Podcast: Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

Diane Dunn began her professional career in theater in New York City.  Today Diane owns and operates Paz y Luz Healing Center and Bread and Breakfast in Cusco’s Sacred Valley in Peru. In between she earned her Masters of Divinity degree, and developed a church-based community outreach program for homeless and unemployed people in downtown Johannesburg, South Africa.  Ms Dunn is known as a healer and teacher and leads workshops throughout the world. She has written two books:  Cusco: the Gateway to Inner Wisdom and  Cusco II: the Magic of the Munay-Ki, a Love Story.

 Dr. Ken Harmon is Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Kennesaw State University.  Prior to this appointment, Dr. Harmon served as dean of Kennesaw State University’s Coles College of Business. Harmon has served in faculty and administrative positions with six other universities.  Currently Dr. Harmon is working on his book with a working title of Managing Happiness.  In the book he discusses how leaders can understand the research on happiness and use that information to create a better workplace environment.

Podcast: Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

What inspires people to write? Just about anything – really.  For Heather Marie Wilson inspiration came from a garden she planted. Heather Marie’s life looked successful on the outside.  She attained a great job right out of college, received steady promotions. As  a strategy and marketing professional, she devoted  more than a decade to studying personal development and to improving the quality of people’s lives. She rose to the level of corporate executive at a  Fortune 50 company.  Then she planted a garden – literally – and began to see and experience her life and the success spiral differently. She wrote down the thoughts and reflections and “ah ha” moments that came to her.  Out of those writings emerged her book: Seeds of Freedom: Cultivating a Life that Matters.

What was it about gardening that touched the life of a corporate executive and spawned a book and a new approach to life and work?

Podcast: Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

Jon Gordon’s best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. He is the author of The Wall Street Journal bestseller The Energy Bus, The No Complaining Rule, Training Camp, The Shark and The Goldfish, Soup, The Seed and his latest The Positive Dog. Host Vanessa Lowry talks with Jon about his writing process and the success of his books — including The Energy Bus being in the Top 10 Wall Street Journal list of Best Sellers only few weeks ago, even though it is one of his earliest books. They will also discuss the promotional activities Jon engages in and how having multiple books published has impacted his business. Learn more about Jon at www.JonGordon.com.

Leave a comment below with any questions you want Vanessa to ask Jon (before June 12th). Then leave a comment to let us know how his interview inspired or educated you in your own publishing journey.

Podcast: Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

It is every writer’s dream, isn’t it? To be published by a mainstream, traditional publisher. Today’s guests’ individual books are being released mid-June by two different, readily recognized, traditional publishers.  Different stories, different journeys, same end result.  How did they do it?

Echo Garrett co-authored My Orange Duffel Bag: A Journey to Radical Change. This mini-memoir of Sam Bracken, her co-author, shares his journey of abuse, homelessness and abandonment to becoming a successful college athlete and then leader in business. Echo now leads a non-profit called the Orange Duffel Bag Foundation, which teaches the book’s transformational change principles to at-risk youth ages 12-24. This is Echo’s third appearance on Write Here, Write Now.

Joel Manby is president and CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment – the largest family owned theme park corporation in the U.S.  Joel has also been a highly successful corporate executive at Saturn and then as Saab North America’s CEO.  He was featured on a 2010 episode of the hit TV series Undercover Boss.  Joel’s book is Love Works.  Seven Timeless Principles for Effective Leaders. In Love Works, Joel provides the framework for successful leadership that results not only in a deeply satisfying work life, but also in a passionate and motivated workforce.  Joel comes to Write Here, Write Now after a week in New York City where he was promoting his book.

Podcast: Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

Most of the guests on Write Here, Write Now do the “happy dance” when they get their first book written.  Some go on to write 2 or 3 more.  All tend to stay in the same genre.  What is it like to write in different areas? Or even to be a ghost writer?  Kindred Howard is the founder of Family Upward and the organization’s lead marriage, parent and family life coach. Family Upward is an organization devoted to building stronger families. 

 Howard has authored over 30 social studies books used by schools in 9 states. He is a ghostwriter. And his newest book is:  Cavemen in Babyland: What New & Expecting Mommies Should Know About New Daddies (So That They Won’t Kill Them). In this interview, Kindred will share his insights into being able to write text books, a self-help book, along with the challenges of being/using a ghost writer.

Podcast: Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

Have you tried to write when you were anxious or overwhelmed — maybe feeling a little creatively blocked? Get ideas for raising your joy factor before you write from Wendy Watkins, author of the Joy Factor Recipe Book and Joy Strategist of PassionFruit Creative People. Hear Wendy’s story of starts, stops and detours that culminated in her recently published book. Learn how her book was created from a combination of her own stories interwoven with art and recipes from a group of joyful contributors. In addition to Wendy on today’s show, you’ll hear from two of her joyful contributors including Vanessa Lowry, today’s host, and Juliette Mansour, founder of Casa Dresden. Post your own recipe for raising your joy factor in our comments section below!

Podcast: Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

Where did that idea come from?  Ever have that reaction when you read a book title? That reaction is closely followed with, “Why didn’t I think of that?” Or maybe your reaction is to go more deeply into your mind to scavenge for book ideas.  The guests for this broadcast have each created intriguing books with amazing content. Samuel Divine’s book is Battlegrounds to Boardrooms: Life Lessons from the Liberian Civil War to Corporate America. He discusses his journey growing up in Liberia before and during a brutal civil war. Today he is a CPA and business advisor.  Dr. Sheb True is associate dean of Michael J. Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University. He is also a professor in the business college.  Dr. True served as editor for Business Acumen:  insights from the faculty and friends of the Coles College of Business. The book presents cutting edge insights and knowledge on effective leadership and business success.

Podcast: Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

What thoughts, ideas, concerns, hopes and more go through the mind of a professional as he (or she) contemplates writing a book?  How does a professional marshall all that mind buzz and find focus to write?  On the other end of the process, what thoughts, ideas, concerns, hopes and more go through the mind of a professional as he (or she) contemplates the release and marketing of one’s new book? How does a professional marshall all that mind buzz and find focus for the marketing task ahead?  Most folks think that writing a book requires a lot of labor.  It can and often does.  Then when the book is written and finally ready for market, new writers discover that writing is only 20% of the work involved in generating a successful book; effective marketing of the book requires 80% of the necessary effort for success.  Justin Streeter, CPA, of Streeter-Riddle shares his thoughts as he begins writing a book which Justin intends to help increase client base for Streeter-Riddle.  George Horrigan, CPA, President of Fountainhead Consulting Group talks about his newest book Thriving Businesses and how he approaches marketing the book and the anticipated impact the book will have on Fountainhead Consulting.  And George will probably provide insights on his preparation, plans and work for his next book – Work Less, Make More and Have Fun in Your Business – scheduled for release in 2013.

Podcast: Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

Doug Grady is President of High Achievers Network.  Marie-Antoinette Burrell is the owner of TalkText Mobile Messaging Solutions.  Each has engaged in their respective professions for many years.  Recently each made the simple decision to write a book with the intention of generating a wider reach and greater impact for their businesses.  Burrell’s book is geared for children and is titled Terrance Texter: Adventures in Mobile Phone Land. Grady’s books is The Ripple. Why did each elect to write a book?  What is their hope or intent?  What wisdom do they have to share with other business leaders who are considering writing a book?

Podcast: Download

Subscribe: Android | RSS

Writing and getting your book published is only the first step — marketing and promotion are crucial to your book’s success. Join Vanessa Lowry as she interviews bestselling author Lisa Earle McLeod about the unique promotion of her latest book, The Triangle of Truth, named “A Top 5 Business Book for Leaders” by The Washington Post. Hear how new media and social networks have influenced Lisa’s marketing decisions since her first two books were published. In addition, Mimi Schroeder of the public relations firm MAX Communications will discuss the importance of creating a publicity plan for your book, the elements an author needs to include in your press kit and how to get the most out of your book signing events.