Hi, Reader,

Last month, I sent an email asking for your feedback—and, wow, so many of you replied! Sometimes it feels like I’m writing these emails to the void, and hearing from you truly makes the effort and heart I put into my work feel worth it.

As a result of your feedback, we are trialing a new format of the newsletter. Once a month, you’ll receive a detailed newsletter with book-writing and lifestyle design news, tips, and content curated specifically for you. This was previously a once-per-week newsletter, but we decided to go all in on it once per month, which means it will be extra value-packed and something you won’t want to miss.

And guess what? You helped choose the name!

*Drum roll* The new name is: Beyond Words.

Why Beyond Words? Well, because I see this space as going beyond my daily work in writing and publishing. Yes, I’ll share insights and tips on fostering creative productivity, industry secrets on book publishing and marketing, and more—and on designing a life you love to support your success and impact.

Alongside the monthly Beyond Words, you’ll still receive a weekly message from me, sharing my perspective on writing, publishing, business, lifestyle design, and location independence—or all the above! I write these emails from my heart and hope they feel like you’re receiving a thoughtful, useful email from a friend.

I hope you enjoy this first edition of Beyond Words. As always, I love hearing your feedback and suggestions! Please always feel invited to hit reply to this email and share your thoughts.

Actors’ guide to public speaking + author readings, with Misty Megia

Presenters often work so much on crafting the right words that they often forget about focusing on the actual delivery. The challenge is that 70 percent of communication is nonverbal. If you work on nonverbal communication along with your carefully crafted text, you will exude confidence externally, even if you aren’t feeling 100 percent confident internally.

Join public speaking expert Misty Megia in this powerful session, where we will dive into one of the many strategies that actors leverage in order to add impact to their delivery. The technique we will share will help you not only in public speaking but also in your book journey as you host readings to an audience who is ready to be drawn in.

For this session, please bring an excerpt of your book that should not exceed two paragraphs. We will provide a page if you don’t have one you want to use.

July 16 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

​Join us in the community to attend this event!

From the writer’s room

SMART goals for lasting wellness, with Erin Clifford ​Listen now →​

Top 3 Mistakes First-Time Authors Make (and How to Avoid Them) ​Read more →​

Live boldly, own the stage, and write that memoir, with author Ingrid Hu Dahl ​​Listen now →​

Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Book for Entrepreneurs ​​Read more →​

Self-rejection to self-love, with author Kevin Hutchison ​​Listen now →​

How to Choose the Right Book-Writing Coach ​​Read more →​

Creating a Life and Brand that Nourish, with Madison Wetherill ​Listen now →​

How to Write Your Book During an Overwhelming Season ​Read more →​

Tune in to the full video episodes on YouTube. ​Tune in here →​

5 things you should do to become a thought leader in your industry

As a book coach, I’ve been behind the scenes supporting some of the most iconic industry voices, helping them not only write their books but also step fully into their thought leadership. It’s been incredible seeing how a book can be the thing that elevates an expert into a thought leader.

I’ve also experienced the journey of thought leadership firsthand. Writing and publishing my first book back in 2013 and my second coauthored book in 2018 completely transformed both how I saw myself and how others saw me. Internally, I gained deeper clarity, new frameworks, and clearer language; this impacted how I carried myself, invested in my business, and pursued opportunities. Externally, all this newfound clarity and confidence contributed to crushing it at the opportunities I was given, which led to more opportunities. As a published author, people began to see me as an industry leader. I now speak globally, have grown from being a solopreneur to managing a global remote team, and live my dream life in Portugal.

​[Read the full article . . .]​

Celebrating them 🥳

Congratulations to the new authors in town! Ingrid and Kevin, I’m so proud and happy to see your books out into the world. It has been incredible to witness your writing journeys, seeing you leaning in to your books, and now getting to celebrate you.

Ingrid Hu Dahl Ingrid Hu Dahl is an author, speaker, and leadership coach. She is the founder of a coaching and consulting business dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders. With over two decades of experience in learning and development, she brings her expertise to a wide range of industries, from corporate and media to nonprofit and social justice organizations. ​Sun Shining on Morning Snow: A Memoir of Identity, Loss, and Living Boldly​

Kevin Hutchison Kevin Hutchison is a marketing professional and former pastor, whose talent and expertise have been leveraged in both profit and not-for-profit organizations. He has worked for national and global agencies, held tenure in communications with a midwestern mega-church, and has served on boards such as the American Marketing Association and RESPECT, an education-and theater-based anti-bullying nonprofit. ​Alchemy from Ashes: Bringing My Shattered Faith, Mental Health, and Sexuality into Wholeness​

💫 Your writing inspiration

💡 Writing tip: Leverage the power of community.

Writing can be a solitary endeavor, but engaging with a community provides support, accountability, and inspiration. Stacy advocates for connecting with fellow writers to share experiences and encouragement.

💭 Writing quote by Octavia Butler

“First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won’t. Habit is persistence in practice.”

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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