Joining me today is JJ Virgin, who has been inducted into the Fitness Hall of Fame, television and media personality, and a four-time New York Times Best Selling Author. She has launched over 10 businesses and is a 2-time Inc 5000 Founder. She is recognized as an authority on transformational leadership, as a Top Ten Finalist for the John C. Maxwell Award, as well as winner of the Mindshare Summit Pinnacle award.
JJ’s first experience writing a book was with a screenwriter she was dating at the time. She had a connection with the publisher of Chicken Soup for the Soul, who offered her several thousand dollars for the book. Instead, she decided to self-publish her book and sign a contract with her boyfriend that gave him 50% of everything she did for the rest of her life.
Her second book, “Six Weeks from Sleeveless to Sexy,” went out to lunch with a publisher, went to an editor at Simon and Shuster, took off her jacket, and the editor immediately wanted to buy her book! However, JJ says, “If you are going with a traditional publisher, that’s not what you want to do!”.
When creating her cookbook, The Virgin Diet, another author published a cookbook with the same name six months earlier. The only reason JJ wasn’t able to get out ahead of the other author is that she was traditionally publishing, which takes a much longer process to get your book from idea to print.
She recommends self-publishing as you can easily create a second edition of your book with updates without a huge issue. Traditionally publishing costs a large amount of money to make changes to your finished first edition. JJ also gives advice about marketing and the creation of cookbooks that every cookbook author needs to know!
Listen in to find out how cookbooks are different from regular books, why a cookbook is harder, and what you should and shouldn’t do when you are writing a cookbook. Learn why you have to make sure your cookbook numbers are dialed in before you publish, and her tips on self-publishing cookbooks.
Show Notes
[02:52] JJ’s first book was created while dating a screenwriter. [04:54] How JJ made the mistake of traditional publishing her second book. [07:01] JJ’s process of frameworking her books as she doesn’t like to write. [08:47] Pairing up cookbooks with a regular book. What’s the difference between writing a cookbook and a regular book? [13:25] Why she can’t trademark her book name “The Virgin Diet.” [17:43] The best way you can find mistakes in your book is by doing a verbal readthrough out loud. [19:21] Differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing a cookbook. [22:57] Her tips and advice on creating a self-published cookbook. [28:34] How her product line and her books evolved over time. [32:07] The backend for her physical products - what she is doing and how she is marketing her products. [34:19] How JJ creates multiple income streams with her books and products. [39:29] Building loyalty to the brand gives your company a raving fan base to buy your products. [43:48] The process of getting people on board with your brand. [46:10] Advice for new authors that JJ wishes she knew before she published her first book.Links and Resources
Visit Self Publishing School Online SPS Free Training Course Circle of Profit Designs for Health on the Web JJ Virgin on the web Grab one of her books here Check out her Mindshare Summit Connect with on LinkedIn Follow on InstagramSPS 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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