“Somebody needs to hear your story,” is an earnest call to action from Cathy L. Davis, an experienced book publisher and strategist. She and her authors have received countless reviews and thank you notes that express the life changing effects of the stories shared. We may not think our story matters, but Cathy says that’s not true. No matter who you are, she insists that you have some sort of wisdom that needs to be shared.
In this episode, Cathy L Davis, explains how she helps people share their stories and wisdom through books and anthologies. They discuss how everyone has a story to tell and the power of storytelling in creating connections and providing hope. Cathy shares her journey of starting Davis Creative and explains what an anthology is—a collection of stories written by multiple authors on the same subject. She also highlights the importance of community and how anthologies can fill the need for hope and connection, especially during challenging times like COVID-19. Cathy’s team includes writing coaches who support authors throughout their writing process, whether they have little writing experience or need assistance with emotional topics. She emphasizes that sharing one’s story can lift both oneself and others up while creating positive ripples in the world. Additionally, Cathy reveals her wish list for future book ideas, including more male contributors sharing their experiences as fathers or sons. Overall, she encourages people to overcome their fears about writing by recognizing that everyone has wisdom worth sharing.
They discuss the logistics, economics, and benefits of writing a chapter in an anthology. The cost of writing a chapter for the anthology is one-tenth of the cost of writing a solo book. Authors retain ownership of their own words, but the sponsor retains ownership of the theme and title of the book. Authors can sell their books individually or as part of the anthology, but Amazon takes most of the money from sales made by solo authors. The program also teaches authors how to buy books at cost and distribute them through various channels, such as local printing companies or global distributors like Ingram. It emphasizes that self-publishing allows authors to keep 100% royalties and copyright control. Cathy explains the strategy of using books as marketing tools, additional income streams, and ways to promote oneself as an author through speaking engagements, social media, and networking events. Overall, it encourages individuals to take a chance on themselves and share their stories with others.