#190: Turning Situation into Success - Overcoming Obstacles

Welcome to the Author Audience show, the podcast that helps you reach more people with your message, create a book, connect with your audience, change lives. Here's your host, Shelly Hitz.

Welcome to Author Audience, where I'm on a mission to help you reach more people with your message. It's time to let your light shine. Today I'm rolling out the red carpet and inviting you into my community for a behind the scenes look at what's working for authors just like you. My name is Shelly Hitz and I'm the owner of Author Audience Academy. And the most rewarding part of my job is helping other authors get results. And so in this episode, I'm going to position the spotlight on one of my members, Erica Grace. Welcome, Erica.

Thank you so much for having me, Shelly. I'm so honored to be here.

I'm just thrilled to have you on the podcast. And before we dive in to the podcast, I just want to introduce you to our listeners. Erica is a full time financial manager who felt a calling to further make a difference. She decided to write a book to help young readers in the hospital Overcoming an obstacle. And she's excited to get this message out. So it's a very niche audience for kids that are going through things and in the hospital. But Erica is a newlywed living in Arizona, originally from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. And you can find out more at her brand new website. Right, Erica?

The website is greatlikeyou.com brand new. So excited for all that you're doing. And you know, in this episode, Erica's just going to talk a little bit about her experience going through our 90 day publishing challenge and just titled it Turning Situation into Success, Overcoming Obstacles. So in this episode, just as we get started, just share a little bit about what book you chose to use and to write in this publishing challenge and what your journey has been thus far.

Sure. Thank you so much. So I originally found Shelly through her podcast right here.

Yay, the podcast.

And then I started following on everything on Facebook. I learned about Authorized Academy and the 90 Day Publishing Challenge. When she did the Facebook live about the 90 day publishing challenge, I just was hooked. I dove right in. I'm like, this sounds perfect for me. It was just in March that I started writing. So I'm a very busy person in the corporate world and just felt this calling within me to help people on a different level as well. While I continue my corporate journey and helping financial lives, I also want to help in the mindset and health realm from experience that I experiences that I've had when I was growing up. I was hoping to influence others. So when I saw Shelly's Facebook live about the 90 day challenge, I just knew I had to be part of it. When I stopped and thought about it, I wanted my book to be in hands, especially during that crucial holiday season. That can be hard for people that are especially going through tough times. I wanted them to have this tool to help them and I knew that by following Shelly, I would be able to reach that finish line and get it there.

Yes.

So I really dove right in. I learned so much that it is incredible. And I am just very grateful for Shelley, very grateful for the community in the private Facebook group. The questions that I have had answered by community members and peers. It's just incredible.

It's been fun to watch your journey because you've been very active and definitely taking action. And so that's always the most fun for me is watching people, like, put it to action.

So tell us a little bit, like, what is the title of your book? And you kind of had an obstacle with that along the way, right?

I did, yes. So my new title and my cover is finalized. So my new title is great. Like you, I do have a subtitle to go into more detail, so it's turning situation into success in the hospital or through an obstacle. So I early on, I had a different title that I was very attached to, as I did reference to it throughout the book. And it was very attention grabbing. Shelly's group helped me to realize that there were huge copyright trademark issues with the title that I had. I'm a very safe and very cautious person. So I did do research beforehand, but I just didn't get as specific as I needed to be. And author audience helped me uncover what would have been a huge major issue had I kept the title.

Yeah. And I know you were really disappointed in the beginning, but I think it's better to uncover things like that at that time than later, you know, and to get like a cease and desist letter like saying, this is our trademark. So you were able to get the help and figure out like, and then. And take some time. I remember it kind of took you some time to get your wrap your mind around a different title. And now you have your title, you have your cover, and what other steps are you taking now for your book?

Sure. So what I've done during the challenge, I broke up the modules into a manageable weekly accomplishment that I wanted to do. Which ones I wanted to get through, what I wanted more Research on. And each day I spent at least 10 minutes on my book working on it. So I'm at a point right now. My book is coming out on December 12th.

Congratulations.

Thank you so much. So it's being formatted. I'm going back and forth a little bit with the formatting and a little bit deeper into the editing right now as well. Covers finalized, website launched. I started ordering marketing materials today. I booked my launch day venue. So I'm very grateful for that.

What are you going to do for your launch day?

The local fitness studio here that I have in town agreed to allow me to do launch day. There's. So I'll be meeting a lot of. It's a lot of the community members that I know would be able to help me get my book into the right hands and spread the word. This fitness studio is very active in the community and with health issues and especially focusing on children's causes.

Yeah. And I really like that because I talk about this is that, you know, a lot of authors want to go national and worldwide, but. But the best place to start is your own community. People love to support local authors and what you're doing and love to get behind that. And then they may have connections in other towns and other states and other places. For instance, your book, like if you can get connections in the hospital and then maybe they have connections in other hospital, you know, it can be a ripple effect. But I love how you're starting right where you're at, right in your own community and garnering that support from the very beginning. That's really, really smart and strategic and I love that you're doing that.

Thank you.

So you're getting ready for your launch and what kind of partners or what kind of people are you thinking of connecting with? You know, this book is a very specific niche. It's very specific for kids in the hospital or overcoming obstacles. Do you have any thoughts on that yet?

Yeah, so definitely I've talked to some people in the medical fields and so I plan to stay in touch with that. Back home where I'm originally from, in the summer, there is a very large charity event for childhood cancer.

Oh, wow.

So I plan to bring my book there and help raise awareness and help as many people as I can and just keep spreading the word through my community. For sure. I really appreciate all the connections I've been making. I had started my Facebook and Instagram for the book and it is having that slow but steady ripple effect of everyone kind of telling people that they know, that they feel could be impacted by it as well. So it's been really beautiful.

Yeah. And I think that sometimes what happens is as you take a step and as you connect with the organization or an audience, something else may open up. So I think it's great. That's a really great opportunity with that organization that is for childhood cancer. And then maybe that you'll meet a connection there or someone else will refer you to someone else. And there's really a lot of opportunities. And I think for those authors listening, what's really great is to look for those audiences that already have your target audience in them, like those places that already have your target audience. And how can you partner together? Like, how can it be a win win for both of you? And look for those different opportunities and partnerships and whether it's to be featured on a podcast or on a blog or to speak somewhere or, you know, for children's books, you can do readings. And there's so many different things for you with the medical field. I'm sure the options could really be limitless, you know, as you move forward. This will be your first book, right?

It will, yes.

So you'll be able to add published author to your bio soon.

That's fun. Do you plan on more books or are you just kind of gonna see how this one goes?

Yeah, so I'm gonna see how this one goes. It's definitely my baby. So on seeing who it can impact, and I did get some feedback as well from some of the beta readers, it could have a strong impact on children that are going through the foster system as well.

Different beta readers come back with that feedback. So that was really interesting. And that's gonna help me get into the right hands. So I'm gonna be spending a lot, a lot of time really just getting this book out there in the future. There are definitely possibilities. So this book here is for the audience of ages 10 and up. I really feel that that's the age group that can grasp the interactive activities that come their way. And all the material that's in the book around mindset, visualization, goal setting, things of that. So for 10 and up at this point, though, I. Adults can benefit from it, and children younger, if they go through it with some help at a very slower pace, would be able to catch on too. Someday maybe a picture book for the even younger audience. And someday maybe something for the parents as well to support them at this time.

Yeah, so I like that. You know, I think that it's great to put energy into the marketing side of it. I always Say it's a marathon, not a sprint. And so your book launch is just the beginning, it's not the end. And so I. And I think you really have a lot of opportunities. Like with so many different types of connections. I never thought of the foster whole the foster realm either. I mean that's a whole other area you could connect in with. And I love that you're already thinking that way and really just looking for how to market and how to help as many people as you can. So have you found that this has been, you know, you already have a full time job, a career. How has this been like writing a book and doing this passion project on the side?

It's been fun. Really, really a great experience being able to learn something so new. As I say to my friends and family, one year ago I never would have imagined that I would be in this spot right now. One year ago I hadn't had this idea. So it's all been really full steam ahead because my heart's in it and my passion's in it. So it's been so enjoyable to work on each day.

Yeah. And you know, it can be just so rewarding and I can't wait to just hear like some of the feedback you start getting from parents and kids and that sort of thing that will really like those types of things or the reviews. You know, it just makes your day so much. But it is really smart for you to do the beta group to get that feedback and you've just been taking all the steps and doing the right things and so really excited to see where all of this takes you. Now as we wind down the interview, do you have a take action tip for writers or authors that are listening right now?

Definitely. So my take action tip is to go for it so.

You have a story to tell. Don't let anything stop you. Self doubt, things like that will creep in. I am not an English major, I'm a business major and just never thought I'd be in these shoes. And so I had to quiet down those voices quite often. But the important thing is think of the people that you'll be helping when you get your message out. And that's gonna just really accelerate you, drive you to get this done. For me, knowing that the holidays were coming and that this could help make someone's holidays easier and brighter really just drove me to buckle down and get it done.

Yeah. And so I love that, you know, really just picturing your target audience, the person that you can help. You know, it really does help you just to Go for it. And there are a lot of mindset issues even for me now after having published so many books, I still face it. Like we still face the resistance, but we can take one step at a time, do it afraid. And then when you're in a community especially you have that encouragement, the help, the feedback. And so that can really be helpful even like the community we have in Author Audience Academy. So if somebody has been inspired by your message or if they would love to connect with you to get their book for their child or someone they know or maybe they have a connection that it would be great for, how would they connect with you and reach out to you?

Perfect. So the best way is my new website. It's greatlikeyou.com I do also have Facebook. Great. Like you. And Instagram reatlikeyoubook.

Awesome. I love that. And I just think it's just gonna be fun watching you take these next steps. And I want to remind you all the listeners too, Erica said earlier in this interview she's just worked at least 10 minutes a day. And so it's that consent consistent action over time of just continuing to do the next step that's got her to the point she is today and getting ready to launch her book to the world and help many people. So congratulations, Erica. I'm so proud of you.

Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.

You're welcome. And thanks to all of you for listening. I hope that this interview has inspired you, given you some ideas, and that you will take the next step towards realizing your dreams and helping those that you can help with your message. Again, my name is Shelly Hitz and I will see you next time. Bye Bye. Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Author Audience. I would like to invite you to attend one of my free trainings on three proven book writing formulas every nonfiction author needs to know. This is a fun and fast way to write a nonfiction book, but also a book that you're proud of. Plus, I will give you two free gifts just for attending. No credit card required. First, you'll get my 10 nonfiction book title templates and you'll also get my ebook titled Brilliant brainstorming. It's a 28 page ebook and both of these bonuses are yours at no charge. Just for joining us for the training, you can sign up for my free training by going to shellyhits.com for formulas. That's Shellyhitz. S H E L L E Y h I t z.com formulas. This training and the two bonuses are free and I would love to help you write your next nonfiction book.

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