In this episode of the Project Seed Money Podcast, host Sharissa Bradley welcomes Shamayne Olivia Kotfas to discuss her incredible journey from a life of "playing roles" to becoming a published author and coach.

Shamayne shares the raw details of her midlife transformation, including navigating divorce, job loss, and the tragic death of her first husband. She explains how she compiled years of journal entries into a book and workbook to help other women find their own "starting place" for emotional healing. You'll learn about her unique "Shoe" metaphor for personal growth and why she believes it is never too late for a woman to share her story.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to Shamayne Olivia Kotfas.

00:36 – Why Shamayne didn't always want to be an author.

01:00 – The turning point: When people started asking for her story.

02:14 – Navigating the business: The impact of the Women in Publishing Summit.

03:31 – Boutique Publishing vs. Self-Publishing her workbook.

06:58 – Battling the "What Ifs": Overcoming self-doubt in the writing process.

08:15 – Finding your voice: How her writing evolved over the years.

10:30 – Writing in unconventional places (Why her bed is her favorite "office").

12:56 – The Midlife Pivot: Dealing with trauma, grief, and family dysfunction.

15:30 – The "Shoes That Fit Her Soul" Metaphor: Finding your foundation.

18:54 – Where to find Shamayne's work and upcoming workshops.

19:11 – Final Advice: Why your unique story is needed in the world.

Connect with Shamayne:

Workbook: Available on Amazon

Website: www.ShoesThatFitHerSoul.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoes.that.fit.her.soul/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1211720383153305

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shamayne-olivia-kotfas-06404a72/

Join us on the Project Seed Money Podcast as we delve into the journeys of inspiring female authors, sharing their challenges and triumphs to empower your writing path. Don't miss an episode—subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform. For additional resources and to connect with our community, visit projectseedmoney.com. If you have a story to share, reach out to be featured in an upcoming episode.

Follow Project Seed Money on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projectseedmoney/

Watch this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gQHSpGY6n9Q

What if you received an entire book idea during your morning meditation? That is exactly what happened to Diana Colleen, who left a career she disliked to pen a provocative near-future speculative novel. In this episode, Diana joins Sharissa Bradley to discuss the concept of "Billionairism" as a curable mental illness and how psychedelic-assisted therapy plays a role in her narrative. We dive into the grit required to query 100 agents, the importance of finding a supportive writing community, and why every author needs to "develop the muscle" of celebrating their own achievements.

Episode Highlights:

[01:00] The 8-year meditation practice that unlocked a global story.

[04:15] "Ignorance is bliss": Writing 10 hours a day without knowing "the rules."

[05:43] The pivot: When agents say your book is "too timely" to wait for traditional publishing.

[14:11] Defining Billionairism: Near-future speculative fiction with a mission.

[15:48] Building thick skin: Why hearing "your writing sucks" is actually a gift.

Connect with Diana:

Website: dianacolleenauthor.com

Socials: @DianaColleenAuthor

Email: [email protected]

Join us on the Project Seed Money Podcast as we delve into the journeys of inspiring female authors, sharing their challenges and triumphs to empower your writing path. Don't miss an episode—subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform. For additional resources and to connect with our community, visit projectseedmoney.com. If you have a story to share, reach out to be featured in an upcoming episode.

Follow Project Seed Money on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projectseedmoney/

Watch this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/M38WQzp9fNY

In this episode of the Project Seed Money Podcast, host Sharissa Bradley sits down with author and book coach Liisa Kovala to discuss the "serendipitous" journey of her writing career.

Liisa shares the deeply moving story of her father, a Finnish merchant marine who survived Nazi concentration camps and death marches—a story she felt compelled to tell to honor his legacy. From her 28-year career as a high school teacher to her transition into full-time writing and book coaching, Liisa explores the Finnish concept of Sisu (grit and resilience) and why every writer should "start before they are ready".

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Welcome and Introduction
• 00:32 – The Power of Childhood Dreams: Teacher, Dancer, Writer
• 02:14 – From High School Teacher to Creative Catalyst
• 03:22 – Capturing a Legacy: Writing Her Father's WWII Survival Story
• 05:43 – The Healing Power of Storytelling and Bonding through History
• 07:26 – The "Serendipitous" Road to Publishing
• 12:11 – Exploring Fiction: Sisters' Winter War and Finnish Heritage
• 16:13 – Overcoming Self-Doubt and Embracing the Learning Process
• 19:18 – Understanding Sisu: Resilience in the Face of Adversity
• 21:32 – Transitioning from Teaching to Full-Time Book Coaching
• 24:15 – The Courage to Pivot: Leaving a 28-Year Career
• 29:16 – Where to Find Liisa's Books and Coaching Services
• 30:30 – Final Words: Why You Must Start Before You're Ready

Connect with Liisa:

• Website: liisakovala.com / LiisaKovalabookcoach.com
• Substack: Women Writing
• Free Resource: The Sisu Writing Method

Join us on the Project Seed Money Podcast as we delve into the journeys of inspiring female authors, sharing their challenges and triumphs to empower your writing path. Don't miss an episode—subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform. For additional resources and to connect with our community, visit projectseedmoney.com. If you have a story to share, reach out to be featured in an upcoming episode.

Follow Project Seed Money on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projectseedmoney/

Watch this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Y0gwleCrOJc

In this episode of Project Seed Money, host Sharissa Bradley sits down with author Tricia Copeland to talk about how her writing career began in an unexpected way.

Tricia shares how she didn't enjoy writing in school and never planned to become an author. It wasn't until her thirties—while reflecting on her experience with anorexia as a young adult—that she began writing a fictionalized story inspired by her own journey. What began as something to do while staying home with young children eventually became a four-book series and the start of a long writing career.

During the conversation, Tricia discusses writing her first 160,000-word manuscript, spending years editing it, querying traditional publishers, and ultimately deciding to publish independently. She also shares the vulnerability of releasing such personal work, how she manages self-doubt, and the marketing systems she developed over time as she continued publishing more books.

More than twenty novels later, Tricia reflects on what she has learned about writing, publishing, and encouraging new authors to simply start telling their stories.

Show Notes

In this episode, author Tricia Copeland discusses:

• Discovering writing later in life
• Writing a story inspired by her personal experience with anorexia
• Turning her first manuscript into a four-book series
• Querying traditional publishers and receiving industry feedback
• Choosing the independent publishing path
• Facing vulnerability when sharing personal stories
• Managing reviews and reader feedback
• Creating a launch checklist for publishing new books
• The importance of community and author networks
• Advice for women who want to write their first book

Contact Guest:

Website

www.triciacopeland.com

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/authortriciacopeland/

Facebook

www.facebook.com/TriciaCopelandAuthor

TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@triciacopelandauthor

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/triciacopelandbrzostowicz/

Newsletter

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/5OvUXxI/tricacopelandauthor

Welcome back to the Project Seed Money Podcast!

In this episode, Sharissa Bradley sits down with author Teresa Muliro (also known as Terry Trishan) to talk about her memoir-style book Dear Black Girl: This Is My Story, Yours Too and the movement growing behind it.

Teresa shares that she never set out to become an author. Writing found her through her work with women and youth in her community. What began as a personal reflection evolved into a memoir that examines her life as an "ordinary African girl," critiques broken systems, and calls women to own their stories — both the good and the bad.

They discuss:

• Why she chose to self-publish through Amazon KDP
• The constant self-doubt around privacy and public vulnerability
• Using accountability to keep going
• How frustration with systemic barriers fueled the book
• Her mother's influence and her desire to build generational change
• The birth of the Dear Black Girl Movement

This episode is about voice, ownership, and choosing courage even when fear never fully leaves.

🔗 Links Mentioned

• Book: Dear Black Girl: This Is My Story, Yours Too (Amazon – primary platform)
• Dear Black Girl Movement (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn)
• Teresa Muliro (LinkedIn – official name)
• Terry Trishan (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X)
• Linktree

  https://linktr.ee/teresamuliro

  https://linktr.ee/dbg.movement

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 — Welcome to Project Seed Money 00:07 — Introducing Teresa Muliro 01:13 — "Writing found me" 02:00 — Telling the story of an ordinary African girl 03:21 — Researching publishing options 04:00 — Why she rejected traditional publishing 05:00 — Choosing self-publishing for ownership 06:00 — The book as a mirror 07:14 — Constant self-doubt & privacy fears 08:00 — Accountability through telling people 09:38 — Setting deadlines publicly 10:19 — Tools beyond accountability 11:00 — Her mother as fuel 12:00 — Frustration with broken systems 13:15 — Desire to build better futures 14:00 — What the memoir covers 15:00 — Owning unethical choices & rewriting the narrative 17:00 — Where to find the book 18:00 — E-book accessibility & global access 19:28 — Finding her online (Teresa Muliro / Terry Trishan) 21:13 — Encouragement for first-time authors 22:00 — Her mother's illness & urgency 23:00 — Writing to build tangible resources 24:00 — "Remember your why" 26:07 — Closing

🎧 Listen wherever you stream podcasts

Watch on youtube: https://youtu.be/b5CWcLM4Kkw

Welcome back to the Project Seed Money Podcast!

In this episode, Sharissa Bradley sits down with industry professional editor Dakota Nyght to talk about what authors really need to know before hiring an editor.

Dakota shares her journey from journalism and technical writing into freelance editing, how perfectionism shaped her skillset, and why specialization matters in today's publishing industry.

They dive deep into:

• The difference between developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, and proofreading
• When authors should reach out to book an editor
• What the onboarding and sample edit process looks like
• Red flags to watch for when interviewing editors
• Why extremely cheap editing rates can signal quality issues
• Why "you can't edit nothing" might be the most important writing advice of all

This episode is practical, transparent, and empowering for authors navigating the editing process for the first time.

Links Mentioned

• Dakota's Website: https://dakotanyght.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA)

  Instagram

  https://www.instagram.com/dakotanyghtediting

  Facebook

  https://www.facebook.com/DakotaNyght/

  LinkedIn

  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dakotanyght/

Timestamps

00:00 — Welcome to Project Seed Money 00:07 — Introducing Dakota Nyght 00:27 — How Dakota got into editing 01:00 — Journalism, feature writing & pivoting to technical writing 02:00 — Moving into freelancing 02:30 — Certification through University of Washington 03:12 — Variety in freelance editing 04:16 — Genres Dakota edits (romance, magical realism, speculative) 05:00 — Spiritual self-help & heart-centered entrepreneurs 06:00 — Genres she does NOT edit (horror, thriller, excessive gore) 06:48 — Community & Author Nation experience 08:39 — When authors should reach out to book an editor 09:00 — Developmental vs line vs copy vs proofreading explained 11:00 — Why completed manuscripts matter 12:00 — The sample edit process 14:00 — Timeline expectations (3–6 weeks typical edit window) 15:32 — Questions authors should ask editors 17:00 — Intake forms & goal alignment 19:00 — Why interviewing multiple editors matters 20:41 — Red flags in the editing industry 22:00 — Why combining developmental & full line edits can waste money 23:00 — Transparency & referral disclosure 23:30 — Warning about extremely cheap editing rates 25:08 — Where to find Dakota 26:40 — Encouragement for writers afraid of editing 27:00 — "You can't edit nothing" 28:11 — Closing

Join us on the Project Seed Money Podcast as we delve into the journeys of inspiring female authors, sharing their challenges and triumphs to empower your writing path. Don't miss an episode—subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform. For additional resources and to connect with our community, visit projectseedmoney.com. If you have a story to share, reach out to be featured in an upcoming episode.

Follow Project Seed Money on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projectseedmoney/

Watch this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XrPJQafxkFY

Welcome back to the Project Seed Money Podcast!

In this episode, Sharissa Bradley sits down with author Kristine Jensen, whose debut novel Wednesday Club explores emotion, storytelling, and the courage to finally write the book you want to write.

Kristine shares how she built a long career as a professional writer in film, video production, and marketing copy before becoming a novelist. While she had always been a writer, authoring a novel felt far more vulnerable — and far more fulfilling — because it allowed her to tell stories rooted in emotion and personal truth.

She talks openly about querying agents for nearly two years, the emotional toll of rejection, and the deeply personal motivation to see her book published while her mother could still hold it in her hands. That realization ultimately led her to choose self-publishing, where she embraced the learning curve and discovered a sense of control and creative freedom.

This conversation also dives into the changing publishing landscape, the importance of education and resources for indie authors, and why writing community is essential for finishing a book.

🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned

• Website: https://wednesday-club.com

• Instagram

  https://www.instagram.com/wednesday_club_novel/

• Facebook

  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578121348283

• Book retailers:
• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
• Bookshop.org
• Local independent bookstores
• Writing groups and author communities

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 — Welcome to Project Seed Money 00:07 — Introducing Kristine Jensen 00:53 — Always being a writer, not always an author 01:00 — Career in film, video, and marketing writing 01:45 — Vulnerability of novel writing 02:22 — Love of emotion in storytelling 03:00 — Poetry, screenwriting, and creative roots 03:27 — Why writing a novel felt intimidating 04:07 — Choosing self-publishing 04:09 — Querying agents for nearly two years 05:00 — Emotional toll of rejections 05:30 — Publishing while her mother could see the book 06:00 — Reframing self-publishing as a positive choice 06:30 — Learning the indie publishing process 07:00 — Control and flexibility in self-publishing 08:00 — Changing perceptions of indie books 09:00 — Watching a friend lose an agent 10:00 — The reality of traditional publishing timelines 10:41 — Workshops, books, and education 11:25 — Building confidence through learning 12:07 — Tools for navigating vulnerability 12:30 — "I don't want to die wondering" 13:20 — Community as a survival tool 14:00 — Writing groups and shared feedback 15:00 — Writing alone vs. belonging 16:00 — Sharing early chapters safely 17:00 — Being an unreliable judge of your own work 18:00 — Finishing the novel with community support 18:25 — Where to find Kristine and Wednesday Club 19:17 — Advice for writers on the fence 19:58 — Trust the process 20:21 — Closing

Join us on the Project Seed Money Podcast as we delve into the journeys of inspiring female authors, sharing their challenges and triumphs to empower your writing path. Don't miss an episode—subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform. For additional resources and to connect with our community, visit projectseedmoney.com. If you have a story to share, reach out to be featured in an upcoming episode.

Follow Project Seed Money on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projectseedmoney/

Watch this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gX3mNh1tHY4

🎙️ Welcome back to the Project Seed Money Podcast!

In this episode, Sharissa Bradley sits down with author Amy Friedl, creator of the Strong Girls Travel children's book series, to talk about leaving a 22-year teaching career, navigating self-doubt, and building a self-published book series that's now eight books strong.

Amy shares how she always dreamed of being in the book world — even calling publishers as a child — but didn't step fully into authorship until she left teaching for her mental health. She opens up about hiring a publishing coach, working with a brutally honest editor, building a repeatable system for releasing books, and learning to navigate vulnerability after publication.

With seven books in her national park-based Strong Girls Travel series (plus one standalone), Amy also discusses launch mistakes, file corrections, Ingram uploads, and why leaning on a team makes all the difference.

🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned

• Website: stronggirlstravel.com
• Bookshop.org (for indie bookstore support)
• Amazon (ebooks via KDP)
• Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @StrongGirlsTravel

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 — Welcome to Project Seed Money 00:07 — Introducing Amy Friedl 00:28 — Calling publishers as a child 01:51 — Leaving a 22-year teaching career 03:00 — Students helping build her first book 04:33 — Facing self-doubt (even now) 05:00 — Sending her manuscript to an editor 06:00 — Why editors make you better 07:00 — Women supporting women 08:44 — Hiring a publishing coach 09:00 — Publishing book one (Nov 2023) 09:26 — Releasing seven books in under two years 09:57 — Building a month-by-month production system 11:00 — Stumbling through book one 12:00 — Learning curve with book two 12:17 — Eight books total (seven in series) 12:40 — National park theme & gaining momentum 13:56 — Vulnerability after publishing 14:00 — Mistakes, re-uploads, and Ingram corrections 15:39 — Choosing growth over spiraling 16:33 — Owning your files & fixing mistakes 17:25 — Where to find Amy & her books 18:46 — Advice for authors on the fence

Join us on the Project Seed Money Podcast as we delve into the journeys of inspiring female authors, sharing their challenges and triumphs to empower your writing path. Don't miss an episode—subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform. For additional resources and to connect with our community, visit projectseedmoney.com. If you have a story to share, reach out to be featured in an upcoming episode.

Follow Project Seed Money on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projectseedmoney/

Watch this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lrP4GVq6piU

🎙️ Welcome back to the Project Seed Money Podcast!

In this episode, Sharissa Bradley is joined by author J. M. Shaw for a candid conversation about writing for decades before publishing, receiving an autism and ADHD diagnosis later in life, and finding the courage to finally share her work with the world.

J. M. shares that she has been writing for over 35 years, mostly in private, never believing her work was good enough to be published. After being diagnosed with autism and ADHD in 2019, she began to see writing as her lifelong special interest — and decided it was time to be brave.

She talks about the fear of sending her first manuscript to an editor, the mantra that helped her move forward, and how outside validation changed everything. Jennifer also shares why she turned down traditional publishing offers, chose the indie publishing route, and why retaining control of her work mattered deeply to her.

This episode explores vulnerability after publication, imposter syndrome, marketing reframed as visibility, and the importance of community, editors, and learning as you go.

🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned

• J.M. Shaw's website: www.jmshawauthor.com
• Goodreads (linked via website)
• Alexander Writing Society (Alberta, Canada)
• Canadian Guild of Editors

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 — Welcome to Project Seed Money 00:07 — Introducing J.M. Shaw 00:27 — Writing for 35 years before publishing 00:49 — Autism & ADHD diagnosis as a turning point 01:27 — Sending the manuscript to an editor 01:49 — Fear, mantras, and stepping outside comfort zones 02:35 — Exploring agents and publishing offers 03:00 — Why J.M. chose indie publishing 03:32 — Vulnerability and negative reviews 04:02 — Jennifer's published works and current projects 04:18 — Where to find Jennifer and her books 04:52 — Advice for authors afraid to start 05:36 — Writing as a marathon, not a race 06:00 — Reframing marketing as "showing the world I exist" 06:53 — Learning from editors and other authors 07:52 — Finding editors and professional boundaries 08:26 — Writing communities and the Alexander Writing Society 09:12 — Closing

🎧 Listen on all podcast platforms 📺 Watch the full interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zSKf0qMOmvM

Join us on the Project Seed Money Podcast as we delve into the journeys of inspiring female authors, sharing their challenges and triumphs to empower your writing path. Don't miss an episode—subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform. For additional resources and to connect with our community, visit projectseedmoney.com. If you have a story to share, reach out to be featured in an upcoming episode.

Follow Project Seed Money on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projectseedmoney/

🎙️ Welcome back to the Project Seed Money Podcast!

In this episode, Sharissa Bradley is joined by author and educator Tara Hodgson for an honest conversation about writing stories that reflect what teens are experiencing today, navigating imposter syndrome, and choosing an indie publishing path.

Tara shares that she has always loved writing, filling notebooks with stories, thoughts, and feelings, but never truly believed becoming an author was possible. Life led her into teaching, and it wasn't until 2022 that a story connected to her work with students and her concerns about social media began demanding to be written.

She talks about how the entire story unfolded during a walk, how she wrote privately for a long time without telling anyone, and why the timing finally felt right. Tara also shares her experience working with Friesen Press, why she chose self-publishing, and what it felt like to release something so vulnerable into the world.

This episode explores self-doubt, vulnerability, fiction as a tool for empathy, and why writing stories that spark difficult but necessary conversations matters.

🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned

• Instagram: @TaraHodgsonAuthor

• Website

  www.tarahodgson.ca

• Books available on:
  • Amazon (Canada & U.S.)
  • Indigo (Canada)
  • Barnes & Noble (U.S.)
• Local independent bookstores (rural Alberta, Canada)

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 — Welcome to Project Seed Money 00:07 — Introducing Tara Hodgson 00:26 — Loving writing as a child but not seeing authorship as possible 01:00 — Teaching career and life unfolding 01:08 — The story that wouldn't leave her alone 01:57 — Writing that felt fluid when the timing was right 02:50 — Editing with a trusted friend 03:00 — Querying agents and choosing self-publishing 03:27 — Working with Friesen Press 04:08 — Feeling overwhelmed by the publishing process 04:19 — Imposter syndrome and self-doubt 05:12 — Learning to talk back to the inner critic 06:00 — Why self-doubt doesn't go away 07:06 — Vulnerability after publication 07:59 — Fiction and personal exposure 08:20 — Not being able to stop writing 09:06 — Writing for teens and difficult conversations 09:59 — Where to find Tara and her books 11:03 — Advice for writers who are afraid to start 11:52 — Closing

Join us on the Project Seed Money Podcast as we delve into the journeys of inspiring female authors, sharing their challenges and triumphs to empower your writing path. Don't miss an episode—subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform. For additional resources and to connect with our community, visit projectseedmoney.com. If you have a story to share, reach out to be featured in an upcoming episode.

Follow Project Seed Money on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projectseedmoney/

Watch this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pbpimcfcW9I