What if your book was not just a creative project, but an employee in your business?

In this episode, Kathi sits down with Anna Bartolucci, writing mentor, USA Today bestselling author, psychologist, and founder of Psych Up Academy. With more than 20 novels and novellas under her pen name Cecilia Dominique, plus nonfiction titles including Better Sleep for the Overachiever, Anna brings both creative depth and psychological insight to the writing process.

Anna shares her journey from traditional publishing to self-publishing, including the setback of losing a publisher and receiving harsh reviews. Her perspective is refreshingly grounded. Writing requires resilience, and what feels like failure is often just a learning experience in disguise.

They talk about why your first book is rarely about making money, how to decide between traditional and self-publishing, and why you should think of your book as an employee that works inside your business ecosystem.

Anna also shares practical tools, including her values-based goal-setting workshop for writers and her favorite writing software, Scrivener, which keeps everything organized in one place.

If you have a book inside you and you are not sure where to start, this conversation will help you anchor into your purpose and move forward with clarity.