//podcastplus.net/feed/podcast~9494ab1b7c91a79a29fd67ba966c61184c135d41ae679b5d2e6eabb7c583c642 Welcome to The Daring Author podcast, where we share inspiring interviews and information on writing and marketing ideas for your book. So that you can build an easeful, empowering and profitable author business! Your host, Jenna Lee, is the owner of The Daring Press, a virtual marketing and support agency where we help indie authors who are ready to take their author business to the next level with more ease, growth and time.You can find the episode show notes and a bunch of marketing resources at thedaringpress.com. Let’s become daring authors together! Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:51:44 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2014749/episodes/17792358-becoming-the-one.mp3 Have you ever felt like you're auditioning for a role you've already earned? Like you're somehow the understudy in your own life story? That feeling of waiting for permission to fully show up is exactly what we're dismantling in this raw, honest exploration of what it truly means to "become the one." This isn't about a superficial makeover or chasing some elusive achievement. Becoming the one is a homecoming, a return to your authentic self and a daily recommitment to standing in your power. It's about shedding the beliefs that have kept you discounting your books, waiting for "perfect" conditions, and mistaking chaotic hustle for productive chemistry. When you declare "I am the one," you fundamentally shift how you approach your creative work and how the world responds to it. I'm sharing my current journey through this transformation, including the terrifying but necessary process of shedding clients, income streams, and business models tha... Thu, 04 Sep 2025 22:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2014749/episodes/17792358-becoming-the-one.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2014749/episodes/17667793-self-belief-the-missing-ingredient-in-your-author-success-recipe.mp3 Ever caught yourself in an endless cycle of strategizing, planning, and searching for the perfect roadmap to success? You're not alone. Welcome to a transformative exploration of why obsessing over "the how" might be the very thing holding you back from the creative breakthrough you've been seeking. Throughout my journey as an author since 2018, I've discovered something counterintuitive yet profoundly liberating: the magic happens when you let go. Control—that persistent need to know exactly how you'll reach six figures, publish ten books, or nail your marketing strategy—silently suffocates creativity. The moment I stopped demanding precise answers and started trusting my intuition, everything shifted. This isn't about abandoning discipline or strategy altogether. Rather, it's about understanding that no marketing plan, however brilliant, can overcome self-doubt. When readers encounter your work, they don't just experience your words—... Wed, 27 Aug 2025 20:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2014749/episodes/17667793-self-belief-the-missing-ingredient-in-your-author-success-recipe.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2014749/episodes/17667786-the-art-of-celebration.mp3 Ever wonder why the hustle-and-grind approach to author success leaves you feeling empty even when you're hitting your goals? I had this revelation while conducting a business audit for one of our Daring Press clients who thanked me for something unexpected—reminding her to celebrate her achievements. The constant chase for the next milestone, the next book release, or the arbitrary markers of "success" we've created in the author community creates immense pressure that disconnects us from joy. I know because I've lived it. There was a time when I released nine books in a single year, convinced that more production meant more success. The result? Complete exhaustion and creative burnout. Then something unexpected happened. The following year, I published just one book but approached it entirely differently. I took my time, marketed in ways that felt authentic, and operated from a place of alignment rather than pressure. That single book outperformed all nine from my "hustle ... Wed, 20 Aug 2025 20:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2014749/episodes/17667786-the-art-of-celebration.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2014749/episodes/17667785-investing-in-yourself-the-ultimate-success-strategy.mp3 What's the most valuable investment you can make as an author? After years of chasing strategies and systems, I discovered the surprising answer that transformed not just my career, but every aspect of my life. For too long, I operated under the crushing weight of hustle culture. I scheduled rigid writing hours, created endless to-do lists, and measured my worth by productivity metrics. This mindset once drove me to write nine books in a single year—an achievement that left me completely burnt out and disconnected from the very creativity that called me to writing. The conditioning ran deep: work hard to make money. If you're not reaching your goals, you're not hustling enough. Everything changed when I began investing in myself instead. By reconnecting with who I am, nurturing my wellbeing without guilt, and approaching my emotions with curiosity rather than judgment, I transformed my relationship with writing. The words began flowing from a place of genuine connection rath... Thu, 14 Aug 2025 20:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2014749/episodes/17667785-investing-in-yourself-the-ultimate-success-strategy.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2014749/episodes/17519022-intentional-hiring-building-your-dream-team.mp3 Finding the perfect team members is like choosing creative collaborators to help write your business story. Are you rushing the process or taking time to find people who truly align with your vision? In this deeply personal episode, I pull back the curtain on my transformative approach to hiring for the Daring Press. After years of sometimes selecting the wrong people, I embarked on a thoroughly intentional two-month journey to find team members who would bring the right energy to our creative container. The process began with a comprehensive application form featuring over 20 questions designed to reveal not just professional capabilities, but personal values and working styles. With 80+ applications to review across various roles. Editors, designers, formatters, and assistants, I created a methodical evaluation system against our core values of expression, integrity, collaboration, devotion, and creativity. Shortlisted candidates received custom challenges that revealed how they would actually inter... Thu, 17 Jul 2025 19:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2014749/episodes/17519022-intentional-hiring-building-your-dream-team.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2014749/episodes/17426827-the-art-of-devotion.mp3 Take a breath right here, right now. Feel that pulse? That's life asking you to meet it in devotion. Devotion has long been misunderstood as rigid discipline or perfectionism, but true devotion is simply a choice - it happens when you stop waiting to be ready. You devote yourself to life not because it's easy, but because it's yours. It's not about getting it right; it's about staying in the room and living the life you've already created. My personal devotion practice revolves around three pillars that fuel everything else: expression through writing before serving others or checking emails; movement that comes from love rather than discipline; and embodiment work that regulates my nervous system so I can safely pursue my vision. When I fuel myself through these practices first, I step into serving others with infectious energy that's fully activated and alive. Trust forms the bridge between fear and flow in this devotion journey. We trus... Wed, 02 Jul 2025 19:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2014749/episodes/17426827-the-art-of-devotion.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2014749/episodes/17172477-add-your-spice-when-cookie-cutter-business-plans-fall-flat.mp3 Have you ever diligently followed someone's "foolproof" business strategy only to watch it fail spectacularly? The problem might not be the strategy itself, but whether your soul was truly in it. Strategies won't work if they don't align with who you are at your core. That constriction you feel in your body when considering certain approaches isn't random – it's your internal guidance system sending a critical message. The best marketing formulas, email sequences, and publishing schedules in the world can't overcome misalignment with your authentic self. Think of business strategies like recipes. You can follow someone else's exactly, but the magic happens when you take what resonates and add your own unique spice. When you create from a place of genuine alignment, that energy transfers to your readers. They feel your passion, your purpose, and they connect with it in ways they never could with content created from burnout or obligation. ... Thu, 29 May 2025 20:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2014749/episodes/17172477-add-your-spice-when-cookie-cutter-business-plans-fall-flat.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2014749/episodes/16927465-the-power-of-play-breaking-through-creative-blocks.mp3 Have you ever felt like you're wearing a mask when you share content online? That feeling of disconnection between who you really are and what you allow yourself to express publicly can be suffocating for creatives. My recent trip to Japan unexpectedly transformed my approach to creative expression and personal branding. The moment I stepped off the plane, I felt a surge of feminine energy, playfulness, and freedom that I hadn't realized was missing from my daily life. This awakening made me confront an uncomfortable truth: I had completely lost my authentic voice online. As writers, we excel at creating characters and speaking through their voices. We can pour our deepest thoughts and desires into fictional personas while keeping our true selves safely hidden. I discovered I'd been doing exactly this—finding it easy to post content for my pen names and business accounts while remaining paralyzed when it came to sharing my personal thoughts. The fear of judgment had effectiv... Thu, 22 May 2025 20:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2014749/episodes/16927465-the-power-of-play-breaking-through-creative-blocks.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2014749/episodes/17172470-dare-to-be-seen-as-an-author.mp3 Fear grips us all in different ways, but for authors, the fear of being seen might be the most insidious barrier to success. While we pour our souls into characters and plotlines, many of us freeze when it comes to marketing our work and building our author brand. This deeply personal episode explores the paradox we face as writers: we're comfortable weaving our truths into fiction, hiding safely behind screens and sometimes even pen names, yet we panic at the thought of genuine visibility. That fear of judgment and rejection keeps us molding ourselves to fit expectations, wearing masks to gain acceptance, and ultimately disconnecting from the authentic voice that could be our greatest strength. The breakthrough comes when we recognize that our thoughts and emotions aren't who we truly are. By separating our essential self from the frightened mind, we can witness our fears without being controlled by them. This separation creates freedom to show up authentically, which magnetizes the e... Thu, 15 May 2025 23:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2014749/episodes/17172470-dare-to-be-seen-as-an-author.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2014749/episodes/16927461-the-daring-author.mp3 What does it truly mean to embrace fearlessness in your writing journey? The Daring Author isn't just a concept—it's a revolutionary mindset that transforms how writers approach their craft and share their work with the world. We explore the powerful identity of a truly authentic writer—one who speaks her truth unfiltered and raw, knowing her words will reach precisely those who need them most. This isn't about writing what's trending or following prescribed paths to publishing success. The Daring Author writes the stories she once feared telling, publishes without permission, and refuses to let external validation determine her worth. At the heart of this conversation lies a fundamental truth: courage isn't the absence of fear but the decision to keep going despite it. When doubt inevitably creeps in, the Daring Author acknowledges it, smiles, and continues forward. She refuses to fit into boxes she doesn't even see, choosing instead to forge he... Wed, 09 Apr 2025 19:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2014749/episodes/16927461-the-daring-author.mp3