What if your messy first draft could become a bestselling book?

In this episode of Kind of a Big Book Deal, Denise Duffield-Thomas opens up about her journey from self-publishing her first book Lucky Bitch to landing a traditional deal with Hay House. She shares how imposter syndrome nearly stopped her, how she turned early success into industry credibility, and why writing a book is more about momentum than mastery.

Denise, together with host Meghan, demystifies the traditional publishing process, highlights why a book should be part of your marketing funnel (not your main income stream), and explains the power of mentorship, hiring help, and letting go of perfection. If you’ve ever thought, “Who am I to write a book?” this episode will inspire you to say, “Why not me?”

Denise Duffield-Thomas is the money mentor for the new wave of online entrepreneurs who want to make money and change the world.⁣ She helps entrepreneurs like you charge premium prices, release the fear of money and create First Class lives. ⁣Her books Lucky Bitch, Get Rich, Lucky Bitch, and her newest Chill and Prosper give a fresh and funny roadmap to living a life of abundance without burnout.⁣ Her Money Bootcamp has helped over 10,000 students from all around the world.⁣ She’s a lazy introvert, a Hay House author and an unbusy mother of 3. She lives on the East coast of sunny Australia with her family and two fur babies.

Website: www.denisedt.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deniseDT/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/denisedt
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/deniseduffieldthomas

Episode Highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(2:00) From self-publishing to bestseller status
(4:42) Childhood chaos, ADHD, and writing
(7:00) The Lucky Bitch origin story
(8:12) Marketing with sweat, networking, and grit
(10:15) Books as business cards and funnels
(13:01) Rejection from Hay House and what it taught her
(16:45) Why she wrote Chill and Prosper
(19:16) Getting an agent with support
(25:01) The ROI of hiring help
(30:00) Books don’t cannibalize, they amplify
(32:49) Narrating her own audiobook and owning her voice
(36:42) Updating language to stay inclusive
(39:00) How to actually finish your book
(42:26) Outro

Follow Meghan:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megstevenson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megstevenson
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanstevenson/
• TikTok: @meghan.stevenson.books
• Website: https://www.meghanstevenson.com/

Have a great idea for a book but don't know where to start?MeghanStevenson.com/quiz


Traditional publishing expert Meghan Stevenson blasts open the gates of the “Big 5” – Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, and Macmillan – to share what every entrepreneur and expert needs to know about landing a book deal.

In episodes released every other Monday, Meghan shares wisdom and stories from 20+ years in publishing as well as interviews with authors, literary agents, and editors. She also answers questions from listeners like you.

Whether you are an experienced entrepreneur with an empire, or are just starting out – this podcast will help you understand what you need to do in order to turn your dream of being a bestselling author into real life.