Easy Peasy Books

What does painting your kitchen have to do with writing a book? More than you might think. In this episode, Gillian sits down with Joey Himelfarb, an author, speaker, and ghostwriter on a mission to help humans sell themselves and write their story. His debut book "Don't Paint Your Kitchen: How to Sell Yourself and Get the Job You Want" started not as a manuscript, but as a pile of Post-it notes, voice memos, and accordion folders ...

If you've been wanting to write a book for years and are now thinking it's too late, this episode is for you. Gillian Whitney gets personal in this solo conversation, sharing stories from her own family that illustrate exactly what is at stake when we write our stories down and what we lose when we don't.

Because here is the truth. There is no one else on the planet with your exact combination of experience, perspective, and...

If you have ever found it easier to cheer for everyone else than to step into the spotlight yourself, this episode is going to feel very familiar. This week I am talking with a content creation expert and newly published author who spent years helping other people share their message, and then had to figure out how to do exactly that for herself. From her very first LinkedIn Live to showing up on podcasts to simply letting people c...

What if the book you picked up at the lowest point in your life turned out to be written by someone whose life made yours look calm by comparison? In this solo episode, Gillian shares the story of a book that found her at exactly the right moment, and the extraordinary woman who wrote it. A woman who survived unimaginable loss and still managed to produce some of the most quietly powerful writing of the twentieth century. All while...

You've heard about the power of networking. You're showing up, making connections, and building relationships. But here's what nobody tells you: connections alone won't grow your business or sell your book. In this episode, Gillian sits down with Frank Agin, president of AmSpirit Business Connections and author of "Foundational Networking," to talk about the next step most authors completely overlook. Referrals. Because according t...

What happens when you spend Friday walking a labyrinth in slow, intentional peace, and Saturday wiping out on your sister's patio steps in flip flops? You end up on crutches with a lot of time to think. And if you're me, you start looking for the writing lessons.

In this solo episode, I'm sharing the story of a long weekend in Central Texas that took an unexpected turn, and the four takeaways I pulled from it about writing y...

If you think self-editing just means fixing typos and checking your grammar, think again. In this episode, I sit down with editorial agency owner and newly published author Katie Chambers to talk about why self-editing is one of the most powerful things you can do for your manuscript, and for your growth as a writer. Katie shares why most authors know they should self-edit but have no idea how to actually do it well, and how that g...

What if marketing your book didn't have to feel like a chore? Janine Coombes is a marketing strategist who helps coach-shaped people position their services as obvious must-haves for their ideal clients. She's also the author of "The Easy Yes," a micro book packed with practical wisdom on turning maybes into heartfelt yeses. In this episode, Janine shares the backstory of how a dense workshop became a book, what her live book launc...

You said goodbye, the recording stopped, and you're feeling great about your podcast appearance. But here's the thing: the real work is just getting started. In this final episode of the podcast guesting series, Gillian walks you through everything you should be doing once the mic goes off, from thanking your host and being a true co-marketer, to asking for the assets that most guests never think to request. She also shares a candi...

What if the language barrier is the only thing standing between you and publishing your book? In this episode, I sit down with Linda Jayne Turner, an academic editor based in Prague who has spent over 25 years helping non-native English speakers get their work published internationally. Born in Yorkshire, educated in Scotland, and now a dual UK/Czech citizen, Linda brings a unique perspective to the conversation about writing and e...

Most authors would rather face a blank page than a room full of strangers. But what if the key to your next big opportunity isn't your book launch strategy or your social media presence, but the person standing next to you in line at the post office? In this episode, Gillian sits down with LinkedIn specialist and first-time author Debbie Wemyss to talk about her new book, "Networking From the Ground Up: Planting Seeds in a Digital ...

So you've been invited to be a guest on a podcast. Now what? In this solo episode, Gillian walks you through everything you need to know to show up like a pro, from getting your tech sorted out to preparing what you're actually going to talk about. She covers the essentials of webcams, microphones, lighting, and internet, and explains why being "Zoomable plus" is the standard you should aim for. She also shares why you shouldn't pa...

If you've written a book but freeze at the thought of talking about it in public, this episode is for you. Joyce Feustel is a Distinguished Toastmaster, LinkedIn coach, and podcast guest veteran who has been honing her communication and leadership skills through Toastmasters for nearly 30 years. She knows firsthand what it takes to walk into a room of 150 people and own it, and she's here to show you how to do the same.

Joyc...

Think proofreading ends with your manuscript? Think again. In this eye-opening conversation, professional proofreader and copy editor Jennie Jolly (author of the popular Fowl Language newsletter and co-author of Becoming Unstoppable) reveals why authors need to think beyond the book when it comes to creating a clean, credible author brand. From Amazon descriptions and author pages to social media profiles and websites, your words a...

Podcast guesting is one of the most underutilized — and completely free — marketing strategies available to authors. But getting booked on the right shows doesn't happen by accident. In this solo episode, Gillian breaks down exactly how to set yourself up as a podcast guest, drawing on her experience from both sides of the mic — as a guest on dozens of shows and as host of nearly 250 episodes across two podcasts.<...

Ready to amplify your author voice and reach more readers? In this episode, Shari Biery—bestselling author, keynote speaker, and National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach—shares her transformative journey into the world of audiobooks. With over two decades navigating high-demand environments as a military spouse and empowering women through her signature C.A.L.M. Method™, Shari brings a wealth of expertise to...

You've written your book. Now what? If you're dreaming of taking your message from the page to the stage, this conversation with professional speaking coach and TEDx speaker Gina Balarin will change how you think about your book's next chapter. Gina breaks down the real relationship between authorship and speaking opportunities—spoiler alert: it's not about pitching your book, it's about giving your audience a gift they can a...

Ever wonder what questions your ideal readers actually have? The answer might be sitting in your discovery call recordings. In this solo episode, Gillian reveals how those 15-minute conversations are secretly revealing exactly what needs to go in your book—from the questions people ask to the assumptions you're making about their knowledge.

Gillian shares real examples from her own calls, including the client who had n...

Louise Brogan spent months perfecting her book about LinkedIn only to discover she'd need permission from LinkedIn's trademark team to actually publish it. What followed was a nightmare of deleted blog posts, redesigned YouTube thumbnails, banned blue colors, and emails that made her cry. For a LinkedIn trainer whose entire business revolves around the platform, complying wasn't optional. She jumped through every hoop, changed her ...