Bookbound

Can astrology help you gain a competitive edge in your career or business?

We’re sitting down with Ophi Edut, renowned astrologer and author, to dive into her journey of publishing her book, The Astrology Advantage, and how astrology played its part in her own success. 

She discusses her journey from self-publishing to traditional publishing, and the development of her book, which makes astrology accessible through a framework involving innovator, maven, and entrepreneur personality types. We also talked about the importance of finding your signature thing, creating binge-able content, and using different platforms to promote your work. 

Resources: 
Connect with Ophi here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/astrotwins/
Check out Ophi’s work here: https://astrostyle.com/

Join Bethany and Fran for their Read Like a Writer Book Club here: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/club

Produced by Share Your Genius https://shareyourgenius.com/

What happens when a woman discovers that the man she's been interacting with online isn't who he says he is?

On this episode of Bookbound, we sit down with Anna Akbari, author of the “jaw-dropping” (according to the New York Times) memoir There is No Ethan: How Three Women Caught America’s Biggest Catfish.

Anna shares her journey of transforming a harrowing experience with an internet predator into her engaging and impactful memoir. She reveals the behind-the-scenes struggles with the publishing industry, the significance of storytelling, and how her ordeal resonated with many women facing toxic relationships and online dating exhaustion. We also explore the broader topics of the current trend of audiobooks and the strategy behind great book titles and covers. 

Join us for an episode filled with advice for aspiring authors and a fascinating look at the journey from real-life experience to published memoir.

Resources: 
Connect with Anna and check out her work here: https://www.annaakbari.com/

Join Bethany & Fran for their Read Like a Writer Book Club here: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/club 

Produced by Share Your Genius https://shareyourgenius.com/

What does it take to write four bestselling books in just as many years while juggling the demands of running a successful business and raising young twins?

In this episode of Bookbound, we dive into the incredibly inspiring journey of Bola Sokubi, a finance expert, keynote speaker, and the founder of Clever Girl Finance.

Bola shares her tips for authors on aligning goals with personal happiness, the nuances between writing and business, and the strategic moves she made to seal her first book deal—all without an agent! You’ll also learn how she masterfully markets her work, viewing each book as an "amplifier" of her brand.

Whether you're an aspiring author or a seasoned professional, this episode is a goldmine of practical advice and motivation. Tune in to explore how passion, resilience, and clever strategies can help transform your writing dreams into thriving realities.

Resources:
To connect with, follow Bola, or read her books, go to https://www.bolasokunbi.com/
Apply for Fran & Bethany’s BOOKBOUND Accelerator here.

Produced by Share Your Genius

What if the secret to resolving conflict and getting along is simpler than you think?

Gabrielle Hartley, divorce lawyer turned author, joins us on this episode, and her transformative experiences have culminated in her latest book, The Secret to Getting Along: And Why It's Easier Than You Think.

Gabrielle shares what she’s learned along her publishing journey—from manifesting an endorsement by Gwyneth Paltrow to navigating publishers with no prior connection. Through the ups and downs, her path illustrates the power of persistence and belief in oneself.

She also shares her unique YES method—a powerful tool for unraveling arguments at their emotional core, promoting mutual understanding and resolution. This episode isn't just about writing; it's about reframing your approach to challenges and turning obstacles into opportunities. We hope you can carry some of her tools and inspiration into your own journey.

Resources: Connect with Gabrielle: https://gabriellehartley.com/
Apply for Fran & Bethany’s Fall 2024 BOOKBOUND Accelerator here.

Produced by Share Your Genius

What does it take to transform a personal health journey into a bestselling cookbook?

Here to walk us down that path is Vasudha Viswanath, cookbook author and founder of the community-centered initiative "We Ate Well." After a career on Wall Street and a life-changing Prediabetes diagnosis, Vasudha shifted gears dramatically. She embraced her roots in vegetarian cooking but with a fresh, low-carb twist that flew in the face of traditional plant-based diets heavy in processed options.

In this episode, we dive into her challenges and wins in creating her cookbook, "The Vegetarian Reset," navigating the world of publishing, and building a thriving community around healthy eating. From the deep dives into recipe development and personal trials to marketing strategies and career pivots, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration for anyone looking to turn their passion into a tangible product.

Resources: Follow Vasudha: https://www.instagram.com/v8well/
Subscribe to Vasudha’s newsletter, V8Well: https://www.v8well.com/
Apply for Fran & Bethany’s BOOKBOUND Accelerator here.

Produced by Share Your Genius

What does it take to transform a potent idea into a best-selling book?

In this episode of BOOKBOUND, we jump into the art of authorship with Marisa Meltzer, whose New York Times bestseller, "Glossy: Ambition, Beauty, and the Inside Story of Emily Weiss’s Glossier”, provides an inside look at the rise of the beauty company Glossier and its founder, Emily Weiss.

Marisa shares her journey from initial concept to explosive publication. You’ll hear insights into her process—from passion project to book idea, to handling the pressures and unpredictability of the publishing world, to navigating promotional efforts. She shares her strategies for handling publicity, her decision-making in storytelling, and the dynamics of the publishing industry.

Marisa offers invaluable lessons for both budding and established writers alike. Tune in to uncover how personal obsessions can turn into compelling books that captivate readers and shape cultural conversations.

Resources:
Follow Marisa and check out her book: https://www.marisameltzer.com/
Apply for Fran & Bethany’s Fall 2024 BOOKBOUND Accelerator here.
Produced by Share Your Genius: https://shareyourgenius.com/

Have you ever felt paralyzed by the pursuit of perfection? You’re in good company.

L'Oreal Thompson Payton is an award-winning journalist, experienced communications executive, motivational speaker, and author of “Stop Waiting for Perfect”. She joins us on the BOOKBOUND podcast to share her very relatable author journey.

In this very special episode with this very special writer, you’ll learn how L’Oreal harnessed all the pressures she’s felt on herself as a young black women in today's society into a successful career. You’ll learn how she has found hope in owning her fears and doubts, in both growing online community and her bookbound journey. Finally, she shares all the details on how she has battled imposter syndrome—by writing about it!

Tune in to discover how to turn your perfectionism around and turn the story you can’t stop telling into a book the world needs to read.

Resources: To connect with L’Oreal and check out her work, click here.
Apply for Fran & Bethany’s Fall 2024 BOOKBOUND Accelerator here.
Produced by Share Your Genius

What does it take to transform your book marketing from a solo sprint to a community-powered marathon?

In this episode, award-winning author, speaker, and small business guru Pam Slim joins us to talk about some of her experiences and tips for successful book writing, launching, and marketing. Pam introduces her groundbreaking concepts of "watering holes" and "tiny marketing actions" from her book The Widest Net, which guides authors in cultivating strategic and authentic connections within their own unique ecosystems. Pam's emphasis on reciprocity, community, and adding real value forms the cornerstone of any effective book marketing plan.

Listen in as Pam shares her author journey from her blog writing days to her next big book idea. This episode is chock-full of actionable tips for authors who are looking for ways to connect with their communities.

Resources:
Check out Pam’s book here: https://pamelaslim.com/books/
Connect with Pam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelaslim/

Apply for Fran & Bethany’s 2024 BOOKBOUND Accelerator here.

Produced by Share Your Genius

Does the road to publishing your book feel like an impossible maze of stats and gatekeepers?

Meet Julie Chavez. Her writing has been featured in the New York Post and Zibby Mag, and she is the author of USA Today bestselling book, “Everyone But Myself: A Memoir”. She writes to explore the joys and impossibilities of mothering and modern womanhood and her story of getting her book published will inspire you to keep going, even when roadblocks seem like the rule.

Julie sits down with us to share her journey from blogging, to successfully navigating the publishing world. This is THE episode for peeling back the layers of the traditional, boutique, and hybrid publishing types, underscoring the financial and creative implications of each.

We’re extra excited because we got to sit down with Julie even before Everyone But Myself was set to launch in January of 2023. Our discussion about the march toward her launch event and the emotional toll of publicly sharing one's art is extra juicy because her book so quickly became a USA Today Bestseller!

Join us as Julie outlines her winning strategies—from impactful newsletter engagement to storytelling through essays and a novel. This episode is a masterclass for new writers ready to make that first book happen.

Resources:
Check out Julie’s work and follow her here.
BOOKBOUND Spring Accelerator with Fran & Bethany

Produced by Share Your Genius

On this episode of BOOKBOUND, we’re joined by the brilliant and insightful Maggie Jackson, award-winning 3x author and journalist. Her latest book, Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure, is a Next Big Idea Book and was nominated for a National Book Award and a Library Journal Best Book of 2023.

Bringing Maggie’s research and the writing process together, we explore the complexities of uncertainty: a feeling all creatives need to learn to tolerate and learn from. Maggie shares the nuances behind framing a book that challenges conventional thought and builds a counter-intuitive idea, which is—by the way—the formula behind every successful book.

So tune in for wisdom that transcends the mess of the writing and the insecurity of the publishing process so that you can take the next step toward sharing the story you can’t stop telling.

Resources:
Connect with Maggie
Read Maggie’s books

BOOKBOUND Spring Accelerator with Fran & Bethany

Produced by Share Your Genius