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In the latest episode of  Write the Damn Book Already, I spoke with Julie Chavez, author of the incredibly well-received memoir, Everyone But Myself   (January 2024, Zibby Books).

After Julie's life experience turned into a book idea,  she wrote 30,000 words and thought that surely it was a complete, publishable book. Newsflash: It wasn’t. But she stuck with it, and within a few weeks of launch, it became a USA Today Bestseller.

INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

• Why being naive is the greatest gift for authors sharing vulnerable stories 
• Thoughts on why aspiring authors don’t understand the challenges involved in book writing (it's one of the things this podcast hopes to rectify!)
• Metrics authors use to determine “success” (including Julie's) + an exploration of the “machine” side versus the human side of writing
• How to trust when you've healed "enough” to write about challenges
• The lesser-known benefits of having an agent (beyond getting a book deal)

ABOUT JULIE

Julie Chavez is an elementary school librarian in Northern California. Her writing has been featured in Real Simple, the New York Post, and Zibby Mag, and she is the author of the USA TODAY bestselling memoir, Everyone But Myself. Julie lives with her husband and two tall teenagers in a house where she arranges her books by color.

CONNECT WITH JULIE

Website: juliewriteswords.com

Instagram: @juliewriteswords

Buy Everyone But Myself while supporting indie bookstores!  

WHAT JULIE’S READING NOW

The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

You’d Look Better as a Ghost by Joanna Wallace

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Podcast episode with Kristen McGuiness
• Lemme Focus Concentration Gummies
• Julie’s episode on The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcast

🧭 BACK COVER BLUEPRINT

Get back cover templates for nonfiction, memoir, and fiction; real-world examples; a polishing checklist; and a guide for turning it into an optimized online description that attracts the right readers. 

🔗 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/blueprint

🔑 BOOK FORMATTING SOFTWARE FOR SELF-PUBLISHED AUTHORS

This episode is sponsored by Atticus, the all-in-one writing and book formatting software for self-publishing authors. From drafting to professional ebook and print layout, Atticus makes it easy to format your manuscript for KDP, IngramSpark, and beyond. Learn more at Atticus.io.

WANT TO SELL MORE BOOKS (WITHOUT THE SELF-PROMO CRINGE)?

The Author Visibility Bundle gives you 200+ done-for-you email templates, social media graphics, and other book promo tools designed to help authors build buzz and drive sales, without feeling pushy. 

👉  PublishAProfitableBook.com/bookvisibility

✍️ 33-DAY BOOK WRITING BOOTCAMP

You've Been Thinking About This Book Forever. So let's get it written (for real this time). 

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook/writethebook

Support the show

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Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry. 

Available wherever podcasts are available:
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Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth