As You Wish Publishing Podcast

Kyra & Todd Schaefer

A strategic book publishing podcast for founders, memoirists, and serious authors who are preparing to bring their book into the world. asyouwishpublishing.substack.com

Episodes

  1. AYW Podcast Ep. 7: The Difference Between Emotional Processing and Publishing

    Mar 4

    AYW Podcast Ep. 7: The Difference Between Emotional Processing and Publishing

    Most memoirs, business books, and personal development manuscripts don’t struggle because of writing skill. They struggle because of positioning. In this episode, Kyra and Todd unpack the three stages of emotional authorship: • Writing for catharsis• Writing from clarity• Writing from synthesis They explore how emotional integration affects reader experience, why many first-time authors get stuck in stage one, and how to recognize whether your story is ready to be shared — or still needs time. This conversation is especially important for: – Memoirists– Collaboration authors– Entrepreneurs using books as authority assets– Business owners positioning themselves as experts You’ll learn: • Why “raw” doesn’t automatically mean publishable• How reader experience changes at each stage• The difference between processing and offering• What makes a book move from personal to universal• The gentle risks at every stage• How to assess whether your manuscript is ready for professional publishing This is not writing coaching. This is perspective. If you’re preparing a manuscript — or revisiting one — this framework will help you decide what version of your story is most generous to the reader. And if your manuscript is near finished, you can explore publishing fit at asyouwishpublishing.com. https://www.asyouwishpublishing.com/post/publishing-models-comparison Learn about book publishing with As You Wish Publishing: https://www.asyouwishpublishing.com/ Is you Manuscript Ready? Apply to publish with As You Wish Publishing: https://www.asyouwishpublishing.com/iwrite Best and Worst Self-Publishing Service Watchdog Site: https://selfpublishingadvice.org/best-self-publishing-services/ Get full access to As You Wish Publishing at asyouwishpublishing.substack.com/subscribe

    45 min
  2. AYW Podcast Ep. 6: The Three Decisions That Make Publishing Move Faster

    Mar 1

    AYW Podcast Ep. 6: The Three Decisions That Make Publishing Move Faster

    Most publishing delays don’t come from editing, design, or logistics. They happen earlier — before publishing even begins. In this episode of the As You Wish Publishing Podcast, Kyra and Todd break down the three key decisions that allow professional self-publishing to move forward cleanly and predictably: • Bringing a nearly finished manuscript into publishing• Defining what “ready” means for you• Choosing your publishing path intentionally They also reveal the single decision that slows publishing down the most: trying to use publishing to figure out what your book should be. If you’re finishing a manuscript, refining your expertise into a book, or deciding when to make the leap, this episode clarifies the line between writing and publishing — and why separating those phases changes everything. Publishing is execution. Writing is discovery. Knowing the difference protects your momentum. Read the blog here: https://www.asyouwishpublishing.com/post/publishing-models-comparison Learn about book publishing with As You Wish Publishing: https://www.asyouwishpublishing.com/ Is you Manuscript Ready? Apply to publish with As You Wish Publishing: https://www.asyouwishpublishing.com/iwrite Best and Worst Self-Publishing Service Watchdog Site: https://selfpublishingadvice.org/best-self-publishing-services/ Get full access to As You Wish Publishing at asyouwishpublishing.substack.com/subscribe

    22 min
  3. AYW Podcast Ep. 5: Done-For-You Publishing: Own the Book. Keep the Rights. Control the Outcome.

    Feb 28

    AYW Podcast Ep. 5: Done-For-You Publishing: Own the Book. Keep the Rights. Control the Outcome.

    In Episode 5 of the As You Wish Publishing Podcast, we break down the done-for-you professional self-publishing model — what it is, how it works, and why structure matters more than marketing promises. If you want a professionally produced book that looks like it came from a major publisher — but without giving up rights, royalties, or control — this episode clarifies exactly how that works. We cover: • Service-based vs rights-based publishing• Full copyright ownership and non-exclusive rights• Global distribution through Ingram (not just KDP)• Why revenue flows directly to the author• 90-day production timelines• The real role of the author in generating demand• How business owners can treat a book as a long-term asset No hype. No guarantees of bestseller status. Just structural clarity so you can choose the publishing lane that aligns with how you want to operate long term. If ownership, transparency, and defined structure matter to you, this episode is for you. Read the blog here: https://www.asyouwishpublishing.com/post/publishing-models-comparison Learn about book publishing with As You Wish Publishing: https://www.asyouwishpublishing.com/ Is you Manuscript Ready? Apply to publish with As You Wish Publishing: https://www.asyouwishpublishing.com/iwrite Best and Worst Self-Publishing Service Watchdog Site: https://selfpublishingadvice.org/best-self-publishing-services/ Get full access to As You Wish Publishing at asyouwishpublishing.substack.com/subscribe

    35 min
  4. AYW Podcast Ep. 4: Self-Publishing Alone? What It Really Takes

    Feb 28

    AYW Podcast Ep. 4: Self-Publishing Alone? What It Really Takes

    In Episode 4 of the As You Wish Publishing Podcast, Kyra and Todd break down the third major publishing model: fully independent, do-it-yourself publishing. If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll just publish it myself,” this episode walks through what that actually means. From platform compliance and metadata to design standards, account risk, evolving AI restrictions, and technical coordination, DIY publishing gives authors full authority—but also full responsibility. You’ll learn: • Where the real overwhelm happens (hint: it’s not uploading the file)• Why compliance has tightened dramatically in 2025–2026• The risks around metadata, revised editions, and account shutdowns• The financial upside of owning your distribution accounts• How to decide if DIY is the right lane for you This is not a sales pitch. It’s a 30,000-foot structural breakdown so you can make an informed decision before committing to a path. Read everything. Know your lane. Choose wisely.Read the blog here: https://www.asyouwishpublishing.com/post/publishing-models-comparison Learn about book publishing with As You Wish Publishing: https://www.asyouwishpublishing.com/ Is you Manuscript Ready? Apply to publish with As You Wish Publishing: https://www.asyouwishpublishing.com/iwrite Best and Worst Self-Publishing Service Watchdog Site: https://selfpublishingadvice.org/best-self-publishing-services/ Get full access to As You Wish Publishing at asyouwishpublishing.substack.com/subscribe

    22 min
  5. AYW Podcast Ep. 2: The Truth About Traditional Publishing

    Feb 28

    AYW Podcast Ep. 2: The Truth About Traditional Publishing

    In Episode 2 of the As You Wish Publishing Podcast, Kyra and Todd take a clear-eyed look at traditional publishing — without fantasy, without bitterness, and without hype. They break down: • How the acquisitions process really works• Why great writing alone is not enough• Who actually holds decision-making power• What “advance” money really means• How contracts affect rights, timelines, and control• Why books often change before publication• What 18–24 month timelines actually involve If you’ve ever dreamed of traditional publishing, this episode will help you understand the structural realities behind the curtain — including market positioning, platform expectations, delayed timelines, and the very real trade-offs between visibility and ownership. This is not anti-traditional publishing. It’s structural clarity. Because when you understand power, risk, control, upside, and timeline, you can make a decision based on design — not mythology. Read the blog here: https://www.asyouwishpublishing.com/post/publishing-models-comparison Learn about book publishing with As You Wish Publishing: https://www.asyouwishpublishing.com/ Is you Manuscript Ready? Apply to publish with As You Wish Publishing: https://www.asyouwishpublishing.com/iwrite Best and Worst Self-Publishing Service Watchdog Site: https://selfpublishingadvice.org/best-self-publishing-services/ Get full access to As You Wish Publishing at asyouwishpublishing.substack.com/subscribe

    17 min

About

A strategic book publishing podcast for founders, memoirists, and serious authors who are preparing to bring their book into the world. asyouwishpublishing.substack.com