Executive Author Circle

I’m revealing the five costliest mistakes I see new authors make when self-publishing. If you're using your book as a business card, you cannot afford amateur formatting giving bad first impressions to readers who immediately notice wrong fonts and layouts, especially if they read extensively in your genre.

Let’s start with the number one mistake that cost my client thousands: formatting your book before all editing is complete. My client paid for formatting before we finished all four editing types—developmental, line, copy, and proofreading—then had to pay for reformatting again after editing changed content.

Mistake two involves not understanding different format requirements where authors assume one format works for all book types. However, each book format has specific technical requirements with separate file types that Amazon won't accept if improperly formatted.

Mistake three is using manual formatting with hard returns and extra spaces instead of professional paragraph styles, or worse, formatting in Word which looks unprofessional and Amazon often rejects. Mistake four means ignoring industry standards where every genre has specific formatting expectations professional readers recognize instantly.

Join my free School community "Publishing for Leaders" at school.com where first 100 members get complimentary access to monthly group coaching sessions plus casual coffee chats. Book your discovery call at write4u.me for formatting, editing, or publishing support.

Until next time, keep writing, dreaming, and creating—your book is waiting to be born!

Lately, I’ve talked to several clients and found out they have made mistakes surrounding hiring a book editor—mistakes that cost them upwards of $10,000, so I created this informational episode so you don’t make those same costly mistakes!

I share five critical facts every author must know about book editing. First, I address the blind spot reality where you cannot edit your own book effectively because your brain auto-corrects what you meant to write. This cognitive limitation causes repeated mistakes that disempower writing, and missing unclear explanations your brain automatically fills in. Professional writers, including myself, hire editors because even big authors need fresh eyes for objectivity that transforms good books into great books.

Fact two explains the four editing types in critical order: developmental editing first for big picture structure, content, and audience alignment; then line editing for sentence-level clarity and pacing; followed by copy editing for grammar and style guide compliance; finally proofreading for typos before publication. The biggest mistake is authors hiring line editors first then wanting developmental editing afterward, wasting money since they'll need another line edit after adding developmental content.

Fact three covers realistic timelines for editing. I work on faster timelines, completing developmental edits in one week if you're in a timeline crunch. Good editors book out weeks or months in advance, and rushing editing backfires because rush jobs cost more and deliver less. Work backwards from your launch date and add buffer time since editing is not a once and done process.

Fact four addresses pricing. Cheap editing ends up costing you in missed opportunities because inexperienced editors miss critical issues and one lost speaking opportunity costs more than quality editing. Professional editing delivers higher speaking fees, attracts better clients, and creates immediate opportunities. Red flags include prices significantly below market, editors who don't specialize in your genre, unclear pricing, and "I can do it all" editors claiming every specialty. Authors will want to put aside and invest $2,000-$5,000 for book editing because skipping these damages reputation and costs income.

Until next time, keep writing, dreaming, and creating—your book is waiting to be born!

Ready to write your authority-building book? Book a discovery call and take the next step to moving one step closer to writing and publishing your book!

Podcast Resources

Start on your author journey today by Booking a Discovery Call

Unsure where to start when it comes to writing your book? Download your Book Clarity Blueprint today!

Disclaimer: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. The content shared by the host, guests, and any affiliates is not intended to substitute for professional legal or financial advice or any professional advice specific to your situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional with any questions you may have.

The opinions expressed on the show by the host or guests are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Publishing Company. Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, guests, and affiliates are not responsible or liable for any decisions made by listeners or actions taken hereto based on the information discussed in this podcast. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree to release Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, affiliates, and guests from any liability.

I coach Tom Fox in this Book Blueprint episode. Tom has won 42 podcasting awards and has written 38 books through his transition into traditional nonfiction.

When speaking with Tom, I explained Edelman studies and how these consistently show that professionals with books get more traction, exposure, and authority, separating them from competitors because prospects usually choose authors over non-authors. Tom adds three motivations: it's the best business card, the research process forces you to become a subject matter expert, and the ego satisfaction of seeing your name on the cover.

For overwhelmed professionals, I recommend identifying time wasters and then redirecting your time toward writing with reward systems. Time blocking works well for focused time specific to writing your book. The most difficult hurdle when writing a book is creating a sustainable writing habit. Our brains resist change, so stop listening to negative thoughts and just sit down and write.

Tom shares his challenge with wandering thoughts when writing nonfiction. I advise writing those wandering thoughts directly into the story to get them out of your head, because nonlinear creative thinking adds powerful depth.

When hiring ghostwriters or editors, I always recommend finding a professional who has published their own books, answers all your questions, and has a compatible personality. I recommend starting your book marketing a minimum of three months before publication, building email lists, and using social media schedulers.

Until next time, keep writing, dreaming, and creating—your book is waiting to be born!

Ready to write your authority-building book? Book a discovery call and take the next step to moving one step closer to writing and publishing your book!

Podcast Resources

Start on your author journey today by booking a Discovery Call

Unsure where to start when it comes to writing your book? Download your Book Clarity Blueprint today!

Connect with Tom at compliancepodcastnetwork.net or [email protected]

Disclaimer: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. The content shared by the host, guests, and any affiliates is not intended to substitute for professional legal or financial advice or any professional advice specific to your situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional with any questions you may have.

The opinions expressed on the show by the host or guests are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Publishing Company. Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, guests, and affiliates are not responsible or liable for any decisions made by listeners or actions taken hereafter based on the information discussed in this podcast. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree to release Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, affiliates, and guests from any liability.

In this Book Blueprint episode, I coach AJ Tyler, author of "Immigrant Men" which hit number one in two Amazon categories and debut novel "Death and Short," through critical publishing challenges.

AJ opens with a pressing issue facing newly published authors: floods of scam solicitations from fake reviewers and fraudulent marketing services. I advise verifying any unsolicited offers through national writers' associations, checking LinkedIn to confirm company affiliations, and requesting author references because these scammers easily fabricate contact information.

We tackle publishing options where AJ asks how to choose between self-publishing, hybrid, and traditional publishing. Publishers often want to mainstream your book, changing your voice to fit their vision. I emphasize 90% of readers never notice the publishing company, they only care about quality content, professional editing, good flow, and valuable information or compelling plots with well-developed characters.

For marketing, I recommend reverse engineering by determining your budget first, then building campaigns around platforms you already use and content formats you enjoy.

Start marketing six months ahead, recruit beta readers, and leverage Substack's author community plus BookTube and BookTok. I warn against paying someone to get you on podcasts as those are typically scammers charging thousands for two or three placements. Book awards are worth the investment if you’re building an author career or writing series, especially in saturated fiction markets where awards provide crucial social proof.

Until next time, keep writing, dreaming, and creating—your book is waiting to be born!

Podcast Resources

Start on your author journey today by Booking a Discovery Call

Unsure where to start when it comes to writing your book? Download your Book Clarity Blueprint today!

Connect with AJ Tyler at his author website

Disclaimer: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. The content shared by the host, guests, and any affiliates is not intended to substitute for professional legal or financial advice or any professional advice specific to your situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional with any questions you may have.

The opinions expressed on the show by the host or guests are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Publishing Company. Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, guests, and affiliates are not responsible or liable for any decisions made by listeners or actions taken hereto based on the information discussed in this podcast. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree to release Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, affiliates, and guests from any liability.

In this crucial legal episode, I sit down with Gordon Firemark, intellectual property entertainment and media lawyer, to navigate the Wild West of AI in publishing.

With 50 lawsuits currently underway against AI companies, most dealing with training on pre-existing copyrighted material, Gordon explains that Anthropic just agreed to a $1.5 billion settlement with a group of authors, noting if the trained system outputs material substantially similar to an existing copyrighted work, that is infringement. We can't hold the machine responsible for damages, meaning the person or company who publishes AI generated material bears full liability.

Beyond copyright concerns, AI systems hallucinate, requiring meticulous fact-checking especially for nonfiction work. Gordon shares an alarming example where an AI-generated article about a person with a common name incorrectly attributed a felony conviction from someone in Colorado to an innocent person in Florida, creating defamation liability.

Gordon emphasizes that authors cannot own AI-generated work because copyright law has been clear for a century that if the author isn't human, the work gets no copyright protection. Courts have consistently ruled this way with AI-generated images, with one case currently petitioning the Supreme Court for review. However, if human authors show sufficient creative input, they can claim copyright in elements they contributed.

When publishing on Amazon, there's a checkbox requiring disclosure if you used AI to create your material, and failing to check it could result in delisting, violating terms of service, or accusations of fraud. If you use AI and don't disclose it, you can be accused of defrauding the copyright office, invalidating your copyright entirely and leading to damages and penalties if you try to sue for infringement. Those advertisements promising six figures by having AI write your book in one day are misleading because you can't claim copyright infringement if someone else copies, distributes, or creates derivatives.

Gordon recommends safe ways to use AI as a tool. His strongest advice: there's nothing like making writing a habit. The act of writing, rereading, rewriting, and reorganizing is what authorship truly is, and while mainstream publishing involves editors and copy editors, they guide the fundamentally human process.

Ready to write your authority-building book? Schedule a discovery call and take the next step to moving one step closer to writing and publishing your book!

Until next time, keep writing, dreaming, and creating—your book is waiting to be born!

Podcast Resources

Start on your author journey today by Booking a Discovery Call

Unsure where to start when it comes to writing your book? Download your Book Clarity Blueprint today!

Get Gordon’s online class Easy Legal for Entrepreneurs or Easy Legal for Podcasters

Disclaimer: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. The content shared by the host, guests, and any affiliates is not intended to substitute for professional legal or financial advice or any professional advice specific to your situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional with any questions you may have.

The opinions expressed on the show by the host or guests are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Publishing Company. Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, guests, and affiliates are not responsible or liable for any decisions made by listeners or actions taken hereto based on the information discussed in this podcast. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree to release Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, affiliates, and guests from any liability.

I sat down with Terry Whalin to debunk common misconceptions that trip up aspiring authors. Terry tackles the biggest misunderstanding among new authors, which is the belief that publishers will sell and promote your book for you.

While publishers invest in marketing, they have hundreds of books published, meaning authors must take 100% responsibility. The person with the greatest investment in your book is you, not your publisher, making author-driven promotion essential regardless of whether you're self-published or working with a publisher.

He also addresses the New York Times bestseller dream, which Terry calls almost like winning an Oscar in the book business. The New York Times list isn't purely numbers-based, but editorial, meaning you need approximately 11,000 copies sold in a seven-day period through their list of brick-and-mortar and online bookstores, plus editorial approval from Times editors who decide whether your book deserves the list. Terry knows authors who sold enough copies but didn't make the list because editors deemed it unsuitable. However, USA Today and Wall Street Journal lists are slightly more accessible.

The key is consistency and perseverance in promotion. He warns authors against spending $30,000 on the wrong PR firm and emphasizes building assets you control like your own newsletter, blog, and website rather than relying solely on platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

Terry demolishes the myth surrounding the glamorous writer's life. Other common mistakes include pitching children's books "for all ages" and submitting 190,000-word manuscripts from first-time authors. Terry stresses that everyone needs professional editors providing developmental feedback, not just AI tools. He warns against using ChatGPT or Claude to edit books because AI-generated phrases slip into your work that you would never write yourself, becoming an immediate cause for rejection.

Ready to write your authority-building book? Schedule a discovery call and take the next step to moving one step closer to writing and publishing your book!

Until next time, keep writing, dreaming, and creating—your book is waiting to be born!

Podcast Resources

Start on your author journey today by Booking a Discovery Call

Unsure where to start when it comes to writing your book? Download your Book Clarity Blueprint today!

Get Terry’s book 10 Publishing Myths

Disclaimer: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. The content shared by the host, guests, and any affiliates is not intended to substitute for professional legal or financial advice or any professional advice specific to your situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional with any questions you may have.

The opinions expressed on the show by the host or guests are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Publishing Company. Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, guests, and affiliates are not responsible or liable for any decisions made by listeners or actions taken hereto based on the information discussed in this podcast. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree to release Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, affiliates, and guests from any liability.

This is one of the biggest mistakes I see authors make repeatedly: skipping professional editing or relying solely on AI to edit their work.

I cannot stress this enough—your book creates a first impression you cannot undo! An unprofessionally edited book at a business networking event is like wearing jeans and a t-shirt while everyone else wears business casual. Grammar mistakes, awkward phrasing, and missing transitions signal to readers that you lack professional confidence.

Readers equate writing quality with professional credibility, so a poorly edited book damages years of reputation building in an instant. Professional editing solves problems you cannot see in your own work. Editors tighten prose by eliminating redundancies while ensuring clarity and accessibility for your audience. Sensitivity editing catches cultural, social, and trauma-related issues authors might miss.

Your book is a permanent professional artifact living on Amazon for years, representing you when you're not in the room. Event planners review books before booking speakers, journalists and podcast hosts evaluate credibility through writing quality, and potential clients use books to assess you. If you charge premium prices for your services but present an amateur-quality book, the disconnect destroys credibility and costs you high-paying clients.

Professional editing costs between $1,500 and $5,000, which might sound expensive until you consider that one lost media opportunity, speaking engagement, or high-paying client costs more than professional editing. Your ROI includes better speaking fees, more opportunities, improved client acquisition, ability to charge higher prices, and media opportunities that multiply over time.

Even professional editors hire other editors for their own books because you cannot effectively edit your own work no matter how skilled you are. I myself am co-writing a fiction book with an editor friend, and we're still paying another editor because we want our book to be well-received.

Whether self-publishing or working with a publisher, professional editing is non-negotiable for protecting your reputation, establishing authority, and safeguarding your income and lead generation.

Ready to write your authority-building book? Schedule a discovery call and take the next step to moving one step closer to writing and publishing your book!

Until next time, keep writing, dreaming, and creating—your book is waiting to be born!

Podcast Resources

Start on your author journey today by Booking a Discovery Call

Unsure where to start when it comes to writing your book? Download your Book Clarity Blueprint today!

Disclaimer: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. The content shared by the host, guests, and any affiliates is not intended to substitute for professional legal or financial advice or any professional advice specific to your situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional with any questions you may have.

The opinions expressed on the show by the host or guests are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Publishing Company. Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, guests, and affiliates are not responsible or liable for any decisions made by listeners or actions taken hereto based on the information discussed in this podcast. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree to release Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, affiliates, and guests from any liability.

Nick Loper is my guest today. Nick is the owner and CEO of Side Hustle Nation. He’s on today to share proven strategies for using your book as a lead generator rather than a revenue source.

Nick's philosophy is simple: most authors will find greater value using their book as a business card and authority builder. He demonstrates this at local vendor fairs where his stack of books carries more weight than his podcast's 30 million downloads.

Nick views Amazon as a top-five search engine and if you can show up through strategic titles and keywords, your book becomes a powerful point of discovery at the top of your funnel. The key is integrating compelling calls-to-action throughout your content. For those just starting, Nick suggests creating quick-start checklists, 30-day implementation guides, or curated lists of tools and resources, bonus points if you can repurpose content.

The game-changer in Nick's strategy is his permafree book approach, which has driven over 150,000 free downloads since 2019. While he can't track exact conversions, he's confident these 150,000 readers have become podcast listeners, Facebook group members, and email subscribers.

Nick's permafree strategy is fundamentally a search play on Amazon. When potential readers search Amazon and find competing books alongside Nick's free option, they naturally choose the low-friction entry point, capturing them before competitors do. His approach evolved significantly over the years, with his biggest growth coming when he started offering text summaries of podcast episodes as lead magnets. This simple shift took his email list from 1,000 subscribers to 12,000 within a year, creating a content marketing arm for the business he wanted to build.

Ready to write your authority-building book? Schedule a discovery call and take the next step to moving one step closer to writing and publishing your book!

Until next time, keep writing, dreaming, and creating—your book is waiting to be born!

Podcast Resources

Start on your author journey today by Booking a Discovery Call

Unsure where to start when it comes to writing your book? Download your Book Clarity Blueprint today!

100 Ways to Make $1000: How Real People Make Real Money on the Side (and how you can too)

Disclaimer: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. The content shared by the host, guests, and any affiliates is not intended to substitute for professional legal or financial advice or any professional advice specific to your situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional with any questions you may have.

The opinions expressed on the show by the host or guests are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Publishing Company. Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, guests, and affiliates are not responsible or liable for any decisions made by listeners or actions taken hereto based on the information discussed in this podcast. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree to release Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, affiliates, and guests from any liability.

Today I’m with Lisa Jones, president and CEO of Financially Awaken, LLC, who hit Amazon's #1 bestseller list in just six days with her book Financial Seasons: Daily Inspiration About Finance and Our Emotions.

What makes Lisa's story impressive is that she accomplished this without a huge social media following, publishing company backing, or extensive marketing team.

Lisa shares the journey that led to writing a 366-day devotional about the emotional side of personal finance, sparked by her and her husband's five-year journey to pay off $300,000 in debt. When she couldn't find a devotional to help her cope with the emotions of their debt payoff journey, she made one herself.

She hit publish Monday evening at 8:15 PM, terrified and crying. The book went live and within hours she earned her first #1 new release banner. By day six, she achieved #1 bestseller status. The book stayed at #1 for nearly three weeks and remained in the top 100 for over two years, with one unforgettable moment when her book appeared right next to Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover.

Lisa created "Road to Bestseller," a weekend course designed specifically for busy professionals. This course is structured for people who are willing to get into the trenches and do the work themselves. Her book, Financial Seasons, became a powerful teaching tool in her wealth strategy coaching sessions, allowing her to connect with clients by saying "I know how you feel" and directing them to relevant stories that show they're not alone in their struggles.

Ready to embark on your publishing adventure? Schedule a discovery call and take the next step to moving one step closer to writing and publishing your book!

Until next time, keep writing, dreaming, and creating—your book is waiting to be born!

Podcast Resources

Start on your author journey today by Booking a Discovery Call

Unsure where to start when it comes to writing your book? Download your Book Clarity Blueprint today!

Get Lisa’s Road to Bestseller book marketing course today!

Disclaimer: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. The content shared by the host, guests, and any affiliates is not intended to substitute for professional legal or financial advice or any professional advice specific to your situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional with any questions you may have.

The opinions expressed on the show by the host or guests are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Publishing Company. Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, guests, and affiliates are not responsible or liable for any decisions made by listeners or actions taken hereto based on the information discussed in this podcast. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree to release Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, affiliates, and guests from any liability.

I sat down with Nicky Berlou, who has guested on over 800 podcast appearances. He’s generated seven figures in business revenue generated through strategic podcast guesting.

Nicky shares the critical distinction between weak and strong intentions when appearing on podcasts. Nicky teaches a strong approach focused on building relationships, generating leads, creating sales, and attracting ideal clients. This shift in mindset is what transformed his own results from zero conversions in his first 100 shows to consistent revenue generation.

The heart of Nicky's methodology is the Triple Threat Intention, which focuses on three key areas: audience, host, and guest. First, bring your A-game and treat your host’s time as sacred. Second, make the host look good by respecting their significant investment in producing their show. Third, use the conversation as an opportunity to build a genuine business relationship. This framework creates a win for everyone and opens doors to unexpected opportunities.

Nicky shares two compelling success stories from authors he's coached. Machu Mejuz, a Belgian gardening expert who speaks English as his fourth language, used his book as a business card to attract high-end clients. In just 84 days and 10 podcast appearances, he generated €124,000 in sales by giving his book away for free and using the authority it provided to get ideal clients. Michael Matthew, a tax accountant, appeared on his first show. The host was so impressed she offered to send him business referrals, resulting in 18 referrals with 10 converting into paying clients worth. Both authors demonstrated that your book is your ticket to the show, the show is your ticket to conversations with ideal clients, and those conversations are your ticket to cash in the bank.

Without a book, approximately 30% of podcast hosts might be interested in having you as a guest. With a book, you’ll land 90%. Books and strategic podcast guesting creates sustainable business growth!

Ready to embark on your publishing adventure? Schedule a discovery call and take the next step to moving one step closer to writing and publishing your book!

Until next time, keep writing, dreaming, and creating—your book is waiting to be born!

Podcast Resources

Start on your author journey today by Booking a Discovery Call

Unsure where to start when it comes to writing your book? Download your Book Clarity Blueprint today!

Connect with Nicky at www.eCircleAcademy.com/appointment

Disclaimer: The information in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. The content shared by the host, guests, and any affiliates is not intended to substitute for professional legal or financial advice or any professional advice specific to your situation. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional with any questions you may have.

The opinions expressed on the show by the host or guests are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Publishing Company. Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, guests, and affiliates are not responsible or liable for any decisions made by listeners or actions taken hereto based on the information discussed in this podcast. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree to release Unicorn Publishing Company, the host, affiliates, and guests from any liability.