Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

When people talk about selling 867,386 books (in a week), it sounds good. It's also probably a lie; most authors intent on making an impact on their readers, whether through entertainment, education, insights, or all three, have no idea what the numbers really are. That's not their focus.

What is their focus is the ONE person who needs their message and will be so grateful to have it in their life.

(And if one person will love it, two will. Twenty will. 1000 will. We start with one.)

In this episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, Cara Sapida and I chatted about her book, Not the Breast Year of My Life (which, as of this posting, already has 66 5-star reviews on Amazon). 

 INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

• What compelled Cara to write a book on a topic that’s quite saturated in the book world
• How, when initially blogging about her breast cancer diagnosis and experience, she filtered out comments that didn’t serve her
• What someone in the publishing community said to her early on about her book that could have kept it off the market forever (and not in of the hands of at least 1,000 individuals who are already so grateful for it!)
• Her thoughts, as an ambivert (part introvert, part extrovert), on having a book signing versus a book reading
• The heavily misunderstood commercialization of pink “stuff” in support of breast cancer (and how people can TRULY help breast cancer patients and medical research)
• How Cara handled naysayers when it came to self-publishing (and her advice to others considering that path)
• Plus, the book she took with her to every treatment 

 

ABOUT CARA SAPIDA

Cara Sapida is an award-winning journalist for WPXI-TV, the NBC affiliate in Pittsburgh.  A mother of two, Cara navigated a stage two triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis amidst the chaos of the 2020 global pandemic and a personal journey through divorce.

With a deep-rooted passion for writing dating back to the second grade, Cara loves crafting compelling stories. Her debut book, Not the Breast Year of My Life, is a captivating and heartfelt memoir born from personal experiences and overcoming hardships. In addition to her journalistic achievements, Cara has also showcased her talent in the culinary world as a finalist in the prestigious Pillsbury Bake-Off. 

 

CONNECT WITH CARA

https://www.facebook.com/CaraSapida

https://www.instagram.com/carasapida

Purchase a copy of Not the Breast Year of My Life

 

MORE ABOUT ELIZABETH'S PROGRAMS

Follow Elizabeth on Instagram: @elizabethlyonsauthor

Elizabeth's book writing, publishing, and marketing programs and resources 

🧭 BACK COVER BLUEPRINT

Get back cover templates for nonfiction, memoir, and fiction; real-world examples; a polishing checklist; and a guide for turning it into an optimized online description that attracts the right readers. 

🔗 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/blueprint

Looking for hidden gems, date night spots, and staycations you didn't know you needed? Find your next adventure at TheBestoftheSouthwest.com and follow along on Instagram at @thebestofthesouthwest.

*episode sponsor

WANT TO SELL MORE BOOKS (WITHOUT THE SELF-PROMO CRINGE)?

The Author Visibility Bundle gives you 200+ done-for-you email templates, social media graphics, and other book promo tools designed to help authors build buzz and drive sales, without feeling pushy. 

👉  PublishAProfitableBook.com/bookvisibility

✍️ 33-DAY BOOK WRITING BOOTCAMP

You've Been Thinking About This Book Forever. So let's get it written (for real this time). 

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook/writethebook

Support the show

******

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry. 

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth