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Ready to take your book sales to the next level—beyond Amazon?

In this conversation, Rodney Washington chats with publishing expert Michelle Vandepas about expanding your reach through library sales, gift shops, international rights, and more.

If you're an author wondering how to distribute your book worldwide (and not just digitally), this episode is packed with real-world strategies.


*📌 Mentioned in this Episode:*

🎁 Michelle’s Free eBook – “26 Questions to Ask Before You Publish”: https://gracepointpublishing.com/25-publisher-services

📘 Marketing Your Book – Free Webinar:
Watch here - https://gracepointpublishing.com/marketing-your-book-webinar

🔗 Michelle Vandepas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellevandepass/

*Connect With Us:*

🎙 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepublishedcreator

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rodneywashington.creative

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodneylwashington/

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more expert interviews and author tips.

Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text

📝 Join the Published Creator Skool community (At the time of this recording, it's free)

✨ Episode Summary:
In this heartfelt and strategy-packed episode, I sit down with Micaela Benn, children’s book author, marketer, and founder of The Children’s Book Marketing Lab, to talk about how authors can create powerful, purpose-driven children’s books and sell them before they even go to print.

Whether you’re a writer, coach, or creative entrepreneur, this episode is filled with insights that will shift how you think about publishing, storytelling, and selling with heart.

🧠 What We Cover:

Why good stories start with connection, not just content

How to sell your children’s book before it's printed

The difference between bulk sales and wholesale, and how to find the right buyers

Real-life stories of emotional impact from readers

Why your book can be more than a product, it can be part of a movement

How authors are partnering with schools, dentists, and even shelters to reach more readers

🔗 Links Mentioned:

*Connect with Micaela Benn:*
📚 Join The Children’s Book Marketing Lab:
https://www.skool.com/childrens-book-marketing-lab-8402/about

📺 Watch her on Children’s Book Marketing TV:
https://www.youtube.com/@childrensbookmarketingtv

📷 Follow her on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/micaelasbenn

💻 Follow her on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/micaelasbenn/

*Connect with Me (Rodney Washington):*
🎓 Join The Published Creator Skool community:
https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767/about

📺 Subscribe to The Published Creator on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@thepublishedcreator

📷 Follow me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/rodneywashington.creative

💻 Follow me on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodneylwashington/

📣 Call to Action:

If this episode inspired you, here’s how to take the next step:

Join our communities to get support, ideas, and connections with like-minded creatives

Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review if this helped you see your book — and business — in a new way

Your story deserves to be told. And there’s someone out there waiting to read it. 💛

Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text

📝 Join the Published Creator Skool community (At the time of this recording, it's free)

In this episode, I sit down with Chelsea Bennett, Education & Community Manager from Lulu.com, to explore how authors can think beyond “just a book” and turn their content into a full-fledged brand experience.

Whether you’re a coach, course creator, or speaker, this conversation is packed with strategies for turning your book into a powerful business tool—one that supports memberships, bundles, events, and more.

We cover:

• Why spiral-bound books (not available on Amazon!) are game-changers for workbooks
• How to use Lulu Direct to sell on your own website with full control
• Tactics to bundle your book with courses, coaching, and communities
• Using QR codes to grow your list, drive engagement, and build your ecosystem
• Kickstarter & fulfillment tips using Lulu’s Order Import Tool
• When and why to use ISBNs, and how to avoid common mistakes
• How to sell internationally without managing inventory

🔥 Bonus Insight:
Your book isn’t the final product—it’s the entry point into your brand and your world.

🎁 Mentioned in this episode:

• Lulu Pricing Calculator: https://www.lulu.com/pricing
• Lulu Direct (Shopify/Wix/Woo integration)
• Free interior templates for planners, journals, and notebooks
• Order Import Tool for bulk/kickstarter fulfillment
• Book a Monetization Mapping Call (includes a free Bestseller Impact Assessment)

🎧 Listen + Watch:
→ Watch The Episode on YouTube (includes a comprehensive and detailed list of resources mentioned)