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Alexa Bigwarfe Podcasts

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Alexa's Publishing Chat is for authors and publishing professionals - we're talking all routes to publishing, book launches, book marketing, tips, tools, and resources to write, publish, and sell your book. Plus, changes and updates in the publishing industry. Self-publishing, hybrid publishing, and traditional publishing, you name it, we're talking about it. Author interviews and industry experts. Hosted by Alexa Bigwarfe of the Women in Publishing Summit. Formerly known as the PublishHer p ...
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Grab your ticket to the Content Strategy Bootcamp! https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/content Dallas Woodburn—award-winning author, editor, and book coach—joins Alexa to talk about gentle, sustainable writing routines. They cover 100-words-a-day momentum, habit stacking, seasons of life, “special” writing rituals, grace over guilt, and why any pub…
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In this Momentum Monday, Alexa Bigwarfe shares how to turn your next conference or event into a content goldmine. Learn how to show up strategically on social media—before, during, and after the event—so your time, travel, and networking keep working for you long after you’ve unpacked your suitcase. In this episode, Alexa discusses: How to plan you…
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Summary In this empowering episode, Alexa Bigwarfe talks with certified book coach and editor Kate Allyson about how neurodivergent writers—especially those with ADHD or autism—can thrive in their creative process. They discuss the challenges of focus, motivation, and structure, and the tools, systems, and mindset shifts that make writing not just …
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Welcome to Momentum Mondays, your weekly burst of motivation and marketing mojo for authors and publishing professionals. In this episode, Alexa Bigwarfe gets real about the chaos of marketing without a plan—and how a smart, sustainable content strategy can transform the way you run your author business. In this episode, Alexa discusses: Why chaoti…
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Ever dream of sneaking away for a weekend to write without distractions? In this episode, Alexa chats with award-winning author, mentor, and Resilient Writers founder Rhonda Douglas about how to plan affordable, soul-nourishing DIY writing retreats that actually help you finish your book. They talk rest, accountability, creative inspiration, and ho…
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Most authors struggle because they’re trying to reinvent the wheel every week. The secret? Create content pillars — 3 to 5 topics you always talk about that align with your mission, audience, and offers. For example: If you’re a children’s author — your pillars might be emotional learning, family connection, and creative play. If you’re a business …
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Summary As writers, we know words can heal, connect, and transform lives. But what happens when writing becomes a literal lifeline? In this moving episode, Alexa speaks with Kasey Rogers and K. J. “Kat” Harrowick, co-founders of I Know Why She Stayed—a nonprofit organization using storytelling and authorship to change how the world understands dome…
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Episode 185: Tips to Keep Your Business Going + October 15th Anniversary Twelve years ago, on October 15, 2013, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness day, Alexa Bigwarfe published her very first book, Sunshine After the Storm: A Survival Guide for the Grieving Mother. That book changed her life — and launched an entire ecosystem of publishing support…
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In this lively episode, Alexa and Raewyn break down the ever-changing world of Instagram—what’s new, what’s working, and how authors can use social media to genuinely connect with readers. They cover everything from reels, carousels, and trial reels to storytelling strategy, audience building, and separating your personal and professional accounts …
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What happens when a busy mom, a rubber stamp entrepreneur, and a voracious reader suddenly finds herself flat on her back for a week? For Victorine E. Lieske, it was the beginning of an unexpected writing career that would lead to the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. In this podcast, Alexa and Victorine discuss: Victorine’s surprising…
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In this episode, Alexa chats with award-winning book marketer Aimee Ravichandran, founder of Abundantly Social. Aimee shares her journey from psychology student to powerhouse book marketer, why she loves working with self-published authors, and how to successfully plan a book launch that makes an impact. In this podcast, Alexa and Aimee discuss: Ai…
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In this episode, Alexa welcomes Jennifer Wilkov of Your Book Is Your Hook, Platinum Sponsor of the 2026 Women in Publishing Summit. Jennifer shares her journey from financial planner to bestselling author to industry consultant, and why memoirs are one of her favorite categories to work with. She talks candidly about what makes a memoir successful,…
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Emma Boyer, Head of Operations & Author Relations at Written Word Media, joins Alexa to break down how email promotions like Freebooksy and Bargain Booksy drive real results—downloads, sales, read-through, and reviews. They dig into launch-week tactics, genre alignment, growing an owned audience, and common pitfalls authors can avoid. In this podca…
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Audiobook producer Mary Catherine Jones (The Audiobook Experience / VoiceOver Vermont) joins Alexa to demystify audiobooks—costs, timelines, who should narrate, distribution choices (exclusive vs. wide), library access, marketing ideas, and realistic budget paths (from pro narration to ACX royalty share to AI). She also shares how she built a bouti…
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In this episode of Alexa’s Publishing Chat, Alexa sits down with Samantha Atzeni, multi-genre award-winning author and co-founder of Read Furiously, an independent press dedicated to overlooked voices and literary activism. They discuss the realities of running a small traditional press, the challenges of distribution and returns, building sustaina…
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In this episode of Alexa’s Publishing Chat, Alexa sits down with memoirist and humorist Dana Bowman to talk about how humor can be a lifeline when writing through heartbreak, recovery, and tough life moments. They discuss how humor not only helps the writer process heavy emotions but also provides relief and connection for readers navigating simila…
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In this heartfelt episode of Alexa’s Publishing Chat, Alexa talks with Beth Jones—Healing Mentor, founder of Empowered Survivors, podcast host, and best-selling author—about using writing to heal from trauma and build a purposeful business. Beth shares her personal journey from forensic accounting to coaching and mentoring survivors, the creation o…
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In this episode of Alexa’s Publishing Chat, Alexa shares her key takeaways from Publishing University 2025 — from industry shifts, AI opportunities, and censorship battles to discoverability strategies and marketing best practices. Whether you’re an author, publisher, or industry pro, you’ll walk away with actionable ideas to future-proof your publ…
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Join us at the Business Bootcamp for Authors and Entrepreneurs! Aug 21-22, 2025. We're learning all things business. It's not about books or marketing, it's about LLCs, trademarks, copyrights, project management, expanding your team, and more! Perfect for the business builders in our community! Grab your ticket NOW! In this episode of the podcast, …
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In this energizing episode, Alexa chats with Elisabeth Sharp McKetta—author of 13 books and writing instructor at both Harvard and Oxford—about the concept of “mythic memoir.” If you've ever struggled to tell your story, especially one rooted in pain, Elisabeth offers a transformational framework: use fairy tales and myths to reframe your life expe…
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In this inspiring episode of the podcast, Alexa Bigwarfe sits down with Kae Wagner—award-winning author, founder of the Bold Authors Network, and creator of the Bold Author Bootcamp. Kae shares her journey from anxious introvert to confident book promoter, breaking down the mindset shifts and practical strategies that helped her go from giving away…
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In this candid and insightful episode, Alexa Bigwarfe sits down with publishing powerhouse Michelle Vandepas, co-founder of GracePoint Publishing. Known as the “Book Whisperer,” Michelle shares the story behind her unexpected path into publishing and how her company supports purpose-driven authors through coaching, hybrid, and traditional publishin…
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In this episode, Alexa Bigwarfe and Joel Pitney of Launch My Book unpack the biggest self-publishing myths. Learn what it really takes to succeed, from production costs to metadata, bookstore distribution, and pre-order strategies. In this podcast, Alexa and Joel discuss: How Joel went from science major to journalist to book coach and publisher Th…
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From Overwhelmed to Empowered: 5 Authors Share Their Book Marketing Journeys In this special panel episode of Alexa’s Publishing Chat, Alexa Bigwarfe brings together five incredible authors—Linda Needham, CC Robinson, Zariah L. Banks, Tracy Myhre, and Pat Black-Gould—who represent a wide range of genres and publishing journeys. All graduates of the…
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In this episode, Alexa teams up with her longtime collaborator Hannah Jacobson of Book Award Pro to dive deep into the business side of publishing. Whether you’re bootstrapping your first book or scaling a freelance editing business, this conversation is packed with practical tools, hard-earned lessons, and a whole lot of encouragement. In this epi…
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As we observe Memorial Day here in the U.S., we honor the brave service members who gave their lives in defense of our country. And while many names are known, too often the women who served—and died—remain overlooked. As the founder of the Women in Publishing Summit, I’m passionate about helping women write stories that matter. And today, I want t…
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In this episode, Alexa chats with Damon Courtney, creator and CEO of BookFunnel, about how indie authors can grow their readership, build their email lists, and sell more books using BookFunnel's ever-expanding toolkit. Whether you're just getting started or looking to maximize your existing account, this episode is packed with insights. In this po…
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In this inspiring episode, Alexa sits down with Danielle Anderson, founder of InkWorthy Books and the Soulful Nonfiction School. Danielle is a certified nonfiction book coach and editor with more than 14 years of experience helping writers bring mission-driven, healing-centered books into the world. They discuss what it means to write "soulful nonf…
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In this episode of Alexa’s Publishing Chat, bestselling author JD Barker joins Alexa to share the bold, strategic decisions that helped him build a powerhouse fiction career. From ghostwriting and indie publishing to launching his own imprint with Simon & Schuster, JD has built a career grounded in talent, creative risk-taking, and entrepreneurial …
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As hybrid presses become a more popular option, we're often asked about the difference between hybrid presses and self-publishing. Here's a breakdown of the differences at Luminare Press 📚 Self-Publishing Assist vs. Hybrid Publishing Self-Publishing Assist (Luminare Press) Offers fee-for-service publishing help: editing, cover and interior design, …
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📚 In this episode of Alexa’s Publishing Chat, Alexa shares: The terrifying moment every author faces—wondering if people will hate your book—and how to overcome it. Why marketing doesn’t have to feel icky or overwhelming—and how to make it fun. The power of early feedback: how to build and use an advance reader team. What to do if talking about you…
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If you’ve been hearing the buzz about Substack but aren’t sure what it is—or how it could actually help you as a writer—you’re going to love today’s conversation. I’m joined by Claire Tak, a tech writer turned aspiring memoirist, who shares how Substack became her go-to platform for building an authentic writing community, sharing her journey, and …
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📝 Show Notes: In this episode, Alexa Bigwarfe chats with Brooke Black of Black Bear Communications about the power of author community, the journey from editing to full-service support, and how The Hive Collective helps authors thrive. From self-publishing to traditional routes, Brooke shares wisdom, encouragement, and practical strategies. 💡 Key T…
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🎙️ Show Notes In this episode, Alexa and Karen discuss: How Karen’s journey as an illustrator led her to launch Get Your Book Illustrations and Children’s Book Mastery Common struggles children's book authors face and how Karen helps solve them Why writing a short children's book is actually harder than people think The essential elements every chi…
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In this episode, Alexa and Nathalie discussed: 💡 How it all began: Nathalie reflects on her first book, Grieving Parents: Surviving Loss as a Couple, which grew from sharing her own story online and realizing it could help others. ✍️ The unexpected journey to six books: She never set out to be an author, but over time felt called—intuitively and em…
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Panelists: Karen Strauss (Hybrid Global Publishing) Pam Sheppard (Sheppard Edits) Alesha Brown (Fruition Publishing) E. Danielle Butler (EvyDani Books) Linda Ruggieri (Editor, The Insightful Editor) Panel Discussion Highlights: Karen Strauss shared her experience leaving corporate publishing due to gender bias and lack of upward mobility. She found…
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In this podcast episode, Alexa and Karen discuss: Karen’s Publishing Journey Started in publishing by accident while working at Macy’s, where she managed book events. Moved into traditional publishing, working at Bantam, Random House, McMillan, and Crown in sales, marketing, and publicity. Noticed that her voice was being muted in the corporate wor…
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If you've ever dreamed of writing a book but felt overwhelmed by the process, you’re not alone. Many aspiring authors struggle to put their ideas into words, whether due to lack of time, writing challenges, or uncertainty about structure and flow. That’s where ghostwriting comes in. Alexa Bigwarfe and award-winning ghostwriter Roxanne McCarty-O’Kan…
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In this episode, you will learn all about offset printing and MCRL! Topics covered includeL Offset Printing vs. Print-on-Demand (POD) What is offset printing, and how does it differ from POD? Pros and cons of each method depending on your book’s goals. Why offset printing is a better choice for high-quality, bulk book production. Why Bulk Printing …
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In this episode, Alexa and Kelley discuss: The importance of estate planning for authors and publishers Alexa’s personal experience with a medical crisis that made her rethink the future of her business and books Why copyrights are considered part of your estate and what happens to them when you pass away How copyright transfers work and why it’s c…
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In this podcast episode, Alexa and Markeyla discuss: 🎉 From Summit to Collaboration – How a standout presentation at the 2024 Women in Publishing Summit led to an exciting partnership between Alexa and Markeyla. 📝 Markeyla’s Journey in Media & Publishing – From a book-loving kid to running Against the Stream Magazine and building a thriving busines…
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Alexa Bigwarfe chats with Danica Favorite, Community Manager at PublishDrive and a multi-published hybrid author, about how authors can leverage AI and PublishDrive’s powerful tools to streamline their publishing journey. They discuss how metadata impacts book sales, how AI can help optimize book descriptions, keywords, and pricing, and why Publish…
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In this podcast episode, Alexa and Alida discuss: The importance of honing your writing craft, regardless of genre or experience. Understanding the fundamentals of story structure, including the three-act structure. Breaking down the key elements of Act 1: hooks, setup, inciting incidents, and points of no return. How story craft applies across gen…
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In this podcast episode, Alexa Bigwarfe interviews Mindy Kuhn, CEO of Warren Publishing, a hybrid publishing company with over 36 years of history. They discuss the unique benefits of hybrid publishing, including retained author rights, professional editing and design, and higher royalty rates. Mindy shares tips for authors on choosing the right pu…
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In this podcast, Alexa and Nikki discuss: Nikki Nash’s journey to becoming a Hay House author and marketing expert: From wanting to be a journalist to becoming a Fortune 100 marketer and finally starting her own entrepreneurial journey after a wake-up call about family health, Nikki’s inspiring story highlights the power of following your purpose. …
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Be sure to grab your ticket to the Women in Publishing Summit to learn more from Leanne as she teaches the workshop Working with a Service Provider to Self-Publish Your Book In this podcast episode, Alexa and Leanne discuss: Introduction to Leanne Janzen and FriesenPress: Leanne’s journey in publishing, starting as a publishing specialist and now l…
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In this podcast episode, Alexa shares: Reflections on a Personal Anniversary: Alexa commemorates the 13th anniversary of her daughter Kathryn’s passing and shares how this event shaped her journey as a writer, publisher, and creator of the Women in Publishing Summit. The Power of Writing to Heal: Writing became a vital tool for Alexa's healing, lea…
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Grab your ticket to the 2025 Women in Publishing Summit! In this podcast episode, Alexa and Danika discuss: The importance of building an author network and community for long-term career growth. How connecting with other authors helps manage the inner critic and provides motivation. The value of having a purposeful network to support marketing eff…
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Don't forget to grab your ticket to the Women in Publishing Summit! In this podcast episode we discuss: What Are Writing Rituals? The Importance of Writing Rituals Examples of Writing Rituals Writing Rituals in Community Post-Publication Rituals Elizabeth’s Coaching and Retreat Offerings Resources Mentioned: (affiliate links included) Atomic Habits…
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In this podcast episode, we discuss: the importance of knowing how to refer to and write about Native Americans; terminology matters - differences between “American Indian,” “Native American,” and “First American.” Is it okay for authors who aren’t Native American to write about them? How to start researching a tribe's history and culture and wheth…
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