The $100K Mistake Experts Make Before They Ever Write Their Book
There is a mistake I see high-level professionals make before they ever write their book. It is not about writing skills. It is not about publishing options. It is not…
You Don’t Have a Book Problem—You Have a Positioning Problem
One of the most common conversations I have with high-level professionals starts like this: “I know I need a book.” And in many cases, they’re not wrong. A book can…
Why a Book Alone Won’t Build Your Authority (And What Actually Does)
There is a common assumption I hear from highly accomplished professionals: “If I write a book, my authority will finally match my experience. On the surface, that sounds logical. A…
It’s Business, Not Personal: What One Publishing Decision Revealed About Author Success in 2026
While I was speaking at the Women in Publishing Summit on Beyond the Book: Building Recession-Proof Income Streams AI Can’t Replace, I found myself reflecting on a recent publishing decision…
Broken Releases Tonight: Why This Story Matters Now—Not Just for Valentine’s Day
It’s Thursday, February 12th, 2026—just a few hours before Broken by Toni Jackson Lampley officially releases.And I need to say this plainly:This is not a “love season” book.This is a…
Publishing Is Creative—Profitability Is the Grown-Up Part
This past week, I had the honor of presenting Business Model Basics for IBPA + BookLife’s Boot Camp for Author-Publishers (Self-Published & Hybrid-Published Authors). It was one of those sessions…
Author vs. Authorpreneur: Which One Are You?
Last night, I had the privilege of speaking at the Write On! Nonfiction Authors’ Group in Virginia Beach. The room was full of passionate authors, bloggers, and aspiring writers —…
The Truth About Bookstore Dreams: What First-Time Authors Need to Know About Big-Box Shelf Space
“If you're a new author, chasing shelf placement at a big-box store was never the path to true success—and it certainly isn’t now.”(Featured in Published! Magazine, July 2025 Issue, Page…
What This Means for You: The Truth Behind Breaking Through as a New Author in a Gatekept Industry
If the recent Publishers Weekly article on Barnes & Noble’s evolving relationship with independent publishers seemed like high-level industry noise to you, I want to reframe that conversation, because what’s…
Barnes & Noble’s Indie Dilemma: Why Diverse Voices Still Need Allies
The recent Publishers Weekly piece titled “Independent Publishers Are Fed Up with Barnes & Noble’s Buying Practices” pulls a curtain back on what I, as a former Barnes & Noble…