In 2011 I started a business as a stylist. I’d moved to New York City for my career in theater after a Broadway tour, Radio City Rockettes, and all that jazz.

[The below timeline is not covered in the episode and included here for backstory.]

In 2014 a friend who worked at a top publisher told me that my style course, “had to be a book.” She’d told everyone in her office my principles and they were using them daily–women needed this. I told her that sounded like a lot of work for very little money. We were both right.

In 2016 I began writing the book in fits and starts, always “let’s just get through one more launch, just a little more income so we aren’t burned out and *then* I’ll write the book.”

By 2020 I decided *then* was never going to come. I had to take the leap. I hired a book coach and in 2021 they introduced me to a top agent. My book went to auction and my dream was coming true.

For a year I absolutely adored the writing process (which most authors bemoan) yet was traumatized by the publishing process (which I had never heard anyone mention–as explained in the episode now I know why.)

One year later, and it was all for nothing.

Worse, it almost cost me everything.

This is part 2 of 3 in sharing that story. Please begin with last week’s Part 1: Silent vs Silenced.

This is a story of creative and financial heartbreak, shared to protect others from it.

It’s the episodes I have wish I had heard from just one person, to have any idea what I was risking when I decided 7 years ago that maybe I would in fact like to write a book.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• March 2021 texts about securing literary agents
• April 2021 video explaining what that validation meant + the respect I instantly attached to them (Instagram is awkward for long videos so you can also listen on YouTube)
• June 2021 official author celebration
• The first time I “saw” my book in my local bookstore. (Wild this was so long ago I was still wearing a mask for everyday errands.)
• Want to learn how I survived this season without burning out? Join the wait list for new free resources coming this summer.

Share this series and read an exclusive chapter of What Makes Women Feel Beautiful in Part 3 at HilaryRushford.com/BookStory.

If you know any author, creative, or aspiring this could bless, please share it with them and if you do so on Instagram tag me @HilaryRushford so I can thank you for doing what I wish someone had done for me.

If you’re an author and want to share your experience after listening to next week’s final episode (I understand the desire to share with someone who can relate), DM above or write [email protected]. All correspondence will of course remain anonymous..

If this episode helped you or someone you know, I’d be so grateful if you’d leave a review. They mean so much to creators!