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Most authors believe the journey ends when the book is published.

Aleta Hodge proves it can actually begin there.

In this episode, Rodney Washington sits down with author, historian, playwright, and cultural preservationist Aleta Hodge to discuss the newly updated Second Edition of Indiana Avenue: Life and Musical Journey from 1915 to 2015.

Together, they explore why books shouldn't exist in isolation and how authors can build thriving communities, immersive experiences, educational opportunities, and lasting impact around the work they create.

Whether you're an author, coach, speaker, educator, or creator, you'll discover practical ideas for transforming your expertise into something much larger than a book.

In this conversation:

• Aleta shares how childhood curiosity led her to preserve the history of Indiana Avenue.

• Why interviewing people directly creates richer, more authentic stories.

• The inspiration behind writing about Noble Sissle and preserving overlooked history.

• Why updating a published book can be a powerful strategy.

• Creating the Indiana Avenue Jazz Experience Community.

• Why authors should think beyond book launches.

• How community creates long-term opportunities.

• The importance of listening to readers.

• Why experiences create deeper impact than products alone.

• Building an ecosystem instead of simply selling books.

📖 Indiana Avenue: Life and Musical Journey from 1915 to 2015 (Second Edition)

📖 The Robust Life and Music of Noble Sissle, Sr.

🎷 Indiana Avenue Jazz Experience Community

🎤 The Published Creator Podcast on YouTube

📖 Preview of my forthcoming book The Authorpreneur Decision

🎤 5 Costly Mistakes Stopping You From Turning Your Content Into a Paid Offer, a Book, or Both Masterclass 

Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text

What if everything you've been taught about building authority is incomplete?

For years, we've been told to write a book, launch a podcast, grow a following, and post more content. While those are all valuable strategies, they aren't what creates authority.

In this episode, I share a powerful breakthrough I experienced from attending David Shands' Podcast Summit in Atlanta and explain why the future of authority isn't about creating more content. It's about building an ecosystem around your message.

You'll discover why your book isn't the destination; it's the catalyst, and how the most successful creators build trust, influence, and opportunities by thinking beyond individual platforms.

Whether you're an author, coach, consultant, speaker, entrepreneur, or creator, this episode will challenge the way you think about personal branding, authority, and the future of your business.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

•  Why expertise alone is no longer enough to build authority 
•  The biggest shift Rodney experienced after attending David Shands' Podcast Summit 
•  Why "What got you here won't get you there" is essential for every entrepreneur 
•  The difference between creating content and building an authority ecosystem 
•  Why your book should be the beginning of your business, not the end goal 
•  The simple mindset shift that creates opportunities before your book is even published 
•  How to stop thinking like a content creator and start building like an authority 

Key Takeaway

Your authority isn't your book. Your authority isn't your podcast. Your authority isn't your follower count.

Your authority is the trust you've earned by consistently helping people move from where they are to where they want to be.

Everything else is simply the delivery system.

📖 Complimentary Preview: The Authorpreneur Decision

If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to invite you to download a complimentary preview of my forthcoming book, The Authorpreneur Decision.

Inside, you'll discover why building a successful author business begins long before your book is published and how to transform your expertise into an authority ecosystem that creates influence, opportunities, impact, and income.

Download your complimentary preview:
👉 http://authordecision.com/

Connect with Rodney Washington

🌐 Published Creator Skool Community

📚 Published & Thriving YouTube Channel

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepublishedcreator 

If you enjoyed this episode...

Please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another creator who's ready to build an authority that's bigger than a book.

Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text

Most authors believe the opportunity comes after the book is published.

More sales.
More clients.
More speaking engagements.
More visibility.

But what if that's the wrong way to think about it?

In this episode, Rodney Washington sits down with Paige Stapleton and Brian Stark, co-founders of Authentic Marketing, for a powerful conversation about why your book should never be viewed as the finish line.

Together, they explore why so many authors, coaches, consultants, speakers, and creators are sitting on valuable intellectual property they're not fully leveraging—and how a book can become the entry point into a much larger ecosystem of opportunities.

You'll discover:

• Why your marketing isn't about convincing people—it's about listening

• How conversations become your most valuable source of content and messaging

• Why the real money often comes from the relationships a book creates, not the book itself

• How to stop hiding behind your book and start building visibility around your message

• The difference between building a product and building an ecosystem

• Practical ways to turn one book into content, community, speaking opportunities, consulting engagements, and additional revenue streams

If you're writing a book, thinking about writing a book, or wondering how to create more opportunities from the one you've already published, this conversation will challenge the way you think about authorship, marketing, and monetization.

Because your book isn't the business.

It's the doorway.

Connect with other Published Creators on my Skool Community:
https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767/about

Apply for a Complimentary Authorpreneur Readiness Assessment:
https://author-ecosystem-builder.lovable.app/

Access a preview from my forthcoming book, The Authorpreneur Decision

Paige and Brian create a gift for listeners of the podcast called:
The Authentic Content Multiplier™ https://authenticmarketing.ai/rodney

How to Turn One Core Idea Into Weeks of Content, Conversations, and Client Opportunities, Without Constantly Starting From Scratch.

Subscribe to The Published Creator Podcast for more conversations on publishing, authority building, podcast guesting, and creating profitable opportunities around your expertise.

Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text

🚀 Want help mapping YOUR idea into income?

Book a Monetize Your Book Before You Publish Mapping Session, and let’s break it down together

To get started, join me inside the Published Creator community where we do this live:  👉 https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767

Episode Description:

Most creators think the next step is writing a book.

But what if that’s the slowest—and least profitable—way to monetize your ideas?

In this episode of the Published Creator Podcast, I sit down with Raissa Silva, founder of Outsmart Your Toxic Boss, who chose a completely different path…

Instead of writing a book, she turned her expertise into a card game, and built an experience people can play, share, and talk about.

Inside this conversation, we break down:

•  Why books aren’t always the best starting point
•  How to turn your ideas into experiential products
•  The real reason most creators struggle to monetize 
•  How to validate your idea before you create it
•  Why feedback > perfection when building anything 
•  The concept of “shapeshifting authorship” (this will change how you think about content) 

If you’ve been sitting on a book idea… this might completely shift your strategy.

🎯 Connect with Raissa:
👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raissa-silva/
Kickstarter Waitlist: https://www.outsmartyourtoxicboss.com/see-the-game

🔁 Subscribe for more:
If you’re a coach, creator, or expert who wants to turn your content into real revenue—not just content for content’s sake— this show is for you.

📅 NEW VIDEO EVERY WEEK ON YOUTUBE
🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications.

👥 FOLLOW RODNEY on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepublishedcreator/

👥 FOLLOW RODNEY on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodneylwashington/

Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text

If you’re writing a book right now… you might want to pause.

Because the reason most books don’t sell has nothing to do with the writing—and everything to do with what you’re building around it.

In this episode, Rodney Washington breaks down why your book isn’t the business… and what you need to build before you publish if you actually want influence, income, and opportunities.

🎯 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

Why publishing your book is NOT the finish line

The biggest mistake most self-published authors make

Why Amazon is a fulfillment platform—not your marketing strategy

How to stop writing in isolation and start building demand

The Published Creator Flywheel (visibility → audience → offers → book → opportunities)

How to validate your ideas before your book is finished

Why authority, not your manuscript, is what drives sales

⚙️ THE CORE SHIFT

Most people follow this path:

Write the book → Publish → Hope people buy

Authorpreneurs do this instead:

Build visibility → Attract audience → Create offers → Then publish

👉 The book becomes a result—not the starting point

🔥 READY TO APPLY THIS?

If this episode clicked for you, don’t stop at understanding it.

*Join my next Authorpreneur Decision Live Masterclass*
I’ll help you map your idea into an authority platform and show you how to turn your content into a book and a business.

👉 Register here: https://publishedandthriving.com/authorpreneurmasterclass

👥 CONNECT & GO DEEPER

👉 Join the Published Creator Skool Community
🔗 https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767/about

👉 Subscribe on YouTube for more episodes
🔗  @thepublishedcreator  

🔥 KEY TAKEAWAY

If you don’t have authority…

You don’t have a book problem.

You have a visibility, audience, and positioning problem.

📌 FINAL INVITATION

Don’t just write a book.

Build something that makes the book inevitable… valuable… and profitable.

Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text

If you’re an author, coach, speaker, or expert, you’ve probably been told your next step is to “build an online course.”

We're often told:

👉 “Build an online course.”
👉 “Create passive income.”
👉 “Record modules and scale.”

But what happens when people buy… and never finish?

In this conversation, I sit down with Executive Learning Producer Parchelle Osumaré to unpack why traditional online courses are struggling — and what smart experts are building instead.

This isn’t about information anymore.
It’s about transformation.

Parchelle has helped hundreds of authors, coaches, and organizations turn their intellectual property into immersive learning experiences that actually move people — and generate real impact and income.

If you have expertise, a book, or a message you want to monetize, this episode will fundamentally change how you think about packaging what you know.

🎯 In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

✔ Why course completion rates are collapsing
✔ The real reason people buy educational products
✔ Why more content does NOT equal more results
✔ How to design learning experiences people actually finish
✔ The role of community, cohorts, and facilitation
✔ How to build an ecosystem around your expertise
✔ What to create instead of another self-paced course

👤 About Parchelle Osumaré

Parchelle is an Executive Learning Producer and Founder of The Author’s Leverage. They specialize in helping experts transform their knowledge into premium learning assets, including private podcasts, interactive frameworks, facilitated cohorts, and strategic educational experiences.

Connect with Parchelle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parchelle/

🚀 Ready to Turn Your Expertise Into Real Income & Impact?

Take the FREE Authorpreneur Readiness Assessment
👉 https://forms.gle/aPVR5cV7RzG4KNnAA

Discover your next best step to build a book, offer, or experience that actually sells.

🔔 Subscribe for More

If you’re an author, coach, speaker, or content creator who wants to build a business around your ideas — not just sell information — subscribe for weekly insights on publishing, positioning, and monetization.

🎧 Listen on Podcast Platforms

(Search “Published Creator Podcast” on your favorite platform)

Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text

Uncover where you are and what your next step should be as an Authorpreneur by taking the 👉 Authorpreneur Readiness Assessment

Most authors believe the path to making money from their book is selling more copies.

It’s not.

The authors who build thriving businesses from their books focus on something deeper. They get clear on their WHY.

Your WHY determines who buys from you, what opportunities find you, and whether your book becomes a one-time project… or a lifelong asset that fuels your brand, income, and impact.

In this video, I break down why clarity on your WHY is the real foundation of building a book that attracts clients, collaborators, and opportunities beyond book sales.

If you're writing a book, or thinking about writing one, this may be the most important decision you make.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why selling more book copies is not the real goal
• The hidden reason most authors never monetize their book
• How your WHY determines your income potential as an author
• Why clarity attracts clients, collaborators, and opportunities
• How to position your book as the foundation of a thriving ecosystem

This is for you if:

• You’re writing your first book
• You’ve published a book but aren’t seeing meaningful income
• You’re a coach, creator, or expert with a message
• You want to build a business around your book
• You want to become an Authorpreneur, not just an author

Learn how to turn your book into clients, income, and opportunities.

New videos weekly: Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more videos on building a thriving book-based business:

Connect with Rodney Washington
👉 On Instagram
👉Join my free Published Creators Skool Community https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767/about

Authorpreneur Strategist | Founder of Published & Thriving
Helping creators turn books into thriving brands and ecosystems

Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text

What if a single leaf could open the door to a lifetime of curiosity?

In this episode, longtime educator and author Rosetta Wood shares the story behind her beautifully illustrated science storybook, The Miracle of Changing Leaves: A Journey Through Seasons.

After more than 25 years in the classroom, Rosetta witnessed firsthand how children light up when they connect with the natural world. A simple moment during a fall field trip, watching a woodpecker tap into a tree, sparked questions from her students that would eventually grow into a book designed to help children understand why leaves change color, how trees grow, and what happens during each season of the year.

Her mission is to nurture curiosity, environmental awareness, and a lifelong love of learning in children.

This conversation explores how storytelling can make science accessible, memorable, and meaningful for young readers.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or homeschool educator, this episode will inspire you to see nature as a classroom—and help your child do the same.

📘 In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

• Why children are naturally drawn to trees, leaves, and seasonal change
• How Rosetta turned classroom moments into a science storybook
• Simple ways to help children understand photosynthesis and plant growth
• Why emotional connection make learning science more effective
• How parents and educators can nurture curiosity through observation
• The deeper mission behind The Miracle of Changing Leaves

🌱 About the Book

The Miracle of Changing Leaves: A Journey Through Seasons is a beautifully illustrated science storybook that helps children ages 7–11 understand:

• Why leaves change color
• How trees grow and transform
• What happens inside a leaf during each season
• How to observe and appreciate the natural world

Written by educator Rosetta Wood, this book blends STEM education with gentle storytelling to help young readers fall in love with nature.

🍁 Order the book on Amazon

Download the free coloring pages:
👉 The Miracle of Changing Leaves: A Journey Through Seasons

⭐ If You Enjoyed This Episode

Please follow, rate, and share this episode with a parent, teacher, or educator who would love helping children discover the miracle happening in every leaf.

Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text

Rodney and Chela are hosting a live virtual experience called The Authorpreneur Decision, designed to help you clarify your authority, map your monetization ecosystem, and turn your book into a credibility engine.

💸 Join Us For The Live Cohort 💸
https://publishedandthriving.com/decision

Publishing a book doesn’t make you an authority.

In this conversation, Rodney Washington is joined by publishing project manager and author support specialist Chela Hardy to break down a truth most professionals discover too late: the book is not the business, it’s the engine.

They unpack why so many smart, experienced creators publish a book, put it on Amazon, and then wonder why nothing changes… and what actually needs to be in place before and during the publishing process for a book to create credibility, clients, and momentum.

This episode reframes the entire idea of “writing a book” into something far more powerful: building an ecosystem.

You’ll hear:

Why Amazon is a fulfillment tool, not an authority strategy

How existing content (podcasts, blogs, talks, YouTube) is already your book

The mindset shift from “writing” to building a book

Why most authors get stuck after publishing — and how to avoid it

What it really means to make the Authorpreneur Decision

How books become entry points into communities, programs, and experiences

Why authority is built through intention, mapping, and experience — not sales alone

This isn’t about writing faster, selling more copies, or chasing bestseller lists.

It’s about deciding how you want to show up in the world — and designing your book to support that decision.

If you’re a coach, consultant, speaker, content creator, or professional with a message — and you want your book to do more than sit on a shelf, this conversation will change how you think about publishing.

✅ Follow Rodney:
https://instagram.com/thepublishedcreator
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodneylwashington/

🚀 Join The Published Creator Skool Community 🚀
https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767/about

✅ Follow Chela:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelahardy/
https://www.reggiebrownreads.com/
https://www.askchela.com/

Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text

Most authors think marketing means promotion, pressure, or constantly “selling themselves.”

In this episode of the Published Creator Podcast, I sit down with Keisha Williams, creator of the Money Alphabet: ABC of Money Activity Coloring Book, to explore a very different approach—one that feels natural, relational, and effective.

What began as a simple idea to help her nephew learn about money has grown into a book that sparks conversations, builds confidence, and spreads organically through everyday interactions. No hype. No ads. No aggressive tactics. Just clarity, consistency, and sharing the work in real life.

This episode is a real-world case study in how authors can market their books simply by talking about them in meaningful ways—and why that approach often outperforms waiting on Amazon or social media algorithms to do the work for you.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why the most effective book marketing rarely feels like marketing
• How everyday conversations can become your most powerful promotional tool
• What makes a book naturally shareable
• How simplicity and clarity help ideas spread
• Why books that create dialogue tend to create opportunities

If you’re an author (or aspiring author) who wants your book to do more than sit on a sales page, this episode will help you rethink how momentum is really built.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about the Money Alphabet: ABC of Money Activity Coloring Book and grab a sample.
• Click here if you're interested in bulk orders, community use, or collaboration opportunities
• Want help turning your book into a living ecosystem? Take the free Book-to-Ecosystem Assessment