This article is the first chapter from my book, Author Success Blueprint.
“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” – Toni Morrison
In the summer of 2015, I attended a self-publishing conference. I came away inspired. I loved writing as a kid. And I’ve always been an avid reader. I thought: “If these people can publish books, then why not me?”
Four months later I published my first nonfiction book. I had a tiny email list and no author platform. I was a nobody. Yet, that book was downloaded 1,855 times in its first month. My second book launched in March 2016 and was downloaded 3,357 times. As I found time, I continued to publish books on the side.
Then, late in 2017, I checked my lifetime earnings in Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform. I’d earned over $9,000 in book royalties. This income was entirely passive. I still didn’t have an author platform. My mind started ticking over…
What if I stopped chasing shiny objects and focused on writing and selling books?
How many more people could I help?
How much more might I earn?
What would happen if I concentrated on doing what I love and is already working?
So, that is what I did. I started a blog and published more titles. I began coaching people who found me through my books. As I write this in early 2020, my monthly royalties average $4,000. Every week, I receive inquiries from people who want to work with me. My coaching business is growing on autopilot.
This isn’t a get-rich-quick story. I didn’t publish one book and instantly become a six-figure author or coach. Rather, it’s a tale about what is possible for anyone who wants to grow their business and income with nonfiction books.
The advantages of being a published author are many. You share your burning message with the masses, position yourself as the go-to expert in your niche, and scale your business without complicated marketing tactics. Some of these benefits kick in the moment you publish your first book. Others come to you over a period of months or years. But once the wheel starts turning, the payoffs compound each year.
Whether you want to make a living as a writer, or are a consultant or coach who wants to attract a steady stream of new clients, publishing can transform your life.
About Author Success Blueprint
This book lays out my entire system. Over the years, as the industry has changed and I’ve learned more about self-publishing, I’ve perfected my process. I have created a streamlined roadmap that takes you from idea to bestseller.
When you read this book, you will learn how to stop wasting time writing a book you hope people will buy. Instead, you will align every moment with your goal of becoming a bestselling author. It’s the difference between your draft dying a slow death on your desktop and reaching thousands of people whose lives will forever change by hearing your message.
Here’s exactly what you will learn in this book:
- The secret to writing a book people rave about – in record time.
- How to create a procrastination-proof outline so your book writes itself.
- What you must include in your introduction to get people to read your book.
- How your book can help you build a thriving business on autopilot.
- How to find a cover designer, formatter, and editor on a budget, without skimping on quality.
- The key to selecting categories and keywords that’ll get your ideal readers – and clients – to automatically find you.
- How to craft a captivating book description that sells your book.
- My step-by-step guide on how to upload your book to Amazon’s KDP platform, without the avoidable tech hurdles DIY people run into.
- How to get book reviews that do the selling for you.
- My favorite strategy to amplify your book sales, even if you don’t have a large following or advertising budget.
- More easy and affordable ways to make money from your bestseller, including how to publish wide and record an audiobook.
But before we jump in, let’s explore some self-publishing myths. If you have any of these thoughts, I want you to put them aside today. These myths are holding you back from the success you deserve.
Myth #1: You need a big following to become a bestselling author
I hear this all the time. Experts tell you to wait until you have thousands of email subscribers. This may be true if you want to sign with a traditional publishing house. But it’s not the case for self-published authors.
In this book I provide a solution that bypasses the need for social media and an email list altogether. I show you how to share your book with tens of thousands of buyers. This strategy has worked for me and the many new authors I’ve helped seize bestselling status. I launched my first title with less than 100 subscribers on my list, no blog, and no influencer network. You can too.
Myth #2: Writing a book is overwhelming
Overwhelm is the enemy of productivity. If you’re spinning in confusion, you won’t finish your book. Let alone launch it successfully. But, if you know what you’re doing, there’s no need for overwhelm. The secret? Start with a solid outline. In Chapter 2, I show you exactly how to plan your project. If you’ve ever written a presentation, crafted a blog post, or planned a podcast, you can write a book.
Myth #3: Publishing a book is complex
Yes, there are many ways you can publish and launch your book. But here’s the key – you don’t have to do all these things. In fact, you only need to do three things: write a book people want to read, package your book to sell, and launch it effectively. In this book I show you how to do all three of these quickly and efficiently. There’s no need to waste your time on sophisticated and expensive marketing strategies.
Myth #4: I must be a great writer to write a nonfiction book 
Do you admire people who have written a book and wonder, “Who am I to write a book/step into the limelight/draw attention/say I’m the expert?”
Well, what if this isn’t about you, but about your message? What if this isn’t about getting it perfect, but getting it out there?
Almost every writer I know feels like an imposter. But the ones that went ahead anyway are the authors that hit bestseller status and enjoy tremendous business growth because of it. In this book, I teach you some simple strategies to help you confidently share your message and create a book you’re proud of. Regardless of your writing background.
Myth #5: Launching a book is expensive
Launch parties? Huge launch teams? Book tours? Big name publishing house? It seems unattainable at your stage. But here’s the good news. You can self-publish a bestselling title for $500 or less. I’ll show you how to find inexpensive editors, free and low-cost marketing strategies and more – without compromising on quality.
Myth #6: I don’t have time to write a book
This is perhaps the biggest myth of all. You know that first book I wrote? At the time, I was home with a 4-year-old and a new baby. I wrote my first book between naps, nursing, diapers, and prepping snacks. Some days I only managed 30 minutes, other days I worked on my book for an hour. Through this process, I figured out the shortest path to becoming a bestselling author. Within 21 days I had a first draft. And within 60 days I was ready to hit publish on my first nonfiction title, which reached bestselling status within days.
I felt terrified to put myself out there. But everything changed once I did. People bought my book. Amazon sent me royalty checks. My email list started to grow on autopilot. New coaching clients poured into my inbox daily.
Don’t Give Up On Your Message
I’ve done this. And so have hundreds of other authors I’ve helped publish their book and reach bestselling status. Now, it’s your turn.
Don’t let your message go stale. Or stay stuck in the month-to-month income roller-coaster not making the impact you’re meant to make. Your unique message has the potential to transform thousands of lives.
You deserve to achieve massive impact, to wake up to inquiries from dream clients in your inbox, and send your income soaring. It’s not as hard as you think it is. Turn to Chapter 1 and start your journey to become a bestselling author today.
If you’d like to read the full book and learn how to self-publish your nonfiction book, you can check it out on Amazon below.
