Welcome back to the Messy Success Podcast! If you’ve ever dreamed of writing and publishing a book—but felt overwhelmed by the process—this episode is exactly what you need. I’m sitting down with my dear friend and mentor, Sharon Hundley, a photographer, podcaster, and now published author of Sunny Bird’s Special Nest.

Sharon shares how she went from idea to launch, why she didn’t follow conventional book marketing strategies, and how she embraced a heart-centered approach instead. We talk about overcoming fear, the realities of self-publishing, and the unexpected emotional weight of launching a creative project into the world.

If you’ve ever felt held back by perfectionism, fear, or imposter syndrome, this conversation will give you the push to go for it—no matter where you are in your creative journey.

SHOW NOTES:

01:27 The power of personal connections in guest selection

03:33 Why Sharon’s book launch was different from the industry norm

07:11 Introducing Sharon: Photographer, storyteller, and now author

10:35 The challenges (and joys) of being multi-passionate

15:41 How Sunnybird’s Special Nest came to life

21:23 The unexpected shift from writing for adults to writing for children

26:26 How Sharon’s marketing strategy defied conventional wisdom

33:57 Overcoming fear: From book launch nerves to a live TV interview

41:32 The financial realities of self-publishing and investing in your art

50:04 Where to find Sunnybird’s Special Nest and support Sharon’s work

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LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Get Your Copy of Sunny Bird’s Special Nest on Amazon

Connect with Sharon on Instagram

Take the Marketing Action Quiz

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