Meet Marcia Turner Layton, Ghostwriter

This entry is part 2 of 11 in the series Book Industry Experts

Ghostwriter Marcia and I connected a few years ago and I’m very pleased she’s able to share information about her ghostwriting business.Marcia Layton Turner

  • Tell us a little bit about your business.

I’m a business book ghostwriter who got her start in ghostwriting thanks to an agent. I wrote my first book in the 1990s, for my dad, who was a fine artist and who didn’t do much of any marketing or promotion. So I wrote Successful Fine Art Marketing to offer some guidance in marketing planning for artists. Having proven that I could write a book-length work, I then landed work with the Complete Idiot’s Guide series, and wrote some startup and marketing guides for Wiley, followed by some corporate histories and real estate guides. I had earned a reputation as a fast writer, so when my agent heard about a business book project that was way behind schedule and needed a ghostwriter to step in and produce it, she introduced me to the editor and the rest is history.

Although I continue to create content for major brands and publishing clients, ghostwriting business books accounts for around 80% of my business at the moment.

I’m also the founder and executive director of the Association of Ghostwriters, which aims to bring together professional ghostwriters for networking, business-building, and idea sharing.

  • How would you describe your ideal client?

As a ghostwriter, my ideal client is an entrepreneur, business owner, or CEO who is articulate, friendly, kind, intelligent, and decisive. They want to write a business book that contains stories and case studies and is practical in nature, helping the reader to learn a new skill or apply a new strategy or tactic. They know what they want to say and, typically due to an already full schedule, want to hand off the responsibility for writing and editing their book to a writer like me.

  • How did things change for you in 2020 and how did you manage to weather through the year during the pandemic?

I suspect that because I was already working with clients virtually, using the phone and Zoom, the pandemic didn’t change the way I worked. It did free up time for some clients to step forward and decide to start working on their books sooner rather than later, however. And I did find myself closing my office door more regularly, due to having other family members in the house during the day; I work best in silence.

  • What is your favorite tip for using social media?

I’m not sure I’m qualified to give advice regarding social media, since I’m very much a student myself, but I will say that one thing I’ve done this past year that has really helped me is to invest time in expanding my LinkedIn network. I spend time there weekly searching for people I’d like to be connected with, whether because of their company, their title, their expertise, or something else, and then ask to be connected on LinkedIn. As a result, I’ve more than doubled the size of my network and I’ve seen the number of inquiries rise, too.

  • What are your goals for 2021?

In 2021, I’d like to continue ghostwriting interesting business books for smart clients and decide on a dissertation topic for my doctorate, which will likely be related to writers and wealth-building.

I’d also like to blog more frequently for the Association of Ghostwriters, which I run. I’m aiming to post on a biweekly basis throughout 2021. I’m always in need of blog topics, too, if anyone wants to send me a request (marcia@associationofghostwriters.org).

  • Where can authors find you?

You can find me at www.marcialaytonturner.com or www.associationofghostwriters.org, and at https://www.facebook.com/marcialaytonturner/ or https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcialaytonturner/.

Bio

Bestselling, award-winning writer Marcia Layton Turner has authored, co-authored, or ghostwritten more than 60 nonfiction books. Many of her titles and those of her clients have been published by major publishers, including John Wiley & Sons, McGraw-Hill, Penguin, and Macmillan. Hybrid and independent presses are becoming a popular choice, however, and Marcia has worked with several, including Jenkins Group and Authority Publishing.

One of her most recent ghosted books was expected to sell 2 million copies internationally when released, and her Unofficial Guide to Starting a Small Business was named a “Best Business Book” the year it was published, by Library Journal. A book she recently edited was a New York Times bestseller for several weeks.

She has ghostwritten books about leadership, marketing, Gen Z, business development, personal finance, and many other business topics.

When not ghostwriting books, Marcia writes articles and blog posts for outlets like Businessweek, Entrepreneur, Forbes Online, US News & World Report.com, CNN Money, and AmEx OPEN Forum.

She earned her MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, a BA with honors from Wellesley College, and is currently at work on her doctorate in business administration (DBA) at Temple University.

Meet Jackie Lapin, Helping Authors Find Speaking Opportunities and Get Booked

This entry is part 3 of 11 in the series Book Industry Experts

Ready to get booked for speaking opportunities? Learn how with Jackie. Jackie and I connected through LinkedIn and have had the opportunity to refer business to one another.Jackie Lapin, headshot, blue

  • Tell us a little bit about your business.

I help leaders, entrepreneurs, authors, practitioners, speakers and messengers connect with their next followers around the globe. My expertise is in helping leaders get booked for speaking, radio shows, podcasts and virtual summits. We make it easy for them fill up their calendars, change more lives and grow their businesses.

Our SpeakerTunity Cities™,Regional Speaker Lead Directories provide leaders direct contacts for thousands of speaking opportunities instantly at their fingertips in 30 markets, along with a TEDx Directory for US & CAN. . We also have 3 SpeakerTunity Subscription Services that provides leads for podcasts, radio shows and virtual summits.  Plus a Virtual Networking Update that connects people with low and not cost virtual networking events.  We also now design speaker one-sheets or podcast introduction sheets. (www.SpeakerTunity.com)

Furthermore, our Conscious Media Relations has been providing radio/podcast media tours and speaking engagements to support the growth and revenue of change-makers. My clients have included Don Miguel Ruiz, Dr. Joe Vitale, James Twyman, Arielle Ford, Maureen St. Germaine, Chris and Janet Attwood, Hay House and more. We have helped nearly 200 luminaries, leaders, filmmakers and authors grow their businesses, sell more books, create viewership and change more lives by introducing them to up to 9000 radio shows and podcasts. (www.ConsciousMediaRelations.com)

  • How would you describe your ideal client?

Any leader, expert, author, coach or entrepreneur who needs to get in front of an audience to grow their business or sell more books.

  • How did things change for you in 2020 and how did you manage to weather through the year during the pandemic?

We were planning on launching our SpeakerTunity Cities Regional Speaker Lead Directories ®with up to 1800 speaker leads in any one market, but that didn’t make sense in this pandemic year when meetings weren’t happening at all initially. So we pivoted and focused on providing more radio/podcast tours for authors, because even more people are stranded at home listening to audio content or watch videocasts.  Meanwhile, we’ve been adding more regional directories and should have 60 of them for North America by spring, when will relaunch these…a good half of the listed organizations have gone virtual and are still great speaking opps right now!

  • What is your favorite tip for using social media?

Build your own community group, but do so to help others. We created Changemaker Collaboration Circle/FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/changemakercollaborationcircle/ with the express purpose of introducing leaders to each other, so they can synergize. The result is that we grew to 1200 in just a few weeks and continue to grow. You’ll find 35 different threads a week, so you can promote yourself in many ways.

  • What are your goals for 2021?

Big plans!!!..we are introducing a new product every month for SpeakerTunity® in the coming year, rebranding as The Speaker & Leader Resource Company. And we will invite our affiliate partners along with us. We anticipate an enthusiastic response to our 60 directories in the spring. And of course, we are going for a record year of 30 radio/podcast tours this year! You can see what folks have said about these at www.ConsciousMediaRelations.com/testimonials

  • Where can authors find you?

www.ConsciousMediaRelations.com

www.SpeakerTunity.com

Jackie Lapin facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackielapin

Speaker Tunity Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/speakertunity

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpeakerTunity

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackielapin

SpeakerTunity Cities Biz LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/37184986/admin/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakertunity/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqqRPna08oRhK0Jxy7dGqtg

www.getbooked.biz/youtube

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/SpeakerTunity/public-speaking/

Changemaker Collaboration Circle:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/changemakercollaborationcircle

Bio

Jackie Lapin is a leader in helping leaders, authors, coaches, and speakers connect with their next followers around the globe. An expert at aiding them to GET BOOKED, she provides strategies, guidance and leads through her SpeakerTunity® programs, tip sheets and regional directories that get changemakers booked on stages, radio shows, podcasts, virtual summits, TEDx events and virtual networking across North America. SpeakerTunity®   also offers a speaker-one sheet graphic design service and turnkey Success Booking System.

Meet Ryan S. Atkins, author of One Step Closer

This entry is part 3 of 11 in the series Meet the Author

One of my newsletter subscribers, Ryan, published his book, One Step Closer, in November 2020. He has an interesting story and shares a little bit about his book here.

What are your goals for 2021?

My goal is to sell 5000 copies of One Step Closer in the first year (November 2020 — November 2021).Ryan Atkins book cover

In order to accomplish this, I am reaching out to at least three potential partners each week. I am mainly focused on podcast interviews but also have incorporated guest blog posts and email collaborations.

As momentum for the book has continued to build, requests for interviews have begun coming in on their own. While I will prioritize those opportunities as they come in, I have a list of other partners to continue to reach out to whenever it slows down.

Where can readers find your book?

Download a free chapter and purchase the book here: www.readonestepcloser.com

My website featuring my Flat on My Back blog is focused on maintaining hope no matter our circumstances.

Social Media:

www.instagram.com/ryanSAtkins

www.twitter.com/ryanSAtkins

www.Facebook.com/flatonmyback1

What else would you like to share?

Publishing my first book was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Going into it, I felt incredibly overwhelmed and unsure if I would be able to pull it off. I wondered, “Will anyone read this? Will it all be a waste of time?”

Thankfully I came across some incredibly helpful resources to make the marketing aspect less scary. Blogs like www.ausoma.com and books like Your First 1000 Copies gave me the information and confidence I needed to bring this project to fruition.

If you are on the fence about publishing or hesitant to share your work with the world, I hope 2021 is a year you can look back on as one that saw your author journey come to life!

About RyanRyan Atkins

On November 20, 2009, 21-year old college student Ryan broke his neck and became paralyzed below his shoulders. He launched his website in 2013 to share rehab updates with family and friends. It soon expanded to his writing about faith, marriage, and the power of holding an eternal perspective. Learn more about Ryan here: https://www.ryansatkins.com/meet-ryan/

 

Meet Nancy Erickson, The Book Professor

This entry is part 4 of 11 in the series Book Industry Experts

It’s an honor to share with you this interview with another one of my LinkedIn connections, The Book Professor, Nancy Erickson.headshot, Nancy Erickson. The Book Professor

• Tell us a little bit about your business.

We turn people who aren’t writers into authors of high-impact nonfiction that will save lives, change lives, or transform society. We strictly work with authors who want to offer hope and help to others.

• How would you describe your ideal client?

Our ideal client is a businessperson, speaker, or coach who has a message to get out the world, but doesn’t know how to write a book. We help you do that through our step-by-step process that takes you from your initial idea to the published book.

• How did things change for you in 2020 and how did you manage to weather through the year during the pandemic?

2020 was probably less challenging for us than others. Our staff was already 100% virtual, and since our clients are all over the globe, we already communicated with our writers via video conferencing. Because we had greater capacity to serve our clients, we were able to continue to do so.

• What is your favorite tip for using social media?

Find someone who loves to engage on social media and hire them to help you!

• What are your goals for 2021?

Through our two book-related businesses, The Book Professor and Stonebrook Publishing, we hope to publish an additional 50 high-impact nonfiction books in 2021. We want to help more people get their messages of hope and help out to the world.

• Where can authors find you?

• Is there anything else you’d like to share?

If you’ve never written a book before but would like to, click here for a free 30-minute book consultation: https://my.timetrade.com/book/TXQVK

Bio:

Nancy Erickson is known as The Book Professor because she helps people who aren’t writers become authors of high-impact nonfiction books that can change lives, save lives, or transform society. She works with public speakers, coaches, physicians, attorneys, financial planners, small and large business owners, and everyday individuals to translate their unique message into a book that can change the world, one reader at a time. All you need is an idea for your book to get started. 

Meet Kim O’Hara, Book Coach

This entry is part 5 of 11 in the series Book Industry Experts

Book Coach Kim O’Hara and I connected on LinkedIn a few years back. I’ve enjoyed getting to know her and can highly recommend her services.headshot of Kim O'Hara Book Coach

  • Tell us a little bit about your business.

I am a Book Coach to Best Sellers®. I stand by that title with my company A Story Inside because I have seen eight authors alone this past year get to that status with fantastic books I have helped them germinate from a dream to distribution.

  • How would you describe your ideal client?

My ideal client is a go getter, ambitious, a thought leader and willing to invest in the best coaching for a book that can stand out among all the rest. They are seekers of higher education whether it be in the Navy, Masters programs, coaching programs or in their profession.

  • How did things change for you in 2020 and how did you manage to weather through the year during the pandemic?

In 2020, I finally leaned in to what people have been telling me to do for years and started a podcast You Should Write A Book About That, which is exactly what my clients have said to them so many times before they finally surrender to the process and write the darn book!  We are on all podcast platforms and very quickly passed the 15,000 subscribers mark in Covid.  On the show are all kinds of folks with stories to tell, who may or may not write a book, but they get their moment in the sun.

  • What is your favorite tip for using social media?

On social media I would not direct sell to people just because they are now in your network.  I always wince when someone friends me, I accept and six seconds later I am receiving some blanket pitch for their program or event. Get to know me first. Ask me about my day, or my business, or even make small talk.  People use social media as a knee jerk and it should be a longer game.

  • What are your goals for 2021?

My goals for 2021 is to increase the amount of white glove clients I sell and have more access to my teachings and coaching with entry level offerings like Own Your Authorship which launched for 8 weeks on December 28th.  Mindset work for people who are almost ready to make the leap into private book coaching but feel blocked.

  • Where can authors find you?

Authors can find me everywhere!  I am on LinkedIn and very accessible. I am also at my web site at astoryinside.com where an email is posted. If you sign up for my newsletter (which gives you a series of free teachings) you can know everything I am up to.  Also, if someone has a great story, I would love to consider them for the podcast. It is funny how transparent I am and people still hold back to reach out.

https://www.facebook.com/Astoryinside

https://twitter.com/Astoryinside

https://www.instagram.com/astoryinside/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/astoryinside/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-should-write-a-book-about-that/id1504568100?i=1000497952835

  • Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I hope that everyone who is torn about becoming an author change agent reaches out so we can talk about how they can fully step into their greatness!

Bio

Book Coach to Best Sellers® Kim O’Hara knows how to get to the root of the story.  She guides her clients from the dream of writing a best-selling book through the creation to publishing and marketing.  Her authors have been on the Wall Street Journal top ten business books lists, USA Today top 150 and numerous Amazon #1 best seller lists as well as #1 in all of non-fiction. She has been a storyteller for over thirty years with a previous career as a movie producer and screenwriter.  She also has a successful podcast You Should Write A Book About That®  where she interviews fascinating people with a story to tell.  Her own memoir Kicking Abuse in the Ass, faces the effects of sexual abuse denial and recovery. She can be found at astoryinside.com.