Blogger to Author

Most people assume that writing a book is a long, arduous process. And, in many cases, it is...but it doesn't have to be. If you're a content creator, whether you're a blogger, vlogger, podcaster, or anything in between, you have a wealth of content that can be your fast track to becoming an author. All you have to do is re-purpose what you've created into the manuscript of a book.

I recently wrote a book in just three days, and then published it a week after I started putting it together. I wanted to prove to my followers that the process I teach works. And, I wanted to show people that putting together a book in a short amount of time is totally possible, especially if you have content that you can re-use in your book. In this episode, I'm telling you all about the exact process that I used to write and publish that book. I think it will show you just how achievable becoming an author is, and it will inspire you to get to work on your book.

Show notes: bloggertoauthor.com/53

If you follow social media trends, you’ve heard that video is HUGE right now, and it’s only going to keep growing over the next couple of years. In fact, video is predicted to be one of the biggest social media trends in 2018. Live video can be a particularly effective way to produce video content. It can also seem very scary, especially if you haven’t done it before. But, it doesn’t have to be!

In this interview, live video expert Camberley Woods shares her top tips to help you use live video effectively. She gives us some specific suggestions for ways that authors can use live video, and she tells us how to effectively plan a live video so you can get great engagement with your viewers, build your business, and sell more books.

Show notes: bloggertoauthor.com/52

Chances are if you’re reading this, you’ve started to build an email list, or you’ve at least thought about starting one. You’ve probably heard that having an email list is important, but you may be wondering how those subscribers can translate into more book sales, and how you grow your list to even bigger numbers.

In this interview, I chat with email marketing expert Lauren Pawell about many topics that are relevant to authors and business owners alike, including how to grow your list, how to get your subscribers to actually open your emails, how to keep your emails out of the spam folder, how to come up with an idea for a lead magnet that people will actually want to sign up for, and the top 3 mistakes Lauren sees small business owners make all the time when it comes to email marketing.

Show notes: bloggertoauthor.com/51

Sometimes, the best way you can learn about something is by doing. That’s why today’s guest is the perfect person to learn from. Paula Rollo is a blogger and author of 8 (yes, 8) books, so she is a perfect example of someone you can learn from when it comes to book writing and self publishing.

I think you’re really going to enjoy the interview with Paula that I’m featuring in today’s episode. We cover a lot of topics that are of interest to blogger-authors, including how to chose the right topic for your book, the decision to self publish or work with a traditional publisher, and how a ‘failed’ book may actually not be such a failure after all.

Show notes: bloggertoauthor.com/50

Have you ever dreamed of writing and publishing a #1 bestseller? Or, have you been seeing more and more authors who have published #1 Amazon bestsellers? I have, too. That's why I set out to see if I could make one of my books become a #1 Amazon bestseller. Long story short: I did it. In this episode, I'll tell you exactly how I did it.

I want to demystify the process of getting your book to the top slot in its category, both so that you can follow what I did, and so that you can also consider what it means to be a #1 Amazon bestseller. I'll walk you through what I think are the three essential steps to make your book an Amazon bestseller, and I'll tell you the story of how I first failed, then succeeded. I think you'll find this behind-the-scenes look really valuable if you're thinking about implementing this strategy.

Show notes: bloggertoauthor.com/49

It’s tough to make a full-time business out of your blog, but that’s exactly what Jenny Melrose has done. She built her business by diversifying her income, including streams of revenue like sponsored posts, ads, and courses. And, she definitely knows how to use social media and other marketing methods to her greatest advantage.

Today, I’m talking to Jenny about what she feels is the best marketing tool out there right now – live video. In our interview, Jenny explains why she feels that live video is so important, and she gives some great tips for beginners to help them get started. If you’ve ever thought about doing live video but the idea seems terrifying and overwhelming, you’ll love this episode.

Show notes: bloggertoauthor.com/48

It’s hard to go through a big, difficult, life-changing event, one that changes the rest of your life forever. It’s even harder when there aren’t great resources out there to help you through that big event, and when it feels like you’re wandering around blindfolded, waving your arms in front of you as you search for your path forward.

Today’s guest, Alexa Federico, decided she wanted to help people who have been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative colitis take that blindfold off. After her own diagnosis at the age of 12, she searched for answers, answers that took her years of her life to find. Now, that searching has inspired her to create a detailed guide to help illuminate a path forward for people who find themselves in the same position.

Show notes: bloggertoauthor.com/47

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to create a book that’s on everyone’s wish list? To have everyone tell you, “I want that book!” whenever you describe it to them? That’s what blogger and author Beth Nydick has done. The book she co-wrote, Clean Cocktails, is already getting a ton of attention in the press, and it’s flying up the bestseller lists on Amazon and elsewhere.

In our interview, Beth and I talk about what it’s like to work with a traditional publisher to produce a cookbook, how the buzz around her book is helping her grow her brand and her business, and Beth’s advice for bloggers who want to publish a book. You’ll learn the steps she took to write a book proposal, find the right book agent, and ultimately find the right publisher that was just as excited about Clean Cocktails as she is.

Show notes: bloggertoauthor.com/46

The end of the year is always a time for reflection and looking forward. In today's episode, I share what I think will be some of the top trends in authorship and self publishing in 2018, and how you can decide whether to follow those trends or not. I also help you plan out the main steps you should take if writing a book is one of your goals for 2018.

Show notes and additional resources at bloggertoauthor.com/45

I’m very excited to feature a repeat guest in this episode, Clare Marshall. Clare is a true expert in everything publishing and I’m really excited to have her back on. In our first interview, which you can listen to in episode 26, Clare and I talked about a lot of topics related to publishing, including how to get started and tips for designing your book. We also talked briefly about using in-person events to promote and sell your book, and I’m so excited that Clare has agreed to come back on the podcast to take a deep dive into events.

Clare is a true master when it comes to live events (among many things, of course). She regularly travels to conventions to promote and sell her young adult fantasy novels, and she writes amazing recaps of each convention that are incredibly informative for anyone looking to sell their books in person. I’m really excited to get the chance to pick her brain about how YOU can successfully use live events to sell more books, too.

Show notes: bloggertoauthor.com/44