Getting reviews for your book is a lot like getting testimonials when you first start your coaching practice. You know they matter. What nobody tells you is how hard they are to get.

In this solo episode, Helen shares why book reviews are so important, how to build a review strategy before you even publish, and some practical ways to make it as easy as possible for your readers to leave their thoughts.

In this episode:

• Why reviews are about far more than the warm and fuzzies
• What an ARC is and how to use advanced readers to kickstart your launch
• Where to direct readers, and why Goodreads is becoming increasingly important
• The paid services that connect you with reviewer communities
• The rules of asking well: be specific, give the link, and say thank you

Connect with Helen

• Newsletter: https://coachwrite.co.uk/reflections
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oneillhelen/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach_write
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17798513.Helen_ONeill
• Website: https://coachwrite.co.uk

Helen speaks to Alice Driscoll and Louise Van Haarst, co-founders of The Powerhouse and co-authors of the bestselling book Smart Conflict: How to Have Hard Conversations at Work.

In This Episode You'll Discover:

• How Alice and Louise moved from a chance meeting at Henley Business School to co-founding The Powerhouse and writing their bestselling book, Smart Conflict.
• Why having a fully developed workshop methodology meant they never faced a blank page, and how writing a detailed book proposal shaped their entire structure before a word was written.
• The practical reality of co-authoring while running a fast-scaling business, including how they divided the writing, managed tight deadlines, and kept a single voice across the manuscript.
• How Smart Conflict has opened unexpected doors since publication, including a place on the Thinkers 50 Radar 30 list, a Business Book Award finalist spot, and organic gifting by readers to their own clients and teams.
• Their honest reflections on using AI in the writing process, the challenges of cover design, and the lessons they would share with any coach considering writing a book.

Connect with Alice and Louise

Website: https://thepowerhouse.company

Smart Conflict: How to Have Hard Conversations at Work: https://amzn.to/4uO5lwk

Connect with Helen

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oneillhelen/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach_write

Sign up for Coach Write Reflections, the free weekly newsletter for coaches who write: https://coachwrite.co.uk/reflections/

Get your free guide to publishing options and episode show notes at coachwrite.co.uk

People and Resources mentioned

The Artists Way by Julia Cameron https://amzn.to/4dBVPq0

Audible royalty model changes: https://www.acx.com/mp/blog/audible-new-royalty-model

Coaching at work magazine https://www.coaching-at-work.com/

Thinkers 50 radar: https://thinkers50.com/radar-2025/

Business book awards: https://www.businessbookawards.co.uk/

Subscribe to the Coach Write podcast wherever you’re listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Your words can make a difference a review can too.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why treating your book as a key business resource rather than a sales tool is the strategy that builds long-term thought leadership
• How Kickstarter crowdfunding works as a publishing tool
• The case for selling your books direct through your own platform, and how owning your customer data creates relationships that convert readers into coaching clients
• How painting the edges of books by hand became a unique collector's edition, and what it teaches us about the value of things that deliberately do not scale
• How life reshaped Holger’s creative process, and the unexpected way AI became a tool for rebuilding the ability to write

People and Resources Mentioned

To join this cohort of Coach Write90 go to https://coachwrite.co.uk/coachwrite90

The murder at Kendrick Manor by Jody Derby https://amzn.to/429cXxa

People who Pivot by Helen ONeill https://amzn.to/429RcNI

Authors Guild statement about model AI clause https://authorsguild.org/news/use-of-ai-in-publishing-and-new-model-contract-clause/

Prowriting Aid https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=15255

Shopify https://www.shopify.com/

Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/

Brandon Sanderson https://www.brandonsanderson.com/

Kevin Kelly a Thousand True Fans https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/

Connect with Holger

Website: www.holgernilspohl.com

Newsletter (with goodies attached!) www.holgernilspohl.com/email

Social media: everywhere under holgernilspohl

Connect with Helen

Website: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oneillhelen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach_write