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/

How do you navigate the tension between telling your truth and building a platform that sells books?

In this episode of Book Bound, Bethany Saltman and Fran Hauser sit down with Daria Burke, bestselling author of Of My Own Making, award-winning business leader, and former CMO, for an unfiltered look at what it really takes to bring a memoir to life.

Daria shares her story from quietly carrying the weight of her Detroit upbringing to feeling a “cosmic tap” that it was time to write. She talks about the long journey from the first idea to a finished proposal, how she found the right agent, and why she insisted on blending science with lived experience in her book. Daria also shares about the realities of pitching without a huge platform, the strategies behind her marketing plan, and the importance of showing up for her book—on tour, in the media, and online.

Resources:
Connect with Daria on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariaburke/
Find Daria on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dariaburke/
Discover Daria’s work: https://dariaburke.com/
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/

How do you bring a deeply researched, historical story to life?

In this episode of Bookbound, Fran Hauser and Bethany Saltman sit down with Haley Cohen Gilliland, journalist and author of A Flower Traveled in My Blood, to discuss the process of turning an urgent, emotional story into a compelling book.

Haley shares how her experience living in Argentina sparked the idea for her debut book, the long process of research and writing, and the challenges of navigating the auction process. She also opens up about the emotional challenges of promoting a book about such a deeply personal and painful history, and how she managed the vulnerability of sharing others’ stories with the world.

Resources:
Connect with Haley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haleycohengilliland/
Connect with Haley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haley-cohen-bb91061a/
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 can you take the leap from the precipice of not knowing what’s next and into making your publishing dreams come true? Even when that means turning rejection into momentum for your next big book?

In this episode of Bookbound, Fran Hauser and Bethany Saltman talk with Natalie Nixon, PhD, Creativity Strategist, keynote speaker, and CEO of Figure 8 Thinking, about the winding path to her latest book, Move, Think, Rest.

Natalie shares how she went from 18 months of rejections on her first solely authored book to signing with a major publisher, and why she completely reworked her second proposal midstream. She reveals how building a “publishing dream team” of agents, editors, and assistants changed her writing process, and how movement, thought, and rest became both her subject matter and her creative method. She also discusses the business side of publishing, from strategic partnerships, pre-order campaigns, and why asking for help is one of the most powerful tools in an author’s toolkit.

Connect with Natalie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natwnixon

Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalienixonphd/

Check out Natalie’s latest book, Move, Think, Rest: https://www.figure8thinking.com/move-think-rest/

Learn more about Figure 8 Thinking: https://www.figure8thinking.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 turn a personal story into a publishable memoir?

In this episode of Bookbound, Fran Hauser and Bethany Saltman talk with Ruthie Ackerman, a journalist, book coach, and author of The Mother Code, about the journey from personal storytelling to completing a book.

Ruthie shares how her Modern Love essay helped reveal the through line for her memoir, what she learned from losing a major book deal, and how she rebuilt her path to publication. She also discusses the power of micro-communities over social media when building a platform, and the emotional ROI of showing up in person through book tours and community events.

Resources:
Connect with Ruthie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruackerman

Connect with Ruthie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthieackerman/
Connect with Ruthie in Substack: https://ruthieackerman.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/