If there’s one consistent question I get asked by authors, it’s this… what are some holiday marketing tips? How do I stand out amongst the noise and chaos of the holidays? This question comes up no matter the season… New Year’s, Valentines Day, St. Patrick’s Day and the Fourth of July… but the energy changes when November arrives because the domino effect of holidays is nearly triggered. Panic is starting to set in. We have people to buy for and yet, we want people to buy our books this holiday season too. So many things we ought to do, so little time to do them. On this pop-up episode of Th ..read more

You want to create an audiobook but how in the world do you produce one? Great question! I hadn’t a clue until I rolled up my sleeves and decided it was time for me to bring an audiobook to life. What I learned in the process was the seemingly simple journey of recording you reading your book was anything but simple.  Worth it? Yes. Simple? No way!  I’m so grateful that I was able to produce the audiobook alongside Phil, my audiobook supporter, and together we navigated the hours upon hours of recording, editing, music creation and more to ensure the book readers listen to would cr ..read more

Words matter. Read a book by Mitch Albom and be reminded that each and every word has purpose. Work with an editor and they will help you leverage words with precision and meaning. Words connect people, break down walls and build bridges.  And, guess what... audio matters too.  Listen to a poorly produced podcast, and the mouth noises become like nails on chalkboards. Video calls with poor internet break conversations, hindering discussion that need to be had. And, audio matters in audiobooks if you want to transport a reader/listener into your story.  A well-written book incre ..read more

I was having dinner with a friend who is working on publishing her first novel. We talked about everything under the sun… books and life related. But when she shared the advice of her book coach, I had to add to it.  “I’m going to self publish,” she told me. “Because my book coach said it could take me a year or two for traditional publishing.” I suggested that she add a few years to that. I know people who are multiple years out and still can’t find a literary agent.  She’s self publishing, which I think is smart in today’s publishing landscape, and if that’s the route you’re taking ..read more

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Books build bridges and break down walls. And this episode's discussion is proof of it. I’m joined with my friend and fellow author, Jane Gleeson, author of Who Stole My Ovaries?. She is a heart-centered support for women who are facing fertility challenges. Her book is raw and honest and real, and our conversation on this episode is too. As someone who navigated fertility concerns myself, I appreciate Jane's insights and even wish I had known her or read her book years ago myself.  There is power in story and connecting our stories as well. Ja ..read more

How does your reader consume information? It’s one of the first questions I ask authors who are considering if an audiobook is a good solution for them. If you find yourself considering that maybe an audiobook is a way to share your message with those who need it most and consume information in that format, then by all means, it may be time to turn that book into an audiobook! But before you dive all in, I want you to make sure you have the technical guidance to do so at the professionalism that you and your book deserve. This episode of The emPowered Author Podcast walks through the technica ..read more

Should your book become an audiobook?  Well, it depends. Audiobooks take time, resources and energy to create no matter how you create them. For some authors, it’s the perfect fit for their target reader. For others, it may not be the best use of efforts. It all, well, depends. Understanding the pros and cons for the listeners and you, the author, will help you make a more solid, strategic decisions. Today is a big day over here as I'm launching the audiobook version of Make Your Author emPact: Sell More Books, Increase Your Reach and Achieve Your Why. As myself and Phil Bright, my audi ..read more

From the moment I met Julie Wanzer, I knew she was a rockstar.  Was it her energy? Possibly! She’s filled to the brim with more positivity than I thought one person could hold. Was it her passion? For sure! She loves what she does and it shows. But when I really knew we could be besties was when I learned that her forthcoming book was on LinkedIn! (And if you’ve been around her for a while, you know my stance on the platform. It’s one of the two nonnegotiables I believe every author needs.)  Reading her book was a joy, but spending time with her recording this podcast was even more ..read more

Ever gone out to dinner alone? It’s not something I do regularly, but found myself sitting at a farm to table restaurant that made each plate from scratch at order while on my CEO retreat. The 45-minute wait was worth every minute, however the time I sat waiting for it was an opportunity for a lot of conversation time with me, myself and I.  In normal Stephanie fashion, I found myself exploring the farm to table process and then quickly jumped to the manuscript to book process. (Y’all… I was on a business CEO retreat. What do you expect?!) I decided to leverage the inspiration and use it ..read more

I was having dinner with a friend who is working on publishing her first novel. We talked about everything under the sun… books and life related. But when she shared the advice of her book coach, I had to add to it.  “I’m going to self publish,” she told me. “Because my book coach said it could take me a year or two for traditional publishing.” I suggested that she add a few years to that. I know people who are multiple years out and still can’t find a literary agent.  She’s self publishing, which I think is smart in today’s publishing landscape, and if that’s the route you’re taking ..read more