Book Writing & Publishing

This week, I’m joined by publicist Emily Florence, and we’re talking about how to set publicity goals before you start chasing them, why a Today Show appearance might not sell nearly as many books as you think, and how to make your marketing feel less like shouting into the void and more like having conversations that matter.

Here’s what we get into:

• Why knowing your goals (career author? credibility? visibility?) makes all the difference
• The surprising truth about big media hits (and what works better)
• Building an author platform that doesn’t rely on hacking the algorithm or pretending to be someone you’re not
• How to build a real-deal, supportive author community (no fake “collabs” required)

👉 CLICK HERE to get the first draft of your nonfiction or memoir written in 33 days!

...even if you don't have a cabin in the wilderness, 4 uninterrupted hours a day to write, or confidence that you're a "real" writer. No overwhelm, no confusion. Just simple, actionable steps.

In this episode, author Audrey Ingram shares what inspired her newest novel, The Summer We Ran (coming June 3, 2025, Zibby Publishing). Think: teenage love, political ambition, and a dual-timeline structure that spans 25 years and manages to hit you right in the gut and makes you think.

We also dig into how Audrey traded in her life as a practicing attorney for full-time writing and mom-life. The decision to pivot careers during a pandemic? Bold. Brave. And totally intentional. Plus, it’s given her a fresh lens on fulfillment, feminism, and what it really means to choose your own adventure.

INSIDE THE EPISODE:

🎙️ Why the publishing world is actually a surprisingly supportive crew—and how connecting with fellow writers can keep you sane

🎙️ How redefining feminism helped her embrace passion over pressure

🎙️ Her 12-week first draft practice, and why editing is where the magic happens

🎙️ The role of trusted early readers (and how she uniquely approaches this step)

🎙️ How she ups ...

In this solo episode of Write the Damn Book Already, I respond to listener's questions, including:

• How do I make sure I'm not infringing on someone else's copyright by referencing their advice, book, or insights in my book? 
• Why is publishing so complicated?
• Why do I become an insecure mess whenever I sit down to write?

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Cory Goodrich's book, Folksong: A Ballad of Death, Discovery, and DNA

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

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Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Lauren Kay's young adult debut novel, We Ship It, was a dream come true, but it wasn't easy to get there. Now, she helps other writers achieve the same joy, minus the roadblocks. Having secured eight agent offers in a month,  she works with authors dreaming about a traditional publishing deal to help them write irresistible query letters.

INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

• The 7-year path to her first novel, for which she received a 6-figure advance (best quote: "Lightning speed in this industry is 7 years.")
• The importance of transparency in the book industry when it comes to timelines, sales figures, and overall expectations
• The idea of an author “deserving” their lead author status (I hadn't heard this before, and loved the discussion around it!)
• How changing our expectations as authors can lead to far better results 
• The “before” and “after” of publishing
• Top mistakes to avoid when writing query letters + how to navigate the world of querying without becoming (too) disappointed 
...

Jessica Saunders's debut novel, Love, Me, was released on January 16, 2024 (Union Square & Co.)

In the latest episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, Jessica and I chatted about the power of pursuing a literary dream as she discussed her debut with raw and captivating honesty. We also discussed the delicate balance between rigorous careers and the pull of creative passions, the catalysts that drive us to write, and the sacrifices made along the way—including, sometimes, a brief hiatus from all things Netflix! 

INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

• Finalizing the title, from the initial idea to the final decision

• Jessica's writing process, what prompted her to (finally) write the damn book already, and her approach to plotting versus pantsing

• Which writers' workshop helped her get her first draft out

• How she decided between traditional and self-publishing and found her agent, Elizabeth Bewley (Sterling Lord Literalistic)

• Her experience connecting with the author c

  ...