Episode 19: From Passion to Published: Writing and Marketing Your Book

Jennifer DiVita, an influencer in positive aging and the author of "Not Your Shoe Size," joins us to discuss her journey, her passion for aging positively, and her experience writing a novel. This episode dives into the following five key topics:

1. Positive Aging and Influence:
   • Jennifer shares her background in journalism and her unexpected career shift into gerontology and positive aging. She discusses the societal pressures on women to appear younger and the internal and external battles they face. Jennifer emphasizes embracing age with positivity and vitality, debunking the myths of ageism.
2. Writing "Not Your Shoe Size":
   • Jennifer's novel "Not Your Shoe Size" explores the lives of two friends aging differently. Through the characters' contrasting approaches to aging, the book addresses ageism and the societal pressures women face. Jennifer explains her inspiration for writing the book and the importance of depicting aging in a fun and engaging way.
3. The Journey to Authorship:
   • Jennifer outlines her seven-year journey to write and publish her novel, emphasizing the importance of perseverance, research, and the support of a book coach. She shares her experience of balancing writing with being a single mother and working full time, and the cathartic nature of the writing process.
4. Marketing and Launching a Book:
   • Jennifer discusses the critical steps after finishing a book, including heavy marketing, book launch events, and creating a buzz through advanced reader copies and newsletters. She highlights the significance of treating a book launch like a business and thinking creatively about marketing opportunities, such as selling her book in women's boutiques.
5. Future Projects and Inspirations:
   • Jennifer hints at future projects, including a novella related to "Not Your Shoe Size" and another book addressing women in the workplace. She shares her dedication to lifelong learning and pushing boundaries, encouraging listeners that it's never too late to start something new.

Key Takeaways:

• Embrace aging with a positive mindset to live a longer, healthier life.
• Writing a book requires dedication, research, and perseverance, but it's a rewarding process.
• Effective marketing is crucial to a book's success; think creatively and treat it like a business.
• Lifelong friendships and personal passions, like Jennifer's love for shoes, can inspire creative projects and personal growth.

My name is Jennifer Kok, and I’m a profit and growth advisor for service-based women entrepreneurs. I help women business owners make smarter, more strategic decisions so they can grow profitably, pay themselves consistently, and avoid burnout.

Because the truth is, business owners make decisions all day long, but the ones that really matter are often the hardest ones. Should I hire? Raise my prices? Invest in marketing? Let go of a draining client? Expand, or simplify?

Those decisions carry weight, and they can impact your time, your profit, your energy, and your long-term growth.

That’s why I created the Focused Growth Collective, a virtual mastermind for women business owners who want support making the kinds of decisions that move a business forward. Yes, we talk strategy, but we also look at the bigger picture like mental load, health, profit, and long-term sustainability.

My goal is to help women build businesses that pay them well, support their lives, and still feel worth leading 10 years from now.

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