Authors Who Lead - Learn to write a book from bestselling authors and leaders

Send us a textMany aspiring authors feel a pull to share their wisdom—especially about something as universal yet challenging as parenting. In this episode of Authors Who Lead, Scott Jeffrey Miller offers a refreshingly candid perspective. Miller, an eight-time Wall Street Journal and Amazon bestselling author, recently co-authored "Parenting: Wrong Turns, Right Lessons" with his teenage son, Thatcher. For Miller, writing a parenting book wasn’t just inevitable because of his professional background—it was a way to invite his children into “the family business” of authorship.Timestamp:00:00 Life Insights Through Reading  04:39 Author Mindset & Collab Writing  06:49 Public Life & Maturity  10:31 Teenage Son’s Raw POV  14:32 Building an Author Platform  17:23 Truth About Publishers  21:13 Self-Publishing Journey  23:21 Self-Belief vs. Self-Promo  27:28 Define Your Publishing Why  31:26 Books as Messages  32:46 Growth Reflections  37:07 Rise of Shorter Books  39:59 Career on Course Wins  43:09 Unfinished Book Ideas  46:05 Real Feedback vs. Friends  48:43 Dad Moves & Parenting  51:57 Writing & Self-Incrimination Full show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your bookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦‍⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Send us a textAnyone who’s ever thought about writing a book knows the feeling: a mix of excitement, hope, and, yes—fear. In this episode of Authors Who Lead, I dive deep into the emotional realm of writing, pulling back the curtain on the ten most common fears that keep writers from taking the next step.Timestamp:00:00 Overcoming book-writing challenges04:23 Organized writing: audience & strategy08:37 Overcoming writing fears10:58 Kaizen: power of small steps15:53 Exclusive podcast for aspiring writers17:09 Join our writing communityFull show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your bookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦‍⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Send us a textIn this episode of Authors Who Lead, I sit down with Deborah Hammett, author of Salty at 60: Becoming Better Than Retired. Deborah’s story is the bold, honest tale of how she left her thirty-three-year career in education in pursuit of a freer, purpose-filled second act—sailing solo aboard her boat and, eventually, writing a book about her experience.Timestamp:00:00 Trading chalkboards for chart plotters05:16 Sailing while teaching online09:22 Sailing adventure in retirement10:30 Sailing into unforeseen roles16:29 Engine troubleshooting at sea19:44 Fiction’s purpose and life lessons23:51 Docking and anchoring tips tutorial25:31 Women captains and ocean nomads28:00 Overcoming fears in sailing life32:07 Embracing classroom chaos for growth35:05 Embrace continuous flexibilityFull show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your bookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦‍⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Send us a textIn this episode of Authors Who Lead, I sit down with Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson, the powerhouse writing duo behind the riveting thriller Dark Rising. Both veterans with storied pasts—Brian, a former submarine officer with business acumen, and Jeffrey, a trauma surgeon and Navy veteran—found common ground far from the battlefield: at a thriller writing conference.Their partnership, as Jeffrey jokes, was born of “stalking” at the International Thriller Writers’ ThrillerFest, where their shared backgrounds and values—family, faith, and service—formed a natural foundation for creative collaboration. But it wasn’t instant coauthoring. As Jeffrey explains, “Once we decided that we were gonna do this thing, we went into it knowing we're either gonna become better friends or destroy this friendship forever. Let's see." Thankfully, the outcome was a deeper bond and a writing team that has delivered years of explosive storytelling.Timestamp:00:00 Teamwork in writing: military ethos05:05 Balancing writing with distractions09:39 Inspiration cycles for writers13:14 Embracing pantser writing surprises14:23 Characters’ voices shape the story17:11 Curiosity and predictability in writing21:46 Teaching writing to nonfiction leaders26:19 Embrace imperfection in writing27:52 Antagonist’s two-week mission33:01 Balancing passion and obligations36:33 Supporting veterans in new ventures38:49 Principled characters in chaotic times40:43 Honoring unsung heroes through fictionFull show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your bookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦‍⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Send us a textIn this episode of Authors Who Lead, I explore a critical and sometimes overlooked question for aspiring writers: Why write a book? While the dream of bestseller status or financial gain is tempting, I challenge listeners to think deeper. Through personal stories, hard truths about book sales, and my journey, I reveal that the value of authoring a book goes far beyond money or external validation.Timestamp:00:00 Is authorship worth it?05:41 Sharing knowledge beyond search09:52 Gifts require effort to excel13:27 Join the author workshops for $9014:13 Inspiring author stories podcastFull show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your bookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦‍⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Send us a textWhat does it mean to live an impactful life? Is it measured solely by the actions we take, or should we also be paying close attention to the opportunities we let pass by? In this episode of Authors Who Lead, I sit down with Nick Cooney—venture capitalist, founder of Lever VC and the Lever Foundation, and author of What We Don’t Do: Inaction in the Face of Suffering and the Drive to Do More. Through our conversation, we tackle one of the thorniest philosophical questions for anyone aspiring to do good in the world: How might the things we neglect or fail to do shape our ethical legacy as much as our overt actions?Timestamp:00:00 Slow start to book writing06:29 Conscious investing in the FIRE movement07:31 Ethical investment for positive impact11:43 The ethics of everyday choices15:54 Sacrificing for non-family members18:16 Empowerment through individual impact22:26 Individual choices and their impact24:47 What we don’t do insights29:17 Thought-provoking leadership bookFull show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your bookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦‍⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Send us a textAspiring authors often find themselves at a crossroads, deciding whether to follow their passion for writing or stay in a secure career. In this episode of Authors Who Lead, Azul sits down with Aime Austin, a successful author of legal thrillers, to discuss her unique journey from the courtroom to the writing desk. This insightful conversation uncovers Aime’s path, creative processes, and advice for emerging writers.Timestamp:00:00 Rushed graduate school decision05:38 Endless ideas, choosing the right one08:01 Creating vivid, relatable characters10:45 Writing coach insights on the process13:17 The challenges of authorship18:46 Small publisher’s author marketing advice22:18 Separating from fictional characters23:19 Immersed in writing characters28:12 Unique fan-author relationships29:58 Building writing Communities essential33:53 Marketing insights and writing advice35:59 Writing on social issues40:01 Art’s noble purpose celebratedFull show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your bookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦‍⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Send us a textWriting and publishing a book is a significant achievement, yet the journey doesn't end there for many authors. The real challenge often lies in keeping the momentum of book sales going, especially after the initial launch euphoria fades. In this episode of Authors Who Lead, I shed light on how authors can master the art of book marketing in 2025. Here, we dive deeper into the insights shared, exploring essential strategies for sustaining and enhancing book sales over time.Timestamp:00:00 Traditional vs. Self-Published: Sales Trends04:40 Write Books About Who You Are08:39 Platform-Specific Content Strategy12:43 Effective Book Promotion Strategies14:58 Book Marketing Workshop & Calendar16:24 Don't Give Up on WritingFull show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your bookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦‍⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Send us a textWriting a book is often seen as a solitary journey, characterized by the rhythmic tapping of keys as ideas flow from mind to paper. However, the path to becoming an author can be fraught with internal struggles, often rooted in deeper emotional complexities. In this episode of Authors Who Lead, I discuss the profound impact that unresolved trauma can have on a writer's ability to create, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and emotional depth in writing.Timestamp:00:00 Emotional Depth in Writing05:18 Overcoming Self-Doubt in Writing08:27 Innate Drive to Tell Stories10:43 Detach from Persistent Thoughts15:29 The Writer's Dilemma17:38 Emotional Depth in WritingFull show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your bookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦‍⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage

Send us a textIn this episode of Authors Who Lead, I sit down with brand strategist and author Jen Kem to discuss the release of her book, "The Unicorn Team." Our conversation explored building teams with unique energy and navigating the traditional publishing world, revealing lessons applicable to anyone's creative journey. Let's delve into the key insights shared and their profound impact on the essence of leadership and authorship.Timestamp:00:00 Strategist’s approach to messaging05:11 Building your idea support team08:38 Sharing my big idea09:55 Achieving unicorn energy15:10 From grassroots to millionaires17:21 Power team formation and expansion23:14 Energy: the ultimate currency24:16 Holistic leadership approach book28:53 Thought leadership vs. misleading books31:19 Redefining books and success35:32 Innovation playbook: reinvent and integrate37:42 Subtitle frustrations in publishingFull show notesCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS📚 Write and Publish your bookCONNECT📷 Instagram🎬 TikTok👫🏻 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🐦‍⬛ Twitter🤝🏻 Apply to be a GuestLEAVE A REVIEW✍🏻 Review on Apple Podcasts✍️ Review on Spotify🖱️ Episode Webpage