Finish the Damn Book Podcast

Have you been talking about writing a book for months, or even years, but still haven't finished your manuscript? What if the problem isn't a lack of ideas, but too many ideas, perfectionism, or the fear of what happens once your book is finished?

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, host Susie Schaefer welcomes Bridgett McGowen-Hawkins, founder of Press 49, an award-winning hybrid publishing company that has helped publish more than 190 authors and co-authors.

Bridgett shares why aspiring authors often stay stuck in the planning stages, how perfectionism disguises itself as high standards, and...

You've finished writing your book. You've worked through editing, formatting, and cover design. Now you're ready to hit publish. But are you actually ready to launch?

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book Podcast, Susie Schaefer welcomes Robbie Samuels, award-winning author, book launch strategist, and founder of BizBook PubHub, to explore why publishing a book and successfully launching one are two very different things.

Robbie explains why authors should slow down, build a launch team, and focus on long-term results rather than chasing bestseller rankings or a single big release day. He also shares...

Is AI making nonfiction books obsolete? Not so fast.

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, Susie Schaefer welcomes back Ally Machate, founder of The Writer's Ally, publishing strategist, and former Simon & Schuster editor, to explore how artificial intelligence is changing the publishing industry and what authors can do to make their books stand out.

Ally explains why basic how-to books face new competition from AI, while original experiences, storytelling, expert judgment, and meaningful reader connections remain essential.

In this episode, you'll discover:

What if the career you've already lived isn't separate from your writing journey, but part of what prepared you for it?

Award-winning writer and producer Angela Page joins Susie Schaefer to talk about leaving corporate life, learning the craft of screenwriting, publishing books, producing films, and continuing to reinvent herself after 50.

Angela shares why her years in international business became an advantage when navigating contracts, negotiations, and the business side of entertainment. She also talks about adapting written work for the screen, building a portfolio, finding good feedback, and why writers need a community around...

How long have you been saying you’ll write your book “someday”?

Tara Hayes has a reminder for you: someday is not a day of the week.

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book!, Susie Schaefer sits down with Tara Hayes, speaker, 2x author, publishing strategist, creator of The Published Authority™, and founder of Tarafied Publishing Co., to talk about what it really takes to move from having an idea for a book to actually publishing one.

Their conversation goes beyond writing and publishing mechanics. Tara and Susie talk about realistic timelines, finding...

Getting your book published is one thing. Getting people to notice it is another.

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book!, Susie Schaefer talks with Liz H. Kelly, Founder and CEO of Goody PR and Goody Business Book Awards, about what authors need to know to get their books, stories, and expertise in front of a much larger audience.

Liz brings more than 20 years of PR and marketing experience to the conversation and shares practical strategies authors can use to pursue earned media, prepare for interviews, create stronger messaging, and develop the “Wow Story” that...

What happens when the story you feel called to write is also one of the hardest subjects for people to talk about?

Theresa Evans spent 15 years as a nurse, much of it in critical cardiac care. Years later, she found herself beside her own mother as her family navigated an intensely personal decision about end-of-life care.

That experience became Theresa’s first book, Choosing to Die: A Daughter’s Story of Supporting Her Mother’s End of Life Through Assisted Death. 

In this conversation with Susie Schaefer, Theresa shares what it was like to writ...

What if the dreams you forget by breakfast are actually trying to tell you something?

Psychotherapist, poet, author, and dream worker Valerie Johns, MFT joins Susie Schaefer for a fascinating conversation about dreams, creativity, intuition, and the unconscious.

Valerie shares practical ways to remember dreams, including setting an intention before sleep and capturing images and words before drifting back to sleep. She also explains why she encourages people to write and retell dreams in the present tense, bringing the experience back to life rather than treating it as something that has...

What happens when writing isn’t just something you do, but part of who you are?

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, Susie Schaefer sits down with award-winning and bestselling multi-genre author, voice actor, and creative powerhouse Aaron Ryan, whose career spans more than 50 books, professional voiceover work, and multiple screen adaptations.

Aaron shares how a second-grade story called The Electric Boy sparked a lifelong desire to create, why dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction became his wheelhouse, and how cinematic storytelling influences the way he writes. He and Susie also di...

How long have you been telling yourself you'll write the book someday?

For author Ray Hartjen, a multiple myeloma diagnosis changed what “someday” meant.

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, Ray joins Susie Schaefer for a candid conversation about writing, storytelling, reinvention, and what happens when life forces you to reconsider how you're spending your time.

Ray's professional life has taken him from investment banking and pharmaceuticals to consumer electronics, SaaS software, music, marketing, and writing. What he eventually realized was that those seemingly unrelated chapters had some...

What happens when a writer who has spent decades working in television, theater, opera, and script editing decides to write his first fantasy novel?

For Richard Sparks, it started with a simple question while playing an online role-playing game: What would it actually be like to become this character?

That question became New Rock New Role and eventually an entire fantasy adventure series. But Richard brought something else to fiction with him: decades of experience understanding how stories work.

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, Susie Schaefer talks with...

Your book may carry your message, but your book isn't your entire brand.

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, Susie Schaefer sits down with brand messaging strategist Beth Castellanos to explore why authors need to think beyond publishing the book and start considering the bigger picture of their brand.

Beth explains how a strong brand connects who you are, who your ideal reader is, what your work means, and where you want to go next. For authors using a book to build an audience, attract clients, secure speaking opportunities...

What happens when the dream you've carried since third grade refuses to let go?

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, Susie Schaefer welcomes children's author Steph Katzovi, who left a successful corporate career to pursue the dream she'd held since childhood, becoming an author.

Steph shares the challenges of writing while raising young children, navigating independent publishing, and creating stories that help tweens feel seen through humor, heart, and relatable characters.

The conversation also explores creativity, intuition, storytelling, and how following unexpected ideas may lead to opportunities far beyond...

What happens when a lifelong passion for storytelling refuses to stay a hobby?

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, Susie Schaefer welcomes fantasy author and Army veteran Richard Spegal to discuss his journey from military service to becoming a successful independent author. Richard shares how a short story written to impress the woman who would become his wife evolved into the Wolves and Ravens trilogy, the hard lessons he learned after years of navigating vanity publishers, and why he ultimately chose to build his own publishing brand.

The conversation...

What if sharing your story is part of your healing?

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, Susie Schaefer talks with author, acupuncturist, and functional medicine practitioner Heather Moore about writing a deeply personal memoir, healing from family trauma, caregiving, resilience, and learning to trust yourself through life's most difficult seasons. 

Heather shares the story behind Trusting Resilience, why she chose to self-publish, and how writing helped her move from survival into purpose.

In This Episode

• Writing about family trauma

• Healing through story...

Writing a book takes more than talent, it takes persistence.

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, Susie Schaefer sits down with novelist, poet, and writing professor H.A. Callum to discuss imposter syndrome, social media, publishing, intuition, and why the writers who succeed are the ones who simply refuse to quit. 

In This Episode

• Overcoming imposter syndrome

• Building an authentic author platform

• Why persistence matters more than talent

• The importance of writing every day

• Trusting your intuition

• The publishin...

What if the story you're meant to write finds you?

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, Susie Schaefer sits down with debut author Brigid Kennedy, whose journey into writing began with an unforgettable dream, and a promise to preserve her family's extraordinary history.

Brigid shares how a lifelong family legend about her Irish treasure-hunting great-grandfather became the inspiration for her bestselling novel Lost, the first book in her Irish Myths and Incan Legends series.

Together, Susie and Brigid discuss:

• Why perfectionism keeps so ma...

Many aspiring authors wonder the same thing:

"Why would anyone care about my story?"

In this episode, Susie Schaefer talks with award-winning author, memoir coach, and developmental editor Ally Berthiaume about why personal stories matter, how memoirs become meaningful to readers, and the difference between writing from a wound versus writing from a scar.

Ally shares practical advice for first-time memoirists, common mistakes writers make, and how storytelling can create connection, healing, and even social change.

They also discuss:

• Why your personal story is more universal than yo...

Many people dream of writing a book. Few actually finish one.

In this episode, Susie Schaefer sits down with copywriter, book coach, and author Rachel Catherine Allen to discuss why writers get stuck, how mindset impacts the writing process, and what it takes to finally get your book across the finish line.

Rachel shares insights on authenticity, clarity, memoir writing, and the personal journey behind her upcoming memoir, Bat Shit: My Story of Going Sane.

Key Topics:
• Why authors struggle to finish their books
• The role of mindset in writ...

What does it really take to move a book from idea to bestseller?

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, Susie Schaefer sits down with publishing strategist, bestselling author, and AI for Authors founder Tanya Brockett to discuss how authors can turn their expertise into books that create impact, credibility, and new opportunities.

Tanya shares her INK Method, explains why understanding your ideal reader matters, and discusses the mindset shifts that help authors move from unfinished manuscripts to published books.

In This Episode

• From book idea to bestseller

Many authors dream of becoming award-winning authors, but are book awards really worth pursuing?

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, Susie Schaefer sits down with Carol Abrahamson, founder of Book Award Mastery and former McGraw-Hill executive, to discuss how book awards can help authors build credibility, increase visibility, and create new opportunities long after publication. Carol shares insider insights from decades of experience helping authors navigate the world of book awards, avoid scams, and develop a strategy that supports their long-term goals. 

In this episode:

• Are book awards worth the investment?

Many authors spend years learning how to write, but very few learn how to edit.

In this episode, Susie Schaefer talks with editor and educator Katie Chambers about self-editing, working with professional editors, building a stronger manuscript, and the growing role of AI in publishing.

Katie shares how she transitioned from teaching English to running a successful editing business, why authors often submit manuscripts too early, and what writers can do to improve their books before hiring an editor.

They also discuss:

• Why self-editing matters

• Common mistakes first-time authors make...

What happens when technology becomes so advanced that it can imitate your voice?

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, Susie Schaefer sits down with David Wolf, founder of Audivita Studios and longtime producer across radio, television, film, podcasts, and audiobooks, to explore one of publishing’s fastest-changing frontiers: audio. 

Together they unpack:
 • Why audiobooks are no longer optional for many authors
 • How podcasting evolved into today’s version of on-demand radio
 • The surprising limits of AI-generated voice
 • What makes human storytelling impossible to replicate
 • How intuition and creativity shape great work

What happens when psychology, intuition, creativity, and storytelling collide?

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, Susie Schaefer sits down with Anne Bartolucci, PhD, psychologist, writing mentor, USA Today bestselling author, and founder of Psych Up Academy.

Anne shares how she blends psychology, mythology, intuition, and storytelling to help heart-centered entrepreneurs write books that truly connect with readers. From procrastination and imposter syndrome to creativity, spirituality, and even tarot, this conversation explores the deeper emotional and energetic side of writing.

In this episode:

What if the reason you haven’t finished your book has less to do with talent…and more to do with the stories you tell yourself about who you are?

In this episode, Susie Schaefer talks with author, educator, and publisher Sierra Melcher about intuition, creativity, imposter syndrome, women’s voices, and the transformational process of becoming a published author.

Sierra shares how she went from believing she wasn’t a writer to publishing 19 books and building Red Thread Publishing, a collaborative publishing house devoted to helping authors amplify meaningful stories and create impact.

Togeth...

Most authors believe once the book is written… everything else will follow.

More visibility. More clients. More income.

But what if that’s not how it actually works?

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, Susie Schaefer sits down with book marketing and monetization expert James Ranson to break down the missing link between writing your book and actually making money from it.

After years on both sides of the industry, as a ghostwriter, editor, and now a strategist, James shares why so many authors struggle to see results, and how...

What if your book isn’t just something you write, but the key that unlocks everything else?

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, Susie Schaefer sits down with publishing expert, speaker, and author Jennifer Wilkov to explore how storytelling becomes the foundation for visibility, opportunity, and long-term impact.

From navigating a failed publishing deal to rebuilding a successful book from the ground up, Jennifer shares what it really takes to create a book that works for you, not just on paper, but in your business and your life.

This is a po...

What if the reason your book isn’t working… isn’t the book?

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, Susie Schaefer sits down with publishing strategist Jenn T. Grace to unpack one of the most overlooked truths in authorship:

👉 Your book, your brand, and your business must work together.

Jenn shares her journey from writing multiple books to building a hybrid publishing company, and how many authors unintentionally create disconnect between their message and their impact.

They dive into:

What if your book isn’t failing because of your writing… but because of your strategy?

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, Susie Schaefer sits down with publishing strategist and former Simon & Schuster editor Ally Machate to break down what most authors get wrong before they ever hit publish.

If you’ve ever wondered:

This conversation will change how you think about the entire process.

All...

What if your book wasn’t the finish line, but the beginning of something bigger?

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, Susie Schaefer sits down with publishing strategist and “bee lady” Judy M. Baker, founder of Buzzworthy Books. Judy shares her unique approach to helping authors create meaningful, sustainable visibility by aligning their book with their bigger mission.

From her early days working in Napa Valley wine country to publishing her first book at just 16, Judy’s journey is full of unexpected connections, bold decisions, and powerful insights.

You’ll discover:

Struggling to finish your book, or feeling like your writing doesn’t sound like you anymore?

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book Podcast, Susie Schaefer sits down with ghostwriter, developmental editor, and writing coach MJ Halberstadt to explore how writers can reconnect to their voice, build momentum, and navigate writing in an AI-driven world.

MJ shares how he moved from copywriting into ghostwriting, and why the label “developmental editing” is often more collaborative, and more powerful than people realize. Together, they unpack what it really looks like to create a book that sounds like y...

If you’ve ever felt like your book has to be perfect before you can finish it…
this episode is for you.

In this conversation, Susie Schaefer sits down with author Janelle Strube to unpack the anxiety, pressure, and perfectionism that keep so many writers stuck.

Janelle shares what it really felt like to write her novel Adelaide, Painter of the Revolution, from battling the fear of rejection to navigating the emotional weight of her personal story.

And one of the biggest takeaways?

If you’ve been thinking about writing a book, but keep feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start…

This episode is different.

In this special behind-the-scenes conversation, Susie Schaefer joins International Award-Winning Author Coach Susan Crossman inside a live Build-a-Book Community Clinic, where aspiring authors open up about what’s really holding them back.

And what unfolds is something every writer needs to hear.

You’ll hear real questions, real struggles, and real breakthroughs around:

• The fear that keeps people from publishing
 • How to stop rewri...

What if your book didn’t just launch a message, but fueled an entire movement?

In this episode, Kimberly Spencer shares the behind-the-scenes strategy that turned her book into the foundation for two thriving companies. From sprint writing in an Airbnb to securing dozens of legal case-study permissions in just days, Kimberly reveals what it really takes to move from idea to impact.

We talk about the balance between intuition and structure, the importance of community when launching a book, and why podcast guesting can become one of the most powerful marketing engines for authors.

Pam Dwyer joins the Finish the Damn Book Podcast to share how a second-edition memoir evolved into a full podcast production business — and why authors must think beyond the book.

In this episode, we explore how brand clarity, consistent publishing, and smart distribution transform a personal story into a sustainable platform.

We discuss:

• Turning a finished book into a discoverable brand
 • Using Plus One actions to build steady momentum
 • Learning SEO basics and understanding how Google works
 • Treating YouTube as video-first while honoring audio listeners
 • Using AI for structure while protecting...

We talk with Dr. Jodi Blinko about finishing her book, rebuilding Zen Leader, and how authenticity, intuition, and simple mantras can carry real weight in business and creative life. A live card reading frames the year’s energy and offers a clear path to build with focus.

• turning Inner Alchemy from idea to finished book
• relaunching Zen Leader to serve holistic and corporate needs
• choosing values over ego and people pleasing
• healing old beliefs and letting go of misaligned roles
• intuition as a daily leadership and hiring tool
• title choice, brand voice, and audience f...

A career doesn’t always start with a plan; sometimes it starts with a nudge you can’t ignore. We sit down with MeiMei Fox—two-time New York Times bestselling author, ghostwriter, and coach—to unpack the real mechanics of writing a book readers finish and share. From a surprise first deal to decades of editorial trenches, MeiMei shows why your brain trusts story more than stats, and how to turn lived experience into pages that move people to action.

We get practical fast. MeiMei breaks down a five-day best-selling book blueprint that helps you shape a clear pr...

In this episode, ghostwriter and developmental editor Charlie Daly reveals how to write stories that truly matter. He and host Susie Schafer dive into intuition, emotional intelligence, vulnerability, and why the deepest truths—messy, imperfect, and human—create the most powerful books. From navigating tough interviews to breaking through a writer’s emotional blocks, Charlie shares how real storytelling happens when authors drop the mask, embrace authenticity, and dare to go deeper.

Finish the Damn Book Podcast helps aspiring authors, entrepreneurs, creatives, and writers finally complete the book they know they’re meant to write.

Hos...

In this episode, Susie sits down with ghostwriter and developmental editor Charlie Daly to explore the emotional, creative, and deeply human side of ghostwriting. Charlie shares how he helps authors—especially veterans and trauma survivors—“go there” with difficult stories, the healing that happens through storytelling, and why collaboration is at the heart of every great book. From his cottage on the Irish coast to the pages of powerful memoirs, Charlie opens up about process, purpose, and preserving stories before they're lost forever. 

Finish the Damn Book Podcast helps aspiring authors, entrepreneurs, creatives, and writers finally c...

In this episode of Finish the Damn Book, host Susie Schaefer sits down with leadership expert, author, and TEDx speaker Jennifer Reiser—a visionary who blends human-centered leadership with unexpected lessons from the natural world.

Jennifer opens up about the emotional challenges behind creating her two leadership coloring workbooks, including releasing perfectionism, navigating boundaries, and learning to embrace help. She reveals how tapping into creativity helped her rediscover forgotten parts of herself and how each animal in her books carries symbolic lessons that spark powerful self-reflection and team conversations.

From using nature-based leadership tr...