The Business Behind the Books: Lessons From Writing 5 of Them

In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on my journey from aspiring writer to published author (five books now!) to sought-after media expert...and sharing the real financial and strategic lessons I've learned along the way.

I break down how my early blog posts for Modern Mommy Doc evolved into my first two books, The Newborn Baby Blueprint and The Working Mom Blueprint, which I wrote as a package deal with the American Academy of Pediatrics. I get candid about book advances (spoiler: they're a lot smaller than people assume), the value — and limits — of publisher-funded PR, and why saying yes to every media request early on wasn't necessarily the growth strategy I once thought it was.

I also talk about the turning point with my book Doing It All, when I started funding my own publicity and became far more selective about which opportunities were actually worth my time. I share the exact litmus test I now use to decide which podcasts, articles, or interviews to say yes to. I'm also sharing how that shift led to bigger opportunities finding me, including NPR, KQED, and The New York Times.

In this episode, I cover:

• What book advances actually look like for most authors (and why the book itself isn't where the money is)
• The pros and cons of publisher-paid vs. self-funded PR
• Why chasing every media mention isn't the same as building thought leadership
• The two-question litmus test I now use to decide which opportunities to pursue
• How narrowing my focus led to bigger, more aligned press opportunities finding me

Mentioned in this episode:

New Book! Raising Body-Confident Kids

You want your kids to love their bodies. You're still trying to do both. My new book, Raising Body-Confident Kids, helps you do both. Releases Sept 1, 2026. Pre-order your copy here: https://www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com/books