Project Seed Money

Beyond the Cover: Tamian Wood on Navigating the Design Process and Protecting Your Story

In this episode of the Project Seed Money Podcast, host Sharissa Bradley sits down with award-winning book designer Tamian Wood to pull back the curtain on the visual side of publishing. Tamian shares her journey from designing museums and billboards to becoming a specialist in the self-publishing world. She provides a masterclass for authors on the logistics of book design, including the exact technical questions you must ask a designer to ensure they are professional, how to spot predatory publishing scams, and the "brilliant" reason you should start your cover design as soon as you have a title. Timestamps: * 00:00 – Meet Tamian Wood of Beyond Design Books. * 00:31 – From layoffs to a second degree: Tamian's path to design. * 02:14 – The Onboarding Process: When to reach out to a designer. * 03:46 – Timelines and Tunnels: How long does a cover really take?. * 04:46 – Technical Interview: 6 Questions every author should ask their designer. * 07:05 – Red Flag Alert: How to spot publishing and marketing scams. * 09:59 – Genre Deep Dive: Historical fiction, Sci-Fi, Cookbooks, and more. * 13:50 – Inspiration for Authors: Progress over perfection. Connect with Tamian: * Website: beyonddesignbooks.com [http://beyonddesignbooks.com/]. * Resource Link: 10 Tips For Finding (and Working With) Your Ideal Cover Designer Freebie: https://bit.ly/4usVfBq [https://bit.ly/4usVfBq]

Igniting Your Fire: Glenda Benevides on Creative Courage and the Badass Goddess Within

In this episode of the Project Seed Money Podcast, host Sharissa Bradley sits down with the multi-talented Glenda Benevides.. Known primarily as a Recording Academy and Grammy-nominated songwriter, Glenda shares how a "serendipitous" kitchen conversation transformed her into a published author. Glenda discusses her rapid writing process—completing her first book in just 15 days despite being dyslexic—and the powerful philosophy of the "Five C's" (Clarity, Courage, Confidence, Commitment, and Community) that guides her life and work. Whether you are a musician, a writer, or a woman looking to reclaim her inner "badass goddess," Glenda's energy and wisdom provide a blueprint for moving blocks out of your way and sharing your unique contribution with the world. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to Glenda Benevides. 01:00 – The "Badass Goddess" Origin Story. 01:45 – The 15-Day Writing Challenge: 15 Chapters, 15 Days. 03:06 – Courage: Find Your Fire and the 5 C's. 05:41 – The Power of a Great Editor (Don't Lose Your Voice!). 06:04 – Choosing the Amazon Publishing Path. 07:31 – Understanding Your "Why": Intention vs. Fame. 10:40 – Moving the Needle: How a book touched a life in Scotland. 15:57 – Final Inspiration: Staying focused on your passion. Connect with Glenda: Website: https://glendabenevides.com Instagram: @glendabenavidesmusic. YouTube: Glenda Benevides Official. Join us on the Project Seed Money Podcast as we delve into the journeys of inspiring female authors, sharing their challenges and triumphs to empower your writing path. Don't miss an episode—subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform. For additional resources and to connect with our community, visit projectseedmoney.com [https://projectseedmoney.com/]. If you have a story to share, reach out to be featured in an upcoming episode. Follow Project Seed Money on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projectseedmoney/ [https://www.instagram.com/projectseedmoney/] Watch this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YbB90rrv2fQ

The Meeting with ME: A-M Mawhiney on Writing, Resilience, and Late-Life Creativity

In this episode of the Project Seed Money Podcast, Sharissa Bradley welcomes Anne-Marie Mawhiney, a former academic and social worker who reinvented herself as a science fiction and fantasy author during the COVID-19 lockdown. Anne-Marie shares her journey of returning to a childhood dream after 60 years, the "serendipitous" inspiration from a family connection to the Hardy Boys, and how she built a futuristic world rooted in the real-life environmental recovery of her mining community. She also pulls back the curtain on her experience with FriesenPress, explaining why self-publishing was the right choice for her "second career". Timestamps: * 00:00 – Introduction to Anne-Marie Mawhiney. * 00:34 – The Childhood Dream: A typewriter, dark poetry, and the Hardy Boys. * 01:40 – The 60-year hiatus: Career as an academic and social worker. * 02:40 – The COVID Catalyst: Turning a "dusty laptop" into a creative engine. * 03:40 – Finding the first line: How an experiment became a novel. * 05:40 – Why Science Fiction? Building a world 50 years in the future. * 06:40 – Unconscious inspiration: The "re-greening" of a mining community. * 07:22 – The Publishing Path: Choosing FriesenPress and self-publishing. * 10:30 – Learning the business: Social media, promotions, and 90-page edits. * 12:54 – Facing the "Vulnerability Hangover": What happens after the "congratulations" email. * 16:49 – Practical Advice: The "Meeting with ME" scheduling strategy. Connect with A-M: Website https://www.ammawhiney.ca Instagram @ammawhiney Facebook @ammawhiney Substack @ammawhiney Join us on the Project Seed Money Podcast as we delve into the journeys of inspiring female authors, sharing their challenges and triumphs to empower your writing path. Don't miss an episode—subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform. For additional resources and to connect with our community, visit projectseedmoney.com [https://projectseedmoney.com/]. If you have a story to share, reach out to be featured in an upcoming episode. Follow Project Seed Money on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projectseedmoney/ [https://www.instagram.com/projectseedmoney/] Watch this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/H985fasAcSM [https://youtu.be/H985fasAcSM]

The Batting Average of Success: Lynda Williams on Resilience and Artistic Integrity

In this episode of the Project Seed Money Podcast, host Sharissa Bradley sits down with author Lynda Williams to explore her lifelong journey from an eight-year-old dreamer to a traditionally published author. Lynda shares the highs of getting a newspaper byline in high school and the lows of a seven-year writing hiatus where she lost faith in her voice. She offers a masterclass in professional resilience, explaining how she refused to "fluff" her manuscript just to please an agent and why she views rejection as a simple "batting average." Whether you are a poet, a short story writer, or a novelist, Lynda's insights on finding your writing community are essential for your creative journey. Timestamps: * 00:00 – Introduction to Lynda Williams. * 00:30 – A Lifelong Dream: Wanting to write since age eight. * 00:50 – The High School "Stringer": Getting paid to write early on. * 01:20 – Losing the Voice: The seven-year gap and the pandemic pivot. * 02:20 – Choosing Traditional Publishing: Why Lynda skipped the "business" of self-publishing. * 03:00 – The 40,000-Word Stand: Refusing to compromise her artistic vision for an agent. * 05:20 – Reframing Rejection: Why you need to "move the needle" on failure. * 07:00 – The 2.5-Year Wait: Navigating the vulnerability of a long publishing timeline. * 09:30 – Final Advice: Why success (and failure) requires a community. Connect with Lynda: * Website: lyndawilliams.ca [http://www.lyndawilliams.ca/]. * Instagram: @LyndaWilliams_Author. * Publisher: Guernica Editions. * Book: The Beauty and the Hell of It & Other Stories Join us on the Project Seed Money Podcast as we delve into the journeys of inspiring female authors, sharing their challenges and triumphs to empower your writing path. Don't miss an episode—subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform. For additional resources and to connect with our community, visit projectseedmoney.com [https://projectseedmoney.com/]. If you have a story to share, reach out to be featured in an upcoming episode. Follow Project Seed Money on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projectseedmoney/ [https://www.instagram.com/projectseedmoney/] Watch this on youtube: https://youtu.be/XKLU5Frndx0

I Choose Me: Holly Gutwillinger on the Courage to Publish and the Dogs Who Guide Us

In this episode of the Project Seed Money Podcast, host Sharissa Bradley sits down with author and podcaster Holly Gutwillinger to discuss her debut novel, North of Broken and Forever Home. Holly shares the touching story of how her rescue dog became the catalyst for her journey into authorship, delivering a "downloaded" poem that shifted her from an out-loud storyteller to a published novelist. She dives deep into the realities of self-publishing, the importance of "choosing yourself," and the specific tools she uses to combat the "Rebel Betty" inside her head. In this video, you'll learn: * How to transition from "out loud" storytelling to the written word. * The "dog catalyst": How a rescue pet inspired a novel. * The logistics of self-publishing and creating your own imprint. * Two powerful tools for overcoming writer's fear and the inner critic. * Dealing with the post-launch "vulnerability hangover". Timestamps: * 00:00 – Introduction to Holly Gutwillinger. * 00:32 – Memories of a young storyteller: Love letters and teddy bear plays. * 01:45 – The Catalyst: How a fearful rescue dog inspired a poem. * 03:24 – The Road to Self-Publishing: "I choose me". * 04:52 – Creating Ramblings from the Little Shed Publishing. * 06:25 – Tool #1: The power of a tight-knit writing group. * 07:55 – Tool #2: Naming the inner critic "Rebel Betty". * 09:25 – The Emotional Launch: Crying at the local cafe. * 12:05 – The "Book Baby" Blues: What happens after the launch. * 14:45 – Final Inspiration: Grounding yourself in your "Why". Connect with Holly: * Website: HollyGutwillinger.com. * Instagram: @HollyGutwillinger. * Book: North of Broken and Furever Home (Available on all platforms). Join us on the Project Seed Money Podcast as we delve into the journeys of inspiring female authors, sharing their challenges and triumphs to empower your writing path. Don't miss an episode—subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform. For additional resources and to connect with our community, visit projectseedmoney.com [https://projectseedmoney.com/]. If you have a story to share, reach out to be featured in an upcoming episode. Follow Project Seed Money on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projectseedmoney/ [https://www.instagram.com/projectseedmoney/] Watch this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CzwJIRQmNVo [https://youtu.be/CzwJIRQmNVo]