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This special episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast features the beautiful voices of five of my clients in Thriving Authors Academy! This episode is a deep-dive into the importance of having a writing community. The right community – safe, supportive and nurturing – is often the secret sauce that we're missing and it makes all the difference in achieving our writing dreams. I’ve witnessed such huge shifts in a short amount of time when we stop trying to do it all alone. It's that beautiful mix of feeling inspired, but also feeling like we can just show up as ourselves on those days when nothing is going right. Listen in to hear what I’ve gained and witnessed as the benefits of community over the years. You’ll hear not only from me, but from my clients who sweetly recorded what they’ve gained from being part of the community of Thriving Authors Academy, and the shifts that they saw in just six weeks. There are many incredible books coming out in 2026 by women who have been part of Thriving Authors Academy. It's so amazing and inspiring to hear from women who have been carrying these books inside of their hearts for years, sometimes even decades, and now are going to be able to hold their books in their hands. So I invite you, if you are craving that community –  – if you're listening to this and thinking,Yes! This is a gift that I want to give myself!  >> Head on over to Thriving Authors Academy.com and join our next round that starts October 5th! ⚡ Register by September 27th & get a BONUS Book Breakthrough 1:1 60-minute Intensive Session with me ($399 value). ⏰  I am joyfully offering several partial scholarships for Thriving Authors Academy the simple online application should only take 10 minutes or so. Application must be submitted by 11:59pm PT Sunday, September 27th.

Summit replay: featuring Jodi Brandon, who is talking at this year's Write Your Book Summit on "Hybrid Publishing as a Legitimate Publishing Path" In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I'm sharing a replay from last year’s summit where I hosted an engaging and meaningful discussion around Editing & Publishing: Choosing the Best Path for Your Book. I was joined by Cathy Allard, a self-published author, Vanessa Boeser, a book editor, and Jodi Brandon, a book publishing strategist. I've recorded a fresh introduction for this episode, and with Jodi returning to this year's summit, it felt like the perfect time to bring it back! I hope this conversation gets you excited for this year’s summit! Grab your free ticket to the 2026 Write Your Book Summit and hear from an amazing lineup of speakers with wide-ranging sessions that will help you cultivate your creative resilience, align your identity as a writer, create unstoppable momentum, understand the publishing process and more! Sign up at https://bit.ly/writeyourbooksummit About Jodi: Jodi is a book publishing strategist and coach for business owners and leaders, and the founder of Jodi Brandon Editorial. Jodi has used her 20+ years experience in book publishing to help 850+ business owners, leaders, and entrepreneurs write, publish, and market a book to grow their business. She is the author of Write.Publish.Market., 3rd edition, and the host of the Write Publish Market podcast.

Replay: interview with Mimi Herman, who will be speaking at this year's Write Your Book Summit on "Getting Your Mojo Back" In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, it was such a joy to talk with Mimi Herman about her debut novel, The Kudzu Queen. It was a book I just could not put down and found myself thinking of the characters in between reading sessions. She shared so much wisdom and practical advice including: How she came to write this historical fiction novel. The way that poetry has influenced her prose and the different reasons she has for writing poetry and fiction. How she first fell in love with writing and knew she wanted to be a writer. How to find your way back to writing after you’ve gotten away from it. I think you’ll really enjoy hearing about her writing process and what she does with any writing she takes out of a book or poem. She also shared some great insights about how to make a scene or a character or a setting really come to life. I hope this conversation gets you excited to hear more from Mimi and a taste of what’s ahead at this year’s Write Your Book Summit, starting September 14. Stay tuned for registration details! About Mimi: Mimi Herman is the author of The Kudzu Queen, A Field Guide to Human Emotions and Logophilia. Her novel, The Kudzu Queen, was selected by the North Carolina Center for the Book for the 2023 Library of Congress “Great Reads from Great Places” and was long listed for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and short listed for the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award. Mimi codirects Writeaways writing workshop-retreats in France, Italy, Ireland, New Mexico and North Carolina with her partner, John Yewell, and lives in Durham, North Carolina. She can be found at www.mimiherman.com

Summit replay: featuring Amber Curtis, who will be talking at this year's Write Your Book Summit on "Why the SMARTEST Women Never Finish Their Book" In today's episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I'm sharing a replay of my interview with life coach Amber Curtis, PhD from her 2024 Summit talk, Top Productivity Tips for Getting Your Book Done. I've recorded a fresh introduction for this episode, but the conversation itself is pure gold – and with Amber returning to this year's summit, it felt like the perfect time to bring it back. If you want to avoid procrastination and anticipate the obstacles that might get in the way of you actually getting your book written and into the world this episode is for you!  Amber has all the productivity tips for you, including 2 contrasting approaches: the domino versus snowball strategy, so you can choose what works for you! About Amber @solutionsforsimplicity: Dr. Amber Curtis (CEO, Solutions for Simplicity) helps overwhelmed women overcome the hidden sources of stress stealing your time and joy. A certified neurosomatic life coach, behavioral science professor, motivational speaker, and mom of four, Amber knows all too well how challenging it is to juggle life’s many demands and opportunities. After getting suicidal from the stress of keeping up with her high-pressure job while raising young kids, she’s on a mission to make sure no other mom ever burns out like she did. Amber’s coaching, programs, and More Time for Mom podcast provide neuroscience-backed strategies to make sure stress doesn't sabotage you—or your relationships.  I hope this conversation gives you a taste of what’s ahead for this year’s Write Your Book Summit, starting September 14. Stay tuned for registration details!

In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m diving into all the moving pieces involved in self-publishing and giving you a checklist of what needs to get done before your book hits the shelves.  By following this timeline, you’ll give yourself enough time so that it's not a stressful process, but instead, it’s a really fun and fulfilling and exciting process! I share: What you need to have done first, before moving your book into the production timeline. When to choose your cover designer and your interior book designer and what’s involved in that process. Why to consider having a book launch team and how you can involve them. The importance of pre-orders and early reviews – along with ideas for pre-order bonuses. Considerations for how you’re going to showcase your book. After listening, if you decide you don't want to worry about getting all the moving pieces coordinated and getting your book up on Amazon, you’re in luck. I have a Book Publishing Package where I can handle that all for you. Just reach out! >> Here’s the PDF you can download to stay organized and on top of things as you release your book out into the world.  Other episodes mentioned: Episode 89: My Top Tips for Connecting With a Publisher Episode 66: 10 Tips to Crush Your Book Launch  Episode 133: Tips for Writing Your Book Description Episode 64: Why are pre-orders so important?

In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m talking about ways to create a writing routine that actually fits into your life – even if this is a busy season for you and things are hectic. If writing is something that you keep telling yourself you're going to carve out time to do, but it just seems to always slip away with other more urgent tasks that take up your time, then this episode is for you! I share: The benefits to blocking even 10 -15 minute increments of writing in your calendar. What aspects of your life to consider when creating a writing routine. The first step to take to create your new writing habit. Ideas and examples that clients – and myself – have found success with to make writing time something to look forward to rather than it feeling like just another task. I’m excited for you to experience the joy and ease that a writing routine can bring and the incredible progress that you can make to really move forward on your book! >> If you’re ready to commit to writing your book, join me in the next round of Thriving Authors Academy that starts October 5th! Find more details at ThrivingAuthorsAcademy.com.

In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m giving you my best tips for a successful, fun, and fabulous book event! Coming off a book launch event for my children's book Kid Scientists at the Beach, I had a lot to share! You’ll hear ideas around mindset and practical strategies, including: How to make it as easy as possible for bookstores to partner with you. The difference between a book signing and a book event. My favorite format for book events and how to prepare. Logistics that are important to work out with the bookstore before the event. Ideas to spread the word about the event to make it as successful as possible. A list of what to bring the day of your event. I hope these tips inspire you to get out there so readers can celebrate you and your beautiful book – in a way that allows you to soak in this special memory and truly enjoy your book event. Here’s the link I mentioned I’d share: Episode 137: Tips for Your Author Photo Shoot. And also, make sure to grab the pdf with all the tips here: Tips for a fantastic book event.pdf

In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m diving into how to create a marketing plan for your book. Marketing, promoting and launching feel so much less overwhelming when you have a plan in place! I share a few journal prompts that are really helpful to brainstorm and also explain: How to avoid getting completely burned out and not wanting to do any marketing. The best sort of publicity that you can get that will lead to book sales. A menu of ideas that you can get excited about when creating your plan. A mindset shift so you don’t feel icky or salesy when sharing about your book. Examples of special little extra goodies you can send to everybody who preorders your book. What materials are really helpful to have ready when you’re pitching different media marketing opportunities. And more! And if you are an entrepreneur who wants to write and publish the book inside your heart, I’d love for you to join me in my free Facebook group Women Entrepreneurs Becoming Best Selling Authors. We discuss the podcast episodes, I host free challenges and you may even meet your new writing partner to swap pages with!

In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I reflect on how welcoming a second baby relates to birthing a second book. Becoming a mom of two reminded me so much of the mindset that I talk through with my clients related to writing another book. I delve into: The parallels between a second baby and a second book. Why you can expect to have mindset challenges when writing a second, third, fourth book. What to do when external pressures and critical voices in your head get louder when writing your next book. My Steph Curry analogy to growing as a writer. How we can lean into the creative process throughout the unknowns and even if we are afraid. The truth of why it's never too late to invest in yourself and your writing. I hope that some of these insights are useful for you, whether you are working on your first book, or your second, or your third or down the line! And I’d love to share an exercise that all of my clients do when we begin working together. It's called Getting to Your Why. Send me an email at [email protected] and I’ll send you the three-page downloadable PDF with some questions that you can journal about to really help you try to get to the why of your book.

In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m talking about how to move forward when you feel overwhelmed with writing your book – especially when the pain of the world and feelings of helplessness make it challenging to tap into our creative energy. If you ever think, I know what I should be doing, but I'm having such a hard time actually taking the actions to move forward, this episode is for you! You’ll hear What to focus on when you're trying to clear the way to write or feel like what you’re doing isn’t enough. The importance of being intentional and creating boundaries. Practical ways to lean into big projects that will help reduce overwhelm so you’re not running yourself in circles. A personal example of the strategy I use to make progress instead of procrastinating. The value of small steps, including my writing streak and how committing to 100 words a day has been such a game changer (and has steamrolled me over to 90,000 words in this draft in under a year) Episode 179: Tips for a Writing Streak I want this to be an invitation to give yourself a little bit of grace and recognize that you're not alone if you’re struggling in your writing life. >> And I’d love for you to join me in my Facebook group called Women Entrepreneurs Becoming Best Selling Authors. This free community is the perfect place to share what came up for you with this exercise and any goals you have so we can cheer you on – and also to provide a little extra accountability for you, too!

In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m excited to share my conversation with author Sonya Judd about her debut fiction novel One Digit Away, which was inspired by the belief that one simple act, one call, one voice, one moment of hope can change everything. We talk about the creative process, what happens when we are brave enough to put our books out in the world, and the impact that can come from being vulnerable in doing so. I know you will adore Sonja's warmth and vulnerability. Sonya shares: How personal experience drives her writing, because your lived story is what readers connect with, and no AI or textbook can replicate. What it was like to co-author a novel with her neurodivergent daughter Samantha and the benefits of collaboration and outside perspectives throughout the writing process.  The surprising ways her books have impacted readers far beyond her intended audience.  How her first book, Rest in the Nest: Powerful Principles of, of Parenting, started her author journey. After listening you’ll appreciate how your lived story is your unique credential, and sharing it creates real impact for readers. About Sonya: Sonya Judd is a business strategist, executive life coach, author, and speaker whose work centers on transformation, purpose, and emotional resilience. She is the author of Rest in the Nest: Powerful Principles of Parenting and the co-author (alongside her daughter Samantha) of One Digit Away. Through her work with youth, professionals, and community leaders, Sonya has become known for her ability to translate pain into purpose and strategy into soul work. Her writing weaves together wisdom, empathy, and spiritual truth, creating space for readers to see themselves with compassion and courage. https://onedigitawaybook.com

In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I'm giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the timeline of drafting, editing and submitting (and editing and submitting again) that led to finally getting a publication deal for my novel BEFORE & AFTER YOU & ME. It was quite a long journey filled with ups and downs to get there! And I think it’s really important to hear the real stories behind others' success. In fact, many times books aren’t published in the order in which the writer wrote them (which has certainly been true for me!) In this episode you’ll hear: What inspired the idea for this story over 12 years ago. How I played around with the structure, setting and POV. Ways I took feedback to make my book better while staying true to myself and my vision for the book. What I feared would happen if I made any big changes to the book. The discouragement after making it to an acquisitions meeting at a big publisher but not getting an offer… and how I was able to learn from that experience and later get a publication deal with my wonderful publisher Owl Hollow Press. The process of working with amazing editors to get the book to the next level, which helped me grow so much as a writer. So even if it’s a long journey to get YOUR book out into the world, who knows what's around the next corner. Just keep moving forward, find that next stepping stone and don't give up on yourself. You never know what opportunities and excitement are waiting for you! BEFORE & AFTER YOU & ME recently turned two!!! I am still so thrilled and honored that it won the 2024 Indies Today Book Award for Best Teen Contemporary, and am eternally grateful to the team at Owl Hollow Press for bringing the best version of my book to life, and to everyone who has supported and spread the word about this story I poured my heart into for twelve years. P.S. If you decide you want to take the reins (and timeline) into your own hands and self-publish your book — but you don't want to worry about getting all the moving pieces coordinated and getting your book up on Amazon and Ingram Spark — you’re in luck. I have a Book Publishing Package where I can handle that all for you, in addition to editing and cover/interior design. Just reach out!

In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m excited to share what has helped me write my back cover and my longer book descriptions. I even give an example of the description from my book “Your Book Matters: 52 love notes from my creative heart to yours.” On the surface, writing your book description seems pretty simple…but it is super common to struggle with this task because you need to condense so much into a short space! To write a compelling book description, you need to 1) give the reader a sense of what your book is about; 2) introduce the reader to your own authentic voice and style; 3) sell your book; 4) grab the reader’s attention and leave them wanting more! I dive into: The distinction between your book description and your back cover description. Some exercises that are really helpful with taking away the pressure and stress of writing the description of your book. Why I recommend writing your book description before you reach the end of your manuscript. How to grab the reader’s attention in your book description. A little trick I use to hone in on how to write to the ideal reader of your book. Check out the back cover description from my latest novel BEFORE & AFTER YOU & ME. Emma blames herself when a freak accident at a pool party leaves Hunter, the town’s rising track star and her former boyfriend, paralyzed from the waist down. As she struggles with anxiety, loneliness and regret, she begins to obsessively paint portraits of legs and feet—Hunter’s legs and feet—and for the first time receives critical acclaim and notice for her artwork. But what started as therapeutic for Emma ends up deepening her guilt. Does creating meaningful art require retreating inward toward self-expression, or striving outward toward recognition—or can it somehow be both? Searching for one whole, authentic identity, Emma grapples with love, ambition, grief, homecoming, and—ultimately—redemption.

In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m talking about what I call Overflowing Ideas Syndrome. It’s when you have so many ideas that it's really hard to commit to one idea and easy to get distracted. This will be a great episode for you if you have a bunch of half-finished manuscripts, but you don't have a completed book! I delve into: Why nothing is wrong with you and how you can reframe this into a strength. Tools that will help you focus your energy on one idea at a time. The importance of tuning in to the book YOU most want to write. What happens when you pay attention to what gives you energy and excites you. Journaling prompts that you can use whenever you need to find clarity about what direction to go in. After listening, I think you’ll understand why it's really common to get distracted by shiny new ideas and to abandon projects halfway – and how joining a container of support with a writing community and working with a coach can help you stay accountable to finishing your book.And if you are an entrepreneur who wants to write and publish the book inside your heart, I’d love for you to join me in my Facebook group called Women Entrepreneurs Becoming Best Selling Authors. This free community is the perfect place to share what came up for you with this episode and any goals you have so we can cheer you on – and also to provide a little extra accountability for you, too!

In this solo episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I’m excited to talk about deciding when to share your book with others and what the overall editing process looks like. Listen in to find out details like: The different stages of editing and which order to do them in. An analogy that my creative writing professor at USC shared that has stuck with me. The importance of hiring a qualified professional editor, and how to find the ideal editor for YOU. How to ensure you get the feedback that you really need to hear from others. And what to do when you get feedback that doesn’t resonate with you. When I recorded this episode I was in the trenches working on the edits to my books so I think that you’ll get a lot of value out of the insights I’m sharing. If you could use support around the drafting or editing process or anywhere along your book writing journey, I would love to connect. I offer 60-minute 1-on-1 calls where you can pick my brain with questions about your book (or multiple books!), and get my personalized expert guidance to help you move forward in your writing career. Let me help you get un-stuck so that you can write and publish your dream book that grows your audience, grows your business, and grows your legacy.