Have you ever noticed how some brands seem to draw in customers and create a buzz without relying solely on likes, shares, or follows? Recent studies have shown that an emphasis on community-building is the secret sauce for success! 

To help us better understand this concept, Shayla - who's been part of the writing world for 10+ years with her own successful social media presence – joined me in discussing key principles as well as platform specific tips. As if that wasn't enough we even delved into mindset and limiting beliefs along our author journey.

A self-publishing mentor, best-selling author, and public speaker, Shayla Raquel works one-on-one with writers every day. A lifelong lover of books, she has been in the publishing industry for twelve years and teaches on author branding, indie publishing, book marketing, and the craft of writing.

Her award-winning blog teaches new and established authors how to write, publish, and market their books.

She is the author of the Pre-Publishing Checklist, “The Rotting” (in Shivers in the Night), The Suicide Tree, The 10 Commandments of Author Branding, All the Things I Should’ve Told You, and “Savage Indulgence.” In her not-so-free time, she studies all things true crime and obsesses over squirrels. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband and three fur babies.

Connect with Shayla on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter, or at ShaylaRaquel.com.

Note: Authorpreneurs Unleashed is listener-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support, and for sharing this podcast with your writing friends.

• Columbine by Dave Cullen
• Scrub Daddy
• Savage Indulgence by Shayla Raquel
• A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
• Dracula by Bram Stoker
• The Circle by Dave Eggers

All the links for Authorpreneurs Unleashed and Unleashing the Next Chapter:

• Learn more about Unleashing the Next Chapter, Authorpreneurs Unleashed, and Kathryn at UnleashingTheNextChapter.com.
• Find all our social media links HERE.
• Subscribe to the Unleashing email newsletter HERE
• Subscribe to the Authorpreneurs Unleashed podcast HERE or through your favorite podcast player.

‘Tis the Season of hustle, bustle and laughter. It’s also the end of our 2022 season here on Authorpreneurs Unleashed. To wrap up the season so we can start wrapping up gifts, here’s something special for you, our listeners -- 3 stories from interviews that didn’t quite make the episode cut, but are insightful, humorous and just helpful. 

In this 10-minute sampler, we share a few new clips that were of value, but not necessarily on topic with their original episode.

• From Episode 8, "Connection through Storytelling," Kathryn shares an immersive reading experience.
• From Episode 9 with Sarah Gamez, @RomanceTheStory, "Networking within Genre," Sarah shares how she made a valuable connection at a rather unexpected place.
• From episode 21, "Prepping for the New Year," we chat about the emerging world of decentralized social media and the #Fediverse.

In 2023, we will be sharing more about the podcast, guests, and community on our new @AuthorpreneursUnleashed Facebook and Instagram feeds, and @author_unleash on Twitter. In the meantime, we are busy scheduling guests, planning a new year, and redoing the look of Authorpreneurs Unleashed.

Remember, Authorpreneurs Unleashed is going on hiatus from December 15, 2022 - January 15, 2023. We will be back with the New Year, new episodes, new guests, and as always, demystifying the business of writing.

Here’s wishing you all Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas.
~~ JoLynn & Kathryn

All the links for Authorpreneurs Unleashed and Unleashing the Next Chapter:

• Learn more about Unleashing the Next Chapter, Authorpreneurs Unleashed, and Kathryn at UnleashingTheNextChapter.com.
• Find all our social media links HERE.
• Subscribe to the Unleashing email newsletter HERE
• Subscribe to the Authorpreneurs Unleashed podcast HERE or through your favorite podcast player.

We talk about Kathryn’s framework for approaching your 2023 year to maximize your time to make your goals as both a writer and a business, and walk through how to apply it. 

Kathryn McClatchy is a digital media marketing strategist, content marketer, and social media manager, focused on serving the writing community. She is also a six-time stroke survivor and service dog partner. After stroke rehab, Kathryn became involved in the North Texas writers community, and is passionate about helping writers and writing organizations learn how to use digital media to build their brands and serve their communities.

 Kathryn is happily addicted to books, tea, chocolate, and houseplants, not consistently in that order.

JoLynn Elkins is the producer behind Authorpreneurs Unleashed and has a background in Radio.

Highlights:

• Reevaluate the foundation of your business and goals
• Aligning brand, platform, and actions with mission, purpose, & goals
• S.M.A.R.T. goal setting
• S.W.O.T. Analysis to plan strategy
• scheduling projects and action plans 
• Updates for the podcast and UtNC

• Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller
• Hero on a Mission by Donald Miller 
• The Power of When by Michael Breus, PhD
• 12-Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington
• The 12 Week Year for Writers: A Comprehensive Guide to Getting Your Writing Done by A. Trevor Thrall, Brian P. Moran, and Michael Lennington.
• Clockwork, Revised and Expanded: Design Your Business to Run Itselfby Mike Michalowicz 

All the links for Authorpreneurs Unleashed and Unleashing the Next Chapter:

• Learn more about Unleashing the Next Chapter, Authorpreneurs Unleashed, and Kathryn at UnleashingTheNextChapter.com.
• Find all our social media links HERE.
• Subscribe to the Unleashing email newsletter HERE
• Subscribe to the Authorpreneurs Unleashed podcast HERE or through your favorite podcast player.

With the internet landscape in flux and social media applications poised for change, keeping up with security tactics is more relevant than ever. But with so many moving parts, new applications and sudden privacy policy rewrites, how can one be sure they are staying up-to-date with their personal and business security online?

Kathryn poses this question to professional White-Hat Hacker Dan Greenig as he delves into his 7 Principles of Cybersecurity plus guidelines for evaluating applications and platforms. He offers advice uniquely tailored to the needs of Authorpreneurs who use a broad array of applications in their writing careers.

Dan Greenig is  a Cybersecurity professional, specializing in corporate cybersecurity and mitigating hacking risks by finding the vulnerabilities first- as a White-Hat Hacker. He calls on his experience as both writer and husband of a writer to give insights on the needs of the Authorpreneur. 

You can find Dan online at his personal website here.

 See the tab above “Chapter Markers” for a list of Timestamps. 

Highlights include:

• Hacking as a career- what is a White-Hat?
• Why do hackers come from and why do they do it?
• Everyone is Hacking Everyone- How individuals get around State snooping
• Dan’s 7 Principles of Cybersecurity
• 3 Security Guidelines
• DefCon and the Internet of Things
• Back ups and Encryption
• Messaging Apps and Encryption
• How to apply the Principles
• Social Engineering- Phishing on Social Media, emails and phone calls
• Children and Security
• Resources for Writers
• Fast Fave Three
• Different isn’t always Better, but Better is Always Different

Note: Authorpreneurs Unleashed is listener-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support, and for sharing this podcast with your writing friends.

• DefCon Hacking Conference
• The Art of Intrusion: The Real Stories Behind the Exploits of Hackers, Intruders and Deceivers by Kevin D. Mitnick
• Social Engineering by Christopher Hadnagy

All the links for Authorpreneurs Unleashed and Unleashing the Next Chapter:

• Learn more about Unleashing the Next Chapter, Authorpreneurs Unleashed, and Kathryn at UnleashingTheNextChapter.com.
• Find all our social media links HERE.
• Subscribe to the Unleashing email newsletter HERE
• Subscribe to the Authorpreneurs Unleashed podcast HERE or through your favorite podcast player.

Gratitude is so much more than just saying “Thank You.” It’s about the attitude, mindset, and practice of not only looking for the things we are thankful for, but taking the time to slow down, acknowledge what is good, and to find the good in what might appear to be not so good. A multitude of studies show that gratitude is essential for both physical and mental health.

In this short holiday episode, Kathryn is going to share some of what she has learned in her five decades, and how we as writers can specifically apply that knowledge to improve our productivity and creativity. Although we are thinking of Thanksgiving here in the US this week, an attitude of Gratitude is imperative to our daily lives all year long, wherever you live.

Kathryn McClatchy is a digital media marketing strategist, content marketer, and social media manager, focused on serving the writing community. She is also a six-time stroke survivor and service dog partner. After stroke rehab, Kathryn became involved in the North Texas writers community, and is passionate about helping writers and writing organizations learn how to use digital media to build their brands and serve their communities.

Kathryn is happily addicted to books, tea, chocolate, and houseplants, not consistently in that order.

See the tab above “Chapter Markers” for a list of Timestamps. 

Highlights include:

• Improved well-being
• Increase productivity
• Connect with others
• Examples and suggestions
• How to cultivate an attitude of gratitude
• What Kathryn is grateful for
• Fast Fave Three

Note: Authorpreneurs Unleashed is listener-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support, and for sharing this podcast with your writing friends.

• “Giving thanks can make you happier” by Harvard Medical School

All the links for Authorpreneurs Unleashed and Unleashing the Next Chapter:

• Learn more about Unleashing the Next Chapter, Authorpreneurs Unleashed, and Kathryn at UnleashingTheNextChapter.com.
• Find all our social media links HERE.
• Subscribe to the Unleashing email newsletter HERE
• Subscribe to the Authorpreneurs Unleashed podcast HERE or through your favorite podcast player.

Taxes may not be the most glamorous part of being an authorpreneur, but they are an essential part of running and building your business.

Because we don’t know what we don’t know, Kathryn invited Diane Kelly to give us an overview of what we need to consider when it comes time for taxes. Not only does Diane have extensive experience as a tax attorney for both private companies and the government, but she’s a hybrid author of over 40 titles! 

Diane Kelly is a fan of furry, four-footed creatures and creatively concocted whodunnits, and combines the two interests in her mystery series. Diane has published over forty novels and novellas, including the Death & Taxes white-collar crime series, the Paw Enforcement K-9 series, the House Flipper cozy mystery series, the Busted female motorcycle cop series, the Southern Homebrew moonshine series, and the Mountain Lodge Mysteries. 

Find Diane online at www.DianeKelly.com, on her Author Diane Kelly page on Facebook, and on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok at @DianeKellyBooks. 

 See the tab above “Chapter Markers” for a list of Timestamps. 

Highlights include:

• How the IRS determines if you are a Hobby writer or Professional Writer
• Currently allowed deductions for writers
• Document everything!
• How to choose someone to prep your taxes
• Fast Fave Three

All the links for Authorpreneurs Unleashed and Unleashing the Next Chapter:

• Learn more about Unleashing the Next Chapter, Authorpreneurs Unleashed, and Kathryn at UnleashingTheNextChapter.com.
• Find all our social media links HERE.
• Subscribe to the Unleashing email newsletter HERE
• Subscribe to the Authorpreneurs Unleashed podcast HERE or through your favorite podcast player.

All the links for Authorpreneurs Unleashed and Unleashing the Next Chapter:

• Learn more about Unleashing the Next Chapter, Authorpreneurs Unleashed, and Kathryn at UnleashingTheNextChapter.com.
• Find all our social media links HERE.
• Subscribe to the Unleashing email newsletter HERE
• Subscribe to the Authorpreneurs Unleashed podcast HERE or through your favorite podcast player.

As we all spend a significant amount of time online for school, work, social, and relaxing, we don’t need to be paranoid or ignorant of the risks associated with our connectivity. But we do need to be aware. And we need to practice safe online habits, as well as teaching our loved ones to do the same.

Kathryn connected with Fiona Lucas, the founder of iRespectOnline® and the parent forum (as well as author of the book by the same title) Futureproof Your Kids®. She is a Social Media & Online Community Strategist & Educator.

Fiona Lucas is a highly regarded Australian based Social Media & Online Community Strategist, Consultant, Mentor, Moderator, Speaker & Author. She is the founder of the 4Rs of Reputation with her business iRespectOnline and author of Futureproof Your Kids.  She believes in putting humanity first in all online engagements.   

She works with both small business and large corporations developing innovative digital strategies for growth and engagement, reducing risk and helping them to humanize their brand.  Through education and training she assists business owners to authentically engage with their clients and prospects.

Find out more about Fiona at https://irespectonline.com, or connect with her on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

 See the tab above “Chapter Markers” for a list of Timestamps. 

Highlights include:

• Writing Motivation
• Common Security Mistakes
• Scammers Gonna Scam (and what to do about it)
• Passwords and Travel Protocol
• Own your online presence
• Future of Social Media
• Fast Fave Three

Note: Authorpreneurs Unleashed is listener-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support, and for sharing this podcast with your writing friends.

• Futureproof Your Kids (2016) by Fiona Lucas
• Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China (2008) by Jung Chang

All the links for Authorpreneurs Unleashed and Unleashing the Next Chapter:

• Learn more about Unleashing the Next Chapter, Authorpreneurs Unleashed, and Kathryn at UnleashingTheNextChapter.com.
• Find all our social media links HERE.
• Subscribe to the Unleashing email newsletter HERE
• Subscribe to the Authorpreneurs Unleashed podcast HERE or through your favorite podcast player.

All the links for Authorpreneurs Unleashed and Unleashing the Next Chapter:

• Learn more about Unleashing the Next Chapter, Authorpreneurs Unleashed, and Kathryn at UnleashingTheNextChapter.com.
• Find all our social media links HERE.
• Subscribe to the Unleashing email newsletter HERE
• Subscribe to the Authorpreneurs Unleashed podcast HERE or through your favorite podcast player.

All the links for Authorpreneurs Unleashed and Unleashing the Next Chapter:

• Learn more about Unleashing the Next Chapter, Authorpreneurs Unleashed, and Kathryn at UnleashingTheNextChapter.com.
• Find all our social media links HERE.
• Subscribe to the Unleashing email newsletter HERE
• Subscribe to the Authorpreneurs Unleashed podcast HERE or through your favorite podcast player.