She Hugged 10,000 Strangers (and Wrote a Memoir)

How do you turn a life-changing experience into a memoir readers can't put down?In this episode, author Melinda Lee Schmidt shares the story behind The Rebel Hugger and how a simple idea—asking strangers for permission to hug them—became a powerful memoir about connection, boundaries, belonging, and self-worth.Melinda takes us behind the scenes of her writing process, explaining how she transformed a deeply personal journey into a compelling story. We also discuss the realities of self-publishing, working with a book coach, navigating Amazon KDP, and the book marketing strategies that have helped her reach readers—from podcast interviews and newsletters to the surprisingly effective practice of simply telling people about her book.Whether you're writing a memoir, considering self-publishing, or looking for practical book marketing advice, this conversation is full of inspiration and actionable insights.In this episode, you'll learn:How to turn personal experiences into a compelling memoirWhy vulnerability is essential in memoir writingThe biggest lessons Melinda learned from self-publishingHow working with a book coach improved her bookBook marketing strategies that actually work for indie authorsIf you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow writer or aspiring author.Send us Fan MailSupport the show📬 JOIN THE NEWSLETTERThe Storyteller Quest is  a weekly letter on writing,publishing, and the business of books.Subscribe, and I'll send you Traditional, Self, or Hybrid? —11 pages on what each publishing path really costs, plus a7-question worksheet that tells you which one is yours.Subscribe here.