Ep 65: Traditional Publishing is Harder than Hollywood?! Top 3 Publishing Myths Busted with Author Mara Williams

If you need one reason to watch this interview on video: Mara’s disobedient dog.I didn’t think The Sophia Chang Show could get any more honest, but this week with author Mara Williams we crank the No BS to high gear—busting three of the biggest myths about traditional publishing.Mara writes contemporary fiction about strong, messy women, and together we trace our own winding journeys from dance floors to life getting in the way to finally finding our voices—and how age became our secret weapon.My favorite myth we smash? That finishing your first book is the hardest part. Nope. That’s just the prologue.Mara on reclaiming identity: “Sometimes when you get to a certain age, as a woman especially, you have to get back to yourself. You have to let all the constraints of society and everything everybody's told you about what you should be doing fall away and figure out who you've always been and find your way back to that.”Me on the sobering reality of trad publishing: “I went through Hollywood and I had an easier time making money there than I do in traditional publishing.”Buy Mara's Books:Debut: The Truth is in the DetoursPaperbackEbookAudible (you can use your credit!)Pre-order: The Epicenter of ForeverPaperbackEbookAudible (you can use your credit!)Where to Find Mara:WebsiteSubstackIGTimestamps:00:00 Mara's Dog Steals the Show00:07 Intro01:54 Practicality gets in the way04:32 Overcoming Perfectionism and Fear06:25 Hollywood is easier than trad publishing07:15 Myth #1: My First, I Mean Sixth Book10:10 Finishing the book is just the prologue14:50 When I Went Blind I Thought My Dream Was Over17:26 Keeping Your Sense of Self21:48 Myth #2: I'm rich!27:06 Myth #3: Trad v. Indie Marketing29:29 Will TikTok get me published?32:24 I thank Leigh Bardugo every dayFollow this podcast for more great interviews!Subscribe to my Newsletter for more publishing real talk and behind-the-scenes content.Sophia’s WebsiteLike what you saw/heard? Rate 5 stars & Review: Help other book lovers find us!(Amazon affiliate links may provide me 10 much-needed cents.)