The Author's Corner

We're thrilled to have Mark Herschberg back on the show to chat with us about the future of content and how writers can deal with the various challenges of marketing their work. So listen in to hear relevant information you need to start bringing buzz around your brand and content.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• The definition of books, content, and authors throughout time
• Issues authors face when creating and selling content on social media
• Key pieces to promote your content easily
• Advantages of using the Brain Bump app
• Most helpful feature of Brain Bump

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• The Book of Theseus: When is a Book Not a Book?
• I Love Lucy
• TikTok
• Twitter
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Instagram 

About Mark Herschberg

From tracking criminals and terrorists on the dark web to creating marketplaces and new authentication systems, Mark has spent his career launching and developing new ventures at startups and Fortune 500s and in academia, with over a dozen patents to his name.

He helped to start the Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program, dubbed MIT's "career success accelerator," where he teaches annually. At MIT, he received a B.S. in physics, a B.S. in electrical engineering & computer science, and an M.Eng. in electrical engineering & computer science, focusing on cryptography.

At Harvard Business School, Mark helped create a platform used to teach finance at prominent business schools. He also works with many non-profits, currently serving on the board of Plant A Million Corals. He was one of the top-ranked ballroom dancers in the country and now lives in New York City, where he is known for his social gatherings, including his annual Halloween party, as well as his diverse cufflink collection.

• Website: Brain Bump
• Mark's Book: The Career Toolkit

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Join The Author’s Corner Community today:

• Website: Robin Colucci
• LinkedIn: R Colucci, LLC
• Facebook: Robin Colucci
• Twitter: @Robin_Colucci
• Robin Colucci’s Book: How to Write a Book That Sells You: Increase Your Credibility, Income, and Impact

Discover Steve Harrison’s secrets to gaining big-time publicity when you tune in to today’s episode as we chat about the National Publicity Summit and his expert networking tips. Listen until the end to learn how to utilize your book as a brand-building tool so you can land significant media coverage today!

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• National Publicity Summit: What it is and what you can learn from it
• Best follow-up advice to pique the media's interest
• Why you should make media connections even before writing your book
• Powerful tips to make your book a New York Times Best Seller
• Tools and resources to help you promote your book like a pro

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• BookCon
• The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris
• Chicken Soup for the Soul by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen | Paperback and Kindle
• The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck | Paperback and Kindle
• You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero | Paperback and Kindle

About Steve Harrison

Ever wonder how books like Chicken Soup for the Soul, Men are From Mars, Women Are From Venus and Rich Dad Poor Dad became the perennial bestsellers that they are? What if I told you they all have one man in common, that that guy is here with us today?

For the past 40 years, Steve Harrison and his brother, Bill Harrison, have helped authors, experts, entrepreneurs, non-profit organizations, public relations pros, and others score more media coverage.

Their company, Bradley Communications Corp, has helped over 15,000 authors write and/or promote their books. His clients have been featured in major media outlets like Good Morning America, The Today Show, CNN, MSNBC, The View, Fox News, Entrepreneur, New York Times, O the Oprah Magazine, Time, and countless radio shows.

How do they do it? Well, two ways. One is through their publication, RTIR, which provides all the insider info you need to connect with the right shows at the right time, and the other way, and what we will focus on today, is through their National Publicity Summit, a conference during which attendees have the chance to learn from and personally meet top journalists and producers. Previous Publicity Summit participants have been featured on or in such major media as ABC's The View, Today Show, Parade, Fox News Channel, Dateline NBC, 48 Hours, Family Circle, Parents, People magazine, ABC Radio Network, Health magazine, Time magazine, New York Post, Good Housekeeping, MSNBC, and many others.

Steve graduated from Davidson College, but he was first bitten by the media bug in high school while working as a freelance writer for the local newspaper.

Website: National Publicity Summit

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Join The Author’s Corner Community today:

• Website: Robin Colucci
• LinkedIn: R Colucci, LLC
• Facebook: Robin Colucci
• Twitter: @Robin_Colucci
• Robin Colucci’s Book: How to Write a Book That Sells You: Increase Your Credibility, Income, and Impact

Discover Steve Harrison’s secrets to gaining big-time publicity when you tune in to today’s episode as we chat about the National Publicity Summit and his expert networking tips. Listen until the end to learn how to utilize your book as a brand-building tool so you can land significant media coverage today!

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• National Publicity Summit: What it is and what you can learn from it
• Best follow-up advice to pique the media's interest
• Why you should make media connections even before writing your book
• Powerful tips to make your book a New York Times Best Seller
• Tools and resources to help you promote your book like a pro

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• BookCon
• The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris
• Chicken Soup for the Soul by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen | Paperback and Kindle
• The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck | Paperback and Kindle
• You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero | Paperback and Kindle

About Steve Harrison

Ever wonder how books like Chicken Soup for the Soul, Men are From Mars, Women Are From Venus and Rich Dad Poor Dad became the perennial bestsellers that they are? What if I told you they all have one man in common, that that guy is here with us today?

For the past 40 years, Steve Harrison and his brother, Bill Harrison, have helped authors, experts, entrepreneurs, non-profit organizations, public relations pros, and others score more media coverage.

Their company, Bradley Communications Corp, has helped over 15,000 authors write and/or promote their books. His clients have been featured in major media outlets like Good Morning America, The Today Show, CNN, MSNBC, The View, Fox News, Entrepreneur, New York Times, O the Oprah Magazine, Time, and countless radio shows.

How do they do it? Well, two ways. One is through their publication, RTIR, which provides all the insider info you need to connect with the right shows at the right time, and the other way, and what we will focus on today, is through their National Publicity Summit, a conference during which attendees have the chance to learn from and personally meet top journalists and producers. Previous Publicity Summit participants have been featured on or in such major media as ABC's The View, Today Show, Parade, Fox News Channel, Dateline NBC, 48 Hours, Family Circle, Parents, People magazine, ABC Radio Network, Health magazine, Time magazine, New York Post, Good Housekeeping, MSNBC, and many others.

Steve graduated from Davidson College, but he was first bitten by the media bug in high school while working as a freelance writer for the local newspaper.

Website: National Publicity Summit

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Join The Author’s Corner Community today:

• Website: Robin Colucci
• LinkedIn: R Colucci, LLC
• Facebook: Robin Colucci
• Twitter: @Robin_Colucci
• Robin Colucci’s Book: How to Write a Book That Sells You: Increase Your Credibility, Income, and Impact

Explore the transformative power of storytelling with Melanie Hicks in today's episode as we look into writing as an outlet for your emotions, her new venture, Ink Elephant, plus tips to bring your story to life in a way that amplifies its impact. So tune in and learn how you can make your story worth telling.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• 2 hurdles you need to overcome to write a compelling book
• Why it's important to acknowledge the different chapters of your life
• How does writing affect your mental health?
• The role of writing in addressing social issues
• Helpful advice for aspiring writers

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Ep. 18 InPursuit of DEI & Belonging with Crystal Whiteaker
• The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron | Paperback and Kindle

About Melanie Hicks

Melanie Hicks is a work lifecycle expert focused on education, nonprofit and small business trends. With more than two decades of experience, she has worked with more than 100 clients.

In addition to her consulting work through her company, InPursuit, Dr. Hicks is an awarded author and grant writer with more than 20 years of writing experience; business cases, speech writing, sales copy, and more than $90M in grants, and most recently, her first full-length manuscript.

She has been published in numerous magazines and websites, including Forbes.com, Ellevate Network, Authority Magazine, and others. 

But today, she is here to speak with us about her latest venture, Inked Elephant, a boutique publishing firm with a mission to tell 10,000 stories by 2025 and create a positive social impact. Today, we talk about her mission and the importance of storytelling for self-awareness and healing for both the author and the reader.

Website: Inked Elephant Publishing | InPursuit Research

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Join The Author’s Corner Community today:

• Website: Robin Colucci
• LinkedIn: R Colucci, LLC
• Facebook: Robin Colucci
• Twitter: @Robin_Colucci
• Robin Colucci’s Book: How to Write a Book That Sells You: Increase Your Credibility, Income, and Impact

Join us for another one of our limited edition Robin’s Riff episodes as we chat about why you should stop waiting for the “perfect time” to start writing your book and how you can recognize the right timing to publish your book based on the market’s interest. Tune in and learn how to find the time to write despite your busy life!

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• Why there’s never a perfect time to start a book
• Psychological factors that stop you from writing a book
• Reasons NOT to write a book
• The importance of being intentional when writing and publishing your book

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Imposter Syndrome
• The Time Cleanse: Steven Griffith Shares How You Can Overcome The Oldest Excuse In The Book For Why You Aren’t Writing

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Join The Author’s Corner Community today:

• Website: Robin Colucci
• LinkedIn: R Colucci, LLC
• Facebook: Robin Colucci
• Twitter: @Robin_Colucci
• Robin Colucci’s Book: How to Write a Book That Sells You: Increase Your Credibility, Income, and Impact

Bill Murphy joins us in today’s episode to share his inspiring story about overcoming adversities in life, recognizing your self-worth, and how you can do the same. So tune in and learn actionable tips to set yourself up for success!

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• Benefits of practicing a gratitude mindset
• Powerful advice to help you understand yourself better
• How to establish healthy habits
• Valuable lessons from mistakes and experiencing trauma
• Challenges and benefits of writing a book about your life

About Bill Murphy

Growing up in a toxic and abusive home environment, Bill Murphy was constantly overwhelmed by fear and doubt. Nevertheless, he was motivated to show those around him that he could accomplish what he set out to do in spite of being verbally and physically knocked down.

Bill believes that when the storm hits, you have three choices: give up and become a victim; do what you can to survive or learn to thrive. You don’t need to have exceptional talents or resources to overcome adversity, be resilient, and achieve extraordinary goals. You are capable of more than you realize. You can learn to thrive. Bill Murphy is proof.

Bill will be the first to tell you he is nothing special, but he’s been able to overcome an abusive childhood, post-traumatic stress (PTSD), mental health challenges, and unexpected crises to finish an Ironman earn a black belt in Krav Maga, and run the Boston Marathon five times—including one on crutches. He’s a regular guy who is now thriving at the top of his profession, too. Through his debut release, Thriving in the Storm: Nine Principles to Help You Overcome Any Adversity, he seeks to explain how anyone can achieve similar success.

Outside of writing, Bill is also a nationally recognized mortgage originator who has closed over one and a half billion dollars in loans and a top producer for 25 years. He has raised over $500,000 for the Make-A-Wish-Foundation, and actively supports a number of charities, including Fairway Cares, The American Warrior Initiative, and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. He is the founder of the nonprofit Thrive Foundation.

Bill’s Book: Thriving in the Storm: Nine Principles to Help You Overcome Any Adversity

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Join The Author’s Corner Community today:

• Website: Robin Colucci
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• Twitter: @Robin_Colucci
• Robin Colucci’s Book: How to Write a Book That Sells You: Increase Your Credibility, Income, and Impact

Learn about non-fiction and mystery fiction in today’s episode with established author Cecelia Tichi. Don’t miss our chat about how to relate your writing to your target market and some snippets from her best-selling series, the “Val and Roddy DeVere Gilded Series.”

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• The correlation between non-fiction and mystery fiction
• Challenges to writing mystery fiction books and series
• How to efficiently incorporate history in your fiction book
• The impact of literary theory in writing and reading
• Why authors need to understand the real meaning of entertainment

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• The Call of the Wild by Jack London | Paperback and Kindle
• The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson | Paperback and Kindle
• How to Write a Book That Sells You by Robin Colucci | Paperback and Kindle
• One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss | Paperback and Kindle

About Cecelia Tichi

A native of Steel City, Pittsburgh, Cecelia Tichi is an award-winning author and faculty member at Vanderbilt University, where she is the Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of English and American Studies emerita. Her books span American literature and culture from colonial days to modern times, more recently focused on the 1870-1914 Gilded Age that prompted her book on Jack London and another on seven activists in that tumultuous era. Tichi’s What Would Mrs. Astor Do? A Complete Guide to the Manners and Mores of the Gilded Age (2018) segues to her new mystery series, the “Val and Roddy DeVere Gilded Series,” starting with A Gilded Death, together with Murder, Murder, Murder in Gilded Central Park, and A Fatal Gilded High Note—and this fall, A Deadly Gilded Free Fall. Cecelia is at work on a fifth historical mystery in the series, “A Gilded Drowning Pool.” She enjoys membership and posting in Facebook’s The Gilded Age Society. Cecelia’s books have been reviewed in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and elsewhere.

Tichi is the Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of English and American Studies at Vanderbilt University, a past president of the American Studies Association, and the Jay B. Hubbell Medal winner for lifetime achievement in American literature. She regularly talks at the American Studies Association annual meetings, colleges and universities, and book fairs. She has been interviewed on radio and television and has spoken to book clubs, church, and synagogue groups and audiences of well over one thousand persons. Listed in Who’s Who, she held the honorific Chair of Modern Culture at the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress in 2005-07 and, in 2012, was named the Andrew W. Mellon Fellow at the Huntington Library (San Marino, California).

• Website: Cecelia Tichi
• Cecelia’s Books: Author Cecelia Tichi Gilded Age Books

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Join The Author’s Corner Community today:

• Website: Robin Colucci
• LinkedIn: R Colucci, LLC
• Facebook: Robin Colucci
• Twitter: @Robin_Colucci
• Robin Colucci’s Book: How to Write a Book That Sells You: Increase Your Credibility, Income, and Impact

Check out this episode with best-selling science fiction author Gary F. Bengier as we dive into the editing and marketing process of writing a novel, why he chose to be an indie author, and some sneak peeks into his book Unfettered Journey. Don’t miss our multilayered conversation to sharpen your writing abilities and broaden your thinking today.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• Challenges in writing science fiction novels and the future of technology
• Expert advice for cohesive and better writing
• Should you write from one or more characters’ points of view?
• Tips for developing well-rounded characters
• Marketing platforms and advice you should know about
• Pros and cons of self-publishing your book

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Google Glass
• Qualia
• Moby Dick by Herman Melville
• Scrivener
• Microsoft Word
• Editorial Freelancers Association
• Adobe Premiere Pro
• WordPress
• KDP Select
• IngramSpark
• Smashwords
• Barnes & Noble
• Dune by Frank Herbert | Paperback and Kindle

About Gary F. Bengier

Gary F. Bengier is a writer, philosopher, technologist, and author of the bestselling sci-fi novel Unfettered Journey. He grew up in the small Midwest town of Richmond, Ohio, playing in unfettered woods, developing an early love for nature, and learning self-reliance. He is a Kent State University undergrad hooked on astronomy, and his fascination with science drew him to California’s tech industry, which led him to become eBay’s Chief Financial Officer. 

A polymath, Gary has an MBA from Harvard Business School and an MA degree in philosophy from San Francisco State University. Gary lives in San Francisco with his wife, Cynthia. When he isn’t traveling the world, he raises bees and makes a nice Cabernet at the family’s Napa vineyard. 

• Website: Gary F. Bengier
• Gary’s Book: Unfettered Journey by Gary F. Bengier

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Join The Author’s Corner Community today:

• Website: Robin Colucci
• LinkedIn: R Colucci, LLC
• Facebook: Robin Colucci
• Twitter: @Robin_Colucci
• Robin Colucci’s Book: How to Write a Book That Sells You: Increase Your Credibility, Income, and Impact

Criminal defense lawyer Alexandra Shapiro joins us in today’s episode to share her fiction-writing journey and discoveries as a practicing lawyer. Keep listening to learn more about the value of constructive criticism for better writing, plus her novel Presumed Guilty.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• How novels creatively portray the reality of criminal cases
• The process, challenges, and joys of writing a novel
• Valuable lessons from Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Presumed Guilty: What it’s about, and who are the main characters?
• Why feedback is necessary to improve your writing

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Creator Institute

About Alexandra Shapiro

Alexandra Shapiro is a criminal defense lawyer and one of the leading appellate lawyers in the United States. She was one of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s first clerks on the Supreme Court, served as a federal prosecutor in Manhattan, and later founded an elite litigation “boutique” firm, Shapiro Arato Bach LLP, which handles many high-profile cases.

In early 2021, Alexandra embarked on a new journey — fiction writing. She wanted to raise awareness about problems with the criminal justice system and how sometimes even innocent people can get unfairly prosecuted in the United States. Her novel, Presumed Guilty, shows how the system does not always function properly, even for those with significant financial resources, let alone the numerous criminal defendants who face the challenge of prosecution with little to no resources. The book has received acclaim by reviewers in the New Your Law Journal, Forbes, and Kirkus and was an “Editor’s Pick” in Publisher’s Weekly’s BookLife Reviews.

Alexandra, a native New Yorker, has three children. She lives in Manhattan with her husband (another criminal defense lawyer) and is an avid photographer.

• Website: Shapiro Arato Bach
• Alexandra’s Book: Presumed Guilty: A Novel

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Join The Author’s Corner Community today:

• Website: Robin Colucci
• LinkedIn: R Colucci, LLC
• Facebook: Robin Colucci
• Twitter: @Robin_Colucci
• Robin Colucci’s Book: How to Write a Book That Sells You: Increase Your Credibility, Income, and Impact

Understand and harness the power of your book before you even write it as we chat about how to guide your writing so you can create content to help you achieve bigger goals. Tune in to today’s special episode to leave a legacy you can be proud of!

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• Common author misconceptions about book sales and marketing
• Why addressing these queries is vital before starting a book
• Five questions to ask yourself before writing a book and why
• The advantages of effectively utilizing your book

Resource Mentioned in This Episode

How to Write a Book That Sells You by Robin Colucci | Paperback and Kindle

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!

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Join The Author’s Corner Community today:

• Website: Robin Colucci
• LinkedIn: R Colucci, LLC
• Facebook: Robin Colucci
• Twitter: @Robin_Colucci
• Robin Colucci’s Book: How to Write a Book That Sells You: Increase Your Credibility, Income, and Impact