I was so honored to moderate HAYVN’s inaugural HerStory evening earlier this week. Chatting with Felicia Rubinstein and Kristen Rzasa was a most inspiring time as we heard of their journeys, challenges, and successes as thriving entrepreneurs.

Featuring Pieter Estersohn, renowned photographer of architecture and interiors, and contributor to Architectural Digest. He will discuss his new book: “Back to the Land: A New Way of Life in the Country”.

No surprise: what’s good for the bookseller is good for the book author. At this year’s ABA Winter Institute, I attended a conference session called “The New Marketing and Media Strategy” hoping to get caught up on the latest tips and trends.

Technically, I like to say my new year starts on February 1st. This gives me the space and grace to go into January feeling OK and open – NOT overwhelmed! It also allows me to fully enjoy the holidays with family and friends. 

This week I ran across this list of “25 Podcasts for Authors on Writing, Publishing, and Book Marketing” from the team at bookbaby.com. While it’s thorough, thoughtful, and cleverly organized, I was surprised to see that several of my go-to writing / author / book publishing focused podcasts were NOT listed. 

Twenty years ago this month, I quit corporate – or opted out – as they called it back then. 

You know the drill – commuting from the burbs to NYC by train, working in cubicles on the 35th floor of a midtown building, surrounded by co-workers, and lots of buzzy publishing activity of a weekly magazine. 

Memoirs have a unique power to captivate, inspire, and connect with readers on a deeply personal level. 

They are windows into the lives, experiences, and emotions of their authors, offering a glimpse of the human condition in all its complexity. 

In a fun and informative conversation last week, I spoke with Holland Saltsman of The Novel Neighbor and Eric Bursch of USA Today to discuss the relaunch of the USA Today best-selling booklist. The relaunch of this iconic list brings new opportunities for authors, publishers, and independent bookstores.

In this fun and insightful (and a bit technically challenged) conversation with take-no-BS, tell-it-like-it-is Carolyn Herfurth, we learn how she helps thought leaders to uplevel and play a bigger game in their businesses.

The publishing world is anything but straightforward these days and there are many routes for an author to get a book published. In a recent conversation with Jenn T. Grace, founder of Publish Your Purpose Press we discuss which publishing path is best for your next book.

One of the best practices I’ve discovered during the pandemic is reaching out! It can be game changing for your network, your business, and clarity on your purpose. Huge gratitude to Molly Beck and Carly Valancy who have been fearlessly leading “Reach Out” parties since April. Check out their advice on what makes a great reach out in this fun video.

So . . .  we are in the third month of a global pandemic AND we’re nearly a month into a global anti-racism movement that hopefully won’t be just a moment. 

So much going on. So much to feel, contemplate and grieve.