Bookbound

What does it take to turn a lifelong mantra into a published book? In this episode of Book Bound, Bethany Saltman and Fran Hauser talk with Carla Ondrasik, former music publishing executive and author of Stop Trying! . Carla shares how her obsession with the language of “trying” led her from scribbled notes to a book deal with Simon & Schuster’s Post Hill Press. She opens up about choosing the...

How do you turn 200 million TikTok views into a bestselling memoir? In this episode of Book Bound, Bethany Saltman and Fran Hauser talk with Dr. Erin Nance, orthopedic surgeon, bestselling author of Little Miss Diagnosed , and founder of the FeelBetr app, about building a platform rooted in authenticity. Erin shares how a single chapter shared with a stranger sparked her writing journey, why she s...

When your first manuscript doesn’t land with publishers, how do you transform that draft into the foundation for a book that does? In this episode of Bookbound, Fran Hauser and Bethany Saltman sit down with Cecily Mak, attorney, co-founder of Wisdom Ventures, and author of Undimmed: The Eight Awarenesses for Freedom from Unwanted Habits . Cecily talks about the long, non-linear path to her debut,...

What does it take to turn a podcast into a book? In this episode of Bookbound, Fran Hauser and Bethany Saltman sit down with Jill Sirianni, licensed clinical social worker, podcaster, and co-author of Buy What You Love Without Going Brok e, to talk about the journey from podcast host to traditionally published author. Jill shares how six years of podcasting laid the foundation for her book, what s...

What really happens when a literary agent becomes an author? In this episode of Bookbound, Fran Hauser and Bethany Saltman sit down with Kate McKean, literary agent, Substack writer, and author of Write Through It , to talk about the long road from aspiring novelist to publishing her first nonfiction book. Kate opens up about the seven years it took to land her book deal, what she’s learned from f...

In this episode of Bookbound, Fran Hauser and Bethany Saltman talk with Sophie Elmhirst , award-winning journalist and author of A Marriage at Sea (published in the UK as Maurice and Maralyn ). Sophie shares how she moved from years of failed fiction attempts and abandoned nonfiction concepts to finding the singular story that became her debut book. She explains why trusting one compelling narrati...

What does it take to publish a book that sparks a cultural shift? In this episode of Bookbound, Fran Hauser and Bethany Saltman talk with Neha Ruch, founder, CEO, and author of The Power Pause , about how she translated nearly a decade of grassroots advocacy into a bestselling book. Neha shares how she went from blog to book deal, the surprising pressure of platform growth, and what it really take...

How do you reshape a book in progress into something unforgettable? In this episode of Bookbound, Fran Hauser and Bethany Saltman talk with Melody Wilding, executive coach, author of Trust Yourself and Managing Up , about the twists, rewrites, and lessons behind her second book. Melody shares how reader feedback shifted her entire framework, why prescriptive nonfiction demands a clear and actionab...

How do you navigate the tension between telling your truth and building a platform that sells books? In this episode of Book Bound, Bethany Saltman and Fran Hauser sit down with Daria Burke, bestselling author of Of My Own Making , award-winning business leader, and former CMO, for an unfiltered look at what it really takes to bring a memoir to life. Daria shares her story from quietly carrying th...

How do you bring a deeply researched, historical story to life? In this episode of Bookbound, Fran Hauser and Bethany Saltman sit down with Haley Cohen Gilliland , journalist and author of A Flower Traveled in My Blood , to discuss the process of turning an urgent, emotional story into a compelling book. Haley shares how her experience living in Argentina sparked the idea for her debut book, the l...

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 bo...

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 bo...

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 offer...

What does it take to turn an idea into a published book? In this episode of Bookbound, Fran Hauser and Bethany Saltman sit down with Lisa Marchiano, Jungian analyst and co-host of This Jungian Life podcast, to explore the journey of writing, publishing, and building an author platform. Lisa shares how her simple yet powerful daily practice of writing 300 words a day helped her complete two books,...

Ever wondered how a chaotic writing process can transform into a bestselling book? In this episode of Bookbound, Amy Shoenthal, author of The Setback Cycle , shares her journey from journalism to book writing, inspired by her interviews with business leaders and entrepreneurs during the pandemic. Amy reflects on the importance of setbacks in professional and personal growth, detailing how her own...

What happens when a cultural critic and mother of boys decides to tackle the complexities of masculinity in modern society? In this episode of Bookbound, Ruth Whippman, author of Boy: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity, talks about her motivation behind crafting a book that embraces uncertainty and chaos, shedding light on her experiences parenting during the #MeToo movement....

Ever wondered how the competitive world of finance could be critiqued through a deeply personal lens?  In this episode of Bookbound, Carrie Sun talks about her journey in writing her first book and memoir, Private Equity , which has garnered significant acclaim. Carrie shares her journey from an MFA student to a celebrated author, highlighting how her experiences influenced her narrative approach....

Ever wondered what really goes on behind the glossy covers and catchy titles of your favorite books? In this episode of Bookbound, award-winning author and journalist Julie Satow shares the secrets behind the success of her latest book, When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion. She discusses her unique approach to digital marketing, revealing how leveraging so...

What does it take to transform a persistent idea (over many years) into a published book?  On this episode of Bookbound, executive leadership consultant Elaine Lin Hering joins us to explore the nine-year journey behind her book, Unlearning Silence.   Elaine shares her insights on overcoming self-doubt, navigating the challenges of writing a long-form piece, and the pivotal moment she decided to b...

What happens when a professor discovers that her real strength lies in her journalism skills and academic experience? For Rachel Somerstein, it’s a critically acclaimed book. Rachel is an associate professor of journalism at SUNY New Paltz and author of "Invisible Labor: The Untold Story of the Cesarean Section." We sat down with her to talk all about her author journey. From platform building to...

Can astrology help you gain a competitive edge in your career or business? We’re sitting down with Ophi Edut, renowned astrologer and author, to dive into her journey of publishing her book, The Astrology Advantage , and how astrology played its part in her own success.  She discusses her journey from self-publishing to traditional publishing, and the development of her book, which makes astrology...

What happens when a woman discovers that the man she's been interacting with online isn't who he says he is? On this episode of Bookbound, we sit down with Anna Akbari, author of the “jaw-dropping” (according to the New York Times) memoir There is No Ethan: How Three Women Caught America’s Biggest Catfish . Anna shares her journey of transforming a harrowing experience with an internet predator in...

What does it take to write four bestselling books in just as many years while juggling the demands of running a successful business and raising young twins? In this episode of Bookbound, we dive into the incredibly inspiring journey of Bola Sokubi, a finance expert, keynote speaker, and the founder of Clever Girl Finance. Bola shares her tips for authors on aligning goals with personal happiness,...

What if the secret to resolving conflict and getting along is simpler than you think? Gabrielle Hartley, divorce lawyer turned author, joins us on this episode, and her transformative experiences have culminated in her latest book, The Secret to Getting Along: And Why It's Easier Than You Think . Gabrielle shares what she’s learned along her publishing journey—from manifesting an endorsement by Gw...

What does it take to transform a personal health journey into a bestselling cookbook? Here to walk us down that path is Vasudha Viswanath, cookbook author and founder of the community-centered initiative "We Ate Well." After a career on Wall Street and a life-changing Prediabetes diagnosis, Vasudha shifted gears dramatically. She embraced her roots in vegetarian cooking but with a fresh, low-carb...