Shauna VanderHoek is an award-winning author, publisher, and creator of the Write-A-Book FastStart Method. She empowers entrepreneurs and small-business owners to turn their lived experience and expertise into nonfiction books that elevate authority and open new doors. Through her proven framework, Shauna guides clients from idea to finished book—helping them craft compelling narratives that attract clients, speaking engagements, and long-term visibility. With years of experience in both publishing and entrepreneurship, she blends creative insight with practical strategy to make writing a book not only achievable but transformative. Her approach demystifies the writing process, turning it into a business-growth journey that positions authors as leaders in their field and gives them the confidence to share their stories with impact.

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Have you ever felt called to write a book—but wondered, who am I to do that?

In this empowering episode of Talking with the Experts, award-winning author, publisher, and book-coach Shauna VanderHoek shares how to transform your expertise into a nonfiction book that fuels business growth and personal confidence.

Shauna reveals how your book can become more than a creative project—it can serve as a blueprint for business authority. By structuring your content as a client journey, your book acts as a “silent salesperson,” building trust and generating consistent revenue while you focus on serving your audience.

You’ll discover practical insights from Shauna’s Write-A-Book FastStart Method, including how to position yourself as an expert, attract media and speaking opportunities, and write in a way that feels authentic, not forced.

Most importantly, Shauna opens up about overcoming the inner critic that says, “Who am I to write this?” Her lived experience shows that imperfect voices often resonate most powerfully—and that your story could be the bridge someone else needs.

Tune in to learn how to turn your book into a business-growth engine, silence self-doubt, and finally share your message with confidence.

✨ Three Key Takeaways

1. How to transform your book into a strategic business-growth tool that positions you as an authority.
2. The step-by-step blueprint for structuring your book as a client journey that builds trust and consistent revenue.
3. How to overcome self-doubt and confidently share your story to inspire and attract your ideal clients.

• Shauna’s Fast Start Method begins with a strategy call that goes beyond standard goals to uncover the heart-based reasons why clients want to write a book, such as leaving their day job or gaining acknowledgement for their expertise.
• Client research is conducted using proprietary software that analyzes Amazon reviews of 6-12 competing books to identify what readers liked, disliked, and what questions remained unanswered.
• Book blueprints are created by combining the client’s vision, research data, and topic focus to produce a 15-20 page chapter-by-chapter guide that works like painting by numbers.
• Marketing begins immediately after establishing a title, with cover design serving as both a marketing tool and writing inspiration for authors.
• Shauna is organizing a “Your Book, Your Message, Your Edge” summit that will address AI usage in book writing and copyright law considerations.
• Realistic timeline mapping is essential since some authors can complete their book in three months while others may need a year depending on their life circumstances.
• Developmental editors provide crucial big-picture feedback on first drafts, helping authors restructure content and identify missing information without being emotionally invested in the material.
• Books should include clear calls to action throughout, especially for heart-based business entrepreneurs who may be unfamiliar with marketing terminology.
• Writing should follow inspiration rather than strict chronological order, with authors using their blueprint to write whichever chapter feels most compelling at the moment.
• Self-doubt and visibility blocks often emerge during the book writing process, with Shauna sharing her personal experience of becoming ill before publishing due to fear of being seen.
• Personal growth coaching techniques like the “five yeses” process can help authors identify and overcome blocks by examining feelings of worthiness and willingness.
• Childhood misinterpretations of adult words can create lasting blocks that affect business and writing confidence, requiring inner child work to resolve.
• Shauna’s resources are available at AskShauna.com and include a new PDF guide covering the complete book writing journey from start to finish.
• Authors are encouraged to start with small commitments like the Fast Start program rather than feeling overwhelmed by the entire book writing process.