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Do you have a personal story that you want to turn into a book? Today, Kathi and literary agent Kathleen Kerr are exploring this question. Some stories are hard to share, and it’s important to know how and when to share them.  Listen in and learn the importance of: Incorporating your story into nonfiction books. Waiting until the story is finished. Understanding what your reader needs. Sign up here to be notified when Part 2 of this series is released. Inside Scoop: Sign up for the Writing Tips Newsletter at Writing at the Red House to get Kathi’s 7 Day Platform Plan for free.  

Are you ready to approach book writing in a new way? Today, Kathi and her guest, Crystal Paine, are discussing ways to write your book while living the book.  Listen in and learn the importance of: Thinking through if your story can help one person. Waiting until the story is finished. Understanding what your reader needs. Every writer is going to experience highs, lows, and writers' block. So, it’s important to know steps to take in order to not get overwhelmed and write that book that's in you. Inside Scoop: Sign up for the Writing Tips Newsletter at Writing at the Red House to get Kathi’s 7 Day Platform Plan for free.  

In the third and final episode in this series, Kathi is back with literary agent Kathleen Kerr and the art director for Harper Collins Christian Publishing, Meg Schmidt. Together, they wrap things up by exploring not only some more book covers but also what authors can do to make their team want to work with them again. Listen in and learn: What book covers Kathi likes. The importance of communication in the publishing industry. What makes Meg want to work with an author. If you missed the other episodes in this series, listen to Part 1 and Part 2 now. Sign up here to be notified when new episodes are released. Inside Scoop: Sign up for the Writing Tips Newsletter at Writing at the Red House to get Kathi’s 7 Day Platform Plan for free.  

In this episode, Kathi is back with literary agent Kathleen Kerr and the art director for Harper Collins Christian Publishing, Meg Schmidt. Together, they discuss how authors, agents, editors, and art directors interact, as well as the different things that affect book cover designs. Listen in and learn: What book covers Meg and Kathi like. How cover designs are impacted by supply chain issues. What things make an agent or art director want to work with an author. If you missed Part 1 of this series, click here to listen, and sign up here to be notified when Part 3 is released.  Inside Scoop: Sign up for the Writing Tips Newsletter at Writing at the Red House to get Kathi’s 7 Day Platform Plan for free.

In this episode, Kathi welcomes agent and editor Kathleen Kerr and her sister Meg Schmidt, art director at Harper Collins Christian Publishing. Together, they share ideas to help create the best book cover. In Part 1, Kathi, Kathleen, and Meg share their best tips and advice on how to create your book cover with a publisher. Here are some of their answers: Give them keywords and let them do their job. Think about a visual thesis and then have a conversation. The author’s personal preference isn’t always the audience’s preference. Want to hear more lifechanging episodes from Kathi, Kathleen Kerr, and Meg Schmidt? Come back next week to listen to Part 2 as Kathi, Kathleen, and Meg continue their conversation about creating your best book cover. Sign up here to be notified when new episodes are released! Inside Scoop: Sign up for the Writing Tips Newsletter at Writing at the Red House to get Kathi’s 7 Day Platform Plan for free.  

Are you struggling to market your book? This is the question that Kathi and her former Communicator Academy co-host, Michele Cushatt, tackle in Part 2 of their series about how to bake marketing into your book. Once you’ve figured out your proposal, it’s time to write and edit. Michele shares three key steps in this process: Intentionally inject catchy quotes as you edit to add a punch. Use stories that are both ordinary and extraordinary. Add elements for application. Marketing is an important part of publishing, and with these three steps, you can start yourself off on the right path. Click here to listen to Part 1 of this series, and sign up here to be notified when new episodes are released! Inside Scoop: Sign up for the Writing Tips Newsletter at Writing at the Red House to get Kathi’s 7 Day Platform Plan for free. Preorder your own copy of Michele Cushatt’s new book, A Faith That Will Not Fail, today. Life can be hard. Although there are moments of beauty and goodness, more often than not, life is marked by fear, struggle, disappointment, and loss. And we don’t know what to do with it. We’ve tried to find hope and security in various people and places–but each has proved unworthy of our trust. We need more. Something–or Someone–who won’t fail us when our world falls apart. In this book, beloved author and Bible teacher Michele Cushatt presents a better way. By exploring powerful personal, historical, and biblical stories of people of extraordinary faith, she curates and shares ten practices to help you deepen your confidence and certainty in the God who can be trusted with your worry, questions, confusion, and grief. As a woman who has been through immeasurable suffering, she writes with both deep compassion and practical insight as she guides you to: Practice lament and process grief without guilt or shame. Understand what keeps you from trusting God and how to navigate doubt with truth. Learn simple ways to foster shalom and gratitude on a daily basis. Develop a fresh, eternal perspective that delivers both peace for today and hope for tomorrow. Savor daily “faith-builder” practices to strengthen your confidence in God’s love and purposes for you, no matter what happens. There is hope in your hardship and a God who is both with you and for you. These ten practices point the way to the only One you can truly trust, and ultimately, to a faith in him that will not fail.

Are you overwhelmed or feeling lost when it comes to marketing your book? Then this episode is for you. Kathi sits down with Michele Cushatt to discuss the first steps of how to bake marketing into your book. These steps include: • Determining what has worked in the past. • Assess what readers’ needs are and what they are looking for. • Pay attention to their language. These simple tips will have a huge impact. If you enjoyed today's podcast, you won’t want to miss out next week as Kathi and Michele discuss Part 2. Sign up here to be notified when new episodes are released! Inside Scoop: Sign up for the Writing Tips Newsletter at Writing at the Red House to get Kathi’s 7 Day Platform Plan for free. Preorder your own copy of Michele Cushatt’s new book, A Faith That Will Not Fail, today. Life can be hard. Although there are moments of beauty and goodness, more often than not, life is marked by fear, struggle, disappointment, and loss. And we don’t know what to do with it. We’ve tried to find hope and security in various people and places–but each has proved unworthy of our trust. We need more. Something–or Someone–who won’t fail us when our world falls apart. In this book, beloved author and Bible teacher Michele Cushatt presents a better way. By exploring powerful personal, historical, and biblical stories of people of extraordinary faith, she curates and shares ten practices to help you deepen your confidence and certainty in the God who can be trusted with your worry, questions, confusion, and grief. As a woman who has been through immeasurable suffering, she writes with both deep compassion and practical insight as she guides you to: • Practice lament and process grief without guilt or shame • Understand what keeps you from trusting God and how to navigate doubt with truth • Learn simple ways to foster shalom and gratitude on a daily basis • Develop a fresh, eternal perspective that delivers both peace for today and hope for tomorrow • Savor daily “faith-builder” practices to strengthen your confidence in God’s love and purposes for you, no matter what happens There is hope in your hardship and a God who is both with you and for you. These ten practices point the way to the only One you can truly trust, and ultimately, to a faith in him that will not fail.  

In the last episode, Kathi sat down with Michele Cushatt to discuss the first step of how to take a break from your platform. Now, in Part 2, they are continuing their conversation to reveal the next four steps that Michele learned during her own platform break. These steps include: Establishing a timeline that makes sense for your why. Doing a brain dump of all your tasks and projects. Prioritizing what you can let go of and what you can keep. Communicating to those who need to know, including yourself. Taking a break from your platform can feel overwhelming and scary, but with a little preparation, kindness, and your why, you can do it. Click here to listen to Part 1 of this series, and sign up here to be notified when new episodes are released! Inside Scoop: Sign up for the Writing Tips Newsletter at Writing at the Red House to get Kathi’s 7 Day Platform Plan for free. Preorder your own copy of Michele Cushatt’s new book, A Faith That Will Not Fail, today. Life can be hard. Although there are moments of beauty and goodness, more often than not, life is marked by fear, struggle, disappointment, and loss. And we don’t know what to do with it. We’ve tried to find hope and security in various people and places–but each has proved unworthy of our trust. We need more. Something–or Someone–who won’t fail us when our world falls apart. In this book, beloved author and Bible teacher Michele Cushatt presents a better way. By exploring powerful personal, historical, and biblical stories of people of extraordinary faith, she curates and shares ten practices to help you deepen your confidence and certainty in the God who can be trusted with your worry, questions, confusion, and grief. As a woman who has been through immeasurable suffering, she writes with both deep compassion and practical insight as she guides you to: Practice lament and process grief without guilt or shame Understand what keeps you from trusting God and how to navigate doubt with truth Learn simple ways to foster shalom and gratitude on a daily basis Develop a fresh, eternal perspective that delivers both peace for today and hope for tomorrow Savor daily “faith-builder” practices to strengthen your confidence in God’s love and purposes for you, no matter what happens There is hope in your hardship and a God who is both with you and for you. These ten practices point the way to the only One you can truly trust, and ultimately, to a faith in him that will not fail.  

Life can throw us curve balls, and if we are not careful, our platform can take over our life. In this episode, Kathi is sitting down with her friend and fellow author Michele Cushatt to discuss when taking a platform break is needed and steps to take that break. Michele shares her first book launch experience, which occurred while she was battling cancer. She was led to write more books following Undone. Michele became overwhelmed and knew it was time for her own platform break. Listen in as she shares intimate parts of her story and the first step to taking your platform break. Why you need to take a platform break. Write it down and be clear. Come back next week for Part 2 as Kathi and Michele discuss the next steps to taking a platform break.  Sign up here to be notified when new episodes are released! Inside Scoop: Sign up for the Writing Tips Newsletter at Writing at the Red House to get Kathi’s 7 Day Platform Plan for free. Preorder your own copy of Michele Cushatt’s new book, A Faith That Will Not Fail, today. Life can be hard. Although there are moments of beauty and goodness, more often than not, life is marked by fear, struggle, disappointment, and loss. And we don’t know what to do with it. We’ve tried to find hope and security in various people and places–but each has proved unworthy of our trust. We need more. Something–or Someone–who won’t fail us when our world falls apart. In this book, beloved author and Bible teacher Michele Cushatt presents a better way. By exploring powerful personal, historical, and biblical stories of people of extraordinary faith, she curates and shares ten practices to help you deepen your confidence and certainty in the God who can be trusted with your worry, questions, confusion, and grief. As a woman who has been through immeasurable suffering, she writes with both deep compassion and practical insight as she guides you to: Practice lament and process grief without guilt or shame. Understand what keeps you from trusting God and how to navigate doubt with truth. Learn simple ways to foster shalom and gratitude on a daily basis. Develop a fresh, eternal perspective that delivers both peace for today and hope for tomorrow. Savor daily “faith-builder” practices to strengthen your confidence in God’s love and purposes for you, no matter what happens. There is hope in your hardship and a God who is both with you and for you. These ten practices point the way to the only One you can truly trust, and ultimately, to a faith in him that will not fail.

Have you been experiencing a crisis of confidence? If so, then this is the episode for you. Kathi is sitting down with her friend and fellow author Michele Cushatt to discuss how to regain your confidence after hitting a low point with your writing.  Listen in and learn three ways to get your confidence back: Acknowledge and normalize what is happening. Take stock of how you speak and how you think. Focus on small wins. Every writer is going to experience highs and lows. So, it’s important to know how to handle them so you can keep moving forward in the right direction. Sign up here to be notified when new episodes are released! Inside Scoop: Sign up for the Writing Tips Newsletter at Writing at the Red House to get Kathi’s 7 Day Platform Plan for free.  

Speaking events may be down, but there is a way to get bookings. Are you looking to connect with event planners this year? Then this episode is for you! Join Kathi as she talks to speaker Amberly Neese about different types of speaking events you can be part of or make happen. Listen in and learn the four types of events that could get you noticed: • One Offs • Retreats • Tours • Self-Produced Events As Amberly Neese says, you must serve well to get noticed well. Are you ready to take the next steps to get noticed and get those bookings in 2023? Want to hear more tips for speakers? Be sure to check out Amberly Neese. Sign up here to be notified when new episodes are released! Inside Scoop: Sign up for the Writing Tips Newsletter at Writing at the Red House to get Kathi’s 7 Day Platform Plan for free.  

In this episode, Kathi welcomes agent and editor Kathleen Kerr as the first of several rotating co-hosts on the Writing at the Red House podcast! Together, they share ideas to help you take your writing to the next level in 2023.  Kathi wants to know what agents and editors are looking for and how authors can move toward those goals. Here are some of Kathleen’s answers: Focus on social media engagement, making it a consistent conversation with your audience Reach out to other communicators and supporting one another Clarify your message and be the expert in your niche Want to hear more lifechanging episodes from Kathleen Kerr and Kathi? Go back and listen to their series on “The Author’s Guide to Outlining Your Book in a Day” here: Part 1 and Part 2. Come join Kathi, Kathleen, and the other coaches in The Red House Writers Collective in 2023. If you join The Red House Writers Collective by January 6, 2023, you can get 50% off using the coupon code CHECKIN. All you have to do is go to our website, click on the enroll button, and use the coupon code before the offer expires! Sign up here to be notified when new episodes are released! Inside Scoop: Sign up for the Writing Tips Newsletter at Writing at the Red House to get Kathi’s 7 Day Platform Plan for free.

Are you looking to build your writing business in 2023? Today Kathi is discussing this question with her friend, author and agent Debbie Alsdorf. They share not only a little bit about the business side of the publishing industry but also their tips for making yourself more marketable and ready for an agent. Listen in and learn their four tips, which include: Test your mission and your message. Connect with others. Write every day. The advice Debbie gives to all her clients. Come join Kathi, Debbie, and the other coaches in The Red House Writers Collective in 2023. If you join The Red House Writers Collective by January 6, 2023, you can get 50% off using the coupon code CHECKIN. All you have to do is go to our website, click on the enroll button, and use the coupon code before the offer expires! Sign up here to be notified when new episodes are released! Inside Scoop: Sign up for the Writing Tips Newsletter at Writing at the Red House to get Kathi’s 7 Day Platform Plan for free.

Kathi is back with Amberly Neese to continue their discussion about the four important points to keep in mind when starting or refreshing your speaking career. Last week, they covered the first two points: Getting clear on your topic and your audience’s needs. Now, it’s time to learn the final two points, which focus not only on your audience but also on your event organizer. Listen in and learn how to: Get clear on your deliverables. Get clear on the benefit to the event organizer. If you join The Red House Writers Collective by January 6, 2023, you can get 50% off using the coupon code CHECKIN. All you have to do is go to our website, click on the enroll button, and use the coupon code before the offer expires! Sign up here to be notified when new episodes are released! Inside Scoop: Sign up for the Writing Tips Newsletter at Writing at the Red House to get Kathi’s 7 Day Platform Plan for free.

Are you looking to start or refresh your speaking career? Then this episode is for you! Join Kathi as she talks to Amberly Neese about some important points that can help you stay focused and avoid unnecessary heartache. Listen in and learn the first two points: Get clear on your topic. Get clear on your audience’s needs. If you join The Red House Writers Collective by January 6, 2023, you can get 50% off using the coupon code CHECKIN. All you have to do is go to our website, click on the enroll button, and use the coupon code before the offer expires! Sign up here to be notified when Part 2 is released! Inside Scoop: Sign up for the Writing Tips Newsletter at Writing at the Red House to get Kathi’s 7 Day Platform Plan for free. Connect with Kathi's guest, Amberly Neese, here: https://www.amberlyneese.com/ 

Kathi is back to share the second half of a workshop from her Leverage speakers’ conference. In this episode, she is joined by Kristie Christie to focus on the fourth and final communication style: motivating. Listen in and learn: Why motivation is a good way to end a talk. What you should remember about motivating people. Some final tips for discovering your communication style. Want to write down your thoughts while you listen to this extra special episode? Download these workshop notes as a reminder of the four communication styles.  Listen to Part 1 of this workshop and sign up here to be notified when new episodes are released! Inside Scoop: Sign up for the Writing Tips Newsletter at Writing at the Red House to get Kathi’s 7 Day Platform Plan for free.  

As speakers, many of us start out by imitating others. Then we wonder, “Why doesn’t this work for me?” Today Kathi shares the first half of a workshop from her Leverage speaker conference. She is joined by her husband, Roger, and author Michele Cushatt. They discuss the first three of four communication styles: Entertaining: Driving a point home in a memorable way using humor. Educating: Bringing a new concept to change the way an audience thinks. Inspiring: Persuading listeners to feel differently and encouraging those who feel depleted. Want to write down your thoughts while you listen to this extra special episode? Download these workshop notes as a reminder of the four communication styles. And be sure to listen in next week for Part 2. Sign up here to be notified when new episodes are released! Inside Scoop: Sign up for the Writing Tips Newsletter at Writing at the Red House to get Kathi’s 7 Day Platform Plan for free.

Have you ever struggled with ADHD and creativity? Join Kathi as she discusses how ADHD can impact both characters and creatives with her fellow author Suzanne Woods Fisher. Listen in and learn: How ADHD can present itself in characters and creatives. Some simple tips for limiting distractions. Why it’s so important to say no sometimes. Living with ADHD can be challenging. However, as Suzanne says, it can also be a gift. So, take a moment to consider how you can slow down, take back control, and stop adding unnecessary things to your life. Inside Scoop: Sign up for the Writing Tips Newsletter at Writing at the Red House to get Kathi’s 7 Day Platform Plan for free. About Anything But Plain: It’s not easy being the bishop’s daughter, especially for Lydie Stoltzfus. She’s not like other Amish girls, as much as she wishes she were. The only thing she does well is disappoint others. Leaving her family and church seems unbearable, but staying might be worse. Knowing Lydie is “between” jobs, the local doctor asks her to fill in at the front desk for a few months. To Lydie, this is a boon. It gives her time to figure out how she’s going to say goodbye to her neighbor, Nathan Yoder–the main reason she needs to leave Stoney Ridge. Nathan claims he’s in love with her, but she knows she’s not good enough for him. If in doubt, Nathan’s father reminds her frequently. As Dok spends time with Lydie, she recognizes symptoms of a disorder rare among the Amish. She offers treatment for Lydie. But will it be enough to make her stay? Or has help come too late? Bestselling and award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to Stoney Ridge, a small town that feels like an old friend.

Have you ever panicked about meeting a writing deadline? Today Kathi chats with author and recovering “panicker” Mary Carver about how to cope with a looming deadline. Listen in as Kathi and Mary answer our cries for help with these great ideas: Understand where your pride may be tripping you up. Make your writing more collaborative. Break large projects into small, manageable goals. Get rid of distractions. Have you fallen into the trap of trying to reach your writing dreams by yourself? Come and find community with other writers in the Writing at the Red House Facebook group. There you will find encouragement and help along your writing journey. Want to hear more from Mary Carver? Be sure to check out her podcast, The Couch, or pick up her new book, Prayers from the Parking Lot: 50 Short Reflections for Moms on the Go on Amazon! Inside Scoop: Sign up for the Writing Tips Newsletter at Writing at the Red House to get Kathi’s 7 Day Platform Plan for free.

Do you have a hard story that you feel led to write? Join Kathi as she talks with Becky Keife, the community and editorial manager for (in)courage, about how to write those hard and tender stories. Listen in and learn: The different types of hard stories. How to approach each type of hard story. Why it’s so important to be both honest and respectful while writing hard stories. Hard stories can be difficult to write, but they are needed in our world, and this episode is all about how to help you get started. Inside Scoop: Sign up for the Writing Tip Newsletter at Writing at the Red House to get Kathi’s 7 Day Platform Plan for free. About Come Sit with Me: Being human is hard. Being in relationships with other humans is even harder. People are complex and relationships are messy, but loving one another well is possible. Whether navigating political or religious differences, or dealing with toxic people or our own unforgiveness, this book tackles the struggles no one really wants to talk about. But there is hope! We can actually grow closer to God and others through the circumstances we’d rather run from. In Come Sit with Me, twenty-six (in)courage writers help you navigate tough relational tensions by revealing their own hard-fought, grace-filled learning moments. They show you how to… Delight in your differences. Honor and value others even when you disagree. Connect before you correct. Trust that God is working even when people disappoint you. Live and love like Jesus by serving others. Whether you’re in the middle of a conflict without resolution or wondering how to enter into a friend’s pain, this book will serve as a gentle guide. Discover how God can work through your disagreements, differences, and discomfort in ways you might never expect.