The Author's Corner

Summary: A good ghostwriter must be a great writer. But, what makes a ghostwriter great? According to Sheree Trask, a great ghostwriter will act as your business coach, your spiritual guru, and sometimes even your therapist.  In episode #125 of The Author’s Corner , Robin speaks with Sheree Trask about what it takes to be a great ghostwriter. They take a deep-dive into ghostwriting, including...

Summary: The #1 area in the entire writing and publishing process that authors report the most frustration and disappointment is book sales. After a few months of promoting their book, most are dismayed by their results, and they stop promoting altogether.  It’s vital to understand that the activities that actually cause book sales are different from activities that promote your book. They ar...

Summary: The human species is the only species on earth that suffers from confirmation bias. And with today’s divisive political climate, confirmation bias is on the rise.  Bias is inevitable. It’s impossible to know the experience of every single person, so you must speak from your own. But how do you, as an author, combat the biases that show up in your writing? What can you do to ensure th...

Summary: If you’re thinking about writing a book, and you’ve also been writing a blog for a few years, it might occur to you:  why not just turn my blog posts into my book? Before you dive right in, consider this. Blogs can be helpful tools as you write your book, but I believe it’s best if you avoid the somewhat popular approach of “copy, paste, and call it a manuscript.” In this Robin’s Rif...

Summary: If you’re a regular listener of The Author’s Corner , then you’ve probably considered going for a traditional book deal at some point. If you’d like more insight on how to succeed with that goal, listen up, because this week’s episode will be of special interest! What better way is there to gain insight into traditional publishing than to learn from the Editor-in-Chief of an important ind...

Summary: One of the most common questions that Robin gets asked is, “how much should a literary agent cost?”  The short answer is… “We hope your agent costs a lot!”  In episode #120 of The Author’s Corner , Robin explains why that’s a good thing, and it’s all because a legitimate literary agent’s pay is based on how much the publisher pays you. She also reveals the four key ways you can...

Summary: People aren’t born ready to lead. Leadership is a continuous process of growth, connection, and courage. And while it can seem scary, it also means that you can be a leader right now . You just have to commit to the process.  In episode #119 of The Author’s Corner , Robin is joined by Ash Beckham, an activist and leadership expert. They discuss a few key traits of a leader such as au...

Summary: Writing a book is not just about writing a book. It’s also a journey of self-discovery and growth—if you’re open to it. A book can also be a powerful tool to connect with your reader and help them discover something about themselves. But in order to get your reader to a vulnerable place, you have to lead the way.  In episode #118 of The Author’s Corner , Robin is joined by Josh Rived...

Summary: Some of the most notable authors in history have also been the most prolific - Stephen King, Michael Lewis, Agatha Christie. They have made a name for themselves by producing dozens, if not hundreds, of notable works.  But what does it really mean to be prolific? How is it measured? And to what extent does being prolific equal success? In episode #117 of The Author’s Corner , Robin i...

Summary: When you’re writing a book, songwriting is probably one of the farthest things from your mind. How could they possibly be related? In this episode, Robin is joined by an award winning songwriter and author, Kevin Griffin, who says the two are not only related, but deeply intertwined.  In a riveting discussion, Kevin shares how his experience in songwriting influenced how he wrote his...

Summary: As artists, we’ve taken a sacred oath to tell “the truth,” in one of its many forms, but how do you know what the Truth (capital T) really is? Like art, truth is often subjective. But if you take this commitment to the truth seriously, and are willing to go to the hard, emotional places where it lives, then you will end up with a piece that not only speaks to your audience, but uncovers y...

We each have to make thousands of decisions every day—what to wear, which route to take, what to eat for lunch, which books to read. When you’re writing a book, you can expect to add another hundred decisions to your day. What time of day should I write? Should I research more or dive into writing the content? Should I edit as I go or finish the whole draft first?  While making decisions is o...

Summary: Before you write one word of your book, or even begin to build your outline, there’s one thing you need to figure out: your “why.”  The answers to this question might not be the same for everything you write, so “WHY?” is a question you should be asking at the outset of every single book project you begin.  In episode #113 of The Author’s Corner , Robin is joined by Deborah John...

When you walk into Barnes & Noble, one of the biggest sections you find is the Health and Nutrition section. Thousands of cookbooks line the shelves, with at least ten for each lifestyle.  It’s overwhelming enough for readers, but as an aspiring author in the health/nutrition industry, you might be wondering, how will you stand out? In episode #112 of The Author’s Corner , Robin is joined by...

Memoirs are among the most difficult books to write. How do you tell your life story so that your readers are enraptured every step of the way? And how do you make the reader feel connected enough to keep their interest, when the entire book is about your story? Though the book is about your life, you still need to be telling it for a reason. You need a central message to send to your reader, and...

There’s no one way to achieve success with your book. Success might look different for everyone; it depends on your goals, and why you chose to write the book in the first place. Though success differs, most authors find their success utilizing similar strategies. As an aspiring author, the best way to find your unique road to success is to learn from the authors who came before you. And the guest...

One of the most essential components of writing a book that people want to read is the ability to tell a great story.   While storytelling is often described as an art, there is a science to it as well, and our guest today is here to help you make your stories more engaging and inviting for your audience.    In this episode of The Author's Corner, Robin sits down with Rich...

No matter what genre you’re writing, good research is critical, particularly when you’re writing an investigative piece. And in many cases, the greatest tactic for research is interviewing people. But being a good interviewer takes time and practice. You have to develop the skills and learn how to read people to get the information that you need. In this episode of The Author's Corner , Robin sits...

Success can be a double edged sword; when you meet or exceed your goals, the first thing you feel is a rush of elation and pride. But often, right around the corner is a lurking sense of anxiety, stress, and fear.  Authors feel this sensation at many points in the writing process. You manage to get the manuscript drafted, but you worry it might not connect with readers after it’s published. Y...

Creativity plays an important role in our society, but it is often overlooked. Without it, we wouldn’t have art, theater, or books (to name a few). But outside of the creative arts, creativity also plays a critical role in our everyday lives, as it contributes to effective problem solving and decision making. In this episode of The Author's Corner , Robin sits down with Tony Award-winning producer...

The number one excuse from aspiring authors who don’t yet have their book in hand: “I don’t have enough time right now.” If this seems familiar to you, you’ve got to ask yourself: when will you have enough time? Next month? Two years from now? More often than not, people who say they want to write a book never do. They simply continue to live their busy life and make excuses. Truth is, you’ll neve...

In today's episode of The Author's Corner , Robin sits down with Erika Andresen, CBCP, JD, MPA, a veteran, lawyer, small business owner, and of course, the author of, How to Not Kill Your Business: Grow Your Business in Any Environment, Navigate Volatility and Successfully Recover When Things Go Wrong . Robin and Erika discuss the reasons why she made the switch, both in her career - from corporat...

In this episode of The Author's Corner , Robin sits down with John Pabon, sustainability expert and author of The Great Greenwashing . John shares the combination of frustration, stupidity, and hubris that inspired him to write and self-publish his first book, Sustainability for the Rest of Us: Your No-Bullshit, Five-Point Plan for Saving the Planet . Robin and John discuss his decision to write i...

Intellectual property is a concept every writer should be aware of—specifically, how to protect yours, and how to respect other people's. In this episode, our guest understands that better than most, and thankfully is here to share her knowledge. Andrea Sager is the CEO and founder of Legalpreneur, host of the Legalpreneur podcast, and the author of Legalpreneur: The Business Owner’s Guide To Lega...

The truth is important for every author, but it is especially important if you are writing a book on a controversial topic. Controversial topics attract pushback and criticism, so if you get something wrong, you’re extra likely to get called out for it. That’s why it’s essential to ensure accuracy when you’re writing about a controversial topic, just like William Cooper. William is the author of S...