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