Today, I’m joined by Wahida Clark, a New York Times Best Seller who has authored over a dozen books. She has created a successful fiction series and a raving fan base who read her books.
While living in Georgia, Wahida worked for an advertising firm. She was sent to the federal prison in Kentucky. While there, she taught computer classes in the evening and worked at the library in the morning. She picked up a magazine one day that talked about an author who wrote a book in prison. “I started looking at all the books in the library, and I started visualizing my name on all the spines of the books.” That is when she decided to write a book.
Wahida noticed a class on creative writing at the prison, and she decided to sign up. “We were in prison, so there were no computers. I had to hand-write my book on yellow legal paper. I had the inmates reading the chapters as I write them.” She sent out inquiry letters to publishers and agents, which ended up being rejected. One agent, however, reconnected with her when she was released from prison. She agreed to represent Wahida and is still her literary agent to this day.
She asked prison workers to make copies, so she had a transcript to send to a publisher. They agreed, as long as she put them in the acknowledgment in her book. Wahita started publishing in prison and sold over a million books before she left prison.
Listen in to find out how Wahita spread the word about her book throughout the prison system, sold books and became a popular author while in solitary confinement for writing a book, and how she inspired others in prison to become authors. Learn the two elements that keep her readers reading and engaged.
Show Notes
[01:52] Why Wahida decided to write her first book. [05:47] The writing process in prison. [07:55] Wahida reads books by Carl Weber. [09:06] Her first royalty check of $25,000 bounced. [10:09] The lieutenant's office at the prison wanted to know how she wrote a book. [12:30] She made flyers to send to other prisoners and her book started to take wing and fly. [14:04] Simon & Schuester signed Wahita after her release from prison. [16:20] Why she sold so many books while in prison. [17:59] Genres she considered when writing her book. [19:15] How she came to write a series of books. [23:04] Keeping her readers engaged and leaving reviews. [26:32] Why Wahita is moving out of her genre. [30:23] Top takeaways from Self Publishing School. [32:05] Advice for authors to write their first book. [3:11] What she would have done differently with her book and her channel.Links and Resources
Visit Self Publishing School Online SPS Free Training Course Wahida Clark Publishing Wahida on Fantastic FictionSPS 185: Writing Great Fables & Discovering Your “Working Genius” with Patrick Lencioni
SPS 184: From Pastor To Author & Podcaster; Writing For Church Leaders with Carey Nieuwhof
SPS 183: Writing A “Hybrid” Memoir & Taking The Unconventional Path with Mary Lawless Lee
SPS 182: Real & Raw Writing About Tough Experiences With Dave Hollis
SPS 181: Ghostwriters, Buying Back Book Rights From Your Publisher & Becoming A Successful Speaker with Grant Baldwin
SPS 180: A Scientist & A Copywriter Walk Into A Bar… (80/20 Sales & Marketing Overview) with Perry Marshall
SPS 179: Ads For Authors- Selling Books & Growing Your Business Using Ads with Nicholas Kusmich
SPS 178: Sales Skills That Will Help You Sell More Books with C. Lee Smith
SPS 177: Growing Your Ministry And Faith Based Business Using A Book with Jonathan Hardy
SPS 176: Poetry, Creativity, Memes, & Art- Channeling These Talents Into A Great Book with James McCrae
SPS 175: Simple Money, Rich Life - Behind the Scenes Of My Successful Book Launch with Bob Lotich
SPS 174: The Wise Investor: Using A Business Fable To Stand Out In A Crowded Market with Rich Fettke
SPS 173: Growing Your Real Estate Empire & Raising Private Money Using A Book with Matt Faircloth
SPS 172: Writing On Medium To Sell More Books & Grow Your Email List with Ayodeji Awosika
SPS 171: How To Write Useful Books That Help Readers & Sell Well with Rob Fitzpatrick
SPS 170: Growing Your Corporate Speaking & Consulting Business Using A Book with Brenda Bence
SPS 169: How To Make Your Next Book More Successful Than All Of Your Previous Books with Tony & Alisa DiLorenzo
ANNOUNCEMENT: 2 New BIG Speakers for Author Advantage Live & Last Chance To Get Tickets!
SPS 167: Selling 40,000+ Books In Two Years As An “Unknown” Fiction Author…How I Did It with Barbara Hartzler
SPS 166: From Laid Off To Two Time Award Winning Author with Bill Miller
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