Writing my book was my saving grace. It transformed my life. I rediscovered myself in my writing. I never expected to become a best selling author. I wrote for my own personal healing. I promise you that the book you write will change your life.
Aspart of my series on the “5 Things You Need To Know To Write A Bestselling Book” I had the pleasure of interviewing Megan Fenyoe.
Megan R. Fenyoe is a Veteran, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Transformational Mindset Coach, Best Selling Author, Professional Speaker and Host of The Blonde Bombshell Podcast. She is a contributing writer for Thrive Global as well as Badassery Magazine. Megan also owns her own health food franchise through the Juice Plus+ Company.
Megan is an Amazon Best Selling Author who recently published her book You Are Enough: 5 Steps To Move From Struggle To Strength. Megan has been featured on SiriusXM Radio including the Jenny McCarthy show, TV/Radio Shows, multiple podcasts, as well as various magazines.
Being a Mental Heath Therapist for over 15 years as well as a Transformational Mindset Coach, Megan will transform your negative self-talk into positive self- empowerment believing you are ENOUGH! How does she do this? She takes you through her proven 5 Step program that will move you from struggle to STRENGTH.
WHAT’S DIFFERENT: Megan has gone through many struggles throughout her life most recently being involved in a narcissistic abusive marriage. For many years she was living a life without meaning and purpose. Megan has successfully transformed every area of her life using her proven 5 Step System and is now living a vibrant, beautiful life. A life where she truly believes she is more than ENOUGH.
Megan’s passion and purpose in life is to share her story in hopes to support and encourage others to believe they are more than ENOUGH!
Thank you so much for joining us! Can you share a story about what brought you to this particular career path?
Over the last few years, I’ve really come to understand what the word “vulnerable” truly means for me. To be vulnerable is going out- side of my proverbial comfort zone — sharing the struggles and the hardships that I’ve had in my life. Why? Because what I’ve learned is that people really resonant with others who are authentic. We all have struggles. We all have hardships. If my story can make a difference in just one person’s life, then I say bring it! Bring on the uncomfortable-nerve-racking-butterflies-in-my-stomach type of feelings.
In 2016, while working full time in a hospital, I began to feel this nudging in my soul to do something more with my life, but I couldn’t figure out what that something was. I was feeling stuck and lost. I began a network marketing business, as well as a private mental health practice — all while working full time at the hospital. I thought that being busy was the nudging feeling, but little did I know, I was running away from the pain and heartache I was enduring.
I’ve had hundreds of different ideas running through my mind over the years of what I wanted my book to be about. I was always unsure of how to make it happen. Then during the early morning hours on January 5, 2017, I had a dream (you will have to read the book to hear about the dream). This was the dream that ushered me outside of my comfort zone. It is where I began to visualize the life I truly desired. I believe it was God telling me to take a leap of faith and just begin writing. I did just that, and this is what transpired.
Although I am an LCSW and a Transformational Mindset Coach, I also know first hand how difficult it can be when life seems to be crumbling around a person and how negative thoughts can control every area of one’s life. I understand how difficult it can be at times just to get out of bed in the morning. Feeling lost, alone, confused, and scared. My personal journey through countless disappointments and defeats began early in childhood, and continued even while writing my book.
I was able to finally put a name to those nudging feelings. I made the decision to take a job transfer, which required me to move from Northern California to San Diego. Again, I thought this was what my heart and soul wanted; yet once I arrived in San Diego, I was feeling even more restless. I quickly learned that what I truly wanted was to get out of my J-O-B and out of the monotonous cycle of a 10–12 hour shift in a hospital. I wanted to own my life and my schedule. I wanted to work for myself by changing lives, not by changing the life of the person I was working for. I was tired of making money for the CEOs. I wanted to be the CEO — the CEO of my life.
The decision was quickly made for me in September 2017 (a few short months after moving to San Diego) when my job status changed involuntarily. I found myself with no job and no more six-figure salary. The stability I had for so many years was just ripped away. I was left with nothing, except for my network marketing business, which I was truly grateful for.
I looked at “losing” as my defeat. I’ve never lost a job until this. I found myself playing the victim role, but now as I sit here and write this book, losing my job was the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me. I could’ve easily found another high paying, stable, and full time job, but instead I took a leap of faith in order to pursue my dreams!
What was (so far) the most exhilarating or fulfilling experience you’ve had as an author?
I wrote my first book because it became a burning need to change my own life. I have gone through many struggles throughout in my life most recently being involved in a narcissistic abusive marriage (don’t worry you can read ll the juicy details in my book). Of course on the outside I looked like I had it all together but I was dying inside. For many years I was living a life without meaning and purpose.
When the last brutal discord occurred between Mr. “N” and me, I had no more ability to soothe internal trauma. I could no longer manage it. There was nothing more I could do, except to release the trauma. To get rid of the dirty and awful toxicity that was left inside of me. This included going back to therapy. Before, I was trying to heal on my own. This is also the time that I started writing my book. It was time for me to finally free myself. To begin picking up the pieces and moving forward. There was nothing left for me to do, but to stand back up, take that first step, and to begin my journey to move from struggle to strength!
Writing my book was my saving grace. It transformed my life. I rediscovered myself in my writing. I never expected to become a best selling author. I wrote for my own personal healing. I promise you that the book you write will change your life.
What was the craziest, weirdest, wildest experience you’ve had as a bestselling author?
I was featured on the Jenny McCarthy Show on SiriusXM Radio and Kristen Bell shared my book on Instagram via video!
What is the greatest part about being a successful, bestselling author?
I didn‘t write a book for many years because I was afraid. Fear of rejection. Fear of failure. The usual reasons. I didn‘t think I wrote well enough. Why would anyone want to read what I wrote any- way…. You know what I mean! Now I am writing every day, and desperate to find more time to write other things!
My book helps people, I am useful and that is my own success. I wrote a book that is authentic, real, vulnerable and meaningful. I shared my story in the most impactful way and it has the ability to create positive change around the world. It’s about living forever in my own words and influencing future generations. I get emails from people who like what I write, comments on the blog and positive tweets. This is much more feedback that I ever got from my own silent diaries, full of unrequited writing.
I truly believe that the experience of self-publishing has banished my fear of writing. It has not made me a millionaire in money, but I am all the richer for the experience. By releasing the fear and enabling my first book, it paved the way for my speaking career and so much more.
Being a successful best selling author has also increased my status as a speaker and increased my confidence. Authors are generally respected. People look at you differently when you say you are an author. This will also give you confidence. If you can write a book,and achieve your goal, then you have will have become a more interesting and accomplished person in the process.
What is the one habit you believe contributed the most to you becoming a bestselling writer?
Oprah Winfrey said it best: “Create the highest, grandest vision for your life, because you become what you believe.”
One habit I practiced daily while writing my bok and through the publishing process was visualization. Visualization is a powerful way of using mindfulness to help you attract success in all areas of your life.
If you can’t see it for yourself, then it will never happen. You must be able to see yourself victorious. You must be able to see yourself building a remarkable and dominant organization. You must be able to see yourself get out of debt and become financially independent. If you can’t see it, you’ll never achieve it.
Another habit I used daily an continue to use is affirmations. The reason I entitled this book You Are Enough is because over the last year and a half, that quote, “I am enough,” has been inspirational and has literally been something that I have said to myself over and over again. These three little words have helped me move through all of my struggles including the struggles I endured while writing my book and brought me to a place of acceptance.
Which writer or leader has had the biggest impact on you as a writer?
Brene Brown is by far my favorite. We both are Licensed Clinical Social workers (LCSW) and she has been a mentor of mine for so many years (although she doesn’t know me personally…it is on my bucket list to meet her one day!). Brene’s teachings of vulnerability, authenticity and empathy literally have changed my life. I have learned that it is ok to be authentically me and unapologetically own who I am.
What was the biggest challenge you faced in your journey to becoming a bestselling author? How did you overcome it?
Marketing! Having your own book is fantastic — but books don‘t sell themselves. You need to be marketing and promoting your book whether you are a self-published author, or if you have a contract.
I had to create press releases, market myself to TV/Radio/Magazines, networking, book launches, social media promotions, etc. It was exhausting to say the least especially because marketing is not a strong area for me.
I began reaching out to other successful authors and entrepreneurs. I was very blessed because a lot of people took me under their wing and helped me along the way. I began promoting my book 3 months before it launched and the day of the launch…I think I sent out over 500 personal messages. It truly is about time management and strategies when it comes to promotions leading up to your launch.
I learned so many tips and tricks throughout my process, which is why I began my How To Become a Best Selling Author program. I couldn’t have become a best selling author without the support of others and I want to give back to those who are in the process of publishing!
What challenge or failure did you learn the most from in your writing career?
There came a point where I stopped writing this book because I was going through a lot of personal drama, and was definitely not feeling like I was enough. I was questioning myself about writing a book covering this particular topic when I felt like a fraud, when I felt so sad, so heartbroken, and devastated. So, I stopped for about a month.
But then… one of my girlfriends Jacquelyn came to the rescue. While visiting from out of town, she dragged my grief-stricken soul out for dinner. In a modestly crowded restaurant, I found a seat at the bar, and noticed an older gentleman nursing his drink beside me. Poor guy had no idea what he was in for when he asked me how I was doing that night. Yes, I completely… verbally… vomited all over him.
After he picked his jaw up off of the floor from having endured my heartfelt, but very real story about Mr. N, he said to me:
This is the best time to write your book. You are hurt, confused, and lost. You are questioning every decision you have made in the last five years and you are using the tools you have been giving to your clients in order to get back on track. People want to hear your story. Your struggles. Your triumphs.
When I got home that night I began writing again. I began using the skills I talk about in my book to keep me focused and motivated. I reminded my self daily that no matter the outcome I was enough.
I learned that I had an important story tell. A story that could change people’s lives. I learned how to become completely 100% authentic and vulnerable. I learned to unapologetically own who I am and be proud of my story.
What are the 5 things a writer needs to know if he/she wants to become a bestselling author?
1. You need the right cover.
We’ve all heard “don’t judge a book by its cover” — but you and I know that people still do it. I’ve tested so many covers before the book launched and I was able to choose the one that fit my personality and conveyed the message I wanted to share. Some covers simply will not get purchases or downloads — period.
The covers that tend to convert to the most sales are covers with a single image, with light text on a dark background or dark text on a light background, and a very easily readable font.
2. You need to make sure you describe your book well.
When you publish your book on Amazon you’ll have to fill out some information before your book gets listed. Your book description needs to be enticing and you need to choose the right ultra-targeted categories so your target market can find you. This is what I help my clients do because picking the right categories will determine your best selling author fate!
3. You need to start the snowball.
When you launch your book, you need to make sure you have some plans in place. You can’t just list a book — even with a great cover — and sit back and watch sales come.
It’s ideal if you have a few people set to download your book and hopefully leave you reviews to get momentum going.
Of course there are all kinds of “bells and whistles” you can add on to that, like getting to the top of Amazon’s search engine, but we’ll keep it simple as possible for now.
Once you master all of that, you need a strong plan to get your book readers to sign up for your email list.
4. Gather your “street team”
In more traditional marketing, a street team would literally be a team of people out handing out flyers, passing out stickers and buttons, or manning a booth somewhere in the real world. In internet marketing, it’s just easy shorthand for a group of your most devoted friends and fans who are willing to help you out with a few simple tasks. My street team consisted of more than 200 people.
A few weeks before your launch date, start assembling your “street team.” I like to create an application process to make it feel more exclusive. The benefit they get for joining your street team is first and foremost a free, advanced copy of your book. If you want to throw in other benefits, that’s good as well. You might offer:
· Any worksheets or special downloads that go with your book
· Intimate Q&A opportunities with you, the author
· The opportunity to interview you for their website or podcast
· Other cool swag — like a notepad, coffee mug, pen, bracelet, etc.
· The opportunity to gift or give away a free copy of your book to their friends or followers
· Access to a product or course on a similar theme
5. Communicate with your “street team” during your launch.
Once you’ve assembled your team, you need a place to communicate with them during your launch. A Facebook group is perfect for this, but you could also gather people on Slack, by email, or in another forum of your choice. From there, you want to be sure to set clear expectations.
The ONE thing you most want people to do is to leave positive reviews on Amazon on your launch day (or close to it). Therefore, it’s a good idea to explicitly say that you are giving them a free, advance copy of your book in exchange fora review on Amazon. Note that it’s unnecessary to ask for a GOOD review, just a review. (Hopefully they will all love it! But it’s against the rules to pay for good reviews, so keep it neutral in your ask.)
Beyond that, you might suggest that they:
share your book on launch day
email 3 people for whom the book would be perfect
email their favorite podcast hosts and suggest you as a guest
give away a copy to their community (see above)
interview you for their own website or podcast
During launch week, it’s a good idea to space these requests out. If you can make one small ask each day, people are more likely to follow through.
Some people gamify their street team by offering rewards to people who complete the most tasks or sell the most books. That is completely optional but may motivate people to continue to play the game more!
I created the You Are Enough Launch Team group on Facebook and then once my book launched turned it into the You Are Enough community! By the time my book launched I had over 300 people in the group so it was a great transition from boo launch team to a community!
There are other methods to publication other than the traditional route. Don‘t be discouraged and don‘t give up! Free your creativity! Use your energy to get your words out there! Self- publish, publish an ebook, write a blog, write articles, do a podcast, use print-on-demand. There are so many options and adventures to be had with your creativity.
What are you most excited to work on next? Most excited to read next?
I am currently revamping some of my coaching programs as well as growing my speaking career. I am most excited about traveling around the country sharing my story in hopes to support and encourage others to believe they are more than ENOUGH!
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
The “You Are Enough” movement! We all have challenges. We all struggle at times with feeling enough. Whether it be with our health, career, relationships, etc. but it is how we deal with these challenges that allows us to either stay stuck or begin creating the life we truly desire! The You Are Enough movementwould create confidence and clarity for people to BOLDY take the next big step in their life.
My vision for the movement would for people to live wholeheartedly with courage and a burning curiosity, to have an open heart to life’s struggles for reflection and growth, to nourish the mind and body that provides us life, to love selflessly and unconditionally, to live intensely with purpose and every single day believe they are ENOUGH!
Anything else you’d like to add?
Deciding what you want from your journey as a writer is important if you want to achieve goals along the way. If you want to write a book, you need to make that decision and then work towards it. If you don‘t know what you are aiming for, you will not make a career or a success from your writing or your books.
Ask for it and believe you can have it. This is related to positive affirmations and is a lot about how worthy you feel. Can you say out loud ―I am creative, I am an author‖? You need to be sure that you can achieve what you ask for, or it won‘t happen. Whether you ask God or the Universe, or just yourself for what you want, then you need to have this positive energy behind it. You can be a writer, you can be an author, you can sell your books.
Act as if you already have it. In other words, Fake it until you make it. Start saying those affirmations and telling people who are a writer (you are writing aren‘t you?!). Soon enough, it will be true.
Be detached from the outcome. Its about not caring about what happens. It is about taking the unexpected in your stride and changing direction as things happen. You just don‘t know the way in which you will become a published author.
Focus and take action. Once you have decided on what you want and you have the mindset to succeed, you then have to put in the hours and the effort to make it happen.
You can have what you want, but what will you do to make it happen, and what price do you need to pay?
You are ENOUGH just as you are,
regardless of whatever season you’re in,
and the more you celebrate and focus on that,
the more you will live your STRENGTH!
— Megan R. Fenyoe, LCSW
Thank you so much for these great insights!