Posts by Cathy Davis

As I watched the movie, The Lorax, this past weekend for the very first time, I fell in love with its message about planting seeds! January typically has us thinking about RE-solutions — a time for planting “thought seeds” to help us work better, feel better, and function better.

“When you plant a seed, it’s not about what it IS . . .
it’s about what it will BECOME!” — The Lorax (via Dr. Seuss)

To help us plant our seeds for growth, many start their new year by reaching out to a personal or business coach for help. If you are thinking about writing a book, you would contact an Author Consultant, a Book Coach, a Publishing Mentor, a Book Shepherd or someone with a similar title.

Recently, it seems like just about everyone who has self-published a book claims to be an expert at teaching you how to write a book. In the wild-wild-world of self-publishing, there are a lot of people out there who are willing to share what they know, based upon their own experiences. But, there’s a HUGE difference between hiring an Author Consultant/Book Coach and hiring someone who has recently self-published one or two books.

You may be able to get some great advice from these novices, but they are only able to give you advice based on their own limited experience.

Sadly, I meet a lot of authors who say things like, “My neighbor just published her first book and she said ________________ ” (fill in the blank).

I can literally feel my heart sink as they begin to tell me the UN-professional advice they followed, thinking it would help them save money or time. I can see it in their eyes and hear it in their voice . . . following this person’s advice has cost them money and time, with little or nothing to show.

An EXPERIENCED Author Consultant, on the other hand, will help you . . .

• Minimize your investment
• Maximize your return on royalties
• Retain 100% of your profits
• Secure ownership of your copyright
• Access global distribution
• Avoid self-publishing pitfalls

Ready to chat with THAT kind of book coach?

Give me a call. I’m an experienced branding expert and after many years in corporate marketing, I’ve spent the past 15 years growing our own business. I’m known for my combination of brand strategy, business-growth mindset, and my highly-intuitive radar for identifying your unique position for both your brand and your message (aka: your book).

Jack (my husband) joined me in 2008, and along with our team of hand-selected creatives, we have a solid track record of helping service professionals and solo-preneurs use the power of publishing to:

• Establish Credibility
• Attract More Clients
• Monetize Your Passion

Let us help you plant the seed which will BECOME more than “just a book.”

Join the hundreds of other authors (well over 300) throughout the US and around the globe who call us first for our one-on-one hand-holding.

Ready to make the rest of 2019 amazing?

Click here to schedule a time to talk with me!

I can’t wait to help you save time and money . . . and reduce your overall level of stress!

Although most authors don’t ask quite so bluntly, they ALL want to know how to recoup their initial investment when hiring someone to help them publish their book.

I have the exact same conversation with each author:

“It’s not about how well your book sells . . .
It’s ALL about how well your book sells YOU!”

Imagine your newly-published book in your hands. Fresh off the press, the aroma of fresh ink and newly-printed paper wafts through the room.

Now What?

Just because you “build it,” there is no guarantee “they will come.” Yes, your book will be available via Amazon.com and wherever books are sold . . . BUT . . .

• Are you willing to step out into the public eye and speak?
• What programs are you willing to develop around your book to help grow your business?
• Can you identify potential collaborative businesses with whom you can partner and build programs which will help promote your services?

Your book is merely a high-end branding tool to market your business. Please don’t see it as the solution to your retirement plan.

If you are ready to learn more about how a book can highlight you and your business, give me a call, 888-598-0886.

We help you minimize your investment . . . AND maximize your impact . . . AND we hold your hand throughout the process (figuratively, unless you really want us to hold your hand).

If you’re anything like me, you’re feeling a mixture of excitement and fear coming up now that 2019 is here. 

There are still LOTS of bills to be paid, let alone new GOALS to be set . . . AND MET!

You are committed to making 2019 AMAZING . . . and we can help!

When you join our next anthology, “Living Well: Positive Perspectives on Creating a Life Worth Living,” BEFORE JANUARY 15^th, you get 2018 pricing! Publish date will be just in time for Mother’s Day, 2019!

If you’ve been thinking about writing a book, but may not be sure where to start —

START WITH ONE CHAPTER!

“I LOVED how easy they made the process!”

Maximize Your Impact & Reduce Expenses Through Collaboration

TAKE A TIP-TOE INTO THE PUBLISHING POND. An anthology is simply a collection of essays with a common theme and provides you the chance to be a published author — without the financial expense or time involved in writing an entire book on your own. Through the process of collaboration, more people learn about you and your unique offerings, at a greatly reduced price.

“Writing my chapter gave me the confidence
to finish writing my own book!”

Attract More Clients, Help More People, and Monetize Your Passion

POSITION YOURSELF AS THE EXPERT. As a contributing author to the anthology, you’ll spread your message and share your unique offerings through your own individualized chapter, while you expand your “tribe” and inspire others.

“Promoting my book with the other authors gave me the
opportunity to be introduced to all of THEIR contacts!”

Your business involves helping others and you are at the
forefront of making things happen for the greater good.

PERFECT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, ESPECIALLY THE “HELPERS AND HEALERS”.

As a life coach, mentor, therapist, physician, educator, speaker, or other
professional service provider, a book helps you engage a larger audience.

• Establish Your Credibility
• Inspire More People
• Project a Professional Image
• Develop Greater Visibility
• Attract, Retain and Solidify Your Client Base

Contact Cathy to reserve your chapter and learn more about our next anthology, “Living Well: Positive Perspectives on Creating a Life Worth Living.”

Early-bird pricing of $500 is only good through January 15^th!

No matter your celebration of choice, the winter holidays are in full-swing, much to the delight of children . . . while many adults find themselves frantically checking off items on their To-Do lists.

I’m just as guilty as the next person with my own To-Do list. It’s not uncommon for me to “DO” myself into a frenzy during December, and end up catching some sort of bug (YEP – happened again this year!) . . . which in turn, slows me down.

One would think I’d figure out to stop “DO-ing” that . . . BEFORE I get sick.

So, during this Season of Giving, I’m sure I’m not the first to wonder . . .

What if there was a “Season for Being?”

What would that look like? I bet there’d be a beach involved. Temperatures in the 70’s. Warm ocean breezes wafting by. I can hear the waves crashing on the shoreline as it frames a golden sunset on the horizon.

I would BE:

• Relaxed
• NOT LOOKING for my To-Do list
• NOT CONCERNED about time/deadlines, nor the next phone call/meeting
• Reading a book (one made from paper, neatly tucked into a well-designed cover‑of course!)

OK. So I think I finally GET IT.
NOW is the time to plan for next December. It’s time to give myself the Gift of Being.

I love what I do, and I love helping our clients share their wisdom with the world . . .

But, next year, we’re going to GET IT ALL DONE before the holidays so WE CAN ALL focus on the Season of Being . . . whatever that means to YOU . . . time for yourself or time with others . . . or BOTH.

A Sad Winter’s Tale
(Adapted to the tune of “Let it Snow”)
© December 2018, daviscreative.com

Oh, the cover outside is frightful,
And the copy inside is typo’d.
How little did this author know,
Shouting, “Let it go, let it go, let it go!”

He chose no editor for choppin’-
Out words not needed, nor poppin’.
He set his sights way down low,
Shouting, “Let it go, let it go, let it go!”

His mostly-bad copy does not read well,
And he just doesn’t see that it’s not gonna sell.
His first impression is a bad one to show,
As he shouts, “Let it go, let it go, let it go!”

We wanted him to publish and shine,
How we hate it when books are this bad.
The author’s convinced, “It’s fine!”
But, all the way home, we’ll be sad!

Our excitement is slowly dyin’
Cuz, my dear, we’d only be lyin’
If we say this book’s best in show.
So, we must “Let it go, let it go, let it go!”

Oh, the cover outside is frightful.
And the copy inside is typo’d.
How little did this author know,
Shouting, “Let it go, let it go, let it go!”

If you keep asking yourself whether or not you need to write a book, the answer is, “YES!”

1. Expand your reach beyond your current city/state/region/country.  If you want to expand your business beyond its current reach, a published book gives you a national platform. Today’s technology allows you to help clients around the corner, AND around the world.
2. Solidify your brand with a professionally-produced book. Your book is one component of a strong brand, and if not done correctly, can backfire. If your book looks or reads as if written by a 5^th grader (no offense meant to 5^th graders) or comes across in ANY way as unprofessional, you automatically diminish the positive impact of your brand. Writing a BAD book is worse than not writing one at all.
3. Increase Your Trust-ability. People buy from those whom they trust. Reading your professionally-written and designed book is the next best thing to meeting you in person. Your book allows someone to get to know you better and helps to create relationships beyond your current networking circles.
4. Become a recognized AUTHOR-ity and establish/expand your credibility. There is no coincidence that AUTHOR is the root-word of AUTHORITY. If you are a professional service provider (accountant, financial service rep, lawyer, life coach, therapist, etc.) you get instant expertise status when you write a book and are immediately seen as the expert you truly are.
5. Expand or create a movement. You’ve built your business by following your PASSION, aligning your PURPOSE, and aiming for those PROFITS. Whether you are FOR profit, or NON-profit, helping others is your mission. Writing a book to highlight your passion is the best way to call attention to your specific movement, enlist the interest of others, and motivate the masses to support you on your journey to helping others.

One of the questions I get asked by EVERY author is, “How do I launch my book?”  

No two authors (let alone no two books) are ever alike, but the one thing they always have in common is the excitement around FINALLY publishing their book. It’s human nature to want to share the excitement with family, friends, followers, and potential new readers!

Start sharing the excitement around your book long before your book is available on Amazon.com or
in bookstores . . .

1. Take to social media and share the latest happenings at least once a week . . . “Today, I met with my editor and we . . .” “Next week I’ll be receiving my Foreword from . . .”
2. Use the 3-D and flat images you received from your book designer to build excitement about your book through your e-news and social media.
3. Add your 3-D image to the back of your business card as a conversation starter.
4. You can also ask your designer to make you a NEW business card in the shape of a bookmark and start handing those out at networking events.
5. Have a 3” button made of your new book cover and wear it to networking events.
6. Share the endorsements (via social media) you’ll be using on your cover and/or inside your book and cross-promote the people who are endorsing you.
7. Set a date for your local book launch and start mapping out the details of the event.
   • Draft your invitation list and determine how many books you need to have pre-printed.
   • Will you have both paperback and hardback books available?
   • Where will you have your launch party?
   • What will be your menu?
   • How much will you charge for admission to your launch party/networking event?
   • Designate a nonprofit for the proceeds.
   • Send private (or not-so-private) invitations to your guest list.
   • Designate an RSVP date so you know your headcount.
   • Pre-sign all pre-purchased books and wrap with a ribbon and name tag for the recipient.
   • Have a few extra books on hand for people to buy (just in case).
   • Mingle with your guests and let someone else handout all the books while a second person monitors the food and beverage table.
   • ENJOY THE CELEBRATION of your amazing accomplishment!

There’s a M.A.G.I.C. Wand on my desk. It has been there so long, it has become part of the background. I believe the wand came from a childhood costume of my daughter’s — to which, over time, I have added a bit of embellishment, claiming it as my own. If anything, it serves as a reminder of my own personal MAGIC power within, and the innate abilities we each are given when we are born into this existence.

My M.A.G.I.C. Wand speaks to me.

Every now and then, a bit of light creates an extra sparkle which catches my eye, reminding me to tap into that inner power. My M.A.G.I.C. Wand sends me a burst of energy . . . a rush of confidence . . . an inner knowing that says, “You’ve GOT THIS!”

My M.A.G.I.C. Wand reminds me to . . .

• MOVE in a positive direction
• ALIGN my passion, purpose, vision, and values
• GROW in confidence with each new step
• IMAGINE the possibilities
• CREATE the best life I can imagine

A few people have asked if they could borrow my M.A.G.I.C. Wand . . . SURE!

Give me a call . . . “We’ll talk!”

PARADIGM:
A new pattern.
A shift in thinking.
A pivot.

The world of independent- and self-publishing is constantly changing.
We work with a variety of industry-preferred online vendors, and it sometimes seems as if their process or protocol changes weekly (if not daily). Over the past 15 years, we have learned to pivot on a moment’s notice and find new workarounds in the ever-changing publishing landscape.

In the past two months alone . . .

• CreateSpace merged with KDP, and we’ve been busy helping our authors transition their books over to KDP and a “new way” of doing things. A few have encountered some obstacles, but we’ve been there to hold their hands and find solutions.
• The government-regulated ISBN agency, Bowker, was hacked on November 5th, which completely shut down their website. Bowker created a temporary website to handle registrations while the old site is being rebuilt. You temporarily need to download a WORD document, fill it out online or by hand, AND fax (remember those!?) or scan/email it to Bowker.

We know our way around and we know how to pivot.

Our clients have learned to trust us to “find the best way”. We are immersed in the industry on a daily basis (sometimes 12-15 hours a day). Our propriety process helps transformational small-business owners write books, become published authors and monetize their passion while minimizing their investment.

If you find yourself in a tizzy . . . or merely in a state of exasperated confusion, give us a call. We can help.

We work with a lot of independent small business owners . . . life coaches, speakers, therapists, educators, etc. Most are in the helping and healing professions, giving of themselves and their expertise to help others find a happy, healthy way of living.

A common denominator which comes up quite often with these clients is how much to charge for their services. Because what they do comes SO easily to them, many are priced way too low, and end up giving their services away for free. They barely charge enough to meet their expenses.

Been there. Done that. Moving on.

Experience has told me that if I don’t value myself and my gifts (my unique expertise), neither will anyone else.

If you are ready to LEARN Your Value & EARN Your Value, give me a shout. I’d love to have a genuine conversation with you. Our conversation will include how to:

• ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR PASSION —WHAT are you really selling, and WHY?
• ALIGN YOUR PURPOSE —WHO you are selling to, and HOW do you offer them relief?
• ATTRACT MORE PROFITS— Connect your brand messaging with your programs and pricing structure to attract the interest of your target audience.