Easy Peasy Books

Ever feel like you know too much to write a clear, compelling book? Communication coach and 13-time author Diane Windingland understands that struggle intimately. In this episode, Diane shares her remarkable journey from designing cruise missiles as an engineer to becoming a Distinguished Toastmaster and the Virtual Speech Coach—all because her teenage son needed public speaking experience. Her la...

What happens when a seasoned sales director with 20+ years of Fortune 500 experience writes a children's book? You get The ABC Book of Professional Selling—a rhyming, illustrated guide that Tom Whalen uses with everyone from his college students at VCU to his own sales team at McKesson. In this episode, Tom shares his unconventional three-year journey of creating a book that serves dual audie...

As we close out 2025, this episode invites you to step into your time machine and envision where you want to be one year from now. Building on last week's conversation about gifting business books, Gillian challenges you to consider: Could you be giving YOUR book to clients this time next year? Whether you're a prospective author who's been rolling that book idea around for years, a...

Inspired by a recent LinkedIn post about the season of light and learning, Gillian shares why giving business books is one of the most meaningful ways to connect with colleagues, clients, and friends—not just during the holidays, but all year round. She explores how sending someone a book says "I was thinking of you" in a deeply personal way, and reveals practical tips like drop-shipping...

What happens when you buy a book that's so helpful, you decide to write one yourself? That's exactly what Sarah Dodd, CEO and founder of Tree Law and self-proclaimed "Tree Hugging Lawyer," did. After spending 20 years hearing colleagues say "someone should write a book about tree root subsidence claims," Sarah discovered Law Brief Publishing as a customer first—and th...

In this must-listen episode for authors and thought leaders, intellectual property expert Michelle B. Griffin joins me for an in-depth discussion on safeguarding your creative work. As a keynote speaker, visibility strategist, and personal branding advisor, Michelle shares her experience with helping clients navigate the complex world of trademarks, copyrights, and brand identity. Together, we exp...

In this insightful episode, career coach and LinkedIn expert Sarah Burgess shares how she's on a mission to help students navigate those challenging transitions with her new "And Stuck?" workbook series. Tune in to discover the personal experiences and client stories that inspired Sarah to create accessible resources for students feeling lost or pressured about their next steps. We...

In this enchanting episode, Gillian sits down with Felipe Cofiño, a seasoned HR executive, thought leader, and now children's book author, to explore how he's using his heartwarming tale "Miranda & Max's Adventure" to captivate audiences on LinkedIn and beyond. Felipe shares his unconventional approach to marketing a children's book on a business-focused platform,...

How do you keep your nonfiction book relevant when the landscape is constantly shifting? Lynnaire Johnston, LinkedIn expert and co-author of "Business Gold," reveals the behind-the-scenes process of revising and updating the ultimate guide to LinkedIn Company Pages. As Lynnaire and co-author Michelle J Raymond prepare the third edition, she shares valuable insights on why they decided a...

In this insightful episode, I sit down with Claire E. Jones, a multi-talented author, speaker, mentor, and podcaster. Claire shares her journey of transitioning from an author to a sought-after speaker and reveals how aspiring writers can do the same by strategically leveraging conference panel opportunities. She dives into the nitty-gritty of landing your first panel gig, from researching confere...

In this special episode, the tables are turned as I join Jim Cooper as a guest on his podcast, The Hydrant. This conversation, recorded before Jim's recent appearance on my show last week, features the talented voice actor and author taking the reins to interview me about my own creative journey. We dive into a variety of engaging topics, including the challenges and rewards of carving out a...

Jim Cooper, voice actor, author, and self-proclaimed "book nerd", shares his multifaceted journey from the corporate world to a fulfilling creative career. Discover the inspiration behind Jim's mystery thriller and his heartfelt non-fiction book, chronicling his experience supporting his wife through her triumphant battle with brain cancer. As the host of "The Hydrant" pod...

Monique van Tulder, author of "A Grown Up's Gap Year: Put YOU in the picture", shares the inspiring story behind her midlife memoir and self-help book. Discover what prompted Monique's "Shirley Valentine moment" of running away from home at 57 to embark on an 8-month solo journey of self-discovery and reinvigoration. Monique discusses the challenges of vulnerable pers...

Think you don't have time or money to read? In this solo episode, I'm tackling the uncomfortable truth a friend confided in me: they dream of being an author but have only read a handful of books since college. Here's my hot take: authors can't afford NOT to be readers. How can we expect anyone to buy and read OUR books if we don't believe reading is valuable? I'm sho...

Feeling like you're running on fumes but can't seem to hit the pause button? In this solo episode, I'm getting vulnerable about my summer working vacation – and why I desperately needed one after living in 30+ apartments in three years and livestreaming every single Tuesday for four years straight without a break. Spoiler alert: I was this close to buying a school bus and turning it...

Thinking about self-publishing but terrified of the reality behind those "write a Kindle book in a weekend" promises? Four-time author Sue Allen Clayton and I pull back the curtain on what it really takes to write and market a successful Kindle book in this masterclass "from the vault"! Sue shares her brutal awakening when her editor told her that her 200-page manuscript "...

Wondering what an editor actually does and why the process takes so much longer (and costs more) than you expected? Grammar expert Susan Rooks and my sister Janet and I dive deep into the editing world in this "from the vault" LinkedIn Live replay! Susan, known as the Grammar Goddess, reveals the four different types of editors you need to know about – and why most authors need more than...

Think LinkedIn groups are just digital tumbleweeds rolling around with no real value? Sales training expert Tracy Bedwell is about to change your mind in this "from the vault" LinkedIn Live replay! Tracy reveals her systematic approach to leveraging LinkedIn groups and events that grows her audience by 100 people every single Wednesday – and authors, these strategies are pure gold for bu...

Hesitant to engage on LinkedIn but know you need it for your author platform? LinkedIn Confidence Coach Marianne Avery and I tackle the fears that keep authors standing at the back of the digital room in this "from the vault" LinkedIn Live replay! Marianne reveals that building confidence on LinkedIn isn't about having all the answers – it's about educating yourself on the &quo...

Struggling to connect with readers through your writing but know storytelling is the key to building author authority? Business coach and LinkedIn storyteller Craig Allan and I dive deep into the art of transformative storytelling in this engaging "from the vault" LinkedIn Live replay! Craig reveals that you don't need to be a natural performer or have dramatic life experiences to b...

Struggling to promote your book because the thought of speaking about it publicly makes your palms sweat? Executive communication coach Brenden Kumarasamy and I tackle the fear that keeps so many authors silent in this energizing "from the vault" LinkedIn Live replay! Brenden reveals that public speaking anxiety often stems from school experiences where presentations were mandatory, on t...

Ready to amplify your authority as an author but terrified of public speaking? LinkedIn Top Voice and TEDx speaker Lavinia Thanapathy and I explore why most experts are performing at an 8 out of 10 in their field but only communicating at a 3 out of 10 in this powerful "from the vault" LinkedIn Live replay! Lavinia reveals that your expertise means nothing if you can't unleash your...

Feeling overwhelmed by LinkedIn but know you need to be there to build your author platform? Career transition coach Kim Ribich and I explore the refreshing concept of being "quietly social" on LinkedIn in this "from the vault" LinkedIn Live replay! Kim reveals that you don't need to be a LinkedIn influencer posting daily content to build meaningful authority – instead, yo...

Struggling to transform your storytelling and connect with your audience? Business storyteller Katherine Ledger and I unlock the secret to magnetic content using wisdom from The Wizard of Oz in this "from the vault" LinkedIn Live replay! Katherine reveals that before you worry about perfecting your prose or finding your voice, you need to understand the real framework behind every compel...

Ready to build your author platform but feeling stuck on LinkedIn? LinkedIn marketer Beth Kirk and I dive deep into why most authors are approaching LinkedIn completely backwards in this "from the vault" LinkedIn Live replay! Beth reveals that before you worry about optimizing your profile or crafting the perfect post, you need to tackle the real roadblock: your mindset. We explore why s...