Kate Case, PMP, CSM, CTBME

I attribute my success to reaching out to the right people and not being afraid to ask for help. A perfect example is my book on aging — I sought out medical professionals to collaborate with me to ensure the information was accurate. The same is true for my AI book. I reached out to my mentor and former boss, who runs a small company called Smart With AI, and she ultimately became the co-author of that book. I simply sent her a text that said, "I need you," and she responded immediately. That willingness to seek the right support, combined with a deep commitment to accuracy and quality in everything I publish, is at the core of how I've been able to move forward.

Keep going. When you're starting something new, you will inevitably run into roadblocks, knowledge gaps, and challenges you didn't anticipate — but there is always a way through. If you're passionate about what you're doing and you love the work, stay the course. That said, the flip side is equally important: if you find yourself on the wrong path, recognize it and change direction. Only a fool would keep walking a path they know isn't right. The wisdom lies in knowing the difference between a temporary obstacle and a fundamental misalignment — and having the courage to act on that distinction either way.

Don't be afraid to start, and don't be afraid to pivot. If the path you've chosen feels wrong, change it — but if you love what you're doing, keep going. Beyond that, one of the most critical things I would tell anyone entering publishing today is to invest just as much — if not more — into learning marketing and promotion as you do into the craft of writing. The market is incredibly saturated. Amazon alone receives around 7,000 book submissions a day. A book can be exceptional, but if it doesn't stand out, it will languish. Your voice, your work, and your message deserve to be seen — but you have to learn how to make that happen.

The biggest challenge is market saturation. With approximately 7,000 book submissions going to Amazon every single day — and that's just the self-publishing side — the competition is extraordinary. Add traditional and hybrid publishing, and the full breadth of nonfiction and fiction writers across every genre, and the volume becomes almost staggering. The challenge is not simply producing great work; it's ensuring that great work gets noticed. Authors today must be as skilled in marketing and promotion as they are in writing — perhaps even more so. The opportunity lies in finding your niche, developing your platform, and learning to communicate your value clearly and compellingly to the right audience.

Clarity comes first — it is truly the lens through which everything I do is filtered. I want to give people accurate, correct information in a way they can genuinely understand, without ever making them feel talked down to. The goal is always that a reader can walk away from something I've written and say, "Now I get it." Alongside clarity, integrity and honesty are non-negotiable for me. I also hold a deep respect for my readers' time — I never want to waste it. Everything I produce must be useful, accessible, and engaging. I don't want to bore anyone, and I don't want to overwhelm anyone. Those principles guide both my professional work and the way I try to show up in my personal life as well.