Bootstrapped & Booked: A Presenter’s Perspective

by Heather Martin, VPG Editor

On October 1st, I co-hosted “Bootstrapped & Booked: An Entrepreneur’s Self-Publishing Journey” with Ashley Cheung. First, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Ashley for this extraordinary opportunity. I have always had a passion for writing, but not so much for public speaking. However, when Ashley asked if I would take part, I said yes, because I wanted to break that uncomfortable barrier, and since Ashley would co-host with me, I felt like I had a safety net.

The week leading up to the webinar, we prepped and made sure we were ready. Ashley was smooth and confident, but I was a bundle of nerves. I was sure Ashley had made a mistake asking me. I knew what I was going to be talking about and am confident in my ability as a writer, but as the group of women who signed up grew, I felt intimidated by the impressive resumes on display.

The evening of the event came, and it was simply wonderful. Due to the hours of prep we put in, our discussion went very well. First, Ashley gave her background from employee to entrepreneur. It was an inspiring discussion. Then we took turns discussing different aspects of self-publishing. Having published different types of books, we brought slightly different perspectives. Still, we converged on key points, such as the importance of researching the best publishing approach and having multiple editors to ensure a high-quality finished product.

For me, the best part of the entire event was the discussion with the attendees. While I had been nervous about being in front of these accomplished women, the reality was that they were incredibly curious about the process and, more importantly, enormously supportive of not only Ashley and me but also all the other women on the webinar. Someone would mention a book idea, and there were instant texts of support in the chat bar. By the end of the webinar, I learned that my nerves were for nothing. The accomplished resumes that had first intimidated me hid behind them impressively kind and supportive women. Overall, I’m grateful to have been a part of such an evening, and I took away as much as I gave.