What inspired you to begin writing? And what makes you keep trying when it’s hard? This week’s Publishing Secrets guest, Rayna Best, found that the process of getting her book finished and published took longer and was more complex than she had anticipated. But she didn’t let that stop her. The “why” behind her work – the message she wanted to share with her own daughters and with other children – was strong enough to make her keep trying, even when she was rejected or feeling impatient.

Along the way, Rayna has learned some valuable strategies and lessons about what it really takes to get your book published and into the hands of readers. Listen as she shares how persistence and adaptability helped her accomplish her dream.

Have you ever had a plan for what you thought you were meant to write about, but then something happened that changed your entire vision? This week’s Publishing Secrets guest, Teresa Burns, experienced a tragedy that inspired her to write something very different than what she had originally imagined. Despite challenges along the way, she was able to see her new dream through and find exactly the help she needed in order to make it happen. Listen and be encouraged by her story of how everything came together in the end.

What would you do if your life changed overnight due to a medical condition that left you unsure about the future and in chronic pain? That’s the circumstance this week’s Publishing Secrets guest, Dr. Sabrina Crouch, found herself in. But in her search for healing, she learned that she needed an internal solution even more than an external one. And that discovery set Sabrina on a journey to share her story with others who are in the same situation. Let her story of resilience inspire and remind you that sometimes what we really need is not to keep holding on – but to let go.

Have you ever found yourself in a place you didn’t want to be with no idea how you got there? This week’s Publishing Secrets guest, Patience Frisby, had made choice after choice that dug her deep into a hole and left her angry with God and with herself. But the story doesn’t end there -- Patience found a way to change the trajectory of her life and build back up her confidence and her faith. If you have found yourself in a similar hole that you aren’t sure how to get out of, let her story encourage you to “stop digging” and get back on track to where -- and who -- you want to be.

Do you ever feel that writing and publishing a book is impossible for you? Maybe you don’t know where the time or the funds will come from, or maybe you’re afraid of being vulnerable and sharing your story with others who might try to use it against you. Whether you wrestle with one or all of these worries, this week’s Publishing Secrets guest, Aleshia Brown, has been there.

Listen and be inspired by her account of how God took her from what felt like a point of death to a position of leadership, and from not trusting others with her words to publishing not one but three books – with more on the way.

It’s time to take everything you’ve learned from the First 5 series and put it into practice. If you’ve finished the previous episodes and are now wondering what steps to take next, you’re right where you should be!

In this finale episode, Coach Tam connects the dots between each of the five steps to help you take meaningful action on writing and publishing your book. Don’t miss a special offer at the end that is exclusive to followers of the Publishing Secrets Podcast!

You’ve made it to step #5! You’re almost ready to get started on an outline for your book – but don’t just jump in and skip this 5th step. It’s vital that you organize your book in a way that will connect with your readers on a core level, and in this episode Coach Tam tells you exactly how to do that.

Don’t miss this final step in the First 5 series – and stay tuned for a special bonus episode coming up on Friday that will bring everything together and get you started on the next stage of your journey as an author!

Now that you’ve figured out who you’re writing your book for, how can you know that you are answering their questions and solving their problems? How can you be sure that you haven’t gotten the persona wrong? If people only buy books that they believe will help them, how can you convince them to pick yours over all the others out there?

If you’re worried about making the right connection with your ideal reader, this episode is the one you need! Coach Tam walks you through the process of testing your theory, so you can be confident that your book will accomplish its purpose.

As an aspiring author, chances are you want your book to do more than just sell – you want it to change lives. But a common mistake many aspiring authors make is that they write for themselves instead of the people who will buy their book.

In the third episode of the First 5 series, Coach Tam lays out some tough-love truths about who you need to write for if you want your book to make an impact. Learn how to take the book you know you’re called to write and tailor it to the people you’re called to help.

Every aspiring author dreams of being successful. But dreaming of success and actually believing at your core that you can be successful are two separate things. In order to achieve your dream, you have to believe that it’s possible – and that requires some self-examination to see what mindset blocks are holding you back.

In the second episode of the First 5 series, Coach Tam examines some of the ways that writers short-circuit their own progress, as well as how to overcome these limiting beliefs. Stop letting your mind talk you out of what you know is possible!