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 165: How To Write A Great Biography / Memoir with Phil Rosenkrantz
SPS 164: Turning Your Chronic Illness Into A Book That Impacts Millions Of Readers with Tori Geiger
SPS 163: The Artist Journey: A Path From Creativity To Bestselling Author & Business Growth with Nancy Hillis
SPS 162: How Are You, Really? - Behind The Scenes Of Writing & Launching My First Book with Jenna Kutcher
SPS 161: Sneak Peak: John C Maxwell Interview from AAL
SPS 160: Quitting My Corporate Because Of My Book with Mick Spiers
SPS 159: How To Get A Multi 6 Figure Advance With Your First Book with Brian Dixon
SPS 158: Lessons Learned In The Trenches Helping 1,000’s Of Authors with Brett Hilker
SPS 157: How To Write & Publish A Memoir That Makes A Difference (Behind The Scenes Of The SPS Coaching Process) with Kerk Murray
SPS 156: Enneagram For Authors: Using Your Enneagram Type To Write & Publish A Better Book with Ian Morgan Cron
SPS 155: The Happy Hustler’s Guide To Writing And Marketing A Book Without Burning Out with Cary Jack
SPS 154: Publishing A Faith-Based Book That Inspires Action & Spreads Your Message with Aaron Schafer
SPS 153: Writing A Children’s Book For Your Kids - How To Do It & Why You Should with Josiah Fogle
SPS 152: Let It Be Easy: Using Publicity & Instagram To Sell Books & Grow Your Business with Susie Moore
SPS 151: Growing Your Influence & Selling More Books Using Instagram with Jordan Lee Dooley
SPS 150: Speak & Write With No Fear with Mike Acker (From Speaker To Author)
SPS 149: The 4 Tendencies of Bestselling Authors & Writing Great Books with Gretchen Rubin
SPS 148: Growing Your Real Estate Investing Business Using A Book with AJ Osborne
SPS 147: From Reading “Published.” To 50,000+ Copies Sold (How I Did It) with Rachel Richards
SPS Is Taking on Author-ity Figures: Who They Are & Exciting Announcement!
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