Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

Sarah Vacchiano’s journey from querying 100 agents to publishing with one of the industry’s top houses is a story of patience, "luck," and the power of building genuine relationships.

In this episode, Sarah shares the behind-the-scenes details of her publishing journey, including how a chance reconnection with an editor led to her debut novel’s acquisition and publication. You'll discover how her strategic persistence, timing, and a bit of serendipity turned a decade-long work into a real-life success story that defies typical timelines.

We break down:

• The unconventional path from manuscript to publication, including querying, rejection, and a six-year pause
• How the universe conspired through a friend’s recommendation to seal her deal with Lake Union (an imprint of Amazon)
• The magic of editorial collaboration, with insights into the intensive editing process
• The importance of vulnerability and personal growth reflected in her characters and story
• Why embracing failure and loss as part of growth unlocks opportunities we never imagined

This episode is perfect for aspiring authors, entrepreneurs, and anyone navigating the unpredictable road to success. Sarah’s story proves that sometimes, the biggest wins happen when you least expect them.

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

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

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

This episode starts with a question that’s been tapping me on the shoulder all year: What would it look like to choose ease without giving up momentum?

I’m reflecting on the past year in book writing and publishing, and sharing what I’m carrying forward into 2026. Less hustle-for-hustle’s-sake. More sustainable progress that feels livable.

I talk about why consistency in book sales matters more than viral spikes, and why realistic goals tend to outperform ambitious ones you can’t maintain.

There’s an honest look at marketing, too. It takes time. It’s rarely linear. And there’s no shortcut that replaces steady effort and experimentation.

Finally, I dig into the quieter side of growth: building community, focusing on connection over vanity metrics, and staying open to adapting your approach as the market (and your life) changes.

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!

Episode 150 provides the reset many authors quietly crave as Jenn Hanson-dePaula returns to help us modify (if not outright rebuild) our expectations, systems, and perspectives when it comes to book sales.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• How to implement a "2 sales a day" strategy.
• Becoming "profitable, not popular." (Hint: Clicks matter. Likes and views don’t.)
• The simple link path that outperform complicated funnels every time.
• The easiest daily selling you're probably NOT doing.

We also walk through how to measure what actually moves readers, not what flatters the algorithm. Jenn breaks down clean DM workflows, repeatable content, and approaches that spark joy so you can stop force-feeding content.

We also look at the quieter parts of growth: handling criticism, building systems before you’re “big,” and treating your author life like a business, even when it still feels small.

If you want calm, clarity, and a plan that won’t chew through your energy the way I'm currently going through the pantry pack of Peppermint Patties in my freezer, this episode lands exactly where you need it.

CONNECT WITH JENN

Website: jenndepaula.com

Instagram:

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!

In this episode, I share 8 books that reshaped how I parent, relax, and think about storytelling in 2025.

Books:

Just Do Nothing (for Parents) by Joanna Hardis

The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram

What Happened to Lucy Vale by Lauren Oliver

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Small Victories by Anne Lamott

Moms Like Us by Jordan Roter

***

📚 Author Visibility Bundle (200+ customizable email and social media templates just for authors)

***

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

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

In this episode, we walk through 5 mistakes that quietly undermine first-time self-publishers and show how to fix each one with practical, doable steps.

We start by tightening your audience with a one-sentence framework that keeps every chapter aligned to a clear promise.

From there, we map a real editing workflow: self-edit, gather targeted beta feedback on structure and flow, then bring in a professional editor who can strengthen the developmental and line work.

We also get honest about design. DIY your interior with reliable templates and checklists. But your cover? Invest in that. It needs to signal genre, earn clicks, and meet exact printer specs for spine width, trim, and image quality.

Then we dig into metadata, the quiet engine behind discoverability. Keywords, categories, and a clean description help the right readers find you on the world’s third-largest search engine.

If you’re tired of guessing and want a simpler way to publish with confidence, this conversation gives you clarity and next steps you can trust.

MENTIONED RESOURCES:

Workshop with Jane Friedman: The Indie Author’s Guide to a Standout Amazon Listing

Date: January 16, 2026

Time: 10am PST / 11am MST / noon CST / 1pm EST

Sign up here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__NjEykZNSwSpeZ48tydhpw

Self-Publishing Starter Kit: https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/selfpublishing101

Self-Publishing Action Plan:

https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/actionplan

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