If you have spent months or years writing your book, why would you settle for anything less than a professional package? In this episode of In the Writer’s Chair, Lana McAra sits down with Michele DeFilippo, owner of 1106 Design and a publishing industry veteran since 1972. Together, they explore the "earthquake" of Amazon and how the ease of self-publishing has led to an avalanche of poor-quality books that risk damaging an author's reputation.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The History of Bookmaking: Michele shares fascinating insights into how books were manually crafted as "works of art" before the digital age.
• The Impact of Amazon: Discover how the open door of self-publishing changed the industry, creating new opportunities while also leading to an "avalanche" of poor-quality books in the marketplace.
• Investing in Your Reputation: Why viewing your book as a professional business product—rather than just a low-cost project—is essential for long-term success and protecting your reputation.
• The Importance of Quality: Insights into why high-quality editing, design, and "packaging" are critical to standing out alongside major publishers.
• Maximizing Revenue: Strategies for authors to maximize income from every sale while delivering a top-quality product to their readers.

Whether you are a seasoned author or just starting your writing journey, this conversation is packed with advice on how to navigate the modern publishing landscape with integrity and professional excellence.

About Our Guest: Michele DeFilippo is the owner of 1106 Design, a full-service editorial and design firm that provides authors with top-tier advice and hands-on support to publish high-quality books.

Learn more about Michele DeFilippo: Visit: www.1106design.com

Subscribe to In the Writer's Chair for more conversations on the craft and business of writing!

What does it really take to become a published author?

In this special roundtable edition of In The Writer’s Chair, host Lana McAra sits down with three Vendela Publishing authors for a candid conversation about writing, perseverance, publishing, rejection, inspiration, and the importance of finding the right creative community.

Lana is the author and ghostwriter of more than 50 published titles, with over one million copies sold. Joining her are writers from the Jacksonville, Florida area whose paths to publication could not be more different.

🎙️ MEET THE AUTHORS

Chris Koehler
A former university professor specializing in fisheries and aquatic biology, Chris is the author of the suspense thriller Cracked Island, a story rooted in Haitian history and culture.

Harry Martinez
A former Marine scout sniper and retired Army National Guard Sergeant Major, Harry is the author of One Is A Warrior, exploring leadership, service, sacrifice, and the realities faced by citizen soldiers.

Alexandra Harris
Alexandra grew up absorbing life lessons from celebrity magazines in her mother’s hair salon. Her writing focuses on practical tools for discovering your mission, embracing purpose, and finding your own joie de vivre.

🔑 IN THIS EPISODE

• How experiences in Haiti, military deployments, and even lessons from Mother Teresa inspired these authors to write
• Why perseverance may be the most important skill an author can develop
• Lana McAra’s story of enduring 19 rejections over 14 years before finally being published
• Chris Koehler’s funny, and painfully familiar, encounter with the world of literary agents
• Alexandra Harris on the difference between stressful work and fulfilling “chop wood, carry water” effort
• Why writers need mentors, colleagues, editors, and supportive communities
• What led these authors to work with Vendela Publishing
• Encouragement for aspiring authors who are still struggling to get those first words on the page

Whether you’re working on your first manuscript, searching for a publisher, or already navigating the writing life, this conversation is a reminder that becoming an author is rarely a straight line.

🔗 CONNECT

Vendela Publishing:
https://vendelapublishing.com

Chris Koehler:
https://chriscolter.com

Alexandra Harris:
https://alexandraharris.com

👍 If you enjoyed the conversation, please like the video, subscribe to the channel, and share it with a writer who could use a little encouragement.

#Writing #Authors #Publishing #WritingTips #IndieAuthors #BookPublishing #AuthorInterview #WritingCommunity #VendelaPublishing #WritersLife

Are you tired of your brilliant book gathering digital dust? Host Lana McAra opens this episode with a hard truth: if your readers can't find you, you can't help them. Before diving into the interview, Lana invites listeners to the "Visibility Experiment," a tactical training designed to move your work off the Amazon shelf and into the hands of those who need it.

In today's episode, Lana is delighted to welcome author Vickey Wollan to the podcast. Vickey brings her energy, curiosity, and love for the outdoors into her sweet adventure romance and Christmas-themed writing. Together, they discuss the writing craft, travel inspirations, and the realities of the modern writing life.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

• The Power of Tropes: Vickey explains how she strategically uses tropes—like forbidden love, sweet love triangles, and second-chance romance for mature characters—to set reader expectations.
• World-Building & Inspiration: Discover how Vickey's travels to America's national parks fuel her imagination and help her craft both real and fictional settings.
• Writing to Market vs. Passion Projects: Vickey shares her current crossroads of deciding whether to cross over her highly marketable Christmas series with her passion project, the Laney Shay adventure romance series.
• Redefining "Writer's Block": Learn why Vickey doesn't believe in writer's block and how she pushes through plot tweaks until a story finally settles into place.
• The 50/50 Rule: A candid discussion on the reality of being a published author, where half of your time goes to marketing and the other half to writing.

Featured Books by Vickey Wollan:

• A Snowflake Christmas Series (featuring The Nutcracker and The Elf).
• A Cheery Christmas (A seven-story collection spanning contemporary, young adult, and paranormal genres).
• Her Mentor's Revenge (The first book in the Laney Shay's Treasure Quest series, featuring a female archaeologist heroine akin to a female Indiana Jones).

Special Listener Giveaway!

Vickey is graciously offering a free e-book box set of the entire Snowflake series! To become eligible, simply comment on Vickey's social media posts promoting this podcast episode.

Connect with Vickey Wollan:

• Website: vickiewollandauthor.com
• Find her books on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.

This episode is brought to you by Vendela Publishing, a traditional publisher where authors keep 100% of their royalties and rights, offering dedicated support for publicity and booking live speaking events.