Active Grandparenting with Kristen Coffield & Friends

On this week’s GoalChat, I celebrated the release of Active Grandparenting: A Guide to Modern Family Dynamics, Healthier Habits, and Functional Fitness with my friend and co-author Kristen Coffield. Special guests, who were part of our book’s team, also joined the conversation. We welcomed our literary agent Paul Levine; Becca Stewart, Eyely Designs; and Tony Forde, publicity manager, Skyhorse Publishing, throughout the hour. We talked about traditional publishing, the submission and production process, what it takes to sell a book, and how Active Grandparenting came together.

The Active Grandparenting Backstory

• I first met Kristen a few years ago, through our friend Viveka von Rosen, when I wrote a story on each of them for Women’s World. After I started writing for Third Act magazine, I reached out to Kristen for an interview. Then, I asked where her book was, and she suggested we write it together. My initial answer was no, but she persisted, and here we are!
• Kristen shared the story behind the Active Grandparenting movement – how her viral reel on Instagram a few years ago led to this niche, and the need for her to share this important info on active aging. The book combines modern family dynamics with information on hydration, sleep, fitness, and healthy eating with a min-cookbook at the end
• Our agent, Paul Levine, talked about what makes a nonfiction book proposal stand out and why you need to make your case on the page.
• He sold the book in an exclusive submission to Skyhorse Publishing last fall; we got our “yes” in less than a month and our release in about a year!

Behind the Scenes

• A book takes more than an author, an idea, and a compelling book proposal – with targeted comparable titles and a hole you are filling in the marketplace, thank you, Paul – but that’s how it starts.
• Becca has worked with Kristen for ten years, helping build her brand, website, social media, and digital presence. She also created illustrations for the book.
• Tony came onto the team, after the book’s completion, as that’s when the “publicity machine” starts. He talked about how marketing is not just a creative opportunity, it helps connect a book with readers – and why launch day is only the beginning.

Active Grandparenting #GoalChatLive

Want to Achieve Author Goals?

• Make your case. Show what makes your idea different, who it’s for, and why readers will want it
• Build your soapbox. Share what you know, grow your audience, and give people a reason to pay attention.
• Find your team. You don’t need to do everything yourself. The right agent, publisher, and creative partners can help you take your idea further.

Final Thoughts

• Paul: Write proposals for books that are sellable. I don’t want your complete manuscript. I want three sample chapters and your proposal. And those sample chapters don’t necessarily have to be chapters 1, 2, and 3; they can be chapters 2, 7, and 19. It’s so that I can show the editor that not only can my author write a good book proposal, but you can write the book as well.
• Becca: Build the things; start now, even if and when you don’t know how it will end up.
• Tony: Advocate for yourself and your projects. There’s an old saying in the public speaking world, where if you’re giving a presentation, there’s three rules: Tell people what you are going to tell them, tell them, and tell them that you told them.
• Kristen and Deb: Thanks to Paul, Becca, Tony, and everyone at Skyhorse, who helped bring Active Grandparenting to life.

Links

• Learn more about Kristen Coffield, Paul Levine, Becca Stewart, and Tony Forde
• Connect with Debra Eckerling, Kristen Coffield, Paul Levine, Becca Steward, and Tony Forde on LinkedIn
• Connect with Debra Eckerling and Kristen Coffield on Instagram
• Subscribe to GoalChat, Taste Buds with Deb, the Book Proposal Podcast, and the MPN Meta Marketing Show on the Marketing Podcast Network
• Join Deb’s Taste Buds with Deb, Write On Online, and Book Proposals Simplified Communities
• Learn more about TheBookProposalExpert.com
• Get your copy of Your Goal Guide: A Roadmap for Setting, Planning and Achieving Your Goals
• Order 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting
• Get Active Grandparenting
• Register for Deb’s The ABCs of Traditional Publishing on November 10
• Join Deb’s Goals Mixer on October 21

What book do you need to write? Please share in the comments.

Next Week

On Monday, October 26, we’re talking about Monster Marketing with Rachel Allen, Marcia Macomber, and Julie Marty-Pearson. Join us at 4pm PT, for #GoalChatLive.

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For more inspiration, motivation, and tips, follow @TheDEBMethod on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. And connect on LinkedIn.