Future-Proofing Your Book: What I Learned and Shared at Podfest 2026

Earlier this year, I was invited to speak on the “Future Proof Author” panel at Podfest 2026. It was a full-circle moment. Just one year ago, I came to Podfest with one goal in mind: find sponsors for my podcast. I left with a book deal.

This year, I had the opportunity to sit alongside experienced authors and publishing professionals to talk about writing, platform-building, and the mindset required to turn your story into a book that actually serves your business, not just your emotions. If you're a rural entrepreneur, podcaster, or someone with a story to tell, the insights we shared are worth applying now not someday.

The Book I Thought I Was Writing

When I first sat down to write a book, I thought I was writing about grief. After all, in 2020, I lost my husband suddenly to a heart attack and found out I was pregnant the day after the funeral. That loss shaped my life. Naturally, I assumed that would be the focus of the story.

But that wasn’t the book I was supposed to write.

As my flower farm grew rapidly and my business became a space of healing and hope not just for me, but for others—I realized the real story was about rebuilding. About entrepreneurship. About resilience rooted in reality. It wasn’t a grief book. It was a memoir about what happens after the hard thing. About building something beautiful and sustainable from the soil of your own story.

Your Book Should Align With Your Future

One of the most powerful pieces of advice I received at last year’s Podfest came from a speaker who said: “The reason most people don’t finish their book is because they’re writing the wrong one.”

That hit hard.

As entrepreneurs, we often try to write what we think we’re supposed to say. But if your book doesn’t align with where you want to be in five years, it’s going to be a drain on your energy and your brand. Once I accepted that my story was about entrepreneurship, growth, and rural creativity not just loss I was able to write clearly and with purpose.

If you're stuck on a book idea or unsure where to begin, ask yourself this: Will this story take me where I want to go, or does it keep me tethered to a chapter that’s already closed?

Start Marketing Before You Write the First Word

One of the most repeated takeaways on the panel was simple: start marketing the moment you decide to write a book.

Don’t wait until you’ve finished the draft. Don’t wait until you’ve signed a publishing deal. Start now.

Tell your audience. Bring them along for the ride. Start a waitlist. Share the behind-the-scenes process. Your audience will hold you accountable and become invested in your message. When the book is ready, they’ll already be bought in.

For me, that looked like sharing updates with my email list, creating a Bloom Crew for early supporters, and regularly mentioning the project across my podcast and Instagram accounts. Not everyone will engage, and that’s okay. But the ones who do are the readers who matter most.

Build a Strategy That Works for Your Life

One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to book promotion. Some authors thrive on podcast interviews. Others prefer written content or social media reels. You don’t have to do it all but you do have to do something.

Here’s what worked for me:

• I leaned into podcasting, reels, and personal storytelling

• I delegated the tasks I dislike, like graphic design and Canva layouts

• I tracked what content performed best using spreadsheets and analytics

• I focused on connection, not just conversions

Your book launch should be sustainable. If you dread the process, your energy will reflect that. If you enjoy it, your audience will feel it.

You Don’t Need a Huge Following to Make an Impact

When I first pitched my book, one of the biggest objections I heard was that I didn’t have a large enough audience. I had fewer than 2,000 followers on my personal Instagram account. But what I did have was an engaged audience.

People who follow the journey of Sunny Mary Meadow aren’t just liking flower photos. They’re attending workshops, buying from the farm stand, listening to the podcast, and joining the newsletter. They trust the brand because it's built on transparency, shared values, and consistent communication.

It’s not about going viral. It’s about being visible to the right people.

Publishing a book is not about chasing credibility. It’s about creating alignment. It’s about telling the story only you can tell in a way that supports your mission, your business, and your next chapter.

If you're a rural entrepreneur, creative business owner, or someone whose story doesn’t fit the typical mold, this is your reminder: your story is worth telling. Not in a way that keeps you stuck in the past, but in a way that pulls you and your readers into a better future.

If you're looking to follow my book journey or get early access to resources and launch updates, you can join the Bloom Crew!

Let your story grow something beautiful.