Hi Reader,

In November, I attended Author Nation, the world’s biggest indie-author conference.

The energy was electric — and no one was asking, “Should I publish my book yet?” These were authors with multiple books, real audiences, and sophisticated questions. They’d already done the beginner work. They were there to level up.

Then I came home and opened my inbox.

Same stories I’ve heard for years: “I want this so bad… but I can’t afford it right now.” “I’ll start next summer.” “I joined the program last year… sorry I never showed up.”

Author Nation was also full of publishing educators, author coaches, and industry influencers, and it was a rare chance for us to talk honestly together, in person.

It was enlightening to learn that I'm not alone: we’re all burning out on the same thing. That is, most of us end up caring about some authors’ books more than the authors do.

At one gathering I said out loud, “When someone joins my program and disappears, I take it personally. I wonder what I did wrong.”

The response was immediate and unanimous: “It’s not you. Most people just won’t do the work.” Ambition is common. Commitment is rare.

My course platform tracks every click and video view. The numbers don’t lie: fewer than 20% of authors who enroll even open all the material or show up to classes or coaching. Fewer still finish and publish their books.

Yet publishing their book is the thing they swear they want most.

I see the same four patterns, over and over:

1. The authors who show up, do the work, and publish. (I love you. You energize me. You remind me why I teach.)
2. The endless free-content collectors who never quite take the next step.
3. The ones who pay and then vanish.
4. The yo-yo authors — big enthusiasm, apologies, life got busy, try again — forever circling.

Every single pattern traces back to one thing: fear.

As long as your story stays perfect in your head, it can’t fail. The moment you release it, someone might hate it. Or ignore it. So “not quite ready” feels safer.

But safety has a cost.

I’ve spent my life taking unconventional leaps. What I know for sure: in later years, we regret the things we left undone.

Right now my parents are in their nineties. These are limited, precious days. Because of that, I’m teaching far less in 2026 so I can be with family — and publish more of my own stories.

The course that begins January 20 will be the only live Book Publishing course I teach for the foreseeable future.

Here’s exactly what it includes: • Six live 90-minute sessions over six weeks (nine hours of live instruction and coaching) on publishing, marketing, and promoting your book • A private discussion group that stays open for months afterward • Full access to recordings, worksheets, and bonuses for one complete year.

The three objections I keep hearing — and the truth behind them:

“I’m traveling in January and February.” Authors have joined live from a tent in Uruguay, a riad in Morocco, a dock in La Paz, and an airport lounge in Bangkok. Every session is recorded the same day. You can’t actually miss anything.

“I’ll wait until life calms down.” We start January 20. The holidays are over, kids are back in school, decorations are down. If there’s ever a clean-slate moment, this is it.

“There’s always something — work, taxes, travel, family…” Of course there is. That never changes. The authors who publish are the ones who finally decide the book doesn’t get to wait for a perfect month. This course is built to flex around real life — not the other way around.

If pricing is the concern, let’s be direct. My private consulting rate is $300/hour. Nine hours one-on-one would be $2,700.

The six-week course with group coaching is $597 — or $497 if you join before Monday morning.

This isn’t about price. It’s about priority.

Going forward, I want to work only with authors who are truly committed — committed enough to invest money, time, and courage. Committed enough to show up even when it feels uncomfortable.

If that’s you right now, I would love to be in your corner. I would love nothing more than to see every single person in this cohort publish — or get their book to beta readers — in 2026.

You can read every detail and join here: https://carlaking.com/publishing101​

If you’re not there yet, I understand completely. I hope the right thing finds you when the moment arrives.

But if you’re tired of watching another year slip by with the book still unfinished and published… let 2026 be the year we finally change that.

Together. With structure, community, kindness, and momentum.

— Carla

P.S. The $497 early-bird price ends Sunday night. After that it’s $597 and doors close until (maybe) 2027.