Project Seed Money

✨ Welcome back to the Project Seed Money Podcast! In this week's episode, Sharissa Bradley sits down with Melanie Smithson , somatic psychotherapist, movement educator, and author of Stress Free in 30 Seconds and the upcoming Shake Yourself Free . Melanie shares how dance, body awareness, and gentle somatic practices can help us release emotional tension, overcome creative blocks, and reconnect w...

✨ Welcome back to the Project Seed Money Podcast! In this episode, Sharissa Bradley talks with Anita Placido , author of Dreams of Sanity and Whispers from God . Anita shares how journaling, faith, and divine nudges turned her private pain into published purpose. She opens up about overcoming fear, writing through trauma, and trusting that her story would help others find freedom from the past. 🎙...

✨ Welcome back to the Project Seed Money Podcast! In this episode, Sharissa Bradley talks with Nadia Khan , children's and middle grade author of the Zoey Wonders Why series. Nadia shares how her passion for storytelling began at age seven and how she uses her books to teach children about empathy, cultural heritage, and resilience. Her newest release, Zoey Wonders Why and the Great Catastrophe ,...

✨ Welcome back to the Project Seed Money Podcast! In this episode, Sharissa Bradley talks with CC Robinson , pastor, author, and creator of the Divided YA dystopian series. CC shares how a powerful dream inspired her to write a story of unity, courage, and resilience in a divided America — and how she turned that vision into a self-published series that empowers readers to think critically about...

✨ Welcome back to the Project Seed Money Podcast ! In this episode, Sharissa Bradley interviews Megs Thompson — intuitive writing coach, ghostwriter, and publisher — about what she calls "seal suit energy" (living your purpose so fully that everything just clicks). Megs opens up about her journey from burnout and addiction to building a joyful, creative business helping others write their stories...

✨ Welcome to the Project Seed Money Podcast! In this episode, Sharissa Bradley chats with AM Scott — U.S. Air Force veteran turned author of space opera science fiction, military romantic suspense, and urban fantasy . AM shares her journey from a 20-year military career to writing eight unpublished novels, finding an online writing community, and finally hitting "publish." She opens up about over...

✨ Welcome to the Project Seed Money Podcast! In this episode, Sharissa Bradley talks with Katherine MacLean , scientist and author of Midnight Water: A Psychedelic Memoir . Katherine shares her remarkable path from science writing to deeply personal storytelling, and how studying psilocybin and mental health research helped her reclaim her creativity. You'll discover: ✅ How grief and creativity...

Sharissa Bradley chats with Leanne Janzen about navigating today's self-publishing landscape. Learn what to ask before hiring a service provider, how FriesenPress supports authors from editing to distribution, and why you should start marketing yourself early. Helpful Links: Website: friesenpress.com Email: ljanzen@friesenpress.com You'll discover: ✅ How FriesenPress guides authors from editing t...

This week, Sharissa Bradley talks with illustrator Anna Leitensdorfer about the art of creating maps, characters, and illustrations for authors. Anna shares her collaborative process, what to know before commissioning an artist, and how to avoid scams in the illustration industry. What We Cover: Anna's journey from animation to book illustration Why fantasy maps and character art matter for author...

This week, Sharissa Bradley talks with author and marketing coach Monica Miller about how authors can build their brand, clarify their message, and market their books without burning out. Monica shares her early writing journey, her onboarding process with clients, and the red flags to watch for when hiring a coach. What We Cover: Monica's path from writer to coach Why marketing starts at the very...

In this episode, Sharissa Bradley talks with memoirist Jo Ann Fawcett about her journey of writing through trauma, healing toxic patterns, and breaking generational cycles. Jo Ann shares her experiences with self-publishing, vulnerability, and how writing has become part of her magical practice. opens up about vulnerability, support systems, and why it's never too late to rewrite your life. You'll...

In this episode, Sharissa Bradley talks with Judy Mohr , astrophysicist turned author, editor, and writing coach. Judy shares her journey into fiction and nonfiction writing, the struggles of vulnerability, and why every author needs to learn the power of saying no. What We Cover: From theater kid to scientist to author Writing as escape from academia Unlearning sterile writing & finding her voice...

This week, Sharissa Bradley sits down with Annie Toro Lopez — food writer, teacher, and gluten-free cookbook author — to talk about turning a celiac diagnosis into a gift for others, and how writing memoir on Substack helped her find freedom in her authentic voice. 📌 Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome & intro 01:17 - Annie's lifelong identity as a writer 03:27 - Wearing many hats & nonfiction focus 04:5...

In this episode, Sharissa Bradley talks with author and travel entrepreneur Tiffany Heard about creating unique interactive activity and coloring books that celebrate African heritage and HBCU culture. Tiffany shares how she overcame fear, marketed her books creatively, and turned her publishing success into speaking gigs and school presentations. What We Cover: [00:44] Rediscovering her love of w...

This week, Sharissa Bradley sits down with PR coach Lilian Sue to talk about building a publicity strategy that actually works for authors. Lilian shares how to overcome fear of visibility, what to have in place before you launch, and the red flags to watch for when hiring PR help. What We Cover: [00:00] Intro & Lilian's approach to PR coaching [02:00] Why mindset matters as much as strategy [05:0...

This week, Sharissa Bradley talks with Pamela Buehl — retired teacher, lifelong poet, and self-published author — about how she turned a childhood passion into a book she shares with children and families. What We Cover: [00:00] Intro & Pamela's writing roots [00:39] Pen pals with her Nana & early poetry [01:55] Her children's poetry book — why she wrote it & how she illustrated it [03:00] Facing...

Thinking about turning your book into an audiobook? In this episode, professional audiobook narrator Charlotte Chiew breaks down the process for indie authors. From how much it costs to how long it takes, Charlotte shares what to expect and how to make sure your voice and vision are honored in audio. Whether you're wondering when to reach out, how to find the right narrator, or if you can sell aud...

What should authors look for in a publishing partner—and what red flags should they avoid? In this episode, Sharissa interviews Alexa Nazzaro , founder of Aaxel Author Group and a featured service provider in the Project Seed Money directory. Alexa brings years of experience as both a writer and publishing assistant to the conversation. She shares how her company supports indie authors at every st...

In this moving and motivational episode, Sharissa Bradley interviews B.L. Mostyn , epic fantasy author of Heroes of Another Age . B.L. shares how a lifelong love of storytelling—and a world she's been developing since she was thirteen—finally became her debut novel, published in 2025. Together, they explore the courage it takes to publish your first book, how motherhood shaped her creative drive,...

Episode Summary: She's back! In this special follow-up episode, Sharissa reconnects with Paula Banks , founder of EION Books and author of multiple award-winning children's books. Since her first interview with Project Seed Money just 15 months ago, Paula's journey has skyrocketed—from self-publishing her debut to launching her own publishing company, developing school programs, and mentoring new...

In this powerful and practical episode, host Sharissa Bradley speaks with publisher and author Deborah Kevin , founder of Highlander Press . Deborah shares her personal journey from author to publisher, her experience rescuing authors from damaging vanity press contracts, and her mission to help women publish with confidence, clarity, and integrity. They dive deep into the publishing landscape, co...

In this incredibly insightful episode, editor and author Hannah de Keijzer joins host Sharissa Bradley to demystify the editing process and help writers navigate one of the most misunderstood parts of the publishing journey. Hannah shares practical tips, red flags to watch for, and the importance of asking the right questions before hiring an editor. As both a seasoned developmental and line edito...

In this powerful and heart-centered episode, Sharissa Bradley interviews J.K. Enfield —indie author, speaker, and creator of the Pages to Platform coaching program. Under her pen name, J.K. Enfield shares her deeply personal story of loss and how writing her first nonfiction book helped her transform pain into purpose. They talk about the emotional vulnerability of publishing a true story, how to...

In this heartfelt conversation, Sharissa Bradley interviews indie author J.A. Forde , who shares her journey from bookish Instagram follower and beta reader to multi-book fiction author with a growing readership. J.A. dives into how she started writing during the pandemic, the vulnerability of publishing her first book, and how community, both online and offline, has kept her going through imposte...

Audiobooks are one of the fastest-growing book formats—and if you're planning to produce one, this interview is your roadmap. Sharissa sits down with Mary Catherine Jones , executive producer of The Audiobook Experience , to unpack exactly what goes into creating a professional audiobook. Mary Catherine has worked with dozens of authors to bring their books to life through audio. Whether you're na...