The TufFish Show

Welcome Angela Terry to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

As you look at the current book you’re writing, do you see strong themes showing up? Can you see them in previous books you’ve written or read? In this fun conversation with Angela Terry, we talked about how one particular theme started showing up in her writing and what she did to hone it even more. We also talked about the fact that part of what makes a good story is that it has relatable characters. Characters that grow and change because of what they’ve been through or that they can sit in the gray area, so I enjoyed how Angela talked about the way she blending her theme and characters and can’t wait to hear what comes up for you after you listen.

Angela Terry is the award-winning and Amazon best-selling author of Charming Falls Apart, The Trials of Adeline Turner, and The Palace at Dusk. She is an attorney who formerly practiced intellectual property law at large firms in Chicago and San Francisco. She is also a Chicago Marathon legacy finisher and races to raise money for PAWS Chicago—the Midwest’s largest no-kill shelter. She resides in San Francisco with her husband and two cats, and is currently working on her next novel.

Visit https://www.angelaterry.com/

Book purchase links -

Charming Falls Apart

The Trials of Adeline Turner

The Palace at Dusk

Welcome E. Danielle Butler to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

The saying “it takes a village” is so appropriate when you think about what it takes to bring your thought leadership or imagination into the world. And your book is no exception. Sometimes, we need a sounding board. Sometimes we know what we want to say, but need help getting it conveyed in a way that readers will not only want to read it, but want to continue the conversation with us or with each other. This powerful and deep conversation with E. Danielle Butler shines a beautiful light on how taking a “Yes and” approach as well as strategic partnerships with thought partners will strengthen your message and expand your business. Danielle also demystifies what it means to work with a ghost writer and why you might want to.

E. Danielle Butler is an accomplished interdisciplinary storyteller and author of eight independently published books. She is a respected ghostwriter and collaborator committed to using words as catalysts for change and inspiration. Danielle’s mission is to capture and create cultural movements through storytelling. Since 2018, Danielle has ghostwritten 13 books, including a collection of business e-books.

As a speaker and workshop facilitator, Danielle shares on the topics of publishing, writing craft, and the creative process. She also leads discussions on diversity across industries.

Beyond her professional achievements, Danielle is wife to Brandon and mom to Zoe and Zachary.

Visit - http://www.edaniellebutler.com

Book purchase link - https://www.amazon.com/stores/E.-Danielle-Butler/author/B071W3JL7Z?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Welcome to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

So many times we tell ourselves what’s not working, rather than what’s possible. We can beat ourselves because we haven’t seen the success we envisioned when we did our book release, or participated at a book signing, or using social media. We end up focusing on what we don’t want. To shift that and get to where you want to go, I suggest adding one word and why in this short-n-sweet episode.

Jennifer Milius is an entrepreneur, coach, developmental editor, author, and host of The TufFish Show who helps creatives bring out their inner greatness so that they get comfortable using their voice, sharing their message, and being visible.

Whether it’s speaking to elementary school students about courage and confidence; helping authors and creatives move to their next level through coaching, developmental editing, refining keynote speeches, instructions through course or workshops; or even having them on The TufFish Show, Jen believes when you share your gifts and message, you bring joy to others and show what’s possible for them.

Visit - https://www.jennifermilius.com/stylist

Get free resources - https://www.jennifermilius.com/start

Get the book: Author Stylist Guide: Own Your Greatness, Get Visible, and Share Your Message

Welcome Tami Matheny to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

As writers and business owners, we create experiences for our readers and clients. We use storytelling to create an adventure, to develop empathy, and to show what’s possible, so we serve our community well. Yet, do we pay attention to the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves? What is the self-talk we choose? Are we stretching in our craft and in our business or playing small? If you could use a pep talk or a way to reframe the stories your telling yourself, let this powerful and deep conversation with Tami Matheny get you going in the right direction.

Tami Matheny is owner of Tami Matheny Coaching. Through mental game coaching, keynote speaking, and writing, she strives to help others build their own confidence as well as how to rise above adversity. Additionally, she is a member of the Jon Gordon Team. Tami craves challenges herself as she has completed 50k running races and recently a 100 mile bike race.

Visit - http://www.tamimatheny.com
Book purchase link - https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tami-Matheny/author/B07954JCJN?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Welcome Lee Bukowski to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Part of creating believable character driven stories is incorporating authentic dialogue and honoring your voice as an author, and to do this well, writers might have to break a few rules. During this conversation Lee Bukowski shares some key tips that will help any writer hone their skills whether it’s for their current work in progress or as they create community with their readers via their website, email list or social media.

Lee Bukowski lives in Reading, PA, where she teaches freshman writing at Alvernia University. When she's not teaching or writing, she loves reading and traveling, especially visiting her grown daughters in Boston and Fort Lauderdale. Lee is also a self-proclaimed Billy Joel superfan with a live concert count of 49 shows. A Week of Warm Weather is her debut novel. She's currently at work writing her second book, a fiction novel about hope, forgiveness, and second chances.

Visit - http://www.leebukowski.com

Book purchase link - A Week of Warm Weather

Welcome Jeff Heggie to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

When you view your book as a way to bring more people into your world, into your business, it shifts how you think about and talk about the book. This powerful conversation with Jeff Heggie shows how a book can be a form of a business card, and what can happen when you stay open to the possibilities. Jeff shared his co-authoring journey and the importance of talking about your message, even if it’s exactly what you wrote in your book. Jeff provided some ways to come through the challenges that authors and business owners face. Whether you are in the middle of writing your book, have hit publish or have been at it while, let this conversation with Jeff keep you going and moving to your next level.

Jeff Heggie is a seasoned Entrepreneur, Author and Success Coach dedicated to helping individuals achieve their dreams. Specializing in mastering the mental game, he empowers athletes to reach their full potential and guides athletes & entrepreneurs to 10X goals by cultivating the right mindset. With over two decades of entrepreneurial experience and coaching, Jeff breaks through mental and physical barriers to drive success. As a former professional rodeo cowboy and basketball coach with a deep appreciation for family and sports, he emphasizes the crucial role of mindset in achieving greatness. Jeff and his wife, Tamara, now call Arizona home, where they continue to inspire others to elevate their performance with confidence.

Visit - http://www.JeffHeggie.com

Book purchase link - https://amzn.to/3uOTRiG

Welcome Dr. Lona Bailey to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

Research is an important part of writing your book, depending on the genre. Some require more and some require less, and in the case of writing biographies, it’s vital. Dr. Lona Bailey shares how she brings each person she writes about “back to life” so that person’s legacy is honored. We talk about how she strikes the balance between her narrative and the person she’s writing about as well as when she knows the story is done.

Dr. Lona Bailey is an award-winning Golden Age of Hollywood researcher and writer of Uncredited: The Life and Career of Actress Virginia Gregg, Voice of Villainy: The Betty Lou Gerson Story, Mrs. Radio: The Cathy Lewis Story, and The Wasp Woman: The Life, Career, and Brutal Murder of Hollywood’s Susan Cabot. As a PhD and former therapist, Dr. Bailey is passionate about telling the untold stories of women who perhaps weren’t finished using their own voices during their earthly journeys. Her biographic works offer a balanced perspective on the multidimensional elements involved in feministic legacy-maintenance with particular interest in the preservation efforts of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Dr. Bailey's "Voice of Villainy" biography was a finalist in the International Book Awards for 2023 and won the Gold Medal Award in the Dan Poynter's Global Ebook Awards Contest of 2023. Dr. Bailey has been featured on The Wolfe Den Show, in Film Daily, and in The Los Angeles Tribune.

Visit - www.lonabaileywrites.com

Book purchase link - Voice of Villainy: The Betty Lou Gerson Story https://a.co/d/etCIPnm

Recently I had the pleasure of speaking about courage and confidence with an amazing group of women in Winchester, Virginia. As I was driving home, I got to thinking about small beginnings and small steps. When you think about the micro decisions that you make to help you get to where you want to go, you'd be amazed at how many there were. Sometimes we can only see the starting point and the result, but not all the smaller steps to get from point A to point B.

Sometimes those smaller steps and beginnings have to do with trying something new and us managing our expectations.

If you've been in your head because you "only sold 3 books" or "only had 1 person" sign up for your newsletter or "only had 10 people" attend a workshop, I invite you to check out this episode and get a different perspective.

Jennifer Milius is an entrepreneur, coach, developmental editor, author, and host of The TufFish Show who helps creatives bring out their inner greatness so that they get comfortable using their voice, sharing their message, and being visible.

Whether it’s speaking to elementary school students about courage and confidence; helping authors and creatives move to their next level through coaching, developmental editing, refining keynote speeches, instructions through course or workshops; or even having them on The TufFish Show, Jen believes when you share your gifts and message, you bring joy to others and show what’s possible for them.

Visit - www.jennifermilius.com/stylist

Get free resources at http://www.jennifermilius.com/start

New book - Author Stylist Guide: Own Your Greatness, Get Visible, and Share Your Message

Book bonuses: www.jennifermilius.com/books

Welcome Meg Welch Dendler to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

What a pleasure to welcome back my friend and also editor for Author Stylist Guide, Meg Dendler! We had a fabulous conversation that centered around how involving editors help to strengthen your book and how to choose the right person or people to work with, so it’s your voice that’s in your book.

Meg Dendler has considered herself a writer since she won a picture book contest in 5th grade and entertained her classmates with ongoing sequels for the rest of the year. Beginning serious work as a freelancer in the '90s while teaching elementary and middle school, Meg has over one hundred articles in print, including interviews with Kirk Douglas, Sylvester Stallone, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. She has won contests with her short stories and poetry, along with multiple awards for her best-selling "Cats in the Mirror" alien rescue cat children's book series. Bianca: The Brave Frail and Delicate Princess was honored as Best Juvenile Book of 2018 by the Oklahoma Writers' Federation. Meg is also an editor for independent and self-publishing authors.

Visit - https://megdendler.com

Book purchase links - https://www.amazon.com/stores/Meg-Welch-Dendler/author/B00BBNY5O2

Get the Author Stylist Guide and book bonuses here: https://www.jennifermilius.com/books

Visit - https://www.jennifermilius.com/stylist

Get free resources at https://www.jennifermilius.com/start

Welcome Mary Camarillo to The TufFish Show, a place to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way to leave a legacy by telling the stories they want to share through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. The writing process can be tough and the business side can feel scary, but TufFish makes both feel smoother and achievable. Visit https://www.jennifermilius.com/tuffish to learn more.

As a writer, do you appreciate the boundaries that writing can create? Sometimes when there’s so many ways you can take a story, and Mary Camarillo suggests that setting some parameters can help. We also talked about how to work through feedback when you may conceptually understand what is being suggested, but not necessarily how to execute it. We also talked about why it’s ok for characters not to be likeable.

Mary Camarillo is the author of the award-winning novels Those People Behind Us and The Lockhart Women. Her awards include the 2022 Indie Author Project Award for California Adult Fiction, the 2022 Willa Literary Award Finalist in Multiform Fiction, and the 2021 First Place Award in the Next Generation Indies for First Fiction. She currently serves on the advisory boards of Citric Acid, An Orange County Literary Arts Quarterly, and LibroMobile, An Arts Cooperative and Bookstore in Santa Ana, California. Mary lives in Huntington Beach, California with her husband, who plays ukulele, and their terrorist cat Riley, who makes frequent appearances on Instagram.

Visit - https://www.marycamarillo.com

Book purchase links:

Those People Behind Us

The Lockhart Women

LINKS FROM JEN:

Free Resources: https://www.jennifermilius.com/start

Get your copy of Author Stylist Guide: Own Your Greatness, Get Visible, and Share Your Message - https://a.co/d/90U3q3t