The Book Mentor Podcast

Today, host Karen Williams is joined by the inspiring Zana Goic Petricevic, bestselling author, leadership transformation expert, and global speaker.    Zana’s journey began in February 2020 when she boldly decided to write her first book—just as the world was on the brink of the pandemic. Instead of playing it safe, Zana leaned into the uncertainty, publishing  Bold Reinvented and later Leading o...

In this episode, host Karen Williams is joined by Akasha Lonsdale. Akasha shares her journey across three books: from a self-published debut sparked by her psychotherapy clients’ requests, to a commissioned guide on religious etiquette, and most recently, Mindful Life Wisdom for Women 50+ —a book born out of adversity and a belief that every problem carries a gift.   Together, they explore practic...

Today, Karen Williams sits down with Julia Wood. With over 30 years’ experience working with or for the NHS, Julia is on a mission to help NHS professionals feel less frazzled, and she’s the author of the insightful new book,  De-frazzle Your NHS Job .  In this conversation, Julia Wood opens up about her personal journey—balancing a high-pressure role, caring for family, and ultimately finding a w...

Ready to make real progress on your book? In this episode Karen Williams and Sheryl Andrews dive deep into the concept of creating space to write – beyond just physically sitting down at your desk. They share insights from years of running writing retreats and coaching authors, exploring why just carving out time isn’t enough.   From managing life’s distractions (like bathroom renovations!) and br...

Today, Karen Williams is joined by Christine Barnes, a global thought leader in organizational design and systems thinking, who has just launched her new book,  Inclusionable .    Christine shares her inspiring journey of returning to academia at 63 to pursue doctoral research on inclusive leadership, and how she transformed her rigorous dissertation into a practical, story-driven business book. ...

Today, Karen Williams sits down with Saar Ben-Attar, founder of Ascent Growth Partners and acclaimed author of Challengers – How a New Breed of Leaders Collaborates and Wins in a Hyper Competitive World.  Saar shares the story behind his first book, revealing how his journey – filled with collaboration, frustration, and innovation – shaped both its content and its impact. They dive into the evolut...

Today, we’re joined by Katie Chambers, developmental editor, copy editor, and owner of Beacon Point, LLC. Passionate about helping authors shape compelling fiction and nonfiction, Katie brings a unique perspective—not only as an experienced editor, but now as an author herself.   Karen Williams dives into Katie’s journey on both sides of the publishing fence: from supporting nearly 300 books behin...

In this episode, Karen Williams (The Book Mentor)  sits down with Kimberly Ashwin, an autism consultant, nurse, entrepreneur, and empowerment advocate. Kimberly Ashwin is the author of the memoir Teen Mum to CEO , published in 2025 – a raw and powerful story of resilience, healing, and transformation.   Together, Karen Williams and Kimberly Ashwin dive into her journey of overcoming adversity, bec...

In today’s episode, Karen Williams and Sheryl Andrews dive deep into one of the burning questions on every business author’s mind – what does real return on investment (ROI) look like when you write a book?    Sure, we all want to sell copies, but as Karen and Sheryl discuss, the true value of a book goes far beyond simple sales numbers. We debunk the 15-pound fallacy, discuss why focusing on book...

In today's episode, Karen Williams (The Book Mentor) sits down with Claire Brumby, motivational speaker, leadership coach, and bestselling author. Claire shares her journey from launching her first book, The Winning Mix , back in 2018 – a guide inspired by her own entrepreneurial experience in the food industry – to mapping out her upcoming title, Forget Normal, I Want Magic , which introduces her...

Today, Karen Williams, The Book Mentor, sits down with Susan M. Barber, a leading visibility coach and former Kraft Heinz executive. With over 25 years of corporate leadership experience under her belt, Susan has turned her journey – from battling imposter syndrome to becoming an influential author and podcast host – into invaluable lessons for quiet, high-achieving professionals looking to step i...

Today, host and book mentor Karen Williams sits down with Deborah Naish, an award-winning executive coach and author of Level Up Your Leadership.    With over 40 years of experience in both corporate and nonprofit leadership, Deborah brings a wealth of wisdom on how leaders can create positive change with intention and clarity.   In this conversation, Deborah shares her journey from adamantly beli...

In today’s episode, host Karen Williams is joined by Sheryl Andrews. Known as the Listening Detective, Sheryl has spent over 30 years motivating, managing, and mentoring others at work, and she brings a wealth of raw, honest, and often funny insights into her journey as an author and coach.    Sheryl shares the inside story behind her first book, Manage Your Critic , revealing how personal challen...

In today’s episode, host Karen Williams is joined by Matty Dalrymple – author of the Lizzie Ballard thrillers and the Anne Kinnear suspense series, indie publishing consultant, and campaigns manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi).    Matty shares her journey from aspiring fiction writer influenced by her father, to building a dual career in fiction and nonfiction, and establishing...

Today, Karen Williams is joined by Hayley Paterson, a powerhouse in the payroll industry with over 22 years of experience. Hayley is the founder of Chanonry Payroll and Consulting and the author of  The Value of Payroll , a book that challenges business owners to rethink this often-overlooked aspect of their company.  In our conversation, Hayley opens up about her journey from idea to publication,...

In today’s episode, host Karen Williams sits down with Claudia D. Thompson, a leadership consultant, team strategist, and author of Take Charge: The BOSS method© for entrepreneurs who never planned to be leaders.   With over twenty years of experience and a passion for building workplaces where people actually want to stay and grow, Claudia shares insights into her personal journey of writing her...

Hosts : Karen Williams and Sheryl Andrews Welcome to a brand new series of the podcast! In this episode, Karen Williams and Sheryl Andrews kick off Series 5 with an inspiring conversation that shifts the lens from the nuts and bolts of writing, publishing, and marketing a book to something even more powerful – the impact a business book can make.   Drawing from her own journey as an author, Karen...

In this final episode of Series Four, Karen Williams and Sheryl Andrews dive deep into "The New Rules of Writing a Business Book." After 16 years in the business book world, Karen shares how publishing, writing, and book marketing have radically transformed - from the rise of self-publishing and the power of storytelling, to the surge in competition and the ever-shifting attention economy.   Karen...

Welcome back to another episode of Business Book Bites! Karen Williams and Sheryl Andrews are diving deeper into the world of book marketing, particularly focusing on strategies to keep your book alive beyond its launch.    We explore the importance of maintaining momentum after publishing your book, regardless of the publishing route you chose. We discuss the value of creating evergreen content a...

In today's episode of the podcast, Karen Williams, The Book Mentor, along with Sheryl Andrews dive deep into the world of book marketing, especially focusing on the crucial period around a book launch.    They share insights on maximizing your book's visibility and sales, with strategies that include optimizing discoverability on Amazon, securing PR, and lining up the right launch support. Learn f...

Many authors make the mistake of starting their marketing efforts too late, missing key opportunities to build momentum. In this episode of the podcast, Sheryl Andrews and Karen Williams dive into the essential strategies for preparing for a successful launch.    We break down what you need to do well in advance to position your book for success and grow an engaged audience, while avoiding common...

Today, Karen Williams, The Book Mentor, is joined by Nicky Blewitt—a book marketer, self-published author, and expert in helping writers build platforms that actually sell books.   Nicky’s journey from gardener to author and marketing strategist is proof that smart marketing, not big budgets, makes the difference. With over 20 books published and years of experience navigating the indie publishing...

Today, Karen Williams, The Book Mentor, is joined by Greg McQueen, a former TV writer turned ghostwriter and AI writing specialist. Greg brings a unique perspective to writing, blending decades of storytelling expertise with a deep curiosity for AI and technology. With a background shaped by his successful writer father—who worked on the renowned series The Bill —Greg grew up immersed in the world...

In this episode, Karen Williams sits down with Julia Schneider, a seasoned business growth and community engagement specialist with over 16 years of experience. Julia’s holistic approach to nurturing physical health, emotional well-being, and personal growth makes her an authority in building vibrant communities.    Together with Karen, Julia delves into the intricacies of constructing a community...

In this episode host Karen Williams is joined by Jim James, an accomplished marketing consultant, podcast host, and author. With years of experience, he has mastered the art of making a profit from publicity and has ventured into writing and podcasting.    Jim has published three books, leveraging his podcast, "The Unnoticed Entrepreneur", to transform insightful conversations with over 500 guests...