Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

An elementary school librarian by day. A writer by night (and other spare moments). Somewhere in between, a whole book got written.

In episode 154, I’m joined by Cassie Miller, author of the upcoming young adult contemporary sports romance Meet Me Under the Lights (Viking, March 2026). We talk about how she balanced teaching, writing, and real life long enough to finish a novel—and then had the courage to send it into the traditional publishing world.

Cassie walks through her querying experience with refreshing honesty. The waiting. The no’s. The small wins that kept her going. And the moment it shifted from “maybe someday” to seeing her story become a real book.

We also dig into what helped her stay grounded while juggling deadlines and expectations, and why writing while working full-time didn’t disqualify her from success. Instead, it helped shape it.

This conversation isn’t about overnight breakthroughs or perfectly optimized writing schedules. It’s about showing up consistently, trusting the work, and letting progress count even when it feels slow.

*****

READY TO FINALLY BE IN THAT "CAN'T STOP WRITING" FLOW?

Grab the free nonfiction or memoir kickstart that's helped hundreds of authors get out of their heads and into the flow:

👉 PublishAProfitableBook.com/chapterone

WANT TO SELL MORE BOOKS (WITHOUT THE SELF-PROMO CRINGE)?

The Author Visibility Bundle gives you 200+ done-for-you email templates, social media graphics, and other book promo tools designed to help authors build buzz and drive sales, without feeling pushy.

👉 PublishAProfitableBook.com/bookvisibility

WONDERING EXACTLY HOW TO SELF-PUBLISH SO YOU CAN STOP GUESSING?

Grab the action plan and finally feel confident you’re doing this the right way.

👉 PublishAProfitableBook.com/actionplan

CURIOUS ABOUT AMAZON ADS AS AN INDIE AUTHOR?

Snag the small but mighty tweaks that help your book actually sell before you ever spend a dime on Amazon ads.

👉 PublishAProfitableBook.com/trial

Support the show

******

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

Fear of failure shows up early for most authors. And despite what you may think, it doesn’t magically disappear once you’re published.

In this episode, I get honest about how fear, rejection, and unmet expectations quietly shape the writing process, especially in nonfiction and memoir. Drawing from years of editing experience (and my own hard-earned lessons), I break down why failure so often feels personal—and why that belief keeps writers stuck.

This conversation reframes failure as one thing: information. I'll challenge the myth of overnight success, name the role imposter syndrome plays for authors at every stage, and offer a more realistic definition of success—one that actually supports long-term creative work.

If you’ve ever questioned your talent, taken rejection personally, or wondered whether you’re “doing this wrong,” this episode will feel familiar in the best way.

READY TO FINALLY BE IN THAT "CAN'T STOP WRITING" FLOW?

Grab the free nonfiction or memoir kickstart that's helped hundreds of authors get out of their heads and into the flow:

👉 PublishAProfitableBook.com/chapterone

CURIOUS ABOUT AMAZON ADS AS AN INDIE AUTHOR?

Snag the small but mighty tweaks that help your book actually sell before you ever spend a dime on Amazon ads.

👉 PublishAProfitableBook.com/trial

Support the show

******

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

In this episode, I discuss the significance of context in the author space, emphasizing the need for transparency in marketing. I also talk about that dreaded task: building an author email list.

EPISODE CHAPTERS

01:37 - The Power of Quiet Reflection

04:09 - When Navigating the Author Space: Context Matters

10:02 - Building Your Email List: A Key to Success

15:04 - Commitment to Growth: Choosing Your Platform

READY TO FINALLY BE IN THAT "CAN'T STOP WRITING" FLOW?

Grab the free nonfiction or memoir kickstart that's helped hundreds of authors get out of their heads and into the flow:

👉 PublishAProfitableBook.com/chapterone

WANT TO SELL MORE BOOKS (WITHOUT THE SELF-PROMO CRINGE)?

The Author Visibility Bundle gives you 200+ done-for-you email templates, social media graphics, and other book promo tools designed to help authors build buzz and drive sales, without feeling pushy.

👉 PublishAProfitableBook.com/bookvisibility

CURIOUS ABOUT AMAZON ADS AS AN INDIE AUTHOR?

Snag the small but mighty tweaks that help your book actually sell before you ever spend a dime on Amazon ads.

👉 PublishAProfitableBook.com/trial

Support the show

******

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth