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Publisher’s Corner
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elcome to the expanded edition of Breakthrough Author! Super excited to have you subscribe. The book publishing journey can be a scary adventure. If you are only about the money honey, you are in the wrong place. This magazine is for people who want to write a book to make a difference AND an income.
Create Whatever Causes a Revolution in Your Heart”
The scary part of this journey is embraced this month. Fear of the unknown….fear of revealing your most inner thoughts…rejection…lack of worthiness. Who will read my book? All of these emotions and questions come into play as we create and share. Imposter syndrome is real and our expert, Jen Coken talks about it. Imposter syndrome can bring supremely confident people to their knees. It is growth and it is scary. In addition to celebrating authors who are creating to make an impact, our experts in Public Relations, Content Development, and Writing Coaches share tips and triumphs with you in each issue. The enlightened path to writing, publishing, and promoting is at your fingertips. The journey is long but at the end of the day, you are transforming the world. Each transformation has a ripple effect. You change the world one idea, one book, and one reader at a time.
Elizabeth Gilbert Love and Gratitude, Juliet
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Melanie Herschorn What happens after you launch your book? That’s the question I hear most from authors. You’ve written and published the book, but now that your book is out in the world for all to enjoy, you’ve likely encountered a new challenge. Just because you built it, it doesn’t mean they’ll come. You’re learning that all the hard work you’ve done to birth your book doesn’t automatically mean people are lining up to buy your books, fill your programs, be your next 1:1 client, and invite you to speak on stages and podcasts. You still have to create a VIP platform for your ideal
audience to get to know you and your brand before they’ll trust you enough to buy. How can you accomplish all that if you’re the best kept secret? It’s time to shout from the rooftops, so to speak, about the value your book and brand provide. And the best way to do that is to have a customized content marketing plan. With a content strategy, you’ll make a bigger impact because you’ll reach a wider audience. You’ll also save time and money since you’ll always know what you’re posting on social media, sending out in emails and more. You’ll also have peace of mind knowing your content
Bio: Melanie Herschorn wants to make your book and brand sparkle online. As a content marketing strategist for women coaches and speakers worldwide, she’s on a mission to support and empower her clients to create clear messaging and content that shines a light on their individual experience, skillset, and books. With her unique combination of entrepreneurship, awardwinning journalism and PR experience, Melanie guides her clients to attract and nurture leads and position themselves as industry experts. She also loves to provide content marketing tips on her podcast VIP Access and in her Facebook group Sparkles and Strategy.
marketing is being done right. The good news is, since you have done a lot of the heavy lifting already in terms of content creation, you can strategically pull out content ideas right from your book. When I start working with a client, they are often stuck in that loop of throwing the proverbial spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. My client Jackie, for example, was posting all sorts of things to her social media – many of which were completely off-brand – and she was frustrated by the lack of engagement from her followers. But after we worked together to establish her brand’s content pillars and determine more than 60 content topics that she can use again and again, she began posting only on-brand content which really resonates with her audience. When you’re determining what content to create from your book, start broad. Think of each chapter as
a topic to write about. You can also pull out a background story from the introduction to share with your followers more about you and what inspired you to write your book. If you’ve included inspirational quotes from others in the book, post those and why they’re meaningful to you. You can share any client stories, testimonials, wins, and transformations that you’ve referenced in your book and also highlight personal stories that illustrate your mission. Your book is your calling card. You can utilize it to grow your audience and amplify your mission online. Not only are you an expert in your industry, but you also wrote the book on it! If you’d like a complimentary strategy session with me to uncover how you can use your book for your content marketing, schedule your call at contentstrategycall.com.
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An Interview with Author
Chase Cunningham by Kristy Boyd Johnson
Q: Tell us a little about you, Chase. I’m a retired Navy Cryptologist Chief. I worked for the US government for a while after that. I have been in cyber for a long time now and it’s basically all I “do.” It’s a position that has allowed me to learn a lot about emerging technology and all the applications. Q: What inspired you to write GABRIEL? I have seen too many movies and read too many books about the threat of cyber and AI and they are mostly bunk. They’re not technically accurate. Q: Movie magic, right? Yep. I thought, “Who better than me to try and write a story that is both technically accurate and dramatic enough (hopefully) to interest an audience in this space?” So, I wrote GABRIEL as a techno-thriller about an AI (Artificial Intelligence) program that gains awareness and
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wreaks havoc on the world. People seem to like the story. Q: I know I did! What’s amazing is that it seems like sci-fi, but this technology actually exists? It “exists” in that there are algorithms that do what I discuss in the book, but as of today there are no programs that I am aware of that are scratching at the issues I pointed out in the book. And that’s a good thing! You wouldn’t want GABRIEL to be a real-life thing. Q: Do you have any words of warning for the public? Don’t be afraid of AI or cyber. But DO be aware of it and know the truth of the matter. Stay on top of developments and what’s happening. That’s what I tell people. Q: Have you authored any other books? Yes. Cyber Warfare: Truth, Tactics and Strategies, and the Cynja Comic Series. All on Amazon.
Don’t be afraid of AI or cyber. But DO be aware of it and know the truth of the matter.
Amy Thompson
The Serious Sorcery of Namaste Bitches
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ife is full of emotions, joys, and challenges. What goes on in our hearts and minds can move us forward or get in our way. How we process it is the key to our success or failure. This Namaste Bitches journal is a heartfelt, real, raw interpretation of that life journey. The winding road of relationships, work, limiting beliefs, celebrations – all the good and bad that come our way. Amy’s download is directly from Source to you. May you read the poetry in here, gain the love and support you need on your personal journey while capturing your reflections to learn, grow, and find your superpowers!
When Amy Rodeffer Thompson, author of Namaste Bitches, is not busy writing poetry on the Notes app in her cell phone, she is a coach for professionals and business owners. She did all the adulting things she thought she was supposed to (college, corporate career, blah, blah, blah) and is now delighted to be co-creator of The Bossibly Arena, a community of people who aspire to make a difference doing work that lights them up. As a recovering People Pleaser, Amy nudges others towards true joy, leading by personal example and guided by divine intuition. She uses humor and kind-hearted intent to help others see what is possible. Amy shares her life with her husband Don and an amazing circle of loved ones.
Buy Book: Namaste Bitches: Rodeffer Thompson, Amy: 9781513688794: Amazon.com: Books
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Christy Stansell
AUTHOR BIO Christy Stansell shares people’s stories. An Emmy-nominated news producer, and now content developer for a global life coaching institute, Christy earned her broadcast journalism degree cum laude from University of Southern California (while also performing with Hollywood’s Band!). Published in the paper at ten and featured in a television sports anchor challenge at twelve, Christy delivered her first live news report at sixteen. After fourteen years reporting, anchoring, and producing news in markets from L.A. to D.C., Christy landed in Idaho to publish magazine articles, lead workshops for small business networks, and be twicenamed Woman of the Year. Christy now writes from home with three dogs underfoot, husband in the kitchen, one daughter upstairs, and the other at USC.
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hen he retired at age eighty, Dr. Arthur C. Bartner became the longeststanding college marching band director in history—with fiftyone seasons and four hundred fifteen consecutive football games under his whistle. The University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band of today in no way resembles the ensemble he inherited in 1970. Dr. Bartner committed his entire life to building The Spirit of Troy from a handful of reluctant musicians into an institution recognized around the world. The journey from obscurity to celebrity is all about Dr. Bartner’s perseverance during challenges, his unwavering dedication to excellence, and most importantly, his belief and confidence in his students. He taught more than music and marching to thousands of college kids during his five-decade career; he gave them once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and mentored them with life lessons to Drive It! long after graduation. Travel alongside the band and Dr. Bartner on road trips to rivalries, across country for national celebrations, and around the globe as ambassadors representing the United States. Meet rock stars, movie stars, and television celebrities who performed with the TMB, elevating the band to Hollywood stardom. Observe Dr. Bartner leading huge bands
at the Olympics, World Expos, and many other grand occasions, entertaining audiences that include U.S. presidents, foreign dignitaries, even the Pope. Visit Disneyland as he directs the elite All-American College Band and meet USC coaches and players who call the band the heartbeat of the team. Whether sports fans, film fans, TV bingers, history buffs, or Disney devotees, there’s something here for everyone. Twice named #1 Best College Marching Band by USA Today, the USC TMB is in a league all its own. Its unique sound, style, and spirit leave a lasting impression. To assimilate fifty years of learning, relive musical memories, and vicariously experience moments in history is the gift of Drive It! Life Lessons from Hollywood’s Band.
Buy Book: Drive It! Life Lessons from Hollywood’s Band: Stansell, Christy: 9781513690285: Amazon.com: Books
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ow do I find the time and space to write my book? Many times, I hear people say they don’t have the time and space to write their book. What may lie under the surface is an inner self-critic whispering: “you suck! why would anyone want to read your book”. RESISTANCE Before you can clear the space and time to write, you need to clear the inner space. How do you do this? You need to feel where your resistance is coming from. That resistance can be rooted in the fear of being judged or perhaps the fear of spending money you don’t have. There is a model in physics: Resistance = Stress = Breakdown. In other words, if you ruminate on all the reasons why you are ‘not in the right space’ to write, or it is ‘not the
right time’ to write you book, you will have an unwritten book. SPACE Once the inside is clear, then it is a good idea to get the outside clear. Maybe clear the space for your dedicated writing spot. You may enjoy random inspirational writing spots such as in nature or have a dedicated spot in your home where your primary writing is taking place. You may wish to bring a vase of fresh flowers, burn sage or a photo of the writer that has inspired you most. Consider your writing time as meditative and deeply self-reflective. Assure yourself that you will be in a space with the least distractions. That means turning your phone off, which for many is very challenging. You may find inspiring music to play while writing. You can even
create a Spotify playlist called – ‘Music for writing’. Ritualize your writing space to make it sacred. TIME Creating a conscious dedicated time to write each day and/or each day of the week is essential to create the habit of regularity that is required if you decide to go on and write your book. One recommendation is for you to book time on your online calendar, so you are making an appointment with yourself. If you chose to create one specific time to write each day, then you need to set a goal for each day. Either by word count or page count set a minimum for each sitting. For some, a small amount of dedicated time each day may not be sufficient, and they may choose to take a day of the week as a writing day.
For some they may choose to take a weekend or even a weeklong writing retreat. This can be ideal as you truly can sequester yourself from the distractions of your routine life. If you find an inspiring place in nature, this might enhance the solitude needed sometimes to flow with your writing. FLOW This is when you transcend space and time lost in the river of creativity! Jared Rosen is the founder and CEO of DreamSculpt Media and Books. He is the author of several books including the award winning book “The Flip”
Creating a conscious dedicated time to write each day and/or each day of the week is essential to create the habit of regularity that is required if you decide to go on and write your book. Author
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Jen Coken Do You Fear Bringing Your Voice to the World? You Might Be Suffering from This… Meet the woman facing down imposter syndrome and teaching others to do the same.
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phrase coined back in the 70’s, imposter syndrome was first representative of mostly women, who displayed a lack of confidence – not living up to their full potential. Fast forward to the 90’s, new research showed plenty of men and women were suffering while also being acutely unaware that this is the reason why. And most who are aware, don’t really want to admit to the world that their perfectionism or the pressure they put on themselves, their lack of commitment or their inability to make decisions, is the result of this imposter syndrome. Comedian, Captivating Speaker and Bestselling Author of the hilarious and heartfelt book ‘When I Die, Take My Panties,’ Jen Coken joined me as a guest on my show recently. During our time together, we spoke in depth about this topic of imposter syndrome, one that affects so many of us – and yet one we hardly talk about. Perhaps it begins when we are children, being told that we lack common sense or being scolded for not doing everything right the first time. Maybe that voice in our head takes over the first time we experience heartbreak and a feeling of being not enough. Or
maybe this is just part of the human experience, that we must learn to unlearn to “get to the next level” so to speak. Regardless of where it begins, one thing is true for so many: that voice ruins things, tricks us, stops us dead in our tracks, derails success, tells us lies, and interferes with joy. As Jen puts it, “That voice inside your head shouldn’t run your whole damn life. Progress begins with the understanding that dealing with something so deeply rooted in our brains and personalities calls for the creation of entirely new neural pathways through habit formation.” Putting the Imposter on the Spot The best way to combat this kind of detrimental thinking is to first put awareness on it. There is never going to be one self-help-fix-all solution for every single person, but what we do know about the human brain is that is responds well to awareness, and this will help create space for new habits and thought patterns. For me, standing on stage as a successful woman, remembering something my father told me when I was a child, was a huge pivot moment for me. I realized in that moment that I needed to be more aware of my thoughts because plenty were getting through that weren’t true, and they were causing me to take
Website: https://www.jencoken.com Email: Jen@Jencoken.com
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action or encouraging me to take no action. This is how we get stuck in a loop that tells us we aren’t good enough, prepared enough, smart enough, and so on. Jen calls this “catch it”, which is where we try to catch the imposter syndrome in action and call it out. Not verbally, but even recognizing the signs of this in other people will also help you to see it in yourself. Take This with You: A Quick Recap • If you catch yourself feeling like you aren’t good enough or don’t belong, be aware of those thoughts, and take it one step further: ask yourself why. • Each time you recognize the characteristics of imposter syndrome in others, call it out. Not verbally, but just to cement it in your mind, what you are seeing. • Give yourself some grace. Perfectionism, analysis paralysis… these are all signs that you might be suffering from imposter syndrome and you are not alone in that. Be kind to yourself and focus on catching the signs, calling them out, and replacing them with something representative of what you’re actually capable of.
Buy Book: When I Die, Take My Panties: Turning Your Darkest Moments into Your Greatest Gifts: Coken, Jennifer: 9781683502203: Amazon.com: Books
Nicole Vick I
started journaling consistently in 2019 but life got in the way, and I ended up doing what most of us do, sitting the journal on a shelf where it collected dust.
Then the pandemic happened… and then we all witnessed the murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd. I was overwhelmed trying to live through two social justice issues at the same time. As the world fell apart, I picked up my pen and began to write. Journaling was a way to help me process my thoughts, put my fears and frustrations in writing, and express my hopes and dreams for a better world. This journal is your tool to manifesting your dreams and writing down what you want for yourself, your community, and the world.
Nicole Vick, MPH, Public Health Advocate Nicole is a seasoned and respected public health professional who has strong relationships with community-based organizations, academia, and other stakeholders. During her 15 years with the local health department she has managed public health programs focused on workforce development, health equity, the social determinants of health, and the impacts of institutionalized racism and other forms of oppression on health outcomes. Nicole also has 12 years of experience as an adjunct professor, and she serves on two boards. She was most recently appointed to the board of Public Health Advocates, an organization that challenges the social, political, and economic systems that perpetuate racial, economic, and health disparities. She is also Board Secretary at Esperanza Community Housing, an organization that works to achieve community development in South Los Angeles. Ms. Vick earned both her B.S. in Public Policy and Management and Master of Public Health degrees from the University of Southern California.
Amazon Link: Pushing Through 52 Weeks of Light in Tough Times: Vick, Nicole D: 9781513687650: Amazon.com: Books
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Rob Napoli
Summary / Back of Book: The Millenial and GenZ generations understand social media. They have grown up in an age of hyperconnectivity, but many don’t do a great job at understanding or blending their social presence effectively as a tool to show who they are, their why, their value, and the impact they can create as job candidates or as business owners. I call this our Social Soul. It’s how we show our true authentic selves online with intentionality. It shows an individual’s love and passion for what they do, and the value they offer to their various networks of friends, current and potential colleagues, prospective partners, managers, direct reports, or investors. For entrepreneurs, the most effective way to use social selling isn’t obvious, even if they have come of age in a hyperconnected world. This book will educate and inspire readers to take action on the most powerful and useful social networks to date. You will learn through thoughtful examples applicable to future platforms that can be used to better connect in pursuit of entertainment, clients, networking, and business success in a way that translates across cultural borders.
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Rob is an accomplished trainer, speaker, entrepreneur, and Chief Marketing Officer based in Brooklyn, NYC. Originally from the Midwest, his journey has taken me from my hometown in Kansas City, Missouri to New York City by way of Milan, Italy. My career started in recruitment within Fortune 500/Forbes 100 companies before moving to Milan, Italy to pursue a Masters in International Multi-Channel Marketing, where I also spent two years working for a global e-commerce startup and coaching professional American Football. I moved to New York years ago and have to work for a large global corporate before transitioning over to training and development for startup and growth-stage founders. Now, Rob is a Speaker, Trainer, and Chief Marketing Officer for a B2B SaaS scale-up. Rob is the host of ‘The Bear Necessities of Entrepreneurship’ Podcast and has delivered hundreds of workshops, keynotes, and trainings both in-person and virtually across 27+ countries to 200+ companies/founders and created and built Virtual Programs that spanned 9+ countries including Asia Pac, South Asia, Middle East, North and South America, Europe, and Africa. Buy The Social Soul Amazon.com: The Social Soul: Mastering Your Personal and Professional Brand with Intentionality and Authenticity eBook: Napoli, Robert: Kindle Store
Shannon Procise
Media Magic: Getting Global Exposure for Instant Credibility and Sales A press release is a powerful way to announce new works of writing, future events, and products. Many authors have always dreamed of being successful entrepreneurs that would bring change to the world. They believed that if they got into publishing books, it would be an excellent way to impact the daily lives of others significantly. Little did they realize the amount of work and marketing to get books noticed on the shelves and online then converting them to sales. According to the ProQuest Bowker Report, over 1.7 million books are published each year in the United States. Many authors find it is challenging to get noticed. One of the best ways to get an author’s story told is through an entertaining and informative press release that captivates the reader’s attention right off the bat. Press releases are a beneficial way to convey important information about new works of writing, future events, news, or products and services to achieve significant recognition and publicity for the mission at hand. Press releases provide substantial advantages to a business, author, trade, industry, or any other venture by getting in front of readers worldwide and all at once using a distribution service. In years past, press releases primarily focused on the written word, which was read-only on paper. Over the past decade, the technology change
has shifted significantly with the increased use of social media and online marketing. As a result, how the press release is written has also shifted. A press release title should be eye-catching and clear. The title is followed by a quick paragraph of why the announcement is newsworthy, a section about the mission or objective of what is being announced, a call to action to act, and why it is important to the reader. Nowadays, press releases are often distributed to promote new books or product launches and services. However, they can also be used for rebranding businesses or reigniting interest in seasoned offerings, thanks to their versatility! Writing a press release is no easy task, but if wellcrafted, the benefits are ten-fold. Digital technology has jettisoned the press release to life online. The use of embedded links, images, and videos has boosted the impact of the once cut and dry paper announcement. As such, a press release has the potential of going viral in just a matter of clicks through the proper distribution channels. What is the direct result of just a few clicks? Interviews on podcasts, radio stations, webinars, book signings, talk shows, syndication with other international publications, and the list go on and on! Everyone will know
about all of the great things happening in the author’s world by the simple click of a mouse button releasing that press release out to the worldwide web. Here are some ways to get businesses, books, or authors to be featured in major global media outlets like APNews, ABC News, Fox News, and MarketWatch. 1) Solid writing is critical to articulate copy tailored specifically to the intent of an announcement that is newsworthy 2) The professionals at the Superbrand Publishing team know how to deliver well-polished press releases that are guaranteed to get picked up by over 400 outlets 3) To reach large audiences and incentivize them into believing they need what you have 4) For more information and to contact us about Media Magic, visit www. ShannonProcise.com/ Superbrandpublishing
Shannon Short Bio Shannon Procise has successfully attained over $3.2M in FREE publicity and is notorious for being the owner of the “Million Dollar Rolodex” and teaching others how to do the same. She has trained and coached thousands of individuals in marketing, event production, business development, and personal growth. Shannon is the creator of a magnetic community - the Business Acceleration Network, where she guides businesses to build a successful enterprise while having fun and making lots of money.
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