What if the guidance you’re trusting for your book dream is actually slowing you down? In this episode, Meghan pulls back the curtain on the publishing world, and the people profiting from it, to help you avoid the traps so many first-time authors fall into. After 20+ years in traditional publishing, she’s seen how crowded the “get published” space has become, and how much of it is built on shaky advice, recycled teachings, and experts with no real experience.

Megan breaks down the two filters every author must use before hiring anyone:
(1) What is the actual deliverable? Many workshops sell inspiration, not outcomes.
(2) What are their real results? Because a great proposal means nothing if the expert can’t help you build the platform needed to sell books.

She shares stories from her own business evolution, hard-won insights from working with major publishers, and the real numbers behind her team’s success, like an 88% proposal-to-book-deal rate and dozens of six-figure deals.

This episode is your roadmap for choosing the right support, protecting your time and money, and putting your book in the hands of people who know exactly how to bring it to life.

Episode Highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(0:33) Why so many publishing programs fall short
(1:23) The truth about scammers, grifters, and bad advice
(2:44) The #1 filter: Always check the deliverable
(3:35) Why writing the book too early leads to disappointment
(4:05) The #2 filter: Who are you learning from?
(5:30) Why Meghan avoids workshops + her integrity stance
(7:10) Meghan breaks down her three clear deliverables
(8:20) Real receipts: Meghan’s shocking success stats
(9:00) Helping authors avoid wasted time, money, and stress
(9:25) Outro

Follow Meghan:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megstevenson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megstevenson
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanstevenson/
• TikTok: @meghan.stevenson.books
• Website: https://www.meghanstevenson.com/

Have a great idea for a book but don't know where to start?MeghanStevenson.com/quiz


Traditional publishing expert Meghan Stevenson blasts open the gates of the “Big 5” – Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, and Macmillan – to share what every entrepreneur and expert needs to know about landing a book deal.

In episodes released every other Monday, Meghan shares wisdom and stories from 20+ years in publishing as well as interviews with authors, literary agents, and editors. She also answers questions from listeners like you.

Whether you are an experienced entrepreneur with an empire, or are just starting out – this podcast will help you understand what you need to do in order to turn your dream of being a bestselling author into real life.

What if your story could open doors and reshape who gets to be seen? In this episode, Meghan talks with PR expert Caitlin Copple, co-founder of Full Swing PR, about the kind of visibility that actually drives results for entrepreneurs who want book deals and real impact.

Caitlin shares why PR only works when your business is ready for it, what founders must have in place before hiring a publicist, and how “publicity that fills your pipeline” differs from the vanity wins most people chase. She explains the value of consistent visibility habits, why many entrepreneurs aren’t prepared for the audiences they dream about, and how alignment, not hustle, creates lasting momentum.

You’ll walk away with practical guidance on growing an audience, knowing when to invest in PR, understanding what publishers care about, and identifying the energetic blocks that keep you stuck.

If you’re aiming for a book deal or a bigger platform, this conversation will help you get clear on your next move.

This week’s guest is Caitlin Copple. She is the Founding Partner at Full Swing Public Relations. Caitlin’s work teaching clients to “be the news” has elevated the stories of diverse founders, sold books, won elections, passed legislation in multiple states, and even ousted a lawmaker accused of sexual assault. She has placed clients in a wide array of outlets such as CNN, Forbes, Fast Company, TIME, and many more. Caitlin and her business partner, Holly Conti, scaled the agency to seven figures in less than four years.

Full Swing PR is the nation’s leading agency for underrecognized founders and leaders of professional services companies scaling $2M+. Our agency has helped hundreds of clients earn millions of dollars through smart, effective PR campaigns. In 2024 and 2025, Full Swing PR was named among Inc. Magazine’s fastest growing privately held companies in the Rocky Mountain Region.

Full Swing PR is a women- and LGBTQ-owned agency.

Find Caitlin and Full Swing on social

• https://www.instagram.com/caitlin_copple/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlincopple/
• https://www.instagram.com/fullswingpr/

Find the Full Swing PR podcast here: https://fullswingpr.com/how-to-hire-pr-podcast/.

Take Full Swing PR’s Visibility Scorecard quiz here: https://fullswingpr.typeform.com/visibilityscore

Episode Highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(1:10) Introducing Caitlin Copple & Full Swing PR
(3:10) Why representation matters in PR
(5:03) What makes

Follow Meghan:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megstevenson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megstevenson
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanstevenson/
• TikTok: @meghan.stevenson.books
• Website: https://www.meghanstevenson.com/

Have a great idea for a book but don't know where to start?MeghanStevenson.com/quiz


Traditional publishing expert Meghan Stevenson blasts open the gates of the “Big 5” – Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, and Macmillan – to share what every entrepreneur and expert needs to know about landing a book deal.

In episodes released every other Monday, Meghan shares wisdom and stories from 20+ years in publishing as well as interviews with authors, literary agents, and editors. She also answers questions from listeners like you.

Whether you are an experienced entrepreneur with an empire, or are just starting out – this podcast will help you understand what you need to do in order to turn your dream of being a bestselling author into real life.

What if your book idea isn’t the problem, it’s your platform? In this episode of Kind of a Big Book Deal, publishing expert Meghan Stevenson breaks down why building your author platform matters more than obsessing over comps, subcategories, or bookstore placement. Using listener Mike C.’s question about his music and wellness book, Meghan reveals the truth behind prescriptive nonfiction (a.k.a. how-to or self-help books), why comparing yourself to bestselling authors can backfire, and how understanding your audience makes category and positioning decisions effortless.

If you’ve ever wondered what makes agents and publishers say yes, or how to stop wasting time on what doesn’t move the needle, this episode gives you the roadmap. Meghan’s no-fluff advice will help you focus on what really sells a book: proof of concept and a loyal audience.

Episode Highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(1:17) Listener question: What is prescriptive nonfiction?
(2:10) Defining prescriptive vs. narrative books
(3:35) Understanding genre, category, and positioning
(4:46) How to choose your comparative titles wisely
(6:15) Why huge author comps can hurt your pitch
(7:15) How tone and audience affect book positioning
(8:00) What publishers and agents really look for
(9:21) The #1 focus before writing your book
(11:19) Final advice: Build proof, not perfection
(12:01) Outro

Follow Meghan:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megstevenson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megstevenson
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanstevenson/
• TikTok: @meghan.stevenson.books
• Website: https://www.meghanstevenson.com/

Have a great idea for a book but don't know where to start?MeghanStevenson.com/quiz


Traditional publishing expert Meghan Stevenson blasts open the gates of the “Big 5” – Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, and Macmillan – to share what every entrepreneur and expert needs to know about landing a book deal.

In episodes released every other Monday, Meghan shares wisdom and stories from 20+ years in publishing as well as interviews with authors, literary agents, and editors. She also answers questions from listeners like you.

Whether you are an experienced entrepreneur with an empire, or are just starting out – this podcast will help you understand what you need to do in order to turn your dream of being a bestselling author into real life.