What does it take to turn a lifelong mantra into a published book?

In this episode of Book Bound, Bethany Saltman and Fran Hauser talk with Carla Ondrasik, former music publishing executive and author of Stop Trying!. Carla shares how her obsession with the language of “trying” led her from scribbled notes to a book deal with Simon & Schuster’s Post Hill Press. She opens up about choosing the right agent, the steep learning curve of crafting a proposal, and the discipline it required to transform her idea into a compelling pitch.

Carla also reflects on publishing her debut in her sixties, the lessons she learned from working with a developmental editor, and the importance of building the right support system for both writing and promotion. From deadlines that stretched her creativity to the challenges of marketing in today’s landscape, she offers a candid look at the perseverance and adaptability it takes to bring a book into the world.

Resources:
Connect with Carla on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlaondrasik/

Follow Carla on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@carlaondrasik

Check out Carla’s website: https://www.carlaondrasik.com/

Check out Carla’s book: https://a.co/d/f0mYAl0
Join Bethany & Fran for their Read Like a Writer Book Club here: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/club
Download Bethany & Fran's e-book on how to craft a standout book proposal here: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/e-book

Produced by Share Your Genius: https://shareyourgenius.com/

• (00:00) - Introduction to Book Bound Podcast
• (00:55) - Meet Carla Ondrasik: From Music Executive to Author
• (01:17) - The Emotional Journey of Writing a Book
• (04:08) - Finding the Right Agent and Proposal Challenges
• (07:35) - Developing the Book Proposal
• (14:04) - The Pitch Process and Securing a Deal
• (21:27) - Preparing for Book Launch and Marketing Strategies
• (25:00) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

How do you turn 200 million TikTok views into a bestselling memoir?

In this episode of Book Bound, Bethany Saltman and Fran Hauser talk with Dr. Erin Nance, orthopedic surgeon, bestselling author of Little Miss Diagnosed, and founder of the FeelBetr app, about building a platform rooted in authenticity. Erin shares how a single chapter shared with a stranger sparked her writing journey, why she started storytelling on TikTok, and how her viral content helped land a two-book deal.

She gets real about writing without a ghostwriter, pitching while her content was going viral, and navigating the publishing process as a first-time author. From skipping blurbs to embracing the “authenticity economy,” Erin’s approach challenges the traditional playbook and offers a new way to think about platform, story, and what it takes to connect with readers.

Resources:
Connect with Dr. Erin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinnancemd/
Find Dr. Erin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctorerinnance/
Find Dr. Erin on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@littlemissdiagnosed?lang=en
Join Bethany & Fran for their Read Like a Writer Book Club: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/club
Download Bethany & Fran's e-book on how to craft a standout book proposal: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/e-book

Produced by Share Your Genius: https://shareyourgenius.com/

When your first manuscript doesn’t land with publishers, how do you transform that draft into the foundation for a book that does?

In this episode of Bookbound, Fran Hauser and Bethany Saltman sit down with Cecily Mak, attorney, co-founder of Wisdom Ventures, and author of Undimmed: The Eight Awarenesses for Freedom from Unwanted Habits. Cecily talks about the long, non-linear path to her debut, revealing how she spent years writing a 300-page memoir that will likely never be published, but became the essential groundwork for Undimmed. She shares how a breast cancer diagnosis just as she left her tech executive career reshaped both her timeline and her clarity of purpose.

Cecily also deconstructs the nuts and bolts of the publishing process: finding the right agent, rewriting her proposal around a prescriptive framework, and selling her book at auction. She opens up about the role rituals played in sustaining her writing practice, why feedback from agents was invaluable, and how building community through Substack and Instagram fed both her process and her book’s message.

Connect with Cecily on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clearlifejourney/

Connect with Cecily on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecilymak/

Check out Cecily’s book Undimmed: The Eight Awarenesses for Freedom from Unwanted Habits: https://www.amazon.com/Undimmed-Awarenesses-Freedom-Unwanted-Habits/dp/1250385180

Check out the ClearLife Substack: https://cecilymak.substack.com/

Join Bethany & Fran for their Read Like a Writer Book Club here: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/club
Download Bethany & Fran's e-book on how to craft a standout book proposal here: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/e-book

Produced by Share Your Genius: https://shareyourgenius.com/

What does it take to turn a podcast into a book?

In this episode of Bookbound, Fran Hauser and Bethany Saltman sit down with Jill Sirianni, licensed clinical social worker, podcaster, and co-author of Buy What You Love Without Going Broke, to talk about the journey from podcast host to traditionally published author.

Jill shares how six years of podcasting laid the foundation for her book, what she learned from shaping a proposal, and how she and her co-author landed an agent and ultimately went to auction with multiple publishers. She reveals the challenges of finding a cohesive throughline, why opposing forces make the strongest titles, and how she and her team navigated everything from cover design to editorial input. Jill also opens up about the marketing side: launching a podcast tour, building a street team, and leveraging her platform to get her book on airport shelves across the country.

Resources:

Connect with Jill on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jilliansirianni/?hl=en

Connect with Jill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilliansirianni/

Check out Buy What You Love Without Going Broke: https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/order-buy-what-you-love-without-going-broke/

Listen to the Frugal Friends Podcast: https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/
Join Bethany & Fran for their Read Like a Writer Book Club here: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/club
Download Bethany & Fran's e-book on how to craft a standout book proposal here: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/e-book

Produced by Share Your Genius: https://shareyourgenius.com/

What really happens when a literary agent becomes an author?

In this episode of Bookbound, Fran Hauser and Bethany Saltman sit down with Kate McKean, literary agent, Substack writer, and author of Write Through It, to talk about the long road from aspiring novelist to publishing her first nonfiction book.

Kate opens up about the seven years it took to land her book deal, what she’s learned from failed projects, and why persistence often matters more than perfection. She shares the insider truths about query letters, proposals, and finding an agent, while also revealing how her newsletter, Agents and Books, helped her discover the audience she was meant to serve. Along the way, Kate offers advice on editing smarter, managing expectations, and keeping your passion alive in the often slow and messy process of publishing.

Resources:

Connect with Kate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katemckean/
Connect with Kate on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kate_mckean/

Follow Kate on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/katemckean.bsky.social

Check out Kate’s website: https://www.katemckean.com/

Subscribe to Kate’s newsletter Agents and Books: https://www.agentsandbooks.com/

Check out Kate’s book Write Through It: An Insider's Guide to Publishing and the Creative Life: https://bookshop.org/p/books/write-through-it-an-insider-s-guide-to-publishing-and-the-creative-life-kate-mckean/21872839

Check out Publisher’s Marketplace: https://www.publishersmarketplace.com
Join Bethany & Fran for their Read Like a Writer Book Club here: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/club
Download Bethany & Fran's e-book on how to craft a standout book proposal here: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/e-book

Produced by Share Your Genius: https://shareyourgenius.com/

• (00:00) - BB-Video-Kate McKean-V2
• (00:00) - Introduction to the Book Bound Podcast
• (01:13) - Meet Kate McKean: Literary Agent and Author
• (02:25) - Kate's Journey to Becoming an Author
• (04:09) - The Writing Process: Fiction vs. Nonfiction
• (07:17) - Finding the Right Literary Agent
• (17:32) - The Importance of a Book Proposal
• (18:19) - The Importance of a Strong Ending in Fiction
• (19:05) - From Proposal to Manuscript: The Writing Journey
• (21:08) - Editing and Revising: Key Strategies
• (22:53) - Marketing the Book: Strategies and Experiences
• (24:23) - Substack: A Platform for Writers
• (29:00) - Advice for Aspiring Authors
• (31:29) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of Bookbound, Fran Hauser and Bethany Saltman talk with Sophie Elmhirst, award-winning journalist and author of A Marriage at Sea (published in the UK as Maurice and Maralyn). Sophie shares how she moved from years of failed fiction attempts and abandoned nonfiction concepts to finding the singular story that became her debut book.

She explains why trusting one compelling narrative can be more powerful than building around a “big idea,” how she navigated proposal writing despite being a “pantser,” and what ultimately helped her land an agent and publisher. Sophie also opens up about her decision to avoid social media, the role of journalism in building her platform, and the unpredictable path from UK publication to US bestseller. This episode offers an honest look at persistence, process, and the winding road to a first book deal.

Visit Sophie’s official website: https://www.sophieelmhirst.com/

Check out A Marriage at Sea: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/771662/a-marriage-at-sea-by-sophie-elmhirst/

Join Bethany & Fran for their Read Like a Writer Book Club here: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/club
Download Bethany & Fran's e-book on how to craft a standout book proposal here: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/e-book

Produced by Share Your Genius: https://shareyourgenius.com/

What does it take to publish a book that sparks a cultural shift?

In this episode of Bookbound, Fran Hauser and Bethany Saltman talk with Neha Ruch, founder, CEO, and author of The Power Pause, about how she translated nearly a decade of grassroots advocacy into a bestselling book.

Neha shares how she went from blog to book deal, the surprising pressure of platform growth, and what it really takes to land a Big Five publishing contract for a nuanced topic. She explains how her meetings with publishers mirrored VC pitches, why her proposal phase included interviews and commissioned research, and how she balanced motherhood with building a movement. She also offers key insight into proposal writing, working with developmental editors, and managing the marketing marathon before and after launch.

Resources:
Connect with Neha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neha_ruch

Connect with Neha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nehaleelaruch

Learn more about The Power Pause: https://www.thepowerpause.com

Join Bethany & Fran for their Read Like a Writer Book Club here: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/club
Download Bethany & Fran's e-book on how to craft a standout book proposal here: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/e-book

Produced by Share Your Genius: https://shareyourgenius.com/

How do you reshape a book in progress into something unforgettable?

In this episode of Bookbound, Fran Hauser and Bethany Saltman talk with Melody Wilding, executive coach, author of Trust Yourself and Managing Up, about the twists, rewrites, and lessons behind her second book.

Melody shares how reader feedback shifted her entire framework, why prescriptive nonfiction demands a clear and actionable structure, and how to lean into your strongest platform strengths, even if that’s not social media. She also reveals her approach to building media credibility through Help A Reporter Out, running creative pre-order campaigns, and securing bulk book sales through corporate partnerships.

Resources:
Connect with Melody on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melodywilding/

Visit Melody’s website: https://melodywilding.com
Join Bethany & Fran for their Read Like a Writer Book Club here: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/club
Download Bethany & Fran's e-book on how to craft a standout book proposal here: https://www.bookboundpodcast.com/e-book

Produced by Share Your Genius: https://shareyourgenius.com/