The Publishing Journey of Spotlight on Success 2nd Ed. with Jo Wildsmith - Ep. 88

Most people think getting published means uploading to Amazon and hoping for the best. Jo Wildsmith does it properly.

In this episode of the Showbiz Side Hustle Podcast, host Nicole Louise Geddes sits down with her publishing partner, Jo Wildsmith, the woman behind the publishing of the second edition of Spotlight on Success. 

They go behind the scenes of what it really takes to publish a book: building a proper publishing entity, getting listed in Waterstones and libraries, and why selling beyond Amazon matters far more than most authors realise. 

Nicole also shares the foreword coup that landed a Dragon's Den success story at the front of the book.

This is the final episode before the big launch. The second edition of Spotlight on Success goes live on 30th June 2026, with 18 inspiring performers sharing how they pivoted their careers beyond the stage and built something of their own.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome and one week to launch
00:30 Meet Jo Wildsmith, the publishing partner
02:31 Why Spotlight on Success became a second edition
06:29 The new co-authors and their stories
08:04 The foreword: a Dragon's Den coup
11:59 Building Jo Wildsmith Publishing
14:12 The Matinee Mixer and live events
17:59 Inside publishing a second edition
21:39 Why authors should look beyond Amazon
22:36 Where to find Jo and grab the book


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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hello everybody and welcome back to the Showbiz Side Podcast. I am your host here, Nicole Louise Gueddis, founder of Performa Pranella. We are one week away from the launch of the second edition of Spotlight on Success, the Performa Pranella collaboration book about when passion meets purpose. And in this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on how this book actually came to be, including why it's a second edition and not the second book I had originally planned. And joining me to talk all things publishing is the brilliant Jo Wildsmith, our publishing queen, and the backbone of getting this edition out into the world with ease. From the original upload to navigating Amazon systems, Joe has made the whole process feel genuinely joyful. The book is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle from the 30th of June, and we need your help as we leap into our mission to once again reach the number one best seller top spot. And there's something else that I'm super excited to share. Spotlight on success. It's also in the process of being listed by Joe for purchase from Waterstones. Yes, you heard that right. Keep everything crossed for us, ladies and gents. As I'm sure you'll agree, if that were to happen, it would be a real pinch me moment. So let's get to it and welcome to the spotlight, Joe Wildsmith. Welcome to the Spotlight series, where each week we meet one of the brilliant co-authors and creatives behind Spotlight on Success. The Performapreneur book that's redefining what success looks like both in and out of the Jobized Spotlight. I'm your host here, Nicole Louise Geddis, and in these special episodes we learn even more about the stories behind the sequins. Raw, honest, powerful reminders that the end of one act is only the beginning of another. So listen in as we chat challenges and triumphs and inspire you to shine in any spotlight you like.

SPEAKER_01 1:51

Thank you so much. Well, that was quite the introduction. Thank you. I really, really enjoyed that whole thing. And yes, you're absolutely right. We're not just plonking it on Amazon. Not that we would ever plonk it anyway, but we're not just putting it on Amazon. We are putting it through what's called wide distribution. So it's going into more places, and hopefully, we'll be able to get into libraries as well. So it's all extremely exciting. Quite a bit more work from our end, but it's worth every moment of it.

SPEAKER_00 2:22

Joe, honestly, the team on my side of everything knows exactly how hard you've worked on this. And I'd love, love, love for the listeners to understand and appreciate that this process is not this creative whirlwind, or not only a creative whirlwind, it takes so much detail in the back end and in your side of things. You and Simon have been a dream team to work with once again. Um and you're right, like if we can get this book distributed across different platforms in different places, in libraries, in bookstores, not just Amazon, then for me, that just helps me create more ripples. It gives me so much more joy that I can reach more people. Um, and that's what a book does, right? It gets in the hands of the people that need it, and and you're helping me do that, and I'm forever grateful.

SPEAKER_01 3:12

Absolutely, and especially with a book like this, a multi-author book, a collaboration book, because there are so many people that need to hear all of these different stories that are inside the book, the four new ones, especially, which are absolutely tremendous, they're they're wonderful, but also all of the original ones, and and that's the thing with it being a second edition, it revitalizes gets those those first stories out there as well as these four new ones. From your point of view, Nicole, why do you think it was a good idea to do it as a second edition rather than a whole new book?

SPEAKER_00 3:52

It's a good question, and it's a lovely story, actually. And I think when I when I eventually came to the conclusion, I felt really comfortable and confident with my decision. But anyone that's been following Performapreneur and myself for the past year, um, they will know a good nine, ten months ago, I was saying a second book, second book, second book. And at one point I really felt that that was the right way to go. But um, I'm a very intuitive person, and I and I like to listen to my internal kind of narrative, and and there was something that just kept saying this doesn't feel right. So I paused, and you'll know you came on the journey with me. I was like, just give me a minute. I just need to pause, I need to listen, I need to reflect, I need to understand why this isn't sitting comfortably with me. And ultimately, um, because of my values, I am such a collaborative, community-driven um cheerleader that just did not feel right to put one group of co-authors on a bookshelf and leave them there while I shout and celebrate and push a second group of brilliant people. They're equal, and the first cohort were so dear to me, as are everyone in my community. So, cut a long story short, I was really kind of tuning into what that uncomfortable feeling was, and it was exactly that. I did not want to pit one book against the other, and I have big plans for the co-authors, for the book, for Formapreneur, for the spotlight shift, for all of this to create ripples across the industry and change the narrative that there are more than one ways to be successful. Um, and um, so yeah, so it then became a second edition because four co-authors had already stepped forward before I'd made this decision. And again, I felt really aligned with the fact that they they were already in, they didn't need any convincing, they were straight in after the first book. These four authors were like, I want in on this, I've got a story to tell, I love your message, I love the first book. So I was like, Well, you know what happened next, Joe. I came to you and I said, Look, we're scrapping the second book idea, horror, shark horror, but we're creating a second edition, and I explained my reasons and my values, and I'm so grateful. But you saw it, you heard it, you felt it too, and you're as excited, and that means the world to me.

SPEAKER_01 6:12

Absolutely, and it they've the four authors that you've got, the four new stories that you've got fit because anyone who knows the original book knows that there were the four sections in there, and it's just all slotted so perfectly into place. So, how do you feel about the new stories that are in there? What's your your take on it?

SPEAKER_00 6:33

Exactly what you're saying. You know, when we set out on this process to write these chapters, I don't know what these lovely ladies' stories actually are. Like I know of them, we work together, um, you know, I stalk everybody on social media. I know they're a nice fit, I know that they they have our my values and they they understand the the mission, which is the ripple. Um, but you don't know what they're gonna produce at all. And you're right, every single story, one each, fits perfectly into each section, which is crazy. And um, the ladies have really given their heart and soul, as did the past cohort um of guys and girls. They've just embraced the opportunity to go deeper than we we all dare to think we're gonna go. Um, and they've done it, and even though they'd read the first edition, that didn't put them, it didn't put them in a in a better position. Like it probably made them feel even more vulnerable or you know, apprehensive about what they say and what they share, but the process got them to where they needed to be, and each one of them has just said how cathartic and wonderful the the process has been, and the chapters, like you say, are just beautiful. They they fit so seamlessly into the book and add another element: four new stories, four new journeys, four new spotlights. I can't ask for more than that.

SPEAKER_01 7:56

That's amazing, but there's one more thing actually. There is also something that wasn't in the first book, and that is there's a forward. So, and this is quite a coup, really. The lady that you got to do the forward. Very exciting. Tell me a bit more about that one because I I know who it is, but can you share it?

SPEAKER_00 8:19

I can I can share it, Joe, and I've been holding it close to my chest for a long time. But if you're following me on social media, um listeners, you will see that I've announced that today, actually, on the day that I'm recording this podcast. Um, Denise is the foreword, um, the lovely lady who wrote the foreword, she is the Dragon's Den success story. And anyone from our industry will remember that episode um and how fantastic she's done from that moment where she stepped through the Dragon's Den door and skyrocketed her business because of Duncan Duncan Ballantyne support. Um, she has franchised Rasmus across continents, across the UK. She's worked with Warner Brothers, Mattel, like huge, huge things. She's done TUI, she's done incredible things. Um, and she dared to step through that door, Joe. And she's written the foreword that says exactly that like showbiz is a foundation, it's a stepping stone. Use it, move forward in life, in business, create legacy. Um, so it's really exciting because um the synergy as well, because Michael has a Rasmataz franchise and he's one of the first co-co-authors. And then for Denise to, you know, have read Michael's chapter along with the others and felt drawn to support this second edition in such an incredible way with the foreword. Again, it just all falls so beautifully into place. And each time I'm asked a question like that, or I or I regurgitate those feelings and thoughts, I'm just reminded like how big this is. Like it's it's doing what it's intended to do. And um, I've got some incredible supporters and co-authors, and hopefully they'll all get us to number one.

SPEAKER_01 10:05

Absolutely, and I did notice that actually when I was going through doing working on the book, making sure everything was consistent all the way through with the the first lot of authors and then the the new cohort, just making sure that there was that flow there. Um, I did. Michaels jumped out at me and I was like, oh Rosal Sands, wow! And and it all came back to me. Obviously, I've read it when I when I'm working on a book, I read it inside out and back to front. But I've done quite a few books since the first edition, so it was lovely to revisit those stories again. Um, but also particularly Michael's, because I thought, wow, you know, this must be great for him to be able to see that that's gone full circle. So, yeah, absolutely very exciting.

SPEAKER_00 10:47

And so pointing it the questions back to you, Joe. So, like you say, you've been with us this whole time, you've read all of the chapters again and again, you've read the new four, you put it all together. Was there any moment that you thought that it was mad to do a second edition? Um, at the time when I asked you the question, I didn't really know what a second edition kind of encompassed. I just had heard of it and felt that this was the right thing to do. Um, so I guess two-part question. Did you think it was the right decision? And can you explain to the listeners why it worked, why I could do the process like I've done it?

SPEAKER_01 11:24

Absolutely. So, and there's a little extra thing I want to add in there as well. So, yes, I think it was a really good decision. I think it was a really sensible decision, but I also think knowing you as I do, you did it from the heart and you did it, and it you you seemed not quite yourself. It was like you weren't quite there, that level of excitement that I'm used to from you. And then suddenly you nailed it and you had that idea, and you were like, yes, and you were back in the room, and it was it was wonderful to see. So that was definitely the right decision for us. Um, Joe Wildsmith Publishing as an entity. Obviously, I've been publishing books for a very long time, but as Joe Wildsmith Publishing, that's quite new. And this was our first second edition, if that makes sense. The first time we've done a second edition, so there was a lot that I needed to learn and make sure. And before I could say to you, yeah, okay, we can do this. I made that sure that I had to go and I went off and did my homework and made sure that this was something that we could deliver for you. And yeah, I'm really, really pleased we have. I've learned a lot, but I've also known that it was definitely the best way forward, and it revitalizes, as I say, all of all of the previous stories as well. And it was so lovely reading them all again, especially as now I know some of those people, whereas, you know, right when I worked on the book the very first time, I didn't, they were just names, but now I know them and and I've seen their photos so many times now as well. And that's really lovely.

SPEAKER_00 13:01

So well, the second edition launches on the 30th of June, and the anniversary of the book is actually the 14th of July, and I wanted to give the the new co-authors their own day, you know, and so but we get to celebrate and shout about this twice. We get to celebrate and shout about reaching number one, fingers crossed with everybody's help, um, on the 30th of June on Amazon. And then on the 14th of July, we get to bring the past co-authors and the present co-authors together to celebrate the year anniversary of the creation of the book in the first place. Um, and you will be meeting those co-authors in person this year, Joe, um, because you're coming to the celebration in London. Um, so excited for you to be there in the room this year.

SPEAKER_01 13:45

Yeah, it's going to be very exciting because I was away and I couldn't come last year, which I was gutted about. However, I'm also going to be a little bit kiddy because it'll be four days before my wedding. So it's it's going to be a bit of a crazy week, but I wouldn't miss it for the world. I'm still coming.

SPEAKER_00 14:03

Crazy week, crazy life, Joe. Me and you, we have these weeks. Listeners, if you're, you know, if you're following me on social media, you know that I'm here, there, and everywhere. Joe is part of my matinee mixer crew. We love, love, love a glass of wine, watch a show, mix and mingle with everybody. Please come and join us. Um, and we're just it's just joyous, Joe, isn't it? The friendship that we've built as well around the book, around each other's businesses, um, and the wedding is coming up. Honestly, it's it's just such it's been such a fun process because of all of these elements, not just the book and our friendship building throughout as well. Um, so just very grateful for you for listening to my mad, new, uneducated second edition idea, and then bringing the info, the understanding, and the publishing power to bring that to life. What's it been like behind the computer in terms of getting the second edition up and running? Seamless, busy, upside down. I mean, people would love to know.

SPEAKER_01 15:10

All of those, all of those things and more. So, in some ways, it was easier because obviously the volume of the new stuff that was coming in, the new content that was coming in, obviously, there was significantly less of it. But it's really important to make sure that things are consistent. And because there was a gap between the first edition and the second edition, obviously, the it was, I basically had to reread the whole book again just to make sure and make sure everything was going in the right places, that we were following the same pattern with things like using where we used italics and things like that, too, and also making sure the tone was right all across it because when you're dealing with people, lots of different authors, they're all using their different language, but we want it to be a pleasurable experience for the reader, so it's got to be able to be something that can be read and enjoyed as well as written and enjoyed. So, so yes, so it it had its own challenges, but like every book we give birth to, or we help the authors give birth to, it's an absolute joy, and I love bringing books into the world. It's amazing.

SPEAKER_00 16:17

Well, you're you're very good at it, Joe, and I wouldn't do it with anybody else. Don't worry, there's not a third book in me yet. I'll let you get married first before I plonk that idea over to you. There's somebody else we should thank for the process and being on board with the second edition, and that's Simon, because he is our graphic designer and he's helped re reimagine the first edition front cover to make it the second edition. And we did go through a process. Simon won't mind me speaking about this. We went for a different colour, we maybe thought about a different font, we changed the front, we changed the back. But actually, listeners, um, if you head over to my socials, in fact, Jo's got a book behind her. Mine's missing in action right now. Um, there it is. It's very, very subtly different. And um, you know, bless Simon for sticking with me. Yeah, let's change it. No, let's not. Yeah, let's change it. No, let's not. Um, and I'm very happy with how it's how it's ended. It's subtly different because again, I think when I went back to the to the main reason it was a second edition and not a second book, it was that not competing. I didn't necessarily want to compete a red book against a gold book, even though it was the same book. And so it felt very right to just have those little nuances that we would know it's a second edition. But anybody um that was asking would not kind of say which book are you in, the first or the second. It's just one whole project, one whole heart. Um, and it says second edition on it, but the back is different because we've got the four new co-authors added to the back.

SPEAKER_01 17:53

And there is a banner at the top because it's important there are parameters that you there are things that you have to have, there are settings that you have things you have to comply with when you're doing a second edition. So it was very important that we we did all of those things, ticked all those boxes without making it like basically not completely uh the opposite or anything like that. So it it it works well without being just too, it's not too similar, but it's also not too not too out there as well. It works really well.

SPEAKER_00 18:26

And again, that's your expertise, Simon's expertise and your knowledge that's guided me in the right direction. Um, and I think everyone listening, I'd love, love, love in a moment for you to share more about your business, Joe, because I think for anyone listening, um we are in a world now where we can self-publish. Like that is an option. People are doing that, um, and they're doing it well. Um, but I hope when they listen to this conversation and they hear my enthusiasm and the creativity and the idea, and then they can hear how I've had to pass responsibility over to you and learn from you. I hope that they can hear that that has made a much smoother process and a much better chance of getting the book accessible in libraries, of being able to walk into Waterstones and order the book to become a number one bestseller again on Amazon. I feel like it does all seem quite accessible and easy, and I'm sure people would give it a good go. But I would love people to understand how relaxed I am, how joyful the process is, and that's nothing to do with me, Joe. That's all because of you. So share with everybody what you actually do as a business so that they can they can consider, you know, passing that stress to you.

SPEAKER_01 19:46

Well, first of all, one thing, one thing is and I'm really grateful to hear that. Because while I'm here like peddling like hell under the taste, under the desk, I'm glad that you're thinking that's all calm, everything's under control. I'm like, yeah, it's good. No, honestly, it is good. I've been doing this a long time, and generally most things, apart from this second edition, are pretty much like, yes, okay, I know exactly. And but even even with the second edition where it was something new, because of the background I've got, because of the things we've encountered over the years, and things that I've encountered with my own books and everything, I know which things are worth listening to, which advice is worth listening to, which things are just nonsense and just rumour and things like that. So, so yeah, absolutely. So, what I do in a nutshell is I take it from manuscript to fully finished book. So the the wonderful thing is that, and the reason that we provide this more luxury, much, much more curative service is for a start, we're taking all of the stress off the author because that's for us to use our expertise. And I do have a team behind me, it's not just me. So for us to use all our knowledge and experience to make sure that everything is being done and being done properly, but also we have other editions, we have other versions, we do everything ranging all the way from ebook and paperback to hardback, and then we have luxury available, luxury editions available too. So, and again, it's not just only on KDP. Uh, we are we use lots of different distributors and lots of different what's known as aggregators, which is like a mesh of lots of different distributors, to make sure that your book is going beyond the Amazon network, beyond just that one part of the world. Because there's a big wide world out there, and also we want we want people like shops where they don't like buying from Amazon because Amazon is this great big behema that they see. The enemy, then if you say to them, I want you to order my book, and they're like, I'm not gonna order it because it's from Amazon. Well, that's fine because we're going through these other distributors, so so this is the key, really, and also getting into libraries. Libraries aren't gonna want to buy from Amazon either, so yeah, it's all of that extra work, and all of the there's a lot more like background things that just we can take that stress off you, and and that's what we're here for. However, I will say I have absolutely no problem at all with people self-publishing. I think go out there, get that information, get it off my YouTube channel. But go out there, get that information, learn to do it yourself. Absolutely, I'm there for you. But if you haven't got the time, you don't want to learn, or you start trying to learn and you just find it all, then we're here. We're here, and we will do it properly, and we will make a really good go of it.

SPEAKER_00 23:00

You certainly will. I'm so excited to see how good we do this for the second time. Um, ladies and gentlemen, if you're watching on YouTube, hello from Joe and I. You can see us there in the flesh. Um, and if you're listening in on um any of your podcast platforms, then do go pop over to social media and give Spotlight on Success uh a little like and some love. It's got its own Instagram channel now and Performapreneur and Joe Wildsmith Publishing as well. Please do stick around for the next 10 days because we've got seven days till launch. We're gonna need your help on the 30th of June. Please do buy the book on Kindle, paperback, or hardback now. Um, and also stick around for the few days that follow so that you can celebrate with us when we do hit that number one spot because it will be, ladies and gentlemen, thanks to you and your support. Um, and also, you know, we'll have some more announcements with the other things that we are planning and keeping everything crossed for. Um, Joe, it's been an absolute pleasure, as always, to speak with you. I will see you in a couple of days in London for our next get together. Um, but for now, I just want to say thank you. Genuinely thank you for being a wonderful friend, a wonderful partner in this project, and um for just being a joy to work with and embracing my creativity and vision. I know I'm not the easiest person sometimes, but I love that you get on board with my ideas and you find solutions. Um so I really appreciate that. Thank you to Simon for the front cover, and thank you, listeners, for once again getting behind Spotlight on Success. Now it's 18 fabulous stories to help performers pivot and um keep the date in your diary.

SPEAKER_01 24:45

Thank you so much. I've loved working with you, and you're not getting away from me very easily because I am determined to keep working with you.

SPEAKER_00 24:52

So thank you very much. You heard it here first, people. There'll be more from Joe and I. Um for now though, go have a wonderful rest of your day and um please do keep the 30th of June locked in your diary. Big love, Joe. Bye, thank you. There you have it. Thank you for joining us on today's episode of the Spotlight series, where stories shine and success gets redefined. If you loved what you heard, hit like, follow, or subscribe. And be sure to grab your copy of Spotlight on Success over on Amazon. And don't forget to tag us at Performapreneur across all socials. If you've been inspired today to step into a new spotlight, you can find a whole community ready to support you at performapreneur.co.uk, as well as up and coming events and even more about each author. Until next time, stay bold, stay brilliant, and continue to shine.