You are listening to the audio version of this post.

Enjoy this podcast episode where I examine the phenomenon that is, The Staircase, in all its story-telling iterations - Documentary, Book, Podcast, and Limited Series

All of the opinions on this whodunit are my own!

Books Mentioned:

Written In Blood by Diane Fanning

Fatal Vision by Joe McGinness

Shows mentioned

The Staircase - HBO /Max

The Staircase - Netflix Documentary

Find me at ClaudineWolk.substack.com or ClaudineWolk.com (new products for writers - Get Your Book Seen and Sold Book and Sit & Write: Begin online class

Thanks for listening and please leave a review if you liked it.

In this podcast episode interview, Marissa Polselli, owner of Wordtree, shares her secret with you to have a better relationship with words - the kind of new relationship that can catapult the writing you must do to promote yourself as an author. Marissa teaches people how to connect with the words that authenticate them through résumé, LinkedIn posts, newsletter posts, Facebook posts, etc. Marissa’s lessons can help you to better promote your business and yourself as an author.

Marissa’s enthusiasm is palpable. She makes the point that the words you select to present yourself are powerful and important. You can find Marissa at her website MarissaPolselli.com. Consider signing up for her upcoming online class (next paragraph) or signing up for a free personal branding session. (details below)

**Special Offer** for the listeners of the podcast. Marissa offers a free personal branding transformation strategy session - 45 minutes with her where you can come up with a clear branding strategy. She discusses the success of this session with other clients in the podcast.

I know you’ll be motivated to tap into your business writing after listening to this podcast. Marissa discusses her upcoming online class titled Making Friends with Words for Heart-Centered Business Owners in detail. It that starts on Saturday, March 1, 2025, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm for $40. It could be a starting point for a you for a whole new relationship with words and self-promotion.

See you next week….

You are listening to the audio version of this post.

Book distribution is the topic of this podcast and though it’s not sexy, it’s super important to the success of your book, whether self published or traditionally published. Put simply, book distribution is the channel that gets your book in the hands of readers. Amazon is a big example, but there are other book distribution channels and it’s important that you understand how they work, who they are, and how to get them lined up well before your publish date for your book.

Here are the links to my substack posts on Book Distribution that I reference in the Podcast episode: “My Book Is Written, Now What Do I Do” and “Get Your Book Out There For Sale: Book Distribution Options.”

In this podcast, you will learn the overview of book distribution, and the link to an interview by Podcaster, Joanna Penn of Author, Liliana Hart, who shares her specific relationship with book distributors. Hart’s experience will help you to understand book distribution very quickly. Take note and enjoy.

My recent interview with book marketing expert, Sharon Castlen, also included great information on book distribution.

This is the audio version of the post: Rejection Is Good, Make It Work For You - click the link for the original post.

I have a manila folder full of rejections from when I pitched my first, non-fiction book to publishers titled “It Gets Easier! And Other Lies We Tell New Mothers.” Like many of the authors in the book I reference above, Rotten Rejections, I used the rejections as fuel to get my book pubslihed come hell or high water. “rarrr, I’ll show them!”

I self-published the first version of the book in 2008 and once I proved it could sell, I re-published with a traditional publisher in 2009, with a slightly different book cover (color) and 3 additional chapters.

I have never given up on the book (the wisdom and humor are timeless) and in 2023, I recorded and released the audio version of the book with Harper Collins.

My point?

Never give up on your books. Never, Never, Never.

Guests:

Marissa Polselli - Set the world ablaze with your talents

and

Dr John Murray - Polish Your Internal Mirror

Join me in saying GOOD RIDDANCE to 2024 and Hello to 2025.

“Auld Lang Syne” by The Irish Rovers

My Stuff for Beginner Authors:

Get Your Book Seen and Sold - eBook or Paperback

Sit & Write: Begin Video Course

The holidays are stressful. Duh! I am starting to feel shaky already.I needed to chat with an expert so I enlisted my friend, Maureen Humpl, a CPA and owner of her own business. The business of keeping things in perspective and stress at bay, especially during the holidays, is welcome advice and perfect for a chuckle.

Gals, you are not wonder women and most importantly, you are not alone. Maureen expounds on her tips for keeping holiday stress to a minimum so that you have time to enjoy your holiday and make some memories.*** Delegate to gain a sense of control*** Forget about what people think*** Prioritize what is truly important to YOU*** Ignore expectations of others*** Pick and Choose what will make YOU happyJoin us as we share stress, motherhood, and what to say if your partner thinks the laundry is "your job." "You'll remember the laughs with family and the food, not the plates it was served on."Maureen HumplThis is part one of a series of "stress relief during the holidays."I mention Comedian/Actress/Writer Meredith Masony in the podcast. You can find her on Instagram

For more information about book publishing and marketing fundamentals complete with exercises to help you create fabulous pitches and an updated book marketing plan, buy my latest award-winning, amazon best-selling book with co-author, Julie Murkette, Get Your Book Seen and Sold today.

Many of my book marketing lesson can also be found in the video course I co-teach with author, Kate Brenton, Sit & Write: Begin : Video Class, $97 which also has lessons to your book & learn to sell it at the same time!

Wat??? Yes, get a FREE copy of the award-winning, 5 star reviewed, #1 Amazon bestseller, Get Your Book Seen and Sold, with a Paid Subscription to Substack - click ‘Go For It’ below.

Take the plunge and upgrade your subscription today.

At the $75/year level you get: a free book, 30 minute Zoom with me, and a downloadable fill-in the blank marketing plan.

You are listening to the audio version of this Substack Post:

BookBub : Affordable and Effective Book Promotion Ideas to Get Your Book Seen and Sold (Part One)

Hello Authors, BookBub is a Book Promotion Site that could be a key part of your book marketing plan to sell your books. In this post I focus on how BookBub works and explain two of their book promotion products - featured deal and new releases for less. I recognize that there are many different online sites that are vying for your book promotion dollars. I hope by explaining how BookBub works, I’ll save you some time AND introduce you to reasonably priced promotion opportunity for your book. Choices are awesome!

The specific sites I mention:

Bookbub (search “BookBub partners” for info of the their book promotion projects)

BookBub Featured Deals Info

BookBub New Releases For Less

Deep Dive on BookBub: Selfpublishing.com

It Gets Easier! And Other Lies We Tell New Mothers by Claudine Wolk

Sit & Write: Begin : Video Class, $97, write your book & sell it! Taught by Claudine & Kate Brenton (author & Substack: Sit & Write)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For more information about book publishing and marketing fundamentals complete with exercises to help you create fabulous pitches and an updated book marketing plan, buy my latest award-winning, amazon best-selling book with co-author, Julie Murkette, Get Your Book Seen and Sold today.

Wat??? Yes, get a FREE copy of the award-winning, 5 star reviewed, #1 Amazon bestseller, Get Your Book Seen and Sold, with a Paid Subscription to Substack - click ‘Go For It’ below.

Take the plunge and upgrade your subscription today.

At the $75/year level you get: a free book, 30 minute Zoom with me, and a downloadable fill-in the blank marketing plan.