Podcasts about nonfiction books

Hi! Jess here. As an author and host of this podcast, I hear “I have a great idea for a book!” a lot, and while I believe everyone has a story to tell, I've only been knocked over by these book pitches twice. The first was the idea for the book Raising Empowered Athletes: A Youth Sports Parenting Guide for Raising Happy, Brave, and Resilient Kids by Kirsten Jones (pitched to me at speaking event in 2015, published in 2023) and the second was last week, in a conversation with this week's guest, Dr. Megan.I'm SO excited to introduce you to our new series, “From Soup to Nuts,” and its subject, Dr. Megan. She's a therapist, speaker, and hopeful author who presented me with that aforementioned great idea for a book and a hook for a speaking career. She's the right person to write this book, there's a hole in the market for it, and it's timely.So….now what?Over the next weeks and months, I will be mentoring Dr. Megan through her proposal, querying an agent, and planning ahead for a potential speaking career whether or not she sells the book. This week, we talk through the preliminary process of getting to a book's why and wherefores while crafting the introductory section of the book proposal (see resources below) and researching potential agents. This first episode is for all subscribers, but the rest of this series will be available to supporters only. Please consider supporting the podcast so you can follow along (and learn from) Dr. Megan's planning and writing process. Resources we mention:While I am not an Author Accelerator book coach, I do find Jennie Nash's book, Blueprint for a Nonfiction Book incredibly useful and asked Dr. Megan to read it. We will be referring to it from time to time throughout this series. Introductory section of a book proposal. Since we will be referring to the proposal for The Addiction Inoculation as a reference, I thought it would be helpful to make that available to #AmWriting Podcast listeners. Click through to Jess' website to download. Jess's episode: What is a “Comp”?Dr. Megan's assignment: write the introductory section of her book proposal, identify and research potential agents, and compile a list of agents she would like to query.Geeky footnote: “From soup to nuts” means “from beginning to end” and refers back to the practice of serving soup at the very beginning of a formal Western meal and nuts at the end. As a former Latin teacher, I prefer the saying “ab uvo usque ad mala” or “from the egg to the apples” in the tradition of Roman meals, but regardless, this series will cover everything from the beginning to the end of Dr. Megan's book process.Additional links from the Pod:Jean Hanff Korelitz, The Plot & The SequelVicki Hoefle, Duct Tape ParentingOp Ed ProjectNadine Burke Harris, The Deepest WellNed Johnson, The Self-Driven ChildDaniel J. Siegel, BrainstormAnna Lembke, Dopamine NationICYMI: Sarina's latest thriller is out in the world!Rowan Gallagher is a devoted single mother and a talented architect with a high-profile commission restoring an historic mansion for the most powerful family in Maine. But inside, she's a mess. She knows that stalking her ex's avatar all over Portland on her phone isn't the healthiest way to heal from their breakup. But she's out of ice cream and she's sick of romcoms.Watching his every move is both fascinating and infuriating. He's dining out while she's wallowing on the couch. The last straw comes when he parks in their favorite spot on the waterfront. In a weak moment, she leashes the dog and sets off to see who else is in his car.Instead of catching her ex in a kiss, Rowan becomes the first witness to his murder—and the primary suspect.Digital books at: Amazon | Nook | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play | AudiblePhysical books at: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indigo | More paperback links here!New! Transcript below!EPISODE 451 - TRANSCRIPTKJ Dell'AntoniaListeners who I know are also readers. Have I got a summer book for you, if you haven't yet ordered Dying to Meet You, Sarina Bowen's latest thriller with just enough romance you have to, so, let me lay this out for you. Rowan Gallagher is a devoted single mother and a talented architect with a high-profile commission restoring a historic mansion for the most powerful family in Maine, but inside, she's a mess. She knows stalking her ex's avatar all over Portland on her phone isn't the healthiest way to heal from their breakup, but she's out of ice cream and she's sick of rom coms. Watching his every move is both fascinating and infuriating. He's dining out while she's wallowing on the couch. The last straw comes when he parks in their favorite spot on the waterfront. In a weak moment, she leashes the dog and sets off to see who else is in his car. But instead of catching her ex in a kiss, Rowan becomes the first witness to his murder and the primary suspect. But Rowan isn't the only one keeping secrets as she digs for the truth. She discovers that the dead man was stalking her too, gathering intimate details about her job and her past, struggling to clear her name, Rowan finds herself spiraling into the shadowy plot that killed him. Will she be the next to die? You're going to love this. I've had a sneak preview, and I think we all know that The Five Year Lie was among the very best reads and listens of last summer, Dying to Meet You is available in every format and anywhere that you buy books and you could grab your copy, and you absolutely should right now.Multiple Speakers:Is it recording? Now it's recording, yay. Go ahead. This is the part where I stare blankly at the microphone. I don't remember what I'm supposed to be doing. All right, let's start over. Awkward pause. I'm going to rustle some papers. Okay, now one, two, three.Jess LaheyHey, this is Jess Lahey, and this is the Hashtag AmWriting podcast. Hashtag AmWriting is the podcast about writing all the things, short things, long things, poetry, nonfiction, fiction, book proposals, queries. It's about the publishing industry. This is the podcast about getting the work done. I'm your host today, this week. My name is Jess Leahy. I am the author of The Gift of Failure, how the best parents learn to let go so their children can succeed, and The Addiction Inoculation, Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence. I had a column at the New York Times for three years called the parent teacher conference, and I've written for The Atlantic and The Washington Post and numerous other outlets. Okay, today we are going to be talking with someone I am identifying for now as Dr. Megan. We're going to decide later on whether or not we get into her full name and all that stuff. But she is being super brave by coming on this podcast, because this podcast is going to be this episode of the podcast is going to be the first in a series. I met Dr Megan, I've been on the lookout for someone like her with a book idea like hers, with an aim towards, you know, an idea of wanting to be a speaker like her, and I just am really excited to mentor her through the process of hopefully getting an agent, hopefully getting a book deal and hopefully becoming a speaker, and we're just going to work our way through it. I also have been looking for someone like Dr. Megan, because I really wanted to pick someone for you so that we can mentor, someone who is dedicated to the process, interested in doing all the homework and is not going to, like, give up halfway through, and this is someone who's really dedicated to this series. I'm hoping you can learn as much as possible. As always, this podcast is about flattening the learning curve for other writers. So that's what Dr. Megan has offered to do with us... again, super brave, like the people who do the First Page's Booklab and submit their work. This is a really vulnerable position to be put in. And so, over the next hour, however many months this takes, we're going to be following her trajectory as an author slash speaker and see how it all goes. This first episode is going to be free for all subscribers to the Hashtag AmWriting podcast. And after that, we're going to be putting it under the umbrella of supporter podcasts. So, if you would like to follow along and learn from Megan's journey, go ahead and hit the support button and figure out a way to support the podcast, because we're you know, we're here because of you, and we're here and grateful for your support. So, with that, I'm going to introduce you to Dr. Megan, she is a therapist, she is a speaker, she is a wannabe author. She's someone who has a lot of experience in her field. She wants to write a book that is squarely in her field, related to her life, related to the life of her patients, her clients, and she is exactly the right person to write it. And it is a book that is needed right now. And so, with that, let's get started. As I promised. I have a hopeful, potential, exciting phase. new author here with me today. One of the reasons that I wanted to do this sort of it's not really book coaching, because that's not my domain. I'm not a Author Accelerator book coach. I also, but I get asked to do this a lot, and I get asked specifically about the speaking piece of it. So, I wanted to get our listeners started with how we met. I would love for you to explain how we met, and you don't have to get specific about places, but how we ended up in the same place together, because there's a reason I decided to work with you, and a reason that I thought that your potential book idea has a lot of a promise. And so anyway, could you tell our listeners how we met?Dr. MeganAll right, this is a good question. Let's see. So, we met before you knew me. I met you via the Hashtag AmWriting podcast.Jess LaheyOkay.Dr. MeganAnd then when I was... I think it was just after finishing my doctorate, I found your book The Gift of Failure. So, then I met you there. But then, since I moved about almost three years ago now, and as part of my move, I thought, oh, I'm going to career shift. I've been working as a therapist for about 17 years with kids and families. And I love doing speaking, I love disseminating information. And I've been sort of marinating on this idea of a book... I don't know, probably five years and anyways, and I started emailing some people, and the majority of people actually don't answer said email. So I went to the librarian, and I was trying to get the scoop on those people at the library, and they're like, Oh yeah, yeah, Jess Lahey? She's super nice. She totally answered. Like, okay, I'm just going to cold turkey email her from the website, like she probably won't respond, but I just thought it was sort of a fate moment that you even we lived in this same small town, so it just all kind of perfectly collided.Jess LaheyYeah, and I think your approach was really interesting, because you came at it from the perspective of someone who has done a lot of work to learn stuff in the first place, and you, when we got together, the book that you told me about, just hit all of the it, my alarm bells went off this, the like, oh my gosh, this needs to be a thing. And the last time this happened was when I met Kirsten Jones, who wrote Raising Empowered Athletes. So, I met her. She came to one of my book talks in California. Right after The Gift of Failure came out and she started, she met me by saying, you know, I want to write something like The Gift of Failure, but for parents of athletes, which I was like, oh my gosh, yes, you have to write that book. And when you told me about the book that you want to write, I immediately thought, this book has to happen. Now, here's the tough part. As anyone who is thinking about writing a book knows you can't just throw your idea out there, let alone the title, which you have. And the title, essentially was what sort of struck me in the first place, but we can't give away the title. We can't give away the main idea. So, listeners, I want you to think about when KJ and I originally talked about the book The Plot. There's a book by... it's a book called The Plot. And the essential idea behind this book, and there has now been a follow up called The Sequel, both of them really brilliant. The idea behind The Plot was, student comes to a teacher with a plot that is so good it can't fail. And the idea is that, like, well, it doesn't matter. No matter what I do, this is going to just be a thing and it leads to murder, but I do promise not to murder you in order to take your book idea and publish it for myself in that book, though the author correlates is her last name, manages to not talk about the plot while talking about the plot, which is the unfortunate place we're in where we have to talk about this really good idea that I think is there's a hole in the market, which we'll get to later. We're going to talk about market analysis later, it's as someone who's been in this speaking in this area and writing this area for a while, there is a place for this book, and this book really needs to happen. And I think, but what I think is fairly irrelevant here, because this has to be about what you think. I think you are the perfect person to write this book. So, with that I decided this would be a great way to teach to do, almost like a mentoring series for listeners who would really like to just not just write a book, but also build a speaking career around that book, which you very much want to do. So, we're going to do today a sort of get to know you, get to know what you've done, and why I thought you were sort of prepared to start this process. Because KJ and Sarina and Jennie were like, but is this person ready? Like, are they going to do the things? Are they ready? Is this going to be like a one off, and then she'll disappear into the night? Has she done the work? Is she prepared? So could you talk a little bit about some of the work you've done, like, you know, you talk about the fact that you have done the professional work, and that this book is going to be very much tied to your professional work, but in terms of writing, which is a very different thing, and then speaking, which is, on top of that, a very different thing, sort of why do you think that it's the right time for you to write this book?Dr. MeganWell, I feel like all of the pieces have sort of fallen a little bit into place lately, because I thought the right time to write this book was actually two and a half years ago.Jess LaheyOh, that's always the right time with any book which is always the case. But I will tell you, from experience that I think that when you're doing the searching and when you're doing the research and when you're doing the pondering, the book happens at the right time. I happen to think that which is another way of saying you can procrastinate. But it's not that. It's, you know, it's the processing part.Dr. MeganYeah, and I feel like the process keeps aligning for me with this book, because I had this idea and I thought, Oh, I'll move and here I will sit in my new home writing a book, because now I don't have a bunch of clients, and I'm not as busy once everything is perfect, once everything is right, exactly, yes. So, so it turns out that's not a thing.Jess LaheyRight.Dr. MeganAnd so, I was really sort of dragging my feet. And so, I, as part of my licensing requirements as a therapist, I had to take some classes. So, one of the classes I took was “Writing a book for therapist”. And so, I did that, and I thought, Oh, that's really interesting. So, then I reached out to the person who taught the class, and they said, what else do you do?Jess LaheyRight. Now was that a full on, full length, like...?Dr. MeganThat class was just kind of a short, like, two hour continuing education.Jess LaheyBut you had to do writing prompts. You had to do the work; you had to do the writing...Dr. MeganYeah, I had some low... yeah, like, low level prompts, okay, just like, sort of marinate, get your idea going, kind of prompts. And so, I thought, oh, that was really helpful. It made me realize that the missing element for me as a creative is, I need structure.Jess LaheyRight.Dr. MeganAnd so, we, when we met, I was like, oh, homework, bring it on. Because I actually, I love homework, because I think it gives you some structure around the creativity and gets things flowing. So anyway, so I reached out, and then she said, Oh, I have this class, and it is once a week for eight weeks, and every week you turned in different things, and it sort of ranged an arc from solidifying your idea writing your introduction, but also like making a faux book cover, or making a faux blurbs, or thinking about, how do you use something like Amazon to look at what categories might your work be in which I think is a beautiful gateway over to the Blueprint Book.Jess LaheyRight. So, I gave you a copy of Jennie Nash's Blueprint for a Nonfiction Book. All of the books are great, but I think, and I'm, again, not a Author Accelerator book coach, but I thought it was really good starting place for the process of thinking about the like, why me? What is my book? What is my purpose? Who is my audience? You know, who's my ideal reader, all that kind of stuff. So, having looked at blueprint for a nonfiction book, what parts for you have sort of resonated either because they were overlooked in other classes or other preparation that you've done, or you think actually will hit at what you need to work on for this??Dr. MeganI like it because, I think it's really useful in the learning process to keep asking same questions in different ways. So, every time it kind of elicits a new response, a new thing to think about, a new way to connect it. And so, you know, I originally had this book idea, and I wrote down, I think several years ago, 10 chapters...Jess LaheyRight.Dr. MeganAnd then through the class, I was like, oh, wait, no, no, there's a narrative quality. It needs to be in parts.Jess LaheyRight.Dr. MeganHow does the parts become within one thing? And so, but then in doing this book and looking at it, I feel like the most valuable piece was also the why. Like, why me? Like, really? Because I think to be an author feels vulnerable. To be a therapist is sort of vulnerable, but not really, because you're not, actually, you're encouraged not to share as much about yourself. And so...Jess LaheyOh! That's interesting I hadn't thought that.Dr. MeganYou know...Jess LaheyBut that's a really important part of this process.Dr. MeganYeah, and it got me really looking at and comparing, do I really love this thing? Okay, if you thought of your book with other writers in the same category as sort of a conversation, not like as competition, but as collaboration, like, where do you sit with that?Jess LaheyRight.Dr. MeganAnd to me, that kind of prompt is very helpful because then I, even, you know, as an artsy person, was like, Oh, how do I, like, imagine yourself, like, if you sat at your Knights of the Round Table, who are your people? Like, who would you want there? How would that go?Jess LaheyAnd that gets at when you're thinking about, obviously, we're going to have to talk about, you know, market analysis and comp titles and things like that. That also helps you realize, because you're going to have to write this section, which is like, what's out there, and why is my book going to be different or and also thinking, and I've talked about this before in other episodes, in another episode, and I'll link in the show notes to that one, not just the books that have been successful in this area, and how your book will be different from those. But also, you have to think about like, which books didn't work, and you have to explain why your book is not that.Dr. MeganYes, yeah, without yeah, without being like a show and fraud, right kind of person. But also Yeah, because there's a million people that I think are super brilliant that have written parenting books, but either they sound like too therapist-y or like, are there a little, like light on the actually, how does this work kind of thing, and also accepting you can't be all things to all people.Jess LaheyRight, right.Dr. MeganSo, the part about who's your audience, I thought, but, but I think the really golden nugget in that first part too, is the why, and so I even did that writing exercise, like, why this book? Why me? Why now? Kind of questioning. And I thought that was really helpful, because I wrote that more in, like a talking way, because I think some of those same things filter into an introduction for a book, but by writing it in an unpolished way, I feel like I reignited sort of the passion for the subject.Jess LaheyRight. Oh, that's so good.Dr. MeganSo, I feel like it's missing...Jess LaheyAnd a lot of that's going to happen during the book proposal process as well. I mean, when you first were full disclosure, we're recording this at my house, because it's just easier to have two people in one space, and we're in my office, and I showed you all of the bookshelves that are filled with the books for the book for the book proposals that I've written and decided that I don't want to write right now, because I think that's really, really helpful. And as onerous as the book proposal process is, it's incredibly revealing. It helps you see what's working, what's not working, what you want to write, and what you don't want to write. So, I'm really excited for you to get really immersed in that process. Okay, so your why coming into this like, given that you're going to have to have a bit of an elevator pitch for people, what is your WHY for this book?Dr. MeganI thought about this in different ways. Okay I was a sort of neurodiverse kid—dyslexic, ADD—and therapy was super helpful to me as a child. And as a, you know, what Elaine Aron might call a highly sensitive person, I just think there's all these... I was so lucky, because I had a school for dyslexia, and I had all these opportunities in my childhood and as a therapist, I found myself working a lot with these kids that you might be like oh, ADHD learning like that's not normal but it's actually very normal. And within that there's just such a wide way people can be. And I just sometimes think as a culture a society we get so binary, and I just feel like that gets people really locked into either "oh no big deal" or "ooh super problematic thinking". And my big why is, there are easy solutions to helping understand your child. So, my really, my, why is I feel like there's, there's answers out there, and it drives me bananas, if you're like, oh, I don't know what to do, or there's just nothing. So, I feel compelled to do that.Jess LaheySo the nice thing about that answer is and I tend to bring... because it's my experience the so when I was thinking about The Gift of Failure, the big why was because I want kids to be able to learn to the best their ability to be engaged, to be motivated, all those sorts of things, but also that they're having conversations with their parents about what really matters to them and all that sort of stuff. So for me, there was no one writing at that intersection of parenting and education in this particular way, and because you have cred, not just as someone who grew up neurodiverse and as someone who works with neurodiverse kids, you have that sort of both sides of the table thing going on, which I think is a really, really, not just a great why, but a really great answer to why me.Dr. MeganYes.Jess LaheyYeah, yeah, to the why me question we're going to be talking about in future episodes, and about owning your expertise. So, I want to give you some homework.Dr. MeganOkay.Jess LaheyTo think about, things and, oh, and I have a I even brought, I have a little notebook for you I get, I got you a little notebook. So, okay, so when it comes to your why, it sounds like you have a sort of a really good hold... a handle on that, but you're going to be asked definitely, during blueprint for a nonfiction book, and during our conversation to be re-articulating that lots and lots of times, people are going to be asking you about what you're working on, and that can be a really, really great opportunity. It's sort of like when, when you have to do interviews about your book, you're not going to want to go like, let's assume all of this goes well, and you're going to get to start doing interviews about your book. You need for now to be the time that you're articulating those really good answers, like, who is this book for? Why? I mean, the question I get in every interview is, give me a bit of your background and why you decided to write these books. And you want that answer to be great. You want that answer to be concise. You want that answer to not be rambling. And that's sort of your, you know, your elevator pitch sort of thing. The other thing that we talk a lot about, KJ and I, have talked about this a lot, is I like to have a stack of books that are the “voice I'm aiming for. So, I've had, there was a book called Duct Tape Parenting when I first wrote The Gift of Failure, and she just was really brave. The author of that book was, like, really not concerned with people yelling at her and saying, you're wrong, and she would just have this brave voice. And that was my brave voice book. And then I had another book that was like my owning your expert voice book, and so that they gave me a sense of on the days when I really needed them and I needed... because one of the hardest things for first time authors to do is to own their expertise. This is also something that comes up a lot in The OpEd Project, a group that I have worked with and mentored with for a while, where they help people who wouldn't normally get the chance to write op eds, to write op eds. And Katie Orenstein, the founder of that, said, a big part of that is helping you own your expertise. Like, yeah, why do I deserve to be the person talking about this? And I think, especially, as you said before a therapist and not having the opportunity to sort of talk about you, that's going to be incredibly important. So having a book for that, and sometimes we refer to them as, like our dissection books. So, here's the thing, you want, a great book that helps with the, no, I have the right to say these things, and I'm correct. And then the owning is sort of, and it could be the same thing owning your expertise book. And then you need to find a book whose format is really great for this topic. So, like, and it doesn't have to be exactly modeled. Your book doesn't have to be exactly modeled on that. But find a book that you feel like, really, if you want to integrate narrative arc, if you want to have it be straight up research, if you want this research and the narrative arc to come together, if you want to do storytelling, find the book that you think is like, yeah, this is what I'm aiming for in my book. Find one of those books, because being able to dissect how that person does that. Sarina does it sometimes, like when she switched over to thrillers from romance, she needed to be able to say, okay, well, how long are how many pages are we spending on exposition? How many pages are we spending on research? And for me, I found a couple of books that I thought just did a really good job of organizing in the way I wanted to organize it. So having a stack of those books as well is going to be really important.Dr. MeganTo my book stack...Jess LaheyOkay, yeah, yeah.Dr. MeganIn my kitchen. Okay, good, because that's...I have three kids, and by about 9:30 most people are asleep, and no one can, you know, trouble me for a glass of water, et cetera,Jess LaheyRight.Dr. MeganSo, I have, like, a big stack, and that is what I think has been really interesting. When I first got here and thought, oh, I want to write, and I was just really feeling blocked and unclear. My other passion is painting. And so, I got really into painting and studying art. And how did people craft things, you know, like, studied with other artists, looked at things, and I realized in this writing process how similar it is to the painting process. And in a painting, often I'll do an under painting of a color that might be radically different from the rest of the painting, but I feel like it sets the tone. And what I felt like was really useful in working on the writing has been like, oh, permission to be creative about it and to look at other things. So, I literally very neurotic...I counted like, number of words per page, and then would like, multiply them, and then I made a list, like, in a chart, like, how many pages are each of these books in this category?Jess LaheyOh my gosh.Dr. MeganJust to kind of get the structure in, very much a similar process in artists, where you're like, oh, how does this person use light in a painting?Jess LaheyRight.Dr. MeganAnd I think that's where I feel like, by putting creativity, like, using those same dynamics has been really empowering, because it's that same sort of thing for me, just finding, yeah, so the more, the more I do that, the better it becomes, because it invites a whole new structure you might not have thought of, or...Jess LaheyOkay, whatever. So, and we'll talk about this eventually, but at a certain point, all of the charts and the graphs and stuff are going to have to give way to this, like really big, creative and word output. So, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Right now, we're in the planning stage, and then the last thing I need you to think about is, and I don't think it's too early to start thinking about this, is, you know, how is this going to translate into speaking, and how we're going to do an entire podcast just on the planning? You know, obviously, you don't even have a book yet. You don't even have an agent yet, any... all of this stuff.Dr. MeganYeah.Jess LaheyBut, but... and we're going to talk about all this stuff, but in order to really be able to pitch yourself as a speaker, because I think there's even the possibility the speaker thing could happen without the book thing. It's going to happen most effectively, obviously, with the book thing. But it's since that's what you really want, we're going to start planning for that speaking career while the book is also happening. Right?Dr. MeganI'm in.Jess LaheyOkay, all right, so you've already done what I was going to give you homework about. So, I think, I think what you need to start thinking about is...I have given Megan a copy of The Addiction Inoculation book proposal, right?Dr. MeganUh-huh.Jess LaheyOkay, so the reason it's not that I think that my book proposal is all that, but my agent...Dr. MeganBut it is.Jess LaheyLaurie Abkemeier, just is amazing, and she helped shape that. So, I think it's a really good starting place. And I think the first section, the introductory section, I think would be a really great place for you to start. Unless you have anything, you think would be another great place for you to start. I want to take your input into this as well.Dr. MeganNo, that seems good. Yeah. Because in this class I did, we had to write the intro and the first thing, but then when I read what you had, I was like, whoa, there's so much more.Jess LaheyYeah.Dr. MeganThere's so much more.Jess LaheyAnd all of the things we've talked about go into that introductory section, like, why me? Why this? Why now? And I think the why now when it comes to your plot, and I'm sorry again, listeners that we have to be a bit vague, but I think why now, with your title and your subject matter, I think it's a really great time for this book as well and it and without linking it into, you know, popular culture references and stuff like that, I think it's really important to help basically, I like to think of this section as the section that the editor, potential editor will have to go to the group at her publishing house to pitch to say, can I buy this book... and for how much... that section really is, here's why this author is the right time, why it's the right time, why this is the right author, why there's a there, this book needs to be written, what the hole is in the market. And I think that's going to be a really important part of that for you.Dr. MeganYeah, and that's where it felt like, oh, now this doctoral thing that I did 10 years ago is coming into play, because they'd always be like, what are your gaps in the literature? And you have to get really granular about it. And so...Jess LaheyOh, over and over again, I've been like, oh, wait, I can go back to that other thing I wrote in order to pull some of the pieces from that. So, this is very helpful. Okay, so for just the two of us, that's going to be the first thing I would love to see from you is that introductory section, sure, and then we're going... this podcast is going to be from here on out. This introductory level is going to be for everyone from here on out. This is going to be for supporters. But if you want to follow along on the journey, we're going to remain vague, like I said about the topic, simply because we don't want anyone to take it. And we are going to keep things a little bit vague on some fronts, but for the most part, we're going to get really specific, like I'm going to we're going to be talking about querying agents. We're going to be talking about the what the query format is like and finding an agent. I mean, that's the first place we have to start for you, and I have some ideas, but I'm going to give you some homework around that as well, which is, and I think you may have heard this before on our podcast, because we've talked about it, but look at the books that you really, really admire in your genre, and then look at the acknowledgement section, because people thank their agents, right? So, for example, if I am looking at a stack of books, I recommend a lot. So, for example, I really love, you know, like Nadine Burke Harris's The Deepest Well, and Ned Johnson's The Self-Driven Child, and uh, Dan Siegel's Brainstorm, and Anna Lembke's Dopamine Nation, those books sort of hit the tone and the topic that I would be writing about. So, who are their agents? Because those agents are clearly open to topics that are similar. Now, you don't want to go for someone who's written, who's published, or, you know, sold, the exact same thing, but you want someone who's hitting the spirit of the and is someone that is reputable and that you're also going to find by looking at who authors you respect thank in their acknowledgements. So that's a good starting place. So that's your other assignment.Dr. MeganOkay.Jess LaheyYou can go to the library and do that. You can go clearly you have stacks of books at your house. You can borrow any of my books you would like. But let's start looking for potential agents to pitch this idea to, because a query is like, almost like a mini it's like a super mini version of your idea, and if they like it, they're going to ask for more. So, we need to have that more ready for when you query. Nonfiction is a little different from fiction, and for those of you have been listening for a long time, you know that if you're going to query a fiction agent, that agent is going to ask for a full manuscript, which so you better have finished it if you're going to pitch a fiction agent. It's not always the case, but mostly the case. But with nonfiction, the idea is you sell the book with a proposal. So, an agent in this arena is going to be expecting that maybe you have chapter summaries, maybe you have a sample chapter. So those are going to be our early goals for this sort of thing. But I think baseline introductory section is going to be the best place to start, and getting an idea of potential agents is the other great place to start. So how does that sound for you?Dr. MeganSuper exciting, slightly intimidating.Jess LaheyOkay.Dr. MeganBecause what if...I'm like, oh no, what if they love it, and now I've got to, like, crank out this whole book. Like, oh my gosh!Jess LaheyYeah. Oh, it's scary. Like, The Gift of Failure stuff happened really fast. I got my dream agent who had been chasing, I don't know if you know this story, but I chased her for 10 years. I knew she was the right agent for me, but I kept sending her projects that weren't quite right, and The Gift of Failure happened to be right, but everything happened really fast after that. So, I've done like a crash proposal and agent acquisition, but I've also done, you know, the slower version, The Addiction Inoculation version. So, I totally get that each piece of this can be really scary, especially when it needs to happen fast and there isn't any urgency. It's not like you know, but we're also going to talk about articles that you could start writing for the media that will start being test balloons for this idea, because it helps if you have an article that does well on the topic that you're addressing.Dr. Megan Yes, and that would be maybe a whole umbrella conversation, but, yeah, I actually was wondering about that, because...Jess LaheyAnd that could be a whole episode.Dr. MeganOf all these links to the amazing articles. And I'm like, oh no, you haven't done any of that, like, you know, sort of, but not really.Jess LaheyWe'll do a whole episode on that, and especially on how to pitch those, how to think about those. And yeah, we'll be doing a whole entire episode on pitching articles that are in line with what you would like to write for next book. There are lots and lots of authors who do send up these test balloons to see what sticks. I know lots of them that do that, and there's a balance to me made between including content for the potential book and still sending up that test balloon. So, we'll talk about all of that in a separate episode, but for now, looking for potential agents writing that introductory thing, and then we're going to get together in like two weeks or so, and we'll start, and we'll start talking about actual... we'll actually do stuff.Dr. MeganAmazing, yes!Jess LaheyBecause this book needs to happen, I'm really excited about it. I know you're excited about it, and I'm really just honored to be a part of helping in any way.Dr. Megan Mutual and likewise, and this is super exciting.Jess LaheyAnd the dogs have pretty much behaved themselves today, so hopefully they'll continue to behave themselves. All right, if you want to get the rest of this series, and I think, I think I'm going to call it something like, I have an idea now what? That kind of idea, but if you want to be a part and listen to the rest of this series, you're going to have to become a supporter of the podcast. Becoming a supporter of the podcast gets you other stuff too, like First Pages, the Booklab thing that we just recorded a bunch of episodes. I don't know if you've ever listened to Booklab, but we get submissions from very brave listeners who give us their first pages, and then we talk about whether or not we turn the page, and we critique them, and it's really fun. And then you get other bonus materials as well. So, think about becoming a supporter, and I'm really excited about this new series. So, thank you for being a guinea pig, because it takes a lot of bravery to do that.Dr. MeganWell. Thank you. I'm super excited and nervous and excited.Jess LaheyAll right, until next week, and this is for you specifically, keep your butt in the chair and your head in the game. The Hashtag AmWriting podcast is produced by Andrew Perella. Our intro music, aptly titled Unemployed Monday, was written and played by Max Cohen. Andrew and Max were paid for their time and their creative output, because everyone deserves to be paid for their work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

Main Topic:  Elements of a Nonfiction Book (Starts at 16:55)   Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code VALERIE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.  Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre.   Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie): learning IG Stories from @tidalbaymedia (Kat), updated passport, new Chiro, monthly reflection, carport, now buy print  (Erick): Preorder up for Shadow Signals , ARCS out in the morning, back/front matter to write, re-release Witness accounts with new fresh content, experiment with going Wide on the print What are you reading? Valerie: How To Be Old: Lessons in Living Boldly from the Accidental Icon  (Lyn Slater) (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ;  The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong  Erick:    Mr. Mercedes (Stephen King), 

Episode Description:Your book is full of brilliant ideas, but without a clear theme, it might feel scattered or incomplete. In this episode of Your Path to Publish, we're diving into how to find, develop, and refine your nonfiction book theme so it's cohesive, compelling, and memorable.BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL LEARN:Why your theme is the glue that holds your book togetherHow to uncover the core message you want readers to take awaySimple strategies to align your book's structure with its themeTips for cutting the fluff and making your theme shine through editingWhether you're writing a business book, self-help guide, or memoir, understanding your theme is essential to creating a book that resonates. Plus, we'll share actionable tips to ensure every chapter drives your message home.Ready to bring your book to life with a strong, focused theme?Join the Author Edge Community. Learn MoreLiked this episode? Share it and tag us on Instagram @juxtabkLove the show? Leave a review and let us know!CONNECT WITH US: Website | Instagram | Facebook

We discuss the anti-democratic and reactionary nihilistic nature of the Christian nationalist movement. Christian nationalism is an ideology that functions as a tool for a leadership driven organization machine that turns mythology into political power.    Katherine's civic action toolkit recommendations are:  Mobilize the pro-democracy majority Stop purity testing   Katherine Stewart is the author of Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy. Katherine is an expert on religious nationalism and the assault on American democracy. Her previous book, The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism was awarded first place for Excellence in Nonfiction Books by the Religion News Association and was the basis of the Rob Reiner documentary feature film, God & Country.     Let's connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/   Discover new ways to #BetheSpark:  https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark    Follow Mila on X:  https://x.com/milaatmos    Follow Katherine on X:  https://x.com/kathsstewart    Sponsor:  Thank you to Shopify! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful.   Early episodes for Patreon supporters: https://patreon.com/futurehindsight  Credits:  Host: Mila Atmos  Guests: Katherine Stewart Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

Writing a nonfiction book can be overwhelming, but AI can streamline the process. AI tools assist with brainstorming topics, organizing content, and conducting research efficiently. They also enhance writing by suggesting edits, improving readability, and ensuring grammatical accuracy. If you hit writer's block, AI can generate prompts or continue your text. Additionally, AI fact-checking tools verify information, while formatting assistants structure your book professionally. Finally, AI helps with marketing by optimizing descriptions and blog posts. Embracing AI makes writing faster, easier, and more effective.

Have you ever dreamed of writing a book but weren't sure where to start? In this episode of The Second Act Success Career Podcast, host Shannon Russell takes you behind the scenes of her journey to becoming an author! She shares how she went from dreaming about writing to officially publishing her book, Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life.Shannon opens up about the writing and publishing process, including: ✅ How she chose her book topic and structured her content ✅ The biggest challenges and lessons learned while writing ✅ The differences between traditional publishing and self-publishing ✅ Why writing a book can be a powerful second act career move ✅ How to market and launch your book successfullyIf you've ever thought about writing a book as part of your career transition or business journey, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you get started. Tune in and get inspired to share your story with the world!

MLB star Shohei Ohtani returned to Japan last week for an exhibition game. A day prior to the game, he spoke with CBS News' Adam Yamaguchi about the special game in Japan, personal and team expectations for this season and his impact on baseball. In this week's "Beg-Knows America," CBS News contributor David Begnaud highlights three inspiring stories: two teen cousins stepping in for a father-daughter dance, a rescued beaver who helped save a struggling animal sanctuary, and a high school basketball player who overcame cancer to break his father's scoring record. Bestselling author John Green, known for "The Fault in Our Stars" and "Turtles All the Way Down," turns to nonfiction with "Everything Is Tuberculosis." The book sheds light on the history and ongoing impact of the curable disease, which still claims over a million lives each year. Bestselling author Michael Lewis explores the unseen world of government employees in "Who Is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service." The collection of essays, written by Lewis and six other authors, profiles workers shaping policies, saving lives and tackling crises, offering a new perspective amid ongoing debates over government jobs. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Notes and Links to Deborah Taffa-Jackson's Work          Deborah Jackson Taffa is a citizen of the (Quatzahn) Quechan (Yuma) Nation and Laguna Pueblo. She earned her MFA at the Nonfiction Writing Program at the University of Iowa and is the Director of the MFA in Creative Writing at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Named Top 10 Book of the Year by Atlantic Magazine, and Top 10 Nonfiction Book by Time Magazine. Buy Whiskey Tender   Deborah's Website   Book Review for Whiskey Tender from Washington Post   At about 1:30, Deborah reflects on and expands on her experience in being a finalist for The National Book Award  At about 5:30, Pete shares some laudatory feedback for her memoir and Deborah shouts out Birchbark Books, Collected Works, Left Bank Books, as some great places to buy her book  At about 7:30, Deborah shares some wonderful invitations she's received to discuss her book and her art At about 9:05, Deborah explains how she “reverse-engineered” the book with regard to research and personal stories  At about 10:20, Deborah responds to Pete's questions about her early reading and language life and how her formal and informal education was affected by her family's histories  At about 15:45, Deborah gives background on her “autodidactic,” transformative learning, study, reading, and traveling that helped her   At about 19:00, Deborah traces the throughlines of colonization in seemingly-disparate groups At about 22:20, Deborah discusses the significance of her epigraph on “ceremony” At about 26:25, Billy Ray Belcourt is cited as Pete and Deborah talk about the speculative and aspirational writing  At about 27:55, Pete and Deborah reflect on ideas of indigenous invisibility as evidenced in a memorable scene from Whiskey Tender At about 29:40, Deborah cites a “shocking” study n her college textbook that speaks to how many Americans view Native American women, and how it provided fodder and stimulus for her memoir At about 31:25, the two discuss a flashback scene that begins the book and the idea of “mirages” as discussed in the opening scene At about 35:20, Pete asks Deborah to expand upon a resonant line from her book about meaningful childhood experiences  At about 37:35, Deborah talks about historical silences in her family and in others  At about 39:40, Deborah talks about the intensive historical research done in the last year before the book was published At about 40:55, The two discuss similarities regarding generation gaps in indigenous groups and immigrant and traditionally-marginalized groups  At about 42:40, Deborah talks about the lore of Sarah Winnemucca in her family and “her savvi[ness] and revisionist history At about 46:25, Pete and Deborah talk about the “flattening” of American Indian stories and pivotal government treaties and reneging on deals by the American government   At about 48:00, Pete and Deborah reflect on contemporary connections to previous American policies At about 50:20, The two discuss a representative story about “lateral violence” and belonging and ostracism that affected Deborah at a young age At about 53:00, Counternarratives to myths about indigenous peoples and movement are discussed  At about 57:20,  At about 59:40, Pete is highly complimentary of Deborah's writing about her grandmother's genuine and wonderful nature, and Deborah expands on her grandmother's cancer diagnosis and outlook and lasting influence  At about 1:02:30, Pete highlights a wonderful closing scene about time and place and home      You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow Pete on IG, where he is @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he is @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both the YouTube Channel and the podcast while you're checking out this episode.       Pete is very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. This week, his conversation with Episode 255 guest Chris Knapp is up on the website. A big thanks to Rachel León and Michael Welch at Chicago Review.     Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl      Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting Pete's one-man show, his DIY podcast and his extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!     This month's Patreon bonus episode will feature an exploration of the wonderful poetry of Khalil Gibran. I have added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.    This is a passion project of Pete's, a DIY operation, and he'd love for your help in promoting what he's convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.     The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.     Please tune in for Episode 276 with Donna Minkowitz, a writer of fantasy, memoir, and journalism lauded by Lilith Magazine for her “fierce imagination and compelling prose.” Her first book, Ferocious Romance, won a Lambda Literary Award for Best Book On Religion/Spirituality, and her most recent memoir was Growing Up Golem, a finalist for both a Lambda Literary Award and Judy Grahn Nonfiction Award. She is also the author of the novel DONNAVILLE, published in 2024.     The episode airs on March 18.  

>> Get A Free Copy Of The Book (Big Idea To Bestseller): https://www.bigideatobestseller.com/free-book>> Book A Call With Our Team: https://write.bigideatobestseller.com/booking-page>> Step-By-Step Process To Becoming A Bestselling Author: https://write.bigideatobestseller.com/vsl-watch-pageStruggling to find the perfect title for your book? In this episode, we're diving into the art of crafting a title and subtitle that grab attention, attract the right readers, and make your book impossible to ignore! Tune in now and start creating a title that sells!IG: @jakekelferLinkedIn: @jakekelfer

Alexa Bigwarfe interviews ghostwriter Roxanne McCarty-O'Kane about the art of ghostwriting, its benefits, and misconceptions. Roxanne shares her journey from journalism to ghostwriting, explains her process, and discusses why hiring a ghostwriter is a smart choice for entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and experts looking to publish impactful nonfiction books.

Most people want to read more but struggle to stay consistent. I've been there. Over the years, I've learned a few simple ways to make reading part of my life without forcing it. I'll share the strategies that worked, the six books that kept me hooked when my motivation dipped, and how to handle common mistakes—like getting stuck in books that feel impossible to finish.Send Me a Text Message with Your QuestionsIMPORTANT LINKS:

Feeling overwhelmed by your nonfiction book project? You're the expert on your topic, but when you sit down to write, it feels like you're losing direction. Where should you focus? How deep should you go? You're not alone—and the solution might be simpler than you think.In this episode, we're diving into how a solid nonfiction book outline can simplify your writing process, eliminate writer's block, and help you craft an engaging, impactful book.BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL LEARN:The power of a well-structured outline to keep you focused and on trackThree different outlining methods to fit your unique thinking styleA step-by-step process to create an outline that identifies gaps, maintains flow, and resonates with your readersIf you're ready to streamline your writing and create a book that captivates your audience from start to finish, this episode is a must-listen!Stay tuned until the end for practical tips on transitioning from outlining to writing—and how to keep your momentum going all the way to "The End."Submit a Question. Ask a question to be featured on the podcast. Ask HereLiked this episode? Share it and tag us on Instagram @juxtabkLove the show? Leave a review and let us know!CONNECT WITH US: Website | Instagram | Facebook

In this episode host Claire Bown talks with Maggie Jackson, an award-winning author, former Boston Globe columnist and independent scholar, about the power of uncertainty and how embracing not-knowing might transform our work in museums.Maggie Jackson's latest book "Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure" has been making waves - named on four top books of 2024 lists and recently awarded Nonfiction Book of the Year by the Independent Publishers of New England. Drawing from cutting-edge neuroscience research, Jackson explores how uncertainty affects how we think, learn, and work together.Listen to discover what her research might mean for museum educators and how understanding uncertainty better could transform our practice. Learn about to build your 'uncertainty tolerance', how hedge words like "maybe" can create space for multiple perspectives and interpretations, explore why productive disagreement leads to better group outcomes, and discover the difference between routine and adaptive expertise.This episode will change how you think about uncertainty. Discover how embracing not-knowing can enhance attention, deepen learning and create more meaningful connections with art and visitors alike.Want to learn more? Visit maggie-jackson.comThe Art Engager is written and presented by Claire Bown. Editing is by Matt Jacobs and Claire Bown. Music by Richard Bown. Support the show on Patreon and find more resources at thinkingmuseum.comSHOW NOTESUncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure is available nowwebsite -- https://www.maggie-jackson.com/uncertainNew York Times op-ed on uncertainty and resilience: https://www.maggie-jackson.com/the-gift-of-being-unsure-what-to-do-1Maggie Jackson on LinkedIn -- https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiejackson/‘The Art Engager: Reimagining Guided Experiences in Museums‘ is now available worldwide through your favourite online platforms and retailers. Buy it here on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/buytheartengagerThe Art Engager book website: https://www.theartengager.com/Support the show with a simple monthly subscription on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheArtEngager

Stand Up is a daily podcast that I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 700 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls Check out StandUpwithPete.com to learn more GET TICKETS TO PODJAM II In Vegas March 27-30 Confirmed Guests! Professor Eric Segall, Dr Aaron Carroll, Maura Quint, Tim Wise, JL Cauvin, Ophira Eisenberg, Christian Finnegan and More! Katherine Stewart has been covering religious nationalism and the assault on American democracy for over 15 years. Her latest book, The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism, was awarded first place for Excellence in Nonfiction Books by the Religion News Association as well as a Morris D. Forkosch award. Her previous book, The Good News Club: The Christian Right's Stealth Assault on America's Children covered the religious right's efforts to infiltrate and undermine public education. Stewart writes for The New York Times opinion, New Republic and many others, and has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, and NPR. In 2020 The Power Worshippers was acquired by producers Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner, who subsequently based their documentary feature film, God & Country, on the book. Stewart's latest book Money Lies and God is available for preorder today! Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy In 2020, just months before the presidential election, acclaimed journalist Katherine Stewart released The Power Worshippers, a brilliantly reported book that acted as a wake-up call to readers: Christian nationalism must be taken seriously as a significant threat to the American republic and our democratic freedoms. The Power Worshippers cemented Stewart as a go-to authority on Christian nationalism and the current threats to American democracy, and inspired the recent documentary God & Country, produced by Rob Reiner. Stewart's explosive follow-up, MONEY, LIES, AND GOD: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy (February 18, 2025) exposes the inner workings of the “engine of unreason” roiling American culture and politics, but aims at a bigger and more challenging target: how did we get to the point where there is an organized political movement within the United States that is working to destroy American Democracy? Furthermore, why have so many Americans turned against democracy? In this deeply researched book, Katherine Stewart takes readers to conferences of conspiracy-mongers, backroom strategy gatherings, and services at extremist houses of worship, and profiles the people who want to tear it all down. She introduces us to reactionary Catholic activists, atheist billionaires, pseudo-Platonist intellectuals, self-appointed apostles of Jesus, disciples of Ayn Rand, women-hating opponents of “the gynocracy,” pronatalists preoccupied with the dearth of white babies, Covid truthers, militia members masquerading as “concerned moms” and battalions of spirit warriors who appear to be inventing a new style of religion even as they set about attacking democracy at its foundations. Along the way, she provides a compelling analysis of the authoritarian reaction in the United States. She demonstrates that the movement relies on several distinct constituencies, with very different and often conflicting agendas. Stewart's reporting and comprehensive political analysis helps reframe the conversation about the moral collapse of conservatism in America and points the way forward toward a democratic future. Join us Thursday's at 8EST for our Weekly Happy Hour Hangout!  Pete on Blue Sky Pete on Threads Pete on Tik Tok Pete on YouTube  Pete on Twitter Pete On Instagram Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page All things Jon Carroll  Follow and Support Pete Coe Buy Ava's Art  Hire DJ Monzyk to build your website or help you with Marketing

>> Get A Free Copy Of The Book (Big Idea To Bestseller): https://www.bigideatobestseller.com/free-book>> Book A Call With Our Team: https://write.bigideatobestseller.com/booking-page>> Step-By-Step Process To Becoming A Bestselling Author: https://write.bigideatobestseller.com/vsl-watch-pageWant to outline your nonfiction book in just 30 minutes? In this episode, I'll walk you through The Avengers Process to create a powerful, structured outline—listen now and start writing!IG: @jakekelferLinkedIn: @jakekelfer

Podcast host Amy Chavez talks with Michael Pronko, a Tokyo-based writer of murder, memoir, and music. He is professor of American Literature at Meiji Gakuen University. During his over 20 years in the country, he has written for Newsweek Japan, The Japan Times, and Artscape Japan, and has been featured on NHK TV and Nippon television. He also runs the website Jazz in Japan, which covers the vibrant jazz scene in Tokyo and Yokohama. Today, we're going to talk about Pronko's fiction, as well as his nonfiction books, including his most recently released Tokyo Tempos.Pronko's "Detective Hiroshi" series includes:The Last TrainThe Moving BladeTokyo TrafficTokyo ZangyoAzabu GetawayShitamachi Scam (which we talk about on the podcast today)Pronko's "Tokyo Moments" series includes:Beauty and ChaosTokyo's Mystery DeepensMotions and MomentsTokyo Tempos (which we talk about on the podcast today)Pronko's favorite books on Japan are:Empire of Signs by Roland BarthesThe Anatomy of Dependence by Takeo DoiYou Gotta Have Wa and Tokyo Junkie by Robert WhitingThe Zen books by D.T. Suzuki, and anything by Donald RichieYou can find Michael Pronko online at his website (http://www.michaelpronko.com) and at the following links on social media:AmazonInstagramGoodreadsFacebookLinkedInTwitter (X) @pronkomichael The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at the publisher's website.Amy Chavez, podcast host, is author of Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan and The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island.Books on AsiaTwitter: @BooksOnAsiaSubscribe to the BOA podcast at https://linktr.ee/booksonasia

In this episode, Jodi talks with Renee Hribar, seasoned sales coach and TEDx speaker, about harnessing the power of a book to connect with the right audience and build a brand as well as community. Renee shares her book journey of transforming email content into a robust book and discusses innovative marketing strategies like using Airbnbs to reach readers in self-care settings. Jodi and Renee's conversation explores overcoming mental blocks, the value of foundational work, and the role of community in the writing process. They also touch on the importance of authenticity in business and why book success goes well beyond sales numbers. This episode is filled with practical advice and inspiring stories for business owners considering writing a book as a marketing asset.   Time Stamps: 00:00 Renee Rebar's sales journey and new book. 05:35 Overcoming fear of sharing via community support. 08:29 A practical guide for life-changing moments. 10:03 Recording everything to transcribe for summaries. 14:50 Start with what you have; you've begun. 16:07 Plan: Distribute books through Amazon and Airbnbs. 21:01 Relating to long-awaited Cobb salad experience. 22:42 Girlfriend overwhelmed by peanut butter variety. 26:47 Entrepreneurship legacy: reputation through treating people   Keywords: book marketing, reaching the right audience, Renee Hribar, foundational understanding, Jodi Brandon, reading recommendations, Barbara Stani, "Overcoming Underearning", "The Nordstrom Way", "Built to Sell", business insights, reneerebar.com, reputation in business, writing books, gratitude for listeners, #WritePublishedMarket, modern tools in business, Zoom transition, foundational work value, email content, live events promotion, Airbnb book distribution, self-care retreats, personal connection, authenticity in marketing, Facebook group engagement, business owner advice, unique perspective in writing, cultural differences in grocery stores, branding and audience engagement, audiobook creation Resources Mentioned: Write Publish Market Episode 164: Sales Strategies for Business Owners Writing Books Overcoming Underearning by Barbara Stani The Nordstrom Way by Robert Spector Built to Sell by John Warrollow Ready Set Write Challenge: www.jodibrandoneditorial.com/readysetwrite About Our Guest: Renee Hribar has been a sales professional since 1994 in New York. Making her first million before she was 25 years old, she has gone on to sell millions of dollars in products and services and train thousands to sell for the first time. She is known in her industry as a fun, energetic sales coach who leads with heart. A TEDx speaker who offers training sessions at global conferences, on-demand courses and virtual workshops, she skillfully breaks down her decades of sales expertise. With her one-of-a-kind "laugh & learn" teaching style, you will certainly gain a new view of the "softer side of sales".   My best advice: No matter what your business sells is to grab my quick and easy FREE sales mini-course: https://www.reneehribar.co/training LINK TO FULL EPISODE (RAW) TRANSCRIPT: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nbaUUF6UzhUaVC-qq8Jh5PB-jgK6IV-XdByTDjx2ajQ/edit?usp=sharing  

In this first episode of Season 6 of The Resilient Writers Radio Show, host Rhonda Douglas dives into the world of nonfiction writing with expert Meghan Stevenson. Meghan, a seasoned professional in crafting nonfiction book proposals, shares her wealth of experience, having helped her clients secure over $5 million in publishing advances and contributing to the success of 16 New York Times bestsellers.The conversation explores the distinct differences between nonfiction and fiction markets, emphasizing how nonfiction is driven by purpose—whether to educate, solve a problem, or inspire change. Meghan highlights the importance of recognizing books as products, a mindset shift essential for authors looking to navigate the publishing world successfully.The discussion also demystifies the nonfiction book proposal—a pivotal tool for securing an agent or publisher. Meghan likens it to a “mullet of publishing,” combining business-driven content in the front with creative writing in the back. Proposals typically include an overview, chapter summaries, a sample chapter, and business sections detailing marketing strategies, comparative titles, and a compelling author bio. Meghan strongly advises against writing the full book before selling it, as the publishing process often involves refining and reshaping the idea.The episode is packed with valuable advice for writers aiming to break into the nonfiction space. Meghan's blend of candid humor and actionable insights provides a clear roadmap for authors to navigate the challenging but rewarding world of publishing. From recognizing the business side of writing to understanding the importance of collaboration and patience, listeners walk away with a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed as a nonfiction author.Whether you're an entrepreneur, expert, or simply someone with a great idea, this episode serves as an encouraging guide to bringing your nonfiction book dreams to life. Rhonda and Meghan's warm and engaging conversation reminds writers that with the right tools and mindset, they can overcome the hurdles of publishing and create lasting impact with their work.

Yesterday, we ran Bethanne Patrick's five best novels of 2024. Today, we feature her top non-fiction of the year including new books about reality television, Robert Louis Stevenson's wife and Handel's Messiah. ‘Tis the season. Enjoy!Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Bethanne Patrick maintains a storied place in the publishing industry as a critic and as @TheBookMaven on Twitter, where she created the popular #FridayReads and regularly comments on books and literary ideas to over 200,000 followers. Her work appears frequently in the Los Angeles Times as well as in The Washington Post, NPR Books, and Literary Hub. She sits on the board of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation and has served on the board of the National Book Critics Circle. She is the host of the Missing Pages podcast.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

I used to think time management was about fitting more into my day, but reading Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman completely shifted my perspective. In this episode, I share five key lessons I took from the book, explain why it's worth your time, and give practical ideas for applying its insights to your own life. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by productivity hacks or like you're racing against the clock, this is an episode you won't want to miss.Send Me a Text Message with Your QuestionsSupport the showIMPORTANT LINKS:

Think writing a book takes months? We'll reveal a streamlined approach to writing a nonfiction book in just 24 hours. Discover the tools, tricks, and time-saving methods to make it possible. Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 24 Hours - https://DaleLinks.com/24HoursBook  ProseWrite - https://prosewrite.com Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks  Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts

On this episode of the Writers Advice Podcast we're talking all things Non-Fiction! I discuss the Goodreads Choice Awards Non-Fiction list and all of my extra Non-Fiction recommendations for the year. Do your favourite books make the list? ⁠⁠Keep updated on all new updates with Writers Advice here.

How can you build a scalable business around non-fiction books? How can you turn a book into multiple streams of income? How can you delegate in order to scale? Michael Bungay Stanier shares his thoughts. In the intro, Bookfunnel's Universal Book Links, and How to Write Non-Fiction Second Edition; ALCS survey results of writers on […] The post Building A Business Ecosystem Around Non-Fiction Books With Michael Bungay Stanier first appeared on The Creative Penn.

Welcome back to Espresso Epilogues, a podcast where two besties talk about books over coffee. Today we're bringing you guys some of our favorite nonfiction books, and honestly there's something here for everyone. Favorite philosophy books, memoirs, books about the world, and more -- this episode has range and we hope you find something you like. Thank you for listening! Connect with us on ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ for memes and other good things ;) For partnerships, ideas or feedback: espressoepilogues@gmail.com

Two new nonfiction books explore the impact of cultural forces in the world of music. First, a number of musicians, including B.B. King, Ed Sheeran, Jewel and Tracy Chapman, began their careers as street musicians. Cary Baker's new book Down on the Corner explores the history and influence of busking through interviews with performers of all kinds. In today's episode, he speaks with NPR's A Martinez about some lesser-known musical street legends, like oil drum player Bongo Joe and neo-Dixieland band Tuba Skinny. They also discuss the early historical origins of busking and the way technology has changed the practice. Then, a new book on De La Soul contextualizes the hip-hop group within the modern musical canon. In High and Rising, Marcus Moore discusses how the band created a space for Black alternative culture, appealing to fans of rap, but also of jazz and punk. In today's episode, Moore speaks with Martinez about how De La Soul's popularity has persisted, despite the group's difficult trajectory.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

*Patreon- and Substack-only bonus episode teaser*In this episode of The Stacks Unabridged, Traci wraps up Nonfiction November by pairing audience-submitted books, moods, snacks, TV shows, and songs with 15 nonfiction book recommendations. This episode is packed with fresh titles to add to your TBR and inspire your next great read.You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:https://www.thestackspodcast.com/unabridged/2024/11/29/tsu-40-nonfiction-book-generatorConnect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Substack | SubscribePurchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We continue our Best Books of 2024 coverage with a special episode dedicated to NONFICTION. First, Nell Irvin Painter joins us to discuss I Just Keep Talking: A Life in Essays (Doubleday, April 23), one of Kirkus' Best Nonfiction Books of 2024. Kirkus: “A vibrant, insightful collection from an indispensable voice” (starred review). Then nonfiction editor John McMurtrie discusses more of the year's best nonfiction.

Audiobooks are powerful, but too many of us rely on them alone to absorb knowledge. In this video, I share how audiobooks are just the first step in truly learning from a book, and how to build on that initial listen to get a full grasp of complex ideas. I'll also share my experience with a favorite book and how I used audiobooks to deepen my understanding.Send Me a Text Message with Your QuestionsSupport the showIMPORTANT LINKS:

Two nonfiction books question the efficacy of financial systems that are meant to help lift people out of poverty. In Unjust Debts, law professor Melissa Jacoby argues that bankruptcy in the United States exacerbates existing racial and economic inequalities. While filing for bankruptcy is supposed to offer individuals and families a fresh start, Jacoby suggests that the system often benefits corporations instead. In today's episode, she speaks with Here & Now's Deepa Fernandes about the favorable treatment afforded to corporations and possible strategies of reform. Then, journalist Mara Kardas-Nelson's We Are Not Able to Live in the Sky takes a critical look at microcredit through the stories of women borrowers in Sierra Leone. Microcredit was introduced in the 1970s as an anti-poverty measure and ultimately won its creator the Nobel Peace Prize. But in today's episode, Kardas-Nelson talks with NPR's Fernandes about the way these loans have kicked off vicious cycles of debt.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

IngramSpark announced they're temporarily waiving all surcharge fees for their Share & Sell program. Black Friday deals are rolling out for AppSumo, DepositPhotos, ProWritingAid, and more. And the third book in my Self-Publishing with Dale series got a book award. All that and more in the self-publishing news this week! Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Advanced Self-Publishing for Books - https://DaleLinks.com/AdvancedAuthors Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com  Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp  Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks  Sources: Earn Even More with IngramSpark - https://www.ingramspark.com/share-sell-promotion  ProWritingAid - https://DaleLinks.com/ProWritingAid DepositPhotos on AppSumo - https://DaleLinks.com/DepositPhotosDeal The Audiobook Narrator - https://books2read.com/The-Audiobook-Narrator Book Brush: Helping Hands, Happy Authors: How to Team Up with a Virtual Assistant - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpdeyvrjMqEtYjXyqz9aKPXG3bEmXWgG5o#/registration Get More Reviews, Fast: Booksprout's Proven Method for Authors - https://youtube.com/live/RmIumHTsS5I?feature=share Unlock the Secrets of Author Branding with Todd Fahnestock - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/todd-fahnestock/ 2024 Goody Business Book Awards - https://goodybusinessbookawards.com/new-2024-goody-business-book-awards/ Advertising for Books - https://DaleLinks.com/AdsBook How To Write a NonFiction Book in 24 hours Book Review| D.L. Tillery - https://youtu.be/S4kvSldcUh4?si=_VXxIlfew6OvURSl How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 24 Hours - https://DaleLinks.com/24HoursBook  Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts

Are you interested in exploring moral philosophy, understanding humans' impact on our planet, distinguishing real from fake claims, or learning the art of globemaking? If so, this is a piece for you. And if you aren't yet interested, you may be after hearing it! Laurie Dreyer, manager of the Lansingburgh branch of Troy Public Library, recommends four highly "approachable" nonfiction books this month: "How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question" by comedy writer (yep) Michael Shurr (2022); "The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet" by John Green (2020); "The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe: How to Know What's Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake" by Dr. Steven Novella (2018); and "The Globemakers" by Peter Bellerby (2023). For more details, visit www.thetroylibrary.org. Produced by Brea Barthel for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Amazon Advertising rolled out a new generative AI feature for your book ads. The Association of American Publishers recently revealed that publishing sales are up in August. And, PublishDrive shares the holiday publishing schedule for audiobooks. All that and more in the self-publishing news! - Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link)

Two new nonfiction books blend research and memoir to explore ideas of family, language and culture. Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez's Tías and Primas draws on her experience being raised in a large Nicaraguan family, one that she describes as messier than the typical nuclear model. Her relationships with her mother, cousins, and aunts shaped her view of the world and the female archetypes that exist within Latin American culture. In today's episode, Rodríguez speaks with NPR's A Martínez about how nuance is lost in Latina stereotypes, the cultural significance of ghost encounters, and practicing critique from a place of love. Then, Julie Sedivy is a linguistics and psychology professor who started speaking five languages before first grade. Growing up in diverse linguistic environments inspired her memoir Linguaphile, which explores the relationship between language, emotion and life. In today's episode, she speaks with NPR's Eric Westervelt about the way linguistic divisions reflect our social reality and the surprising strengths of the aging brain.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Segment 1 with Kenneth Davis starts at 0:00.What are the greatest non fiction books of all time? Kenneth C. Davis called "The World in Books: 52 Works of Great Short Non Fiction" –the best and most important short nonfiction works of all time, chosen by This historian. Kenneth's work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Smithsonian magazine, among other publications. He has appeared on national television and radio shows, including CBS This Morning, Today, and NPR.Segment 2 with Steven Schneider starts at 19:20.Where does AI and SEO intersect now for small business owners looking for prospects? Steven Schneidere is co-founder and CEO at TrioSEO, a blog writing agency that helps online businesses drive high-intent organic traffic through bottom-of-the-funnel content. Before TrioSEO, he co-owned a portfolio of 40 blogs, managed 400 articles monthly, and scaled to 7 figures in annual revenue with his two partners.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

Enter the epiphany moment and play around with the Law of Attraction. You will see that it works whenever you actually do it. Go full throttle—no quitting. Do the gratitude and visualization exercises daily—just five or ten minutes a day—and bam, you will see things shift. The Law of Attraction works, but only if you actually put in the work.You should also use the Time Lapse Method, where you list 15 things you're grateful for in the present tense, including past, present, and future blessings. It's like time travel, but for your mind, and it gets your subconscious to think that all those good things are already happening. The secret sauce? Don't do it just for the results—bask in the feeling, enjoy the process, and make it part of your daily routine, like brushing your teeth (but more fun). And if you really want to hit that $10 million goal, you have to get real—visualize all the things that could go wrong, too, so your brain is prepared for success and stress. Most of all, love the process and the results will follow.Andrew Kap is the author of “The Last Law of Attraction Book You'll Ever Need To Read” -- a perennial bestseller giving readers a unique understanding of the topic that no other “LOA” book has ever been able to do — by going the extra mile of addressing WHY people who get excited about trying it out still can't manage to get in the habit of using the methods for just five minutes a day.The book has sold over 150,000 copies, bolstered by thousands of five-stars on Amazon, and a growing YouTube channel devoted to it.Expert action steps: Have a schedule. Make it fun. Do it in a way that works for you.The Last Law of Attraction You'll Ever Need to ReadVisit eCircleAcademy.com and book a success call with Nicky to take your practice to the next level.

Kindle Vella announced they're closing things down in 2025, so where do authors go? Laterpress has your answer. Also, Authors Guild wants your signature on a petition that could have a major impact on how you're compensated for training AI. And, PublishDrive just acquired a new audiobook distribution partner in Odilo. All that and more in the self-publishing news this week! Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord  Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Sources: Sign the Statement on AI Training - https://authorsguild.org/news/sign-the-statement-on-ai-training/ PublishDrive x Odilo - https://publishdrive.com/publish-to-odilo.html Booksprout: Don't Just Survive 1-Star Book Reviews, Use Them - https://booksprout.co/fivestar/the-reviews/dont-just-survive-1-star-book-reviews-use-them-a-guide-for-authors/ Kindle Vella is Shutting Down. Looking for a New Serial Fiction Home? Consider Laterpress. - https://www.laterpress.com/blog/kindle-vella-sunset Miblart Black Friday Early Access - https://miblart.com/early-black-friday-deals/?ref=daleroberts5 (affiliate link). Use code DALE10 for 10% off your next order. Get Authentic Book Reviews - https://GetAuthenticBookReviews.com Facebook Ads for Authors: A Roadmap to Book Sales - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEufumgpjgtHNaV28DWqfNb9fu-8pp4HULW#/registration Authortunities Expo 2024 - https://authortunitieshub.com Networking for Authors by Dale L. Roberts — Book Review - https://sk-alexander.com/for-authorpreneurs/networking-authors-review.html Networking for Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/Networking How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 24 Hours - https://DaleLinks.com/ARCTeam Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts

Send us a textDo you want to be more efficient when it comes to your writing? Wish there was a way to understand what type of writing process would work well for you instead of trying and failing at a method that works well for others? Guess what? There is. It still takes work but makes a massive difference in my writing life.In this episode, I'm joined by Becca Syme, creator of the  Better-Faster Academy and Strengths for Writes classes and host of the Quit Cast For Writers. Becca and I discuss using the CliftonStrengths assessment tool to understand your unique writing talents and personality and how that will help you improve your writing process, avoid burnout, and focus on what you naturally excel at. Tune in to learn how embracing your strengths can enhance creativity and productivity and sustain your passion for writing despite setbacks! 01:18 Introduction to Special Guest: Becca Syme03:33 Becca Syme's Journey to Writing and Coaching07:15 Understanding CliftonStrengths for Writers15:21 Better Faster Academy: Enhancing Your Strengths21:07 Write Better Faster: The Path to Alignment25:01 The Importance of Individual Coaching25:31 Strengths for Writers vs. Write Better Faster26:25 Personal Experiences with Strengths for Writers27:43 Nonfiction Books for Writers30:24 Critical Reviews and Reader Reactions31:43 The Complexity of Writing Advice38:06 Understanding Your Strengths: Basements and Balconies43:41 Final Thoughts and Advice for Writers47:16 Where to Find More ResourcesGuest Bio and Links: Becca Syme (MATL) is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and has been coaching success alignment for more than a decade. She is the author of the Quitbooks for Writers series and the popular Write Better-Faster course. She also writes mystery novels in her spare time and lives on one of the thousand lakes in Minnesota.You can connect with Becca through her website or follow her on InstagramSupport the show To become a supporter of the show, click here!To get in touch with Stacy: Email: Stacy@writeitscared.co https://www.writeitscared.co/ https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/ Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared: Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing dropped two prominent features on their platform, one of which being Kindle Vella. Written Word Media published their findings in a recent indie author survey. The guys at Hidden Gems Books shared a recent post about how well AI-generated art faired against stock images for promoting books on Facebook. The findings are interesting to say the least. All that and more in the self-publishing news this week! - Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link)

Barnes and Noble Press rolled out a free new promotional tool for authors. The holiday season is coming right up and print on demand companies want you to order your books by specific deadlines. And, PublishDrive is offering 50% off their plans for a limited time. All that and more in the self-publishing news! Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Sources: PublishDrive - https://DaleLinks.com/PublishDrive (affiliate link). The 50% off sale is good through Nov. 4, 2024. Draft2Digital warns of holiday rush - https://authoremail.com/email/campaigns/ov131d3vf1d2b/web-version/eq3389j0wvdc4  Barnes & Noble Press warns of holiday rush - https://press.barnesandnoble.com/ Barnes & Noble Press Book Promotion Tool - https://press.barnesandnoble.com/projects/promote-book Apple Books: Holiday season delivery schedule - https://authors.apple.com An Author's Audiobook Journey: Going Wide with 30+ Titles - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAsfu-orjgvGdBCUqpitHLMr3jN_-EoVkb_#/registration Author's Survival Kit: Must-Have Tools for Marketing and Advertising Success - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtf-mrpz8qG9wIY_x1UOy8vKqDa4AEEuzw#/registration Creating a Compelling Author Website with Pauline Wiles: The Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-author-website/ Crafting Bestselling Books and Marketing Strategies with Dale L. Roberts // EP 137 - https://www.hustleinspireshustle.com/episode/crafting-bestselling-books-and-marketing-strategies-with-dale-l-roberts-ep-137 Readers View Podcast presents: "How to Write a Book in 48 Hours" by Dale L. Roberts - https://www.insidescooplive.com/e/how-to-write-a-book-in-48-hours-roberts/ Networking for Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/Networking How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 24 Hours - https://DaleLinks.com/ARCTeam Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts

On episode #250 of The Author Factor Podcast, I am having a conversation with nonfiction book author Teddy Smith. Teddy is a prolific writer with 19 books mainly in the meditation niche. He is the founder of Publishing Performance, an AI-driven Amazon advertising platform for Amazon book authors. Teddy's deep expertise in Amazon ads and book marketing makes him a valuable resource for authors looking to enhance their sales strategies on Amazon.Publishing Performance is a cost-effective, powerful, and "set it and forget it" way to leverage AI to manage your book ads. Publishing Performance:Is fully automated and proven profitabilityIs optimized for Amazon advertisingEnables you to add your book and get started in 3 minutes!Has no complex ad setupsIf you have ever tried to set up your own Amazon Ads, you know how complicated it is, which is why this interview with Teddy Smith is a must-listen!To learn more about Publishing Performance, visit: PublishingPerformance.com.For more details about our short, helpful book publishing program, visit BiteSizedBooks.com.

On episode #249 of The Author Factor Podcast, I am having a conversation with nonfiction book author Michael Lynch. Michael is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® with over two decades of experience helping clients achieve their financial dreams. He has written two bestselling books, including Keep It Simple, Make It Big, and It's All About the Income, and recently published his first short, helpful book, Taking Care of Your Future.During our conversation, Michael shares how becoming an author has been a pinnacle of success for him. Writing has not only strengthened his authority in the financial planning world but also allowed him to connect more deeply with his clients. His books are seen as a valuable resource that clients read, cherish, and share, adding immense credibility and value to his professional life.Taking Care of Your Future is Michael's latest effort to make financial planning accessible and impactful. This book is tailor-made for healthcare professionals aiming to craft a secure retirement plan. Listeners will find it interesting how Michael was able to turn a very niche-specific book into a more generalized book to be sold online to reach an even bigger audience.Learn more about Michael Lynch by visiting SimpleAndBig.com.For more details about our short, helpful book publishing program, visit BiteSizedBooks.com.

In this episode, Jodi explores the role of AI in the book publishing processand notes its utility for research, self-editing, marketing, and more – in other words, during the writing, publishing, and marketing phases – while cautioning against using it to actually write your book. The episode provides practical examples of how business owners can leverage AI tools to enhance their writing efficiency, improve their book structure, and streamline their marketing efforts. Jodi also notes the current copyright limitations regarding AI-generated content. Time Stamps: 00:00 Use AI for research, not book writing. 04:04 AI helps rephrase, remove jargon for clarity. 07:40 Check out Author Entrepreneurs Lab for support Keywords: book publishing, AI in publishing, entrepreneur authors, writing routine, book research, table of contents, book positioning study, self-editing, rephrasing text, removing jargon, sales copy, ad copy, social media planning, social media captions, interview questions, media kit, podcast tour, book blurb, author bio, book description, sales page copy, AI-generated content, copyright protection, writing efficiency, book market analysis, identifying keywords, author entrepreneurs Lab, mentorship membership, co-writing times, book world education Resources Mentioned: Ready Set Write Challenge: www.jodibrandoneditorial.com/readysetwrite LINK TO FULL EPISODE (RAW) TRANSCRIPT: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1y8_Z5fDOv7lxIIucC5-VkL9s21Mw-GxwW8RFTDo0JLM/edit?usp=sharing  

On episode #248 of The Author Factor Podcast I am having a conversation with nonfiction book author, Dean Graves. Dean is a distinguished meditation teacher and mental health counselor with over 20 years of experience. As a multi-book author, he brings extensive knowledge and a holistic approach to healing and growth. Recently, Dean published his fourth book, "Enigma: A Spiritual Exploration of Humanity's Relationship to Creation."Dean's book serves as a nucleus for a new age of enlightenment. Listeners will find the book intriguing as it dives into the nature of creation and our relationship to it, offering a pathway towards self-healing and heightened consciousness evolution.Learn more about Dean Graves by visiting www.DDeanGraves.org.For more details about our short, helpful book publishing program, visit BiteSizedBooks.com.

On episode #247 of The Author Factor Podcast, I am having a conversation with nonfiction book author Chris Cochran. Chris's professional journey spans over three decades, encompassing roles in sales, marketing, operations, and P&L management. He is also the founder of the Christian Cochran Legacy Fund and has just published his first book, "What's Good About Today? A Purpose Driven Life," which is inspired by his son Christian's enduring spirit.Chris's book shares the lessons his son taught him about embracing joy and living life to its fullest. This is a tough episode to listen to, however everyone will be inspired by Chris's story and how a positive outlook can be maintained even in the face of a terminal illness, providing a roadmap to leading a purpose-driven life.Learn more about Chris Cochran by visiting ChrisCochranSpeaks.com.For more details about our short, helpful book publishing program, visit BiteSizedBooks.com.

The fall of the Soviet wall and the opening of the iron curtain presented ample space for hope, optimism and opportunity for westerners eager to share culture, creativity, business and democracy concepts with the citizens of the former Soviet Union. David Junk leapt at the chance to work for Polygram/Universal Records in a country hungry for music and freedom. David's 15 years in Russia were a unique window of time between Gorbachov's Glasnost and Putin's re-consolidation of power. David stepped into a landscape that he called “the wild, wild, east,” teaming with gangsters and corruption and also talented, enterprising Russians, eager to explore new possibilities. David's journey is documented in his book, Rockin' The Kremlin which gives readers an inside look at boots-on-the-ground life and work in Russia from the perspective of a Russian speaking, idealistic American. David and his co-writer Fred Bronson join us for a fascinating dive into David's adventures… Contract negations with Polygram which included kidnapping insurance, Russian kids' obsession with hip hop, discovering and exporting Russian talent including two young girls called t.A.T.u. who kissed on The Tonight Show, wearing “F*** War” tee-shirts which they got past everyone because the words were written in Russian. David says that those tee-shirts are now being worn by kids in Ukraine. This window in time introduced a generation to a complex intersection of culture and politics which was ultimately snuffed by Putin's coalition with the Russian Orthodox Church and a renewed, vehement opposition to LGBTQ rights and individual expression. Ultimately, it was David's deep disappointment in colleagues' support for the invasion of Ukraine and concerns for his family's safety which brought him back to the states. But still, so much was learned and exchanged.All this, plus Fritz and Weezy are recommending The English Teacher on FX (streaming on Hulu) and the making of The Sopranos doc, Wiseguy on HBO Max.Path Points of Interest:Rocking The Kremlin: My Incredible, True Story Of Gangsters, Oligarchs, And Pop Stars In Putin's Russia by David Junk with Fred BronsonDavid Junk on FacebookDavid Junk on InstagramFred Bronson on TwitterArt During Wartime PodcastGift of Democracy The English Teacher FX and Huluhttps://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/english-teacherWiseguy - HBOhttps://www.hbo.com/movies/wise-guy-david-chase-and-the-sopranos

Ready to turn your big idea into a bestselling book? Whether you're a first-time writer or a seasoned entrepreneur, writing a book is the key to unlocking new opportunities, from speaking gigs to more clients. In this episode, Jake Kelfer, a 4x bestselling author, shares his exact roadmap to write, publish, and launch a nonfiction book that will grow your business and legacy. Tune in to learn the 10 essential steps to get your book out into the world and use it to generate more leads, sales, and impact!Connect with JakeGet a FREE copy of Jake's bestselling book, Big Idea To Bestseller, when you cover shipping and handling - www.bigideatobestseller.com/free-bookFollow Jake: @jakekelferSubscribe to Jake's YouTube Channel - @jake_kelfer 

We make history this week in more ways than one! We talk about some things we die for... OH MY GOD. As well as crime rates in Roku City. Benny is riding for Lorde's masterpiece, Melodrama, while Mary Beth is riding for non-fiction literature. You can't imagine how this episode ends. And a quick reminder that time is a flat circle!Sponsors:Head to https://www.squarespace.com/RIDE to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code RIDE.Go to Nutrafol.com and use code RIDE for $10 off your first month's subscription and free shipping.DrinkAG1.com/ridepod for a free 1 year supply of vitamin D and 5 free travel packsGet a 60-day free trial at https://www.shipstation.com/RIDEPOD. Thanks to ShipStation for sponsoring the show!Go to amazon.com/ridethepod to sign up and get started with the Amazon Influencer Program.Expressvpn.com/ridepod to get an extra three months of ExpressVPN for freeProduced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're back and starting off Season 6 with grab bag of topics with all our hosts. Kristin, Molly, Kate and Andrea discuss the pros and cons of the (potentially overfull) Fall cookbook season and how to emotionally prepare but keep expectations realistic on pub day while prioritizing celebration. We share our insights and experiences on contracts, printed errors, correction pages and wade into some existential territory as we discuss optional ingredients in recipe writing before diving back into one of our favorite topics, platform. Finally, we talk about the the current cookbook trends we're loving, upcoming releases we're looking forward to and court some potential controversy with our thoughts on pumpkin spice.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea NguyenEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsMonique of Hardcover CooksThe Bojon Gourmet Pumpkin Spice MixCookbook Chronicles: The Science and Art and of Recipe Development, by Martin SorgeIf Desired, by Joy ManningThe Truth About Platform, by Kathleen SchmidtKristin Donnelly's Newsletter 52: Matt Sartwell of Kitchen Arts and Letters100: Advice from Our Listeners and Season 5 Wrap-Up42: How to Write Recipe Titles93: The Secret of Cooking with Bee Wilson69: Writing a Menu Cookbook with Amy Thielen Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showHungry Authors: The Indispensable Guide to Planning, Writing, and Publishing a Nonfiction Book by Liz Morrow and Ariel CurryBanjan: 60 Korean American Recipes for Delicious, Shareable Sides by Caroline ChoeThe Chinese Way by Betty Liu

Max Boot, the Jeane J. Kirkpatrick senior fellow for national security studies at CFR and a columnist for The Washington Post, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Ronald Reagan's life and his impact on U.S. foreign policy.    Enter the CFR book giveaway by September 24, 2024, for the chance to win one of ten free copies of Reagan: His Life and Legend by Max Boot. You can read the terms and conditions of the offer here.    Mentioned on the Episode   Max Boot, “Reagan Didn't Win the Cold War,” Foreign Affairs    Max Boot, Reagan: His Life and Legend   Max Boot, The Road Not Taken: Edward Lansdale and the American Tragedy in Vietnam   Shreya Chattopadhyay and Miguel Salazar, "22 Nonfiction Books to Read This Fall," New York Times   Edmund Morris, Dutch: A Memoir of Ronald Reagan   Ronald Reagan, "Address to the Nation About Christmas and the Situation in Poland"   Ronald Reagan, "Address to the Nation on the Explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger"   Ronald Reagan, “Remarks at a Ceremony Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Normandy Invasion, D-Day"   “Ronald Reagan, Mastermind,” Saturday Night Live   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President's Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/ronald-reagan-us-global-leadership-max-boot