Stacy: Welcome. Welcome. This week I am sharing a live author panel that I did on LinkedIn and it was so good that I have to share this with you. There really is nothing like hearing from real authors about their real experience. I can come on this podcast and all day, every episode tell you about what I call the author effect and.

Stacy: How that completely transforms you from the inside out. But to hear from real authors about their journeys, about what they went through and how that book writing journey impacted them is everything. So I really hope you enjoy this panel. I will introduce those authors in a minute when I turn it over to that prerecorded, incredible live panel. And what I’ll say at the beginning of this, before you listen, is that if they inspire you, I am currently enrolling for my cohort Idea to Draft this. This is a six month program where I hold your hand every single step of the way as you write your book.

Stacy: And our goal in this entire six months is just that, to go from idea to draft and also to help you understand and organize beyond the first draft so that you feel really clear and educated and empowered to take those next steps that you need to take to get that book out into the world. So if you are feeling excited about this, you can check out the link in the show notes at stacyennis.com/ideatodraft and you can also reach out to me hello@stacyennis.com if you’d rather just connect personally and learn more about this program. One of the things that I hear a lot from people who are considering writing books, and certainly we talked about this in the author panel, is that there is never a quote and quote, perfect time to write a book.

Stacy: But there are moments where you feel that drive, that energy, that momentum, you know within your gut that now is your time. And that’s what these authors all felt when they said yes to their book. Many of them, this group of authors and other authors that I’ve supported, they leaped still with fear and uncertainty and into the unknown and embraced this journey. Some of them were very anchored and ready and excited. There’s so many different emotions that come into this journey and what I would say to you.

Stacy: Is if you are an aspiring author, wherever you are, is exactly where you should be, just to trust the journey, to trust that as you go through this process of writing your book, that you will grow and hopefully you will craft a book that maybe can change lives. So without much more to add to this, because there’s so much richness in.

Stacy: This conversation, I’m about to share. I’m going to turn it over now to our incredible authors.

Stacy: Welcome, welcome. Today I am so excited to get to share the work of four incredible authors who are all making an impact through their book. And I’ll introduce you to them in a moment. But first I want to tell you a little bit about our conversation today which is all around making an impact through your book. One of the things that I am really most proud about the work that the team and I do is that we are shepherding books that create good in the world. In fact, when I meet a potential future author that I might get to work with, one of the very first questions I ask is this book uplifting the world in some way?

Stacy: And that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are speaking at the United nations, although my clients have done that, but really that they’re positively impacting readers through their unique story and message. And each of the authors that I’m speaking with today are doing just that. They are creating an impact on the world. So if you’ve ever considered writing a book, this is exactly the conversation that you will want to turn tune into. You’ll get to hear from real authors about how they showed up, put in the work and dug deeply to achieve their dream of authorhood and how they are creating positive changes change in the world. I also just want to note that going it alone can be really hard and it often leads to countless beautiful books in digital drawers waiting to see the sunlight the readers.

Stacy: But these authors really organize themselves and put in the work to make their book and their dreams happen. So I’m excited to get to introduce these incredible authors. And just to note that we will be sure to include links to their LinkedIn profiles so that you can connect with them, you can follow along and you can buy their books. So first author I would like to introduce is Dr. Louisa Caprano. Dr. Luisa is a physician, executive and entrepreneur of Telemed MFM. She’s the best selling author of Push Then Breathe and she is also an inspiring speaker, trauma survivor and women’s advocate whose platform focuses on empowering women everywhere. Luisa, welcome.

Luissa: Good morning and thank you so much for having me. I’m both thrilled and humbled to be here with you and among the other panel of authors. Thank you for the introduction and I can’t wait to see how this episode unfolds.

Stacy: Yes. Thanks, Luisa. I’m so excited to get to be with you and get to tap into your wisdom today. Next, I’d love to welcome Kevin Hutchinson. Kevin is a brand and communications professional and former pastor. His book Alchemy from Ashes will be released on June 6, which is really coming up soon. Kevin, very exciting. He is an advocate for mental health awareness and living with authenticity. So welcome, Kevin.

Kevin: Thank you so much, Stacy. It’s such an honor and privilege to be here with these other esteemed authors. And this is my first book and it wouldn’t have been possible without Stacy in the nonfiction book school. So I’m extremely grateful and really happy to be here.

Stacy: I can’t wait to dig in more to your journey and your story. So thanks for being with us, Kevin. Next, I would love to welcome Joel Perez. Joel is an executive coach, the author of Dear White Leader, and a founder specializing in cultural humility, helping coaches create inclusive impactful environments for growth. Welcome, Joel.

Joel: It’s good to be here. Thank you for having me, Stacy. I really enjoy our conversations and looking forward to this one.

Stacy: Yes. I’m so excited. I can’t wait to hear what you have to say today. And lastly, but certainly not least, we will welcome Hadi Mendez. Hadi is a speaker, entrepreneur, and advocate for underestimated professionals. I love that phrase in the workplace. Her upcoming book empowers Latinas and other women of color to reclaim their power, own their narrative, and take up space. Welcome, Hadi.

Hady: Thank you, Stacy. I’m excited to be here and I can’t wait to dive into the conversation.

Stacy: Yes, I know. I’m so excited for you to share especially it’s great to have you in the stage that you’re at and Kevin in that pre release stage. And then we have the other two authors that have had their books out now for a little while. So I’m really excited to get to dive in and I would love to start with Joel. Can I start with you with the first question and kick us off?

Joel: Sure, why not? Yes.

Stacy: I would love to hear about how your book fit into your book, Big Vision. And I’d love to hear that both on the professional front, how it supported your business and the work that you do, but also your personal mission.

Joel: Yeah, no, thank you. So for me, the book really, when I went into the process from idea to draft and working with you, I knew early on that I was not going to make money by selling the book like book sales. It was going to come from people reading, getting really intrigued with my ideas, seeking me out as a speaker, facilitator, coach, consultant. So business wise, it’s helped tremendously. And I feel like now things have really gained traction. So much so that there is momentum going forward in the sense of the people that it’s touching, people reaching out. The title is provocative and I’m not going to go too much into that, but there was, it was intentional for it to be provocative.

Joel: But people who don’t identify as white are also getting a lot out of it and are also feeling like they need to be talking to me about developing this posture of cultural humility. On the personal side, it’s impacted me in the way I interact with people in my faith community, people in my family, and how I talk about particularly raising kids who don’t identify as heterosexual. And in working through the writing process, which confirmed my own development of cultural humility and how it applies beyond just the workplace, but really impacts the community. And by community I’m talking about family, faith, community, volunteer organizations. And so it’s just confirmed what I was writing. It’s actually impacting the way I show up every day in my family.

Stacy: I love the family connection. I imagine maybe that wasn’t something you expected going into the process that have this impact outside of your professional life. I know that coming into this process you had written a dissertation and so you had this experience. And I think a lot of people that have done a work like that, a dissertation or some other large project, they often think that they can pick that up and plop it down and it becomes a book. But what was your experience with that?

Joel: Yeah, thank you. That’s really good. Because I talked with other academics like myself who have written dissertations and also feel like I can write a book because I wrote a dissertation and for some, yeah, that’s a possibility. But I was writing for a non academic audience and so I knew right away that it just, it wasn’t the same as sitting down and writing a dissertation or a research based piece. And so that for me was a transition and so much so that I just, I kept telling myself I could sit down and write, but I never actually sat down and wrote. And it wasn’t until I bought into knowing that I needed a coach.

Joel: And the way I describe it for those folks who’ve written dissertation is having a book coach is like hiring a dissertation chair or committee chair who guides you along in the process to get you from start to finish. And so that’s the role you played. And so I talk with people about you as Stacy was my dissertation chair in writing this piece of work that I put together. And so if it wasn’t for you and the way you work and the way I work, I wouldn’t have gotten from idea to draft in the way that I did. I needed that structure which you provided.

Stacy: That’s a really cool analogy. I will take dissertation chair. I’ll own that. That’s awesome. I love that. Thanks, Joel. Louisa, I would love to give you the same question because I think you have a unique situation. You are this maternal fetal medicine doctor, which is for those of you who are not familiar with the specialty. It is, correct me if I’m wrong, Luisa, but it’s like one of the rarest, most sought after specialties. There’s not enough of you in the United States. The work that you do is highly sought after. And yet you didn’t write a book about medicine. You wrote a book about your personal experience and your mission for women. So I would love to know for you as well, how this book fit in for you in both your professional vision for yourself and also your personal mission.

Luissa: Well, first I would like to say that every time this question comes from you and you specifically as my book coach, it rings a chord. It just gets to me. And I think there is no other type of relationship that I have with any other podcast host or radio or TV person who interviewed me. Unless it is coming from, you know, why. It’s probably all those days that we spent together in Portugal at the working on the. On the book idea to draft. But, you know, the desire to help people inspired me and fueled me since I was a fifth grader. And becoming a women’s physician, first in OB GYN and then a maternal fetal medicine specialist, allowed me to fulfill this drive, this desire.

Luissa: And writing this book came from the need to complete that circle, meaning help people also mentally and spiritually, you know, overcome their vulnerability. There was a lot of unloading, to say it mildly, writing in this book. And I decided to share it with the world. I decided to share my world, my story with the world because I felt that people need to understand and realize that they are not alone, that there are many others who have trials and Tribulations through their upbringing, through their lives that they have experienced abuse, trafficking or neglect. But they too can overcome that. And it is important for me that is just coming together, helping people medically, organically, but also helping them spiritually and mentally because it is so important to be healthy, both mind, body and spirit.

Luissa: And I have met so many women out there who are brilliant, unique, gifted, but they are just stuck in the past, stuck because they had such a bad experiences, they grew up or even in their young adult life. They, by doing this, you know, I help them to harness that power, go dig deep inside their soul and find what drives them, find the dream, that desire, and then get it out into the world and just run with it. So that’s what the book, but also the message and the platform is all about with push them breathe.

Stacy: Yeah, I love that Louisa and I also love that you mentioned run with it because you have a runner on your book cover which is also connected to you and running in triathlon. And one of the things with your process that stood out to me is that the intensity that you approached your medical training, your triathlon training, it was like book training too. It was all with that same intensity, which is very fun to witness. Thanks so much for sharing, Hadi. I’d love to come to you next. A book is a huge goal and a lot of people say no to that goal permanently. A lot of people say no to that goal for a while. And at some point, if you’re going to become an author, you have to say yes.

Stacy: I would love to hear from you around hesitations that you had on your book journey. Whether it’s time, energy, financial mindset, any of those hesitations that you had to overcome to be able to step into your journey as an author.
Hady: Yeah, such a good question. I actually have like a twofold answer. So I think I face two of those challenges were pretty big obstacles for me. I would say the first was around money or investment. And so, you know, there’s a lot involved with getting a book out into the world. Everything from a coach, which, you know, seems like a luxury but is really just such so foundational and gets you off to such a good start. So I would say like I’m definitely a team book coach at this point for sure, because it really made a difference for me. But yeah, and then, you know, obviously there’s editors, there’s illustrators, there’s publishers, there’s marketing, pr. Your book travels where you know, I mean, it’s just like, yeah, you really? So. So it’s a lot. And. And it can feel overwhelming.

Hady: And if you don’t have, like, money or a kitty or a savings account or, you know, a. A stash of money in your. In your closet ready to go, it can feel quite overwhelming. And, you know, the. The truth is not. Not everybody’s at the point in their career where they may have had the opportunity to save and, you know, have that much money available to them. So I kept telling myself, I’m gonna apply for a grant or I’m gonna apply for a scholarship, and if I get it, then I’ll do it. That’ll be the sign that it’s meant to be. Well, P.S. None of that happened, and I said, I still want to do it, because now by this time, I was excited to do it. So I said, I guess I’m going to invest my own money.

Hady: And I will tell you that when you invest your own money, and I’m sure all of us have done that, it’s. Then it’s serious. You know what I mean? Because it’s like, well, I just poured all this money into this. I’m going to show up, I’m going to be present. I’m going to give it everything that I have. It’s not like, this is not just for fun. This is, like, real stuff. So I do feel that investing my own money, investing in myself, investing in my business, that really was important. Like. Like, once I decided and committed to doing that, it really changed what this project was for me because it. It really became very serious. And it was like, okay, and then I’m going to need a return on this investment.

Hady: So, like, I got to, you know, follow through, and I got to see this through to the end. So that’s one. And I think that’s a very real one. You know, money is a real one. The other one was mindset. And I think for me, I was starting to. And this. When I think back to this is so funny, but, like, maybe like one or two other Latinas, maybe, let’s say 10, let’s even say 20. 20 Latinas have written a book about their experience in corporate or, you know, in their professional life and the challenges they’ve experienced. And I said, well, the book’s already been written, so I don’t need to write it, you know, because it’s already been written.

Hady: And now I think, like, now, like I said, that’s a little bit laughable when I think about it, because one is, if we think about the amount of books that are out there on the very same topics that come out every single day. It’s just like, we. We all talk about a lot of the same things, but our stories and our experiences are what. And, you know, in our point of view is what kind of makes that story just slightly different every single time. So I would say that once I realized. Once I came to accept that it’s like, yes, a book like that has been written, but the book that I’m gonna write has not been written yet, in my unique way with my story, then I’m, you know, now this is gonna be something different that I’m bringing. Yes.

Hady: Snaps all the way around. And so once I accepted that, then, like, I turned the corner. But I was, like, very hesitant. Cause I’m like, should I write it? I feel like already people already wrote it, so it’s like, it’s already been done. And, you know, it’s kind of silly, like I said in retrospect. But I’m so glad that I took the step forward and decided that I wanted to share my unique story.

Stacy: I appreciate you sharing on both of those fronts, because I’m sure there are many people that are watching or listening to this and thinking, yeah, those are exactly my challenges. And I would suggest that also, as female, there is another layer to investing in yourself that I found to be more difficult to kind of get around to. That mindset of really making that investment in your. In yourself, in your future. And I’m. I’m so grateful that you were able to overcome that. And I would say you and Luisa match intensity with your books. You have had that momentum and drive. It’s been so cool and so exciting to watch.

Hady: Yeah. I remember our first conversation, Stacy. I remember it like it was yesterday. And I remember. I don’t remember exactly, but I think you. You and I were, like, just talking about, like, well, how, you know, how much am I going to have to invest? Like, I was, like, definitely, like, tentative. And, you know, because this was a big. It was a. It is. It was. It was and continues to be a very big investment for me. Like, this is not just, you know, easy peasy. This is a huge deal to invest this much money in me and. And my brand and my future, and I just wanted to get it right. But I’m so glad I did it.

Stacy: No regrets. I remember that conversation, too. The thing that sticks out to me is that you told me that. I think at the end, you were like, I was mostly just making sure you passed the vibe check. I was like, okay, Kevin, I’D love to ask you the same question. Your hesitations. Because I’m sure that just like Hadi, you had things on your mind that were holding you back as you considered saying yes to this book project.

Stacy: You know, that book that’s been on your mind for months or years or maybe even more than a decade. Well, you’re not alone. I see this all the time. Brilliant people who have these wonderful books inside of them and yet just haven’t taken action or gotten the support they need to make that book a reality. And what happens is leaders and impact makers like you get stuck in talking about writing your book instead of actually writing your book. That’s why I created my book writing program Idea to Draft. It’s really designed to take you from I want to write a book to I completed my book draft and I am planning the next steps to get this book out into the world. You could be exactly where you are one year from today or you could be planning your book launch.

Stacy: How cool would that be? No more getting stuck in perfectionism. No more wondering if you are doing this book thing right. You have instead the accountability, the structure and the system to make your book a reality. In my cohort, you’ll get a clear, structured approach to writing your nonfiction book, coaching accountability and support to keep you moving forward, to keep that momentum moving. And at the end of it, you’ll have a completed first draft, a book you are so deeply proud of, and a book that results from a really profound journey of authorhood. Because here’s the thing, your book is not helping anyone if it’s stuck in your head.

Stacy: It’s not building your business, expanding your impact, or positioning you as a thought leader in your industry and waiting another year, that’s just another year that your book is not working for you to help you achieve your vision for impact. If you are serious about making your book happen, I would be honored to guide you along that journey. You can learn more at stacyennis.com/ideatodraft that’s stacyennis.com/ideatodraft. I’ll make sure to include the details in the show notes and I would love to hear from you see your name in my inbox as an author that I might get to support in creating a powerful book that is a catalyst for your big vision.

Kevin: Yes, it’s a great question and it did take me some time before I got to the place of really pushing forward with it. Doubt was a big one for me because my book, the subtitle of my book, which is really, it’s about my life, but it’s bringing my shattered faith, mental health and sexuality into wholeness. So those three components of sexuality, faith and mental health. And so I had a lot of doubt about whether, you know, what I had to say, you know, is it relevant, is it significant, Is it going to resonate with anyone? But I kept going back to years of therapy that I have had and several of my therapists, you know, said along the way, someday you need to write a book.

Kevin: And the first time it was said, I, you know, I kind of chuckled and I’m like, I’m sure they probably say that to everyone, but. But then by about third time I heard that, I was like, okay, maybe that’s something for down the road. So it kind of stuck in the back of my head. And, you know, as life progressed and I was working through these areas in my life and trying to find my voice and I began, and I was looking for resources to help, to help me along my journey. I thought, you know, maybe there is a place for this. But the doubt and the fear were really big. The doubt, you know, did I have the confidence to do it? Did I.

Kevin: Resources, you know, as you mentioned, how do you know, financially and otherwise, would I find the right coach, someone who would really invest in me versus, you know, there’s a lot of people that will help you put out a book, but they don’t necessarily help you with the process and invest in helping you put out a really quality product and helping you be the best that you can. And Stacy does that. So I’m very, very grateful for that. So I think the other part of the fear aspect that I had to deal with was this was a time for me where I had lived a lot of my life in the middle. You know, it’s kind of like Switzerland.

Kevin: I, you know, but I felt like I was coming into a time in my life where I needed to have a voice and I needed to be vocal about it and share not only what my beliefs and values were, but how I could potentially help other people as well. So that overcoming that fear and that fear still raises its head and it has raised its head all along the way. This has been a three year process for me. And, and so that’s something, you know, that I’ve had to overcome. But the doubt, the fear, getting the self confidence to do it, but coming into, and coming into the nonfiction book school and getting connected with you, Stacy, was the best thing that could have ever happened because it really, it gave me the process, it helped me.

Kevin: I had a lot of things in my head and that what I was concerned about is how do I, you know, how do I take all of this and bring this down to something that’s going to be, you know, compelling, something that’s going to be significant and make a difference. And I didn’t know if I could, but the process that went through in that really, truly helped me do that and distill it and going through everything from the creative brief and strategy process, you know, to the chapter outlines to, you know, to all of that. It’s, you know, I look back on it now and I can’t believe the other. The other day I opened up my. The interior book design and I just cried because I thought, I can’t believe that this really happened.

Kevin: So, so, you know, here’s to being able to overcome some of those fears. And not that they don’t still raise their head, but definitely doubt and fear on the front end were the big ones.

Stacy: Oh, I love that. That emotion of really, like, witnessing this final thing that you spent so much time on, and it’s representative of this incredible journey. Kevin, I’m curious how you determined whether the fear was telling you it was a wrong choice or the fear was telling you were on the right track. Because I think that this is something that sometimes it’s hard to discern because fear is a tool for us also to avoid danger. And actually, I often think about the book writing process as kind of opposite to our natural preservation instinct to not be seen and heard and be vulnerable. So how did you decide that this fear is actually fear of whatever it is you. You kind of uncovered, but like a fear that is a healthy fear because I am pushing myself. How did you arrive at that?

Kevin: No, that’s a really good question. I think, you know, part of it was, you know, coming to terms with, you know, with loving myself, accepting myself and being able to own my voice and knowing that. That it had validity and it had a place in the world and that that was a big piece of it. And yet there, you know, there’s still all those fears that well up, like even from a, you know, protecting ourselves from an identity standpoint and from a, you know, there are all of those things. Do I really want to share this much about myself? Myself, you know, and so I have to say the other piece of that, Stacy, that really helped me push into that it was the right thing to do was really the collaboration and the input of others along the way.

Kevin: The people that were in non fiction book school with me, as, you know, as we got to know one another, work in our small groups and share our stories and what was happening, that was an incredibly encouraging time for me to know that, you know, this, there is something meaningful here and there’s something that could help someone. But then also I went through another kind of dip with that right around the time that I was engaging my beta readers where I, I, I, you know, sometimes I’ll sink into these times of kind of, you know, fear and paranoia and thinking, oh, I, you know, I just don’t know that was happening to me again.

Kevin: But once I went through the process with, I had about a dozen beta readers and when we got back together, the feedback from them and the input about how powerful the messaging was and the potential that it had to help other people in their journey in those three areas that propelled me forward. It was like, it was like the, some of the momentum and the encouragement that I needed to keep going because you know, again, that self doubt and fear just kind of creep in on the backside. So it was a combination of all of those things.

Kevin: But definitely the collaboration and the input of other people and having the people that you surround yourself with be your cheerleaders and help push you forward and having the right coach like yourself, Stacy, and the right editor and all of that is an important part of the process.

Stacy: Thank you, Kevin. I appreciate you sharing that. I would love to come to Louisa next. Louisa, my question for you is how have you expanded your impact since writing and publishing your book?

Luissa: Well, that’s a question.

Stacy: I know there’s a lot of layers to this for you.

Luissa: It is, and I will take you back just a bit. In the beginning of it, you know, when we first met and we started talking about the book and writing my story, I was concentrated like a lot of authors are, about the book, about writing the book, selling the book, publishing the book and selling the book. Right. And then as the time progressed and as everything started unfolding, I started realizing that there was something more, way more than just writing and selling the book. Because really it is about the message that it brings. The vision, the mission, the call to action. And that is way higher on the totem pole than just to writing the book or to selling the book.

Luissa: If I were to look and stratify the three of them, writing, publishing and marketing, I say that writing and publishing, sorry, Writing and marketing are taking precedence because publishing it’s going to happen. Whether you publish it through self efforts or hybrid or traditional, it will get published. Writing it as we know it has its own trials and its own upheavals, whether they are inflicted or by others or self inflicted. But when it comes to marketing, a lot of people, I don’t think they grasp the idea that marketing the book, it’s a whole different dimension. It’s so important and it’s so big because we think. I remember, you know, after I got accepted for publication, you know, it just kind of wasn’t like a crescendo, you know, like training for an ironman. Just keep going and going.

Luissa: About a month before the publishing, I’m like, I just want it to be done. I can’t take the pressure. Like I just can’t take the pressure anymore. So then it got published and then it got released to the world. Well then when the real work started, at least in my mind, in my vision. Because unless you have millions of dollars or you are an extremely established author or writer, you have to do a lot of work to market your book. The publisher will only do so much. I hybrid publish as you know, and it’s almost like, you know, like I said, crescendo, crescendo. And then, and then what? Like a month later, there is no more support anywhere. Right. So I cannot emphasize the importance of that.

Luissa: And I have done a lot of work because I believe that slow and steady wins the race. I’m just always been like that. But like a triathlon, just like that. It’s an endurance event. You are not going to, you know, unless, like I said, unless you have millions of dollars to put it down out of, you know, out of my Spain castle, sitting there and you know, enjoying the view. It won’t happen really. So 13, you know, book signing events later in six months status post, 42 podcasts, guests, speaking events and webinars, you know, from May all the way until January this year and still working on it every week I have a podcast. I am, you know, just today I have a podcast with a host from Australia about.

Luissa: And it’s not only I’m fortunate that I don’t only talk about my book, I talk my book and my story, but also I interlace it with my other endeavors as in this one from today is the pregnancy process podcast and how my book actually influenced that and how it changed my trajectory, leadership, business, entrepreneurship. So it Is.

Stacy: But I always bring the.

Luissa: I always bring the story because the story does interlace with. Everything I do remember is not only about healing my patients physically, but also mentally and spiritually. So I cannot, in conclusion, I cannot emphasize enough the power of marketing. The power. I mean, I could just sit here for a whole hour and talk about the marketing, talk about how I pitch for colleges, how I pitch for book signing events, for podcast appearances. It’s just that it’s a tremendous amount of work, but it’s again, slow and steady, otherwise we all running out of steam.

Stacy: Yes, I love that you made that point. And it got me thinking also about the fact that when I first met you were a doctor in a hospital with no personal brand at all. This is all completely grown from this journey of this platform that you built. So I think that’s really cool. Cool for people to listen to. Probably there’s people that are in corporate or people that are in, you know, these professional settings that are thinking like a personal brand. How do I do that? And to look at somebody like you, who was this really established doctor, but had this personal mission that aligned with, you know, your heart and how you wanted to make an impact on the world and that you did 42 interviews. It’s amazing.

Stacy: I think it’s such a cool example for anybody who’s at the start of this journey. Joel, I would love to come to you next and I would like to talk about vision because in the work that I do, I believe that vision is a critical anchor for this type of book. Certainly not the just get the book out to market as fast as possible type of book, but with a book that is really doing something for you, it’s a catalyst for something else. And I’d love to hear a little bit about you and your vision during your writing process and how did that vision that you had at the beginning support you in realizing your goals and getting this book out into readers hands?

Joel: Yeah, it was a huge motivator and my book is about how to develop a posture of cultural humility. And as I was writing, I was.

Stacy: Really.

Joel: Picturing the change that could happen if people, more and more people work towards developing this posture, particularly at that point the election had happened, although things were moving in that direction, particularly living in a polarized world. And so I really pictured vision. My vision for the book is that it would get into people’s hands and it would begin to help people realize there’s a better way to have conversations. There’s a better way to approach creating inclusive organizations that, you know, living out diversity, equity and inclusion. And so it was a key motivator to keep me going. And it was through the whole process here. And then after, during the beta reader process, similar to Kevin, hearing back from beta readers who are like, this is really good. There’s a really good message here, really resonates with me.

Joel: And then after the book gets out, I think I’ve shared this with you, Stacy, and I share it with others. When people say, wow, this is really good, I’m like thinking myself, like, did you not think it was going to be good? But they were saying, wow, this is actually really helpful in the way I think about creating an inclusive organization. It doesn’t feel like you are preaching to me or telling me what to do. But, but in reading, you reading this, Joel, and how you come across that you’re partnering with me, you’re helping me on this journey instead of just telling me, here’s the things you have to do. And they have really enjoyed the vulnerability.
Joel: But, but the vision was to create something that was going to be helpful so that people knew what they needed to do in order to develop this posture of cultural humility. As opposed to just a how to. As opposed to just a how to check the boxes, dot the I’s, cross the T’s, and things are going to get better just by doing those things in the reality, it takes you, the individual has to make that choice that I want to get better. And that’s what that’s what the vision of the book was, is to help people along in the journey and also letting them know that it’s a journey and not a, you know, not a. There’s not an end point. There’s not a destination. And that sometimes is hard for people because they want the quick answer.

Joel: But the reality is in this posture because things continue to change. It’s about helping you navigate that complexity that comes with all the changes that are happening in the world. More so now even it, you know, has a much stronger message now because of everything that’s happening in the world, but also challenging for people. Like, how do I do this work when I, you know, I’m really struggling with everything.

Stacy: One thing that strikes me is that the vision that you held, I also see how that impacted how you wrote the book, even as your own orientation to the work. And I recall several conversations, both between us or secondary, that you had talked with somebody in your field where you challenged your own ideas and arrived at different conclusions through the writing process. You were always willing to sharpen and shift and be humble in the writing of the book. And I imagine that vision that you had for the reader probably helped you maintain that as well.

Joel: Yeah, it was the piece that I guess kept me steady, but also still willing to flex when someone pushed back on something or, hey, Joel, you really need to, like, tweak this or think about restating it this way, because not everyone’s going to know what you’re trying to say here. You make some assumptions, which sometimes us as academics make assumptions about how people, you know, certain terms that we use. Right. That we just assume people know what we’re talking about. The reality is that they don’t, but not. And people don’t always feel comfortable telling you. I don’t know what you mean by that, but yeah, I mean, the vision was to work towards creating something that was going to be helpful, but also be willing, but also have a willingness to be flexible.

Joel: Because there are some things that I need to do differently or change the way I wrote about something or just an idea that I had that needed to be challenged and was challenged and then be willing to go, okay, I can move. There’s some things that I can flex on.
Stacy: Yeah. And it’s interesting because sometimes you get challenged and you still keep like you have to decide whether you’re going to keep it or change it. Your title is a great example of keeping it, even though you had lots of challenge around that, but you had a vision for this reader and you were willing to be a bit disruptive to reach the people that you needed to reach. Thanks, Joel. I’ll come to. I’m going to ask both Hadi and Kevin this next question. Kevin, I’ll come to you first. I’d love to hear from you about a challenge or roadblock that you overcame during the writing process and what you learned from it. And I think yours is a really great example. We have, you know, four authors who had four different journeys in their books. Your journey was longer. You had some.

Stacy: Some roadblocks that you had to overcome throughout. And I think it’s really nice to have different examples of what people’s journeys can look like. Because sometimes I think when you’re on track for a goal like this, it’s really easy to go, oh, well, Hadi got her, you know, her draft done in X months, and she’s already here. But you had a real steadiness to this goal achievement. So maybe you could share a roadblock or two that you faced and how you were Able to overcome that.

Kevin: Yes. You know, moving through the process. I mean, if you would have told me when I started, Stacy, that it would be like, over a little over three years before I actually published my book, I would have been like, I. I don’t know that I would have signed up for it because it’s a much longer process than I had envisioned. But looking back on it, I’m so grateful for that. But that. That. That is. Was one of the challenges and in my process was when I did hit those lulls in the process, and whether that was because. Whether there was something I was working on or it was because of, you know, I needed to focus on something with my job at that point or family, there were.

Kevin: There were different reasons that caused me to have to step away for times, and then there were other times where it was just, you know, it was in. In different forms of the, you know, the development process that it just needed the time. So when I look back on it now, it’s like the I. The pro. I’m thankful I had the perseverance to do it. But I have to say, again, I wouldn’t have had that. I don’t think, without the people that I surrounded myself with, the people that loved me, supported me, the You, Stacy, and the. The people in the author group, the beta readers, because they. They. They pushed me to keep moving forward. At times when I. There were times when I really thought about. Seriously thought about stepping away, and I thought, well, maybe this isn’t for now.

Kevin: You know, maybe I’ll just, you know, put it in the drawer like you said, and I’ll revisit this in a couple years down the road. So thankful I didn’t do that. But I. That that’s why they’re just taking those incremental steps and not. I never stopped completely, which is great, and I think that’s a key. But getting to those points where there were those lulls or you feel a little complacent can be dangerous times. And so, you knowing that those are there, and I think reaching out to your support network and to your coach and. And others around you will help keep you going. So that was. That was really important to me. I think the other part of that is, you know, as we. Looking at the.

Kevin: The time that it took, you know, I look at that now, and I’m so grateful because, you know, as. As humans, you know, we evolve over time. You know, you know, we evolve emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, all of that. And so there are things that happened with My manuscript that had I pushed it out when I wanted to because I. I’m somebody who likes to get things done fast. It’s like, oh, I’m going to write a book, I’m gonna get it done, you know, but it needed to go through the process. It needed to bake for a while. And because of that evolution that I feel like I went through as an individual during the last three years, there are things about my book that are different. There are edits that are in it that wouldn’t have been there, you know, had.

Kevin: Had it happened faster. So while. While those lulls and life happens, those are some of the roadblocks, you know, I would just encourage people, don’t stop. Don’t give up. Keep persevering.

Stacy: I love the way that you framed that. And a couple of things come to mind for me. First is that I don’t really believe in behind on book projects. You are where you are, and as long as you are keeping your orientation forward, ideally touching the book in some way, you’re great. You’re exactly where you should be. And the other thing that I think is interesting for me, just in my own coaching, is that you went through an earlier iteration of my current program idea to draft. It was a much shorter version of the program that I run now. And one of the things that. The reason actually that I extended this program from, I think yours was 10 weeks, because I did a couple of different versions, like 10 weeks, 12 weeks.

Stacy: I think yours was 10 to six months, which is what I run now, is because I recognize that having a container where people can complete their draft in a time where my arms are wrapped around them and our group is wrapped around them, that. That does make a difference. And it is important. And so I appreciate you sharing that. And I also, you know, as a coach, I evolve and grow in how I work with people. And I do think that accountability and that support and that group being there with you is incredibly impactful. I also would love for you to share, if you’re willing, a little bit about your beta reader party. Are you willing to share a bit about that? Because I just think this is the coolest. I don’t think I’ve seen anybody do this before.

Kevin: Absolutely. I selected about 12 beta readers that are. That were individuals. Some, you know, that were. That were closer friends than others, but they were individuals who were representative of those three areas of sexuality, faith, and mental health, and had asked them ahead of time if they would be willing to be a beta reader. And so then when I was ready to share the manuscript. I did it in a print form and scheduled a party. My partner and I had them at our house and had the manuscripts all printed for them, made special packets for all of them. I had custom made envelopes designed and gave them all the tools that they needed, gave them a highlighter. I ordered a special pin for each one of them that was, you know, unique to them.

Kevin: So they had a highlighter pen, the little post it note tabs, just everything that they would need as they were going through that manuscript to read it. And then had, you know, they came over, we had lots of fun refreshments and drinks, had book launch cakes that, where they were decorated all about the book launch book, napkins, cups, you know, it was all themed for, you know, for the beta reader party. And so then they all came over. We, we chatted. I shared about what my, what I was looking for from them and a little bit more about the book, why I wrote it, what my motivations were, what I hoped, you know, could potentially happen in the future with it.

Kevin: And, and then I did a reading from the book and then passed out the manuscripts and gave everybody a chance to share as well. So. But it was a really. And then I followed up with each one of them. I met with each one of them individually afterwards, either for coffee or they stopped by, or I went to their place and then got their feedback from them. And they were all, I think because of the investment that I put in it with them upfront, they all took it very seriously. And I have to say, I got some incredible feedback and I implemented probably 80% of it because it was very insightful and really helpful in my manuscript development process.

Stacy: So that’s so cool. I love this whole idea, it’s so fun and it does give like honor and ceremony and celebration to a huge milestone. Thanks for sharing, Kevin. Yeah, Hadi, I would love to come to you next to hear from you on a challenge or a roadblock that you overcame during your writing process, which was quite different from Kevin’s in kind of like the intensity and the timeline that you approached your book.

Hady: Yeah, I just did the calculation the other day and if I go, if my book goes live as planned, I have done it all in 11 months, which is kind of wild and, you know, scary and all the things I, I’m sad that I missed out on the beta Rita party, because that sounds like a good time. But so yeah, I do want to share my roadblock And I will say that, like Kevin, it was the community that kind of lifted me and carried me through that roadblock. And by that, by the community, I mean the other cohort, members of the idea to draft cohort. So my roadblock, I think, happened when the election, you know, I guess the day after the election. So, like, once I knew, like, what the reality of the situation was going to be, I feel like.

Hady: Like it literally knocked the wind out of me and took all the air out of my float. And I said, I don’t even know if this is something I should be doing right now, if this is the right time to do this. It’s like, why does it matter? Is this even important? There’s going to be so many bigger fish to fry. Like, why. Why bother to do this right now? Like, this just seems so insignificant in the scope of, like, what we’re about to, I guess, live as a. As a people and as a country. And so it was with that. That’s how I showed up to one of my idea to draft meetings. And, you know, I think my update that week was like, I don’t know, disillusioned or like, I don’t know. I don’t remember what I said that.

Hady: That for that particular week, but it was not good. And everybody in the group was like, no, you have to write it. This is now. You really have to write it. Like, it’s so important now. Like, this is the time to do it. And mind you, like, no one else in that group is like a woman of color or a Latina, but like, that and that. I think actually that was a very important part of the. Of, like, why it made the feedback even more meaningful to me was it wasn’t a group of Latinas telling me that it was, like, so important. It was. It was all different people from all different places and walks of life and different interests. And they’re like, no, you have to do it now.
Hady: It’s more important than ever for you to get your voice and story out there. And I would say it was literally that conversation, that it was that meeting. I walked in one way and then I walked out a different way. And, you know, they kind of brought me back all the air back into my float, and I walked out of there convinced that I did need to do this, that this was important. And I. And I have since then convinced myself that this is part of, like, my way of resisting and my way of fighting back what I think are things, injustices, and, you know, trying to erase people and trying to create Situations where people are not treated fairly and equitably. And, you know, this whole attack and backlash and DEI and, you know, just. I feel like now the book is a.

Hady: Is a response to that. And so I have lived in this little bubble, and this book has given me so much peace and so much joy and so much, you know, purpose during a time where I think I otherwise would have just been like, you know, laying in bed, rolled up in a. In a ball. And now I have a purpose and I’m working on something that I think is really important. And so, yeah, so. So I. It was like a complete reframing of how. What the book means and how I can show up better through this book. And so it’s been a gift in a variety of ways. Like I said, it’s protected my piece and it’s also given me real purpose. And like, every time that I see something that I’m like, we.

Hady: This is not good for us, for our country, for our people, for the world. But, like, I’m writing a book to. To like, respond to this type of behavior or to respond to this type of inequity. So, like, I feel like I’m doing something. And so that’s. That’s something that’s really important. Like, you want to feel like you’re doing something right now. And this book is giving me a way to do that. And so that’s how I’ve been dealing with. With a very. What was a really hard. You know, I just thought, like, I wasn’t going to be able to, like, finish this, and I just didn’t think I was going to have the heart for it. And it’s like the reframing really helped.

Stacy: I really appreciate you sharing that. And I think in a time that can feel very disempowering to a lot of people. You know, there’s that phrase, activism starts at home. And I think that, like, taking up that space and working on something purposeful and using your voice, all of that are ways that we show up in very important ways. I would love to know, just on the same note, but also maybe expanding beyond the political landscape, how you have maintained your energy and momentum with such intensity, because certainly the news cycle has not stopped, so that’s one layer to it. But also, there’s been a lot of, like, I think I remember one week where you, like, signed with three people or something like that on various parts of your project. You just made decisions really quickly. You.

Stacy: And it was anchored, thoughtful, well researched decisions. What. What maintained that what helped you keep that momentum driving forward?
Hady: Yes. Well, I think part of it is my personality, so I’ll just say, you know, I’m very disappointed. Disciplined. When you. When you said, make sure you set aside time every day to write, I, like, booked my calendar for, like, the next six months, and I booked, like, every nine to 12, Monday through Thursday and for the next six months. And I, like, quite literally said, okay, I can do that. And. And. And that’s what I’m going to do. And I never allowed, you know, anything to change that. So I was, like, very committed and invested to. In that way. So part of it was just being disciplined, I think, also, like, seeing, like, the value of it and being like, this is important. Like, people need this right now.

Hady: Like, so just, like, really believing in the mission and the message, I think, has. Has really motivated me a lot. And then I would say, you know, I mentioned this in the beginning where I said, you know, I do know other Latina authors that have. Either, you know, they’re working on putting a book into the world, or they have already put their book into the world. And a lot of them inspired me. They shared resources with me. There’s hasn’t, you know, the gatekeeping just hasn’t been there. So it’s like, oh, you’re writing a book. Let me tell you about all these fabulous people. I work with this editor and this PR person, and this person was great. And this other thing. And just like, that’s. That’s a very important, like, that’s on brand for me to.

Hady: To, like, be in community and share and have this spirit of abundance. And it’s like, we’re all gonna. We. We. There’s enough for all of us. And it’s all, you know, to the degree that we’re. We’re succeeding, all of us, to the degree that one of us is succeeding, we’re all winning. And so I feel like leaning on other Latina authors that have come before me and that are saying, like, hey, I have great resources for you. These are the. Some things that you should do. These are some people you should work with here. Work with. You know, that’s how I found you. Gigi. Gigi pointed me in your direction, and I know Gigi has pointed other people in your direction.

Hady: And so I just feel like, you know, I write this in the book, but it’s like, once one Latina has, like, knocked the door down, other Latinas can step through. That’s the truth. And I’m the. You know, I’m living it right now. And I feel like just seeing them and the passion and the grit and the energy that they brought to their books and their book tours and getting their messages out, that really inspired me. I’m like, oh, I want to be one of them too. You know, I want to be out there doing the same thing. So all of those were all of the things that really inspired and motivated me to stay on track.

Stacy: I love that it’s both the community energy and support, but also the knowledge sharing. It’s huge just to be able to work with somebody that you can trust and you don’t have to spend hours in conversations and you can really move forward. It’s. It’s huge. Thanks, Hadi. I’d love to do one last kind of lightning round question and I’ll just kind of like, go to each of you to give your, you know, if you could go back to the beginning, what is the one thing that you would tell yourself which would then, you know, apply to any future authors here? The thing that you wish you’d known at the start of it? Hadi, maybe I’ll just go back to you. I see you nodding, so maybe you can kick us off.

Hady: I would just say enjoy every minute of it. And I have tried to do that. I have tried to really live in that spirit of just, like, this is fun, this is interesting. We’re collaborating, we’re making it better. This is, you know, just like, really looking at it that way, especially dealing with the partners and the people that are going to be part of the process. Just really seeing it as, like, everything is just getting you closer to your goal and also elevating that end product.

Stacy: Love it. Thanks, hottie. Louisa, how about you?

Luissa: Well, actually, I will take you to 2018. When we first started talking about this, when we started this journey, I said to you, Stacy, that since December 1993, when I got my American citizenship, I’ve been in a race. Unless you read my book, you won’t understand what it means. So I tried to recuperate those seven years. So race like. Like a chase, you know, so just go, go. Check, check, check. So. So I told you in 2018, I don’t want this to be another check mark next to my project. I don’t want it to be a project. I want this to be something a lot bigger.

Luissa: And like Hadi says, enjoy it, you know, because if it’s just a project, then what if it starts like that, then you’ll be like, well, let me just get this over with, or let me just get this done. And then that spark, it kind of dies off because there is no drive, no emotional drive. So this book is, to me, is an expression of my sensibility, my empathy, resilience in front of the world. And it’s just not my professional me. So remember, when you write this book, let the other part of you shine, resurface, because it’s really, it is a gift to the world.

Luissa: People are not going to know this part of you unless you really put it out there and just let it shine, let it take blossom, let it takes its time and limelight on the day that it comes out into the world like it’s born. And I always say, and you’ll reap the benefits because it is special. It is in a special time, not only for the book or for the story or for you, but also for the people who pick it up and read it and listen to it. So thank you.

Stacy: I love that, Louisa. And I love the birth metaphor coming from a high risk pregnancy doctor. It’s a perfect metaphor for you. Kevin, how about you?

Kevin: Yes. To echo a little bit of what I’ve heard, definitely what I would say is, to myself would be, don’t be in a hurry, enjoy the journey which I have had, as I said, in a more extended period of time. But the thing that I really didn’t anticipate when I started this, that I would have encouraged myself with, is the fact that the amazing talent that I would meet along the way, the people that would be cheering me on, my worldview is so much broader and the people that I have been connected with now and I’m so grateful to work with, whether it’s you, Stacy, my editors, my proofers, my, you know, publishing coach, to people all over the world that have given me input and they’ve, they have. My life is richer because of them and my book is better because of them.

Kevin: But I never dreamed what a beautiful journey that would be. And, and so I’m just so grateful for that. And, and I, I would tell myself that because I probably would have gotten it done faster than maybe, but. Yes, but it’s been, it’s been wonderful.

Stacy: I love that. Thanks, Kevin and Joel, you want to bring us home with your what I wish I’d known.

Joel: Yeah, I knew that change would happen, but I wasn’t prepared for the amount of change that took place. All very positive. And so it’s actually a question I asked my potential clients is are you ready for the change that comes through my coaching in this case, are you ready for the change that’s going to come through the book writing process all the way through? Because it does change you. It changes the way you talk about what you’re doing, about the impact you’re going to have, the impact you have. And so it’s just be ready for the change that happens. And it is an awesome process to go through.

Stacy: Oh, that’s a really wonderful way to finish this conversation. Joel. Thank you. Thank you all so much. Joel, Kevin, Luisa Hadi, I really appreciate you spending time with me today.

Hady: Thanks for having us.

Kevin: Thank you.

Luissa: Appreciate you.

Stacy: And thank you to you, our viewers, our listeners, for joining us. I hope you’re as inspired by these authors as I am. And if this conversation inspired you, I hope that you make that book that you’re dreaming of a reality. We mentioned a couple of times my program idea to draft. I am currently enrolling for that program. It’s a six month program to help you make that book a reality. And so if you’re interested, you can go to stacyennis.com/ideatodraft. We’ll also put a link in the comments. I have to not only thank the panelists, but also thank Rita Domingues who does everything behind the scenes. She from the graphics to helping organize all the panelists. Rita, thank you so much for your work and effort that you put into all the things that we do. And thanks again for joining us.

Stacy: Here is to your impact.