Writing can be an extremely solitary activity. Yet, I believe that the most successful authors work in community with others in order to achieve their results. Clients. Author first get ideas for their first or next book from clients who have problems or challenges that can’t be solved conventionally. As clients ask questions, authors gain insights into what still needs …

I have a love-hate relationship with writing. I’m sure that might seem odd coming from someone who has written ten books and works as a book coach. But it’s true. I hate to write. Yet, I love what writing does for me and my readers. I hate the agonizing time searching for the right model, the correct analogy or metaphor, …

You know that writing your book could open doors for speaking assignments, would give you added visibility and credibility, and would allow you to become the authority—the author who quite literally wrote the book on your area of expertise. But life gets in the way. I’ve seen this time and time again. Maybe it looks like this: Since the pandemic …

Now that conventions and conferences are scheduling in-person meetings, you may have some unique opportunities to position yourself as a speaker and author! Have you considered all the opportunities you might find in working the exhibit halls to find publications that would value your posts and articles? When I first began my career as a Human Resources consultant and speaker, …

As a book coach working with nonfiction authors, I find that many of my clients know their subject so well that they forget to “set the stage” for their readers, leaving their readers feeling lost or disconnected from the content. What do your readers need to know so that they will feel welcomed, included, engaged, and valued as they read …

Over a year ago I met branding expert and photographer Melissa Demple, and was totally excited about what a difference her approach could mean for authors. So many of my authors (myself included) have the typical headshot for their book cover, and while often quite lovely, don’t really say anything about their brand or their message. After talking with Melissa, …

When my friend Jeff recommends a book, I usually run right out and buy it. So when he mentioned Gift-ology, I placed my Amazon order. Gift-ology, by John Ruhlin is about the art and science of using gifts to cut through the noise, increase referrals, and strengthen retention. It made me think about what we as authors need to do …

You’ve got lots of ideas to include in your book. So how do you not lose good ideas while sorting through all the juicy tidbits you’d like to share? In one of my group coaching calls, this was the question asked by a client. And, while each author on the call shared our own ideas, one of the best was …

This isn’t a rhetorical question, but rather, one posed to me by Karen P. Fredette, the author of several works of fiction covering the topic of solitude and life as a hermit. I suggested that she consider current events, and connect her book’s topic to what is happening in the world today. I recommended that blog posts and social media …

This post is taken from Lois Creamer’s and Cathy’s book, The Speaker Author. What’s a one-sheet? It’s generally an 8 ½ x 11 page that details who the Speaker Author is, what topics they speak about, testimonials from consulting and coaching clients, readers, and audiences, and contact information. You may be thinking, “Aren’t they passé?” Our reply is, “You only …