Yesterday, I recorded an author consult with one of our community members @Christen Bryce who is working on her very first solo book — a powerful mix of memoir and self-help drawn directly from her journals during one of the hardest seasons of her life. And honestly? Her questions were the exact questions so many authors carry quietly in their heads. Here’s what came up in our conversation: ✨ “Should I edit my own book… or am I too close to it?” We talked about proximity blindness — the reality that even professional editors don’t edit their own books because when you're emotionally tied to the work, you literally can’t see it clearly. ✨ “Why does publishing feel so overwhelming at the very end?” Because the final stages — formatting, ISBNs, cover wraparounds, uploading — are where many authors get stuck, even when the manuscript is finished. ✨ “Can I keep my raw journal voice and still make a professional book?” Yes — but with intention. Sometimes that means adding context, author notes, and structure so the reader understands what they’re stepping into. ✨ “Do I need to trademark my framework?” We talked through the difference between copyright and trademark, and why protecting your ideas matters — but shouldn’t delay getting your book into the world. Why I share these consults Because what one author asks… 👉 Five others are wondering 👉 Ten others are quietly struggling with 👉 And many more haven’t found the courage to voice yet This is exactly why this community exists. Not just to talk about writing —but to understand publishing strategy, decision-making, and how to actually finish. What I want you to know as an author: ✔ You are not behind ✔ You are not the only one feeling stuck ✔ And you are not expected to figure this out alone We’ve published 75+ books, and I can tell you this with absolute confidence: Most authors don’t fail because they lack talent. They stall because they try to handle the entire publishing process themselves.

In a recent conversation in another group, the topic of book reviews came up and some shared how they were having difficulty getting them prior to publishing the book. It got me thinking as I too have been working on getting reviews for my latest book. While I have several already, most are from friends and colleagues who likely would not write anything other than praise just because we are friends. Do you use paid book review sites? And if so… which ones have actually been worth it? I know reviews are gold for authors — but the whole “paid reviews” space feels a bit like the Wild West. On one hand, there are legitimate editorial review services (think industry-style reviews you can use in your marketing). On the other… Paying for reader reviews on platforms like Amazon can actually violate their policies and even get your account flagged or banned. But there are companies that have people who do book reviews for you (for a fee) And then there’s the other issue: Some services promise reviews but don’t guarantee any results Others may deliver reviews that don’t move the needle And unfortunately, scams in the publishing space are on the rise, especially targeting indie authors, That said… there are platforms authors use successfully, like review communities and discovery sites where you’re often paying for exposure rather than a guaranteed review. So I’d really like to know (and maybe so would others). - Have you used a paid review service? - Which ones would you recommend? - Which ones would you avoid (and why)? - Did it actually help with visibility or sales? Thank you in advance for sharing your experiences and resources. — Heidi ps later, in the comments I will share a couple of review sites that I am considering.

Preorder before APRIL 15th 🇺🇸 https://amzn.to/4cuEted Tired of trading humanity for performance? UNFOLLOW THE LEADER exposes the outdated rules driving burnout, disengagement, and toxic cultures—and replaces them with a practical, values-driven framework for modern leadership. Drawing on over 25 years across corporate, government, and grassroots sectors, @Reem Borrows shows how real leaders align Health, Head, and Heart to create trust, accountability, and sustainable results. With honesty and insight, she invites you to redefine success—not by doing more, but by leading with clarity, courage, and integrity. This book shows how to align strategy, behaviour, and culture so organisations perform and people thrive. It also includes three practical downloadable resources designed for immediate implementation. Inside, you will discover how to: 💡Replace outdated leadership habits with values that inspire genuine trust 💡Lead with emotional intelligence and empathy, without losing authority 💡Align personal well-being with professional performance 💡Build cultures of accountability and psychological safety 💡Develop self-leadership as the foundation for leading others Benefits of reading this book: ➡️ Authentic Leadership: Lead with integrity, clarity, and confidence ➡️ Sustainable Success: Balance well-being and performance for lasting impact ➡️ Cultural Transformation: Create teams grounded in trust, safety, and purpose This is more than a leadership book. It’s a call to rethink how we lead, connect, and create change in the modern world. 🌏 Global Ordering: 🇦🇺Australia https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0F6Q2WXNG 🇺🇸USA https://amzn.to/4cuEted 🇬🇧 UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F6Q2WXNG 🇩🇪Germany https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0F6Q2WXNG 🇫🇷France https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0F6Q2WXNG

Claim your author page on Amazon & GoodReads We are starting with Sierra Melcher, Carol Britton, Janice Marquart, Katherine Humpreys, Donna Marino, Tracy MacDonald, Jean Smarto, Tiffany M. Harris, Alexandra Yung, Catalina Escobar Bravo If your name is above, now is the time to claim your Goodreads author account and your Author page on AUTHOR CENTRAL Note: the number of authors is limited. So the eBook is listed first, and all other authors are officially listed on the paperback. The rest of our authors will get to do this on March 24th. Thank you for your patience & understanding.

Does anyone have any recommendations for someone to format my new book? I need it for print (6 X 9 paperback) and epub for Amazon. I basically need numbers added and resized for print. I have been attempting to use Atticus and it keeps moving things around and reformatting my page titles, etc. Too much time for me to spend at this point! I can remove pages and upload the ones I want to do but if I can find someone to do it for me, it will free up my to finish my other projects. Feel free to reply or dm me if you know someone or are that someone... the book is complete and just needs formatting. Thanks so much!