is responsible for delivering the dream that is in your heart. “Once you start believing in yourself,” Cheryl says in closing, “You don't need the world to believe in you.” BIO:Dr. Cheryl Polote-Williamson is an award-winning best-selling author, film-maker,  transformational speaker, philanthropist, and certified life coach. Cheryl is the CEO  and founder of Cheryl Polote-Williamson, LLC; where her mission is to use her unique  talents to assist, support, and empower women. She leads Williamson Media Group,  LLC as the Chief Executive Officer of this global media production company and is also  the Founder of Soul Reborn, Inc., a certified 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that  focuses on transforming the lives of disadvantaged, disenfranchised, and previously incarcerated  women. She resides in Flower Mound, Texas with her husband of 30 years. They have three amazing  children, Russell Jr., Lauren and Courtney. She is also a grandmother of two wonderful grandchildren. GET CONNECTED:Website: cherylpwilliamson.comInstagram: instagram.com/cherylpwilliamson/

In this episode, you'll also hear:Dr. Bren's mission to help others explore, embrace, and excel in their God-given purposeHow journaling about your own process of growth can turn into a book that touches the lives of other peopleHow to be intentional in your focus and write directly for your target audienceThe importance of researching to find the right publisher for your bookDr. Bren's advice for writers who hesitate to step out in faith and share the message God has given them3 Phases of Breaking ForthDr. Bren Williams wrote her book, Breaking Forth 2 Destiny, with the goal of empowering Christians to overcome obstacles, explore their purpose, and embrace their God-given destiny. “Challenges can only be conquered when they are faced,” she explains. “So Breaking Forth 2 Destiny is simply an instrument that will help us deal with distractions that cause delay, overcome obstacles that hinder progress, step out of our comfort zones, and release the past to refocus on the present.”In the book, Dr. Bren breaks down this journey to embracing one's destiny into three phases:Break free: Being delivered by God to be able to achieve a breakthrough.Breakthrough: Overcoming challenges or difficult seasons in life.Break forth: Emerging from those challenges stronger and prepared to embrace a greater purpose.“Many of us can testify that ‘God brought me through' or ‘God brought me out,'” Dr. Bren says. “That's a breakthrough. Breaking forth takes us to the next level, the next dimension. You emerge with power, you emerge suddenly, and you emerge stronger, better, and wiser. In other words, it means to thrive and not just survive.”While writing, Dr. Bren took inspiration from her own journals and past experiences. She had seen firsthand how fear can keep people feeling stuck and unable to move forward, and wanted to inspire others with the hope that God can help them break free of fear and doubt and break forth into a greater destiny — just as He did for her. Narrowing FocusAfter deciding to write her book, however, Dr. Bren had to face and work through her own set of challenges. First, the topic she had chosen was simply too broad. She had to learn to narrow her focus and prioritize the core message she wanted her audience to receive instead of trying to fit all of her thoughts and ideas into the same book. Now, she advises aspiring authors to do the same. As you plan your book, take time to reflect on the topic and on your intentions for the book, and rely on God to help you focus on what matters the most — even if it means going at a slower pace than you would prefer. “Progress doesn't have to come in large segments,” Dr. Bren says. “It's a step. It's a journey. And it's not something that happens overnight.”Next, once Dr. Bren had begun to narrow her focus, she also had to keep her target audience at the forefront of her mind so she could write directly for them. She describes it as a process of elimination: As she prayed for the right words to help the people she knew she had been called to serve, she focused on deleting irrelevant content and adding information that aligned with her book's purpose of helping people step into their God-given destiny. Dr. Bren's story is an important reminder for us all. As writers, we often have many exciting ideas and want to include them all. But to really speak to our audience, we need to remember that the reader is looking for something specific, and it's our job to make it easy for them to determine if this particular book will give them what they're looking for. That means we've got to remove anything that doesn't quite fit. But don't worry — you can always use those ideas in another book later on!Lessons from PublishingAfter completing the book, Dr. Bren says the real work was just beginning. Now she had to find the right publisher, get her book out into the world, and market it so the right people could find and read it. This process taught her several lessons:Do your research: Not every publisher will be the right fit for your book. Be sure to research what they have to offer and ask questions so you know you're making the right choice.Quality over quantity: Make sure your book represents you and your God-given message well. Take your time and be intentional about producing the best-quality work you can.Invest in marketing and promotion: For your book to make an impact, people have to read it. And for people to read it, they have to know it exists.“No matter how great your product is, or what a great blessing you have in your hand,” Dr. Bren adds, “until it's in the hands of the readers, it's just good information.”So don't just stop at crafting a quality book and getting it published — you've got to do the work to get it into people's hands and entice them to actually read it so their lives will be changed by your message. Take a StepMaybe you, like Dr. Bren, have a message you know God has given you, but you have so many ideas that you aren't sure where to start. Or maybe you've been writing for a long time, but you hesitate to put yourself out there and get that book published. Whatever may be holding you back, Dr. Bren encourages you to simply take a step forward in faith and trust God to carry you the rest of the way. “Someone is waiting on what's locked up inside you,” she concludes. “I look at it as if I'm holding up and delaying someone's destiny if I am not obedient. So even if you're afraid, step out, and God will meet you. He will empower you and allow you to move forward by faith.” BIO:Reverend Dr. Brennetta C. Williams is the Visionary Founder and Senior Pastor of the Impact Worship Center Int'l located in Chesapeake, VA. She has earned a B.S. in Business Management from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA; a Master of Divinity from the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology in Richmond, VA; and a Doctorate of Ministry from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH. Her professional background includes marketing for several leading pharmaceutical companies. Over the last decade, she has dedicated her life to providing medicines, education and community services to those affected and infected with HIV/AIDS. The experience has been instrumental in sensitizing her to the suffering of others.Dr. Williams answered the call to the gospel ministry and was licensed in 2003. She has served as an Associate Minister, Adjutant, Director of Prayer Ministries, and in a multiplicity of capacities ministering to congregational spiritual needs. Dr. Williams is currently affiliated with the Worship Center Worldwide Fellowship of Churches and was ordained under the spiritual covering of Bishop Millicent Hunter. She is an evangelist, conference speaker, and community advocate dedicated to faithfully serving others. Dr. Williams is also the visionary and CEO of Positive Impact Outreach Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to positively impacting lives of those in need through the love of Christ. Dr. Williams is a native of South Boston, VA and currently resides in Chesapeake, VA with her husband and daughter. GET CONNECTED:Website: www.DrBrenwilliams.orgFacebook: www.facebook.com/Drbrenwilliams/Instagram: www.instagram.com/iamdrbren

In this episode, you'll also hear:The shocking turn Rosie's first book deal took, and how it propelled her writing career in a very different directionWhy you need a constructive and supportive writing communityRosie's tips on choosing the right agentThe importance of starting, even before you're “ready”Rosie's advice for the writer who wrestles with doubt and the fear of rejectionFinding the Right Story to TellRosie Makinney's book, Fight for Love, and her ministry of the same name aim to help people who have been affected by addiction to pornography — whether they struggle with this addiction themselves or know someone who does. Rosie is extremely passionate about helping people find their way to healing. But she also admits that, originally, she never intended or even wanted to write this particular book. Instead, Rosie got her start as an aspiring author by writing a children's fiction book. When she finished the manuscript, it was as though doors started to open everywhere at once:Rosie's friend introduced her to her own agent, who loved Rosie's book and quickly agreed to sign.Rosie's book was accepted by not one, but two major publishing houses who were competing to offer her a book deal.The agent started negotiating with the publishing houses to get the details of the contract nailed down.But then, after all that movement, progress on the book deal slowed down. So Rosie decided to work on a different type of project while she waited to hear back from her agent. On a whim, she wrote five pages of the book that would later become Fight for Love for a competition at an upcoming Christian writing conference — and won an all-expenses-paid ticket to attend the conference. “I thought I'd just go and see if there was a market for it,” she recalls. “And the response to my idea was phenomenal. Everyone I sat next to said, ‘Thank you for writing this book!' And I was sitting there thinking, ‘I'm not actually writing it!'” One of the people who expressed interest was someone Rosie describes as her dream Christian agent. Since this book would fall into a very different category from her children's book — and since she still hadn't heard much from her first agent — Rosie decided to accept the offer from this second agent instead. As it turned out, she could not have made a better decision. Facing Extreme DisappointmentWhile working on her new book, Rosie finally heard back from her first agent. No progress had been made; instead, the agency was shutting down. So she reached out to another client of that same agent, who gave her some truly shocking news: the agent had been making up fake book deals!Sure enough, when Rosie contacted the editors who she believed had accepted her manuscript, she learned that none of them had ever received it in the first place. Rosie was devastated and confused. She had spent no money on this fake book deal, so the scam seemed to have no purpose, and some of the lying agent's clients had even received fabricated rejections addressed from editors who never saw their manuscripts. Thankfully, Rosie's second book was in trustworthy hands. Through the work of her new agent, she received glowing feedback from a number of editors. They loved her story and her writing. But now there was a new problem: Rosie had no author platform. Due to the sensitive nature of her book's content, Rosie was writing under a pseudonym, and even though the editors loved her book and her writing, they were reluctant to sign her without a well-known name attached. “I'm having to put myself out for a project that I'm not even sure I really want to do,” Rosie says, “and everyone's saying no. And I just didn't understand. I felt like, ‘What are you doing to me, God? I'm trying to be obedient here and write this, and yet all the doors are closing.'”In the end, Rosie's book was rejected 15 times, all because she didn't have an author platform. Finally, though, the 16th editor accepted her submission — even without an author platform — and offered her a book deal. Now, looking back, Rosie says this was all possible because God surrounded her with the right people:Her writing community encouraged her to write the book in the first place.Her second agent encouraged her when she didn't think it would be possible to get her book published.Her editor cared about her message and fought for her book even without a platform.“Sometimes the journey makes no sense,” she concludes. “And that's why you need a community around you.”Saying “Yes” to God's CallRosie's story beautifully demonstrates how one seemingly insignificant choice can actually be a defining moment that leads us into something we could never have imagined. After all, if she had never said “yes” and attended that writing conference, all the other pieces might never have fallen into place. Now, Rosie wants to offer hope to any aspiring authors who feel stuck in a spiral of rejections. No matter how many times you're rejected, remember that you only need one acceptance. So if the first one you try doesn't work out, don't give up! God has called you for a reason, and all you have to do is keep doing what you feel called to do.“I did feel called to write this book,” Rosie says. “I didn't want to write it. But I really felt like: There is a need to write it. I can do it — I guess I'm going to have to.”Because Rosie said “yes” to God's call, she's able to help so many people, not just through her book, but also through sharing her story. The experience of finding out her first agent had lied was nightmarish, but now she knows what to look for in an honest editor and how to set realistic expectations. For aspiring authors who are looking for an agent to work with, Rosie's #1 piece of advice is to trust your instincts. When her first agent wasn't communicating about the progress of her book, Rosie hesitated to ask about it — even though she sensed that something was wrong. Of course, it's important to be respectful and considerate, but book publishing is a business, and you need to work with a professional who communicates clearly and honestly and actually does what they've agreed to do. Don't let the fear of confrontation stop you from standing up for yourself — if the person has integrity, they won't be upset by you wanting clear communication. If they're dishonest, having those conversations early on will often reveal their true colors sooner, saving you precious time and possibly money in the long run. Overcoming ApprehensionWhen it finally came time to publish her book and put her story — and her name — out into the world, Rosie admits to feeling some apprehension. But by this time, she had arrived at a place where the opportunity to share her message felt like a responsibility and a privilege. She had drawn from the stories of many other women while writing the book, and she felt an obligation to do their stories justice. She also knew that she needed to publish the book under her own name, not a pseudonym as she had originally intended. “My whole ministry is about taking the shame out of this issue,” she explains. “This is affecting so many people, and if I'm not willing to lead from the front, what kind of hope is that? You need to walk the walk as well as talk the talk.”Rosie's story is a powerful reminder to us all of the importance of owning the stories we've been given. For whatever reason, you may not want to share your story right now — but someone else's deliverance could very well hinge on you being obedient and sharing your story anyway. Overcoming fear and putting yourself out there isn't easy, but with God's help, it is possible. And sometimes, all it takes is a shift in perspective to understand that the message you've been given isn't all about you. For Rosie, this shift happened when she started a podcast during the months leading up to her book launch. The podcast featured other women sharing their own stories and discussing questions that real women face. “These amazing women just poured their hearts out down those microphones,” Rosie says. “And they were braver than I was. I was facilitating, but they were the ones sharing their hearts. So I almost feel like they led the way. I wrote the book, but they're the heart of the whole ministry.”Today, Rosie's ministry continues to grow in ways that would never have been possible if she had stuck to writing children's fiction. That's why she's able to look back on the experience of watching her supposed book deal fall apart and honestly say that she's grateful it did. Because of that experience — and because she said “yes” to God's call and learned to rely on others around her for help and guidance — Rosie has become a vessel to offer God's healing to people in need. Her “yes” put the whole process in motion so that God could bring others alongside her to help perfect the work she began.“Yes, it's my name on the book,” Rosie says now. “But it's not my book at all. It was His book all along.”Persevering Through Doubt & DiscouragementMaybe you, like Rosie, have received rejection after rejection, and you're wondering why God would give you this message when no doors seem to be opening for you to share it. If that's you, Rosie advises reading about the temptations of Christ. “That's how we are all tempted all the time,” she explains. “We're tempted to believe that God is not good, that He is not holy, and that He doesn't love us.”As Christians, we are in a daily battle against the lies of our enemy, who wants us to doubt God's goodness, holiness, and love. But even though Jesus may not have experienced the exact situations we face today — like, for example, being let down on a book deal — He was tempted by those same lies about who God is. So when you find yourself in a difficult situation where it's hard to believe in the goodness and love of God, remember that Jesus faced those same questions. “Once you know that Jesus has experienced exactly what you are experiencing,” Rosie adds, “then that gives you the strength to just hold on.” BIO:Rosie Makinney is the founder of Fight For Love Ministries – a grassroots organization of women who equip, encourage and empower other women with the faith and the facts to take back their marriages from porn. She is the author of Fight For Love (LifeWay), an international speaker and the host of the popular Fight For Love podcast GET CONNECTED:Author Website: www.fightforloveministries.orgInstagram: www.instagram.com/fightforloveministriesFacebook: www.facebook.com/fightforloveministries

In this episode, you'll also hear: How Zalea found a message that wouldn't let her go The importance of praying specifically for what we needHow Zalea learned to wait for God's timing – and how everything fell into place when the timing was right Why we must teach our children to hear God's voice Zalea's advice for the writer who feels overwhelmed and discouraged by obstacles in their journeyAnswering God's CallIn Christian circles, the topic of sexuality tends to be seen as uncomfortable. As a result, it's often simply not talked about. But when Zalea Dold attended a workshop with a sexuality specialist at Bible college, she realized how important this topic is for Christian parents to discuss with their children. At the same time, she also discovered a passion for helping parents approach difficult questions and raise their children to adulthood with a healthy attitude toward sex and sexuality. “I couldn't not get involved,” she explains. “I was drawn to it. And that is when God deposited the calling in my heart. It was just something in me, and it never left me. And here I am 20 years later, and I had to write about it.”Now, after 20 years of studying, growing, training other parents, and parenting her own children, Zalea has written The Birds, the Bees & the Bible: How To Practically Parent Sexuality, a book that equips Christian parents to address this topic in practical, biblical ways. While it can feel overwhelming to teach children biblical truth in a world bombarded with sexual imagery, Zalea wants to give parents hope and guide them in having these important conversations with their children. Starting to WriteZalea's story is a powerful reminder that when an idea or subject refuses to let us go, it's a sure sign of a calling from God. Interests come and go, so when one sticks with you through the years, don't ignore it — even if it takes time, God will make a way for you to do what He has called you to do. Often, God does this by bringing people into our lives to nudge us in the right direction. In Zalea's case, this person was a friend who recommended she write a book. Having recently emigrated from South Africa to the Netherlands, Zalea was struggling because she knew she was ready to offer workshops and spread her God-given message to parents in her new community, but she couldn't speak the language. That was when her friend suggested she write her message down, and Zalea realized she'd been experiencing tunnel vision. “It was like the fog lifted,” she recalls. “I had this idea in my head that this was the only way to get my message out, and I was stuck with that image. And when my friend said, ‘Why don't you just write a book?' it just made sense.”Zalea started writing the very next morning. For months, the words poured out of her at all hours of the day. She paid no attention to organization or formatting — all she wanted was to get the words in her head out onto the page. Then, when she was finished, she worked on sorting through the ideas, adding and removing sections as needed until she was ready to move onto the next stage in the book's development. “One day, I woke up, and I knew I was done,” she says. “It was like the tap had closed. And I knew God was saying, ‘Okay, the writing part is over. Now let's get to the point where we can present it as a good manuscript, Let's start making it a refined, excellent product to put out into the world.'”Praying for the Right PersonZalea had written her book in English — her second language — but during the writing process she didn't let herself get caught up in worrying about grammar. Instead, she did her best to write in a clear, practical way. And when she was ready, she looked for an editor to help perfect her writing. After being rejected by the first editor she tried, Zalea realized she needed to work with a very specific kind of person. She needed someone who understood the urgency of her message and who shared her passion for spreading it. Even more specifically, she wanted someone who was not only a Christian, but a Christian parent. So she started praying that God would bring this person into her life.And that's exactly what happened! Through her former church's Facebook page, she connected with a woman who had all the qualifications Zalea was looking for, and then some. Not only was she a Christian mother with excellent English skills, but she also spoke Afrikaans, Zalea's native language.Even better, this editor understood the importance of Zalea's message — so much so that she told Zalea that reading the book had set her free of old, harmful mindsets, and as a result, it was changing her marriage for the better. “When I heard that, I knew that even if she was the only one that ever read what I wrote, it was worth it for me,” Zalea says. “It made a difference to one person, and that made the whole journey worth it.”Learning to WaitEven after Zalea found her editor, finishing the book wasn't all smooth sailing. Zalea admits that patience is not one of her strengths, but now she had to learn to wait, as her editor explained that juggling home, family, and editing responsibilities were difficult and time-consuming. Finally, when lockdowns occurred because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Zalea's editor informed her that the original timeline to complete the book would likely be impossible to meet. Zalea was disappointed, but after praying, she felt that God wanted her to stick with this editor, even though it would take much longer than she had hoped to finish her book.As Zalea has learned, sometimes the doors just keep closing in front of you, and there's nothing you can do about it but trust that God closed them for a reason. And when the timing is right according to God's plan, the doors open right up — and there's nothing you can do to stop it.“I don't know why it took so long,” Zalea says now. “But in those nine months, when nothing was happening, I painted some of the most beautiful paintings I've ever painted. There was no working on books at all, and I shifted and involved myself in a different type of creativity. And in that, I found God in completely different ways.”Teaching Our ChildrenJust as Zalea learned to trust and follow God's lead throughout the writing process, she believes it's essential to teach children from a young age to recognize and obey God's voice in their own lives. “As a Christian adult, we have the whole of the Holy Spirit in us, not just a little portion of Him,” she explains. “And a child doesn't have a different Holy Spirit, or a smaller portion of the Holy Spirit, just because they're younger. So they can also hear God's voice. In fact, I think they can hear it even clearer than we can.”Zalea adds that when children learn to know and trust God's voice from a young age, they learn to help themselves in dangerous situations when their earthly parents are not around. This applies to sexual safety, as well as making good choices in all areas of life. We can't be with our loved ones all the time. But God is always with them. And if we can teach our children to listen to God's voice, then we can be confident that they are well-equipped to stand up for themselves and others and that they won't be easily led astray. Pushing Through OverwhelmSince publishing her book, Zalea has branched out to other ways of getting her message out to the world. Sometimes, she still feels overwhelmed by all the things she doesn't know how to do and new skills she needs to learn. If that's how you feel about your writing journey, Zalea advises pushing through the difficulty and uncertainty and just doing what you know you're called to do. Sometimes this can mean letting the words flow out of you onto the page, but other times it can mean spending money on resources and training to help you gain the knowledge and skills you need to succeed.“It's worth it to invest money in certain areas so you can equip yourself to make the right choices as you go forward,” she says in closing. And, above all, listen for God's voice and follow His lead, trusting that, in His perfect time, He will open the right doors for you.  BIO:Zalea Dold is a published author, teacher and mom, and she teaches parents how to practically parent sexuality – God's way. After working with sexuality education experts for 20 years, she wrote The Birds, the Bees & the Bible as a guide to practically assist parents who struggle in this ‘panicky' area of their parenting. Zalea believes that if you deliberately and intentionally parent your child's sexuality, you will raise a generation who will not only make wise sexual choices, but will also influence others to do the same. GET CONNECTED:Website: www.zaleadold.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/zalea_dold/

In this episode, you'll also hear:2 possible ways to handle the inevitable challenges you will face as an aspiring author — and which one will carry you through to successScriptures to stand on when you feel discouraged or held back by doubtsWhat you need to understand so you can offer your readers a unique perspective from which to approach their problemHow to get people invested in what you have to say, even beyond the first bookHere we are at the end of the road! We've covered all five of the first steps you need to take to write and publish a successful, impactful book. Now it's time to connect the dots on those five steps, so you can take meaningful action. Here are the five steps we've covered throughout this series, and what you need to do next to get started. Step #1: Find Your FuelBefore you begin, you must find your “why” for writing this book. The road to becoming a published author is filled with many “ups” — very high moments — but also low moments when you just don't feel like it. These low moments are days when you'd rather be doing something else or when the words just don't seem to come. On those low days, remember that setbacks are common to both successful and unsuccessful people. The difference is how successful people respond to those setbacks. You see, there are two ways you can handle the challenges on your road to becoming a published author:React emotionallyRespond prayerfully and thoughtfullyToo many aspiring authors are led by their emotions rather than focusing on the mission they have been called to and partnering with God to make it happen. But you don't have to fall into that trap!Step #2: See Yourself as SuccessfulOne way to avoid being led by your negative emotions is to see yourself as successful. You can't allow the negative voices in your head to have their way. The cognitive distortions we discussed in this episode cause you to imagine a negative future for your life and create hurdles that you are unable to overcome. These beliefs and thoughts are rooted in lies. You have to believe it in order to achieve it — that means you've got to consciously choose to believe the truth of God's Word over the lies of the enemy. Remind yourself of these verses when you're feeling overwhelmed by negative thoughts:“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” (Hebrews 10:35-36)“Resist him [the devil], standing firm in the faith…” 1 Peter 5:9Remember, with God's help, you CAN do this!Step #3: Pick Your PersonaBoth in writing and in running a business, when you sell to everyone, you end up selling to no one. Why? Because you fail to make an emotional connection. People want to be understood. They want to know that you get them and their struggles. So when you give a really broad message, it doesn't connect. Instead, one of the best things you can do as an aspiring author and a future business owner is to get clear on the persona or the group that you have been called to reach. Often, that is a group of people whose journeys very closely resemble the journey you've been on and the setbacks that you've experienced. But don't stop there!Step #4: Test Your TheorySo many aspiring authors make assumptions. We assume things like:We know what our readers needWe know exactly what problem the reader is facingBut here's the thing: those assumptions can be wrong. The best way to know something for sure is to ask, so make sure you test what you believe to be true. Talk to some people that you believe meet the profile of someone who would benefit from your book. Listen to what they have to say and how they say it. This will help you make an emotional connection with the reader. Step #5: Organize Before You OutlineThis final step is where you look at all the conversations you've had with people who meet the profile of your ideal reader. Ask yourself:What patterns can I find among the things these people said?What challenges do these people say they're up against?What do they wish other people understood about them?What have they already tried?You have to understand these things if you want your book to offer a unique perspective on how they can approach the problem. Remember, they're already looking for solutions — and you can be the person who enlightens them on the best path for them to take. And when you do that, people will naturally hang on your every word, because they want to see what else you have to offer. Then, as you launch your career as a speaker, coach, or consultant, they'll be more than willing to show up for you and invest in what you have to offer. Because you have demonstrated that you understand them — and the problem they face — and that you can guide them, with God's help, to victory. Want more tips on writing and publishing your book so that it truly makes an impact? Join us in the Christian Authors Network to get support, resources, and much more! BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:Questions to ask as you organize information about your ideal readerWhy your book may fail to connect with your ideal readers, even if you have correctly identified the problem they are looking to solve — and how to avoid falling into this common trapHow and why to choose what approach to take with your outlineAre You Ready to Outline?So far in the First 5 series, we've discussed the importance of:Finding your fuel: You need to identify your “why,” because that's what will keep you motivated even on tough daysSeeing yourself as successful: The single biggest factor in achieving your goal of becoming a published author is whether or not you believe it is possible. That means you must stand on the Word of God and believe that you CAN do this!Picking your persona: Get crystal clear on who you're trying to reach with your message. What do they value? What are their behaviors and pain points?Testing your theory: Readers are only looking for answers to their questions and solutions to their problems, so before you start to write, it's critical that you actually talk to some people who fit the persona you want to reach, and get clear on how they describe the problem they want to solve and the questions they need answered. If you missed those previous episodes, be sure to check them out here!Now, let's get into step #5: organize before you outline. That's right — you're almost ready to begin your outline. But here's the mistake many aspiring authors make: they jump into writing the outline based on what they think the book should contain. Remember, you're writing for an audience. You can only accomplish your goal of impacting lives if people buy your book. And people will only buy your book if they believe it solves a problem for them. How Does the Reader Describe the Problem?Last week in Step #4, you talked to some people to get insight on what they're looking for. Now it's time to make use of that insight! Give yourself some quiet time. Then take all the information you got in those interviews and organize it. What themes or patterns did you notice in the responses? For example:What were some hot topics that came up? What words did you hear over and over again (for example, in the weight loss and fitness space, a word that comes up often is defeated)? How do they describe their biggest frustrations and problems, as well as their dreams?What does your ideal reader wish that other people understood about them and their struggles with this problem? How do they see their problem as opposed to your hypothesis of the problem?That last question is really where things tend to fall apart if we're not careful. You need to get clear on what makes your ideal reader feel all alone in the world at times, but too often, how an author describes the problem doesn't match the reader's view of the problem. You may identify the correct problem, but if you're not describing it in a way that connects with your readers on a core level, you won't have the impact you want. Because here's the thing: You know things — important things! — that your reader doesn't know. But they'll only open their heart and mind to hear what you have to say if you can connect to what they believe to be true. Which Approach Is Right for Your Readers?So with that in mind, it's time to take action. Get into a quiet place, take all your notes from the conversations you've had, and organize them. Once you do, you'll have a much better idea of how to approach your book and what kind of outline you need. You see, there are different kinds of outlines you could use, depending on the stance you want to take as an author:The Storyteller: Some authors use their own journey to inspire and motivate the reader. These kinds of books end up being part biography and part how-to. The Professor: Other authors prefer to focus on teaching and walking the reader step-by-step through the process to achieve a breakthrough.The Engineer: Still other authors are laser-focused on the solution and use a scientific process to get there. These types of books include a lot of facts, figures, and data. Each of these approaches requires a different kind of outline. So if you don't start by getting clear on what your ideal reader needs and which approach will be most helpful to them, you'll spend way too much time outlining and writing a book that ultimately doesn't connect with the people you're trying to reach.  BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:Your #1 job as an authorWhat every aspect of your book – from the description to the book cover to the introduction – must communicate if you want people to buy itWhat your readers really care about – and what they don't Questions to ask yourself about your ideal reader, and how to test your answersThe only way to write, publish, AND profitIf you missed the previous episodes in this series, be sure to check them out here!Make a ConnectionHere's the hard truth: people only buy books if they believe those books will help them. That means your #1 job as an author is to make the connection between what a person needs and your book. Readers are looking for two things:Answers to a question (such as, “How do I lose weight?”Solutions to a problem (such as “How do I bring love and intimacy back into my marriage?”)So if you cannot communicate — from your book description to your book cover to the introduction — that your book answers those questions and solves those problems, then you will not have a market for your book. Last week, we talked about picking a persona — in other words, deciding on the type of person you are called to help and the problem you are called to help them solve. In many instances, because you are a purpose-driven person, this problem is one that you have already solved for yourself or helped other people solve. And that's great, because that positions you as the expert. But here's the deal: People don't really care how much you know until they know that you care about how they feel. Until they feel truly connected to you. Really getting in touch with that persona helps you make that connection. You need to be able to:Come across in a way that connects with readers on an emotional core levelUse the words they useDescribe situations they have been through in living colorBeing able to do these things will position you head and shoulders above your peers. Put Your Hypothesis to the TestBut after you pick your persona, you also need to test your theory. See, much as we hate to admit it, sometimes we're wrong. And that means it's possible to get that persona wrong — either because you have the wrong idea of who that person is that you're trying to help, or because you aren't describing their problem in the right way. The thing about personas is that they're actually just fictional depictions of your ideal reader. The persona represents the behaviors, attitudes, and pain points that your ideal reader has, and it's true that you want to pick that persona and define the problem that you believe you can help them solve. But then you need to actually talk to some people who match that description. Remember in school how you were taught to form a hypothesis and then test it? Believe it or not, that applies to how you approach your book, too. Your ChallengeTake a few moments and write down the information you have about your ideal reader persona:What is the biggest result they want to achieve in their life? What would they describe as the barrier between them and that goal? What is the biggest challenge they are facing? What solutions have they already tried? Start by brainstorming answers to those questions. Then find someone that you think is a good fit and ask them the questions to see if you get the responses you're expecting. This will help you test your theory so that when you sit down to write, you're writing in a way that's really going to connect with your audience. Remember: you don't want to just write and publish — you also want to profit. And the only way you can do that is by making a connection with your reader.  BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:The only two things your readers actually care aboutHow to write a book that your ideal reader is guaranteed to loveQuestions to ask yourself to determine who you are writing for and what they want to readYour greatest qualification as an author — and how to use it effectivelyIf you missed the previous episodes in this series, be sure to check them out here!Zig Ziglar says it well: “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” And that's exactly what you want, isn't it? As an aspiring author, you want to change lives. Every aspiring author does! But for some reason, the most important person in the book-writing process often gets left out in the cold. You see, most aspiring authors write for themselves instead of for the marketplace that's going to buy their book. This is a big mistake, because it ends up robbing them of the influence and impact they need to actually change lives. What Do Readers Actually Care About?Here's the hard truth: No one but your parents — and maybe other family members — actually cares about the book you are writing. Yes, the people who love you are happy that you want to write a book. But the end reader only wants two things:Answers to their questionsSolutions to their problemsThat means the end reader will only be interested in your book if, and only if, it does those two things. So the big question is: Who are you writing for? If you can figure that out before you start writing your book, then you will have a book that your ideal reader will love. Why? Because you will literally be catering the book to them. If you have a value proposition, then the value your book delivers to your ideal reader will make them want to choose your book above all others. So you've got to determine who you are called to help and settle on the problem you are called to solve. And most likely, this is a problem that you have already solved for yourself or others. You can't sell to everyone — instead, you need to get clear on a specific niche audience that you want to reach. Who Benefits from Your Book?Most aspiring authors try to sell to everyone, because it seems like everyone can benefit from their book. And while this may be true for some, the majority of the time this ends up sabotaging your results. So, to keep that from happening, you've got to get clear on the exact type of person that will benefit from your book. Ask yourself:What is keeping that person up at night? What is disrupting their ideal life? What does the presence of this problem look and feel like? How can you position your book as the answer and/or solution? If you can connect your book to the pain and problems that your ideal reader is encountering, then you will become the expert. Your qualification is more than just your credentials and the letters behind your name — it's in your relatability.Your ideal audience will connect with your book's message because what you write (and what you say when you speak) feels right to them. Because you speak their language, and you've connected with them in such a way that they feel connected to you emotionally. Because they see themselves benefitting from buying your book and joining your tribe. So you've got to pick your persona. Don't try to boil the ocean and serve everyone. Instead, get crystal clear on who you're called to serve, and write from their point of view.  BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:The root issue that keeps aspiring authors stuckWhy we often believe success is impossible when it isn'tThree common examples of cognitive distortions that cause our own minds to work against usHow to overcome these limiting beliefs and achieve your author goalsIn Step #1 of this series, we talked about the importance of finding your fuel. This journey to becoming an author has its challenges, and the only way you're going to push forward is by thinking about the people you want to impact and the transformation you can create by sharing your story. If you missed it, be sure to check out that episode here! But here's the thing: if you don't deal with Step #2, it will short-circuit your progress. So let's talk about this important second step to becoming a successfully published author: you need to see yourself as successful. Your Mind Is Lying to YouAll too often, aspiring authors don't actually believe it's possible for them to be successful. So what's at work here? What causes aspiring authors to doubt their skills, abilities, and calling? In coaching philosophy, there's a concept called cognitive distortion. And as you may guess, this concept has to do with the brain and things being distorted. When you experience cognitive distortion, your mind is literally playing tricks on you. Sometimes you're conscious of it, but many times it's unconscious. You have underlying beliefs — about yourself, about others, and about the world — that shape the way you view things. And if you fall for those cognitive distortions, it will keep you from writing and publishing your book. 3 Common Cognitive DistortionsThere are many possible cognitive distortions, but three in particular show up often in aspiring authors. It's important that you learn to identify them, so you can call them out and deal with them if they are at work in your own life. 1. Fortune TellingIn this context, fortune telling means making negative predictions. Think of it as a crystal ball that makes predictions without any factual evidence or support. It's the aspiring author who says, “I'm going to go through all this, and no one's even going to buy my book!” or, “No one's going to even understand why I wrote my book or understand the concept!” This person has already decided they're going to fail — before they've even started writing. Are you a negative fortune teller?2. Feeling-Based ReasoningA feeler makes their decisions based on how they feel, because they perceive feelings to be facts. To this person, if they feel like something is true, then they believe it must be true, even if those feelings aren't based on factual evidence. This person says things like: “I feel like this book is not coming together. So I might as well stop, because I'm just wasting my time,” and “I feel like I'm failing at this writing project, so I must be failing. I should just quit.”Friends, we must be careful not to let our feelings drive our actions!3. Hurdle Measure BiasThis third cognitive distortion is an excessively negative interpretation of challenges. When a person with this bias thinks about writing a book, it seems like an impossible goal. This often leads to procrastination and talking ourselves out of doing the very things we want to do. This person says things like, “It's too hard” and “It's too much for me to handle” and “I'll just do it later.” It's a bit ironic when you think about it. After all, we know what Scripture says about us:We are more than conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:37)We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13)We know that we have the power to do hard things, push through challenges, and be successful. But in the moment, the challenge ahead can seem bigger than the God inside of us. Know Your PotentialStop believing false things about your abilities and potential. It's time to get in the Word and get clear about what God says about you. Start by saying positive affirmations to yourself about your potential to be successful as an author, to counter the negative things your mind is trying to make you believe. Remember, if you don't believe it, you won't achieve it. You need to start seeing yourself as successful, because — through Christ — you are stronger than you think! BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:The #1 reason most people don't move forward with writing their book Common advice people give on how to get started — and why they're missing an essential first stepThe difference between those who follow through on writing their book and those who don'tQuestions to ask yourself so you can get started and make the impact you wantI Want to Write a Book — Where Do I Start?The #1 reason that people don't move forward with their book is because they don't know where to start. And that's understandable! After all, if you were to google “how do I write a book?” right now, you'd get a number of different answers, like:Figure out your “big idea” for your book. In other words, what is your book going to be about?Find the right template. Some people say that if you can just get something to guide your writing process, you'll be on easy street.Prepare your environment. Environment matters, after all, and it's important to ensure your environment is conducive for you to write. All of these things are important! But they aren't the starting point. If you begin by focusing on your environment, templates, or big idea, you've skipped an essential first step — and you won't have the impact you really want to have. So where should you start if you want to impact people? The answer is simple: find your fuel. Is My “Why” Strong Enough?The journey you're on to become an authorpreneur — an author who is in the business of writing books that impact people — is going to require something of you. There will be good days when you're really excited about the work you're doing, and there will also be challenging days.The difference between “the ones who do” and “the ones who don't” is that “the ones who do” have found their fuel. These people recognize that willpower is important, but “why power” is even more important. Why do you want to write this book? What is the impact that you want to create? You must tap into your “why,” because your “why” becomes your fuel. When you don't feel like pulling out your pen and paper and writing, and when you'd rather chill on the couch than invest the time to keep working on your book idea, your fuel is what drives you. Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint!As you consider your “why,” think about these questions:Who are the people you want to impact with your book?What pain are those people dealing with right now because they don't have the answers that you have?How can their lives be different as a result of reading your book?Really dig deep into this — so deep, in fact, that it brings you to tears. Because if your “why” isn't strong enough to make you cry, it's not strong enough!So before you do anything else for your book, you've got to find your fuel, because your fuel will help you go the distance. BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.  GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:Common problems faced by aspiring authorsWhat you need to overcome those problemsA sneak peak at what to expect in the First 5 seriesWhat's Holding You Back?Does this sound like you? You have a story to share — you've survived a challenge or setback that you want to help others work through. And you want to boost your income by sharing that inspiring story in a book, but you have one of these problems:You find yourself starting and stopping in writing that bookYou're struggling to even get started writingYou've written the book, but you're hesitant when it comes to taking that final step to publishIf you're nodding your head “yes” about any of those statements, know that you're not alone. For many people, it seems to take forever for them to finally move forward with publishing their books.But here's the good news: this is totally fixable! What you need is a step-by-step process to get started. Once you have the right formula, structure, or framework to follow, the writing process becomes so much easier. So if this is the year that you want to write, publish, and profit, then the “First 5” series is just what you need. What Are the “First 5” Steps to Success?In the First 5 series, you'll learn the first five things you need to do to set yourself up for success in publishing your book. No more doubting and questioning if you're good enough — in this series, you'll get the cheat sheet and learn all about:How to determine in 24 hours or less who's going to benefit most from your book and the topics they want to hear about.How to position yourself as an expert and have the reader hanging onto your every word — even if you don't have a fancy degree or education.Little-known secrets to writing a book that leaves the reader craving for more, so you can sell additional products and services and boost your income and impact.So if that's what you're looking for, make sure you tune in starting next week to the re-airing of the First 5 series! BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:Factors to consider when determining the size of your bookThe role of wholesalers in the publishing and distribution processWhy it's beneficial to sell your book at a wholesale discount – and how much say you have in the processHow to calculate your print cost and gauge your expected earningsOne of the most misunderstood terms in the entire A to Z listHow to distinguish between a vanity press and a legitimate author services companyIt's easy to be really passionate about the writing process and about wanting to share your story with the world and, at the same time, also be really lost to how the industry actually works. But if you don't understand how the industry works before you publish, it can actually hurt your book's success and impact. If you missed the previous episodes in this series, you can check them out here!Here are the final set of terms you need to know as you prepare to publish and sell your book. Trim SizeIn publishing, trim size refers to the dimensions for your finished book, and it applies to both paperback and hardback copies. As you prepare to go to print, there are a couple of things you should be praying and researching about with regard to trim size. What is the average book size for your genre?Chances are, you already have some examples of the type of book you want to write in your own personal library. So break out your ruler and find out the dimensions for those books. Or check out some of your favorite authors in that space — how big are their books, typically?  You want to get a sense of what the norm is, because the last thing you want to do is stand out in a bad way. Instead, you want to stand out in such a way that the prospective reader feels that you have met their expectations. Many genres have a standard size that applies to paperback and hardback books, and if your book aligns with that standard, you're likely to make a much better impression than if your book is way outside of the norm. What is your ultimate cost per book?Trim size doesn't just impact your book's outer dimensions; it also impacts how many pages your book has, which in turn impacts the ultimate cost for your book. That means your trim size directly impacts your profitability as a self-published author. Of course, this shouldn't necessarily be your main driving force for making a decision on the trim size, but it is something to be aware of. If there's a minimum royalty you want to earn for each copy sold, consider doing the math ahead of time so you can understand how the trim size will impact your cost. How does your book look and feel?In addition to trim size, there are several other factors that play a role in how your book appears to the reader and how big it ends up being. These factors include:MarginsFont type and sizeLine spacingOverall, you want your book to strike a balance between looking good and being practical. In other words, think about it both fitting comfortably in the reader's hands and looking great on the shelf. This is another example of how helpful it can be to work with someone who has experience in this space. Many times, authors who try to do everything themselves want to do the right thing and put out a quality book — but they may not understand the impact certain decisions can have on their book's sales. For example, you can potentially lower the cost per book by making the margins very narrow, but this leaves a negative impression on the reader. Instead of thinking mostly about costs, try to make the reading experience as enjoyable for the reader as you possibly can. Because when the reader has a great experience with your book, they will tell others, which allows your book to get out to more people and also leads to favorable reviews. WholesalersYou're probably already familiar with the concept of wholesalers, even if you haven't thought about it in terms of selling books before. As you might expect, wholesaling in book publishing and distributing implies that there is a discount for the wholesaler who buys copies of your book to sell. Now, you might be thinking, “I've put all this time and energy into my book already. Why would I want to work with a wholesaler and provide a discount?”It might sound counterintuitive, but think of it this way: a wholesaler is a company that can open doors you would not be able to open yourself. They can get your book into the hands of people you would not be able to reach on your own. Yes, you can reach people like your family and friends and people you send to your website through ads or other marketing efforts. But there are other places and people you can't easily influence, and that's where wholesalers come in. Discounting your book and making it attractive to wholesalers is an excellent way to expand your reach. Remember, this is all about getting your message out to more people — you'll have more chances to earn money later by putting out more books or introducing additional products and services. Instead of trying to make a huge income from this one book, your #1 goal should be to get this book into the hands of as many people as possible. And wholesaling opens up additional opportunities for making that happen. We've talked a lot about IngramSpark throughout this series, and they play a major role in the wholesaling process. One of the benefits of listing your book with IngramSpark is that they have a massive distribution channel that includes nearly 40,000 retailers and libraries. So when you take advantage of starting a partnership with IngramSpark, they become an extension of you in getting your book out into more retailers and libraries than you would be able to work with otherwise. Here's how this works. To get the maximum mileage for your book, you'll choose a wholesale discount and agree to make the book returnable, and IngramSpark ensures your book is in the mix to be selected by various retailers and libraries to stock on their shelves. Now your book shows up in brick-and-mortar locations, which gives you additional credibility and reach, in return for that wholesale discount. Now, keep in mind that you are not in this space alone. You are competing with traditional publishers who are putting out books in your category, and they are absolutely offering wholesale discounts and returns. Plus, other self-publishers are taking advantage of the opportunity to work with IngramSpark, which means their books are in the mix, too. So, if nothing else, offering a wholesale discount is all about leveling the playing field and ensuring you have equal opportunity to get your book and message out to the masses. Yes, it's a bit of a sacrifice on the front end. But ultimately, you will come out on top. Finally, know that you have some say in this process. Typically, you can choose how much of a discount you want to offer within a range of about 30%-55%.However, keep in mind that the lower the discount, the less attractive your offer will be to retailers. Since your goal is to get your book into more hands, consider going with that 55% discount instead of closer to 30%. Unit CostWhen it comes to the profitability of your book, or how much you're actually going to get in hand for each copy sold, there's one other factor to consider: unit cost. This is the base cost of printing and putting that book together. Earlier in this series, we discussed print on demand, which allows you to have books printed as they are ordered without needing to get a minimum number of copies at one time. However, this service is not free. There is a unit cost for that convenience, flexibility, and the actual costs of putting together, printing, and shipping the book. The structure for this unit cost varies depending on which distributor(s) you use (such as Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, etc.). So you'll want to make sure you understand the cost factors involved when choosing how to distribute your book. The good news is that there are online calculators you can use to determine your unit cost. You'll plug in information about how many pages your book will be, the trim size, and other details about what the interior of the book will look like (such as what type of paper you'll use), and then the calculator will help you determine the unit cost per book based on that information. Then, to get an idea of how much you can expect to make for each book, all you have to do is deduct the unit cost from the retail price. Of course, if you're working with IngramSpark and offering a wholesale discount, this will impact your earnings per book. So make sure you use the correct calculator for your distributor, so you can get an accurate unit cost estimate. Remember, your goal is not to get rich off the book. Realistically, by the time you subtract your costs and factor in the wholesale discount, you're likely looking at somewhere between $1.50-$4.00 per copy. That means you'll need to sell a lot of books to hit a high income level. The more exposure and traffic you can drive to your book, the better chances you have of selling more — and for authors with a mainstream audience who can sell thousands of books, those numbers do add up very quickly — but let's face it: this is not the path to riches for most people. Especially if you're new to the author space and are still building up your brand and reputation, it's going to take time to see those higher numbers. That's why it's so important to be thinking about your next steps. What can you do to leverage your book to build a business that earns an income and gives you overflow? Maybe it's offering an online course or a coaching program, or maybe it's something else. Whatever it is, be thinking about it now, before you start putting your book out into the world. Vanity PressThe final term in the Book Publishing A to Z series is vanity press, and this is also one of the most misunderstood terms we've discussed. Often, both aspiring and published authors refer to any service that helps an author put out a professional book as a vanity press. But that's not entirely accurate. So let's set the record straight. If you need help in a certain area, and you are not getting a traditional publishing deal, it is reasonable to expect that you will need to pay for certain services. After all, a person should get paid for the work that they do. So just because there is money associated with getting the book ready for publication does not necessarily mean that this service provider is a vanity press. To be very clear, if your book gets picked up by a traditional publishing house — if you land a traditional publishing deal — there is no money expected from you as the author in that case. So if someone tells you they are offering a traditional publishing deal, but that you need to pay for something, then you should run. That kind of offer is not going to give you what you think it will. That said, there is a difference between vanity presses and legitimate author services that help self-published authors put out good quality books. Self-Publishing ServicesWith legitimate self-publishing services, you can get help with bringing your book to completion. Under this model, you might pay for things like editing, proofreading, printing, and/or marketing services. Ultimately, these services help you excel in areas that you're not naturally gifted or talented in, and they can also save you the time and frustration of navigating sites like Fiverr or Upwork to find quality talent. So just because you pay for these types of services doesn't mean it's a vanity press. Vanity PressA vanity press does the opposite of what legitimate self-publishing services do. Instead of prioritizing quality, vanity presses focus on getting as much money from you as they can. They won't care about editing and proofreading your book to make sure it's the best possible representation of you, and they're very likely to nickel and dime you for every step of the process. In contrast, legitimate author services will give you a set price for your project with everything you need — from proofreading to formatting to cover design — already included. When you're choosing a partner to work with, it's very important to do your research, even if you're looking at a bigger publishing house with a pay-to-print model. Look for reviews online, just like you would when choosing a restaurant or a hotel. That will give you an idea of how the company's reputation has panned out over time. Then, always set up a consultation to gain more insight and ideas on what that self-publishing service can bring to the table and whether they're the right fit for your publishing goals. Remember, part of this process is being a good steward of what God has entrusted to you — and part of being a good steward is carefully vetting the people you work with and asking the right questions. Looking for more self-publishing tips, guidance, and information on legitimate self-publishing services? Join us in the Christian Authors Network Facebook group to learn more! BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:Reasons people choose to go the traditional publishing route, as well as downsides to help you make the right decision according to your personal goalsKey elements you need to land a book dealWhat a query letter and book proposal are, and what to include in eachThe main objective your book must help the publishing house achieveIt's easy to be really passionate about the writing process and about wanting to share your story with the world and, at the same time, also be really lost to how the industry actually works. But if you don't understand how the industry works before you publish, it can actually hurt your book's success and impact. If you missed the previous episodes in this series, you can check them out here!Today, let's pause, pivot a little, and really dig deep into the letter T — and more specifically, traditional publishing. However, within that category, we'll also cover some of the elements you need to land a traditional publishing deal. Self-Publishing RecapBefore we get into traditional publishing, let's review what we previously discussed about self-publishing. Self-publishing means you are taking the helm — not only in writing, but in publishing. This could mean you do it all yourself (though it's not necessarily recommended!), or it could mean you hire an editor, proofreader, cover designer, formatter, and any other people you need to put together a professional finished product. Self-Publishing OptionsWhen you self-publish, you have to assemble your own dream team to make it happen, and you're responsible for interviewing and vetting those people — unless you work with a partner, like us at 265 Point, who has that dream team already assembled. Certainly, there are talented freelancers out there who can be a great help, but there is a huge benefit to having a central point of contact to manage the process and make everything run smoothly. It takes a lot of stress out of self-publishing, because you only have to vet the person you partner with on the front end, instead of bringing the entire team together yourself. Remember, whether you work with a partner or not, when you self-publish, you're picking up the costs for all the components that are necessary to publish a quality book. But that also means you have 100% creative control. The book is exactly what you want it to be, and it says what you want it to say, how you want it to say it. That said, keep in mind that the reader is the one who decides whether the book resonates with them. So really getting in tune with that persona and being able to speak to a direct target audience is very important. But, if you're keeping that reader in mind, then it is your book and you can do with it what you want. You have complete creative and marketing control, you retain 100% of the rights, and you get a larger share of the royalties. But that means you've got to push and orchestrate the whole publishing process. Indie PublishersIndie publishers are kind of a middle ground, not quite as big as the traditional publishing houses we'll cover today. These publishers have assembled the resources in-house to publish books at a smaller scale. They don't work with as many authors, and advances and royalties may be a little different than they would be with traditional publishers, but indie publishers are still a viable option that can help remove some of the pressure of coordinating and managing the process of publishing a book. Traditional PublishingA traditional publishing deal is what most people think of when they think of landing a book deal. This is when a big company like HarperCollins picks up your book, and it's a big, celebratory moment in the author space when it happens. But what does it really look like to pursue that publishing path? Let's look at some of the pros and cons of landing a traditional publishing deal. There are many reasons a person might choose to go the traditional publishing path, including:Endorsement. A traditional publishing deal can feel like a stamp of approval, telling you that what you have to say actually mattered and resonated with people to the point that they were willing to invest in you. When a publishing company says yes to your deal, it means they believe in you. And in a subjective field like writing, that vote of encouragement can be huge for your self-confidence. Resources. If you're traditionally published, you don't have to assemble the dream team. Instead, you can rely on the publisher's in-house resources. And if they're a major publisher, they likely have a very high-quality team working on your book. Low investment. You don't have to invest in upfront costs for things like editing and formatting, because the publishing house takes care of it for you. Differentiation. For the high achievers, a traditional publishing deal means differentiating yourself. It's being set apart, sort of like being in an elite club. It can also simply be a goal to set for yourself to operate at a higher level so you can command the respect of a major publishing house. So which path is best? Really, it depends on your goals for what you want to accomplish. If you want to have creative control, get your book out quickly, and retain the rights to your book, self-publishing might be the better option for you. But if bragging rights, a stamp of approval, and having the cost picked up for you are more attractive, then traditional publishing may be the path you want to take. Now, keep in mind that traditional publishing deals can fall through, especially if you are missing some very important pieces. But the biggest challenge of traditional publishing is that you have to commit to the long haul. It's not an easy goal to accomplish. You have to be prayerful and persistent, and there will be setbacks along the journey. And there are some additional elements you need to pay attention to that add a bit of complexity to the process. Key Elements for a Traditional Publishing DealIf you're trying to land a traditional publishing deal for a nonfiction book, you need four basic things:An author platformA query letterA book proposalA sellable storyHaving a sellable story simply means doing everything you can to make sure your book is marketable, as we've covered in other parts of this series. But let's break down those other three pieces. Author PlatformWhen publishers, editors, and agents talk about author platforms, they mean you've got to be able to prove that your book is marketable — in other words, you've already convinced other people to believe in you. And one of the ways to measure that is by your social media following, email list, blog subscribers, and/or how many people are in the Facebook group you run.See, those are all things that indicate that you have been able to capture people's attention and get them to follow you. Why is that important? Because, remember, the publishing house is putting everything on the line for you. They have assembled the dream team; they're paying that team and all the printing costs, as well as any communications costs like press releases. And they only want to do all that if they have a pretty good certainty that they'll get their money back. Publishing is a business. And think of it this way: even Christian traditional publishers are held accountable for being good stewards of their resources. That means they need to be able to get back a return on their investment. So not only do they want to make back what they put into the project — they want to make more. Remember, this isn't about whether people believe that what you have to say is important. It's simply a matter of whether working on your book fits within their business model. So if traditional publishing is not responsive for you, you can still get your message out — it just means you'll need to be responsible for taking ownership of that process and going the self-publishing route. Query LetterThink of a query letter as a cover letter. When you apply for a job, your cover letter opens the door, differentiates you in a positive way, demonstrates that you are genuinely interested in the job, and gives the employer a preview of what they could get if they continue on to look at your resume or call you for an interview. A query letter accomplishes much the same thing in the traditional publishing space. So some of the same high-level things that you would do within a cover letter, you also want to do within a query letter. Just like with a cover letter, make sure you customize the query letter to the person you're sending it to, and that you give an overview of your experience in this field. The query letter should also include your bio, platform, and credentials, because you want to position your book as something that should be investigated and sought out. Your query letter should also give the publisher, editor, or agent an idea of what your book is about. This includes the books':Title Word countGenre and categoryTarget audienceTry to think like a marketer. What makes your book attractive? What makes it similar to but different from other books in the space? Remember, there are probably hundreds, if not thousands, of books already written in the space in which you want to operate. Just like a job applicant may be up against hundreds of other people for that one job, you've got to differentiate yourself from that competition. And the query letter is one way that you do that. Book ProposalIn our interview example, the book proposal is like your resume. It takes your query letter another step and really positions you and your book as something to be sought after, from a business standpoint. You can also think of it as a business plan. If you've ever written a business plan before, you know that it challenges you to think through your business and make sure that you have a well-thought-out and well-planned business idea. A book proposal has pretty much the same objective. The editor, agent, or publisher wants to know that you've thought through all the pieces of the puzzle and that you are committed to and willing to work for this publishing journey. That you're in it for the long haul. Realistically, it could take years to complete the traditional publishing process and get your book out to the market. So it makes sense that they are looking for someone with a long-term mindset who is willing to go through the process of flashing out all the details — thinking through the market, competitors, and the angle through which to market the book so it will be successful. Landing a traditional publishing deal is all about convincing that agent, editor, or publisher that this could work and they should take a chance on you. Because here's the thing: there will still need to be some conversation and negotiation to actually get that book deal. But if you can't spark that thought — if the lightbulb doesn't come on — then the chances of you getting to the next step are very small. Marketing MattersYes, your manuscript needs to be good. Make no mistake about it. But you also need the marketing piece to make your book stand out and be attractive to the editor, agent, or publisher. Then you've also got to have that platform — because if you, as the author of the book, can't convince people to follow you or subscribe to your list, then why should they believe they can? Books don't sell themselves. Authors sell books. That's true whether we're talking about self-publishing, indie publishing, or traditional publishing. The traditional publishing house is looking for a partner in the marketing process. And the best way for them to get an idea of how this joint venture will work is to be able to preview what you are currently doing. Are you bringing your A game to the table to attract a following, and demonstrate that you'll be able to continue growing that following? Only if you're able to do that will they trust that the books they publish will sell, the advance they give you will be met, and there could be an overflow. Essentially, you want to communicate that you are a good investment. But also remember that if it doesn't work with one publishing house, that doesn't mean it won't work with the next. Keep pushing forward, believing that God will help you meet the expectations you need to if that's the right path for you. Finally, always remember that self-publishing is still an option. You don't have to depend on someone else to open the door for you — you can open your own door. Want more tips and insights while you wait for part 8 next week? Join us in the Christian Authors Network Facebook group! BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:What a slush pile is and why it's neither negative nor positiveWhat you need to understand if you want your manuscript to be readWhy a small or independent press might be an option worth considering — and what to expect if you do take that routeThe importance of having a table of contents in your book What to pay attention to when it comes to territories your book can be published inIt's easy to be really passionate about the writing process and about wanting to share your story with the world and, at the same time, also be really lost to how the industry actually works. But if you don't understand how the industry works before you publish, it can actually hurt your book's success and impact. If you missed the previous episodes in this series, you can check them out here!Here are the next set of publishing terms you need to know.Slush PileIn the book publishing field, a slush pile is a pile of all the unsolicited manuscripts that have been sent to a publisher, agent, or editor, in hopes that they will read it, be thoroughly impressed, and offer that book publishing deal. Back in the day, slush piles were often physical piles of envelopes and packages containing manuscripts that were waiting to be read. Some people still mail physical copies of their manuscripts, but in this day and age, slush piles are often digital — email inboxes and online databases that are full of submissions from aspiring authors all over the globe.Whatever the form, though, think of slush piles as places where submissions are stored. They aren't positive or negative; they're just holding places. Here are a few things you need to know about slush piles. Each company or person who receives manuscripts has their own process. Not everyone accepts unsolicited manuscripts, and those who do often have very specific requirements they're looking for. So it's not as simple as finding the name of a publisher, agent, or editor and sending them your manuscript. Instead, each person or company is looking for manuscripts that align with how they want to run their business. So, for example, if they say they don't accept unsolicited manuscripts, you can send them yours — but chances are, they won't read it. That's not a personal attack against you; it's just them running their business as they see fit. So before you submit your manuscript, find out the established process and pre-approved channels for submission. Don't try to create your own process and expect them to abide by it. Preferences play a role.Like any other business, publishers, editors, and agents have certain types of clients they choose to serve. In other words, they are interested in certain types of books (and authors) that best align with their business model and preferences.Some are interested in topics like evangelism, mission, and leadership, while others are specifically looking for fiction or children's literature. Just as you have a personal mission as an author that you want to accomplish, remember that these companies, agents, and editors have missions of their own, too. So it's important to do the legwork to understand who is interested in what, instead of wasting time trying to put a square peg into a round hole. Everyone has their own systems. Some agents, editors, and publishers read through their submissions on a daily basis. For others, the system is weekly, monthly, or even quarterly or annually. So just because you haven't heard back yet doesn't necessarily mean it has — or hasn't — been read. Be patient. They might just have a system for working through manuscripts that is different from what you're expecting. Goals and capacity vary. Some publishers only aim to publish around 30 titles per year, while others publish more than 100 in the same amount of time. It all depends on where they are in their business and what their goals are. This can also affect how long it takes for you to hear back about your submission. Remember, slush piles are just holding places. And you don't want to invest time — and your hopes and dreams — into submitting a manuscript that doesn't get read. So before you submit, do your research to find out the established processes, systems, and expectations so you can follow them to the best of your ability. A helpful resource: The Christian Writers Market GuideSome Christian authors want there to be exceptions to these rules. After all, it's a Christian market. But remember: publishing is a business, whether it's for Christian books or not, and businesses need to have established protocols.These publishers, agents, and editors are simply trying to do things in decency and order, to make sure their businesses run effectively. That means they need structure and systems. So respect their process, and don't try to change it or ask for exceptions.A great resource to help you do this is the Christian Writers Market Guide. It has over 500 pages with details on everything from big publishers to smaller publishing houses to companies that offer publishing assistance — plus what each publisher is looking for in terms of capacity, types of manuscripts they want, their submission process, and more. Small (or Independent) PressYou're probably very familiar with big publishing names like HarperCollins and Penguin Random House. These companies publish books that reel in billions of dollars, and they have a ton of name recognition. A small (or independent) press, on the other hand, operates at a much smaller scale. But even without the name recognition that those big publishers offer, small presses do provide some benefits that make them a worthy contender within the publishing space. Since small presses are, of course, small, they tend to be more nimble and willing to take chances. This is especially helpful for new authors who don't have an established reputation yet. A big publishing house might not be willing to bet on you, while a small press might be more open to taking the risk. When working with a small press, you are also likely to have more control over the direction of your project. You're often able to have a closer and stronger relationship with the people working on your book, which can create a better working experience overall.That said, it's important to manage your expectations when working with a smaller publishing house. They won't have the same budget for your book that a bigger publisher would, and you'll probably need to play a much bigger role in marketing your own book. (Of course, you'll still be involved in marketing even if you choose a big-name publisher. But with a small press, your level of involvement will likely be much bigger.)You'll also need to vet the small press very, very carefully. It's easier to know exactly what you're getting into with big publishers, since their history and reputation are easy to find. But with a small press, you'll need to do a bit more legwork to make sure you're comfortable moving forward with them.Finally, keep in mind that if you get an advance with your small press publishing deal, it's going to be smaller than it would be with a bigger publisher. Again, it goes back to managing your expectations — you'll be getting your book out into the world; you'll have a team working with you to publish your book; and they'll be putting up money to go through editing processes, get your cover done, and so on; but your advance won't be as large a payment as it might be with a big-name publisher.Table of ContentsMost books have a table of contents, but sometimes it's easy to overlook the importance of this particular page. After all, you have a very important message to communicate! But don't get so caught up in the content that you completely neglect the finer details.Think of the table of contents as a roadmap for your reader. When someone picks up your book, it's very likely that they will turn to the table of contents to see what your book is about and which parts they might be most interested in reading. Remember the saying “You only have a few seconds to make a good first impression”? Having a table of contents helps you accomplish this, both because it helps the reader know what your book is about and because it makes your book look more professional. Now, if you work with a traditional publisher or small press, they will help ensure you have a table of contents. But if you self-publish, it's on you to remember to include one and make it look good. Some author services companies will literally publish whatever you give them — so if the table of contents is missing or formatted incorrectly, they aren't going to fix it for you. So what difference does a table of contents make? In addition to making your book look more professional, this page can make it easy for a reader to know where to turn next. This is especially true if your book is nonfiction or a collection of short stories or poetry. Plus, the way you phrase the titles on the table of contents gives readers a feel for your personality. Are the chapter titles all straight to the point and professional? Are they fun and creative? Do the chapter titles tell a little story of their own? And don't forget to think about the future! Imagine people at a book club trying to read your book and discuss it together. It will be much easier to keep everyone on the same page if they have clearly labeled sections to turn to. TerritoriesWe've already talked a little bit about territories when it comes to entering into agreements with traditional publishers, but this concept really applies to any type of publishing. When you upload a book to Amazon, for example, you'll be asked which territories you want them to distribute your book in. If you are going the traditional publishing route, it's very important to understand what you have rights to and what your publisher has rights to, and which countries your book is licensed for sale in. Sometimes, you can even negotiate and retain some of the rights in specific areas. If you're self-publishing, be sure you pay attention to which options you choose. For example, with Amazon KDP, you can choose to sell your book through KDP expanded distribution, which may give you an edge with selling on Amazon. However, outside of Amazon, the better choice may be IngramSpark. Outlets like bookstores and libraries are more accustomed to working with IngramSpark, which also gives them the option for returning books — and that can be a huge consideration for bookstores when deciding whether to carry your book. So whether you're self-publishing or working with a traditional publisher, make sure you think through where and how you'll license and distribute your book, to set yourself up for your best chance at selling as many copies as possible. Next Week on Book Publishing A to ZWe've covered some important terms this week, but there are still plenty more to come! Here's a sneak peek at what to expect in the next installment of the Book Publishing A to Z series:How to get the traditional publishing deal you're looking forHow trim size impacts the publishing processWholesalers and unit costsWe'll cover all that and more right here next week!  BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:Why some of your books may be returned by retailers – and why that's normalThe different types of book reviews you need and how to get themTypical royalty rates for traditional vs. self-publishing, why they're so different, and other factors to keep in mindPros and cons of choosing self-publishing over traditional publishingIt's easy to be really passionate about the writing process and about wanting to share your story with the world and, at the same time, also be really lost to how the industry actually works. But if you don't understand how the industry works before you publish, it can actually hurt your book's success and impact. If you missed the previous episodes in this series, you can check them out here!Here are the next set of publishing terms you need to know.ReturnsTo understand returns, let's look at a practical example. During the holiday season, sometimes you receive a gift that, for whatever reason, does not work out. So what do you do? If you have the gift receipt, you'll take that gift back to the store and either get a refund or exchange it for something else.It's a similar concept when it comes to books. For example, imagine that your books are put into a bookstore. They're on the shelf and available for customers to purchase. If the bookstore can't sell all the books, however, they can return those books. If it's traditionally published, they can return them to the publisher. If it's a self-published book, they can make a return against your account. As you can imagine, this isn't the most exciting experience. So why does this ability for bookstores to return your books even exist? Remember, books are a business. And specifically, think of book publishing as a consignment business. Bookstores and other retailers will sell what they can and do what they can to promote your book. But if it doesn't work out, they don't want to lose. So you need to accept ahead of time that when you place your book in bookstores, there is always the possibility that the book could be returned. The industry standard for returns is somewhere around 20-30%. That means if you send out 100 books, you can expect that about 20-30 of them may come back to you. This can be discouraging, but remember that it's par for the course in this industry. It doesn't mean you did anything wrong. It's a normal part of the book publishing business. If you have a publisher, you'll see these refunds on your royalty statements as a negative dollar amount. But again, it doesn't mean that anything went wrong. Essentially, it means that a sale was never made. The books were placed in the store on consignment, and because they did not sell, the retailer has a right to return those books. As an indie publisher, though, without a distributor, if you take returns, you have the ability to re-sell them. As long as the books aren't damaged, you can put them back on the market and potentially sell them. Book returns may not be a very pleasant part of the book publishing business, but the more you understand about how things work, the more you can avoid reacting emotionally and can instead respond prayerfully and thoughtfully about what to do next. It's not fun, but it is par for the course. And that is important for you to know. ReviewsEven if this is your first experience with publishing a book, you're most likely already familiar with the concept of reviews. You've probably used them yourself to make decisions like what restaurant to eat at or what hotel to stay in when you're on vacation. We live in a world that is largely influenced by reviews.And that applies to books, too. People who have read or purchased the book write feedback and give their opinion on their experience. That's why so many authors want to get as many reviews as possible: because reviews help influence readers and potential buyers to check the book out or even make a purchase. You want to make sure that your book is presented in the best possible light when someone finds it either online or in a physical store or library. Getting as Many Reviews as PossibleOf course, this isn't 100% under your control. Sometimes people will leave negative reviews, and there's nothing you can do about it. All you can do is put out a quality book and trust that potential buyers and readers are smart. After all, even when you see a negative review of something, don't you read the positive ones, too, and try to get a bigger picture of the general consensus? That's why it's crucial to try and get as many reviews as you can, especially four- and five-star reviews, so the positive ones will outweigh the occasional negative ones. But here's the really important piece: you also want people to write in the comments about their experience, not just to give it a start rating. This gives you implied credibility, both from the person who wrote the review — since they're sharing how they benefited from your book — and from the online retailer selling the book. You see, Amazon actually pulls reviews if they think those reviews were influenced by the author. So if a review stays on the site, potential buyers can trust that it's probably honest, and that your book may be worth their time. (By the way, if you're wondering how to get reviews, be sure to join us in the Christian Authors Network Facebook group, where we have an entire section on how to attract reviews — and how to do it in a way that doesn't make you salesy or pushy, but in a way that feels comfortable and natural.)Professional ReviewsSo far, we've been talking about consumer reviews, but there's actually another type to consider: professional reviews. These are provided by well-respective authorities in the book market. Because these authorities are so prestigious, a favorable book review from one of them can easily boost your book's profile within the industry (yes, including Christian retailers!). That means a favorable professional review could make a coveted bookstore willing to stock your book. Now, if you are self-published, this can be a little more tricky, because some professional markets do not review self-published books. You'll have to do your research to identify those that do, like BookLife from Publishers Weekly. They review tens of thousands of traditionally published books, as well as self-published books. RoyaltiesMost people think of royalties in the perspective of a traditional publishing deal, which we will tackle in more detail later in this series. And while that is true, it's important to know that royalties come into play with both traditional and self publishing. Traditional Publishing RoyaltiesRoyalty rates are a percentage of the sale of the book. But when you have a traditional publishing deal, the publishing house has taken all the risks for you, so you have no upfront costs. That means the royalty rates will be lower, because the publishing house is putting up all the money on the front end to support your book. They're paying for editors, publicists, and everything else you need to bring your book together, so it makes sense that this will impact your royalties.  Depending on the strength of your publishing deal (which your literary agent will help you negotiate based on your online platform and presence), you may get an advance against your royalties. This is typically somewhere between 7% and 25% of the net book price. So, for example, let's say you get an advance of $5,000. That means your book has to earn more than $5,000 for it to break even. Then, for you to earn any additional money, it's got to sell even more. Also keep in mind that royalty percentages are typically on the net price. That means all the discounts, returns, marketing costs, and overhead are taken off the top before your royalty percentage is calculated. Plus, your rates can vary based on how well-known you are as an author, the type of book format (hardback, Ebook, etc.), and other factors. All that to say, while there is a royalty for traditionally published books, and you may get an advance, that doesn't mean it will be raining money. Self-Publishing RoyaltiesLet's say you self-publish your book, and price in the $2.99-$9.99 range. You can actually get a 70% royalty if it's self-published! But remember, the tradeoff is that you must pay upfront and do the work to get your book edited, formatted, and marketed. The higher royalty reflects the work and money you've invested to publish your book instead of having the publishing house do it all for you. But here's the good news: you need to sell far fewer books to make the same amount of money with self-publishing. No, it's not a get-rich-quick scheme. But if you publish a good quality book that is polished, professional, represents you and God well, and sets you up to start or grow your coaching, speaking or consulting business, then this can be a really great deal. When you approach self-publishing the right way, you can earn a great living. Self-PublishingTraditional publishing deals are often coveted. So why would anyone choose to self-publish a book instead?First, if your desire is to use the book to set up a career as a speaker, coach, or consultant, self-publishing allows you much more flexibility. You have the option to distribute, change, or repurpose the writing in any way you choose. That's not the case with a traditionally published book. Additionally, as a business owner, your book becomes another product that you can offer your customers. It sets you up to introduce yourself, to break the ice, so the client can get to know you. It's a tool to educate people on what you have to offer, positioning you as the answer to their questions and the solution to their problems. When you self-publish, you don't have to:Wait to get a literary agentGo through the negotiation process with a publishing houseWorry that parts of your book may be taken outSelf-publishing offers maximum flexibility and control over your book. You can market it however you please, include whatever you want to include, and write as fast as you like. And all you really need to make it happen at a basic level is a computer, basic writing skills, and an internet connection. Often, your book gets to market much faster when you self-publish. It can take as little as a week, depending on where you are in the journey. But even if it takes up to 90 days or more, that's still much shorter than most traditional publishing paths. However, remember that you have to be in charge of making all the decisions. You need to hire your own editor and design and publishing teams, or you need to do those things yourself. You're essentially on the hook for everything when you go the self-publishing path, but that can also be very empowering. As long as you've been listening to these episodes and checking out the material in the Christian Authors Network Facebook group, you CAN do this — and you can do it successfully!Next Week on Book Publishing A to ZWe've covered some important terms this week, but there are still plenty more to come! Here's a sneak peek at what to expect in the next installment of the Book Publishing A to Z series:What a slush is in the context of publishing booksWhere small press fits into the book publishing pictureTable of contentsTerritories and why they matterWe'll cover all that and more right here next week!  BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:How creating a reader persona will help you sell more books – and also develop your market for other sales in the futureThe unexpected costs of purchasing minimum orders of your bookHow to avoid ending up with boxes of books that you can't sellYour only two options when it comes to getting the word out for your bookA special invitation for those who want to learn more about marketing and promoting their bookIt's easy to be really passionate about the writing process and about wanting to share your story with the world and, at the same time, also be really lost to how the industry actually works. But if you don't understand how the industry works before you publish, it can actually hurt your book's success and impact. If you missed the previous episodes in this series, you can check them out here!Here are the next set of publishing terms you need to know.PersonaIn marketing, there are several terms that relate to the idea of a persona. For example, you may be familiar with terms like demographics — age, gender, location, etc. You might even be familiar with the concept of psychographics, which seeks to understand how a person thinks, the things they value, and their interests, mindsets, and belief systems. These things are important to know, but there's another step that you'll want to take as an authorpreneur. Remember: we're writing books, but we're also building a business at the same time. And one of the realities of business is that if you do not have customers (or clients or readers), then you don't really have a business. The good news is that getting in tune with your audience's persona positions you to attract clients — readers — to you. What Is a Persona?The first thing to understand is that a persona doesn't actually represent one person. Instead, it's a fictional depiction of your model customer. Sort of like if you were to combine the characteristics of several people into one person. Think back to when you were dating. If you're like a lot of people, you probably had an idea of your “dream guy” or “dream girl” you were hoping to find. Now apply that to the business of books: your ideal reader (your persona!) is that dream guy or girl who you believe will be positively impacted by your book. But remember, the persona doesn't only represent one person; it actually represents a segment or group of readers who are within your target audience. So if you can get good at identifying the characteristics of a persona that is really interested in your book, not only will you have a much easier time selling your book, but you'll also have an easier time adding products and services down the road. You will have already developed a market for those things, because you've done such a good job on the front end. Understanding your persona also helps you identify where to find your target audience. What social media do they use?What types of groups are they in?What types of podcasts, blogs, magazines, etc. do they follow?If you can zero in on these items, you'll be able to focus your marketing efforts in the right place. How to Identify Your Ideal Reader PersonaThe last thing you want to do is waste time, energy, and effort. So before you publish that book, really get clear on your persona. Take out a piece of paper and jot down some of those demographic and psychographic characteristics. Go out and find a picture of someone that you think represents those things, so you can have a visual in your mind as you're writing. Think about the type of car they drive, the side of town they live on, anything you can think of to describe your ideal reader. The more fun you have with it — and the more time and energy you invest on the front end in this process — the better off you will be. Additionally, try to get into the mind of that person:What is keeping them up at night? What are they worried about? Is there something they're hiding or protecting that they don't want anyone else to know? What do they want more than anything else? How can you, through your book, help them get there? What are they struggling to figure out on their own that you already know? If you know exactly what your ideal reader is looking for or what they need, you're much more likely to be able to give them the keys to success. And they will be so thankful if you can position your book that way. Print on Demand (P.O.D.)Print on demand (P.O.D.) may be easiest to understand using a practical example. So imagine you as a business owner are ordering T-shirts for a special event. But here's the challenge: when you order those shirts, you have to meet a minimum order of 10 shirts. That doesn't sound like a big deal, does it? After all, it can't be that difficult to sell just 10 shirts. But here's where it gets challenging. It's not always easy to guess what shirt sizes you'll need, or how many to get of each. Every time you need one more of a certain size, you'll have to buy 10 more shirts — and that adds up quickly. The same kind of concept can apply to selling books. If you're ordering books to stock and sell yourself, and there's a minimum order limit of 100 copies, even if those books only cost you $4 each, that's $400 you must pay upfront. With print on demand, everything changes. Your book is stored in the system at Amazon, for example, and any customer can place an order for just one book. They pay the list price, the cost of the book is deducted, and you get the royalty that has been established for that particular platform. Best of all, you're no longer in the warehousing business!Just think about how much that actually saves you. If you don't use print on demand, you need to:Store stacks of booksFill book orders yourselfPackage books, pay for postage, and mail them to buyersDrive to the post officeAll those things add up to not only financial costs, but time and energy costs. Print on demand makes our life easier. So while there are some costs associated with it, too, they are much lower than the alternative.ProofA proof is a copy of your book that is produced so it can be checked. A traditional publisher may order this just to make sure everything presents well before the book is released to the masses. And if you are a self-publishing author, you'll also want to get a proof of your book before it is released to the public. Here's why proofs are important. Let's say you place a bulk order for 200 copies of your book. The boxes arrive, and only then do you realize there are several typos or formatting errors throughout the book. Now you have 200 books in your house that cannot be sold, and you've lost all the money you spent to order them. Don't make that mistake! Do not order large shipments of your book — or release your book to the masses — without getting a proof first. Yes, getting a proof does extend the time of the project, because it means that once you get everything uploaded and set up, you have to wait until a physical copy of that book is mailed. But this is one of those business decisions that pays off, because it saves you a lot of money and embarrassment. Then, once you get that physical proof of your book, make sure you inspect it thoroughly. For best results, have some other people inspect it with you as well, and then compare your notes so you can be sure to make any necessary adjustments before your book becomes available to the general public. PublicistOne of the biggest challenges that many authors face is getting the word out about their book — letting people know what they have written about and why it's important, getting exposure, and getting opportunities to talk about and share their message. And a publicist is the person who actually helps make this happen. A publicist's job is to manage media and public attention for a book. This can come in the form of putting out press releases, arranging events, and setting up book signings, author interviews, and book reviews. So a publicist has a very important job! And here's the decision you have to make: Will you hire someone to do this for you, or will you learn how to be your own publicist?Frankly, those are the only two choices. If you don't either hire someone to do the work for you or learn the skills to do it yourself, you will not have enough exposure and visibility for your book. Which means you will not sell as many copies as you would like to sell or have the impact your message needs to have. People who desperately need to hear what you have to say will never hear it. So make sure to invest in either getting a professional publicist or in learning the skills to become one yourself. Get Writing & Publishing ResourcesIt's time to make a decision. No more talking about how people just don't know about your book or how you just don't understand marketing or promotions. Your success — not just the success of your book, but the success of you getting your message out — depends on what you decide to do today.If you've decided that you want to learn the skills to really make sure your book has the biggest impact possible, then join us in the Christian Authors Network Facebook group! There, you'll find lots of value-packed resources to help you level up in the areas of marketing and promotion so your book can have maximum impact and make a difference in the world.  BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:How to obtain an ISBN, and why you might need more than oneHow to use keywords to attract your ideal reader to youTips on pricing your book – and why it won't necessarily reflect the hours of work you put into writing and publishingWhat a literary agent does and why you probably need oneIt's easy to be really passionate about the writing process and about wanting to share your story with the world and, at the same time, also be really lost to how the industry actually works. But if you don't understand how the industry works before you publish, it can actually hurt your book's success and impact. If you missed the previous episodes in this series, you can check them out here!Here are the next set of publishing terms you need to know.ISBNIf you have been thinking about self-publishing a book, you've probably seen this term, but you may not have fully understood what it meant. So let's break it down. ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. As the name implies, this is a way of identifying your book. In other words, it's a way of distinguishing your book from others. Each book receives its own ISBN, which is typically 13 digits in length and used internationally. But why does it matter? Let's say you want to get your book into a library. The ISBN helps that library find your particular book out of all the books out there. How you get an ISBN varies depending upon where you are. If you're located outside of the United States, you can get one through a local ISBN Agency. If you are here in the United States or in the UK, ISBN numbers are administered by the companies Bowker and Nielsen, respectively. You do have to pay a fee to get an ISBN, but remember: publishing a book is starting a business. So consider this one of the startup costs for your book business. Often, the source you use to publish your book will offer you the opportunity to get an ISBN through them. For example, Amazon will grant you a free ISBN. But a word of caution: that ISBN can only be used on Amazon KDP. That means you'll have to get a new ISBN for every self-publishing platform you want to list your book on. A better alternative would be to purchase your own ISBN, so you have just one to use across all platforms. That said, you may still want to purchase multiple ISBNs at a time, because a single ISBN is only good for that particular format of the book. So if you get an ISBN for your print book, you'll need a separate one for your audiobook or Ebook. So, for that reason, it's not uncommon — and could be a wise business move — to go ahead and purchase 10 ISBNs at once. And because they don't expire, you don't need to worry about your money going to waste, even if it takes you some time to put out your audiobook, updated version, or other formats of your book. KeywordsIn this age of the internet, chances are you've probably heard mention of keywords before. But you may not know how this term applies to you as an author. So here's a very simple way of thinking about it: keywords are what the reader puts into the search engine when they want to find something to help them with a problem they have or questions they are looking to answer. Think about it. When you turn to Google or Amazon because you have a particular need or question, what do you type into the search box? Those are keywords. To put keywords to work for you, you've got to put yourself into the mindset of a reader, not the author. When readers go looking for what you have to offer in your book, what words will they enter into the search box? Spend some time brainstorming answers to that question so you can strategically select keywords that best describe your book and that match what your idea readers are looking for. Then, you'll need to use those keywords to your advantage. Include them in:Your bioYour book descriptionYour information on Author Central on AmazonAnywhere you can!That way, when people in your target audience go looking for a solution to their problem or answer to their question, your book comes up in the list of search results. When you choose the right keywords and leverage them effectively, you can attract your ideal reader to you.PricingPricing is an important topic, because there's so much wrapped up in it — and not just for the book. Many aspiring authors have a desire to use their book as a platform to build a coaching, consulting, or speaking business, so pricing also comes into play as they price their coaching and consulting packages and set their fees as a speaker. That means this is an important thing to get a grasp on as early as possible. Remember, books are a business, and businesses have to think about things like pricing strategy. So, again, put yourself in the mind of the reader. If you only think about it from your point of view as as author, you're only going to be thinking about the countless hours you've invested in researching and writing the book, how much you've paid for the book cover, formatting, editing, and so on.Yes, those things are a significant investment, and you want to make sure you get a return on that investment. But they're also the startup costs to your business, so they shouldn't necessarily determine the price you set for your book. Ultimately, you're going to earn the bulk of your income from what happens after the book — as you launch your coaching or consulting program, start getting those paid speaking engagements, or launch your online course. The book is just one piece of the puzzle. So everything doesn't rest upon the book.Instead, think of the book as a way of attracting people to you and what you have to say. That means the price needs to be reflective of the value that the client, the reader, is going to get and what they believe is reasonable for a book in your genre. Of course, this will vary depending on the type of book you want to write. So you'll want to do some research to find out typical price points for books in your genre, and also think about what your pricing will communicate to the reader and your future client. There's a little bit of an art and science to pricing your book, but ultimately, you do have a few options:Lower price: Pricing your book lower can help you sell more copies. Just be careful not to price it too low, because that can imply that it's of inferior quality.Middle ground: Choosing a mid-range price can be a safe medium that's not too high or too low.Higher price: A higher price communicates a higher value. However, the reader who stumbles upon it must believe that the value is there. If you price your book higher, you'll need to ensure that you have the credibility to back it up. Like it or not, your reader is likely comparing your book with your competitors'. So choose your pricing carefully, and keep in mind what your prices are communicating about you and your book. Literary AgentMost of the above terms are related to self-publishing, but a literary agent is relevant when you are thinking about going the traditional publishing route. A literary agent, or book agent, acts as the intermediary between you and the key players that can get you that book publishing deal. You aren't necessarily required to work with a literary agent, but it's a very good idea if your dream is to be picked up by a publishing house. Traditional publishing is a business that operates on relationships. So, as a new author who does not have those connections and relationships, you need to lean into someone who already has them. Someone who has already built a network, versus you trying to come in and convince people who have no idea who you are to give you a chance.Again, it's not impossible to get a traditional publishing deal without a literary agent, but it is extremely difficult. A literary agent helps reduce friction and makes the process much easier and faster, because they know how the book industry works. They have the relationships already, and they can act as your advocate to help you get the best deal and position your book for success. Without a literary agent, it's so much harder to get an editor to look at your book proposal or manuscript. And that's huge, because the editor is actually the person who sets you up to get that publishing deal. If you approach an editor on your own, you could easily end up talking to someone who doesn't specialize in the type of book you want to write. Then you'll be wasting their time and your own. But a literary agent knows what types of books editors are looking for, and can act as your liaison to introduce you to the right editor for your particular book. Because literary agents know market trends and keep their fingers on the pulse of the industry, they can even help you shape your manuscript so you'll have the best chance with an editor. Plus, they'll help you negotiate the terms of your contract.Of course, as the agent representing you, the literary agent gets a percentage of the deal they help negotiate. Typically, they operate on commission, and are only paid when you as the author get paid. So, while the literary agent may receive a 15% commission, keep in mind that they aren't paid for all the work they do prior to landing the deal, and it doesn't always work out. So when a book deal does come together — largely because of their network and relationships — they deserve that 15% commission! Of course, you do want to do your due diligence and make sure the literary agent is someone you feel good about. Pray about it, and make sure you trust them, because you'll be counting on them to advocate on your behalf. You want to make sure you have the right person for your particular project. Next Week on Book Publishing A to ZWe've covered some important terms this week, but there are still plenty more to come! Here's a sneak peek at what to expect in the next installment of the Book Publishing A to Z series:Personas (an often-overlooked concept in the book publishing industry)Print-on-demand for self-published authorsThe importance of proofsBook publicists: what they are and what they doWe'll cover all that and more right here next week!  BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:Why you should consider more than just Amazon for distributing your self-published bookLanguage to watch for when signing a publishing contractA look at Amazon's KDP Select program, and what it means for your book distribution rightsThree options to ensure your book gets formatted correctlyThe service that genres provide to both the writer and the reader — and how to research yours properlyIt's easy to be really passionate about the writing process and about wanting to share your story with the world and, at the same time, also be really lost to how the industry actually works. But if you don't understand how the industry works before you publish, it can actually hurt your book's success and impact. If you missed the previous episode with the first set of terms, you can check it out here!Here are the next set of publishing terms you need to know.Distribution Distribution is a very important topic, because it's an area that is often missed or misunderstood. You see, distribution is all about making your book available to the people who need it. When you think about publishing and getting your book into the hands of readers, chances are good that you're picturing the reader who goes online to Amazon and searches for a book to solve a particular problem, answer a question, or meet a need (like being entertained). Those readers are absolutely important, but here's the deal: It's not just the end user reader who's on the internet that you need to think about. There are also other players like retailers and wholesalers who matter, too. When you land a traditional publishing deal, meaning a publishing house is leading the effort to get your book published and out in the mainstream, they're going to make sure your book is available in the appropriate markets. But if you self-publish, it is up to you to figure out how to maximize your distribution. So many aspiring authors don't understand that if you only publish through Amazon KDP, you will not get the maximum distribution — which means you miss out on sales. And because sales equals impact, you also miss the opportunity to impact more people. Now, make no mistake about it, Amazon is a major player in the book business. As a matter of fact, 10% of Amazon's revenue is estimated to be generated from book sales. That's huge! So yes, there are a lot of books being sold on Amazon. But if you want to reach more readers and make more money, you need a distribution strategy that includes not just Amazon KDP, but also another huge player: IngramSpark. Amazon is really for that end user who's searching for books on the internet. The benefit of publishing a paperback with Ingram Spark, however, is that the book goes into their massive distribution network that reaches beyond the internet. If you want to see your book in brick-and-mortar bookstores and libraries, then you need to understand that those outlets don't leverage Amazon to get their books. They have relationships with IngramSpark. So to get your self-published book in those places, you need to work with IngramSpark, too.This means you'll need to follow some extra steps. You'll need to submit your book to two different platforms, and you will have to pay some fees to get your book set up on IngramSpark. But if your goal is really to impact the maximum number of people and turn your book into a business, it makes sense to include IngramSpark in your strategy. ExclusivityOften, when we think about exclusivity, we think of it from a traditional publishing standpoint, which involves a contract. But while that is one side to exclusivity, it can also apply to the self-publishing world. So let's look at both.Self-Publishing In general, when you publish to Amazon KDP, you're not granting an exclusive license. But there is an exception: Amazon's KDP Select program. This is an opt-in program, which means it is optional. But if you select the box to opt in, you are giving Amazon KDP the right to exclusively distribute your book for a 90-day period.Here's what that means. If you check that KDP Select box, then you can't publish your book on any other platform, including your own website, for a 90-day period. It means you are licensing exclusive rights to Amazon to publish your ebook during that time. Essentially, for 90 days, Amazon will be in the driver's seat for your ebook. So yes, you will be giving up some independence. Amazon has their own algorithms and such that you can't control, which means to some degree, your book's exposure will be dependent on Amazon and their strategy. But there are some benefits for you, too. Amazon will of course reward you for opting in to KDP Select, because it helps them with their goal of increasing subscriptions for Kindle Unlimited. This program allows readers to pay a fixed price per month and then borrow and read an unlimited number of books. When you opt into KDP Select, you also get the benefit of that audience. Your book is easier to discover and has the potential to get more exposure. Plus, authors who opt in to KDP Select can get some perks like a free promotional period to attract reviews, Kindle Countdown deals, and more. So exclusivity is not necessarily a bad thing. But it's important that you understand what is happening and that you cannot promote your book on your website during the established period of time. After all, you don't want to get in trouble by violating the agreement you have entered into with KDP. If you have one book and you're just starting out, Amazon KDP may be worth a try, at least for the first 90 days. That way you can see how it works and learn from the experience. Just make sure you know what you are getting into. Traditional PublishingWhen you work with a traditional publishing house, you always want to make sure you read the contract before you sign it, so you know what you're getting into. There are many things to keep an eye out for when signing a publishing contract, but let's look at a few that pertain to exclusivity specifically. First is assignment. You're likely to see this word in a section of the contract that talks about a grant of rights, license permission, or permitted uses. In this context, assignment means you are assigning, or transferring, complete ownership of your work over to someone else — in this case, the publishing house. That includes the copyright, royalties, and everything else. This is an extreme agreement that you probably won't see. But do check your contract to make sure!Other words you might see in this section of the contract are exclusive or non-exclusive licenses. A non-exclusive license means you can grant the same rights to multiple people. You're not locked in or committed to just that one person.An exclusive license, on the other hand, means you can only grant those rights to one person. In this instance, the publishing house that you are signing the agreement with has exclusive rights to the book. And let's be very clear: that means you no longer have rights to the book.Remember, a traditional publishing house is putting a lot on the line and investing a lot to get your book out there. So you can expect to see some reference to exclusive rights to the publisher in the contract. But you can often still negotiate the limits of that exclusivity. For example, you may not wish to grant exclusive rights to your audio books or to other translations. Everything has the potential to be negotiated. So really think about how much exclusivity you're willing to give up to get the publishing deal, and read the contract carefully so you know exactly what you're agreeing to. FormattingFormatting is so often neglected, but it's so important if you want your book to be a success. Think about it this way: if your mission with your writing is to impact the world, then you've got to approach your writing as a business. But if you were to go into a brick-and-mortar store, and everything was strewn around, it was dirty, and it wasn't well taken care of, you wouldn't want to shop in that store, would you? The same is true of your book. Your book represents you; it sends a message about who you are and the type of quality that you produce with your books or your products. So if you want your products to sell, you have to take into consideration every element of the process. And that includes the formatting of both the interior and the exterior of the book.Formatting directly impacts the readability of your book. If a person cracks open your book, and they don't feel that it's put together well, more than likely, they're not going to continue reading. Then your book won't have the impact you want it to have. So you've got to make sure you get the formatting right. You have a few options for doing this:Do the research: You can certainly learn how to format your book yourself. But you'll need to do plenty of research and understand that it will be a huge commitment of time and energy. Hire a freelancer: Websites like Upwork and Fiverr make it easy to connect with freelancers who can format your book for you. Just make sure you carefully vet the person you hire and check out samples of their past work first. Use a self-publishing program: Self-publishing houses or programs aren't really focused on the actual publishing side of things like getting your book on Amazon. Instead, they're for helping you get your book ready for publishing and making sure that it represents you well. Remember, just because you can do something doesn't always mean it's the best option for you. Consider how much time, energy, and money you're willing and able to spend on getting your book formatted, and then choose the option that works best for you and also results in a high-quality finished product. GenresThink of genres as categories, or a way of organizing books. If you look online, you'll see many of these different categories. But have you ever wondered why there are so many or what specific purpose they serve?When you really think about it, genres help both the writer and the reader. For the writer, genres help guide their thought process while putting the book together. For example, if you know you're going to be writing a self-help book, checking out other books in that category can help you get a feel for how other authors have effectively communicated their messages. Or, if you're planning to tell about an excerpt of your life (a memoir), you can look at ways other authors have told their stories so that they are impactful and relatable for readers. Similarly, genres help guide readers. For example, people who enjoy romance are looking for certain characteristics — love, warm fuzzy feelings, getting swept off their feet, and so on. So when they look for a book with those qualities, they'll look for one in a genre, like romance, that typically includes those things. So genres actually provide a service. They help you, as a writer, make strategic choices about what to include and how to present your message or ideas. And, for readers, genres help them make strategic choices about what books to select. So before you publish your book, do some research to make sure you understand what other books in your genre are selling well and how those authors communicate. That doesn't mean you have to mimic or pattern your book after theirs, but remember that the reader — the market — is the one who ultimately decides whether your book is impactful for them. So why not get a preview of what readers might expect before you publish? It's tempting to just sit down and write what comes to mind. But if your ultimate goal is to impact people, then you have to make sure you're taking them into account in the writing and publishing process. Next Week on Book Publishing A to ZWe've covered some important terms this week, but there are still plenty more to come! Here's a sneak peek at what to expect in the next installment of the Book Publishing A to Z series:ISBNThe importance of keywords (especially for publishing on Amazon)Pricing and why it mattersWhat a literary agent does and why you might need oneWe'll cover all that and more right here next week!  BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:What an ARC is and why it's importantWhy you shouldn't keep your book a secret before publishingWhy your blurb can't be just an afterthoughtWhat not to do when choosing beta readersThe difference between copy editors and proofreadersHow to secure your writing by registering a copyright, even before you've finished your manuscriptIt's easy to be really passionate about the writing process and about wanting to share your story with the world and, at the same time, also be really lost to how the industry actually works. But if you don't understand how the industry works before you publish, it can actually hurt your book's success and impact. So get ready to take some notes — let's dive into the first five book publishing terms you need to know.ARCARC stands for advanced reader copy, which is a nearly complete version of your book. Think of it as your final draft — it's the version of the book that probably isn't fully edited and polished, and it is circulated in advance of the actual publication. This is important, because it gives you a signal of how this version of your book can be properly used. Now, many new authors make the mistake of trying to keep their book a big secret until it's published. After all, your book is your baby, right? You don't want someone else to steal your ideas. But don't make that mistake — instead, use ARCs. Why? Because keeping your book a secret actually works against your goal of making an impact. Distributing ARCs benefits you, because now you get to have power players — meaning people who can positively impact public perception of your book, like influencers, book reviewers, and bloggers — get a sneak peek of your book and provide a positive review. And remember: readers make decisions based on reviews. Just like you look at reviews when you're traveling and trying to find a good restaurant in a new city, readers look at reviews when they're trying to find a good book to read. ARCs give power players an opportunity to form an opinion about your book before its release. This is a very common industry practice. In fact, you've probably already seen it in action. Do you ever wonder how those big-name authors have so many glowing statements about them and their book online and even in print at the time of publishing? It's possible because they understand the power of ARCs. So instead of keeping your book a secret, like so many first-time authors do, identify a list of power players and ask for their honest feedback. Then, if they do give you a glowing review, make sure you use it everywhere — on your Amazon book description, on your website, and anywhere else that you can. This paints a positive picture and gives people an incentive to want to read your book.If the feedback is critical, then think about it this way: isn't it better to know those things now, versus later? Even critical feedback is helpful, because it helps you improve the quality of your book before it goes mainstream and is published. BlurbA blurb is a short description of your book, often found on the back of a paperback copy or on the inside flap of a hardcover. And in this day and age, it's often the summary or description of your book that is used online. Unfortunately, the blurb is often the least thought-out and most overlooked part of a book. Many authors spend months, if not years, writing the actual book. Then they whip together the blurb or the description like it's an afterthought. This is a huge mistake, because the purpose of the back-cover text or the description that's listed online is to let the reader know what they can expect from your book. In other words, at the end of the day, the blurb explains why that person should give up their time and money to read your book. That means if you get this marketing piece wrong, people will not bother to buy your book, and the impact you wanted to have on them will never happen. So this is where you want to spend serious time and effort to make sure you get it right. And if writing to sell is not your specialty, this is something you'll want to hire or delegate out — because it can very well make the difference between your book being a hit or a flop. And yes, the blurb is still extremely important even if your book is free. Because here's the thing: even if it doesn't cost the reader money, they still have to invest time into reading it. So what is the encouragement and incentive for them to give up hours of their time to read your book? The blurb has to answer the question: “What's in it for me?” or, “Why should I buy this book?” You've got to put your marketing hat on and make sure that the blurb positions your book as an answer to the reader's questions and the solution to their problems. Even if your book is fiction, the blurb needs to paint a picture of how they are going to be entertained or how they are going to positively escape as a result of reading your book. Beta ReaderA beta reader is someone who can give feedback from the standpoint of an average reader. So this is a regular, everyday person, not a professional book editor. This person will give you their opinion on your book based on their lifestyle, journey, experiences, and how they react while reading. This is hugely valuable! At the end of the day, if the marketplace doesn't see value in your book, it won't sell, which means it won't have the impact you're looking for. So a beta reader can provide advice, comments, and opinions from the standpoint of an average reader to help you increase your book's value to readers like them. However, there are a couple of things that often go wrong when people reach out to beta readers. The first is that you don't want anybody and everybody to be a beta reader. For you to get feedback that will actually help you with the commercial success and impact of your book, the beta reader needs to be part of your ideal audience. Your friends and family members may have some good advice, but if they aren't the person you're writing the book for, their feedback isn't really going to help you have the impact you want. So make sure that your beta readers are people that actually match your ideal reader description. The second problem happens when people see beta readers as resources to fix issues with the plot or pacing. In other words, they're using beta readers as editors. Don't make that mistake — you need to hire an actual copy editor, too. Copy EditorA copy editor's job is to work on the details of the book. Copy editing is also sometimes referred to as line editing, because a good copy editor is literally going to go line-by-line through your story and refine it. This person is trained to identify mistakes in your story, inconsistencies, and things that need to be addressed. After all, your book is your business card, so it needs to give the very best impression of you. In the editing process, the copy editor may also identify some grammatical mistakes and typos, but that's not really their focus. Someone who makes sure your manuscript is error-free is actually a proofreader, not a copy editor. As you can see, there are so many people who play a role in making sure your book is able to put its best foot forward. A copy editor is one of them, and so is a proofreader, and so is a developmental editor. Sometimes you're able to find someone who can do all three of those things, but sometimes you may need to hire more than one person to do the job. CopyrightingYou may have already heard a number of different things when it comes to copyrighting. It is true that you own the copyright to your book the moment that you begin writing it. But if you want to make sure you have the highest level of protection — if you want to safeguard your copyright — then there's an additional step you can take. You can register your book with the US Copyright Office, and you can actually start this process online through an electronic registration. To do this, you'll pay a small fee, send in a copy of the work (your book), and they'll register your copyright. It's a very simple, easy process that you can actually do yourself. Next Week on Book Publishing A to ZWe've covered some important terms this week, but there are still plenty more to come! Here's a sneak peek at what to expect in the next installment of the Book Publishing A to Z series:Distribution and why publishing only through Amazon KDP is a mistakeExclusivity, which is especially important if you're interested in traditional publishing Formatting and how it can work against you as a self-published author if you don't have the right skill set or the right people involvedGenre and the critical role it plays in publishing your bookWe'll cover all that and more right here next week!  BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:How Nate shares his faith casually and effectively through his businessThe first step to making an impact with your bookWhy you've got to get your book in front of more people than you thinkThe two key principles of marketingHow your book's success can open even more doors for you and your businessNate's advice for the aspiring author who genuinely wants to make a difference in people's livesDon't miss Nate's FREE webinar on Wednesday, July 19th: How To Write a Faith Based Bestseller That Impacts Thousands of Lives. Click here to sign up!Furthering God's Mission Through BusinessAs a publishing strategist for SelPublishing.com, Nate Hambrick creates blueprints for authors to write, publish, and market their books effectively. He's also the author of Crush Your Kryptonite: How to Conquer Your Weakness and Unleash Your Superpower, which was an Amazon #1 bestseller for 135 days consecutively. Clearly, Nate has figured out some things about what works and what doesn't when it comes to writing and publishing books. But for Nate, the work that he does is about more than just sales and marketing. It's also about partnering with God to change the world. In the past, Nate has served as a missionary to Honduras and as a church planter in the United States. But while he loved these more “traditional” ministry roles, he says his favorite way to minister to people is actually in the business world. Many people have a negative impression of the church and aren't interested in talking to someone with the title of “missionary.” But helping authors and business owners grow their impact and income gives Nate the opportunity to share his faith casually and consistently.“Christ is my calling,” he says. “But because I have a business vocation — because people see the way I move their businesses forward, the way that I treat clients, and the excellence that God has gifted me with — whenever I share Christ, it lands very differently than if I were just a happy-go-lucky guy sharing the gospel all the time.” There's certainly a place for traditional ministry, but it's important to remember that it's not the only way to impact people — and that Christians can operate a profitable business while being a blessing to others. Start with the People You Want to ImpactIf you're like a lot of aspiring Christian authors, you genuinely want to make a difference in the world and to be able to lead with your faith. You're passionate about what God has given you to share, and you can feel that message burning inside of you — but how do you get it out to the people who need to hear it?According to Nate, you need to start with the people you want to impact, and ask yourself: Why would a stranger want to read your book?Here's the hard truth: No one is going to buy your book just because it's a good book. “There are 1.5 million faith-based books out there, give or take,” Nate points out. “And most of those books I will not read, even if they are absolutely incredible. Because I'm not going to read a book just because it's good. I'm going to read a book because I have a problem, a challenge.”In marketing, this is often called a “bleeding neck” — an urgent problem happening in someone's life that they need a solution to right now. That is what will lead someone to read your book and be impacted by your message. If you want your book to impact hundreds or thousands of people, then you have to start with those people — people you have never met, in countries you may never visit — in mind. Then you'll be able to create a product that is desirable and helpful to them. Remember, it's not enough just to write a good book. It's not enough just to have a mission and a message. If you want to impact people, you have to consider the marketing piece of publishing. And that means you have to understand that your book is not going to be a perfect fit for everyone — so you've got to get it in front of way more people than you might think.When Nate first launched Crush Your Kryptonite, he set a daily goal of funneling 30,000-35,000 people to his book page. That's around 900,000 people per month, and over 5 million people within the first six months.Of course, the vast majority of those people didn't buy the book, and not all of the people who bought it read it. But a small fraction of 5 million is still tens of thousands — or even hundreds of thousands — of people who have been impacted by his message. “Marketing is putting your light on a lampstand,” Nate says. “If you write the world's greatest book, if you share the most amazing testimonies of what God has done in your life, there's a ton of power in that. But your book's only going to help somebody if they read it. And the only way for them to read it, short of a divine miracle, is through marketing.” Think about it this way: throughout Scripture, people like Moses and Gideon were asked to take certain steps to carry out their God-given missions. Marketing is a 21st century version of taking those steps and putting your light on a lampstand for the world to see. 2 Principles of MarketingMarketing can seem like a big, scary concept that's difficult to grasp. And it's true that there are a lot of complex, fancy techniques and tools out there that marketers can use. But, especially for those who are just venturing out into the marketing world, Nate simplifies it all down into just two things: credibility and visibility. “It doesn't matter what you're selling. If you're very credible, and you're very visible, you're probably going to sell a lot of whatever it is,” he explains. “But a lot of times we get so caught up in all the bells and whistles that we forget that this is all it is: How do I make sure people know this will be worth their time and money? And then how do I show this to millions of people?”CredibilityAccording to Nate, one of the biggest ways to gain credibility is by getting lots of reviews on Amazon, or whatever platform you use. You could sell a few thousand books, but if you only have a handful of reviews from friends and family, then you're not going to be very credible. Potential readers who don't know anything about you yet don't see how many copies you've sold or how your book helped people around you — they see reviews. So you've got to have a strategy for getting those reviews. In Nate's experience, this also means you need to give yourself permission to charge for the product and make a profit. This can be challenging for many Christians, who feel uncomfortable earning money from putting their God-given message out there.But, as Nate explains, “you have to charge for your product for people to value what you have. Otherwise, it's just something free, so they don't value it, they don't even look at it, and they don't get any of the gold that you're putting in your book.” If you want to make an impact, you need to show people that your book is valuable, and that you have something worth their time — and money. VisibilityThere are plenty of ways to get more visibility, but one of the best ways is by appearing on podcasts. After all, you only have to record a podcast episode one time, but that one episode has the potential to be heard by thousands of people, even years into the future. Other ways to increase visibility include buying ads on Amazon, Facebook, Google AdWords, or other sites, and posting on book promotion sites like BookBub. But it's important to remember that these two things — credibility and visibility — must always go hand-in-hand. “There are lots of ways to get traffic,” Nate says. “But if you think about it, just make yourself really credible, prove to your readers that you're worth their time and money, and then get a lot of people to see your book, and you're going to be in a really good spot. And you will be able to help the thousands of people that you want to help.”Credibility Opens DoorsThe more credibility and visibility you have, and the better your book sells as a result, the more doors will continue to open for you. But you often have to establish that foundation first. “When you're just starting out, it's virtually impossible to go up to a sizable podcast and say, hey, would you interview me on your podcast?” Nate says. He knows what it's like to send out email after email and get back nothing but generic rejections over and over again. Once he had a successful book out, he started getting accepted by a lot more people with large audiences — but he still had to market his credibility to them. He had to show them the success his book was having, and convince them that he would be a valuable guest for their show. “Nobody cares who Nate Hambrick is,” he explains. “What podcasters and event hosts are looking for is that they want to look good. And so the question is, how can we make the host of this live event or podcast look really, really good? And if we can prove that to them, lots and lots of doors will open up.”The more you build credibility and show podcast or event hosts that you can bring value to their show, the more excited they'll be to interview you — and the more often you'll have people reaching out to you instead of you always being the one reaching out to them. Let Your Book Do the Hard Work for YouPublishing a successful book can open way more doors than you might think. In fact, if you do it right, your book can be the #1 source of revenue for your family or of clients for your business. After all, once your book is out there, it's essentially free marketing for you.Here's what that looks like for Nate:He markets the book to millions of people.A fraction of those people buy the book.On the first page and throughout the book, he offers free tools or audiobooks.When readers sign up to get those free tools, they opt into his mailing list.Automated emails to that list drive more traffic to his business.“That's leveraged impact,” Nate says. “I wrote the book once. I set up the funnel once. I wrote the emails once. All of that's automated. And what it's doing is it's helping weed people out, because not everybody's going to be a good fit for your business or organization — but some of them will.”Instead of spending all your time marketing your business to potential clients or customers, let your book do a lot of that hard work for you. It Starts With “Why?”After having worked with thousands of people to help get their messages out there, Nate says the key to success starts with one question: Why are you wanting to impact people? Are you in this for bragging rights about how many people you've helped, or do you genuinely care about making a difference in people's lives? The people who truly care about how their book is going to help other people are the people who have a truly lasting impact on others. So before you can be successful, you need to be sure you are pursuing success for the right reasons.Then, once you're sure your heart is in the right place, you need to understand that you can't do this alone. Just like we as believers need the church to help us grow in our faith, we as authors need a community to help us — and our books — reach our full potential. “There's no way you can possibly have the impact that you want by yourself. It's impossible,” Nate explains. “I've personally published about 1,000 books myself, so I know what I'm talking about. And yet, when I go to launch my next book, I'm still going to have a team of over 300 people. I have the knowledge, but I need the community to get me that result.” Think of it this way: if you're the only person telling people how amazing your book is, why should people, especially strangers, believe you? But if you have hundreds or thousands of people shouting from the rooftops about how your book changed their lives for the better, it's going to draw even more people in to check it out for themselves. If you want to learn more about how to write and publish a faith-based bestseller and get all your questions answered directly by Nate himself, you won't want to miss the FREE webinar, “How To Write a Faith Based Bestseller That Impacts Thousands of Lives” on Wednesday, July 19th, at 2 pm ET. Sign up today to reserve your spot!  BIO:Nate Hambrick is a publishing strategist for SelfPublishing.com where he creates blueprints for authors to write, publish, and market their books effectively. He's also the author of Crush Your Kryptonite which was a #1 Best-Seller for one hundred and thirty-five days consecutively. GET CONNECTED:Book a call with Nate: SelfPublishing.com/nate

In this episode, you'll also hear:A few book publishing terms you may — or may not — be familiar with yetA sneak peek at what you can expect to learn in the Book Publishing A to Z seriesAnd more!Ready to dive into the jargon of book publishing? Here are some of the terms we'll be learning in the Book Publishing A to Z series:What exactly do the letters “ARC” stand for? And why do you need to make sure you have ARCs distributed to as many power players as possible — before your book officially launches? What exactly is a blurb? And how can this short but impactful statement determine whether your book is a hit or a flop? What is a copy editor? And why do you absolutely, positively need to hire one instead of relying on family and friends (yes, even the ones that are especially good at English)?What exactly are beta readers? And how do you find them if you don't already have them in your circle? You'll learn all of that and more over the next several weeks. We're taking you from A to Z, so you'll finally have all the insight you need to write and publish a bestseller. It's time to get it done in a way that honors God and positions you to make an impact and earn an income! BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:How to stay on top of new emerging marketing channels and trendsTips for being a continuous learner in the world of book promotionWhy you've got to keep promoting, even if you feel uncomfortable or afraidFree training on how to get your book to the #1 spot on Amazon — and keep it thereBook Promotion Isn't Just About Selling CopiesDo you feel like you have exhausted all the relevant channels for book promotion? Think again. As time goes by, new marketing channels are always opening up. Make sure to join writing communities, network with other like-minded authors, and subscribe to author-related websites, blogs, podcasts, and YouTube channels so you don't miss out. Here's the thing: book promotion is not just about selling copies. It's also a tool to help you build authority and establish yourself as an expert in your niche. When readers recognize you as an authority, it's easier to gain their trust and support. And staying active on social media, your blog, and your email list is an excellent way to keep that authority alive and continually build your reputation in the industry. Think about the Christian authors you admire. Rest assured, they are also doing these things. For example:Christine Caine: Sends out articles, podcast episodes, information about her new books, and more to her email list. T. D. Jakes: Constantly puts out new sermons and other content on his social media platforms, website, and YouTube so people can hear his message and connect with him.Steven Furtick: Regularly puts out content, including daily motivational messages. These and other Christian authors understand that when they don't stay active on social media and other platforms, it impacts their influence and causes them to miss out on opportunities for promotion. So it's time for you to learn from their example — you need to continually keep your ear to the ground, show up in communities, and stay connected, so you don't miss out. That's how you learn what's working when it comes to book promotion and how you keep your authority alive. The Never-Ending CircleBook promotion is like a never-ending circle. Every promotional effort you make can lead to more opportunities to sell your book. For example, if you continuously optimize your author website, it can lead to increased traffic from search engines and, ultimately, more conversions. If you take old content you created in the past and repurpose it into something new — like a short video, infographic, or blog post — you can breathe new life into old efforts, making them more effective and longer lasting. You've got to commit to the process of continuous growth and development, especially if you are self-publishing. When you have no publisher to push your book, the burden of promoting your work falls 100% on you. So continually learning new book promotion tips and tricks will help you stay on top of your game. Attend industry conferences. Listen to industry podcasts. Learn new strategies that other authors are using to promote their books. You might think you've exhausted all avenues, but remember: things are constantly changing in the publishing world. You need to stay plugged in and on top of those changes. Becoming an author is an incredible accomplishment. But it's also important to remember that the journey doesn't end once you finish writing your book. As a matter of fact, it's just the beginning! No matter how well-written your book is, it will not sell itself.Why? Because books don't sell themselves. Authors sell books. Remember, book promotion is a never-ending circle, and you must keep it going if you want to succeed as an author. That means continuously reaching out to your audience, sharing your story, sharing ideas from your story that will connect with them and improve their lives, and yes, promoting your work. What If You Don't Promote Your Message?Book Promotion may seem daunting. It might make you uncomfortable. You might be squirming in your seat right now as you read the words “promotion” and “marketing.” But you've got to do it!Think about it this way. What if Jesus didn't spread His message? What if He decided, “You know what? This is too much for me, and I'm not going to do it”? Where would we all be if He gave the excuses we give for why we don't do things?Yes, Jesus is fully God, but He was also fully human. He had to go through the human experience, and that included moments of discomfort and not wanting to do what had to be done. He even asked God to let the cup pass from Him in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39)! But Jesus knew that the mission He was called to was bigger than Him. He knew He had to make the decision to move forward, even though it was uncomfortable, even when He didn't feel like it, and even when He was afraid of what He was going to feel. Remember, Jesus has felt every emotion that we feel. The difference, though, is that He was able to feel all of these things and still keep his mind focused on what He was called to do. The mission He was called to carry out inspired Him to keep going — and the same needs to be true of you. You need to be so connected to the mission and the message God has given you, and so sold out on the people He has called you to reach, that you keep your book promotion going even when fear pops up, you feel uncomfortable, and you don't feel like doing it. Are You Sold Out for Your Audience & Message?This is where the rubber meets the road. It wasn't in you saying “yes” to writing the book — that was just the beginning. Now it's time to see how sold out you are on your audience and on making a difference for them. If you are sold out for your audience, then you've got to keep going with your book promotion. You've got to tell yourself that this is a marathon, not a sprint. Sales won't skyrocket overnight — it takes consistent effort to build an audience. Stay patient with your book promotion, and eventually you will see positive results. It's all about commitment. Want more readers and higher sales? Then get ready for a powerful transformation! Our friend Nate Hambrick from selfpublishing.com has put together a free training that takes you behind the scenes on how he was able to keep his book at the #1 spot on Amazon for over 100 days!This is not just another course — it's an actionable roadmap with real tactics that will help you succeed in the long run. Plus, this valuable knowledge is absolutely free! Check out Nate's training today, so you can reach new readers, maximize your return on investment, and confidently achieve results that you've never seen before.  BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:How easy it is for people to forget your book exists — and how to prevent itHow consistent promotion continues to bring in new readersWhy you must be committed to your message — and how to demonstrate your commitmentHow to get more word-of-mouth marketingFree training on keeping your book at #1 on AmazonConsistent promotion can seem a little daunting at first. You might be afraid that people will get tired of your promotion efforts, or you might believe that it simply isn't necessary to keep promoting your book for such a long time. But neither of those things are true.So if you're still on the fence, here are four reasons consistent promotion is the key to more book sales. It Keeps Your Book in the Minds of ReadersWhen it comes to books, out of sight is out of mind. One post on social media or an interview that you did two months ago may not be enough to keep your book in the forefront of your readers' minds. Instead, staying in your readers' thoughts requires consistent promotion of your book through various channels such as social media, email lists, advertising, interviews, and so on. You've got to be looking for different ways to constantly remind your readers to purchase or recommend your book to their friends and family. It Increases Your Online Presence & Builds Long-Term SuccessThe more you promote your book, the more people are likely to stumble upon it. Running Amazon or BookBub ads that specifically target your desired audience can increase your entire online presence and bring in new readers that may never have heard of your book before. Continually guest blogging on popular online platforms can also direct more traffic to your website, increasing your exposure and credibility as a writer. Plus, consistent promotion creates a constant flow of readership, reviews, and sales. The more reviews and sales you accumulate, the better your book will rank on online bookstores like Amazon — and a higher ranking can lead to even more purchases, reviews, and ultimately more success as an author. It Shows Your Dedication to Your WorkListen, you can't say that God called you to do something — to share His message with the world — and then give up when it gets hard. That's just not an acceptable outcome. Why? Because if God truly gave you the message, then you are a steward of that message. That means you have an obligation — that's right, an obligation! — to make sure that message gets to the intended audience. Consistent promotion is your responsibility.Remember the Parable of the Talents? (If you need a refresher, it's found in Matthew 25:14-30.) The end message of that story is that we are held accountable for what God gives us. Eventually, we will be asked to give an account, to answer for the message God has given us. So how committed are you to not just writing the book initially, but also making sure you do everything you can to get that book into the hands of readers?Of course, the results aren't in your hands. You can't make specific results happen. But you are called to be obedient. So, if God gave you your message, and you know He wants you to get it to people, the question is: How obedient are you in consistently doing everything you can to get that message in front of the right people?Consistent promotion demonstrates your commitment — not just to potential publishers, if you're going the traditional publishing route, but to potential readers and other authors, too. It shows them that you are committed to your writing and you're willing to put in the effort to get your book noticed. Here's the thing. People come and go. They get really excited about what they're doing, and they tell everyone and splash it all over social media. But over time, a lot of that excitement fades. And for many people, not only does the excitement fade, but their commitment also fades. So one day, they're selling this. And then a couple of months later, they're doing that. And the next year, they're doing this. That doesn't show commitment. If someone is investing in a product or service, they want to invest not just in that product or service, but in a relationship with that person. They want to know that the person will be there for them, to help them use the product or service and get the most out of it. To make sure they're successful. So how committed are you? There could be people out there who want what you have to offer in your book, course, and coaching program, but they don't know if you're committed. Consistent promotion — even though you might be thinking of it negatively in your mind — is a way to show your audience that you are committed to showing up for them. This alone can lead to new readers, interviews, collaborations, and other opportunities that can help you grow as an author. It Encourages Word-of-Mouth MarketingOne of the most powerful forms of promotion is word-of-mouth marketing. Your readers are the most influential spokespeople that you could have, because if they love your book, they are going to recommend it to others. And consistent promotion increases the chances of your readers talking about your book with their friends, family, and social media followers, leading to even more success. Remember, when it comes to books — and anything else, really — out of sight is out of mind. If you're only talking about your book once every six months or once a year, then no one is thinking about your book during the time period in between. In fact, they are thinking about other books! They're getting bombarded with other messages from people who aren't afraid to promote their book. Pause and think about that. Just because you aren't doing it doesn't mean other people aren't. That means if you aren't doing consistent promotion, the sale is going to someone else. Someone with a message that might not even be as powerful as yours — especially for the group God has called you to. That message isn't meeting their needs, answering their questions, or solving the problems they're facing. Your book is designed to do all of those things, but because you are shirking this responsibility you've been called to fulfill, and because you are unsure and uncomfortable about putting yourself out there as an author, those people are left with an option that doesn't meet their needs. Step Up & Commit to Consistent PromotionFriend, your audience needs you to step up. You might not want to hear this, but as a Christian author, your success relies heavily on constant promotion. That's why having a consistent promotion strategy is so important. It helps keep your book in front of readers, increases your online presence and credibility, builds long-term success, shows dedication to your work, and promotes word-of-mouth marketing. Imagine how great it would feel if you could increase your book sales by implementing a simple strategic promotional plan for each new book release or event — a plan that gives you an edge over other books in your genre! It's possible. You CAN have more visibility, both offline and online, with effective messaging strategies that will reach thousands of potential readers around the world. With our friend Nate's free training, you'll gain insight and all the strategies necessary for turning yourself into an expert author whose title is always at the top of the bestsellers list. Get ready to become the next big thing in your genre without worrying about failure again! Sign up now for access to Nate's free training about the 3 Keys to Keeping Your Book at #1 on Amazon. Get started today, and turn those dreams into a reality.  BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:A real-world example of the difference interviews can make for your book salesThe key to effectively promoting with interviewsWhy your “sales problem” may actually be a connection problem — and what to do about itWhat it really means to build authority as an expertHow to establish trust with your audienceTips for a successful interviewThe Power of Interviews: Tracy's StoryTracy had a dream to publish her own book. She poured her heart and soul into the pages, but she wasn't sure how to get it out in front of more readers. Finally, however, after weeks of research and networking, Tracy was able to land an interview on a popular podcast that catered to her niche. During the interview, Tracy talked about why she wrote her book and shared valuable insights with the listeners. She explained how each chapter was inspired by a personal experience and revealed some key plot points without giving away too much of the story. At the end of the interview, Tracy also took time to explain where people could find out more information about her and her book and purchase it if they wanted to read it for themselves. She was thrilled when she saw that sales had picked up and that her audience had grown on all of her social media platforms — all from one interview! Though she'd never considered it before, Tracy quickly realized how effective promoting with interviews can be for getting her story in front of new readers. From then on, she made sure to take advantage of every opportunity for an interview so more people could discover what her book was all about. So what can you take away from Tracy's story? First, if you are a Christian author who wants to reach a specific audience, but you're struggling to sell your book, you are not alone. And second, there is a solution that you may not have considered: promoting with interviews. So let's use Tracy's experience as a guide to explore how interviews can help you sell more books. That way you can do what Tracy did and get your book in front of more readers. The Key to Effectively Promoting with Interviews Interviews are powerful marketing tools. Whether they're podcasts, blog features, or radio shows, promoting with interviews allows you to share your story and connect with potential readers on a personal level. Tracy's experience is a prime example of this. After her interview, sales of her book increased significantly. That's because readers felt more connected to Tracy and her story, making them more likely to purchase her book. You see, as humans, we typically make decisions based on emotion, not just facts. So when you have an interview, it allows you to make that emotional connection with your reader and get them to a place where they really connect with you. That's what it's all about — connecting with your audience on a deeper level. Consider this: you may not have a sales problem at all. Rather, you have a connection problem.But by sharing your story, experiences, and insights with your listeners, you're giving them a glimpse into who you are as an author and the mission God has called you to. This creates a stronger bond between you and your audience, and makes them more likely to want to read your book. Plus, by promoting with interviews, you have the potential to reach a much wider audience than you would through other marketing strategies. For example, if you have an interview on a popular podcast, you could potentially reach thousands of new readers from one appearance. Just think about that. Dedicating 30-45 minutes of your time could put you in front of thousands of people! There aren't a lot of places where you can accomplish that. If you go to a book fair, for example, or a bookstore book signing with a really good showing, you might be in front of hundreds of people. But there's a huge difference between hundreds and thousands of people. Plus, this kind of interview is evergreen. That means every time someone discovers the podcast, there's potential for them to discover you. It's not just a one-time event like a book signing. The True Meaning of Authority & ExpertiseWhen you're interviewed as an expert in your niche, it can also help build your authority and credibility with your audience. But let's talk about that word authority for a minute, because as believers, we can get into a space where we have a negative association with that kind of word. But the kind of authority we're talking about here isn't about putting other people down and putting yourself on a pedestal. It simply means that this is an area God has called you to, and you have something powerful to say about it. Having authority means that what you bring to the table is going to make a difference in someone's life. That the words you put out there, whether in writing or spoken during the interview, have the potential to set people free. And that is something that is God-given. So don't run from words like credibility, authority, expert, or dominate. Embrace them! We are called to domination — it's a good thing! Yes, we should always operate in humility, understanding that every gift we have comes from God. But you have been called to this field — so step into it with confidence. You need to be willing to take a stand, even if it's a controversial stand in your space, because there are people who need to hear your point of view. And if your listeners perceive you as an expert in this field, they'll be more likely to trust your advice, recommendations, and insights. Now, when some people hear the word expert, they take it to mean you are saying there is only one expert, and everyone else's opinion is invalidated. That you have it all figured out, and that you have the one and only formula for success. That's not the kind of expert we're talking about. Instead, think of it this way: you have been called to a specific group of people. Those people have been assigned to you by God, and He has given you the ideas and insights those people need. That means you are uniquely equipped to serve them in a capacity that other people can't. It's not that other ways are inferior; it's simply that what those people need is a perfect match for the gifts and talents God has poured into you. A Relationship Built on TrustAs you can see, being an expert doesn't mean you think you're better than everyone else in your field. It doesn't mean you're the only one that has figured it all out. It simply means you have something valuable for the group of people that you have been called to. So step into your expert status in humility, and leverage it to get yourself in front of more people. This is invaluable when it comes to selling your book, your course, or your coaching programs. And it all comes down to trust. Remember that emotional connection we're trying to make? The reason that connection matters is because you genuinely have something that will be a blessing to people. Promoting with interviews is not about manipulating people into doing something that's in your own best interest and not theirs. No, this is about building a mutually beneficial relationship between you and your audience. Relationships are built on trust. If trust is not there, then you're going to have a very surface-level relationship. And in surface-level relationships, we don't invest ourselves, our time, or our money. When you ask someone to buy your book, you don't want them just to buy it — you want them to actually read it and take in your message. For that to happen, you've got to have a relationship with them that moves beyond the surface level and establishes trust. That way, they'll be willing to invest time to read, as well as money to buy the book. Trust is critical, and interviews give you the opportunity to build that trust. Plus, interviews also give you the opportunity to promote your book directly to the audience. Here on Publishing Secrets, for example, we dedicate part of the interview for the guests to talk about where people can find their book, website, and social media handles, and we also link those in the show notes. This part of an interview is your free pass to share with the audience details about who you are, what your book is about, why you wrote it, and how people can purchase it. It's a powerful way to increase sales — and not only when the interview airs, but forever. As long as that platform is out there, people have the potential to discover you and make a decision to invest. How to Interview EffectivelyBy promoting with interviews, you can connect with your audience, share your message with a wider group, build God-given authority in your niche, and promote your book directly to your audience. So if you're struggling to sell your book, consider adding interviews to your marketing strategy. With a little bit of effort, you CAN see a significant increase in your book sales, just like Tracy did. So let's break down exactly how you can leverage interviews to do that. 1. Prepare for Your Interview.It's not enough just to get an interview — you have to be prepared for it if it's going to work for you. Don't try to wing this. If you do, you won't get the results you're looking for.No professional sports team goes into a game without a game plan, right? In the same way, if you want to win with this interview, you need to go into it with a plan. That means start with the basics, so you can communicate your message clearly and concisely.Remember, this is not just about your personal story. It's about the message you want people to take away, and how their lives will be positively impacted by your book. So before you even get an interview, be thinking about the key points you want to include and how each of them relates to your experience and expertise on the topic. Also consider what your audience wants to hear and how you can connect with them. Remember, emotional connection — being relatable and relevant — enhances rapport and makes the listener want more. So familiarize yourself with the host and audience demographic so you can tailor your message to them. When you're job hunting, you don't just say the same thing in every interview, do you? No, you customize your resume and what you say during the interview according to the company and the job you're applying for. Much of the information will stay the same, but you'll likely tweak the way you present it so that it speaks to the job description and the company's values. Think about these interviews in the same way. It's not just about getting the opportunity to do the interview, it's about maximizing your chance of getting “hired.” Because if you do a really good job, this may not be just a one-time thing — the host may invite you back in the future. And, of course, you want the audience to “hire” you and become part of your own audience. That's why it's so important to prepare ahead of time. Interviews aren't just for telling your story, but also for generating trust in your message and connecting with the audience while making them want to read your book.2. Use the Interview to Tell Your Story and Inspire Your Readers.For an effective interview, these two things must work hand-in hand. Telling your story without inspiring or impacting your readers is a waste of time, because interviews are not just an opportunity to share your story. They are an opportunity to connect with the audience and leave a lasting impression. You don't want people to walk away from the interview thinking that it was a horrible experience, that your concept was difficult to grasp, or even just that your accomplishments are impressive. You've got to answer the question of, “What's in it for me?” What does the person listening to the interview get out of it other than a moment of inspiration or excitement? What can they take away from this interview that will improve their life? As a Christian author, your faith is not just part of your story. It's your power source! So in your interview, communicate how your faith has sustained you during your writing journey, how it's empowered you to make sense of your experiences, and how it amplifies the message you are putting out there. Leverage the interview as a platform to communicate the essence of your authenticity, inspire your readers, deepen the connection with them, and touch their hearts with your message. Remember, people don't just read books — they connect with authors. So make your interview an expressive and meaningful bridge that takes people into a journey in your world. 3. Give Your Audience a Reason to Read Your Book.To create buzz about your book and entice readers, you need to provide a strong, persuasive reason for them to read it. When you're being interviewed, make the most of that time by:Captivating the audience with a compelling narrative about your bookShedding light on the book's themeElaborating on how the book adds value to readers' livesSharing relevant personal experiences that inspired your writing to add depth to the meaning of your bookIn short, make your interview count by offering the audience a glimpse of what they can expect from your book and why they shouldn't miss it. When you provide your audience with an immersive experience that resonates with them, they will be sure to pick up your book.4. Use the Interview to Promote Your BookWhen it comes to promoting your book, an interview can be one of the most effective tools in your arsenal. Not only does it give you the opportunity to discuss your work in detail, but it also allows you to connect with your audience in a more personal way. However, it's important not to overlook the promotional aspect of your interview. Often, authors get uncomfortable when the interview arrives at the promotional segment, because they don't like getting “salesy.” But remember this: sales equals impact. So the better job you do at communicating in that promotional part of the interview, the bigger the potential impact you can make. Don't worry, promoting with interviews isn't about manipulating people or being a sleazy salesperson. It's simply making a value exchange. You're asking people to exchange money for the value that you are providing to their life. So be prepared for that promotional aspect of the interview, so you can tell people with confidence where to go to find more information about your book. Create a compelling call to action for them to purchase your book by briefly explaining who will benefit from the book, what's included in it, and how their lives will improve as a result of buying and reading the book. Then you can turn the interview into a sales generator. Now, this may seem obvious — of course you need to promote your book! — but so many authors get so caught up in the conversation and in sharing their story that they don't actually promote their book, course, or program. So, going back to the first point about being prepared, you've got to stay focused on the end goal. The end goal is not just to have a great conversation. The end goal is to create more buzz for your book and increase sales. So don't miss this golden opportunity to spread the word about your work by promoting with interviews. Don't Underestimate the Power of InterviewsThe truth is, “Tracy” is a made-up name. But Tracy's story is real, and it stands as a reminder to us all about the power of promoting with interviews to increase book sales. With preparation and practice, interviews can be incredibly effective marketing tools. So be sure to take advantage of them so you can get your book in front of more people and share your story with the world. Your story is valuable, and it deserves to be heard!Do you want the recognition and opportunity that comes with having a best-selling book on Amazon? When your work graces the coveted #1 spot, you can attract more readers and even bigger, more high-profile opportunities for interviews, speaking engagements, and more. But it isn't easy — you need to know what works. Nate Hambrick from selfpublishing.com has years of experience helping authors reach their goals. He offers personalized services tailored specifically to each author's needs so they can be sure their marketing plan will get resolved. Plus, he provides free training on the three keys necessary to keep your book at #1 on Amazon, so you can build a community of eager readers every day. Check out Nate's free training today! Learning these three keys is essential if you want to make your book an Amazon Best Seller. BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:How Amazon book categories work — and why they matterWhat to do before you choose your book's categoriesHow to choose the right categories for your bookWhen not to invest in advertisementsIntroduction to Amazon Book CategoriesBefore we get into optimizing your book's categories, it's essential to know how Amazon book categories work. Essentially, each book on Amazon is assigned one primary category and up to 10 secondary categories. Keep in mind that Amazon has a list of more than 16,000 categories — so it's essential that you choose with care. The key is to select categories that are relevant to your book's topic and that target the right reader. This means choosing categories that are broad enough to fit your book and niche enough to get your book noticed by potential readers. Ready to get started optimizing your Amazon book categories? Here are the five steps you should take.1. ResearchTo improve your Amazon book categories, you've got to understand your reader and what they're looking for — and that means doing a little research. Look into the categories that similar books to yours are listed under, and also check to see what categories are most popular. This will help you find the categories that are best suited for your book. Once you have an idea of the categories that fit your book, do a quick search to see what books come up under those categories. This will give you insight into the competition that you're up against. 2. Choose Your CategoriesNow that you have some information on your market and competition, it's time to choose your Amazon book categories wisely. In a nutshell, you want to pick categories that are relevant and not as competitive. If you choose categories that are too broad, you'll get lost in the sea of competition. But if you choose categories that are too specific, you won't get enough visibility. So try to aim for a mid-level category that has high demand but isn't too competitive. Another important point here is that it's best to choose categories that accurately reflect your book's content. Don't try to force your book into a category that doesn't fit just because it has less traffic and you'll have a better chance of hitting the bestseller list. Amazon may eventually remove your book from that category if it doesn't fit the criteria. 3. Evaluate the CategoriesAfter choosing a few categories that fit your book, it's time to evaluate them. You need to optimize your Amazon book categories so your book can rate higher and be more visible to potential readers. You can do this by using relevant keywords in your book's title, subtitle, and description. These keywords help Amazon's algorithm place your book in the right category and improve its visibility. 4. MonitorOnce you've done the work to choose the best categories and keywords for your book, make sure to monitor your book sales, rankings, and reviews. This will help you see which Amazon book categories are working and which aren't. If you're not getting the results you expected, don't be afraid to adjust your categories and your keywords until you get the desired outcome. Selling books is often an iterative process — you'll need to start with one strategy, and then tweak it based on the results you get so you can improve your rankings. 5. Leverage Amazon AdvertisingIf you want to get an extra boost for your book's visibility, leveraging Amazon advertising can be a great way to do it. Amazon offers a few advertising options that can help you market your book to potential readers. With Amazon ads, you can target specific categories, keywords, or even readers who have already shown interest in your book or in another book that's similar to yours. This can help you improve your sales and visibility in the long run. But a huge word of caution here: Don't get ahead of yourself. Only take this step of leveraging Amazon advertising after you've taken the steps listed above. If you don't start by choosing and optimizing your Amazon book categories and keywords, investing in ads will be a waste of money — and you won't see a return on your investment. So don't just throw your money out the window! Improving your categories on Amazon is a crucial step to getting more book sales as a Christian author. Researching your market, choosing relevant categories, optimizing your categories, and then moderating your book's performance will help you stay ahead of the curve. Then, once you've taken all of those other steps, consider leveraging Amazon advertising to give you that extra boost. Once you've completed all five steps, you'll be well on your way to selling more books and gaining more new readers. Get Your Book to #1 on AmazonWant to make your book a bestseller on Amazon? This is your opportunity to learn the secrets behind having a successful launch and long-term success! With Nate Hambrick's free training, getting your book to #1 on Amazon is within reach. You'll be able to select the right Amazon book categories that easily attract new readers, keep them coming back for more, and ultimately achieve higher sales numbers than ever before. Plus, you'll stay informed of cutting-edge strategies that only experienced professionals know — nobody else will have access to these secrets.So don't miss out! Get started with Nate's free training today to take advantage of this chance for exponential growth.  BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:How online reviews help increase your book's visibility, credibility, and more5 tips for getting more positive book reviewsWhere to find potential book reviewersSpecial training: How to keep your book at #1 on AmazonThe Importance of Online ReviewsIn today's digital age, online reviews are increasingly important. Research reveals that a staggering 91% of people regularly or occasionally read online reviews, and 84% trust them just as much as personal recommendations. What's even more interesting is that 68% of people form an opinion after reading between one and six reviews! Think about that for a minute. If your book gets six or more positive reviews, that can be a powerful endorsement. Plus, when readers leave reviews for your book on sites like Amazon and Goodreads, the algorithms on those sites take notice. Books with higher ratings and more reviews are often highlighted, making them more visible in search engines and ultimately driving more sales. This means the more positive reviews your book receives, the more popular it becomes, because positive book reviews lead to even greater visibility and more sales. So if you want your book to stand out in a crowded market, getting more positive reviews could make all the difference. Not only do reviews help with visibility and credibility, but they also provide a valuable feedback loop for you as a Christian author. They offer insights into what readers liked and what they didn't like so much about your book. This feedback is invaluable in helping you improve future books and tailor your message to your ideal reader. 5 Tips for Getting Positive Book ReviewsEven knowing how important positive book reviews are, getting them for your book can feel like an uphill battle. But with some strategic planning and a commitment to put your faith in action, you CAN do this! Here are five tips to help you get started.  1. Find Book Bloggers on InstagramMany bloggers hang out on Instagram, and they may be willing to review your book if you reach out to them. But how do you find them? One useful strategy for getting positive book reviews from Instagram is to find people who are using popular book review hashtags. For example, at the time of this episode, the hashtag #bookblogger had almost 8 million posts, #bookrecommendations had over 5 million, and #bookreviewer had over 1 million. So head on over to Instagram, type those hashtags in the search bar, and you will see people who regularly blog about books, provide book recommendations, and review them. Once you sort through that and find some potential reviewers who enjoy your genre, just reach out to them by direct message and start a conversation. 2. Find Book Reviewers on YouTubeYouTube is a great platform for finding book reviewers and getting positive book reviews. Many book reviewers record videos walking their audience through their reviews of various books. So if you head on over to YouTube, type in “book reviews” and your genre, you'll likely find several channels that review books. Once you find a YouTuber that's a good fit, just scroll down to the link section of their video. There, you'll likely see a link to their Facebook, Instagram, or website. You can use one of these channels to reach out to those reviewers and see if they'd be interested in reviewing your book. 3. Ask for Honest Reviews in Your BookThis might sound crazy, but dedicating a page in your book to ask for genuine reviews can be a giant game-changer. This is your opportunity to explain the importance of positive book reviews — and even honest negative reviews — and how they help you as an author. So let readers know that their feedback can help you improve your craft and reach a wider audience. Not only does this show that you value your readers' opinions, but it also empowers them to take part in the creative process. You never know how this can translate into more sales and exposure for your book! So go ahead — update your book and add a page asking for those honest reviews. You just might be surprised by how many people are willing to help you out. 4. Offer Your Book for Free on Amazon KindleYes, you read that right: for free! It might seem counterintuitive to give away your hard work, but offering free downloads can ultimately lead to more positive book reviews and more sales. As the saying goes, sometimes you have to spend money to make money. And in this case, the money you're spending is your book's download price. If you include a plug in your book asking for honest reviews, and you get all these people to download your book, just imagine how many more reviews you will get. And let's face it — reviews are crucial when it comes to the success of your book. So if you take this leap of faith, offer your book for free, and see where it takes you, who knows? You might just have a bestseller on your hands. 5. Attend Literary EventsYes, promoting your book online may be the go-to tactic right now. And it is a great way to attract some readers and build up hype. However, if you're limiting your promotional efforts to online spaces only, you might be overlooking a whole lot of potential. Going to literary events such as book festivals or author readings can be an incredible opportunity for you to put yourself out there and connect with people who might find your book interesting. Not only that, but you're more likely to meet potential reviewers who can help you spread the word about your book through positive book reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations. So expand your horizons! Get your book seen by more people by attending local literary events. This is a fantastic way to introduce yourself and get your name out there. Worth the EffortKeep in mind that these strategies for getting positive book reviews will require effort, creativity, and patience. But it's worth it! Positive reviews not only boost your sales and royalties, but also your confidence and your sense of fulfillment as a Christian author. However, remember that reviews are subjective, and not everyone will love your book — and that's okay. Focus on the ones who do, and celebrate every review that comes your way. Keep writing, keep promoting, and keep believing that the message God has given you is designed to impact the right readers who are waiting for it. So if you're ready, let's get this party started. Go out there and get some positive book reviews!Stay at #1 on AmazonHave you been trying to make your book a bestseller? Do you want to jump up the rankings on Amazon to get more readers for your work? Here is your opportunity to access free training that will teach you exactly what you need to do in order to get your book to #1 on Amazon. With three simple keys, you'll be able to drastically increase visibility and bring in long-term success.By mastering these simple strategies, authors like you gain recognition as an expert with lots of visitors to their site, and their book stays at #1, no matter what curveballs life throws their way. Access the training today to learn how these three techniques can unlock new possibilities for making sure your book stays ahead of the competition. Don't wait! Join now, and experience success like never before.  BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:4 benefits of writing guest blog posts for popular blogs5 steps to crafting a compelling guest postWhat to do after your guest post is accepted and publishedFree training: 3 steps to successfully keep your book at #1 on AmazonIn Revive Your Book Sales Part 4, we discussed the value of creating buzz on social media. But while social media is undoubtedly a powerful tool for promoting your work, constantly pushing your content can seem egocentric and damage your brand. That's where effective strategies for using social media in a meaningful way come in. So if you missed Part 4, be sure to check it out! Now, let's dive into the next game-changing strategy: writing guest blog posts on popular blogs in your niche. Benefits of Writing Guest Blog PostsSuppose you notice that most of your prospective readers are subscribed to a particular blog, and you write a guest post for that blog. Wouldn't that be a fabulous way to introduce yourself and your book to that audience? Once readers discover the value you provide through your guest posts, they will start to trust you and may even buy your book. Here are some other benefits of writing guest blog posts on popular blogs:Credibility: The publishing industry has become quite competitive, and readers want to know that the authors they are reading can provide value to them. That means credibility is everything when it comes to publishing. And if you've been featured in a popular blog with a well-written post, it will go a long way to building your credibility. Backlinks: When you write a guest post for a popular blog, they're likely to link back to your website or blog page. This signals to search engines that your website is reputable and valuable. Now your website is moving up in the search rankings, which means more traffic — A.K.A. more visitors — to your page.Relationships: One guest posting strategy is to reach out to other authors who have established themselves in your niche and request a guest post exchange. Then, you can provide value for their audience, and they can do the same for yours. By building relationships with other authors, you grow your network, which can result in more opportunities for you to promote your work. Relevance: By writing guest blog posts that are informative and tailored to your target audience, you can become known as an expert in your field. The key is providing valuable insights that will help your readers. This keeps you relevant to the audience and makes them want to learn more about you and your book. Writing guest blog posts on popular blogs is an excellent strategy for Christian authors who want to get their books in front of their target audience. Not only does it expand your reach, but it boosts your credibility, gets you valuable backlinks, helps you establish professional relationships, and keeps you relevant. By providing valuable insights to readers through your guest posts, you can generate interest in your book that ultimately leads to more sales. 5 Steps to a Compelling Guest PostNot sure where to start with writing guest blog posts? Let's break down the process of publishing and promoting a compelling post to attract readers to your book. It all comes down to five simple steps.  1. Research Popular Blogs in Your Niche.  Before you start actually writing guest blog posts, you want to find the right blogs to target. Search for blogs that are relevant to your book's topic and that have a large following. Then, make a list of those potential blogs and read their guest post guidelines carefully. This will give you an idea of what types of posts they are looking for and how to pitch your idea. Remember, your post must be aligned with the blog's audience and add value to its readers.  2. Craft an Irresistible Pitch.  Once you've found the right blog, it's time to pitch your idea. The pitch needs to be concise, to the point, and attention-grabbing. Start by introducing yourself and your book, and explain to the editor why your post would benefit their readers. Make sure to highlight your unique selling proposition and how your message is different from other authors. And don't forget to follow up to increase your chances of getting a reply. 3. Write a Compelling Guest Post.  Congratulations, your pitch has been accepted! Now it's time to write a post that captivates readers and drives traffic to your book. Your post must be well-researched, informative, and entertaining. Start with a compelling headline that grabs the reader's attention and entices them to read more. Structure your post with an introduction, body, and conclusion, and use subheadings to make it easier to read. Don't forget to include a call to action at the end of your post, inviting readers to learn more about you and your book.  4. Promote Your Guest Post.  Now your guest post is published, and that's great — but your work doesn't stop there. You need to promote the post to increase visibility and drive traffic back to your website or book page. Share your post on social media as an additional way to add value to your followers. Engage with readers who comment on your posts, and answer any questions they may have. Remember, this is your chance to build relationships with new readers and turn them into loyal fans.  5. Measure Your Success and Repeat.  Don't forget to actually see how your guest post performs! To do this, check your website analytics and find out how traffic was generated. If your post performs well, consider writing more guest posts on similar blogs. This will increase your visibility and improve your authority as an author in your niche. Writing guest blog posts on popular blogs is an excellent way to promote your book, build relationships with new readers, and increase your visibility. Just remember to research the right blogs, craft an irresistible pitch, write a compelling post, promote that post, and then measure your success. Keep writing helpful, informative content, and soon you'll find that guest posting is a great tool in your author marketing toolkit. You'll create a strong online presence, grow your authority, and ultimately boost your book sales. So what are you waiting for? Start reaching out to those blogs, and start writing your way to success!3 Ingredients to Success on AmazonAre you a Christian author seeking to make a real impact? If so, a strong marketing plan is crucial. However, it takes more than just research and dedication — it also requires a tailor-made strategy that reaches the right people with the perfect message. Once you've nailed that perfect marketing plan, it's not just a tenfold increase in exposure, but a multitude of hearts that will be touched by your work. As an independent author, however, it can be challenging to stand out in the sea of thousands of books. But there's an easier way to ensure that your book remains #1 on Amazon. Thanks to selfpublishing.com's publishing strategist Nate Hambrick, you can get free training on the three ingredients to success that every author should know. With these skills in your hand, not only can you secure more sales, but you can also build a loyal reader base that looks forward to your next book. Picture yourself with a tribe of repeat readers who adore your work. If you want to make that happen, the time to act is now! Don't allow your outdated marketing tactics to hinder your success — it's time to learn the secrets of successful authorship and start gaining recognition for your craft. Access the free training here to get started mastering the skills that will make your book a bestseller today! BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:The mindset you need to have to promote without turning off your followersHow to use social media to engage potential readersWhat kinds of content attract more attention and engagementHow to leverage Facebook groups effectivelyWhen not to purchase ads promoting your workYou probably already know that social media provides a powerful platform for promoting your work. But here's a word of caution: It's also extremely easy to slip into a pattern of constant self-promotion that can turn off your followers and damage your brand. So let's talk about some strategies for how to use social media to create buzz around your work while also bringing value to your followers. Develop a Mindset to Start with ValueOne of the biggest mistakes that Christian authors make when they haven't learned how to use social media effectively is to flood their feeds with constant promotion and updates about their book. This alienates your followers and sends them running for the hills! People who genuinely have a need and interest in what you have to say will literally be turned off, because they'll see you as someone who is only out for yourself. Instead, focus on creating content that provides value to your audience. That means sharing content that will genuinely put a smile on their face that day, make a difference in their lives, encourage them to keep going, or help them see things in a new way. This could be an inspirational quote, a piece of advice, or even industry news — something that shows you have a genuine interest in their success. By offering something of value, you'll keep your followers engaged and, even more importantly, build a sense of community around your brand. Focus on EngagementBefore you get too caught up in promoting your book, the first order of business should be to focus on building an engaged community around your brand. This means learning how to use social media in such a way that people see you as a person who makes a positive difference in their lives. As you can see, this ties in with the first point about starting with value. If you develop the mindset to think about ways you can bless others with everything you do, you will start to draw people to you. Why? Because that's how you genuinely demonstrate the love of Christ through your work.So how can you focus on engagement? Here are a couple of strategies.Invite Feedback & InteractionIn addition to providing value, actively invite your audience to participate in discussion. You could do this by posting questions that allow your audience to share their thoughts on a topic related to what you talk about in your book, but not directly about your book. For example, in the Christian Authors Network, every Wednesday we throw out a writing prompt for our Christian authors to get them thinking about things in different ways. This keeps them in the habit of writing. We know how easy it is to get so caught up in the day-to-day of life and put your writing on the backburner, so this is our way of helping them stay committed to their goals — but it also keeps them engaged with us and with others in the community. Respond Promptly to Comments & MessagesResponding promptly to people's comments and messages establishes you as someone who genuinely cares about your community. It also helps establish you as a thought leader or expert in your field. And it helps you earn the trust and respect of your followers. This is invaluable, because when you have their trust and respect, they will be so much more receptive to the content you put out later down the line. Leverage Visual ContentWe are in a fast-paced digital landscape, and attention spans are shorter than ever. One way to cut through the noise is to leverage visual content — such as images and videos — to capture your audience's attention and hold their interest. It's proven in the stats: words by themselves are not as attention-grabbing. But if you have a really cool picture, or something that gets them to stop scrolling through their feed — even if it's just something that makes them laugh or smile — it's an opportunity to open the door for them to learn more about what you have to say. Or, if you have a short video on a topic they're struggling with, that's a great way for them to literally see you in action, hear your voice, and pick up on your sincerity and passion about this topic. And that can make all the difference! So as you're learning how to use social media to grab people's attention, don't ignore the importance of visuals. Posts that include high-quality visuals are more likely not only to be taken in by the person who sees it initially, but also to be shared. This helps you spread your message to more people, and it also helps you humanize your brand and connect with your followers on an emotional level. Don't Forget the Power of Facebook GroupsWhile learning how to use social media for promotion, you've probably heard people talk about leveraging Facebook groups. And with good reason! But it's important to do this in the right way. This isn't so much about promoting yourself to other Christian authors — this is about connecting with your target audience. So you need to join and participate in a group that your target audience has already joined. By becoming an asset in that group, you can establish yourself as an authority in your field, build relationships with potential readers, and promote your book in a way that feels natural and authentic. Once you have truly connected with the audience and have a good grasp of their needs, you can start your own Facebook group of ideal followers. Not only will you have a platform to connect with readers and potential readers, but this will give you a platform to empower your audience by allowing them to connect with each other as well. So dive into some Facebook groups that have your target audience already in them, and start building those relationships! There are readers waiting for you in those groups. Hold Off on Social Media AdsPaid advertising is a powerful tool for authors who want to reach a wider audience and boost their book sales. However, it is imperative to approach ads strategically to ensure you make a successful investment. Facebook, Instagram, and Google may seem like the go-to platforms, but they may not be the most cost-effective way to reach target readers who are actively searching for books in your niche. So you need to do some homework before you just put money out there and boost the post or set up an ad campaign. You need to understand not just how to use social media ads, but also when and where to use them. First of all, make sure you're buying ads on the right platforms to reach your audience. Try thinking a little bit outside of the box, too, because other platforms like BookBub offer a great return on investment and an engaged audience who are actively seeking books in your preferred genre. Think about this way: Facebook, Instagram, and Google are much more generic. These are platforms where people are looking at funny pictures and catching up on what's going on with their friends and family. They're not necessarily on the platform to learn about books. But BookBub is a platform specifically for book lovers. Investing in the right platform and creating an effective ad campaign can make the difference in maximizing your return on investment and reaching more readers. So hold off on ads, and focus on learning how to use social media organically first, like building your community, joining Facebook groups, and putting visual content out there. Use this as an opportunity to really learn what resonates with your readers and maximize your opportunities. Then determine if social media is your best platform for ads, or if you need to look elsewhere.Value FirstSocial media can be a powerful tool for driving book sales. But you need to understand how to use social media in the right way — and how not to use it. By offering value, focusing on engagement, leveraging visual content, and tapping into the power of Facebook groups, you can create buzz around your book without turning off your followers. Remember, social media should be a two-way conversation, not a one-way sales pitch. Keep your followers at the center of your strategy, and you'll be well on your way to building a successful brand that resonates with your target audience. Now, this may sound like a lot of work. And if that's how you're feeling, you're not alone. Social media is powerful, but it can be very time-consuming, especially if you are a team of one. So if you're looking to get farther faster, there is another way. Nate Hambrick, our friend from selfpublishing.com, is the perfect person for you to connect with. He knows platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and also BookBub, inside and out. So he can walk you through the necessary steps to maximize your return on investment, so you can consistently reach more readers and ultimately see greater results. And the best part is that you can learn more for free! Check out Nate's free training about how to get your book to #1 on Amazon. It takes you behind the scenes, so you can start attracting new readers today.  BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:Why you need a solid marketing plan if you want to reach people with your book's message5 steps to build a marketing plan that works — and that aligns with your goals for your bookHow to tailor your strategy to reach the right audience with the right messageFree training: 3 steps to keep your book at #1 on AmazonWhy Isn't My Book Selling?Emily had been dreaming of becoming an author for as long as she could remember. As a young girl, she would get lost in stories about dragons and princesses, but now it was time for her to create her own story. After countless hours at her computer typing away, Emily's book was finally finished! She couldn't wait to show the world what she had created. She submitted it to a publisher, who accepted it with enthusiasm. They predicted that Emily's book would be a huge success, so the days leading up to its release were filled with excitement and enthusiasm. On release day, Emily eagerly checked her sales figures… but only a few copies had sold. What happened to the hundreds of sales? While Emily had spent months writing a good story, she didn't spend any time planning how to get people interested in reading it. And without word-of-mouth or advertising campaigns behind the project, no one knew about the book. So no one bought it. It was a hard lesson learned for Emily. Having great content is important, but having a solid marketing plan is equally critical if you want your work to reach people and transform lives.No Strategy, No SalesLike Emily, you have put everything into your book project. You've spent so many late nights writing and made countless revisions and edits. But if you don't have a strategy for promoting and selling your book, you won't be able to reach your target audience or make any money from sales. When it comes to selling books, one of the most important elements is making sure that potential readers know about the book. Without a solid marketing plan in place, no one is aware of your book or its contents. That means even if you've written something truly remarkable, it won't get the recognition or the attention that it deserves. Think of a marketing plan as the foundation on which your success is built. 5 Tips for a Solid Marketing PlanNot sure how to put together a solid marketing plan? Don't worry, we've got you covered! Here are five tips to get you started: Define your audience. Who are you truly trying to reach with your books? What age group and gender are they? What interests do they have? Once you have a good understanding of who your target audience is, you will be able to better tailor your marketing efforts to reach them. Research your competition. Once you know who your target audience is, the next step is to understand the other authors who are writing books that appeal to this audience. What marketing strategies are they using? By understanding what your competition is doing, you can develop a solid marketing plan that will help you stand out from the crowd. Set realistic goals. After you define your target audience and research your competition, you need smart goals for your marketing plan. How many books do you want to sell? How much money do you want to make? How hard are you willing to work to make it happen? And how much money are you willing to invest in marketing? Once you've set some goals, you can begin developing a plan of action to reach them. Choose your marketing strategies. There are a number of different marketing strategies that you can use to reach your target audience. These include using social media, running ads, doing guest interviews, and speaking at events. You don't necessarily have to do all of these things — instead, choose the strategies that will work best for you and your book. Implement and monitor your plan. Once you've developed a solid marketing plan, it's time to put it into action and monitor its effectiveness. This isn't a “set it and forget it” type of thing. You have to monitor your marketing efforts to see how they're working. Try different strategies and see what works best for you. And make sure to track your sales and progress so you can adjust your plan as needed. Creating a solid marketing plan is vital for any Christian author who wants their work to impact as many people as possible. It requires dedication, research, and a strategy that's tailored specifically towards reaching the right readers with the right message. If done correctly, however, this effort will pay off tenfold (and more!) when eyes — and more importantly, hearts — are exposed to your work. So get to work creating your marketing plan today!How to Stand Out on AmazonAs an independent author, the challenge is that there are so many books out there for people to choose from. So, even with a solid marketing plan, how do you make sure your book stands out and sells well? Our friend Nate from selfpublishing.com has created a free training guide that walks you through the three steps to keeping your book #1 on Amazon. With these easy-to-follow instructions, you'll be able to generate more sales and start building a loyal reader base. Imagine having repeat buyers who love your work! If that's what you want, now is the time to take action. Don't fall behind when it comes to marketing your masterpiece — learn how you can break through with this free training, and get started mastering the skills of successful authorship. BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:The big question you need to ask yourself before launching your bookHow the answer to this question should inform all of your decision-making moving forward6 reasons you might be seeing low book sales How to keep your book at #1 on AmazonAsk Yourself WhyBefore you go down the road of a relaunch, there is one big question you need to answer: “Why isn't my book selling?” Asking this question first can help you make better decisions about how to best move forward with your book.Here are three reasons it's important that you ask this question first:It's an opportunity for self-reflection. Asking yourself why you have low book sales allows you to be honest with yourself and identify any problems with your book's content or presentation that may have prevented it from resonating with readers. Self-reflection can be difficult, but it is necessary if you want to make improvements and ensure that your next attempt at releasing a book is more successful than the last. You can learn from your mistakes and apply those lessons moving forward. Learning from mistakes doesn't just mean identifying what went wrong — it also means figuring out how to do things better in the future. Sometimes you have to take a step back before you can move forward. So taking the time to reflect on what you could have done differently and how you can apply those changes — not just for a relaunch, but for all your future projects as well — is time well spent. It helps inform decisions. If you're considering relaunching or rebranding, keep in mind that these should not be done lightly. They require careful consideration of potential outcomes before you take action. When you ask why you have low book sales first, you're more likely to make informed decisions that are in line with the goals of your book and your readers.Instead of jumping straight into the relaunch, take some time for self-reflection and really think about why you have low book sales (or why your book isn't selling at all). Then you'll be better equipped to fix the problem moving forward. 6 Reasons for Low Book SalesHere's the thing: there can be many reasons your book isn't selling well. So let's look at a few of the things that can cause low book sales. 1. You didn't have a marketing plan in place when you launched your book. A marketing plan should include everything from how you will reach potential readers to what type of content you will use to promote your book. Failing to create a plan before launch means missing out on key opportunities to get your message out there and attract readers. That's important, because readers don't just show up — you have to attract them. If you have low book sales, it could be because you didn't have a plan to market it effectively.2. You failed to create buzz around your book before launch day. You can't just spring your book on people and expect them to jump into action. Instead, you need to ensure they know about your book before they even think about buying it. To accomplish that, you need to create buzz to engage potential readers. This could look like posting on social media, setting up an email list, or other ways of getting people's attention. After all, if no one knows about your book or its launch, how are they going to buy it?3. You haven't effectively connected with influencers who can help spread the word about your book. The great thing about influencers (think podcasters, bloggers, and YouTubers in the industry) is that they have already done the work to build massive followings who trust their recommendations. That means connecting with these influencers can help put your work in front of thousands or even millions of readers at once. But you have to make the connections first. Otherwise, you won't have as many chances to reach a wider audience and increase book sales.4. You didn't have a proper launch strategy in place for release day. Your book launch can make all the difference between success and failure. But you've got to have an organized plan if you want to maximize sales from day one onward. So many Christian authors end up with low book sales because they spent all their time on writing, editing, and all of these things, and then didn't invest the time to actually put together an organized launch. 5. Your pricing strategy wasn't effective. Pricing too high or too low can result in low book sales figures overall. Finding the “sweet spot” where pricing works best for both buyers and sellers is essential for success in any market — and it's especially important when it comes to books. 6. You didn't have enough reviews. Reviews are invaluable for effective marketing strategies, because they provide proof that someone else has already enjoyed reading your work and found it worthwhile enough to leave a review. If there aren't a lot of reviews, it implies the opposite: that not a lot of people have read the book or found it worthy of a review. Often, that's not really the case, but the reality is that getting reviews requires a little hustle. You have to follow up to get people to do it. But when people leave honest reviews on Amazon or Goodreads, it can make all the difference in generating new sales.Keep Your Book at #1Keep in mind that these are just some of the factors that can cause low book sales. There are other factors that can keep you from seeing the sales you hope for, too. So taking the time to really analyze why your book isn't doing well is essential if you want a chance of successfully relaunching it later down the line. Don't just jump into this. Take the time to evaluate what might be going wrong before making any drastic changes or decisions. That said, if you've been struggling with low book sales, know that you are not alone. Many authors don't know the keys to optimizing their book sales. But you CAN learn! The right techniques can be the game-changer you need to boost your ranking on Amazon and bring in new readers. Imagine having a best-selling book that attracts lots of visitors and establishes you as an expert in your field! Our friend Nate from selfpublishing.com has put together a free training, where you'll gain knowledge about what works and how to use it to make sure your book stays #1 on Amazon no matter what curveballs life throws at you. Click here to access the free training about keeping your book #1 on Amazon and get all the strategies you need for success! Get started today, and never worry about failure again.  BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/

In this episode, you'll also hear:The problem with waiting and wondering why God isn't making our dreams come trueWhy it's so tempting to embrace such limiting beliefsBiblical examples of faith and action working hand-in-hand3 deliberate steps you can take to help your book reach its full potentialFREE training on how to keep your book at #1 on Amazon and attract new readers every dayReleasing Limiting Beliefs“Why would God give me this amazing gift, burden me with the desire to write, and inspire so many ideas, if He didn't want me to use this all for His glory?” That was the question posed by a faithful member of the Christian Authors Network community who was on the verge of giving up. They were tired from years of fighting for their book to be noticed, and they're not alone. There are hundreds of Christian authors who also feel this way!But there's a big problem with this line of thinking. It's like saying, “Well, if God wants this book to be successful, why isn't He making it happen?” No, you may never actually say those words to God, but are you saying that with your actions — or inactions? This line of thinking suggests that success solely depends on divine intervention. In other words, it's all on God, and we don't have a part in making the gifts and the talents He's given us have an impact. All too often, believing that God's will should manifest in the form of effortless success is a huge hindrance to reaching our full potential. So if we are going to get our message out there, we have to release this limiting belief once and for all. Taking Responsibility for Your SuccessBefore we get to the what and the how, let's talk about why. Why do we embrace this line of thinking? For many, it's simply because this limiting belief allows us to abdicate responsibility for our own actions and outcomes. This dream of reaching the world with our God-given message is not easy. So in order to be successful, you'll have to put in the work, learn new things, release old ways of thinking, and literally transform into a different person. After all, if what you currently have and what you're currently doing was enough, you would already be getting the results you're looking for. Being successful will require a push. But pushing is uncomfortable, and most of us want to hold on to our comfort. It's comforting to think that everything is already predestined, and we don't have a part in the process, isn't it?But the reality is this. We have an opportunity to hone our craft and learn from our failures. And while God does have a plan for each and every one of us, He also gives every one of us free will and expects us to take action to reach our goals. Think about it: the Bible is full of examples of people who had to use their own talents and strengths combined with faith for God's plan to come true for them. Look at Joseph. His hard work ensured he rose from being a slave in Egypt to becoming Pharaoh's right hand man so he could save his people from famine. Yes, God certainly was at work in his life. But don't miss the fact that Joseph was at work too. Then there's Moses. He spoke confidently before Pharaoh after receiving strength from God, even though he had been an outcast since childhood and had a big stuttering problem. Don't think that it wasn't uncomfortable for Moses to step into this position! But he did it. Both Joseph and Moses had to push past discomfort and use their unique gifts and talents along with their faith in order for God's plan for them — and ultimately, God's plan for God's people — to come true. It's hard work combined with faith that creates extraordinary results. 3 Deliberate Steps to Help Your Book Reach Its PotentialAs Christian authors, we often cling to the belief that if our book is meant to be successful, God will make it happen. But this limiting belief ignores the fact that all great stories need both a divine and a human touch. If you want your book to reach its full potential in the marketplace, you need to take deliberate steps yourself. Here's how to do it. 1. Take Responsibility for Your Success.You need to understand that you are an active participant in the process of bringing your book into the world. You can't just sit back and wait for God to make it happen — you must partner with Him actively to create success. This means writing great content, creating a marketing plan, putting together launch teams, and getting feedback from trusted readers. And yes, it may mean investing more time and energy than you already have. These are all essential steps in ensuring that your book reaches its full potential. 2. Be Flexible with Your Plans.While God will — and does! — order your steps, success is rarely a straight line. It's often an iterative process where you learn, grow, and create as you go. So don't be afraid to experiment with different strategies or tweak existing ones based on the feedback or results you get. Every failed attempt brings new wisdom and understanding about how best to promote yourself and your book. So keep an open mind, and be willing to adjust your course as necessary. This flexibility helps ensure you remain agile enough to keep up with shifting trends and demands from readers. Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. So don't be afraid of what feels like failure. Instead, embrace it as a learning opportunity. 3. Seek Professional Help. It's okay that you don't know all the ins and outs of marketing books online. But there are people who do, and it's wise to reach out to them. If done correctly, your partnership will not only increase your visibility, but also save you time that you can use to focus on creating great content for readers or writing another book. Seeking professional help doesn't mean having less faith. It means taking action and trusting God along the way as he guides you towards success. Combining Faith & Action: FREE TrainingHere's the bottom line: getting your book out there requires a combination of divine intervention and human effort. And this is the case for all books! So don't believe the thought that it's easier for someone else. We all have to go through this journey, and we can't allow these limiting beliefs to hold us back any longer. Take responsibility for your book's success by taking ownership of both the creative and the promotion process. It takes two — faith AND action — to make this happen. So don't just sit there wishing! Get up, and go make your God-given dreams a reality. If you're tired of struggling to market your books and get them in front of the right readers, and you're looking for a trusted expert who can help you become successful online, then Nate Hambrick, our partner from self publishing.com, is the perfect person. With years of experience and a passion for helping faith-based authors succeed, he has helped countless authors break through barriers to reach their goals. Plus, he offers personalized services that are tailored to each author's needs, so you can be sure your marketing plan will produce results. Nate has put together a free training for our community, where you'll learn the three keys to keeping your book at #1 on Amazon so you can attract new readers every day. Check it out here, and get on the road to success today! BIO:My name is Tamara "Coach Tam" Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) "get you", 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.   GET CONNECTED:Connect with fellow Christian Authors: http://christianauthors.net/fbgroupDownload the Free Christian Author Marketing EBook: https://265point.com/secretsbook1Get Booked as a Guest Speaker for Free: http://christianauthors.netFollow Tam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TamaraJacksonTransformationExpert/Interact with Tam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnesstamara265/