How can you take the leap from the precipice of not knowing what’s next and into making your publishing dreams come true? Even when that means turning rejection into momentum for your next big book?

In this episode of Bookbound, Fran Hauser and Bethany Saltman talk with Natalie Nixon, PhD, Creativity Strategist, keynote speaker, and CEO of Figure 8 Thinking, about the winding path to her latest book, Move, Think, Rest.

Natalie shares how she went from 18 months of rejections on her first solely authored book to signing with a major publisher, and why she completely reworked her second proposal midstream. She reveals how building a “publishing dream team” of agents, editors, and assistants changed her writing process, and how movement, thought, and rest became both her subject matter and her creative method. She also discusses the business side of publishing, from strategic partnerships, pre-order campaigns, and why asking for help is one of the most powerful tools in an author’s toolkit.

Connect with Natalie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natwnixon

Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalienixonphd/

Check out Natalie’s latest book, Move, Think, Rest: https://www.figure8thinking.com/move-think-rest/

Learn more about Figure 8 Thinking: https://www.figure8thinking.com/

Join Bethany & Fran for their Read Like a Writer Book Club here: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/club
Download Bethany & Fran's e-book on how to craft a standout book proposal here: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/e-book

Produced by Share Your Genius: https://shareyourgenius.com/

How do you turn a personal story into a publishable memoir?

In this episode of Bookbound, Fran Hauser and Bethany Saltman talk with Ruthie Ackerman, a journalist, book coach, and author of The Mother Code, about the journey from personal storytelling to completing a book.

Ruthie shares how her Modern Love essay helped reveal the through line for her memoir, what she learned from losing a major book deal, and how she rebuilt her path to publication. She also discusses the power of micro-communities over social media when building a platform, and the emotional ROI of showing up in person through book tours and community events.

Resources:
Connect with Ruthie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruackerman

Connect with Ruthie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthieackerman/
Connect with Ruthie in Substack: https://ruthieackerman.substack.com/
Join Bethany & Fran for their Read Like a Writer Book Club here: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/club
Download Bethany & Fran's e-book on how to craft a standout book proposal here: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/e-book

Produced by Share Your Genius: https://shareyourgenius.com/

What happens when a seasoned editor turns the lens inward and pens her own deeply personal narrative?

In this episode of Bookbound, Bethany Saltman and Fran Hauser sit down with Samhita Mukhopadhyay, former executive editor of Teen Vogue and current editorial director at The Meteor, to discuss her powerful new book The Myth of Making It.

Drawing from her extensive career in media, Samhita offers a compelling critique of workplace culture, addressing women’s ambition and the societal pressures intensified by hustle culture. She shares the emotional rollercoaster of writing the book, from maintaining a 1,000-word-per-day writing routine to her fears about exposing her vulnerabilities.

Resources:
Connect with Samhita here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samhita-mukhopadhyay/
Check out Samhita’s work here: https://www.samhitamukhopadhyay.com/
Join Bethany & Fran for their Read Like a Writer Book Club here: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/club

Produced by Share Your Genius https://shareyourgenius.com/