10 New Beach Reads We Can't Wait to Take on Vacation
OOO page-turners.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels
Now that it’s officially summer, chances are you’re looking for your next beach read. Ahead, we’ve compiled a list for all of you Create & Cultivators who crave career-driven fiction with strong female characters and non-fiction reads that will give you a boost to become an even better version of yourself. Whether you’re in the mood for some self-help, a sexy thriller, sweet romance, or a bit of office drama, there’s something for everyone.
"Your Fully Charged Life" by Meaghan B. Murphy
$24
This book is the perfect guide for becoming more energetic, happy, and fully charged every day. Written by magazine editor Meaghan B. Murphy, this guide is filled with personal experiences, learnings from positive psychology and neuroscience, and inspiring stories. It presents new ways, big and small, that you can make a difference in all aspects of your life and impact others in a positive way.
"While We Were Dating" by Jasmine Guillory
$15
Ben Stephens has more to worry about than getting in a committed relationship, including family drama and a huge ad campaign he just landed with Anna Gardiner, a major movie star. Anna is using this ad campaign as a distraction as she waits to hear if she landed the role in a big movie that will make her a household name. Ben and Anna are instantly attracted to each other and their flirtations turn serious after Ben helps Anna during a family emergency. They soon plan to turn their infatuation into something more suited for the spotlight, but will they both be content with this fake setup?
"Just One Look" by Lindsay Cameron
$25
After falling from the corporate ladder, Cassie Woodson takes a temp job reviewing correspondence for a fraud suit in order to pay her bills. After finding emails sent between Forest Watts and his wife, Cassie becomes invested and starts to find meaning in her life again. She starts spending her days reading over their email exchanges, slowly becoming more and more obsessed with their lives. After staging a chance meeting with Forest, Cassie starts devising a plan to take his wife’s place.
"Dream First, Details Later" by Ellen Marie Bennett
$25
Written by entrepreneur and founder of the multi-million-dollar company, Hedley & Bennett, Ellen Marie Bennett provides a simple guide to following your dreams, no matter what. Inspired by her experience as a 24-year-old line cook who offered to make new aprons for the kitchen staff even though she had no company or plan, she offers a new perspective on following your dreams by crushing doubt and second guesses. Pick up this book to learn how to step out of your comfort zone and get started on a dream project.
"Del Rio" by Jane Rosenthal
$16
District Attorney Callie McCall has slowly watched her hometown, Del Rio, California, go from a thriving farm town to a run-down, dying town. She decides that now the perfect time to launch her political career and attempt to make a difference in the town she was born and raised in. However, when the dismembered body of a migrant teen is found in one of Del Rio's surrounding citrus groves, Callie faces a career make-or-break case that takes her to the west coast of Mexico and a secretive tropical paradise before coming back home to face the most politically connected and wealthiest family: her own.
"The Other Black Girl" by Zakiya Dalila Harris
$25
Nella Rogers faces isolation and microaggression as the only Black employee at Wagner Books. When Hazel, a new Black editorial assistant, arrives and works next to Nella’s cubicle, she is overjoyed to have someone to talk to. However, Hazel is soon elevated as the office darling and leaves Nella far behind. Soon after, threatening notes start appearing on Nella’s desk telling her to leave Wagner immediately. Confused by the notes, she assumes Hazel has left the notes behind but soon realizes that there is more at stake than her job.
"The Heart Principle" by Helen Hoang
$15
Anna Sun accidentally achieves success when her YouTube video of her playing the violin becomes viral. Soon after the video’s success, Anna finds it difficult to replicate the video and becomes burnt out as a result. On top of that, her longtime boyfriend asks for an open relationship before committing to more, hurting Anna deeply. She decides to participate in an open relationship as well, planning on multiple one-night stands with the most unacceptable men. Anna soon meets Quan Diep, who accepts her unconditionally and offers more than sex. When tragedy strikes her family and Anna takes on an unexpected role, she and Quan end up fighting for their chance at a relationship.
"Mona at Sea" by Elizabeth Gonzalez James
$15
After graduating college at the top of her class and the job of her dreams in her grasp, everything seems to be working perfectly for perfectionist Mona Mireles. That is, until the 2008 recession strikes, and she ends up unemployed and living with her parents. Mona finds herself completely adrift in life and love and is on the path of a downward spiral of bitterness and self-pity. She uses humor and a cynic outlook in order to face her new life which is filled with job searching, navigating her parent’s failing marriage, and figuring out the complexity of adulthood.
"The Photographer" by Mary Dixie Carter
$26
Delta Dawn makes a living from taking photos of New York’s elite and editing them to look like perfect, happy families to their viewers. She spends her days hopping from one photo shoot to the next, but when she takes pictures for the Straub family, she doesn’t want to leave and finds herself wanting to be part of the family’s glamourous life. From babysitting their daughter to becoming a close family friend, Delta seems to have everything in place until questions are raised and she soon finds out that manipulation doesn’t come as easy.
"Write My Name Across the Sky" by Barbara O’Neal
$23
Gloria Rose is an influencer in her ‘70s living her best life in the Upper West Side with thousands of Instagram followers who adore her. However, everything starts to fall apart when her old lover is arrested for art theft and forgery. Gloria decides to run, but her plan gets complicated when she must help the nieces she raised. Willow has returned home after a failed album and relationship while Sam faces the imminent loss of her video game company and her boyfriend due to her uncontrollable anger. The three women must work together to overcome their loss and face their future.
About the Author: Abby Cunningham is a junior at Auburn University studying public relations and minoring in marketing and industrial and graphic design processes. Abby is currently the online and social media editor for her school’s newspaper, The Auburn Plainsman. She is also a part of Auburn’s student-run public relations firm, literary magazine, and yearbook. Abby is usually found spending her day on TikTok, color coding her plans for the month, or settling down with a good book.
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17 Successful Women Share the Insightful Books That Supercharged Their Careers
Consider these tomes required reading.
In this age of information, we have everything we need to start a new business, create a website, or set up a budget right at our fingertips—Google is a powerful tool. But sometimes you need a deep dive into the topic to truly understand the scope of what’s required from every angle—that’s when we turn to books. In our series, Turning a Page, we ask successful people to share their go-to tomes that helped transform their business, career, or money mindset. Whether you listen to them or need to physically flip the pages (and write notes or underline the text like us!), there is so much power in self-educating. Ready to turn a page in your career? These books will help take you there.
Photo: ColorJoy Stock by Christina Jones Photography
Our career roadmaps are typically anything but linear. In fact, there are often many different paths to find success, which can make navigating the process that much more difficult. Fortunately, an abundance of trailblazing leaders have paved the way to show us that anything is possible, and many of their journeys have been documented in powerful books that are readily available to us.
To narrow down the seemingly endless options out there, we tapped 17 incredible women to uncover the books that have supercharged their careers, helped them land promotions, lead companies, and, ultimately, shaped the ways they’re positively impacting the world around them. Their recommendations—like their backgrounds—are eclectic. They include titles from a corporate lens, an entrepreneurial perspective, and even the viewpoint of a symphony orchestra player turned consultant.
Emily Chen
Founder of Emcstudioco
The Book: “You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life” by Jen Sincerio
The Key Takeaway: As creatives and entrepreneurs, we so often fall into the mindset of scarcity. This book helped me shift my mindset when I was starting my creative studio and first entrepreneurial venture. It made me realize we are all born with innate gifts and that fulfilling our purpose allows others around us to step into theirs.
Samantha Patil
Co-Founder and CEO of Well Traveled
The Book: “Everything Is Figureoutable” by Marie Forleo
The Key Takeaway: A couple of years ago I made the decision to walk away from my stable and successful career that I'd put 10 years of work into building. I dove into the path of entrepreneurship and I couldn't be happier that I did. Entrepreneurship is scary, exciting, frustrating, exhausting, and thrilling all the time and I wouldn't have it any other way. I read Forleo's book not long after taking the plunge into running my own business and now have the words "everything is figureoutable" in a frame on my desk. The minute I start to think, "What am I doing? I don't know how to do this!" I look at those words and I get back to work. I've realized I'm stronger, more capable, and more resilient than I ever imagined, and Forleo's book and these words often help me give myself the pep talk I need whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed.
Yewande Faloyin
Founder and CEO of OTITỌ Leadership Coaching & Consulting
The Book: “Lost Connections: Why You’re Depressed and How to Find Hope” by Johann Hari
The Key Takeaway: After two years of exhaustion and burnout, “Lost Connections” reminded me that I am so much more than what I do. It emphasized the significance of connecting to more than just my work for success, fulfillment, and satisfaction. This book would benefit anyone seeking to find true, lasting success in all areas of their life, recognizing that when we thrive in one area, it elevates the others! Understanding how depression can result from one being disconnected from different yet equally important areas in one's life helped me to confidently quit my consulting job at McKinsey and build a business that I love in a way that connects with, supports, and amplifies all other areas of my life.
Olivia Bowser
Founder and CEO of Liberate
The Book: “The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment” by Eckhart Tolle
The Key Takeaway: Each page opened my eyes to what life could feel like when living fully embodied in the here and now. I realized that I had so often been consumed by obsessing about the past or ruminating over the future that I was missing what was right in front of me. By living for the now, I can create positive change, be a better leader, and be the best version of myself.
Sophia Sunwoo
Founder and Principal of Ascent Strategy
The Book: “Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making” Machine by Mike Michalowicz
The Key Takeaway: I have never met an entrepreneur who has read this book and hasn’t raved about how drastically it has changed how they manage their money and helped them turn a profit in their business. There really isn’t anyone who wouldn’t benefit from this book—it’s simply genius and sets you up to always have cash on hand for payroll and to self-fund any desired investments for your business. If you want to boost your financial literacy and wield your money to your desires, read this book.
Sam Ogborn
Founder and CEO of Once + More
The Book: “Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are” by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
The Key Takeaway: This book helped me understand the socially acceptable conversations we all have versus our personal, inner thoughts, and feelings. This book has been invaluable for my career as it's helped me understand true human nature and the importance of reading between the lines.
Mariya Leona Illarionova
Founder and Creative Director of Wild Side Studio
The Book: “Start Something That Matters” by Blake Mycoskie
The Key Takeaway: This book changed my perspective on business and pivoted my career. At the time, I was working in a laboratory at Brookfield Zoo. The book inspired me to quit the lab, dive into the startup world, and eventually start my own business. Mycoskie taught me that we can use capitalism as a tool to redistribute wealth and better our planet. I recommend this book to anyone who feels let down by society and the professional world. Reading it gave me the momentum to follow my heart and to be the change I wish to see in the world.
Lori Abichandani
Founder and Brand Strategist at A Big Idea
The Book: “Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business” by Danny Meyer
The Key Takeaway: I love this book—so much of my philosophy on life and business has been shaped by it. It emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, cultivating strong culture, leading with generosity, and building to last instead of building for trends. It's truly a timeless read. While set in the hospitality industry, there are lessons to be found for anyone building a company from the ground up. I highly recommend it to entrepreneurs or aspiring entrepreneurs of all kinds.
Alex Cooley
Founder of AC Electric
The Book: “The Path of Least Resistance: Learning to Become the Creative Force in Your Own Life” by Robert Fritz
The Key Takeaway: This is not a business book. Robert Fritz is a symphony orchestra player turned consultant of all things. The book's main idea is that addressing life, business, and societal concerns is not just about tackling its problems but about envisioning an altogether new, idealized vision. This implementation with structural change is a powerful perspective on how to solve nearly any situation. It's the first book I have my clients read and is so great for anyone who wants to own a vision and make a big impact in their industry and society.
Maiko Sakai
Founder and Lead Strategist at Airtight Concepts
The Book: “Radical Candor (Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity)” by Kim Scott
The Key Takeaway: The revised version is key because the newly added parts clarify Scott’s true intention for the framework as well as her definition of radical candor, which was misunderstood and meme’d when the first edition was released. This is one of those books that makes me say, “I wish I’d written it!” with the utmost respect. Scott’s decision to work on the revised version and how sincere and transparent she was with the process left me thinking about how to revamp my work and my business for days. I was deeply inspired by her candid ways to continuously improve the framework she created and truly walk the walk as a boss and as an entrepreneur. I highly recommend this book to all entrepreneurs who aspire to create their own intellectual property but have doubts creeping up and/or are planning on building and nurturing a kick-ass team for their businesses.
Kim Kaupe
Founder of Bright Ideas Only
The Book: “Hearts, Smarts, Guts and Luck: What It Takes to Be an Entrepreneur and Build a Great Business” by Anthony Tjan, Richard Harrington, and Tsun-Yan Hsieh
The Key Takeaway: This was the first book to help me understand what my entrepreneurial mapping was thanks to their first-ever Entrepreneurial Aptitude Test. I could see where my strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities were when it came to building my business and expanding my dreams. I recommend it to anyone who wants to start a company or lead change.
Melinda Wang
Founder of MW Projects
The Book: “Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman! Adventures of a Curious Character” by Richard P. Feynman
The Key Takeaway: I came across this book by Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman when I was in middle school and only recently did I realize how much it impacted my life, both professionally and personally. This semi-autobiographical book is a collection of anecdotes of Feynman’s adventures in theoretical physics, Brazilian samba, academia, visual art, safe-cracking, and more. Words of wisdom about authentic knowledge, intellectual idealism, and the importance of following through on curiosities flow throughout the stories. Meeting this self-professed curious character inspired me to not only follow my passions across art, law, and entrepreneurship but to go deep and always challenge myself to learn more.
Lauren Rosenthal
Founder and Chief Chick of Birdie
The Book: “The Paradox of Choice: Why Less Is More” by Barry Schwartz
The Key Takeaway: This book finally gave me a term to explain what I'm addressing with my app, Birdie! So many people are familiar with the book that as soon as I bring up "The Paradox of Choice" everyone understands the issue and how important it is to solve. I believe everyone can benefit from this book. We are all so inundated with options on a daily basis, so better understanding how the paradox of choice impacts us can help change our mindset and reduce unnecessary stress and anxiety.
Lori Sussle Bonanni
Founder and Communications Consultant at Elssus, LLC
The Book: “Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel” by Rolf Potts
The Key Takeaway: I read this for the first time while traveling solo during my career break in South America nearly a decade ago. Travel is a real-life choose-your-own-adventure novel, especially if you travel without being tethered to an itinerary like me. Ultimately, the benefits of travel—curiosity, creativity, flexibility, and an increased tolerance for uncertainty—make me a stronger entrepreneur.
Dina Kaplan
Founder and CEO of The Path
The Book: “The Surrender Experiment: My Journey into Life's Perfection” by Michael A. Singer
The Key Takeaway: Singer shows how much we can change our lives, and our careers, by making new choices about how we want to live. He also shows that it is possible to lead a company while being kind and ethical. I think about the decisions he made constantly as I remind myself that I can change my life—and the lives of others—by always choosing to act ethically, and that I can lead my team by being strong but also caring. This book will benefit people leading companies or teams or really anyone open to believing they have the power within themselves to be happy and to control their destiny.
Wadeeha Jackson
Director of Compliance and Ops at HXRO Game Ltd
The Book: “Expect to Win: 10 Proven Strategies for Thriving in the Workplace” by Carla Harris
The Key Takeaway: “Expect to Win” was a game-changer for me during the earlier part of my career in the finance industry. For me, the key takeaway was the importance of having a sponsor. As a young professional, you usually seek seasoned professionals for mentorship. Throughout the book, Harris points out that a sponsor provides influence and expresses a willingness to advocate on your behalf. Unlike mentorship, sponsors serve as a direct pipeline toward unique opportunities to push your career forward.
Trish Boes
Leadership and Life Coach at Soul Leadership Solutions, LLC
The Book: “The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are” by Brené Brown
The Key Takeaway: This book totally rocked my world and is one of the reasons why I chose to become a leadership coach years ago. It introduced me to the concept of perfectionism, which, eight years ago, I didn't know was a thing. I realized that I was a perfectionist and that a lot of the things I was doing in my career were based around people-pleasing and avoiding feelings of shame, which eventually led to my burnout. I still read this book regularly because it reminds me to lean into vulnerability and prioritize wholehearted living, which means engaging in our own lives from a place of courage and worthiness. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to reconnect with their own brilliance and to let go of feelings of burnout, imposter syndrome, or constant self-judgment.
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6 Books You Should Read This Month
Gather your book club!
Fall is right around the corner. Grab your cozy sweater, pumpkin spiced latte, and these great reads to get you through the season. Not only with the changing leaves comes new book releases, but it is also a time for us to make changes for ourselves to live better and more fulfilled lives. In turn, these books can give the ‘spice’ we need to inspire us to chase after our dreams. We hope you fall in love with these books full of advice and anecdotes as much as we have!
Money Diaries, Lindsey Stanberry
Featuring advice from a team of female financial advisers, the Refinery29 series-turned-book gives readers an inside look into personal finances, from spending to saving and everything in between. Learn how to save the most, while affording a comfortable everyday life at the same time. With the money challenges and easy steps to follow, take control of your finances today.
Under Fire, April Ryan
Ryan provides readers with an inside look into adjustment reporters on the frontlines made with the chaos and confusion of today’s political climate. From policy debates, to asking hard-hitting questions, we see her transition from being the one who writes the stories to the one who is written about.
She Would Be King, Wayetu Moore
In her debut novel, Moore takes readers through the journeys of three characters during Liberia’s formation. The use of history and magical realism showcases her vibrant storytelling of the African Diaspora, while highlighting ties to the United States. In addition to the three pivotal roles of Gbessa, June Dey, and Norman Aragon, the spirit of wind also adds an air of wisdom when speaking of Gbessa: “If she was not a woman, then she would be king.”
Transcription, Kate Atkinson
Atkinson explores the world of espionage during the WWII era through the lens of 18-year-old Juliet Armstrong. A decade after the war ended, Armstrong works for BBC as a radio producer, only to be confronted by her past. Through moments of wit, power, empathy, and betrayal, the bestselling author tells this story in best way she possibly can; victoriously.
Small Fry, Lisa Brennan-Jobs
With the recent Apple Special Event happening just days ago, founder Steve Jobs’ and artist Chrisann Brennan’s daughter, Lisa, depicts her life living on a farm while Silicon Valley was constantly changing, and the minimal role her father played in her life. Later on in life, her father began paying closer attention to her and showing her the luxuries life has to offer, which felt great, but at times he was cold and critical. This is a wise and funny story of childhood and the magic of growing up in the first family of technology during the seventies and eighties in California.
The Best Damn Answers to Life’s Hardest Questions, Tess Koman
This collection of flowcharts, pros and cons lists and rants is the book we needed to get us through our tough decisions. The advice is invaluable, but also relatable AF which makes this the perfect gift for the indecisive person in your group chats. We know who you are.
By: Ashley Banayan
Ashley is a senior at the University of Southern California pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism with a minor in Web Technologies and Applications from the Viterbi School of Engineering. Currently, she works as an editorial intern for Create and Cultivate. She has experience in traditional public relations, social media marketing, influencer relations, content creation, and web development. Furthermore, she is the founder of Geocasion, a company designing Snapchat Geofilters for both businesses and personal clients, garnering 4.5 million views. In turn, these experiences led her to focus on the convergence and disruption in media, communication and web technologies.
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6 Career-Driven Books That Will Inspire You to be Your Best Self
Sit back, relax, and enjoy.
We all need a good read every now and then, and here at C&C we’re always looking for new material. A good book is so much more than an interesting plot, climax, and conclusion. A good read must inspire us to live a happier and fuller life, and in our case encourage us to go after our dream jobs and career paths.
Our current reading list for the month of August is full of career-driven reads with no BS advice and stories that we can all benefit from. And let’s face it, we all need a light kick in the ass from time to time.
Jot down this list, and get to some more summer reading.
Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
The show creator and producer explains how her career changed once she started saying yes. She gets real about everything from avoiding public appearances to suffering panic attacks before some of her interviews. We wouldn’t expect this from a female powerhouse, but that’s exactly the point. She made a promise to herself and for a year she vowed to say yes to everything that scared her.
Leave Your Mark by Aliza Licht
Aliza is the voice behind the famed Twitter account, @DKNYPRGirl. Although she left her post at the fashion house, and the Twitter account is no more, she mastered the art of social media when you’re at the prime of your career. Her tongue-in-cheek humor and real-talk advice make readers feel like they’re listening to the wiser big sister they never had.
Like She Owns the Place by Cara Alwill Leyba
Is there a weight on your shoulders that’s getting in the way of your confidence? Then this one’s for you. Cara dives into accepting every single part of ourselves whether it be failures, wrinkles, or straight-up f*ck ups. Her book will get you to find that unshakeable confidence you’ve been looking for in order to live your best life.
You’re Not Lost by Maxie McCoy
Maxie has had enough of hearing women say, “I’m so lost”. Let’s face it, we’re all guilty of saying those three darn little words. Her compelling guide helps readers get to the root of their self-doubt, and shine the light on small, yet impactful decisions that will make you stop feeling "lost" after all.
Radical Candor by Kim Scott
Kim focuses puts the focus on bosses in her book. After her careers at Google and Apple, she developed a class on how to be the best boss possible, also titled Radical Candor. As a voice respected by CEOs, Kim provides honest guidance on what it really takes to effectively lead others. The idea of Radical Candor is that in order to be a good boss, you have to care personally while challenging directly. Kim shows readers how to build better relationships at work and fulfill their responsibilities of being a leader.
WorkParty by Jaclyn Johnson (Available August 21st)
Our very own Jaclyn Johnson lets it all out in WorkParty. Jaclyn shares how she turned distrust into determination, frustration into fuel, and heartache into hard work—and how you can, too. It’s your no BS guide to building your own career, your empire, and the best future for you.
By: Andrea Navarro
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Good Vibes Only: Lauryn Evarts on staying positive & building a brand
Spend more than a few minutes on Lauryn Evart's blog The Skinny Confidential, and you will want her to be your best friend. She's smart, relatable and has a girls-night sense of humor. She's also drop-dead gorgeous with a passion for healthy living. Lauryn will be speaking at Create & Cultivate Dallas on our Brand Vibes: How to create a brand that lives beyond the blog bubble, so we caught up with her in advance here.
Spend more than a few minutes on Lauryn Evart's blog The Skinny Confidential, and you will want her to be your best friend. She's smart, relatable and has a girls-night-out sense of humor. She's also drop-dead gorgeous with a passion for healthy living. Lauryn will be speaking at Create & Cultivate Dallas on our Brand Vibes: How to create a brand that lives beyond the blog bubble panel, so we caught up with her in advance here.
You recently did a post about focusing on positivity on social media. What tips do you have for using social media in a positive and proactive way, as opposed to just using it to wallow in FOMO?
I think it’s really important to follow people who radiate positivity. I like my daily social feeds to consist of inspiring entrepreneurs, people I look up to, specific charities, business tips, and people in my industry. If you follow negativity on social media, you subconsciously absorb that downer vibe, even if you don’t notice. I love waking up to a positive and motivating social media feed in the morning. It starts my day off on the right foot.
You’re very open on your blog about sometimes not having great days. How do you decide how much and what personal information to share?
I would say that I share 45% of my life on The Skinny Confidential and the remaining 55% of my life I keep to my family, my friends , and to myself. I have always referred to The Skinny Confidential as my alter ego and my alter ego is not every single part of me. Overall I’m very private in many ways; I don’t show my bedroom, family stuff, my whole relationship, etc. I think it’s really important to differentiate work life and personal life. And as a blogger that can get tricky, but I make a conscious effort to keep them separate.
I think of the blog as the meat & bun in my hamburger. The rest is just added touches.
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How do you define TSC brand and how have you worked to build it outside of the blog?
I have always viewed the blog as the platform for the brand. When I first started blogging, I knew that the blog was the foundation of the brand. I think a lot of people go into blogging thinking of starting a brand, but I have always gone back to the blog, and grew the brand from there. I think of the blog as the meat & bun in my hamburger (if the hamburger was my brand, LOL ). The rest is just added touches.
How did TSC book come about? What tips do you have for other people who want to take their blog into a book format?
"The Skinny Confidential Book" was a natural extension of the blog. Before I started the blog, I laid out a map of where I saw my brand in two years. A piece of that was a book so that's always been a goal of mine, to write a book. It was the next natural step. Ultimately it was really exciting to extend the blog into a book, and share fresh new content in the book that I had saved up over time.
If you are a blogger looking to get a book deal, I’d say it is important to keep your posting consistent ( at least 5 times a week ), find your voice, and make sure you're posting quality. Also, I think it’s also a good idea to go into blogging with the idea of eventually writing a book—that way you will know what to share on the blog and keep separate tidbits for your book. Since I knew I wanted to write a book, I was very careful about scheduling my content accordingly. As you can imagine, my iPhone notes app is FULL!
What would you say are the three keys to a successful blog?
The first key to a successful blog is to grow with your readers. The readers are what make the blog and you always want to gauge what they like and what they don't like. You also want to respond and engage with the readers. I see a lot of bloggers that get so big and don’t have time to interact with their readers. The readers are what make the blog, so I’ve always put a major effort into interacting with them. Without them, The Skinny Confidential wouldn't exist.
You list perverted humor as one of your likes. Can you tell us a dirty joke? ;)
I have a veryyyyy dirty sense of humor so I definitely wouldn’t call myself a conservative blogger. I like to tell it how it is, even if that means it’s disgusting/weird/inappropriate. Some people don't like to share that side online, but I feel like life is too serious sometimes so you should have a little fun. I also think that humor makes dry, uncomfortable subjects more interesting. If you want a dirty joke, read my posts on: camel toes, organic tampons, boob jobs, vagina steaming, and Kegels.
What tips/tricks/tools do you use to manage your time while working for yourself?
I have a lot of ideas & can sometimes be all over the place, so I rely on my team to keep me on track & help me stay focused. For someone who just started blogger, I'd recommend setting a time every day to JUST DO IT. It is kind of like brushing your teeth - you just do it. Blog every day. Even if you're sick, tired, hungover, whatever. Excuses are like assholes, everyone has one. Really though, no one is going to hold you accountable but yourself, so staying on track when it comes to blogging is so important.
What is the biggest thing you’ve learned from blogging?
The biggest thing I have learned from blogging is authenticity is golden. I've also learned how many women there are all over the world that want to connect and tell their story. Everyone truly has a story to tell. I’ve learned to step out of myself and learn from other people's experiences; I’ve learned a lot about other people’s spirituality, holistic experiences, wellness journey, boyfriend problems, life struggles, & much more. The Internet makes it possible to connect with anyone, anywhere. It's great.
How do you build a community with a blog? With readers and with other bloggers?
I love to interview other women. I am a big fan of collaborating and not competing. Supporting one another in the blogging community is so important. And really, there is no need to tear each other down; there's plenty of room for all of us. I also like to build a community with my readers. When I created TSC Bombshell Body Guide, I listened to my readers and I created the guide based on their requests/questions/suggestions. Engaging is key, the reader will tell you the right direction. Listen to them & engage.
What has been your proudest moment with your career?
The proudest moment of my career thus far is probably the launch of my book. I've also been able to work some brands that I absolutely love, which is awesome because they're organic, authentic partnerships. And stay tuned because I'm working on an upcoming project that's totally different for me. Very excited! The ultimate goal though is to continue to inspire and motivate women from all over the world.
Read Up: Create & Cultivate Book Club
We could wax on forever about the virtues of books: they're portable, they feel good in your hands, they look good in your apartment, they give you a chance to get off the internet—and most importantly—you learn something. That's why we're kicking off Create & Cultivate Book Club! Each month, we'll pick a book (we're also open to suggestions!) and invite you to read along, and in a couple of weeks, we'll check back in to see what you think. At the end of the month, we'll wrap it up and discuss how/if the book was applicable to us and what we were able to apply.
We could wax on forever about the virtues of books: they're portable, they feel good in your hands, they look good in your apartment, they give you a chance to get off the internet—and most importantly—you learn something. That's why we're kicking off Create & Cultivate Book Club! Each month, we'll pick a book (we're also open to suggestions!) and invite you to read along, and in a couple of weeks, we'll check back in to see what you think. At the end of the month, we'll wrap it up and discuss how/if the book was applicable to us and what we were able to apply.
Our first book is The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna. A designer who worked at startups such as Medium, Uber and Mailbox, Elle left her full-time job to become an artist, and first wrote about should and must on Medium. In the hugely popular essay, she defined 'should' as "how others want us to show up in the world" and 'must' as "what happens when we stop conforming to other people's ideals and start connecting to our own." These two concepts are recognizable to anyone who's ever felt like their career didn't match up to who they were, and especially to any entrepreneur who's ever decided to pursue their passion only to hear "Here's what you should do..." a million times.
Through writing, quotes, and illustrations, Elle takes the reader through her journey and offers tips and tools for recognizing the shoulds and musts in their own lives.
We're excited to dive in! If you're reading along, let us know your thoughts in the comment section below or @ us with #ccreadup.
Love Style Life by Garance Doré
Garance reveals the cover art (and more!) for her upcoming book release Love Style Life. We can't wait to welcome this one to it's new home on our coffee table.
Love x Style x Life by Garancé Dore/via Spiegal & Grau
You already know we're beyond excited to have Garance Doré as the Keynote Speaker at #CreateCultivateCHI. So we we're that much more excited to have some new details (and cover art!) for her soon-to-be-released book LOVE STYLE LIFE (out October 27th, and available for pre-order now).
As expected, it's beautiful—pink, black, with gold accents that will fit in perfectly on our coffee table for years to come. We also got some intel on a few of the iconic women featured inside: Emmanuelle Alt, Drew Barrymore, Diane Von Furstenberg, and Jenna Lyons (yes, yes, and more yes!). In addition, there will be tons of the gorgeous illustrations and photography we love by Garance herself.
Get tickets to hear all about Garance's career & life in her own words at #creatcultivateCHI on Aug 15th.
& pre-order Life Style Love here.
Love x Style x Life by Garancé Dore/via Spiegal & Grau
Longform: The Money of Art and How I Self-Published My First Book
It's a joke among writers—if you search "working on my novel" on Twitter, you’ll get millions of results. There's even a blog dedicated to people announcing their books. Most of which never make it onto (or off the) page. My first book never did until I figured out: I was going about it all wrong. Now that I've written and published my first book, I've got a few lessons to share.
The Money of Art by Peter Nguyen photographed by EDGE Studios/Sean Kilgore-Han
Peter Nguyen is an artist, writer, designer, career coach, and champion for artists in the digital age. He has also been a constant in my own digital life. We met way back when on LiveJournal and since then, I've sought him out for advice on everything from fashion to relationships, moving cross-country (and back again), podcasts to coffee, career, business, and everything in between. Peter is the master of many domains: from his successful lifestyle blog/newsletter The Essential Man, his menswear label LÉON, and now his first book The Money of Art.
I've always been struck by Peter's transparency about his art, work, and process. Since reading The Money of Art, I've been suggesting and passing it along to pretty much every creative I know (it's currently on-loan to an indie musician friend, who's already applying Peter's tips to his work). This post started out as a book review, but with so many creative entrepreneurs in the Create + Cultivate community, I thought Peter had a very unique perspective and advice on expanding your brand and successfully self-publishing a book. You don't have to wait for a book deal to come knocking. There are plenty of ways to get a beautiful book out there yourself (and maybe even capture the attention of a publisher or book agent for your text title). Read on to see how Peter made it happen for himself. —JM
The Money of Art and How I Self-Published My First Book
I have been selling online for literally half my life. I started my first eBay business at 16 years old, buying and selling arcade games. Early in college, when I took an interest in fashion (which later led to a career as a menswear designer), I started buying and selling designer clothes. More recently, I launched my own menswear label and started a writing about my experiences on a blog called The Essential Man. In 2012, when I decided to revamp The Essential Man, I decided to give my readers something they had been asking for. I announced that I was writing a book.
As it so happens, that book never happened.
It's a joke among writers—if you search "working on my novel" on Twitter, you’ll get millions of results. There's even a blog dedicated to people announcing their books. Most of which never make it onto (or off the) page.
It wasn't until I picked up a book called Just F*cking Ship by Amy Hoy did I realize I was going about it all wrong.
Amy's book not only changed how I work forever, it has changed how I approach my goals. Two months after I finished Just F*cking Ship I had written my first book: The Money of Art: Make Money And Escape The Corporate Grind, While Staying True To Your Art.
So what was different this time? Below are 10 things that helped me write and finally self-publish my 1st book.
1. RE-DEFINE THE "REAL AUTHOR".
When other writers ask how I published and sold my book, and I say that I self-published, they always seem turned off. They tell me they want to do it the “old-fashioned” way. As a writer, of course I understand there is a certain romance with being “chosen” by a publisher and possibly, just maybe, hitting the New York Times best-seller list. But you have to decide what’s more important to you: holding onto an outdated, romanticized image of what it means to be a writer or embracing new opportunities to actually get your work out there for people to discover, love, and share.
"What’s more important: holding onto a romanticized idea of a writer or actually getting your work out?"
The best thing? You can still have your book printed in physical form. In fact, The Money of Art was published in paperback, hardcover, and digital. The difference was that I no longer needed someone else's permission to publish my book.
What makes you a real author? Writing a book and making it available for people to read. It’s as simple as that.
2. CHOOSE ONE PROBLEM AND SOLVE IT.
It’s tempting—especially with your first book—to cram your entire life philosophy within its pages, but it’s not going to do you or the reader any favors.
A lot of people I advise tell me that they want to write a “lifestyle” book or build a lifestyle business. The truth is, no one goes in a bookstore thinking “I need a book on lifestyle!” Instead they'll look for a book on vegan baking, turning a blog into a business, or DIY projects, specifically. Niche into a problem—specific problems that are part of a lifestyle. Find your trojan horse. In the case of my book: how to make money as an artist. And inside my trojan horse I hid the other things I wanted to teach, such as the psychology of money, redefining happiness, and doing work you’re passionate about. I believe my first ill-fated book for The Essential Man never worked out in part because I never defined a true problem.
3. DEADLINES WILL KEEP YOU ALIVE.
Flash back to high school. Remember how you seemed to do your best work when the assignment was due the next day? Was it because you’re just really amazing at working until the sun comes up, or was it the pressure of that deadline? I’d put money on the latter. When I announced my first book attempt, I chose the worst kind of deadline: coming soon. In my experience, “coming soon” is code for “never really going to happen.”
Here’s something I’ve never shared publicly: When I announced The Money of Art release date (in March 2015) and started taking pre-orders, I only had the outline finished. The timespan from the day I announced the book to the on-sale date was just 30 days.
I took to my Google calendar and broke up the work accordingly. I scheduled what writing, editing, sharing, and cover designing needed to be done on what days. And this time, I stuck to it.
Now, I don’t recommend you (nor anyone) try to write a book in 30 days, but my point still remains: deadlines help you get work done. Your self-imposed deadline should be close enough to scare you into doing the work, but not so far away that you'll put it off.
"Self-impose deadlines close enough to scare you into doing the work, not so far away you'll put it off"
4. THE OUTLINE IS HALF THE BATTLE.
In The Money of Art, I emphasize the importance of what I call "front-loading the work." It's something I learned from entrepreneur Ramit Sethi. Front-loading the work means putting in extra time and effort upfront to make the work later on much easier.
To that effect, I spent a good month outlining my book before I actually sat down and wrote a single chapter. I didn’t use anything fancy, just a Google Doc. The first thing I wrote was actually the last chapter—what I wanted the reader to get out of the book. In The Money of Art, my goal was to teach artists how to market themselves and sell their work online.
Then I worked my way backwards, writing the chapter titles as I went, and starting to write and edit the book in my head. After that, I got someone to skim it over. Did it flow like a real book? Was there something to expand on? Anything unclear? Just make sure the person you hand it to will give you honest, real—and sometimes blunt—feedback.
5. SET UP A MAILING LIST RIGHT NOW.
Setting up an e-mail list is basically a way for you to separate people that don’t really care about your work from the people who can’t wait to throw money at you.
Your mailing list also helps when you have future products you want to sell. The old business adage that it's harder to sell to a new customer than an old one is true. Customers who have purchased from you before are 4x more likely to buy from you than someone who hasn’t.
It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. I purchased my book's URL on Hover.com ($10), set-up a website through Squarespace ($8), and created a landing page that linked to my Mailchimp account (free). All the page said was: "To get news of the release of The Money of Art sign up here."
6. BEFORE (& AFTER) YOUR BOOK RELEASE, SEND AMAZING CONTENT.
Building a list and only e-mailing them when you're selling something is a guarantee that you will get no sales. You know that one friend or family member who only calls when they need something? Don’t be that person. People will stop looking forward to your call.
Long-term, the relationship is more valuable than the sale.
For example, before its release, I held a book cover design contest. The prize: A full “Pro-Package” of The Money of Art. It contained a signed hardcover edition of the book, instant digital download, a goodie bag, and a design credit in the book. Mailing list subscribers were shown three rough cover mockups, chose their favorite, and answered a simple survey via Squarespace. It was one-part crowdsourcing the most-liked cover design, one-part content to keep people excited while I wrote the book. It was a huge success. Not only did I get hundreds of responses, I got to interact with my mailing list to show them there was an actual human being on the other end of that sign-up form, and I cared about their thoughts and opinions.
I also sent chapters of the book AS they were being finished and fielded questions. Including one of my best chapters about the artist’s fear of being successful. Why did I give away one of my best chapters? Because when someone reads or shared that e-mail and says “Wow, that was good,” they’re also thinking “well, the rest of the book has to be amazing.” It’s incentive to buy and validates their subscription in the first place.
And now I keep the conversation going even after the release with exclusive content for people who purchased the book.
Original cover mockups for The Money of Art
7. YES, WE DO JUDGE BOOKS BY THEIR COVERS.
What your parents told you isn't true. Book covers matter. Romance Author JS Taylor doubled her sales overnight with a good cover redesign.
My most basic advice: collect a folder of book covers that instantly attract your attention, then try to analyze them. Pinterest is a perfect resource for beautiful cover designs.
If you're up for a challenge and want to be hands on, I recommend taking the Skillshare course on book cover design by Peter Mendelsund, who’s designed famous covers like The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.
What would I do differently for my next book? I’d invest in a professional to design it for me. Writing, formatting, and marketing a book is hard enough, and I think cover design is the first area I would outsource besides hiring an editor. The lifetime return for a great book cover in sales will outlast the couple hundred bucks you spend on a good cover designer. It’s your book’s best business card.
8. OUTSOURCING YOUR WEAKNESS IS A STRENGTH.
Speaking of outsourcing, I highly recommend owning your weaknesses and outsourcing them. After 16 years of experience selling, packaging, and mailing out orders, I knew I didn’t want to spend hours a day sending out orders of my hardcover book (paperbacks were handled by an Amazon-backed service for self-publishers called Createspace). I used an amazing service called Shyp (Editor’s Note: Shyp’s Head of Marketing, Lauren Sherman is a mentor at #createcultivateCHI!) to package and ship my orders. You simply take a photo of what you need sent, and Shyp comes by to pick it up. And recently, I hired a copy editor, which has made my writing process 100 times smoother, less stressful, and more fun.
9. LEARN FIRST, EARN SECOND.
One of my favorite entrepreneurs whom I mentioned previously, Ramit Sethi, talks about “optimizing for learning not earning” when you’re starting out. I will be honest, you probably won’t be replacing your main source of income with your first book... or your 2nd, or even the 5th. But as you keep publishing, it is going to get easier and easier.
Think of your first book like the beginning scenes in one of those bank heist movies—you’re casing the scene, getting familiar with how things work.
My book launch had the bigger-than-expected numbers because I took time to build an e-mail list before the book launch, seeded out great content, engaged with my list, and even e-mailed subscribers personally, asking what they were having problems with as an artist.
Through that effort, I pulled in about $1,305 on the very first day. Three months later, I sell about 2-4 book sales a day with little to no extra effort or advertising on my part. That comes out to about $150/month. Not life changing, but it’s passive income that has paid tenfold in credibility for my private career coaching and speaking engagements. And with each new book I write, I expect that number to rise.
As James Altucher, best-selling author of Choose Yourself!, put it, “the best way to promote your book is to write another book.“
10. BE PROUD OF YOUR WORK.
Now, you went through the process of writing a book. You finished it. You took the time to outline and find a good designer. So do me and everyone else a favor: call yourself an author!
So many of the creatives I advise are too humble, dare I even say, embarrassed when it comes to talking about their own work. It’s called “Imposter Syndrome” and it's no good for anyone. How many times have you seen on social media someone say "I wrote a little thing..." or "Oh, I'm just self-published writer" or "I have a start-up." A start-up is just a scared person’s word for “new business” and “I wrote a thing” is a self-conscious way of saying, “I wrote a mind-blowing resource for young business owners.”
People will start taking you more seriously when you use confident language that signals that not only are you serious, but you’re serious about your work.
Get The Money of Art by Peter Nguyen and follow Peter @leonnyc & @theessentialman. Subscribe to his newsletter for tons of great advice on life, creativity and business. He's one of our best-kept secrets.
Q+A: Mr. Kate, A Hot Glue Gun Mess
On the eve of the release of her first book A Hot Glue Gun Mess: Funny Stories, Pretty DIY Projects, we asked our friend Mr. Kate about the art of oversharing and how it feels to add "author" to your resume. Read on.
Mr. Kate is a DIY and lifestyle blogger, prolific YouTuber, entrepreneur, and long-time Create & Cultivate favorite and friend. She has killed it as a panelist—most recently on the "Lights, Camera, Action" panel at C+C Los Angeles 2015—and gives us a dose of inspiration and laughter on the daily via Instagram. On the eve of the release of her first book A Hot Glue Gun Mess: Funny Stories, Pretty DIY Projects, we asked Kate about the art of oversharing and how it feels to add "author" to your resume. Read on (and read to the end for an exclusive excerpt from the book!). — JM
Name, @username, day job/craft, elevator pitch:
Mr. Kate aka Kate Albrecht, @mrkatedotcom. DIY, design, & style blogging—and now author of A Hot Glue Gun Mess: Funny Stories, Pretty DIY Projects. The quirky Martha Stewart for the reality TV generation; creating content to inspire people to express themselves because #whynot!
A lot of bloggers are fantastic at walking the walk (including you!), but for all the talk of authenticity in content, you stand out as someone who also talks the talk. You keep it hilariously real and revealing in the book: were there any stories that you hesitated to share?
Awww thanks! It was a big and very conscious decision to reveal as much as I do in the book—you learn lots of hilarious and embarrassing things about me, from the time I pooped in a tub to my one-night-stand with a world famous athlete. I always appreciate when people are transparent and find humor in their "oops" moments, so I figured if I was going to spend two years writing and creating a book, I may as well bare my soul and not hold back. That said, I do hope people still like me after they read about the time I (accidentally) set fire to a kindergarten... oops! (PS: NO children were harmed!)
"If I was going to spend two years writing and creating a book, I may as well bare my soul and not hold back..."
What advice would you give other creative entrepreneurs who might feel like a hot glue gun mess?
That we are all hot messes, some people just cover it better than others. Learn to find a balance between laughing at yourself and taking yourself really F-ing seriously. It's the serious side of you that will grow your dream and it's the humor that will infuse the dream with creativity and also allow you to laugh when things get ridiculously messy and/or overwhelming... which they will. But then they get better!
This is your first book: what was the biggest learning curve? Favorite part of the process?
This was definitely the hardest and most involved project I have ever done. The biggest learning curve was realizing that I could actually write a book, which was something I never thought I'd do. My favorite part was writing the stories and then figuring out ways to link them to DIY projects in fun and funny ways. To give you an example, a story titled "I Used To Babysit My Stepmom" is paired with DIY Beyond Nude Nail Art Two Ways... how do they relate? You'll have to read the book to find out!
"we are all hot messes, some people just cover it better than others..."
How’d the whole project come about? Did you approach your publisher, did they approach you?
We got a book agent who then guided us in writing a proposal and then she sent that out to publishers. We got lucky that a few publishers wanted to work on this book so we got to pick our favorite!
How many copies do you think your parents will buy?
Haha I think they've collectively bought 10 or so and then Joey's (my husband/business partner) parents bought another 10 so yeah... thanks and sorry I wrote that you eat too many cheeseburgers!
Besides your hot glue gun, What tools and/or apps are essential to your work?
I use a drill a lot in interior design projects to hang curtains, pictures, do DIYs, etc. As far as apps, I love the Polyvore app for building moodboards around any kind of creative spark and Afterlight for editing photos!
What’s at the top of your to-do list this week?
Planning the book release party!
What movie can you quote start to finish?
Clueless and Some Like It Hot
What’s the last interweb rabbit hole you went down?
Trying to pick the perfect tub faucet for a claw foot tub.
You’ve got $50 for a last-minute gift: what do you DIY or buy?
An at-home gel manicure kit (my favorite is the Sensationail starter kits). If you're going to spend the time DIYing some nail art, make it last as long as possible with gel polish!
Open a page at random: tell us what page, what you’re reading/seeing, and anything you remember about writing it/putting it together.
Page 167, the reveal photo for a "DIY Basket Canopy" project which is a really pretty and easy way to make a canopy for over a bed or daybed. I remember styling this reveal photo (we hung the canopy from a tree over a day bed on a patio) and I was obsessing over the tea cup on the coffee table in front of the daybed and how to place it perfectly. Of course in the photo we chose, the cup is blurred out but hey, it made it into the shot, and it matches the teal of the canopy cloth!
An Exclusive Excerpt from Mr. Kate's A Hot Glue Gun Mess
Hooker With a Head of Gold
“My early twenties were a mess. My best friend was a high-priced hooker. She was introduced to me as twenty-six-year-old Alex, who worked in fashion. I didn’t know her true profession until after our friendship ended years later, when I found out she also had a fake name and was six years older than she claimed. Alex was lovely—funny and charming, with a laid-back beauty—and we would laugh nonstop together.
Alex had this amazing laugh—a loud and genuine cackle. It was the laugh of a girl who didn’t give a shit what people thought of her. Her signature look was her long blond hair, which she wore in messy, beachy waves. She drove a Mercedes and had a realistic-looking boob job and lithe friends, which should have raised a red flag to her actual profession, but to naive, twenty-year-old me, she was an intriguing and fantastic friend…”
Follow all things Mr. Kate at mrkate.com and from one hot mess to another, believe us when we say Kate's book A Hot Glue Gun Mess is a must-read and hilariously defies any and all expectations of the usual DIY how-to books.