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Nancy Hillis is the author of The Artist's Journey, a Self Publishing School student and a true inspiration...selling 10,000+ copies of her book while changing the world through art. In this interview, we talk about: -Should you write a book or create a course first? (lessons learned & what you should do) -How Self Publishing School helped Nancy build up the courage to write her first book -How to write a book & make your book better if you have a course, 1-1, or group coaching program -Using your book to support a local non profit - do good while selling more books -How Nancy has sold over 10,000 copies of her first book -Generating 6 figures in revenue for her business from her book - how Nancy has done it -Why Nancy attended Author Advantage Live and joined the Accelerator - her biggest wins & takeaways Nancy is amazing! Don't miss this interview and her inspiring story. P.S. Join Nancy & grab your ticket to Author Advantage Live before prices go up! AuthorAdvantageLive.com

Today I'm joined by Jenna Kutcher, host of the Goal Digger podcast and author of the brand new book "How Are You, Really?". In this episode we talk about: -A mouse, a massage, and why Jenna finally decided to write a book -behind the scenes of writing and launching this book -The trend Jenna is noticing in female entrepreneurship, and how it relates to her book topic -How to use your book as a “brand shifter” or “brand builder” - and how Jenna is doing this -Why you shouldn’t market your book further than 60 days out (and what to do instead) ...and so much more!! Don't miss this episode! Jenna is inspiring and real.

Author Advantage Live is coming up, and I wanted to give you a sneak peak with one of our guests from last year, John C. Maxwell. This interview was everyone's favorite and brought down the house. I grew up reading John C. Maxwell books. They've been fundamental in me becoming a better reader. I also want to announce that tickets are available for Author Advantage Live 2022. We have amazing sessions that will help you sell more books and unlock the author advantage. John C Maxwell is a number one New York Times bestselling author. He's a speaker, coach and leader who has sold over 33 million copies of his 83 books written.  He’s often called the country’s No. 1 leadership authority. He’s been identified by Inc. as the most popular leadership expert in the world. He runs multiple organizations including The John Maxwell Company, The John Maxwell Team, John C Maxwell Leadership Foundation and his nonprofit called Equip. His books and training have been read by presidents and business leaders alike. He has trained millions of leaders from every nation and multiple organizations. This conversation is about his books, his writing method, his views on personal development and so much more. His passion is contagious in this great interview.   Show Highlights [02:55] My brother is in the rock and roll band Needtobreathe. He was playing Chick-fil-A Leadercast and I attended. This was my first conference, and I met two people, John Maxwell and Jack Welch. [03:50] This event was like a life-altering moment for me. The whole thing has now come full circle. [05:31] John C. Maxwell has written 83 books. When he started he felt he wasn't that good. His mentor told him he could influence people with books, and he became an author.  [07:32] His first book was only a hundred pages, and yet it took a year to write.  [09:30] It took seven books before John really got the hang of writing.  [10:51] It's okay if you're not very good when you first start out. You can get help and improve. [13:45] The Secret Sauce in writing and speaking is your own personal development and growth. [14:55] The more you know. The more you don't know. [15:45] He has an extensive filing system, so he doesn't lose any of the golden nuggets he's discovered. [18:05] John gets up around 5 a.m. and starts writing immediately. Anticipation is his motivation. [22:58] When you get really good everything compounds. If you're going to quit, do it at the beginning. [25:35] John's writing process is strategic. He has a system. His five essentials are know what you want to accomplish, have the right tool, take action, stay focused, and be consistent.  [28:38] His five essentials for writing every day include reading, filing, thinking, asking questions, and writing. [35:33] John shares his top selling books. He has 11 books that have sold over a million copies. The number one is The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You. [39:03] He believes his leadership books sell so well, because he's known for leadership. [44:10] Publishers have great strengths and weaknesses. They publish, but they don't really sell the books.  [46:16] John speaks to a million people a year which helps move a lot of books. Their launches are a combination of things beginning with getting a team together to brainstorm.  [48:49] They'll often use their advance from the publisher to fund their marketing efforts. They use things like videos and a launch team. They also use book clubs and pre launch efforts. [51:42] John started as a speaker. He then began writing. Coaching came last. The different assets create an upward spiral and distribution channel.  [56:35] Parting advice: write books to add value to people. Keep learning and growing.    Links and Resources Get a Free Copy of Published Get the Audio Copy of Published Visit Self Publishing School Online Book a Call with Aaron Book a Call with Our Team SPS Free Training Course Get Your Ticket to Author Advantage Live Maxwell Leadership The John Maxwell Team Equip Change Your World: How Anyone, Anywhere Can Make A Difference Books by John C. Maxwell John C. Maxwell LinkedIn Maxwell Leadership YouTube John C. Maxwell Instagram Michael Hyatt 5 Things We Do Each Day: The John Maxwell Co. Rule of 5

Can you really quit your job and go full time as an author? Today I'm joined by Mick Spiers who did just that over the last year with our help at Self Publishing School. In this interview, we talk about: -How Mick went from listening to this podcast to being interviewed on it -How Mick wrote and published his book in 8 months -The two toughest parts of the process -How Mick successfully launched his book and the 2-3 things that sold the most books -The 4 P’s - what are they and why they’re important for writing & publishing a great book ...and a lot more. Mick is so inspiring. You don't want to miss this episode! P.S. Schedule a book consultation with the SPS team to talk about your book and how we can help you like we did Mick: self-publishingschool.com/apply

Today I'm joined by Brian Dixon, the author of Start With Your People. In this interview, we talk about: -How to get a 6 figure advance as a first time author -How to come up with the book idea that you should actually write -Why Brian decided to traditionally publish (and why he recommends that you don’t) -The 3 things to include in your book proposal (why 70% should be focused on the marketing plan) -Why you should look at your book like Henry Ford did the model T ...and so much more. Don't miss this interview!

In today's interview, Brett Hilker talks about the lessons he's learned from in the trenches helping 1,000's of authors at Self Publishing School. We talk about: -“The curse of the go getter” - how to write your book without getting discouraged -The two factors that determine where students get stuck in the writing process -The #1 thing that keeps people from committing to their book (what Brett learned from 4,500+ calls with aspiring authors) -The biggest challenge most students face throughout the publishing process (and how to avoid it) If you want to learn from someone in the trenches about what it ACTUALLY takes to be successful wiith your book, don't miss this episode! P.S. Want to be coached by Brett with your book? Book a call with the team and join SPS here: self-publishingschool.com/apply

Today I'm joined by Kerk Murray, author of the memoir "Pawprints On Our Hearts" and Head Coach at Self Publishing School. In this episode, we talk about: -How to write a great memoir (and the one thing you need to do) -How Kerk got almost 300 reviews in 7 months on his memoir -4,000 copies sold & $15,000 raised for charity…how Kerk did it -The #1 challenge authors face when getting started with their book -Behind the scenes of the SPS coaching process -The common traits of our most successful authors If you're a memoir author or new student at Self Publishing School...don't miss this episode! P.S. Want to be coached by Kerk with your book? Book a call with the team and join SPS here: self-publishingschool.com/apply

Are you obsessed with the Enneagram? (we all know those people) Or maybe you've never heard of it? Either way, you don't want to miss today's interview with Ian Morgan Cron...the host of the Typology podcast and author of "The Road Back To You". In this episode, we talk about: -What makes the Enneagram different from all of the other personality tests and quizzes -Mistyping - what is it and how does it happen? -An in depth look at each type and how you can use your type to write and publish a great book -How the Enneagram can help you write better fiction, non-fiction, and memoirs Whether you love the Enneagram or you're just learning about it, you don't want to miss this episode!

Today I'm joined by Cary Jack, author of "The Happy Hustle". In this interview, we talk about: -How career burnout led to writing a book & pivoting careers -How to turn your online course into a book -How to create a Free + Shipping Book Funnel (and why Cary decided not to publish on Amazon) -The Happy Hustle Blueprint...and how to keep from burning out while writing and marketing your book Don't miss this episode!

Have you ever thought about sharing your faith and writing a faith based book? Today I'm joined by Aaron Schafer, author of "The Politically Homeless Christian" to help you navigate this journey. In this interview, we talk about: -How to decide whether or not to include your faith in your book (and the two options you should choose from) -How to make sure that your book is biblically based and not just personal opinion -How to write your rough draft in two weeks (2 keys to use when you get started) -The 4 Keys To Successfully Launching Your Faith Based book -How to book Author Appearances within 3 weeks of your launch - how Aaron got on Christian TV, iHeartRadio, etc…and how you can too ...and so much more! This is a can't miss episode, especially if you're writing a faith-based book. P.S. Ready to take the next step with your book or book idea? Book a call with Aaron to create a plan and see how we might be able to help: self-publishingschool.com/Aaron

Writing a book is a huge part of your legacy, especially if you're writing a book to your kids or grandkids with the lessons you've learned. Today I'm joined by Josiah Fogle, author of "David's Mighty Men" to talk about how to write a Children's Book to your kids or grandkids...and why every parent should. We also talk about: -The hardest part of the book writing journey (and how to overcome it) -How Josiah published 3 books in less than 6 months & how to write a quality children’s book faster -How to find a great illustrator and when to hire one -The most important thing when it comes to marketing your Children’s Book -The biggest lessons Josiah has learned from talking with 1,000’s of aspiring authors (and how these lessons can help with your book) Don't miss this episode! P.S. Thinking about taking the next step with your book? Book a call with Josiah to create a plan and see how we can help: self-publishingschool.com/Josiah

Today I'm joined by Susie Moore, author of Let It Be Easy. Her interview on Episode 82 is still one of my all time favorites and one of the most actionable interviews I've done...so I decided to bring her back. On this interview, we talk about: -The Top 5 Ways Susie Sold Copies of Her Newest Book -How To Do An Instagram Live Tour To Sell More Books -How to come up with publicity ideas -Why your 3rd is often the book you really want to write We even went into a real life case study on how I can implement what she teaches with the team at Self Publishing School. It was unbelievably helpful. Don't miss this episode!

Jordan Lee Dooley went from Etsy Store owner to Instagram Influencer to Speaker, Podcaster and the Bestselling Author of the book "Own Your Everyday". She's crazy inspiring and is on a mission to help women prioritize their health and well-being as they build their dreams. In this interview, we talk about: -Why Jordan’s Instagram grew so quickly (and how this applies to selling more books) -What’s working right now on Instagram (the difference between reach vs growth) -How to create a carousel that gets shared -“Sticky Note Wall” – what it is and how you can use it to sell things -Using micro influencers campaigns to sell books -What Jordan is doing differently to launch her next book (behind the scenes) This was such an inspiring interview! If you're an aspiring female author you definitely don't want to miss this.

Today I'm joined by Mike Acker. He's the author of Speak With No Fear and a Self Publishing School alumni. In this interview, we talk about: -How Mike got 700+ reviews on his book -The 3 keys to a great book that sells well long term -The call that changed everything for Mike and his business -The big shift that was sparked at Author Advantage Live -How Mike shed the golden handcuffs and quit his high paying job to go all in on his business -Why Mike joined SPS and the thing he did to help publish his book in 90 days -How to sell more copies of your audiobook (and how to get an audiobook copy of Published. for free) Mike is so inspiring! Don't miss this interview. P.S. Thinking about publishing a book? Book a call with the SPS team to get our help like Mike did: self-publishingschool.com/apply

Today's interview is a fun one with the ever so talented Gretchen Rubin! Gretchen is the author of The Four Tendencies, The Happiness Project, many other books, and the host of the Happier podcast. In this interview, we talk about: -How Gretchen broke out of writing stigma to write the books she wanted to write (and finally saw herself as an author) -How reading fiction helps her write better nonfiction books -A sneak peak at her new book. How she's structuring it and how she approaches book structure -The “no note card left behind” problem and how to avoid it as an author -Why she wrote 3 novels and scrapped them -Why you should create a quiz with your book to help sell more books ...and sooo much more! Gretchen is a wealth of knowledge and a blast to talk with. Don't miss this interview!

Today I'm joined by SPS alumni and author of "The Investors Guide To Growing Wealth In Self Storage", AJ Osborne. In this interview we talk about: -Using a book to bring in outside real estate investors -Why you should teach all of your best content in the book -How my real estate investing business tripled using the book (from 1M square feet to 3M square feet in 3 years) -Why you should niche down to sell more copies of your book -Why he joined Self Publishing School to help with his book and the most helpful part of the process ...and so much more! If you're in real estate, don't miss this episode. You should also check out the episode with Hayden Crabtree of Skip The Flip. P.S. Thinking about publishing a book? Book a call with the SPS team to get our help like AJ did: self-publishingschool.com/apply

Today I'm joined by Rachel Richards, author of Money Honey and Passive Income, Aggressive Retirement. In this interview we talk about: -How she wrote & published her first book by reading "Published." (and why she recommends it to every aspiring author) -How she's making $4,000 - $10,000/month in passive income from royalties on her book -How to stand out in a crowded book market -Why you don’t need a big platform to successfully launch a book -How Rachel accidentally built a launch team using social media -Using 1-1 outreach and texting to sell books and generate reviews -How Rachel accidentally went viral on TikTok (and how to sell books using TikTok) This was a value packed & actionable episode. Don't miss it! P.S. Download the audiobook of Chandler's brand new book "Published." (the book that helped Rachael with her books) here: publishedbook.com/audible

Stop Asking Questions. That's what today's guest Andrew Warner says. And not just with the title of his new book. Andrew is the founder of Mixergy, one of the most successful start up podcasts of all time. It was an honor to get to interview him this time. On the interview we talk about: -Why he finally decided to write a book sharing his personal experience -Should you give out books everywhere you go? We discuss. -Using interviews to write a great book -Do podcast interviews work to sell books? (what actually worked for him) -Holloway - what is this new platform and should you use it to sell more books? -Why he hired and fired a ghostwriter ...and a whole lot more. This was a fun interview! Listen today and let me know what you think with in the reviews.

Today's guest has talked with 4,657+ aspiring authors on their journey to writing a book. He's often the first person people openly talk about their book with. Matt Emmorey is the host of the Authority Figures podcast, a resource specialist at Self Publishing School, and the author of the book "Where The Rubber Meets The Road". On this interview we talk about: -How to reclaim past stories and negative experiences by writing a book -How to find the right blend between memoir and self help with your book -What I’ve learned from 30,000 calls to aspiring authors (and how it'll help with YOUR book) -The #1 challenge most aspiring authors face (and how to overcome it) We also talk about his recently launched Authority Figures Podcast. Check out this episode and subscribe to the Authority Figures Podcast to get a free copy of Chandler's new book "Published.". P.S. Book a call with Matt to talk about your book and how we can help: self-publishingschool.com/authorityfigures