The Business Behind the Books: Lessons From Writing 5 of Them

In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on my journey from aspiring writer to published author (five books now!) to sought-after media expert...and sharing the real financial and strategic lessons I've learned along the way. I break down how my early blog posts for Modern Mommy Doc evolved into my first two books, *The Newborn Baby Blueprint* and *The Working Mom Blueprint*, which I wrote as a package deal with the American Academy of Pediatrics. I get candid about book advances (spoiler: they're a lot smaller than people assume), the value — and limits — of publisher-funded PR, and why saying yes to every media request early on wasn't necessarily the growth strategy I once thought it was. I also talk about the turning point with my book *Doing It All*, when I started funding my own publicity and became far more selective about which opportunities were actually worth my time. I share the exact litmus test I now use to decide which podcasts, articles, or interviews to say yes to. I'm also sharing how that shift led to bigger opportunities finding *me*, including NPR, KQED, and The New York Times. **In this episode, I cover:** - What book advances actually look like for most authors (and why the book itself isn't where the money is) - The pros and cons of publisher-paid vs. self-funded PR - Why chasing every media mention isn't the same as building thought leadership - The two-question litmus test I now use to decide which opportunities to pursue - How narrowing my focus led to bigger, more aligned press opportunities finding me Mentioned in this episode: **New Book! Raising Body-Confident Kids** You want your kids to love their bodies. You're still trying to do both. My new book, Raising Body-Confident Kids, helps you do both. Releases Sept 1, 2026. Pre-order your copy here: https://www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com/books