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Beyond Words: January author vibes, book idea to reality + designing a business around life

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A newsletter for aspiring and published nonfiction authors

Stacy Ennis is a book strategist and coach on a mission to help leaders clarify their ideas and harness their unique story to make an impact. Her background includes impacting more than 100 books in her 16-plus years in publishing; ghostwriting for a Nobel Prize winner in medicine; and leading as executive editor of Sam’s Club’s Healthy Living Made Simple, a publication that reached around 11 million readers. Stacy’s work and writing have been featured in Yahoo!, Inc., Insider, Publisher’s Weekly, Katie Couric, and the TEDx stage. Stacy is also the host of the podcast Beyond Better and holds a master’s in writing and editing from the University of Cincinnati. Learn more at www.stacyennis.com.

Hello, Reader,

If you read my email a few weeks back, you know that the first weeks of this month were not so great in the Ennis household.

But while we were recovering from a rocky holiday break, our team had an incredible influx of messages from aspiring authors around the world.

Honestly, it’s been amazing! And a bit surprising. While it’s common to hear from a lot of author hopefuls in January, the energy I’ve felt from the people I’ve spoken with has a momentum to it that feels real—like these authors are done talking about their books. It’s time to write them.

Still, as we met with individuals to learn more about their books, one thing held true in every conversation: Aspiring authors feel overwhelmed by the world of writing, editing, and publishing their books. Our goal is that any new author who gets on a call with us leaves that call feeling calmer, clearer, and knowing there is a pathway to success with their nonfiction book—and, more importantly, their author dreams.

That’s what I hope to do each month in Beyond Words too: share information, resources, and conversations to help make this weird and often confusing world of writing a book less weird and more fun.

I’d love to hear from you: What’s on your mind? What would you like to see more of from me? Just want to say hello? Please hit reply and share any input or ideas with me.

Cheering you on,

—Stacy

Ready to turn your book idea into reality?

Book a free call and discover how you can take your idea from concept to published author—with clarity, confidence, and a plan that fits your life.

This call is for us to discuss your book idea and the best path forward—whether that includes working with us or not. We’ll discuss:

  • Your book idea, including what it’s really about and whom it’s for
  • Your goals for writing the book, such as impact, purpose, and desired outcomes
  • Your current progress and where you are right now
  • The challenges you’re facing and what might be holding you back
  • Which service or next step could serve you best, even if it’s not with us

Book your free clarity call here.

Designing a business that supports your life

Writing your book can be the catalyst for the freedom and clarity you’ve been looking for in your life.

I really enjoyed this conversation with A Founder’s Life podcast!

video preview

We dive into why designing a business around life—not the other way around—is essential for sustainable success, how to avoid burnout, and how to redefine productivity for the long term.

It was such a joy to reflect on what I’ve learned along the way, and I hope you can find ideas that can apply to your own journey. 💛

From the writer’s room

New Year, New Book: How to Make 2026 Your Author Era

​Read more →

Top Book Awards in 2026—for Nonfiction Authors

​Read more →

Listen to the Book Tip episodes!

Listen now →

Happy one-year bookversary to client Arivee Vargas! 💛 🎉

"Becoming a best-selling author would not have happened without Stacy’s expertise, insight, and unwavering belief in me. She didn’t just help me write a book—she helped me bring my mission and message to life in a way that truly impacted others. From the very start, she brought clarity to my ideas, helped me shape a powerful promise to my readers, and kept me grounded in what mattered most.

When the inevitable self-doubt crept in—the voice that said, ‘No one will care about this,’ or ‘What’s the point?’—Stacy was the steady hand that pulled me through. She helped me shift my mindset, believe in my work, and show up every single time I sat down to write. She saw both the big picture and the small details, guiding me with brilliance, compassion, and a deep understanding of my purpose."

—Arivee Vargas, author, Former Lawyer & HR Leader,executive coach & speaker

💫 Your writing inspiration

💡 Writing tip: Plan, plan, and plan some more

The goal in planning your book is to suss out any problems before you begin writing. It’s also to do all the not-so-fun work, so when you sit down to write, you get to only create. Planning doesn’t stifle creativity; it sets it free—with a little nudge in the right direction.

💭 Writing quote by James Clear

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

Let's connect!

That’s it for this month! Have suggestions? Want to say hey?

Hit reply—I love hearing from you!

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A newsletter for aspiring and published nonfiction authors

Stacy Ennis is a book strategist and coach on a mission to help leaders clarify their ideas and harness their unique story to make an impact. Her background includes impacting more than 100 books in her 16-plus years in publishing; ghostwriting for a Nobel Prize winner in medicine; and leading as executive editor of Sam’s Club’s Healthy Living Made Simple, a publication that reached around 11 million readers. Stacy’s work and writing have been featured in Yahoo!, Inc., Insider, Publisher’s Weekly, Katie Couric, and the TEDx stage. Stacy is also the host of the podcast Beyond Better and holds a master’s in writing and editing from the University of Cincinnati. Learn more at www.stacyennis.com.