In Her Words

It is HARD to get your book into bookstores for a number of reasons, and this week Jess is here to walk you through some of them:

1. Bookstores Prioritize Large Publishers

2. Distribution Barriers

3. Limited Shelf Space and High Competition

4. Return Policies and Financial Risk

5. Lack of Marketing and Brand Recognition

6. Difficulty Meeting Wholesale Pricing

7. Local and Regional Bias

Listen now to further understand the complexities of these challenges, and learn how a boutique publisher like Soul Speak Press works with its authors to navigate the retail system.

This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, a NYT Bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder of Soul Speak Press. Soul Speak Press is a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on publishing stories from women who have been through something, now they know something, and can teach us something.

Learn more about Jessica's first book: Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six

Learn more about the Deserts to Mountaintops Anthologies. If you're interested in hearing interviews with our Soul Speak Press authors, check out the Deserts to Mountaintops Podcast.

This week Jess offers a reminder of what is possible, even when you feel powerless or paralyzed. Consider why writing your memoir manifesto is its own powerful form of activism. Your voice and your story matter, and our voices can break silence and challenge oppressive systems. Jess shares 8 ways that a memoir manifesto can be an instrument of change and a source of inspiration for others.

This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, a NYT Bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder of Soul Speak Press. Soul Speak Press is a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on publishing stories from women who have been through something, now they know something, and can teach us something.

Learn more about Jessica's first book: Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six

Learn more about the Deserts to Mountaintops Anthologies. If you're interested in hearing interviews with our Soul Speak Press authors, check out the Deserts to Mountaintops Podcast.

Krista Clive-Smith talks through her own career journey from a professional organizer to a personal branding expert to visionary founder of Merack Publishing. As Krista wrote her first book, she saw a gap in the publishing industry and started Merack Publishing - a boutique, non-fiction publishing house built by authors, for authors.

In this illuminating dialogue with Jessica, Krista discusses the varying pathways of traditional, self, and non-traditional publishing models, empowering authors with invaluable insights to make the right decision for their book-publishing goals. Merack Publishing and Soul Speak Press champion the importance of connection and alignment, fostering an environment where authorial voices resonate with profound authenticity. 

Listen in on this powerful conversation, where passion meets purpose, and authors find solace in a community driven by creativity, integrity, and unwavering dedication to craft.

Learn more about Merack Publishing online. 

This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, a NYT Bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder of Soul Speak Press. Soul Speak Press is a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on publishing stories from women who have been through something, now they know something, and can teach us something.

Learn more about Jessica's first book: Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six

Learn more about the Deserts to Mountaintops Anthologies. If you're interested in hearing interviews with our Soul Speak Press authors, check out the Deserts to Mountaintops Podcast.

Sometimes people don't show up for you, and it can be really disappointing, especially when you value the relationship. Jess offers some advice for when someone doesn't show up during your book launch. 

This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, a NYT Bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder of Soul Speak Press. Soul Speak Press is a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on publishing stories from women who have been through something, now they know something, and can teach us something.

Learn more about Jessica's first book: Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six

Learn more about the Deserts to Mountaintops Anthologies. If you're interested in hearing interviews with our Soul Speak Press authors, check out the Deserts to Mountaintops Podcast.

The countdown is ON for our upcoming book launch! Deserts to Mountaintops: The Pilgrimage of Motherhood will be available for purchase on Saturday, January 25th. This week Jess shares a helpful list of things that she and the contributing authors can do to prepare for the launch. 

1. Ask for help. Rally your community and organize a team of ambassadors.
2. Talk about it A LOT on social media and across your networks.
3. Know your PR and Marketing plan.
4. Celebrate your accomplishment!
5. Rest. This is a marathon, not a sprint.

This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, a NYT Bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder of Soul Speak Press. Soul Speak Press is a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on publishing stories from women who have been through something, now they know something, and can teach us something.

Learn more about Jessica's first book: Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six

Learn more about the Deserts to Mountaintops Anthologies. If you're interested in hearing interviews with our Soul Speak Press authors, check out the Deserts to Mountaintops Podcast.

Happy New Year from Soul Speak Press! Jess shares some thoughts and plans for 2025, including new business "experiments" and opportunities for writers to join our community. 

This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, a NYT Bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder of Soul Speak Press. Soul Speak Press is a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on publishing stories from women who have been through something, now they know something, and can teach us something.

Learn more about Jessica's first book: Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six

Learn more about the Deserts to Mountaintops Anthologies. If you're interested in hearing interviews with our Soul Speak Press authors, check out the Deserts to Mountaintops Podcast.

Becky Ellis shares insights from writing her memoir as well as her extensive experience in the publishing industry. Becky is a Timberwolf Pup and her story confronts the silence surrounding the generational impact of war. The daughter of a highly decorated World War II combat sergeant, she is a veteran of a war fought at home. She earned a BA in English Literature at UC Berkeley and has over twenty years of experience in the publishing industry. She teaches writing in Portland, Oregon, where she lives, plays, and has raised three daughters. Little Avalanches is her debut memoir.

Jess and Becky delve into memoir as a form of activism and the immense value in talking about the things we're not talking about. They discuss trends in traditional publishing, particularly the shift from publishers to writers handling the heavy lifting when it comes to marketing a book. Becky emphasizes the importance of starting a newsletter and building loyalty with your audience, and the stamina required to write a memoir and keep showing up to share your story.

Learn more at https://beckyellis.net

https://instagram.com/beckyellisauthor

Little Avalanches by Becky Ellis

This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, a NYT Bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder of Soul Speak Press. Soul Speak Press is a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on publishing stories from women who have been through something, now they know something, and can teach us something.

Learn more about Jessica's first book: Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six

Learn more about the Deserts to Mountaintops Anthologies. If you're interested in hearing interviews with our Soul Speak Press authors, check out the Deserts to Mountaintops Podcast.

Tune in this week for a candid conversation with Loren Buchanan, Director of Marketing at Soul Speak Press. Jess and Loren discuss the complexities of marketing a book, beyond just sales numbers, and what true success can look like for authors. Loren emphasizes the importance of setting specific marketing goals that align with an author’s vision, rather than focusing solely on book sales.

They dive into how speaking engagements, podcast interviews, and building a strong social media presence can serve as powerful components of a holistic marketing strategy. For authors looking to navigate the often daunting world of book promotion, Loren’s insights offer valuable guidance on how to craft a marketing plan that works for them—one that considers both their goals and the broader, long-term impact of their work.

This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, a NYT Bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder of Soul Speak Press. Soul Speak Press is a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on publishing stories from women who have been through something, now they know something, and can teach us something.

Learn more about Jessica's first book: Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six

Learn more about the Deserts to Mountaintops Anthologies. If you're interested in hearing interviews with our Soul Speak Press authors, check out the Deserts to Mountaintops Podcast.

Our guest this week is Brenda Daly, author of ""I Got Up: A Mother's Story of Grief, Resilience, and Unending Love." Brenda is a Certified Grief Therapist and LCSW with over 40 years of experience in clinical social work, including work with eating disorders, addiction, codependence and alcoholic family systems. As a result of the loss of her son Kevin, Brenda had become a specialist in Grief Therapy and grief education. Join Jess in conversation with Brenda as they discuss her writing journey, resilience in the context of grief, and healing through art and creative practices.

This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, a NYT Bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder of Soul Speak Press. Soul Speak Press is a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on publishing stories from women who have been through something, now they know something, and can teach us something.

Learn more about Jessica's first book: Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six

Learn more about the Deserts to Mountaintops Anthologies. If you're interested in hearing interviews with our Soul Speak Press authors, check out the Deserts to Mountaintops Podcast.

Jess speaks with Sue Muraida, writing teacher and author of several books including the 2023 memoir Going Back for Me. Sue talks about the joy and satisfaction that comes with finishing a manuscript, what it's like to work with Jess, and the benefits of meeting with a group of writers through the process. 

Sue Muraida is a writer, speaker, and pursuer of abundant life, living in Grand Junction, Colorado, where she is on a mission to hike every trail and climb every fourteener on the Western Slope. Learn more at www.suemuraida.com

This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, a NYT Bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder of Soul Speak Press. Soul Speak Press is a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on publishing stories from women who have been through something, now they know something, and can teach us something.

Learn more about Jessica's first book: Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six

Learn more about the Deserts to Mountaintops Anthologies. If you're interested in hearing interviews with our Soul Speak Press authors, check out the Deserts to Mountaintops Podcast.