Bookbound Fran Hauser & Bethany Saltman

Have you ever felt paralyzed by the pursuit of perfection? You’re in good company.
L'Oreal Thompson Payton is an award-winning journalist, experienced communications executive, motivational speaker, and author of “Stop Waiting for Perfect”. She joins us on the BOOKBOUND podcast to share her very relatable author journey.
In this very special episode with this very special writer, you’ll learn how L’Oreal harnessed all the pressures she’s felt on herself as a young black women in today's society into a successful career. You’ll learn how she has found hope in owning her fears and doubts, in both growing online community and her bookbound journey. Finally, she shares all the details on how she has battled imposter syndrome—by writing about it!
Tune in to discover how to turn your perfectionism around and turn the story you can’t stop telling into a book the world needs to read.
Resources: To connect with L’Oreal and check out her work, click here. Apply for Fran & Bethany’s Fall 2024 BOOKBOUND Accelerator here. Produced by Share Your Genius

What does it take to transform your book marketing from a solo sprint to a community-powered marathon?
In this episode, award-winning author, speaker, and small business guru Pam Slim joins us to talk about some of her experiences and tips for successful book writing, launching, and marketing. Pam introduces her groundbreaking concepts of "watering holes" and "tiny marketing actions" from her book The Widest Net, which guides authors in cultivating strategic and authentic connections within their own unique ecosystems. Pam's emphasis on reciprocity, community, and adding real value forms the cornerstone of any effective book marketing plan.
Listen in as Pam shares her author journey from her blog writing days to her next big book idea. This episode is chock-full of actionable tips for authors who are looking for ways to connect with their communities.
Resources: Check out Pam’s book here: https://pamelaslim.com/books/ Connect with Pam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelaslim/
Apply for Fran & Bethany’s 2024 BOOKBOUND Accelerator here.
Produced by Share Your Genius

Does the road to publishing your book feel like an impossible maze of stats and gatekeepers?
Meet Julie Chavez. Her writing has been featured in the New York Post and Zibby Mag, and she is the author of USA Today bestselling book, “Everyone But Myself: A Memoir”. She writes to explore the joys and impossibilities of mothering and modern womanhood and her story of getting her book published will inspire you to keep going, even when roadblocks seem like the rule.
Julie sits down with us to share her journey from blogging, to successfully navigating the publishing world. This is THE episode for peeling back the layers of the traditional, boutique, and hybrid publishing types, underscoring the financial and creative implications of each.
We’re extra excited because we got to sit down with Julie even before Everyone But Myself was set to launch in January of 2023. Our discussion about the march toward her launch event and the emotional toll of publicly sharing one's art is extra juicy because her book so quickly became a USA Today Bestseller!
Join us as Julie outlines her winning strategies—from impactful newsletter engagement to storytelling through essays and a novel. This episode is a masterclass for new writers ready to make that first book happen.
Resources: Check out Julie’s work and follow her here. BOOKBOUND Spring Accelerator with Fran & Bethany
Produced by Share Your Genius

On this episode of BOOKBOUND, we’re joined by the brilliant and insightful Maggie Jackson, award-winning 3x author and journalist. Her latest book, Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure, is a Next Big Idea Book and was nominated for a National Book Award and a Library Journal Best Book of 2023.
Bringing Maggie’s research and the writing process together, we explore the complexities of uncertainty: a feeling all creatives need to learn to tolerate and learn from. Maggie shares the nuances behind framing a book that challenges conventional thought and builds a counter-intuitive idea, which is—by the way—the formula behind every successful book.
So tune in for wisdom that transcends the mess of the writing and the insecurity of the publishing process so that you can take the next step toward sharing the story you can’t stop telling.
Resources: Connect with Maggie Read Maggie’s books
BOOKBOUND Spring Accelerator with Fran & Bethany
Produced by Share Your Genius

One essay—that begins in your journal!—can change your life.
On this episode of Bookbound, we explore the inspiring journey of Chloé Cooper Jones, whose memoir, Easy Beauty, began as an essay and turned into a Pulitzer Prize Finalist memoir.
As Chloé navigated the publishing world, she came away with some important insights on how to invest in the industry, the power of actually finishing the writing projects you start, and how to find and work with your agent and editor team for maximum success.
And all of these pieces make up the magic (not luck!) that is publishing a book that makes you a better artist and person.
Don't miss this juicy conversation about embracing imperfections, fostering genuine collaboration, and the magic of assembling a stellar team. (Plus, you just might catch a sneak peek into Chloé's upcoming second book!)
Resources:
Easy Beauty by Chloé Cooper Jones Follow Chloé Cooper Jones
Apply for Fran & Bethany’s Spring 2024 BOOKBOUND Accelerator here.
Produced by Share Your Genius

Authenticity over urgency. That’s Dr. Aliza Pressman’s strategy when it comes to driving the marketing of her new book, The Five Principles of Parenting.
In this episode of Bookbound, developmental psychologist Dr. Aliza Pressman unveils the trials and triumphs behind her journey to authorship, encouraging authenticity over trendy marketing—because her book can and will stand the test of time.
Aliza's book journey started with her podcast and social media content. It led her to navigate literary agents, proposals, and editorial guidance, defying convention with a book deal sans proposal. She walks us through the importance her platform has played in finding her audience and guiding her writing, in addition to helping her navigate selling the book with authenticity in the launch process.
Throughout our conversation, Aliza talks about maintaining a heartfelt dedication to service, sharing how she wrote with the real-life needs of parent groups in mind. Her tale is sprinkled with valuable lessons, from the misfires of email mix-ups to the delicate art of pitching. The episode includes insights on the evolution of maternal caregiving, using platforms to foster connection, leveraging personal networks, and embracing the challenges women face in self-promotion, all underscored by Aliza's warm approach as she nears her twin celebrations: a 50th birthday and a 'book birthday' for her labor of love, The Five Principles of Parenting.
Resources: Follow Aliza, buy her book, or listen to her podcast here. Apply for Fran & Bethany’s Spring 2024 BOOKBOUND Accelerator here.
Produced by Share Your Genius