Intro

Becoming a bestselling author is something many people dream about—but very few understand how it actually happens.

Is it luck? Timing? Or is there a real strategy behind it?

In this episode of The Side Hustler’s Society, Elijah Bilel sits down with a bestselling author and book coach to break down the real process behind writing, publishing, and marketing a successful book.

Elijah also shares his own experience as the author of The Anatomy of Financial Success, giving listeners a real-world look at what it takes to reach bestseller status.

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Intro to Larissa Soehn

• Bestselling author with books spanning science fiction and self-help  
• Founder of Next Page Well Coaching, helping clients write, edit, market, and publish books  
• Experienced ghostwriter and book coach working with aspiring authors
• Turned her passion for writing into a full-time business
• Helps entrepreneurs use books to build credibility and grow their brands

👉 Learn more about Larissa Soehn and her work Here. 

Episode Overview

This episode breaks down:

• How becoming a bestselling author is actually intentional
• The two phases of writing a book: creation and marketing
• Why most authors fail at marketing their first book
• The difference between fiction and non-fiction marketing
• How to position your book for long-term success

Larissa shares both her wins and mistakes, giving a real behind-the-scenes look at what works—and what doesn’t.

Listen to the Episode

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Side Hustler’s Society Resources

Side Hustle to Full-Time Strategy Session

The Anatomy Of Financial Success Paperback

Quick Takeaways

• Elijah Bilel explains that bestseller status is strategic—not luck
• Larissa Soehn highlights the importance of marketing before launch
• Writing and marketing are two completely different skill sets
• Many authors fail because they ignore the marketing phase
• Knowing your audience is critical to success
• Fiction and non-fiction require different marketing approaches
• Your first book can be a learning experience—but it should still be intentional
• Books can be powerful tools for building credibility and business growth

The Truth About Becoming a Bestselling Author

One of the biggest myths this episode breaks:

👉 Becoming a bestseller is not random

Elijah Bilel explains that there are:

• Marketing systems
• Launch strategies
• Specific actions

That can significantly increase your chances of hitting bestseller status.

The Two Phases of Writing a Book

1. Writing the Book

This includes:

• Drafting
• Editing
• Structuring your message

Larissa Soehn had this part mastered early on.

2. Selling the Book

This is where most authors struggle.

Larissa admits that with her first book:

👉 She didn’t understand marketing

She didn’t:

• Build an audience
• Identify her ideal reader
• Create a strong launch plan

As a result:

👉 The book didn’t reach its full potential

Why Most Authors Fail at Marketing

The biggest issue:

👉 Authors focus only on writing

But success comes from:

👉 Writing + marketing

Larissa Soehn emphasizes that:

• You need an author platform
• You must understand your audience
• You need a marketing plan BEFORE launch

The Importance of Knowing Your Audience

A key lesson from this episode:

👉 You need to know who your book is for

Without that:

• Your messaging is unclear
• Your marketing is ineffective
• Your sales suffer

With her second book, Larissa:

• Identified her audience clearly
• Positioned the book properly
• Applied what she learned

And saw significantly better results.

Fiction vs Non-Fiction Marketing

One of the most interesting parts of the conversation:

👉 Marketing strategies differ based on book type

Non-Fiction

• Focus on results
• Highlight benefits
• Show what the reader will learn

Fiction

• Focus on emotion
• Focus on storytelling
• Focus on entertainment

The Power of Writing for Personal Growth

Larissa Soehn also shares how writing:

• Helped her process emotions
• Overcome personal challenges
• Grow as a person

Her fiction work was deeply rooted in real-life experiences—even when set in fictional worlds.  

Why Books Build Authority

For both guests, one thing is clear:

👉 A book builds credibility

Elijah Bilel uses his book to:

• Establish authority
• Open new opportunities
• Expand his brand

And Larissa helps others do the same.

Watch The Podcast On Youtube!