I wanted to share something a little different that I’ve been working on. I’m currently putting together my very first children’s book, and this one is extra special to me because it was inspired by my son. A few weeks ago at bedtime I randomly made up a story on the fly about “Billy the Horse.” It was one of those completely improvised parent moments where you just start talking and hope it turns into a story 😄 A few nights later my son asked me… "Billy the Horse story?" And then he kept asking for it. That’s when I realized… this might actually be a real book. So now Billy the Horse is officially becoming a children’s book. Yes, I used AI to help bring the story and illustrations together. Yes, it’s not perfect. But this one is coming straight from the heart 💖 for my four-year-old. It’s been a really fun creative process and also a great reminder that sometimes the best book ideas come from real life moments. I’m still putting the final touches on it, but I wanted to give you all a first look preview before it becomes official 👀 Attaching the cover concept ... what do you think?

Ok let's do a little fun engagement post today. Steal this prompt, modify it to your vision for your book, and see what comes out of it. Yes this is a long prompt. GRAB ALL OF IT 🤪 (POST YOUR RESULTS IN THE COMMENTS) 👇 Book title: [BOOK TITLE] Subtitle: [SUBTITLE] Author name: [AUTHOR NAME] Genre / category: [GENRE OR NICHE] Target audience: [WHO THE BOOK IS FOR] The design should include: - A front cover with bold, readable typography optimized for Amazon thumbnails - A back cover that includes placeholder text for a book description and a barcode area - A 3D mockup showing the front and back covers together, slightly angled, as if the physical book is standing or floating Style & mood: - Overall tone: [modern / minimalist / bold / soft / premium / authoritative] - Color palette: [COLORS OR BRAND VIBE] - Typography style: clean, professional, high contrast, easy to read Visual elements: - Relevant imagery or abstract design elements that reflect the book’s theme - No clutter, strong focal point on the title Technical requirements: - Looks like a real paperback book - Correct spine thickness for a standard nonfiction paperback - High resolution, realistic lighting and shadows - Clean background (white, neutral, or soft gradient) Do NOT include: - Real ISBN numbers - Trademarked logos - Low-quality text or distorted lettering

Why so many people start strong… and then get stuck One of the hardest truths about self-publishing is this: 👉 Starting is easy. 👉 Finishing is not. Most people begin a book full of energy. New idea. Big motivation. Clear vision.... Then real life shows up. Confusion creeps in. One decision turns into ten. Momentum slows. 🔢 The numbers back this up. Roughly 97% of people who start writing a book never finish it. Not because they aren’t capable—but because they get stuck without support, clarity, or accountability. And I see this all the time inside our community. @Gale Bates had a journal she wanted on Amazon. She wasn’t lazy or unmotivated—she just needed help connecting the dots. We got on a quick Zoom, walked through next steps, and suddenly things felt doable again. @Kara Johnson shared her story and got it published as an ebook. Huge win. Next we are going to work together to get her paperback book online. @Susan Wright came in with amazing energy. Then life happened. Events piled up, focus shifted, and the book quietly moved to the back burner. @Trisha Modeen got derailed at the cover stage. One of the most common sticking points. Getting the files put together just right. @Sarah A. Bailey just posted here about being stuck in the exact same place—cover creation. None of this is unusual. This is what the process actually looks like for most people. The truth is: getting stuck is part of the journey. But staying stuck usually happens when you don’t have the resources or accountability you need at the moment you need them. That’s why there are solid resources in the classroom. And why the Premium tier exists—for people who want structured, self-guided video lessons to walk them step-by-step through the process. 👉 But I want to ask a bigger question…

Getting a book to the finish line is hard.A lot of people start strong… then stall, get stuck, or quietly abandon the project altogether. I’ve seen it happen over and over again. Honestly, I know for a fact I would have failed at self-publishing if I didn’t have accountability early on. Having someone to check in with, motivate me, and help push me forward is what got me across the finish line. And when you do finish your first book? It feels SO good. Pride. Relief. Confidence. Proof that you can actually follow through. You deserve that feeling of completion. So first—if you haven’t already—find yourself an accountability buddy. Pair up with someone in this community who’s at a similar stage. Tag-team this. Don’t do it alone. Now, for those of you who want more support…I have a big announcement coming soon... I’m working on something that would let me support you more closely—keeping you accountable and walking you through the entire process step by step. No more getting stuck wondering what to do next. The goal is simple: get your book finished, published, and positioned to sell. If you’re serious about getting this done and would want that level of guidance, drop a comment below. I’m shaping what this could look like, and I’d love to hear how I could best support you on your book journey.

We talk a lot about books📚 in here (and I 💙 that), but I’ve noticed something interesting 👀 People really light up when we get a little more personal and talk about life outside of publishing. So let’s do that for a minute. I’d love to know where everyone is from — city, state, country, wherever you’re calling home right now. 📍 I live in Illinois not too far from Chicago. Along with @Jeff Baer @Steve Gast @Susan Wright @Tara Adler @Angel Conway and probably a handful more!! I know @MJ Berst is in Wisconsin. I know we have @Bradley Deacon living in Vietnam / @Nicole Lesley in Australia Would love for everyone to drop it in the comments 👇 It’s always cool to see how global (and diverse) this community really is.