In this Business Blast podcast episode, host Tyler Wagner interviews multi‑published author Cynthia Macgregor. Cynthia shares a personal story about persisting through numerous rejections to get one of her two TV show concepts on the air, illustrating the lesson of never giving up. She explains that publishing has become more accessible, highlighting two main routes for writers: boutique publishers—small presses that distribute mainly through Amazon and author websites—and self‑publishing/indie publishing, which has shed its vanity‑publishing stigma. Her overarching business advice is encapsulated in the phrase “don’t quit while you’re ahead,” encouraging continual growth beyond initial success. Reflecting on her own career, she advises her younger self to start writing full‑length books earlier, suggesting she could have far more titles than the 100+ she already has. Cynthia defines happiness as doing work she loves, describing her daily routine as a freelance writer and editor handling a variety of assignments (ads, blog posts, ghostwriting, editing) while also writing her own books. She mentions a forthcoming Christmas‑themed children’s picture book with Crimson Cloak Publishing. When asked about influences, she cites Mary Roach, Heather Lundy, and A.K. (Amanda) Turner, noting that reading their work improves her own writing. Her favorite personal quote is, “If you don’t try, you can’t succeed; if you do try, you might surprise yourself.” Finally, she directs listeners to her website, www.cynthiamacgregor.com, for books and contact information. The episode is sponsored by Authors Unite and recorded with Anchor.
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Welcome to the Business Blast podcast. I'm your host, Tyler Wagner. This episode is brought to you by Authors Unite. Authors Unite provides you with all the resources you need to become a successful author. You can learn more about Authors Unite and join the free community at authorsunite.com. Now let's jump into the episode. All right, everyone, welcome back to another episode of the Business Blast podcast. I'm your host, Tyler Wagner. Today I have the multi-published author Cynthia McGregor. So welcome to the show, Cynthia.
Hi, thanks for having me.
Of course, I'm excited to have you on, Cynthia, and we'll dive in. The first question I have for you, Cynthia, is what's the best story from your life that has an underlying valuable message?
Well, I don't think it has to do with any of my over 100 published books, actually. I think it has to do with my 2 TV shows. Getting the first of my 2 TV shows on the air was a real bear. I tried every local station that I knew of, kept getting turned down. Finally found a station I hadn't even been aware of, approached them with the concept, the format, the whole proposal, and they said yes. This was after multitudinous turndowns. So the, the message, the lesson to take from that is keep trying, don't give up even when it seems you've exhausted all possibilities. Keep going. You can succeed after all.
And what's the most valuable piece of information we should know that's within your expertise or industry?
Well, there we get back to publishing. The most valuable piece of information I would say is it's easier to get published these days than it used to be. There are now other ways besides the, the big publishers in New York. It's tough to get in into the Simon Schuster's, the HarperCollins's, and so on without an agent and even with an agent. And it's even tough to get an agent sometimes. But there are now two other avenues that people should be aware of if they want, if they are writers. One is the boutique publishers. These are small publishers, that for the most part, not entirely, but for the most part, don't get into bookstores. They— their books are available through Amazon.com, through their own websites, through the author's own websites, and in various other places and manners. But you won't mostly get into Barnes Noble with them. However, you can get your books out there. It is easy. To get published, and you don't have to keep facing rejections. The other avenue that's open now is self-publishing, also known as indie publishing. At one time, this was looked down on and called vanity publishing, but it's become respectable. I personally have not self-published, but I have had quite a few books put out by boutique publishers and don't expect huge sales, but you can get your books published, get them out there, get them in front of the readers, make sales. Things are a lot more optimistic than they used to be.
And what's your best piece of overall business advice? So not necessarily industry-specific?
Well, not necessarily industry-specific. No, it's not. It also happens to be the title one of my books, don't quit while you're ahead. You know, the classic advice is quit while you're ahead. I say horse feathers. I say don't quit while you're ahead. I say keep going, reach higher, try to get even more. I say keep on going farther to the top. I say don't quit while you're ahead, whatever business you're in. I know it doesn't apply just to writing and publishing. It applies to people in business. It applies to what— and not just in business, but in your personal life too. Every facet, every avenue of your life, and every career that you might be in. Don't quit while you're ahead. Don't think, well, I finally have succeeded. What's wrong with wanting more?
And if you could give yourself, your younger self, one piece of advice, what would that be?
Start writing books earlier. I stuck with the short form for way too long because I didn't have the patience to write a whole book and then wait years to see if I could find a publisher. And I didn't have as much faith in myself as I should have. I would— pardon me— advise my younger self to start writing books earlier and not just stick with the short form. Imagine I might have 200 books published now instead of just somewhere north of 100. I stopped counting at 100, Tyler.
But just to clarify, you have over 100 books, right?
Right.
Okay, got it. And in your opinion, what's the key to happiness?
Finding work that you love. That's an easy question, Tyler. I might be arguably the happiest woman in the world. Why? Because I'm doing something I love. I get up every day looking forward to my workday, looking forward to planting my tushy in my chair at my computer and working, working, working at work that I love. I not only write books, Tyler, but I'm also a freelance writer and editor working for clients, everything from writing— I did a business— what, I can't think of the word now. Oh, crap. A business thing for somebody recently. And I've done ads, I've done blog posts, I've ghostwritten books, I've edited books written by other people. I'll take on almost anything except grant proposals, which is specialized, and I don't do them. And I don't do— I don't crib term papers and theses for college students, but I'll take on almost any other kind of writing and editing assignment. And so I write, I edit, and When I'm not immersed in paying gigs like that, I write my own books. I just finished writing a children's picture book. It's Christmas-themed. It will be out this Christmas with Crimson Cloak Publishing, one of the boutique publishers to which I referred earlier. And I wrote it in between other assignments.
Beautiful. And this will be a great question for you. What's the best book that you've read? And what was the number one thing you learned from that?
Well, you know, I can't honestly mention one best book. Can I tell you who my three favorite writers are? They've each written several books. Yeah. Three favorite writers are Mary Roach, Heather Lundy, and A.K. Turner. It's actually Amanda Turner, but her byline is A.K. Turner. And I guess the best thing I've learned from them is just reading how well they write improves my writing and inspires me to go on, you know.
And what's your favorite quote and why?
My favorite quote is one of my own. If you don't try, you can't succeed. And if you do try, you might surprise yourself. I'm quoting myself. And it's one of my favorite quotes.
Yes, I love it. Thank you so much for coming on. The last question I have for you before we let you go is where's the best place for people to find you online?
www.cynthiamacgregor.com. That's— let me spell it for you— C-Y-N-T-H-I-A-M-A-C-G-R-E-G-O-R dot com. G-O-R, www.cynthiamcgregor.com. You can find my books on that site. You can find a contact thing there where you can contact me through email, through the site. You'll find out more about me. That's the best place to get ahold of me online. Awesome.
Thank you so much again for coming on, Cynthia. We appreciate it.
Thank you for having me, Tyler Wagner.
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