Launching a book - my experience w/ Anna Featherstone

#89 - Anna Featherstone (EDITE)

Tue, Sep 03, 2024 8:52AM • 39:43

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

book, people, launch, author, photos, love, read, emma, good, anna, pen, business, retreats, life, write, knew, pleasure, share, sydney, writer

00:00

Emma, do you want to live a life of freedom and adventure? Are you wanting more than the daily grind? Me too. Welcome to the Emma Lovell, show a place where we talk about living a life you love. Now I'm your host, Emma Lovell, and my number one value is freedom. I've spent the last 14 years running a business and traveling the world, and now I take my husband and toddler along for the adventure too. It's possible, and I know you can create a life doing what you truly love as well. This podcast will inspire, motivate and encourage you to go after your dreams, to create a life you love and to live it now, not wait for a time and or someday in the future, I'll be sharing episodes weekly about how I harmonize business travel and self care. I'll also bring on incredible guests to share their journeys, the wins, the challenges, and how they're creating a life they love. Let's jump in and get dreaming. This is a space for you to manifest a life you love.

01:03

I would like to acknowledge and recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first peoples of this place, now known as Australia. I am grateful for the continuing care of the land, waterways and skies where I work, live, listen, learn and play from here on Yugambeh country and from wherever you are listening, I pay my respects to the elders past and present.

01:25

So today's episode is going to be a little bit different. I'm going to hand over the hosting reigns to the incredible Anna Featherston, who is here to well, she's my book fairy godmother. She helped a huge amount, even though she may not realize how much with my book. And so we're going to talk today, though, about launching and setting dates before you've got a book. But also just going to let Anna ask the questions. But before we start, Anna, can you just give us a little intro about who are you? Oh, sure. So I'm I am called like an author advocate. So I basically help authors whatever stage they're at, whether it's the planning stage right through to the publishing or the marketing. So I'm independent in that I can help you if you're a chat author or an indie author, and I'm kind of just there for you. So I'm like your person, and I might direct people to other people, or I might direct them to resources. I wrote a book called look at your book, which is all about publishing non fiction.

02:30

And I run a little place called Bold authors, where authors come together and share their knowledge. So, like, how do you get more of your books into libraries? You can do a short course on that. Or, how do you apply for grants or, you know, so I'm just love this space so much. It's such a privilege to work with people like you, and oh my gosh, I like just what people are out there thinking and writing is just such a buzz. So that's what's kind of me, yeah, and I'm going to totally hand over in a second, but I love that you said that, and when you shared my post about me opening my book box and seeing it for the first time. And it was like, you know this, yeah, two sides to it, which you comment on, which is, there's the achievement as the author. And this that you've had this vision and you have this idea and you have this thing that you want to share. And for me, it really is legacy. It is, this is the story, and this is what I stand by, and this is what I want, if, if nothing else, to say, Come on, you guys can do it too. But then, as you said, like, then that book goes out into the world, and you don't know what it's going to do. And lives, your books change lives. I know that. I know it's changed my life. You know, so

03:38

to change people's thinking, to help them, and you just don't know who is going to get that. It has the capacity to keep doing that for you know, we're still reading, I'm reading books like Dale Carnegie's, you know, How to Win Friends and Influence People, that was written in the 20s, and it's still applicable to today. And, yeah, wow. So anyway, I just loved that post, and I'm going to let you ask things. Yeah, well, firstly, congratulations on the launch of the art of pleasure. Oh, I've got a coffee too,

04:13

because it's, it's magnificent. And I'm even like thinking, you know, I've come to this book launch in Sydney, you know, I've driven five hours. I am literally doing pleasure. Now,

04:26

it's like, and you know, that's what your book has done for me as well. It's like, kind of encouraged me, because I read like an early draft to begin with, and I was like, oh, yeah, maybe I can, maybe I can work out a way to do a bit more pleasure. And,

04:43

you know, then I was like, I was at bar and Writers Festival and running a workshop up there, and I'm like, Hey, I'm actually doing pleasure. I'm like, you know, I'm and so I'm kind of leaning into it, but I love to, and I know we're not going to talk about the book as much as we are about your book launch, but I also love how you spoke.

05:00

At the book launch about it doesn't have to be, it doesn't have to be an overseas trip. It can literally just be adding an extra day on after something else, or just staying at home, but going out in your community. So I think this is one of the great things you did at your book launch. You covered up a lot of aspects of the book without actually revealing the entire book. Okay? Because I think some, yeah, because I think some authors fall into the trap, and the hosts can fall into the trap of pretty much giving the whole book away, so there's no need to buy it or read it. So I think last night at the launch, it was great. So it was such a joy to be there. You had a huge mix of people,

05:41

mentors, people you've mentored people who've been on your rest and receive retreats. You had other writers from the copywriting community. You had old school friends from you know, when you were young. You had your beautiful family there.

05:57

How did it feel for you?

06:00

It was, I think it's just surreal right now. I just don't think, I think in like, a few months, I'm going to be and hearing you set back, it's like, oh,

06:09

I think looking at the Gold Coast. So I had two launches because, you know, yes, I'm talking about that strategy. Typically, I think what I've explained to people, because, you know, there are people in my world who don't know about, you know, my dad was like, what happens at a book launch? And I was like, mine's not going to be typical anyway. But I said they can look very different. You know, most of a book launch in a bookshop, people do a reading or something like that. And I was like, No, I want it to be a party. And I got that from Marie Forleo. Marie folio did like a Beyonce style concert for her book launch. I mean, she's in New York, and little bit different scale, but I loved the concept. And I was like, it is a party, it is a celebration. And I chose the dates based around celebrations in my life, which was my birthday. It's a date that I knew. It's your date, right? You're picking a date out of the blue. And we had the same for our wedding. We picked a date. We picked a leap year date, and it's like, well, only happens every four years, so we have to commit to that date and get it done. And then the other one was my 15 years of business, and I've never had a party. I've never had a celebration for my

07:13

for my business birthday. There are people who are in business for one year, two years, and they have this business birthday. And I sort of used I think, well, that's a bit naff. And then I'm like, Oh my gosh, no, look at them celebrating it is their business and to survive in business, and we should be celebrating it more. So I picked those dates, and then I had two, because these were my two homes. Gold Coast is where I live now. In Sydney's where I was born, and where I guess a huge part of my network still is so that's people that, why are you doing Melbourne? Why are you doing Brisbane? Why did you pick and it's because those are my guess. They're my home cities. And yet, usually you do one and then you would do a book tour. I guess

07:53

you only have one launch. But no, I had to have two launches. So the Gold Coast, I think I was a bit bewildered, or just, I mean, I only got back from overseas because I was bleasuring, uh, two days before. Oh, wow. And, you know, I we had some hurdles along the way, and I just don't, I didn't actually know if I didn't want to get excited or try, like I was told to be aware that the books might not arrive in time, but I didn't even know if I'd have a book in my hand on the day. And so I think I just was so surprised. And then with Sydney, I was definitely calmer, definitely more grounded. I've definitely had, yeah, but still only been what's today. It's only been the book's only been out for nine days, and I saw it's already number one in your category on Amazon for people. Yeah, congratulations. Like, nine days, though, I just couldn't, like, Friday. I was like, It's been a week, yeah? But because, you know, you've been talking about it for so long, you know, I committed to it a year ago, I'd actually like to call you on this, because I went back through my emails

08:55

and you literally sent a save the date

08:59

five months ago. And I was like, how you hadn't even finished your manuscript at that stage. It hadn't been edited like, and I'm like, Whoa, she's got some courage here, like she's backing herself, because, you know, like, that's a big thing to commit to a date.

09:18

How did you have faith

09:20

that you could pull that off. Well, I really looked to Kate toon, um, who is a fellow author has written, just written her fifth, second, third. Oh yeah, yeah, true. I was just thinking about the latest two. She has three business books, but she has prior books which I Yeah, virtual launch and said, Congratulations on your second book. Just like Emma, it's my fifth author. Yeah,

09:44

but no. So she had a very un like, I guess, from the publishing world's unreasonable deadline, and she had more of a, more of a traditional publisher,

09:55

publisher. And I was like, she like, you know, and Kate's got some years, a few years.

10:00

On me, but we've been in business actually the same amount of time. And I was like, if Kate can do it, I can do it, and we, I am a writer, so

10:09

I kind of knew, in a way, getting words down wasn't the going to be the hard bit. It was the the bits that I didn't know. But then I had hired people, so I was like, well, they've told me that it's possible too, so yeah,

10:21

but I was really the launches were very important to me. And I just, I get so it feels a bit sad to be honest, Anna, when people don't have book launches, even if it's in your bloody house, I just think to not celebrate this thing. And, you know, we all write books for different reasons, but to not even have five friends around to, you know, to do something. But also I knew that that was content. I knew it was media. I knew, but Yes, Mark that milestone and not just be like. I know people have their book. They're like, the book came out today, and they're like, and then they're at home on their own, going, my book came out today. I was like, No, I want to be like a wedding again. It's like, you want to be with people. You want people to share in the joy. And opening that book in private was really special. But then each moment after to give the book to my mum, to give the book to my dad, to post them out, to like, each one is a first. And I just really wanted that. And I just know that people get busy. And so I was like, Yeah, I want my people there. And also pre sales. And I made it was so

11:21

knowing that I had sold books, and it was much harder selling books, just people like, Yeah, I'll get it later. I'll get it later, but the launch ticket plus book, yeah, and that's a strategy I've been seeing for the last few years. More and more people charging to come along to an event because they're expensive to put on. And this is not just independent authors. This is traditional authors have to pay for their own book launches too. So it's interesting to see like I also love like a library launch, because a library is free, they included in your market their marketing.

11:58

So that's another great idea. A lot of bookstores charge now for launches to be held there as well. Some don't as well.

12:05

But, and then there's the concept, which is, what you did beautifully was, you know, ticket only, or ticket plus book. And you're right. That gives you an idea of, well, how many you know, what should my printer on be? Then just to fulfill these orders, it makes people commit.

12:21

And I mean, how beautiful on the night that huge queue of people, I'm just wondering how your arm is today, after all that signing, I'm so surprised. I really thought I'd have a sore hand that I don't and last time as well, and I got my little sign and you were writing long messages, yeah, as well. I will at least write a sentence.

12:44

I just think someone's done that for you. It has to be personalized. I don't want to, you know, I've had a book signed before, and it's very nice, but it's like, kiss kids author, you know, a name, and it's like, they could have just sat there and, you know, for a conference, maybe I'll just write my name, you know. But these are people I know, or people who've taken the time, their time to go and do this. These early people mean the most to me. And even you helped me, Anna with Ingram sparks, which is my distribution. So for anyone International,

13:15

yeah? Typed message, and I was like, is that really going to be the same? But, you know, to have a so that's where you can actually put in an extra page in your book and type an actual message, but it saves you $30 in postage plus,

13:31

and you just pay a small amount, and you can get a personalized message in there, even though you're not signing it. Yeah, my cousin, I said to her, so she told me the book had arrived. I was like, great. It worked. You never know. You're like,

13:42

yeah. And I said, Can you send me a photo of how it came out? And it was so nice. I was like, Oh, that is. And I said, you I'll find my name. Yeah, they're beautiful for now, and especially if somebody, you know, I missed, unfortunately, I missed a few. What we're doing spreadsheets, you're getting, you know, records from here and records from there a few people. There's a little bit of a manualness that we need to figure out at my end. But,

14:06

you know, and I had so many orders, which is a nice problem to have, that were few people got missed. And I'm like, if I put it through the traditional post, it might take another week because of me not being at home and not having the book, yes, so so you could drop ship it, yes. Otherwise, yeah, but other one, at least they have it, and then later on, I can, yeah, write a message when I see them, and at least they've got it. And I feel I want to fulfill that promise. Somebody has done that. I want to fulfill the promise to them. I think one of the things that made your launch strong as well, like, obviously, you know, you understand brand back and forth, like, you know, inside out. And I just even the signing pens you were using were, like, pink with sparkles and a big bubble on the end. And I'm like, that is so on brand and that,

14:56

you know, I yeah, like, did you put a lot of thought into.

15:00

To how you set the books up. I mean, you had a heap of books available, which made it just look so Bountiful, and it gave you a way to, you know, people can take great photos, so you have much thought and time. Did you go into planning that? Or is that just natural for you? Like, of course, I take my sparkly pens. No, I think, like, the quality thing has been throughout, and like, some people have been, you know, when I've shared some of the figures and stuff, which feel I'm very honest. I won't on this podcast, but I do in person, you know, paying for the venues and things. And they're like, that's a lot. What are you doing? And it's like, but I know both those venues, and as soon as I was that was the other thing, why I didn't do a Melbourne straightaways. I don't know the venue yet. Yeah, right, I'm not comfortable with the venue. Even Brisbane. I know the venue, and I didn't picture it, and that was so important. I've been in those rooms. I've worked with these companies. I knew that they were going to help me out. I could picture where we were going to be, and so I knew that the venue was taken care of. It was a beautiful venue. Do you want? Are you going to say where it was, or in Sydney and Miami on the Gold Coast? And they just, I know that they know. I know that they're taking care of everything. You've signed up for the package. And I just knew that I didn't have to worry about that. So I wasn't worried there. And then, yeah, there were the minor details of, like, yeah, where did the books go? But

16:20

then my outfits, you know, it was very like, I'm gonna wear it. People were, like, surprised of all the outfits from the cover, from the front, yes, yes, yeah, of course. Like, that's, that's branding, like, I'll turn off it. That's the dress she was wearing, white. Do you have the shoes on there? No, I hadn't bought them yet. You had the fancy shoes. I need a picture of those. Have we got a nice picture of the shoes? I will. I'll send you the shoes. Yeah, there is such a thing about author shoes, FYI. But then also the cut the case. Now, like I take the suitcase because it literally my suit. Yes, also the color and Jade was my photographer was a bit worried about which she wanted a contrasting bag. But in a way, I'm glad it's not, because it might have taken taken away a bit. So now people straight away, they're like, that's the color of the book, yeah, the suitcase. So I do think about those things. And then the pen was kind of a funny, fun thing. I wanted to buy a Mont Blanc pen to celebrate and to sign with. But Mont Blanc pens start at $900

17:22

and you have to sell a few books for that. Yeah, I was a bit like, I do, what about you needed? And I do want to invest myself. But then I got home and I was really going to go to the shop the next day with mum and and I wanted to make a thing about going into the shop and buying the pen. I got home, and on my desk was that sparkly pen, because Susan riock, who was like, oh, yeah, she did my website copy, which my new website? All that because, you know, I decided to rebrand at the same time as doing a book is coming out. It will spread those things out now a little bit. But she gave me a she asked me, What's your brand? If your brand was a shop, what would it be? And I said, Smiggle. And she, she was like, I'm sending you a client gift just to thank you for working with working with you. And she sent me a glittery notebook and that pen. And I was like,

18:08

I'm such a seven year old trapped in a 37 year old's body. So then I got the pen, and I was like, Oh my God. And so mom and I went to Smiggle and bought two more pens,

18:18

right? You could have bought, like, a carton of pens. It's so fun for the same price. And I think that's a really good thing, like

18:26

when you're managing a launch or something, you get to choose what to spend money on and what not to and I love that mix of I want that that way, but this way. It doesn't have to be, not everything has to be bling, bling bling or the cheapest or the most expensive. It's a beautiful mix well, and I'll tell you the the front cover outfit, I was free because my dad gave it to me his birthday gift because, again, I'm a seven year old. Thanks, dad. Um, but the the outfit would have cost $400 but it cost like 250 on sale. The shoes were 350 down to 170 at Christmas. So, but there you go, boss. The bag's American tourista. So they're all very quality brands. They're very they're not the top of the top, but they're good. Other dresses are the outfits ASOS like decent. But then the back cover that dress is $38

19:19

of sheen. And I don't really want to, like, encourage fast fashion. No, like, I don't, I don't know. I'm not really willing to invest in a $300 dress that's not going to meet the brief. When I saw, yeah, I wanted the that Mexican style, because Mexico somewhere very close to me. And it came and I was like, you know? I was like, it'll be great for the photos, but actually works in person. And I was like, this works, but I would have totally gone to an op shop or use something where I wardrobe. But it was like, Yeah, you don't have to spend, you know, bazillions, or you choose when to invest. And yeah, it was non negotiable, like the graphic designer and the paying and the photographer.

20:00

And things like that. And there's other things that you go, I'm happy. That's fine. We're not going to spend the money there. Yeah, and I noticed you did invest in having some professionals there to shoot, to take still shots and video. Why did you invest in that? It's non negotiable. My wedding, the photographer, videographer, cost more than the dress, and it should,

20:23

because you can have a beautiful dress, and in the photos, can look like shit, but you can have a cheap dress, $38 dress, and look a million bucks. The photo, the photographer and videographer, who are good at their job, will make you look good. And having that content, people are always like, Why do you have so much content? Or why do you so many shoots? So many shoots? You know, the last few months Annie, you know, have been very difficult for me. My nephew passed away in July. I have been in this overwhelm with the book I didn't have. There were times where I didn't want to show up on camera, I didn't want to talk, I didn't want to do things. I have this bank of photos and videos that I can pull on at any time to convey my message. And so having these photos and videos, they they're they're social proof. I didn't have to worry, like, you know, I knew that I was going to, somebody was going to get the shot. But then you have all this content, and it's such a easy and much better way to talk about it. So that investment, and it's just going to pay off, it's going to pay off tenfold and so, and not just for the book, but for your business as well, like having, yeah, I used to use photos like unfortunate. I don't change my hair a lot. I do. I'm aging quite well. So I can use photos from five years ago. The photo I used on my book launch page was a photo from 2016

21:42

so eight years ago, oh, wow, in a suit jacket, I was writing in a journal, and I had a colored background, and it was just the perfect, like writer photo. They still look like me. So, you know? So I think it's not, let's, let's give it 20 years, okay? And you've got your 10th book out. I want to see a different or look a photo. Alright, we've got to have authentic in 20 years. All right, yeah, well, in 20 years time, I'll update them, but, but I do get them. The difference as well is the energy. And the energy of the Gold Coast event to the Sydney event was different. And so, yeah, no, I wouldn't just get the people go, Oh, well, I got the first launch photographed for them. The other thing is sharing it with the people. So I'm going to share those albums with all the people, because then they get all the photos too, and then they spread the word, but also they get the memory. And so you're my retreats, we share all the photos with my clients, so they get all this amazing content too. And you know, it's just something to share. And each event had its own energy, and that's why I had to do I know people who've used this a photo from an old shoot for their book, and I'm like, No, you need it. Had a very specific energy, and I had to bring that to tell the story about the book.

22:57

Um, okay, so at the launch, you did a reading,

23:02

um, how? And sometimes I think they go too long at some author events, and some are the perfect I think yours was perfect. How did you choose upon what to read from the book? I what didn't do a reading in the Gold Coast. And a friend was like, asked. She was like, Are you going to do a reading of the library? My daughters would love that. And I said, yeah, yeah. Said, yeah, yeah, all that's to come that night. Didn't feel at the right, yeah. And I think also, with the freneticness of where I was at, it probably wouldn't have been, I was a lot calmer, yeah, as well. I was like, I missed out. I didn't miss out. But I think it's something special and people would enjoy and because they asked for I was like, okay, we can do that. But the I read a bit at my retreat. So I was talking to my clients in a coaching session about something, and I went, I actually have this in my book, and I said, I'm going to give you a gift, and you can have a sneak peek, and I'm going to read this out to you and reading it to them. I was crying. They were crying. Like the bit that I chose really was like a late edition, but it really sort of summed up for me. And the section I read was called, you can't the most motivational statement in the world, and you can't do that. Emma, yeah, you can't. You can read it, but being told you can't is ammunition for me, and it's motivation, but it's also very it's not very pleasant. And so I'm trying to reframe that. And the book, to me, is a big, big, fat answer to people who've told me many, many, many, many times over the years, even in this book process, that you can't and so I think also the way I sum up that bit

24:44

just is such a nice message to leave it with. So it was a no brainer. And I think it stood alone, because I think when you're doing a reading, yes, read a bit and then leave a cliffhanger, well, you can if you're writing crime thriller.

24:58

Okay, so.

25:00

Business travel, non fiction author, I think you want to give them a snippet and what's really fun now as well, I've just working with my publicist, Erin, who was there last night, you know, figuring out that there's just so many angles within it, and figuring out, and then also getting to use it. So I wrote an article, it'll come out later in the year, for CEO magazine. And so it's like, bits of the book apply to corporates. Or which bit would somebody working with staff, what would they want to hear? What would help them? And we were able to take snippets and tweak a bit. But you're like, there's so much here. What can we use? And so it's nice to use the book and to Yeah, yeah, just write it and stick it in your drawer, or, like, I, yeah, I, I think that was great, like that reading, because it was like motivation and a lesson for a lot of us, but through your your eyes and your feelings. So it was a really good choice. And that also, like the emotion, I loved, how at the launch you, you didn't, you know, you cried you could, you welled up.

26:04

It was beautiful. And it, you know, it made you so relatable. Not just everyone can live the life of pleasure you do different, but it was also like, this means a lot to me. So how did that feel, opening up in front of such a range of people I'm not afraid. I think there's like, you know, the line of like, I always say, I'm not going to come on the internet and just sob at you, but I said that I should keep it in so you don't really get to point where you can't talk. So, yeah, I'm surprised. So I thought I'd get more emotional on the Gold Coast, and I thought I'd get more more emotional than I did, and especially having my brother in the room, whose son passed away in July, and was a big, big part of the reason why I had to write the book. Now, yeah, I got to show him a copy before he passed. But

26:54

yeah, I just, I don't know. I just, I just think people want to see that you care, and I've had so much love around the opening of the box and seeing that book for the first time, because then they see that it means something to me. And then, you know, there's things that are going to hit them in different ways as well. That's the interesting part. You don't know which part, you know, yeah, you know, someone might be really affected by talking about breaking my back. They might be really affected by that because they also have injury, or by the grief bit because they've been through grief. Or what I'm saying, people told you you can't, and all that stuff comes up for them, or it might be the self care, and they're like, Oh yeah, I don't take care of myself, you know, I don't know what's going to hit them and what's going to get them, but I guess I'm giving everybody permission to let it out as well.

27:40

Hello. My name is Kate toon, and I'm the founder of stay tuned, a collection of digital education companies. I've had the pleasure of working with Emma Lovell on a number of different occasions. Not only was she emcee at my in person book launch event, she also helped me out on the virtual launch too. I've enjoyed photo shoots with her and Jade, and she's an excellent speaker and presenter. I chose Emma because she is just so full of beans. She brings life, energy and enjoyment to wherever and whatever she does. So yep, she's highly recommended, yeah. And I love that your house, yeah. And I love that your family were there, you know, like, and there was, you know, your little fin was there, and some other kids as well, like,

28:25

and that's the thing about a book launch, isn't it? Like it can be as personal to you as you want. Some people think, oh, every I'm I'm trying to reach a professional audience. I must be super professional, and I can't have a child in the room or something. But what you showed was also in your book pleasure. You're like, well, a kid like having family shouldn't be an excuse not to do things, and you kind of lived that through your book launch. So that makes a launch stronger as well, because you're living your brand and living your dream and just living how you want to live. And yeah, I thought that's beautiful hidden pants to himself, like I was signing books towards the end. Oh, I missed that. He pulled his pants down and started running around. And it was like, well, someone's gotta get the party started. And I was like, Yeah, I'm not gonna stop. Is someone gonna stop that far? I'm not stopping him. So I was like, Yeah, I mean, it's hilarious. Eventually got him. And was like, let's put let's not put our hands down, you know? Yeah. But it's like, that's life. And I said this thing, you know, Sam was trying to find a word to describe what, I guess, taking the book and getting into the world, just, you know, takes and you wrote it to me an email, and I said it last night, which is grit. It takes grit. It takes a lot of grit. It is not the glamorous cover photo. It is. It is a lot of, you know, tears and sweat and late nights and doubt, and even for you, I know you've written, what? How many four books now? Yeah, everyone's run five.

29:58

You said it doesn't get any.

30:00

Like your most recent one, you'd be like, well, she's an old like, but you, you know, it's for a different audience, for a different reason, or there's a reason why. And so anyone who's putting a book out into the world has had to have grit. And I think that was, yeah, something that I said was lacking from my rebrand, even though my my design is doing a great job. But it was the it was the influencer side, it was the social media side. And I was like, No, I have literal photos of me in the dirt and photos of me on the ground, like with hands in the head. I work in my pajamas. I don't do my makeup all the time. What's that? But I I work, and I'm not telling you that you can't, that you can have this pleasure life without the work. I'm just saying, let's not work so hard. Let's not, you know, I had moments of joy as well, like, but there will be moments, no matter what, of challenge, of grief, of difficulty, of throwing in the towel, like, you don't get to do the good thing without that. Yeah, and how, like, how did you balance planning the launch with the writing of the book, but also running the rest of your business. Like, was it just, is it just because you know how to make run events that you're just able to like, oh, that's just another task to market a product. So it was pretty easy for you to tick off. Or did you have a any setbacks with the launch? Or, think, I think probably my EA was a little bit more worried than I was, but this doesn't but, you know, I think people get worried about launches and stuff because they don't like being in front of an audience, but obviously, you know, for me, you you know Anna, that that's my moment to shine. Like, Erin gets me like, this is where the fun starts. Like, where somebody I've got to market my book, I'm like, I'm so excited for all the activities and the ideas that we can do. So I felt excited by that. But also, yeah, I run a retreat, which is a five day event. You know? What I realized with this book was bringing together all my old experience, like I used to take 20 people on trips, trekking mountains. So I'm like, wrangle a few people in a room, into a nice room with comfy chairs and above. So it's that thing of get the professionals. I think why I was so comfortable and so confident was I had so much of the organization done, and it's the same for the retreats, get an amazing venue, work with suppliers who know their shit. I knew I didn't. I did probably need a slight more brief for my photographers and videographers, and I realized I could have given a bit more, but I also knew that whatever they gave me was going to be incredible. So I hired the best. I hired people I knew who could do the job, and I didn't try and do it all myself. I do have an assistant like you know, there's still bits that I had to do, but I think just don't try and become don't learn how to do it all. And your book is fantastic because it says you can DIY, but I'm at a level of 15 years in business, I am certainly not DIY everything. You don't have to, yeah, exactly. You get to choose bring the a to and I think that's a really good point, too, about you actually do need to plan and brief people, like, if you want a certain outcome, you can't expect them just to mind read you. It's your responsibility to say, actually, this is what I want, and to think it through, not just to totally just go, Okay, it's on you just to do this. Yeah, I think they were just, I think there's always gonna be things, though, that you love it and it's amazing. But then after the event, you sort of go, Oh, I really need more of these. You could and you could improve on it, and that's the learning, isn't it? And that's fine. But, like, amazing event, amazing content, but you just go, oh, for next time I want some of this. Like, yeah, you know,

33:31

if I were to do my book again, I love it, but I would do this. Like, that's just learning exactly anything to be 100% I think you can get it like 97

33:42

and then you go, there's always a little bit to improve, but also to go, I'm going to celebrate what I've done. It's done, and done is better than perfect. It was just also the mantra, I was like, hire very good people. Do it to a high standard and a high quality. But also we just got to get this done. And if I was perfect, and every all the ducks are in a row and all the things are lined up, it just wouldn't ever, ever happen. Yeah, however, I think your book is as fairly close to as perfect as possible, which gives it as well, but gives you, as the author, the energy to go into a room for a launch and be proud of what you've done. Because I say like, you know, it all comes back to the book. In the end, the book has to be really good, and it has to really work for a target audience, and you need to be able to be proud of it. So don't skimp on things. Get good editing, get a good cover, you know. Like, do the work, because otherwise, how can you stand up in front of people proudly, you know, yeah, like, honestly, like, people said, I think so. At one point, when I was talking about doubt, people thought it was I was doubting. I was worried about the haters or as worried about the negative people. And it was like, actually, when I, when I sat with it, no, I was actually worried and scared that I wouldn't love the book and it wasn't going to be the book I wanted to put in the world. And then.

35:00

My words were going to be changed, and I'm getting messages now, which is so nice, where people are kind of like, I don't know, like, not surprised, maybe surprised at how good it is. You were a writer. I knew you would tell good a story.

35:15

It's really like, professional like, and I was like, yeah. And like, I don't know. And I was like, I think people didn't think it like, maybe they thought, some people thought they were supporting me. They're like, Oh, I'll buy Emma's book to support her. I was like, no, no, I wore a book to help people. I wrote a book, and it had to be good quality, and it had to be well done and and more pressure, because I am a writer. And I was like, I can't put out something that's yeah, like a fake door,

35:43

and

35:44

then it becomes a gift. Like you're actually your book is a gift. So it's not a product to sell. It's actually a

35:51

it is a gift to people,

35:54

even though they have to pay for it, to buy it, to read it or borrow it at the library, once you get into your library strategy. So well, have you seen my cute thing? I didn't really share as much last night. Oh yes, I love the extras at the back. So in the back of the book, I've said, let's play a game for the people who are listening it. I've put in there an old school library card, so like a car a paper library card. And what I really want is, if people love the book, of course, I want you to keep it. But I also really want if you've read it and you've had a good time with it and you've had enough, I mean, or buy two, buy one for you and buy to give it on. I'd love people to write in the back and leave it places and give it, pass it on, and just to see, you know, this is a book about travel. Where's this book going to travel? What adventures is she going to have? Yeah, that's cool. She so where's she going? You know, I can't wait to see this book have a life of its own, and I really wanted to encourage that as well as I do have an environmental care like I, you know, I want, you know, I want it. I don't want I want sales, but I really want it to be read. Don't just buy the token in the bookshelf. Please read it. And if you think it will help someone, please pass it on. Well, I caught a train from the launch last night, and I was sitting on the train with my little Blizzard book going, I'm bleasuring like I'm blushering on the train. But I didn't leave it on the train because I still want to give it to myself.

37:24

I think we've got to run. But I Adam, yes. Back on to talk about your books and or certainly about your book. If anybody is thinking about writing a book, look, it's your book is the simplest, best place to start. There's also a workbook accompanying workbook, which I have used. This is not a paid promotion. I'm a true man and a true advocate for the author advocate. You do what you say, Anna, you get in people's corner. You sent me little messages of encouragement. You read my book at the 11th hour. You connected me with the best of the best. I just, I'm so excited to now be a colleague and an author in the author club with you. Can't wait to do more of this, like this. You know, I'm only up to, kind of like, still only the beginning to do. I get to do the promotion bit and the library bit, one bit. And I, I'm just so grateful, Anna, like for your commitment and dedication to good books, yeah, yeah, that's what it's all about, and that's what was great to be at your launch. And you literally have liftoff for pleasure. So congratulations, really. Thank you, Anna, and well done all of Anna's links and things in the show notes. But where can we find you, Anna? Where's the best place to connect? Uh, sure. Anna featherston.com on the internet, and I'm on Instagram, like Anna Featherston writer LinkedIn, all the places. I'm not there all the time because I'm reading manuscripts and helping, but when I'm there, I do show up.

38:54

Thank you for your time today. I'm so awesome. Okay, see ya.

39:00

Thank you for listening, lovely one. I hope this has inspired you to dream big and start creating a life you love today. If you love what you're hearing, don't forget to follow and rate on Spotify and rate review and subscribe on iTunes. It helps other awesome people to find this podcast and get motivated and inspired as well. Want to stay connected. Come and join the live a life you love. Group on Facebook or connect with me on Instagram. Emma lovell.au the same as my website, but all the details are in the show notes. Lovely. I'll see you next episode for more inspiration, motivation and freedom seeking now, go out there and live a life you love. You.