Your Path to Book Publishing

What makes one nonfiction book unforgettable while others get forgotten? In this episode, Zach Kristensen kicks off a month on how to make your book stand out — starting with a truth most authors miss: readers rarely remember your frameworks, but they always remember your stories. Whether you're self-publishing, hybrid publishing, or traditionally publishing, here are four practical steps to...

How long does it really take to write, publish, and launch a book? In this bonus episode, Zach Kristensen shares the honest, behind-the-scenes story of self-publishing his first book, Trust Me, I'm an Author — what worked, what he'd do differently, and the timeline lessons every nonfiction author needs before they hit publish. In this episode: Why a book is really about trust — and the t...

Book marketing is changing, and authors can no longer rely on the same tactics that may have worked in the past. With more content, more competition, and the rise of AI, it is becoming even more important for authors to know their audience, build trust, and create meaningful connection. In this episode of Your Path to Book Publishing , we wrap up the recent book launch series by looking at key tak...

Book launch publicity has changed. Big media opportunities can still be valuable, but the most effective book marketing often comes from knowing your audience, understanding where they spend time, and showing up with consistent value. In this episode of Your Path to Book Publishing , we continue the book launch series with Marissa Eigenbrood, President and Partner of Smith Publicity. Marissa share...

A successful book launch does not happen by accident. It takes planning, focus, communication, and a clear understanding of what your book is meant to do after it enters the world. In this episode of Your Path to Book Publishing , we continue the book launch series with Josh Porter, author of The Last Human Marketer: Turning AI into Stories That Win Customers . Josh shares what it was like to turn...

No two books are exactly alike, and no two authors have the same goals. So your book launch strategy shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all either. In this episode of Your Path to Book Publishing , we’re kicking off a new series on book launches and what authors need to think about before launch day arrives. Whether you’re self-publishing, hybrid publishing, or traditionally publishing, your launch should...

Author habits are not just about writing every day, hitting a word count, or trying to create the perfect routine. They are about building momentum, creating a better experience for your readers, and developing the consistency needed to make a lasting impact with your book. In this wrap-up episode of the author habits series, we look at the biggest takeaways from recent conversations with Todd Mus...

How do you make your book more than a collection of facts, ideas, or lessons? In this episode of Your Path to Book Publishing , Zach is joined by author, ghostwriter, editor, and screenwriter Platt Clark to talk about one of the most important author habits: learning how to create meaning through story. Platte shares why authors are not just in the information-sharing business. They are in the mea...

In this episode of Your Path to Book Publishing , we continue the author habits series with guests Jones Loflin and Todd Musig , co-authors of Juggling Elephants and Getting to It . Jones and Todd share what they’ve learned from both traditional publishing and self-publishing , including how they used a self-published version of their book to prove demand before landing a traditional publishing de...

What habits actually help authors make real progress? In this episode of Your Path to Book Publishing , a new series on author habits begins with a look at how routines, consistency, and mindset shape progress across the author journey. The episode explores one of the most common beliefs people have heard about habits — that it takes 21 days to build one — and offers a more realistic perspective....

What is an author brand really built on? This episode of Your Path to Book Publishing pulls together key insights from the recent author branding series, including lessons inspired by conversations with Jill Schulman , author of The Bravery Effect , and branding expert Ty Schmidt .  At the center of the discussion is a simple but important truth: an author brand is not built only through visuals,...

Building an author brand can feel messy. You are trying to figure out how your brand connects to your book, how your book supports your brand, and how to actually show up online in a way that feels clear, consistent, and real. In this episode of Your Path to Book Publishing, Zach talks with Ty Schmidt about what actually helps people pay attention to your brand. Together, they unpack why branding...

What does bravery really look like for authors? In this episode of Your Path to Book Publishing, Zach talks with Jill Schulman, author of The Bravery Effect , about fear, uncertainty, and what it takes to keep moving forward as you write, publish, and build your author brand. Jill shares her journey from researching bravery in graduate school to publishing her book, growing her brand, and opening...

If the phrase author branding feels vague, overused, or like it only applies to logos and visuals, this episode will help you think about it in a much more practical way. In this episode of Your Path to Book Publishing, Zach introduces a new series on author branding and explores what branding really means for nonfiction authors. He shares lessons from his own career, personal stories, and example...

  If you’ve been thinking about writing, branding, and marketing as separate parts of the author journey, this episode will help you see how connected they really are. In this episode of Your Path to Book Publishing, Zach reflects on key insights from his recent conversations with Emily Crookston and Denise Thomas to show how book publishing, author branding, and book marketing influence one anoth...

If you’ve ever wondered whether you should write your book yourself, hire help, or use AI in the process, this episode is for you. In this episode of Your Path to Book Publishing , Zach talks with ghostwriter and author Emily Crookston about what it really takes to turn your ideas into a strong nonfiction book. They explore how ghostwriting, collaboration, strategy, and AI can all play a role in h...

Many aspiring nonfiction authors hope that publishing a book will open new doors for their career. But what actually happens after you publish a book? For many coaches, consultants, speakers, and thought leaders writing a nonfiction book, publishing is about more than becoming a published author. It’s about building authority, strengthening credibility, and creating new opportunities to grow a per...

Many aspiring nonfiction authors think the journey is simple: write the book and publish it. But book publishing is only one phase of a much bigger author journey. In this episode of Your Path to Book Publishing , Zach Kristensen reviews the five phases every author navigates and explains why understanding the full picture can help you make better decisions about your book, your brand, and your lo...

After 130 episodes, it’s time for an evolution. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on why we are shifting the format of the show and how these changes are designed to help you—the nonfiction author—navigate the "team sport" of publishing with more clarity and real-world insight. In This Episode, You’ll Discover: The Power of the "Team Sport" : Why going it alone is t...

Almost every nonfiction author says it at some point: “I want to be a New York Times bestselling author.” It sounds ambitious. It sounds impressive. It sounds like the gold medal of publishing. But in this episode of Your Path to Book Publishing , the conversation goes deeper than the badge. Because bestseller status isn’t a trophy. It’s a tool. And tools only matter if they serve the right purpos...

Many nonfiction authors believe the first milestone of writing a book is finishing a draft. It’s not. In this episode of Your Path to Book Publishing , we explore the often-overlooked stage that determines whether your writing flows, your publishing decisions make sense, and your marketing actually connects. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by too many book ideas… If you’ve rewritten the same chapt...

Feeling stuck at the starting line of book publishing is more common than most authors realize. In this episode of Your Path to Book Publishing , the focus is on the real reason aspiring nonfiction authors feel overwhelmed before they even begin — and why trying to jump straight into writing, publishing options, or marketing is often what keeps them stuck. Instead of rushing into tactics, this epi...

What Really Happens on Book Launch Day (A Real Hybrid Publishing Case Study) Book launch day doesn’t always go the way authors expect. In this episode of Your Path to Book Publishing , we share a real-world case study from the January launch of Connected Deeper by Richard L. Godfrey and Christine Lavulo —a launch that hit unexpected issues the moment the book was supposed to go live on Amazon. Ins...

Why does book publishing almost always take longer than expected? For nonfiction authors — especially coaches, consultants, speakers, and thought leaders — delays in the writing and publishing process are extremely common. Most of the time, these delays aren’t caused by mistakes or lack of discipline. They happen because the real-world timelines between writing, editing, and publishing are often u...

If you’re a nonfiction author—especially a coach, consultant, speaker, or thought leader—there’s a moment you eventually reach in the publishing process: How much of selling my book is really on me… and how much depends on the publishing path I choose? In this episode of Your Path to Book Publishing , we unpack a mindset that shows up consistently across self-publishing, hybrid publishing, and tra...