Beyond Words: Unveiling the Role of Book Coaches and Ghost Writers

[00:00:00] This podcast is a part of CGN Media, a podcast network that points to Christ. We are supported by listeners like you to help us create more great shows visit CGN Media.org slash support.

[00:00:30] I know years ago, I tried to do it myself. I ended up with a bunch of pages that didn't seem to make any sense.

[00:00:39] Thank God for my guest today. She's a longtime friend, book coach and ghostwriter who helped me. And I know she'll give you some great words of encouragement for those of you who might be thinking about writing yourself.

[00:00:53] So, I'd like to welcome my good friend, longtime friend,

[00:00:57] long time, ministry friend, long time, two decades. Mary has a two decade.

[00:01:03] I think it has.

[00:01:04] Boy, who's counting? Yes. Mary was a missionary and Poland for many years in Ireland and then came back to serve at our church, founder self-hospin and has it left since.

[00:01:16] Well, there you go. It was you who left actually. Yes. So Mary Ellen Perreault tell me tell us who you are and how you became a book coach.

[00:01:28] Well, I'm a lot of the things you said. I am a long time friend of Jeff Gipe. I lived in Poland. He did submission work in Poland and in Ireland. I had more worship leaders. So that's mostly what I was doing there helping lead worship and churches and helping other people just

[00:01:45] kind of sharing that gift, you know what worship looks like in the church. And then I came back and continue leading worship here and

[00:01:54] this was years ago now but got a job and it was really you that came to me saying I was working with another author and motivational speaker

[00:02:03] and I was kind of helping him do some things with his book and I really this is again a long time ago. But learned a lot about writing.

[00:02:10] Learned a lot about the publishing industry and you came to me and said, Hey, I got this book. And that actually kind of launched me in the direction that I'm going now. So

[00:02:22] That's awesome. I have to tell you that the only problem I had with you. I see how it's going to go. I see.

[00:02:29] Well, I just remember you cutting pages and coming back and saying, well, you want me to be brutally honest. Don't you? And I'm like, well, I want you to be honest. Let's not be brutally honest.

[00:02:41] That before I was an official book coach. Okay.

[00:02:44] And the fact is that the final edit that came through my other problem was I was worried that other people didn't believe that I wrote it

[00:02:55] and that was so good. So no, it did turn out good. It sounded like you. It turned out good after you and I worked on that project actually had a few other people work with me.

[00:03:06] And I really didn't know what I was doing. I was just kind of intuitively I knew what the book should be. So people would say what do you do? And I was like, I don't really know.

[00:03:19] I mean, I know what I how I can help you but I don't really know what you call what I'm doing. And I think you asked earlier what a book coaches to answer that question.

[00:03:29] You know how the Lord will lead you and you almost don't even realize he's leading you. You're just on a path and you an idea pops in your head one day or someone suggests something or you look something up on the Internet and it leads to the next step. Well eventually I found a ghost writing and coaching program at Cal State Long Beach.

[00:03:48] And the woman who lead that and really found it at I got a look call with her and was telling her what I was doing and we really said to her.

[00:03:58] This is what I'm doing what am I.

[00:04:04] And she was like, yeah you're coaching people and you're go striding people but it kind of sounds like you know you're just flying by the seat of your pants. Why don't you come to this program and there's a certification program there took a couple years I did that and the rest of history so ghost writing just means I write the book for you.

[00:04:26] But I always work with my authors. I think a lot of times people think ghost writing is just for celebrities like only super fancy people use ghost writers.

[00:04:36] It's not it's not really like that I work with authors all the time where maybe they'll give me their book but they don't their their manuscript or their notes or whatever they have maybe they have no notes.

[00:04:46] They don't have time to actually write the book themselves they need someone to do that for them so I have a process that I work through whether I take their notes or sometimes I'll do interviews or transcribe videos they've done.

[00:04:58] And then I take all that information and I create a book using the author's voice in their style and all those kind of things.

[00:05:07] And then as a and I just write it for you because like I said a lot of times people just don't it's like not that they can't write they just don't have the time.

[00:05:14] Some people have an idea that they want to turn into a book because they know a book can be an incredible tool that they want to share on a larger scale because books can go places that people people often can't they can go places that we can't.

[00:05:28] And so sometimes that's all it is it just means I write it for you but as a coach I work with authors they write the book themselves and we're just I'm part of the entire process helping you walking you through all the steps and just kind of keeping you focus because there's definitely a messy middle to writing books where you're kind of like what end is up I think when when I came into your process and when you asked me about it.

[00:05:54] You were like not even what end is up you were like what what am I even writing at this force.

[00:06:01] But I you know we got a hold of it and we found what it was it was it was there you had the idea you had the book it was just.

[00:06:08] And sometimes that's what people need they just need an encourager and someone to kind of show them the ropes and walk through the process with them.

[00:06:15] Not only to show them how but also to help them do their best work right you know think that's something about creativity that we forget about that creativity is collaborative yes you know when we work together we can end up with an even better idea and that's really something that I love about coaching and what I get to do.

[00:06:35] You know that was one of the things you were so helpful in just so you know my book came from a series of sermons that I had done and I just figured you know like it's just put sermons in a book right you know it's going to be right just pop the words in there right and surprisingly writing a book is nothing like writing sermons.

[00:06:56] There's really I mean other than you're writing there's really not a lot of similarities instead of using the same words over and over again.

[00:07:02] You want to use different words in your descriptions and these are things that you really help me with it was difficult because it was taking me out of my side of my comfort zone right but I was very happy because it stretched me yeah I that's a really important part I think is when you're preaching a sermon you only have so much time.

[00:07:23] And even if you have a series let's say you're doing a series for seven weeks and it's a 30 minutes or even an hour long sermon each week you're actually kind of.

[00:07:33] You know going back and reminding people part of that sermon is reminding people what you are talking about and so.

[00:07:39] You know there's two parts to that the discernment is is really meant to be spoken word which is a very different you know craft than writing a book.

[00:07:49] If you can do one you can probably do the other so not discouraging anybody there's just different and so when you start to put these ideas in book form it's.

[00:07:59] It's not just as you said moving one.

[00:08:02] You know transcribing it and putting it in a book and populating the pages you really have to develop the concept and I think that's something that people don't really think about very much they think I have an idea I know it would be a great book and you know you might be right.

[00:08:16] But the idea needs to be developed so that you have enough content to fill a book and for it to be.

[00:08:24] You know what you want it to be something that is changing lives or inspiring people or educating people or what have you and that it takes time to really develop that.

[00:08:32] Yeah you know it was funny I never thought of myself ever writing a book you know I've never been gifted in that you know writing sermons and that type of thing and.

[00:08:44] It was so helpful for me it was almost healing you know and you helping me through that process really stretch me now I I haven't written another book I don't know that I actually have something in mind but which scares me and we've talked a little bit about that.

[00:08:59] So it is overwhelming what what advice would you give someone writing a book that might be overwhelmed by the idea yeah I think at the start.

[00:09:09] It can be very overwhelming because there's so many different parts of it that you don't know and you don't understand how it works so some people come to the idea of writing a book and they instantly count themselves out kind of like what you were doing I'm not a writer this is not my gift I shouldn't be doing this but.

[00:09:25] You know you don't have to be the best writer to write a book a book is really a tool and once you have that you can share your message beyond so.

[00:09:35] I also like to think of people that don't really consider themselves writers as more just like message bearers they have a message they want to share how you share that well maybe a book is a good choice for you so.

[00:09:47] You don't have to be the best writer and I think that's one thing to just kind of consider when you're coming to it you don't have to be a great writer but also I think a lot of the overwhelm comes from the process so one part of it is the writing am I good enough I don't feel good enough.

[00:10:04] You don't have to be good enough you just need to share your message you just need to come and say I have a message that I want to share and I you know I the message is valuable because you are valuable as a human created in God's image you are valuable there you know so the message you have to share is also valuable for other people to hear so I think that's one part of it the other part of it is the process and there's so many things that you can do to prepare.

[00:10:33] You can do to prepare yourself for writing a book you know if you're worried about writing that much and you want to write it yourself you can go grab some craft books on you know how to read how to write excuse me.

[00:10:44] But some of the things you can also do which I think is a lot easier if you're not quite ready to start you're thinking about it is just go read some books that are similar to the ones that you want to write that will teach you so much you know we always talk about like writers or readers but there's really something specific to how you're reading.

[00:11:02] So I would encourage people to go out and find some books similar to the book that you'd like to write or buy people that you know they've written a book that on the same topic or it's someone you respect.

[00:11:13] Read it what do you like about it what do you not like about it how did they write it look at the table of contents how did they lay it out what's happening in this book that feels so important to you and just kind of the more you read the better you're going to get an idea of how a book works even if you want to read it.

[00:11:32] If you're not 100% sure you know how it works you've read enough to kind of get a feel for what's good and what's not good.

[00:11:40] So I think that's a that's an important thing too is just getting out there and reading or you know finding someone that finding someone that can encourage you an old your accountable like if you can hire a book coach higher book coach that's amazing if you can't hire a book coach find some friends who are interested in writing and formal writers group you know meet once a month.

[00:12:01] Encourage each other what are you writing let's read it you know let's all say one thing that's great about that about your work and just encourage each other to keep going so I think a lot of that overwhelm is just to take the step ticket started and it's more a mind game than it is actually any of the work that you're actually going to do right is the mindset shift you have to make to say I want to write therefore I'm a writer I've written emails I'm a writer

[00:12:30] Do you know I mean even if your 10th grade English teacher hated everything you wrote writing is objective you know what I mean so just just go for it you can you can put words on paper and we can worry about all the other parts of that process later but just take a step get started.

[00:12:46] Yeah that's such a great advice I was so happy I felt like you were cheerleader you know cheering me on you can do this because it is a very long process and my personality is I want to get her done get her done now you know and I don't think that's part of the process of writing a book.

[00:13:05] No I mean everybody's different so how long it takes you is you know everybody's everybody's different it's not a race.

[00:13:14] I think for people who have their content more developed they've already been out speaking and sharing this message you know with larger audiences that makes it a little bit easier I kind of got a good idea about this content more is you know for someone who's maybe starting from scratch and really trying to figure out.

[00:13:35] What is it that I even want to say what is it that's important to me and what's the best way to communicate that you're going to take it's going to take you a little bit of time yeah I'm not really a fan of.

[00:13:46] Writing prompts although I know they work for a lot of people but um you know if you really don't know what your idea is journaling as a great way to start you know and also puts you in that practice of.

[00:14:01] Writing which as you know is a big part of the life of the writer is just.

[00:14:06] Finding a practice whether it's daily or weekly where I say this is important i'm going to sit down and i'm going to write so if you need to i'm doing that with a project right now journaling my way toward what it is that I want to say i'm not 100% sure what I want to say yet so i'm just kind of journaling to figure that out yeah.

[00:14:25] You you mentioned something a little earlier which I think is so important i would like to maybe address a little more deeply and that is the idea that we are all creating God's image in like this and we all have a story.

[00:14:39] Yes you know and i've heard incredible stories i won't bring up his name that i'm permission but there's a friend of mine that has an incredible story and i've encouraged him to write because i just oh man it's overwhelming to me and i.

[00:14:55] I actually said call marry you know and i know he has it yet but.

[00:14:59] You know and he's not some he's not Timothy color you know he's not Malcolm.

[00:15:04] Grad well or somebody like that but he's got an incredible story how important is it for the listener to know that not only writing the book is good for yourself but that book is going to speak to someone else oh yeah absolutely you know.

[00:15:20] I think that i think that everybody has a story worth telling anything that the real trial for people is just.

[00:15:29] Finding for many people is finding what that story is and connecting it with the audience so i like to call this.

[00:15:36] It's like my magic formula so you're welcome.

[00:15:40] But it's it's real book gold and it's when you can make the combination when you can make the connection between what your book is about who it's for and why it matters.

[00:15:51] And then really the connection between all that is you what is your book about it's your personal story and i've you know talked to a lot of people who want to write their story or.

[00:16:01] Have have thought about it or dreamt about writing their story but when they end up writing their story.

[00:16:06] It just kind of falls flat and the reason usually is because they've just.

[00:16:12] Written what happened but we don't want to know just what happened we want to know what it meant to you how it changed you how it transformed you who you became as a result.

[00:16:24] And then also thinking about that like so that's you know maybe why it matters what it's about is your end what happened and then why it matters.

[00:16:31] How did this how did this transform you how did it make you who you became as a result and then who it's for when you really think about.

[00:16:41] The people that might really benefit from hearing your story and you know something i was just reading the other day.

[00:16:49] You know when you go to a memorial we've all been to memorials or weddings is another great example and someone gets up to give a speech and a lot of times you know this person wants to share.

[00:17:01] Something so special about you know the person getting married or the deceased.

[00:17:09] But it just kind of falls flat or they're not able to communicate it and I think a lot of that has to do with connecting what it is that you want to communicate why it matters people forget about that part why is why is it important to you that you're sharing this detail.

[00:17:29] Or why is it important to you that you share this story and then who is it for like if we're in an audience you know at a wedding or whatnot just considering those people that you want to communicate with and when you're talking about your story on a larger scale.

[00:17:43] Who is the person that would really benefit from hearing or would really connect with and and considering that as well considering that the story is not just for you so you know your first draft is also always stinky.

[00:17:56] And usually that first stinky draft it's just for you you should get down on paper just because it's stinky doesn't mean you're a bad writer it means it means you did a good job doing your first draft because every first draft is stinky every first draft I write is stinky.

[00:18:11] The second draft is more for that cold reader editing it to really put in that why does this matter so much tell us more why does it matter and and I think I think everybody needs to share their story because you said something earlier about how healing it was.

[00:18:29] To be able to kind of get this message that was important to you out right.

[00:18:34] That's right and I think something about that has to do with just people and connection and being who we're meant to be in the world and sharing the story that we have been given kind of being a steward of that story you know it's like your testimony everybody has a testimony and we always talk about everybody's testimony is so powerful because no one can disagree with you well I mean everybody could disagree with you but this is something fascinating.

[00:19:04] I feel like I'm on the tangent I'm really sorry.

[00:19:09] When you tell a story there's science behind that I think there's a book called wired for story by Lisa Cron and I might have pronounced her last name wrong so apologies Lisa it's spelled C-R-O-N but there's science behind story that when you're sharing a story the person who is listening or the people who are listening their brain waves start naturally getting

[00:19:34] on the same you know kind of wave as you and so when you're actually telling this story of transformation it's as if they were also transformed with you that's what makes it so powerful and again putting that in book form books can go places you can't right and so when we kind of think about like the you know not everybody has to write a book that's but there's something so powerful about that and give you that.

[00:20:04] So I think that's a great way to give you that you know what I mean by giving people being able to hand off your story in a way in a way that you know will impact other people and we'll have lasting change and yeah.

[00:20:17] Yeah I read a book not long ago called God and money and it was just it was a book on just how we the generosity of God and all those types of things and he brought a term a term that you and I've used R-O-I return on investment.

[00:20:33] And that really ministered to me because so often we get into writing a book thinking we're going to make a large amount of money and the reality is most people don't make anything.

[00:20:50] Yeah usually maybe even spins money but the kingdom part of that's so important like you're saying yeah absolutely I totally agree.

[00:20:59] I think that you can make money in writing a book and publishing your book.

[00:21:09] I just think it's taught as lucrative as people think it is right and you really have to work and this is true either way I mean whether you're in it I'm you know most people would say I'm not in this to make money but then when you don't sell any books you're really bombed

[00:21:24] and that's because most people aren't really sure why they're doing it so I have a course that I walk people through but the idea is to really be thinking about why are you writing this book in the first place

[00:21:36] and then also how can we how can we be how can you be successful as an author which is really to say how are you defining defining success what is it that you want to get out of this experience and I really I think book sales is part of it.

[00:21:49] There's no point in writing a book if you just want to give it to that one person I hear that a lot and it drives me bananas.

[00:21:54] It's kind of like the the Christianies you know if we you know I would I would do this if just one person would get saved and I know you know going back to Jesus

[00:22:05] and living the 99 for the one and and feel like I'm taking myself a whole a little bit here.

[00:22:13] I don't think that applies to writing a book.

[00:22:16] You said you know just for one person you could have just sat them down and talked with them there's no point in writing a book you could have written them along email.

[00:22:25] So if you have a desire to write a book I guess this is the positive spin on it if you have a desire to write a book it's probably because maybe the Lord wants you to reach a wider audience with your book and so don't limit God saying I'm just going to oh if I don't sell it to anyone no no I don't think so it doesn't have to be about money but it should be about being a good steward of your message.

[00:22:46] If you're going to write a book then let's sit down and figure out how can we reach the most people or how can we get the most engagement how can we actually sell books so that we can continue doing the ministry or so that we can continue bringing books or whatever it is.

[00:23:01] And how can we you know connect connect with our audience how can we how can we raise awareness around either the message that we're trying to share or ourselves maybe we want to you know launch some sort of speaking career what have you but you're I mean it's not it's not a lucrative business but I think if you think about these things ahead of time which is what I always encourage people to do.

[00:23:26] Think about what you really are doing it for and what you want to get out of it.

[00:23:30] And now let's create a plan to not only write the book but to publish and market it because I think that's another part that people who want to write books don't really think about there is multi it's a multi process deal writing is only one part of it and that's where most people kind of hang their hats like I just got to get this thing written as if once it's done writing once you're done writing it.

[00:23:54] That's not you know then you then you need publish it right and then once we get it published then you got a market it right so the writing season will end.

[00:24:03] The publishing season will end with the marketing never ends and marketing doesn't have to be a bad word especially if we're looking at it as kingdom investment and and using this for for God's glory right and hopefully we can also be good stewards of the book.

[00:24:23] So I think that's the message getting the message out and good stewards of our own finances and making sure that we are.

[00:24:29] You know also getting some money some return on that but you know to your point it doesn't always pay out there's there's other things that book is going to do for you.

[00:24:40] Like the kingdom investment like getting that message out to all these people and and you know if you're in the business sector.

[00:24:47] There's opportunities for your business to speak to things like that there's so many more things return on kingdom return on investment that your book can do for you that aren't just money and it's good to think about that ahead of time.

[00:24:59] Yeah and when did I when did I write my book?

[00:25:03] Oh, I've no idea.

[00:25:05] I was in 2018, 2006 it was a while ago.

[00:25:08] Yeah and no not 17.

[00:25:11] I don't remember.

[00:25:12] I think it was longer than that.

[00:25:13] Yeah, it could have been whenever it was but you know I passed her to small church in Newport Beach I wasn't I'm not well known right.

[00:25:20] But God opened the door for me to share that message in many different churches and just even recently I got a call from a church in Idaho or some random state saying hey.

[00:25:32] Do you want to help?

[00:25:33] Yes do it.

[00:25:35] Do you have a study guide and I'd put together a study guide and their church currently just bought like 50 books and they're going through it so that's amazing.

[00:25:43] You know, it just blesses me to know that it's still being used after all this time.

[00:25:49] Yeah 100% you got to be in the long game.

[00:25:50] Yeah, you got to be in the long game what's the message I really want to share some books are going to do better than others some books have they take a long time to really find their legs but if you keep working at it.

[00:26:01] Yeah, I really think you can get there.

[00:26:04] Yeah, that's awesome.

[00:26:06] So I mean all of this is so encouraging and exciting it's making me want to write another book.

[00:26:14] But what would you tell someone who wants to get started writing a book?

[00:26:19] What would be the direction that you would want to point them in?

[00:26:22] Hmm well I definitely think some of the things I said earlier if you're thinking about you want to write a book go get some books in that are similar to the book you want to write.

[00:26:32] Go to the bookstore look around see what else is out there and get an idea of what else is going on.

[00:26:38] You know we don't write in a vacuum and especially if you want to you know publish this book whether you want to self publish or traditionally publish we don't want to be writing books that are already

[00:26:50] have already been written right so we need to kind of find out what else is in the market what else is what else are people buying what are people interested in.

[00:26:58] I think if you know who you want to write for if you kind of have an idea of who your ideal reader might be and if you know them I would go buy a cup coffee.

[00:27:08] Hey, you know if I'm interested in talking I really have a heart for single moms want to write a book for a single mom helping her with whatever it is that you want to help her with.

[00:27:18] Go find a single mom and buy her a coffee and ask her or actually she not going to go to coffee with you go to her house.

[00:27:26] Offer offer to babysit have somebody else babysitter kids for 10 minutes or 15 minutes right and ask her some questions what's what's hard for you right now what what you know I have this idea does this sound helpful to you is that something you'd be interested in.

[00:27:44] And then I think to you know really kind of think about and develop your concept which is what we were talking about earlier it's something that a lot of people never think about who is your book for why does it matter and what is it about now there's more to do in concept development but that's a start.

[00:28:01] And see if you can find those people that you want to help or those people that you think might be connected to your story it might be you know if you're sure in your personal story.

[00:28:11] It and let's say you you've had a you know you've overcome an addiction of some sorts and that's the story that you want to tell you know you might go find other people who are struggling with the addiction you had and just you know those are kind of the people that might connect with your story and.

[00:28:27] Remind me about this remind me about that hey how can I help you.

[00:28:32] We kind of think about this writing the book again I said this a few times but we think about writing a book and we think about it as a solitary act but it's really not it's it's everything and all the people who have influenced and helped you get to where you're at it's all the events that have changed you and it's all the people that you want to minister to to connect with.

[00:28:55] And so thinking about your audience ahead of time where are they how can I connect with them now so that when I have a book i've got something that I know they're interested in because I you know I've spent time with these people.

[00:29:10] I think that's some I think that's where I would get started again if if you're really interested in the writing part of it and you want to get involved in.

[00:29:19] You know some craft some craft books or understand.

[00:29:24] And Lamont's book bird by bird is excellent it's a funny book it's a fun book i'm just kind of the idea of writing a book it's not really a how to it's more it's more part memoir part how to but it's a very fun book to get started.

[00:29:44] Stephen King run another book as well on writing that's a fun one if you want to just read about it.

[00:29:50] I didn't write a horror novel no no that's not all all he wrote yeah no no and it's a it's a fun read if you're just interested in the life of a writer and you kind of want to.

[00:30:02] You know get some more information on how the publishing industry works currently mom wrote a great book i cannot remember the title of it right now but it's about.

[00:30:13] You know how the publishing industry works if you're thinking about traditional publishing.

[00:30:17] You know getting an idea of how you know i was just giving this example to someone the other day but if I was going to start a burger shop in my in my neighborhood and and you know writing is.

[00:30:32] It's very similar to starting a business if I was going to start a burger shop I'd want to start with a great burger recipe right yeah.

[00:30:41] And then once I have a great burger recipe i'd probably want to go visit some other burger shops and be like what.

[00:30:47] What you know what different shops what are they offering is it do they have a great what makes place great wire people going here not all burgers are created equal right now we had one with.

[00:30:59] Bacon jam on at the other night which just okay why did you have to bring that up it was amazing no all burgers are created equal so is it like what's special about this burger joint.

[00:31:10] You know you do some research and I think writing is the same thing you know the flip side of we all know how to write is well we all know how to write so we think that writing is just throwing some words in the book it's not there's a whole.

[00:31:23] But I think it's just a whole lot of people are afraid to share their story because they think i'm not good enough i'm not really a writer and I just think that is a bunch of lies yeah absolute bunch of lies we can all get better at writing.

[00:31:51] So let's do it ghost writing i do it for you i mean there's so many different ways that you can go out there's no reason for you not to do it if you want to don't let that be.

[00:32:00] This exclusivity idea but if you're interested then yeah definitely like go check some stuff out treat it like it's a new business and you're learning about the industry go read some books go talk to some authors who've published yourself published you know i think that's a great way great way to start is to get curious yeah that's awesome.

[00:32:20] You know i'm so thankful for you being my book coach even before you knew what a book was yeah and because you know what i what i learned from that was.

[00:32:32] I felt so inadequate i had no confidence in those types of things and even though i still feel that way i know that i have you i can go to for advice and i guess why i wanted to bring that up is that.

[00:32:45] I think a lot of people think the only way i can write a book if i just go and do it myself in the point is very few people that you read their books did it by themselves yeah they all have teams yeah they all have copy editors and content editors and.

[00:32:59] All these different things very few people just sit down and write i mean there's probably a few that can do that but when you say most everybody that right.

[00:33:07] 100% you open up a book today and it will say the author's acknowledgement page and that is everyone who helped them yeah get that book into the world.

[00:33:19] And yeah for sure and you don't do it by yourself you really really don't there's lots of different types of help and people that you can have help you and ways that you can get help just depends on the type of help that you need and you know if you're not sure get curious.

[00:33:36] Yeah i think people should know where they can find Mary parro were tell us how what why don't you tell us kind of what you do what you're training your book coach program is online that you have and then also what you do personally.

[00:33:52] Okay so as we said i'm a ghost writer and i'm also a book coach so those are couple services that i offer usually when i'm coaching it i work with people you know on a month to month basis and will meet a couple of times a week and we just get it done we write the book together if i'm ghost writing i do it i do all the work for you.

[00:34:14] And i have a few other services i offer to you i've had a few few people recently that night this is one of my favorite services so i always love it when people take me up on this but i have a service that's called analysis and recommendations and that's for people who've written something kind of like what you did previously you had a bunch of stuff and you were like what is this.

[00:34:34] Is this is it any good what can i do with this but also people who have taken their turn their manuscript in to an agent and they've gotten just no response at all.

[00:34:46] And so like you know agents are always going to take the time to tell you the sun and sometimes the answer you get is just really a nothing answer so in the analysis and recommendations i go through and i analyze your manuscript for the strengths for the weaknesses.

[00:35:02] I tell you where it should fit in the market i give you an idea on how to fix it is a very fun process but.

[00:35:10] I also have an online course that i've been doing which is really for people who want to get started and maybe they're like i don't have a ton to invest i'm not quite ready to do coaching because that sounds a little more intense but i want to you know i want to get started i want to learn and i want to grow and my online coaching program is.

[00:35:31] I'm coaching program is called book gold and that's a great way to get started my website is just my name it's w w w dot Mary paro dot com and you'll see on there i have DIY book training and that's where you go to access.

[00:35:46] That course it's totally self paced and on demand is really fun well i think it's really fun but that's because i think books and writing is really fun and actually i think creativity is fun.

[00:35:57] And one of the things that gives me a lot of joy is just encouraging people to you know to share their story i love seeing it come.

[00:36:06] Come into full view you know so your book idea you have an idea for a book probably what you think it is now is not what it will be in the end and that's part of the process that's part of the fun.

[00:36:17] So those are a few ways that i help people i do book proposals and i help people do queries and things like that as well i have a bunch of services you can find them all online Mary paro dot com and i would love to talk to anybody.

[00:36:30] That's awesome yeah this has been so good i'm so excited for listeners to just read some of the wisdom that we have about book writing with my good friend Mary and i guess lastly Mary what what is the one thing.

[00:36:46] That you would like to see and your life personally happen in this next year so we can be praying for you.

[00:36:53] Oh that's so good but i only give you one thing.

[00:36:59] That's rough Jeff i think focus i feel like.

[00:37:05] You know we were all coming out of a really hard season and from after covid.

[00:37:11] And the pandemic and a lot of us had a lot of things happen and our worlds get shifted and changed and shaken and you know tossed out again.

[00:37:23] And i think that i felt the lord kind of talking to me about a few things that i'm excited about but you know just like someone who's wanting to write a book you know you got to kind of take this first step and you gotta say lord.

[00:37:38] I i think this is you speaking and so i'm going to take a step towards it and i'm going to be focused i'm going to be diligent.

[00:37:46] That's hard for all of us. Yeah. Whether you're writing a book or doing anything is to just we're all scared when we feel like God's called us to do something and we're all scared when we feel like.

[00:37:56] You know maybe it may be excited too but i think usually a little scared because i think that's where God really uses us you know when we are.

[00:38:04] We need to decrease so he can increase and when i'm weak he's strong and we've got all of these things going on.

[00:38:11] All these messages that really say the same thing to us from God's word but that is the place where we're scared, the place where we're afraid, the place where we think we're not good enough is usually the place that God is breaking up,

[00:38:24] follow ground and planning seeds right so lord help us all myself and anyone listening who is feeling that same kind of fear and you know insecurity.

[00:38:34] Just be focused lord i want to do what you're calling and do help me to be focused on you.

[00:38:42] Well i just want to thank you all for listening to CG and voices. A new podcast for cover global network we're so thankful that you're turning in tuning in and yeah God bless you hope to see you soon.

[00:38:58] God bless you.