Let Me Be Your Book Strategist (For Free)

Okay, new approach happening!

I started off this Substack posting essays—mostly tirades against traditional publishing with as many references to Taylor Swift as I could fit in.

Then I switched to just posting episodes of my Behind the Book podcast.

I did the pivot because I’ve reached a point in my career—er, life—where if I’m not passionate about something, and it’s a labor of love as opposed to a part of my bottom line, I stop.

I loved posting essays here and I’ve loved recording the podcast but each ran enough of their course for me that I’m pivoting again.

Now I’m going to primarily focus on answering your questio1ns.

I was a professional question-answerer for years—faking most of my so-called knowledge—when Olivia Munn and I co-hosted a dating and relationships segment on Attack of the Show.

Now I want to answer questions about a topic I know way more about: books. In particular, authority-building books.

And so I’m turning to you and saying I’d love for you to send me question about the book I think you should publish to help build your business. Or the book you’re thinking of writing and whether or not I think it would help build your business. Or anything along these lines. Of course you have to be open to me publishing your letter and my answer here (though I don’t need to include your name).

I still have another few months of podcast episodes to post before switching but I figured I’d solicit questions as far in advance as possible.

I hope you’ll write in! Just know I’ll be giving you my unbridled truth. If I don’t think the book has the potential to do anything for your business, I’ll tell you.

I’m obviously not an agent or publisher who accepts unsolicited submissions so you needn’t, of course, take anything I say as gospel. What I have to offer is decades of experience in publishing (first job in 92! When Clinton was president and you could still smoke on planes!)

Just tell me, if you write in, where I can best help. Some options include:

– The book I think you should write (or if you shouldn’t write one at all)
– How it should be positioned
– How it could actually make you money or open doors
– How you may not be looking at it strategically enough

This is basically how we think about books inside Legacy Launch Pad Publishing, just done out in the open.

If you want to submit, send me:

– What your business is
– Who you serve
– How you currently make money
– Whether you already have a book (and if so, what’s happening with it)
– What you wish a book would do for you

A few paragraphs is plenty.

Also: if you’ve been sitting there thinking “I should probably write a book but I have no idea what it would actually do for my business,” this is for you.

You can just reply to this email. Or post your question as a comment.

I hope you write!