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What If I Don’t Have a Big Following? Let’s get this straight—you don’t need thousands of followers to write and publish a powerful, impactful book. Every successful author started with zero readers. What matters is how you show up, build trust, and share your message. Here’s why publishing a book is still one of the best things you can do, even without a massive following: 1. Your Book Becomes the Journey People Follow One of the best things about writing a book is that it gives your audience something to connect with—your process. You can share behind-the-scenes moments, title ideas, book cover mock-ups, writing challenges, and personal insights. This kind of content is real, relatable, and builds genuine connection. You’re not just promoting a product—you’re bringing people along for the ride. By the time your book launches, they’ll feel like they’ve written it with you… and of course, they’ll want to buy it. 2. “Author” Instantly Elevates Your Profile The moment you publish a book, you gain immediate authority in your space. Adding “Author” to your social bio, website, or media kit tells people: You know your stuff. It opens doors to podcast interviews, speaking gigs, collaborations, and media opportunities—often [...]

What is your book called and what is it about? My book is called Breaking the Rules of Pain. This is my personal story and memoir of living with different types of pain conditions. In seeking and searching for solutions to assist me to heal, I saw that there was a lack of real understanding of pain. When treating pain, each modality was very separate to the other and that there was a need to bring it all together in one cohesive form to create a true multidisciplinary approach and to understand the complexities around pain and its impact on our mental, emotional and physical health. I wrote this book as a resource to assist all individuals living with pain feel validated and heard in their experience, plus to feel empowered even though they may live and experience pain. Tell us more about you? My name is Amie. I’m married and have two children and live on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. I am a true hippy at heart and would be my happiest if I had a hobby farm! I am an introvert at heart but also love a good party and social gathering. I have lived with different [...]

Reasons Business Owners Struggle Writing Their Book As a business owner, you’ve conquered markets, managed teams, and navigated the choppy waters of entrepreneurship. Yet, when it comes to writing a book, you find yourself hitting roadblocks. Here’s a look at some common (and not-so-common) reasons why even the most successful business owners struggle to pen their masterpiece. 1. Time Constraints: Running a business is a full-time job and then some. Finding time to write feels like trying to squeeze juice out of a dried lime. 2. Procrastination: You’ve mastered the art of strategic planning for your business, but when it comes to writing, you suddenly have an overwhelming urge to reorganise your office supplies. Again. 3. Lack of Inspiration and Structure: Your business ideas flow like water, but your book ideas are stuck in a desert drought, and even when they do come in, it can be all too much to sort through them into a coherent structure. 4. Self-Doubt and Fear of Failure: You’re a confident business leader, but when it comes to writing, doubts creep in. What if your book tanks? What if your colleagues laugh at your attempts? 5. Writer’s Block: Ideas for new products or services [...]

What is your book called and what is it about?  Making Sense of Health is an analysis of the drivers of health and why we need to take preventative action to safeguard our future health. Tell us more about you? I am a retired medical specialist and the author of a previous book  called Our Children Our Legacy. Throughout both my career and my personal life, my interests and research have been regarding all aspects of health, nutrition and exercise. Let us get to know you a little better by answering these quickfire questions:  What is your favourite quote? “Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best.” St. Jerome What is your favourite book? The Big Fat Surprise by Nina Teicholz. What is your favourite podcast at the moment? Zoë Harcombe - Diet and Health Today. Who is your role model? Dr David Unwin, GP Southport England Who in your life has inspired you the most and why? Professor Tim Noakes, Capetown, South Africa. He was brave enough to change his scientific beliefs when the evidence changed. What is your coffee order? Weak long black with cream. Pet peeves? Very loud [...]

Ins and Outs for the Second Half of 2025 We’re almost halfway through 2025 and you know what that means – it’s time to re-evaluate our goals, celebrate our wins, and solidify plans for the next half. With AI coming in hot, 2025 and beyond is going to be all about creativity! We don’t just need to think outside the box, we need to think outside a computer’s capabilities, so buckle in and get ready to implement habits that will bring out the best in your creative self. Whether you’re in your season of hustle, balance, or rest, these ins and outs will help you enter the second half of the year with the right priorities. IN: Having fun with your brand (personality sells!) Surrounding yourself with other ambitious people Early nights, early wins Saying “let’s collab” instead of “let’s compete” Actual project timelines (not just vibes and chaos) Lo-fi, chill playlists while you write, edit, or brainstorm Nature walks to solve creative blocks Mindful moments instead of “just pushing through” Automating boring tasks so you can focus on your genius Using AI tools to automate boring tasks so you can pour your energy into the creative tasks Laughing at your typos, [...]

What is your book called and what is it about?  My book is called Why Am I a Dentist? I have been a dentist for more than 10 years, and I have written about my personal experiences living and working as a dentist. Tell us more about you? I am a general dentist working in Melbourne. I graduated from Melbourne Dental School in 2013. Outside of work, I enjoy gaming and going to the gym. Let us get to know you a little better by answering these quickfire questions:  What is your favourite quote? “My boyfriend is so handsome” – my girlfriend. What is your favourite book? Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire What is your favourite podcast at the moment? I do not listen to podcasts. I am more of a YouTube person. Who is your role model? Asmongold. He’s a Youtuber. Who in your life has inspired you the most and why? Asmongold. He’s good at games; he makes money through streaming; he’s well spoken, intelligent, and down-to-earth. What is your coffee order? Long black. I do not want any calories in my coffee. Pet peeves? Police patrolling the roads. What inspired you to write this book? [...]

What is your book called and what is it about?  SelfCare: Lifestyle Medicine for the People https://www.selfcare.global/book-landing/ Tell us more about you? https://www.selfcare.global/one-person-can-make-a-difference/ https://www.selfcare.global/about/ Let us get to know you a little better by answering these quickfire questions:  What is your favourite quote? “It takes a village to raise us as children, it takes a community to heal the sick and it takes connection to live towards longevity.” What is your favourite book? The Book of Changes (The I Ching) What is your favourite podcast at the moment? The Aubrey Marcus Podcast or The School of Greatness (Lewis Howes) Who is your role model? Paul Dunn https://b1g1.com/ Who in your life has inspired you the most and why? My mum. We all have one person who believes in us more than we believe in ourselves and doesn’t waver. She has been that my entire life. What is your coffee order? Long black, almond milk Pet peeves? Inauthenticity, hype, over-promising and under-delivering What inspired you to write this book? Pain, and a desire to create a new system that makes the old outdated ones obsolete. How did you find the process of writing and publishing your book? Eight years of purpose, […]

What is your book called and what is it about?  I was in a compilation book – YSHIFT Thriving: Health is Your Greatest Wealth. It’s a compilation of various authors from the health and wellbeing industry, each telling their own story about what they do and why they do it. Tell us more about you? I’ve always been interested in and passionate about food from a young age, having studied nutrition straight out of high school. My interest in holistic health grew over the years when I saw the vast areas and all the improvements and benefits provided by complementary modalities. I also think growing up with family who were farmers and often having access to fresh grown food gave me a different perspective on how food can change so much with the processing of it. I also enjoy travel and culture and have lived in various countries over the years, and have travelled to many more. I like the outdoors, and enjoy a good hike in nature, or a swim at the beach. Let us get to know you a little better by answering these quickfire questions:  What is your favourite quote?  “The real world is only what you […]

What is your book called and what is it about?  Nobody Can Save Me: Redefining Mental Health with Hope and Action Nobody Can Save Me empowers readers to take control of their own lives by providing essential skills, insights, and strategies for personal change. The book emphasises that each individual possesses the capacity to create meaningful transformations, encouraging a proactive approach to wellness. By reclaiming responsibility for their health and happiness, readers are inspired to cultivate fulfilling lives on their own terms, just as I was able to do with my pain and challenges. Tell us more about you? I’m a passionate mental health advocate dedicated to fostering awareness, acceptance, education, and connection within communities to combat the global stigma surrounding mental health and suicide. Drawing from my own lived experiences and the heartbreaking loss of friends, I aim to create open platforms for communication, encouraging individuals and communities to address and manage their wellbeing. In 2016, fuelled by a rediscovery of hope and kindness, I founded Mindfull Aus at just 24 years old. As a full-time advocate, I have delivered over 2,500 speeches, keynotes, workshops, and events across Australia, including nine tours of the United States. Let us get […]

What is your book called and what is it about?  Magic and Medicine. It’s a book inspired by my spiritual journey, aimed at helping women trust their intuition and instincts and tune into the wise woman within. Tell us more about you? I’m a lifelong learner; the world is a fascinating place, and I love learning new skills. As such, I’ve studied many modalities and have qualifications in ECE teaching, naturopathy and herbal medicine, aromascience, postnatal doula, permaculture design, and sound healing. I’m also currently studying Irish language and Scottish Gaelic to help me get in touch with my family’s heritage and roots. I’m a total geek about plants, crystals, tarot, and books… I usually have about five books that I’m reading at once! Let us get to know you a little better by answering these quickfire questions:  What is your favourite quote? “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better” – Maya Angelou. What is your favourite book? This is a tricky one, ‘cause it changes all the time, but for sentimental reasons, Anne of Green Gables is probably it. What is your favourite podcast at the moment? Alan Watts – […]

What is your book called and what is it about? Trailblazing: How to Take Control of Your Health, Vitality and Longevity Through Running Tell us more about you? Triple-board certified medical specialist, author, fundraiser, researcher, husband, and father of three beautiful children. I also have a doctor of philosophy in clinical medicine on vitamin D in hip fractures. Let us get to know you a little better by answering these quickfire questions: What is your favourite quote? “Aim for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” What is your favourite book? Apart from Trailblazing, it’s 1984 by George Orwell. What is your favourite podcast at the moment? Inside Running Who is your role model? My late mother and grandmother. Who in your life has inspired you the most and why? My paternal grandmother because she rarely complained, even though life was tough and she was afflicted with osteoarthritis in her back, hips, and knees from years of activity. Loved the way she was able to grit things out. And also my mother, as she was never a quitter! What is your coffee order? Latte Pet peeves? People who are talented but are not prepared to work […]

What is your book called and what is it about? What’s My Body Telling Me? This book is a guide for women who feel overwhelmed by the healthcare system and are searching for a deeper understanding of their bodies. It encourages readers to embrace the idea that their symptoms are not the problem – they are the solution. Using personal stories, scientific insights, and practical tools, the book aims to empower women to see their bodies as allies rather than enemies, helping them navigate health challenges with compassion and curiosity. Tell us more about you? I’m Dr Anthea Todd, founder of Female Fundamentals™, with a background in chiropractic and dual master’s degrees in women’s health medicine and reproductive medicine. I’ve built my career on helping women reconnect with their bodies, empowering them to take control of their health in a fun, approachable way. Through functional and energetic health frameworks, I guide women to realise that their bodies are doing exactly what they need to thrive – they just need to learn how to listen. Let us get to know you a little better by answering these quickfire questions: What is your favourite quote? “Just do it.” What is your favourite […]

Congratulations to Dean Publishing’s 2024 published books. Find Your Next Great Read From personal growth to health, business, and beyond, these inspiring books have something for everyone: Break free from bad habits with Loz Antonenko. Decode your body’s messages with Dr. Anthea Todd. Discover Africa’s potential with Joshua Ngoma. Start a business in 14 days with Tony Eades. Unlock vitality through running with Jenson Mak. Overcome adversity with Zack Condick. Embrace natural health with Josephine Zappia. Master your finances with Kane Hansen. Celebrate women leaders with Diana Williams. Cook epic burgers with Jesse Freeman. Connect food, health, and spirit with Julide Turker-Guler. Loz Antonenko Overly busy, constantly exhausted, stressed to the max – we’ve all been there. But that doesn’t mean we need to stay there. Healthy habit coach Loz Antonenko knows what it takes to go from stuck to unstoppable. After battling numerous health issues, becoming estranged from her father, and losing her first husband to suicide, she was about as stuck as they come. But she learnt how to release the Handbrake Habits that were holding her back, and now she coaches others to do the same. Grab your copy here: https://deanpublishing.com/authors-books/get-the-fck-unstuck/ Anthea Todd In What’s My Body […]

What is your book called and what is it about? One Third of Your Stomach: The Food and Lifestyle Philosophy That Draws You Closer to God. The philosophy aligns you with your purpose of creation, which is to serve the Creator through conscious living. Tell us more about you? Mother of three, functional medicine practitioner, working with children only. Avid gardener, black belt dan 1, used to personal train, studied masters in food sciences. Work from home Let us get to know you a little better by answering these quickfire questions: What is your favourite quote? Rumi: “The wound is the place where the light enters.” What is your favourite book? The Quran. What is your favourite podcast at the moment? The Way Forward with Alec Zeck. Who is your role model? Don’t really have one. Who in your life has inspired you the most and why? Historical figures. What is your coffee order? Soy latte, extra hot. Pet peeves? Nothing. What inspired you to write this book? Wanting to leave a legacy when I die. How did you find the process of writing and publishing your book? Great, thanks to the team at Dean. What surprised you most about the […]

What is your book called and what is it about? Title: Build Excite Ignite About: Build Excite Ignite is a comprehensive guide for impact-driven entrepreneurs who want to turn their passion into a thriving business. The book focuses on scaling online programs and creating a legacy that goes beyond financial success. It provides actionable strategies for building a scalable business while maintaining work-life balance and making a meaningful impact in the world. The ultimate goal is to help entrepreneurs harness their expertise to create programs that generate up to $40K per month, all while contributing positively to society. Tell us more about you? I’m Jim Cocks, a passionate entrepreneur, business strategist and coach dedicated to helping others create a profession and lifestyle they absolutely love. After overcoming burnout in my own journey, I realised the importance of creating a business that not only thrives financially but also aligns with one’s values and contributes to a greater good. This led me to create Level Up, a community-focused coaching platform where we empower entrepreneurs to scale their businesses and create a lasting impact. Let us get to know you a little better by answering these quickfire questions: What is your favourite quote? “Progress not perfection.” […]

What is your book called and what is it about?  My book is called ‘You Can’t Beat Me’ My book is about my life journey of facing adversity with my autoimmune disease and then having Bone cancer. Describing my treatments I undertook and surgeries I faced. Has all my alternative protocols I used to overcome my challenges and has mental health strategies. Tell us more about you? I was a carpenter and since having my world flipped upside down, I had to change old patterns and now I am a disability support worker. I am also trying to train to one day achieve my dream of being a paralympian. Let us get to know you a little better by answering these quickfire questions:  What is your favourite quote? Just take it 1 day at a time, don’t look too far forward. What is your favourite book? Mine haha What is your favourite podcast at the moment? Power, Strength Vulnerability Who is your role model? Jay shetty mindset Who in your life has inspired you the most and why? My family inspires me to never give up on my dreams and shows me what true love means. What is your coffee […]

BUSINESSHEALTH AND MINDSET 20 AUG 2023 WRITTEN BY SAMANTHA BELL Are You Ready to Ignite Your Business? Prefer to watch? Here’s the video on YouTube   Do you want to inspire thousands, if not millions, around the globe? THEN, IT’S TIME TO HARNESS THE POWER OF YOUR PERSONAL NARRATIVE. YES, YOUR STORY! You see, we all have a tale to tell. A journey. A transformation. And guess what? This story can be your golden ticket to skyrocketing your business growth. Unleashing the Power of Your Story: A Game-Changer for Entrepreneurs! Recently I had an interesting conversation with Susan Dean, the visionary behind Dean Publishing, who shared just how transformative our stories can be. From Self-Doubt to Self-Trust: A Transformational Journey Susan’s entrepreneurial journey, spanning over two decades, is a testament to her grit and determination. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing! Like many of us, she wrestled with self-doubt. However, she turned that doubt into self-confidence, igniting the birth of a business that has touched countless lives through the power of books. Her words of wisdom? Build a rock-solid team and never underestimate the role of self-care while nourishing others through your business and services. A Book: Your Ultimate Business Card A […]

What is your book called and what is it about? From Invisible to Invincible: The Natural Menopause Revolution. Tell us more about you? I’m a dedicated naturopath specialising in the natural support of women transitioning through menopause. As the clinical director of Menopause Natural Solutions, I combine my expertise and passion to help women navigate this significant life stage with ease and confidence. I am also the host of the Midlife Women’s Reset Health Retreat, where I empower women to rejuvenate their health and embrace the next chapter of their lives. Let us get to know you a little better by answering these quickfire questions: What is your favourite quote? “My belief is that it’s a privilege to get older. Not everybody gets to get older.” – Cameron Diaz What is your favourite book? Goddesses Never Age by Dr Christiane Northrup. What is your favourite podcast at the moment? The Human Upgrade with Dave Asprey. Who is your role model? Aunty Estelle, she is the most positive person I’ve ever met. She chooses happiness and contribution every day. She is my spiritual mentor. Who inspires you the most and why? The women I work with have inspired me the most. Each one […]

What is your book called and what is it about? My Bucketlist Blueprint Tell us more about you? I’m known as Trav Bell – The Bucket List Guy… the world’s number one bucketlist expert. A speaker, coach, author who loves what he does. Let us get to know you a little better by answering these quickfire questions: What is your favourite quote? “If it is to be, it is up to me.” – William H Johnsen. What is your favourite book? Happier by Tal Ben-Shahar. What is your coffee order? Long black and honey. Pet peeves? Victims. What inspired you to write this book? Bucket list item, complements speaking, authority piece. How did you find the process of writing and publishing your book? Good once I got Dean Publishing involved. What surprised you most about the writing process? It all falls into place after you fully commit. What do you hope the reader gets from reading this book? They and their family take action on their bucket list and live a regret-free life! What advice would you give to someone who wants to write a book but doesn’t know how? Engage with the Dean Publishing team and just get it […]

What is your book called and what is it about? Sweat Swear Smile. Sweat Swear Smile is NOT just another fitness book full of the same old ineffective misinformation. It’s NOT a book about weight loss, though it will help you get a lot stronger and give you the ability to live an energy-filled life. It’s NOT a book about repetitive exercise, though it will help you understand how to move freely and empower you to make decisions and earn the keys to lasting fitness success. It’s NOT a book about just eating chicken and broccoli (nobody wants that). What Sweat, Swear, Smile will do is help you get off the merry-go-round of weight loss and pointless exercise so you get real results from your efforts. Tell us more about you? At 53 years of age, I was out of shape, so I created the blueprint for a 12-week challenge! That’s when the lightbulb went off for me and I ‘got it’. I took action and engaged a trainer, weighing in each week and sending in photos (yes, I was accountable to my coach). What happened? My health and energy levels were recharged, and I felt new again! Besides the […]

What is your book called and what is it about? My book is titled – Get The F*ck Unstuck! It’s time to cut the BS and get real about our health, our mindset. and our lives! In a crisis, we tend to look for magic solutions while overlooking the profound impact of addressing fundamental daily habits: eating well, sleeping enough, breathing, hydration, and movement. I call these ‘handbrake habits’ because you must release the handbrake to get unstuck and gain momentum in your life. Have you ever felt stuck—moving but barely, surviving but not thriving, existing but not living? I’m Loz Antonenko, and as your go-to Healthy Habit Coach, Motivation Maven, and Mojo Mechanic, there was a time in my life when everything I did was about avoidance and escape – the ultimate personification of being stuck. That led me to the concept of ‘handbrake habits’. This wasn’t some grand, sweeping new vision of life. It was a simple, one-thing-at-a-time approach. And it actually worked! Now, guess what? Improving these habits is an entirely trainable and transferable skill set! In Get the F*ck Unstuck!, you get my BS-free blueprint to move from stuck to unstoppable, using the transformative power of […]

What is your book called and what is it about? Financially Fit Women equips you with the knowledge and understanding to boost your confidence in making financial decisions. It offers practical advice on various financial topics such as setting goals, spending, investing, debt reduction and retirement planning. It encourages you to take charge of your financial future and set yourself up for success. Tell us more about you? I am a mother of two amazing young women, Bella and Livvy, who are both my motivation and constant inspiration. In my spare time – my two vices are competing in Ironman Triathlons and indulging in good red wine with my village at the local wine bar. I have 20+ years in the Financial Planning industry and I have never been afraid of a challenge or to challenge the rules. In 2016, I made the leap into my own business as a result of challenging what I was being “told” I had to do for clients by my then employer. I still have these clients today; they feature in this book. I wake up every day loving what I do and knowing that I am really good at it. I am grateful […]

By Susan Dean and her faithful companion ChatGPT As a publisher and business owner I am keen to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and stay in touch with authors’ needs and wants. We all know that Ai is a disruptor in many ways, but let’s be honest, Ai is here to stay, and I aim to keep a human-centric approach while staying fresh and current investigating the latest tech.  For fun I decided to ask ChatGPT this question: What are the pros and cons for author’s using ChatGPT to write their book? Here is what it generated. (For full disclosure …ChatGPT generated the pros and cons, and I wrote the rest).  Using ChatGPT to write a book can have both pros and cons, depending on the specific context and goals of the author. Here’s a breakdown Pros: Idea Generation: ChatGPT can help authors generate ideas and overcome writer’s block by providing prompts, suggestions, and alternative perspectives. Writing Assistance: It can assist authors in drafting outlines, developing characters, and crafting dialogue. ChatGPT can also help with grammar and sentence structure, acting as a virtual writing assistant. Efficiency: ChatGPT can increase writing efficiency by quickly generating content based on the author’s […]

As part of our ongoing efforts to keep you informed and engaged, we wanted to remind you to follow us on our various social media platforms. Let me introduce myself, I am Susan Dean if we haven’t met and I run a publishing company called Dean Publishing. My team and I help entrepreneurs and changemakers write and publish a book to grow their brands and businesses. By connecting with us on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Youtube, you’ll gain access to: Authors’ book launches Insights into what it’s like working with us Media and PR from our authors Publishing tips and trends Book writing tips Events we run Behind the scenes of a publishing house The Dean Team Exclusive updates and announcements Behind-the-scenes insights into our company culture Industry news and trends Exciting promotions and giveaways Opportunities to participate in polls and surveys Book trailer videos and testimonials PLUS a HUGE announcement about a new way to work with us is LAUNCHING soon. Following us on social media is a great way to stay in the loop and be a part of our community. We value your input and would love to hear from you on these platforms. […]

  The team are back in the office after a wonderful three-week break, refreshed and ready for the year ahead. After a well-deserved break, it feels invigorating to be back in the swing of things, collaborating on exciting projects and, of course, having fun along the way. On the professional front, I’m thrilled about the opportunities that lie ahead. I’ve set some big ambitious goals for myself, aiming to expand my skills and take on new challenges. I’m excited to contribute meaningfully to projects that align with my passions and values, and I look forward to making a positive impact in the world. In terms of relationships, I’m committed to nurturing and strengthening the bonds with family and my business friendships. Life gets busy, and it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. So, this year, I intend to be more present, create lasting memories, and cherish the moments. Of course, I’m open to the unexpected and the spontaneity that life often brings. Sometimes the most beautiful experiences are the ones we didn’t plan for, and I want to remain open to new opportunities and connections that may come my way. Our Mission Is to provide world-class publishing and […]

What is your book called and what is it about? “The Future of Business” – This book is predominately written for business owners, managers, leaders who want to create a workplace with a fantastic culture, where people love to and want to come to work. It goes into detail around the 1% culture, the little things that can be done to retain staff, tips to improve your space including fitout solutions and my favorite topic S.Y.S.T.E.M.S. Throughout the book I share tips, tricks and lessons we have learnt in business and how you can implement them to set your business up for success. Tell us more about you? Business leader and co-founder of a construction company, my husband and I have built our business from a laptop on the kitchen bench to a multi-million-dollar company. Creating the environment and systems for people to succeed. My passions on the side are property and investing, enjoying sunrises on the beach, family time and meditation. I have a passion for leadership, people and personal growth. Let us get to know you a little better by answering these quickfire questions: What is your favourite quote? “Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life […]

Shane Kelton had always wanted to write a book but had been held back by fear until tragedy made the need clear. Picture: DEAN PUBLISHING. Please note this story contains references to suicide. From high school until now Shane Kelton, 35, has battled, often in silence, serious mental health challenges. Telling his story for the first time through the written word, Kelton will be launching his book ‘I didn’t want to die, I just wanted the pain to end’ in Mooroolbark on 26 November. Growing up, Kelton’s first experiences of suicide was hearing about the deaths of students at his high school in the older year levels when rumours would spread about the cause. “[It was a] negative flow on effect of that because I started really suppressing the way I was feeling and the way I was thinking and I thought I was alone in those thoughts and alone in those feelings and experiences that I was having through those years,” he said. Hiding his feelings led to a build up of anger in his late teens, grabbing the attention of his family that something was wrong but Kelton said there was never any mention of mental health as […]

What is your book called and what is it about? HEAL. by Josephine It’s a beginner’s guide to homeopathy. Also intended as a beautiful desktop/coffee table book with pictures and inspirational quotes. Tell us more about you? I’m a homeopath with two decades of experience and I’m deeply passionate about health and wellbeing. I believe we all have the ability to heal ourselves naturally when we work with our body rather than against it. I live an active lifestyle; a truly holistic approach with a focus on nutrition. I enjoy whole foods, meditation, yoga, bodywork, and connecting with like-minded friends. In 2020 my business transformed into a virtual offering with one-on-one consultations for global clients looking for solutions to health and beauty problems. My work as a writer for health and wellbeing magazines has been featured in Body & Soul, Balance the Grind, SWIISH, Rescu, Thrive, Green + Simple, Wellbeing, Latte, and Brainz. Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Let us get to know you a little better by answering these quickfire questions: What is your favourite quote? I have two that I […]

What is your book called and what is it about? My book is called I Didn’t Want To Die, I Just Wanted The Pain to End: Finding a Better Way. This book is based on my journey; I battled through my teenage years with depression and anxiety (two things I knew nothing about) and subsequently, I lacked knowledge about my emotional well-being and mental health. This led me to multiple suicide attempts at 21. The journey is filled with how dark the hole can be for someone suffering mental health challenges, and it shines a light on the lack of education around this throughout a child’s life. In the book I speak about the things I do to keep myself well and prevent myself from going down that damaging path, and how I continue to do my best every day, and how those around me were affected and how they helped. Tell us more about you? I always find this the most difficult question to answer. I’m a father of two boys, husband to Alicia and a sports lover. My passion is to do my best to help other people while attempting not to burn myself out while doing that. […]

Editing and proofreading are crucial stages in the writing process, but they encompass various levels of scrutiny and improvement. In this blog, we’ll delve into the details of different types of editing and proofreading to help you understand when and how to use them effectively. 1. Proofreading Proofreading is the final step before your writing is ready to be shared with the world. It focuses on catching errors such as grammar mistakes, misspellings, punctuation errors, and formatting inconsistencies. Proofreaders also ensure that your writing adheres to a particular style guide or formatting requirements. When to Use Proofreading: Proofreading is suitable when your content is mostly polished, and you want to ensure it is free of minor errors and adheres to specific guidelines. 2. Line Edit A line edit, sometimes called a copyedit, takes a deeper dive into your content. It addresses issues related to sentence structure, word choice, clarity, and overall flow. Line editors aim to make your writing more engaging, concise, and suitable for your target audience. When to Use Line Editing: Opt for line editing when your content needs refinement to enhance its readability and impact, especially for documents like articles, reports, or marketing materials. 3. Detailed Line […]

In a world where screens and digital media dominate the landscape, the significance of children’s books cannot be understated. They are not just ink on paper; they are windows to imagination, gateways to knowledge, and bridges to empathy. As we celebrate Book Week, let’s explore why children’s books hold a special place in our hearts and why nurturing a love for reading from an early age is so vital. The Magic of Children’s Books Children’s books possess a unique magic that transcends generations. These stories have the power to transport young minds to far-off lands, introduce them to fantastical creatures, and immerse them in tales that ignite their imagination. Whether it’s a classic fairy tale, a whimsical adventure, or a heartwarming story of friendship, these narratives create worlds that children can explore with boundless curiosity. Building Literacy Skills One of the most obvious reasons for the importance of children’s books is their role in building essential literacy skills. Early exposure to books helps children develop vocabulary, language comprehension, and communication skills. The rhythm of storytelling, the cadence of words, and the enchanting illustrations all contribute to a rich learning experience. As children encounter new words and phrases, they expand their […]

What is your book called and what is it about? Real Talk Real Change – Strategies from a Life Coach & Psychologist It’s a book about learning the tools and strategies that a coach and psychologist (me, Dr Nat) used to change her own life and used to help her clients change their lives over the first ten years of her career as a psychologist. It’s written in a very down-to-earth straight-talking way (and even has some swearing in it). It’s a book that talks about using CBT and ACT therapy, but is written in a way that is as if you and Dr Nat are just having a chat together. There are purposely no references to research (although it is completely based in long standing evidence based therapies), so that it feels easy to read and understand, and just feels like having “a chat with Dr Nat”. Without ‘psych-jargon’ or complexity, Real Talk, Real Change is a book for real people, with real problems who want real life-changing strategies – right now! Tell us more about you? Hi, I am Dr Natasha Davison (or Dr Nat, as some clients like to call me). I’m a high-performance coach, who loves […]

What is your book called and what is it about? Legless to Legless and I take the reader through my life of highs and lows, mostly highs. ? Tell us more about you? I’m a keynote speaker and I run two successful gyms in Western Sydney. I love working out so much that it’s like brushing my teeth, it’s a must! When I dont train, I spend my time editing videos/photos and watch my fish swim in peace (yeah, I love fish) I forgot to mention cars is also another passion of mine. Let us get to know you a little better by answering these quickfire questions: What is your favourite quote? It’s not impossible, because I’m possible. What is your favourite book? Walking Free -Munjed AlMuderis What is your favourite podcast at the moment? Lex Fridman Podcast Who is your role model? My mother cause she is a strong woman who stands tall and protects her loved ones unconditionally. Who in your life has inspired you the most and why? I think I get inspired by everyday people I meet. They all have something to give in terms of knowledge and I always acknowledge and appreciate the interaction. What […]

What is your book called and what is it about? Autism Feels… An Earthling’s Guide. It’s a step by step guide to answering questionnaires. Tell us more about you? I am a human man (arguably) who is Autistic (definitely). I am a content creator focused on raising the world’s understanding, appreciation and acceptance of Autistic people. Oh and how best to answer questionnaires. Let us get to know you a little better by answering these quickfire questions: What is your favourite quote? “Fuller, go easy on the Pepsi”. What is your favourite book? Autism Feels… An Earthling’s Guide. What is your favourite podcast at the moment? Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend. Who is your role model? To have a role model is to live someone else’s life. I do me. Who in your life has inspired you the most and why? Me. Everyone else just annoying gets in the way. What is your coffee order? Strong Latte. But, when ordering in Italy it’s a cafe latte, or they will just give me a cup of warm milk. Pet peeves? I’m Autistic, so everything. What inspired you to write this book? Receiving one too many generic questionnaires that non one ever […]

Imposter Syndrome when writing a book Embarking on the journey of writing a book is a remarkable endeavor that requires passion, dedication, and creativity. However, it’s not uncommon for writers to encounter a persistent and often paralyzing feeling known as imposter syndrome. This phenomenon can cast doubt on your abilities, stifle your creative flow, and make the writing process a rollercoaster of emotions. In this blog, we’ll delve into what imposter syndrome is, why it frequently rears its head during the writing process, and most importantly, how you can overcome it to bring your book to life. Understanding Imposter Syndrome: Imposter syndrome refers to a psychological pattern where individuals doubt their accomplishments and have a persistent fear of being exposed as a “fraud,” despite evidence of their competence. It’s the nagging feeling that your achievements are due to luck or circumstance, rather than your skills and hard work. When writing a book, imposter syndrome can manifest in various ways: Comparisons: As writers, we often compare ourselves to established authors, feeling inadequate in the face of their success and recognition. Inner Critic: The critical voice in your head can amplify self-doubt, telling you that your ideas are trivial, your writing is […]

What Makes Me Happy Finding happiness is about looking at what makes you smile and what lights you up inside. For me it is my girls, my granddaughter who lights me up as soon as she enters the room, and my amazing husband who is my biggest supporter in all that I do and makes me feel loved every day. I believe that happiness is about creating the life that you love. There will be ups and downs along the way, but having a life and career with flow and flexibility makes me happy. When you love what you do, it is never work – it is just work life flow. My passion has always been around making a difference. Being a youth worker and then a life coach, business coach and now publisher, I have always focused on sharing knowledge, stories and lessons to help others in life and business. Stories that make a difference and have a lesson or teaching that helps people in their lives and business are what got me into books in the first place. Helping people to have the courage to share their stories, their lessons and teachings forward is what makes me happy. […]

Creating a Seriously Productive Writing Routine Let’s be honest – writing isn’t easy, especially if you’re brave enough to tackle something as monumental as a book. If writing were a simple task, there wouldn’t be an abundance of abandoned manuscripts sitting unfinished in desk drawers and on computer hard drives across the world. That’s why building a productive writing routine is essential to achieving your writing goals, whether they involve completing an entire book, writing regular blog posts, or something else entirely. Perhaps you just want to write for fun, which we totally understand. Whatever your reason for putting pen to paper – or fingers to keys – we’re here to help. To assist you on your writing odyssey, we’ve assembled our best tips so you can smash your writing goals like a pro. Here, we’ll cover: Scheduling dedicated writing time Productivity How consistency builds habits Creating a physical space that facilitates your best writing Setting specific, realistic writing goals (and celebrating them) Starting with a structure The reality that the first draft is never perfect, and why getting your words down is essential Spreading the word and asking for help. Do the Time – Dedication Is Key How many […]

Who to Watch in 2023 – Active Authors and Fresh Faces 2022 was a massive year for Dean Publishing and our authors, and 2023 is shaping up to be even bigger, which is difficult to imagine – but it’s true. Not only do we have some awesome books ready to launch, but we’ve also got several amazing, new authors jumping onboard to begin their publishing journey. We’ve compiled a list of authors – new and old – to watch in 2023 to keep everyone in the loop and highlight the excitement that’s coming our way in the new year. Books Launching in Early 2023 We’re hitting the ground running in 2023, with several launches planned for the beginning of the year and many more books undergoing their finishing touches before going to print. From stunning cookbooks to transformative self-help guides, our selection of upcoming titles is as diverse as ever. There really is something for everyone. Clare Wood Clare is a former accountant turned money mentor, but she’s not your typical bean counter. Intentional Profit: Master Your Money and Mindset for a Wildly Wealthy Business teaches you how to create a positive mindset around money and generate long-term profit in your […]

Exhaustion  I am not sure about you, but I’m utterly exhausted… and you may be feeling this way too. This is happening for so many of us right now, and it’s important that we give ourselves the time and space to recover and work through it.    A difficult couple of years  This year has been huge: personally, I’ve had my daughter’s wedding, my granddaughter’s first birthday, moved my eldest daughter into her new home and moved my 85-year-old parents. Professionally, we’ve tripled the number of books published compared to every other year, employed more team members, set up systems and resources to further support authors, and brought a general manager on board as the team grows. These have just been some of the major events in my life this year – it has been intense, but I still should not be as exhausted as I am.   Heading into this year, we were already exhausted and overwhelmed from the past two years. We were all frazzled and dragged ourselves into the new year, without time to rest. The past couple of years created so much collective disturbance, shock and insecurity.  After this, 2022 has been intense for so many of […]

SHIFT YOUR IDEAS ABOUT BEAUTY  Beauty can come from all different angles. Beauty isn’t just about looking good, with your hair and makeup done. Beauty can be about how you feel about yourself, but it is also so much deeper than external looks.   Beauty can come from anything in life that we find pleasurable. We can find a person, a sunset, or an experience beautiful; we can find ourselves beautiful.   In terms of external confidence and beauty, when we look good, we feel good; beauty regimes and making others feel good can be part of feeling beautiful. This can include facials, skincare routines, massages, finding a perfectly fitting bra, and giving or receiving a compliment like, “Your skin is glowing” or, “You have beautiful energy” can make us feel good. This part of beauty is about making sure you’re taking time for yourself and putting the effort in.  When you do your hair, do your makeup, put on a new outfit, when you look in the mirror and you feel good about yourself, that in turn gives you more confidence and makes you feel better inside, so that when you’re exuberating your energy, it’s good energy.  “Inner beauty should be […]

By Kotobee  Having a book idea could be exciting; you might even feel that adrenaline rush as you sit down to write the first few pages. But before you go any further, you need to collect and fact-check some data to make your book as accurate as it could be. And that’s where doing book research comes in.  If you are a first-time author who doesn’t know where to start, then this article is for you! Here you’ll find everything you need to know about how to do research for your coming book.   Why Do Writers Need to Do Book Research?  While you as an author might be knowledgeable enough about the topic you’re writing about, doing thorough book research is still a necessity. This comes down to two main reasons:  You want to make the information mentioned in your books more credible so you add citations and sources.  You don’t have all the information you need to complete the book.  How Long Should Book Research Take?  The duration of your book research mainly depends on two factors:  What you are writing about, and  Your knowledge about the topic.  If you are an expert on your book’s subject matter, you might […]

What is your book called and what is it about?   The Sparkle Kids and the Sugar Troll.  In the Sparkle Kids’ first adventure, Summer becomes trapped by the Old Sugar Troll. She needs Sonny’s help to rescue her from the troll’s sugar-filled cave. Together, Summer and Sonny must fight the Sugar Troll to save thousands of other children who have been trapped by his treats. They have fallen under his sugar-eating spell, which is making them feel sad and unwell.  There are subtle health messages throughout to lay the foundation of knowledge around the importance of eating nutritious food and not relying on artificial sugar for energy. It’s presented in a fun way so children are inspired.  What is your favourite quote?  “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou  This quote is at the centre of everything I create within my workshops, content, books and retreats. Eliciting an emotion and feeling is much more powerful than just words that you speak. It allows embodiment of the experience and the knowledge you learn, allowing growth and transformation to take place.  […]

What is your book called and what is it about? My book is called Living From the Inside Out: How to Become a Modern-day Wonder Woman. Most of us know that success and satisfaction is an inside game. The book is about the inside game and ensuring that how you feel and what you do on the inside are producing the results you want for yourself, and being able to fully express yourself in your life the way you want. You deserve this. Tell us more about you. I am a mum, wife, business owner, occupational therapist, athlete and trained coach. I love empowering others to be all they can be. I am a wellness advocate, as I really believe health is wealth and when we feel good about ourselves, we do better. I love Bikram yoga, weight training, the outdoors and learning. I am a Kiwi and I moved to Australia in 2003. I live on the Gold Coast with my family – I have an amazing husband and beautiful 13-year-old daughter. One of my goals in life is to inspire others through my action. What is your favourite quote? “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. […]

With a strained healthcare system, worker burnout, emergency overload and winter sickness, it seems that there’s little choice than to become more active in maintaining and optimising one’s own health. In fact, research shows that person-centered care has better health outcomes and less economic burden. Sure, we will always need and want top healthcare practitioners, but it doesn’t mean we can’t or shouldn’t get more involved in optimising our own wellbeing. The bottom line is, we must! True health isn’t an exercise fad or new diet – it’s a holistic and lifelong journey. Gandhi said, “It is health that is real wealth” and Dean Publishing’s latest book is all about this message. The new release YSHIFT book – Thriving: Health is Your Greatest Wealth – includes chapters from 13 authors who have taken good health into their own hands. The authors share personal stories and reveal how they changed their habits and attitudes towards nutrition, ageing and mindset in to order maximise their life. Health and lifestyle strategies from real people with real solutions Thriving  is designed to supercharge your health and wellbeing with tried-and-tested lifestyle strategies from real people with real solutions. The YSHIFT authors are a diverse group […]

Australia has some of the strictest defamation laws in the world – it is often called the ‘defamation capital of the world’. As a publishing house, we have a responsibility to both our authors and readers, to keep our authors safe from defamation issues and be respectful to readers and the wider community. This blog post will outline what defamation is, and what it means for authors and publishing houses in Australia.   What is defamation? Defamation is communication, either verbal or written, that harms the reputation of a person in an unjust or unwarranted way through spreading false information. This information can change the way the person the statements are about is seen or how people feel about them. This material can be spoken, written, drawn, photographed or blogged – it must be public, not private, material. This includes print and online media, including social media. Defamation can happen when the person’s name is not mentioned but the statements are clearly about them; defamation can also be accidental, if the person making the statements doesn’t intend to cause harm. Defamation law covers any defamatory statements that are accidental or deliberate. Defamation law is under the jurisdiction of states and […]

By Susan Dean As an Australian-based business owner and book publisher, I am going to let you in on a little trade secret that many publishers don’t talk about. That secret is this: non-writers are revolutionising the book market. Yes, that’s right! Now that may seem mind-blowing to you. After all, books are traditionally written by professional writers, right? Nope, not necessarily. Not anymore. In fact, the sad truth is the large majority of full-time writers earn way below average wage. The Australian Society of Authors conducted a survey of Australian writers and illustrators to submit to the Government. It revealed that a whopping 53.6% of full-time writers earn on average less than $15,000 per year from their creative work. Ouch! And furthermore, 23.2% of them are earning on average between $0 and $1,999 per year. And that’s not only in Australia. The USA and UK have equally dismal figures. A survey conducted by the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society found that full-time writers in the United Kingdom earned a median income of £10,437, which is well below minimum wage in the UK. Clearly, traditional writers across the world are struggling to build an audience, crack the market, and make […]

Books That Teach Us How to Write and Unleash Our Creativity Izzy Smith Not all Dean Publishing authors want to be writers; some value the help of professional writers to help them craft their message into a book. Other Dean Publishing authors, however, want to hone their writing skills and incorporate being a writer into their career. We’ve curated a list of recommended books, hand-selected by our professional writing and editing team, that have helped us develop as writers and editors and can help you too. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life – Anne Lamott Anne Lamott gives us a step-by-step guide to writing and the writing life. Lamott discusses getting started, short assignments, shitty first drafts, character, plot, dialogue, false starts, knowing when you’re done, writers’ block, writing groups and publication. If you want to know more about what it means to be a writer and how to survive as an artist, Anne Lamott will tell you everything you need. First You Write a Sentence: The Elements of Reading, Writing… And Life – Professor Joe Moran Professor Joe Moran tells us how anyone can write well and enjoy good writing. Sentences are the common ground of […]

In honour of Autism Awareness Day, we’d like to introduce you to upcoming Dean Publishing author Orion Kelly, also known as ‘That Autistic Guy’. Orion is changing the way people perceive and understand autism. Orion is a content creator, podcaster, radio host, dad and husband. After being diagnosed with autism as an adult, Orion has made it his life mission to advocate for the autistic community, by spreading awareness and teaching people through his illuminating, entertaining and informative YouTube videos, podcasts and blogs. Orion’s dream is to raise a level of understanding, appreciation and acceptance of the autistic community. We are so proud to work with Orion and help him spread his vital messages to the world. At Dean Publishing, one of our goals is to spread the experiences and teachings of people with diverse lives and viewpoints, so we feel very lucky to work with Orion and are looking forward to publishing his book soon. Here are the top 11 myth-busting facts, as written by Orion. Busting Autism Myths I’m being completely genuine when I say that I do not believe the most damaging myths around autistic people will be laid to rest for eternity before me. That being […]

Hey, all you inspiring poets out there! Today is World Poetry Day, and at Dean Publishing we are celebrating the prose masters and stanza maestros who have given language its rich influence and beauty. It doesn’t matter which style of linguistic genius you prefer – whether it’s William Shakespeare, Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, Maya Angelou, Emily Dickinson, T.S. Eliot, Robert Frost, Banjo Patterson, or even Eminem or Dr Suess. They all do something unique and magical with words. They encourage us to reflect and connect, or inspire and entertain us through their eloquent literary craft and clever use of metaphor and allusion. Poets not only love words, they invent them. They use them. They worship the beautiful combinations that fall onto the page and reveal the truth of their insights. As Robert Frost said, “Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.” So, what inspired World Poetry Day? Well back in 1999, UNESCO introduced World Poetry Day with its primary aim to promote and support “linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard.” It’s celebrated as the day we pay homage to the power and importance of […]

Looking for the best writing apps to help you with your next book? Take a look at some handy tools recommended by the experts at Dean Publishing. We all write as part of our daily lives but did you know that the average blog post takes more than three hours to put together? And a book can take 6-12 months to write, or more. That’s a lot of time! We know that life gets busy and people have multiple commitments to juggle. That’s why we have a professional team of writers and editors ready to help you. Writing a book is a big job, and it’s worth doing right. Our team uses a range of digital tools, such as Microsoft Word, Google Docs, InDesign, Illustrator, Online dictionaries, Plagiarism trackers and Style Manuals, however there are many easy-to-use digital tools that can help you polish your writing in no-time. Grammarly Grammarly is a helpful sidekick, giving you pointers when you spell a word incorrectly, use the same terms repeatedly or go overboard with your sentence length. It will also give you suggestions to help you correct your grammar and spelling (based on the style of English you use, e.g. UK or […]

In celebration of International Women’s Day, we’d love to spotlight some of our incredible female authors for 2022. At Dean Publishing, we’re passionate about sharing the voices and teachings of remarkable people. As the female owner and founder of Dean Publishing, seeing other female business owners and inspirational women thrive is so fulfilling. I am also very proud that a large portion of our publishing team are female; a wonderful group of hardworking professionals that love books as much as I do. It gives me great pleasure to celebrate women, both personally and professionally and work alongside them as their mentor, friend, boss or publisher. Let’s now give a big shout out to Dean Publishing’s upcoming female authors of 2022: Kat John, The ZEROFKS Chick, is an international coach and popular podcast host. She doesn’t hold back on sharing relatable stories, speaking real and raw truths, and always holds people accountable for being the solution to their own problems. She’s the creator of the global ZEROFKS movement, a keynote speaker and runs workshops that help bring people’s souls back to life and save their fks for the things that matter. After overcoming life-altering experiences from childhood sexual abuse, bulimia, addiction, […]

BookTok and its Influence on Reading and Bookselling Trends Izzy Smith I find the ease of recommendations on BookTok very appealing – short, easy-to-watch videos on my For You Page have led to me discovering books I might not otherwise have read, and I’ve found new creators who share engaging book recommendations. The fact that these videos are interspersed with other TikToks that the algorithm deems interesting to me means that BookTok has become a seamless part of the content I regularly consume. The power of BookTok BookTok is the subcommunity on popular video-sharing app TikTok that focuses on books and literature. Creators make videos discussing books they read, and TikTok users eagerly watch and engage with these videos. According to Scribd’s 2021 year in review, one of the “standout trends affecting books is BookTok, the part of social media app TikTok where book lovers extol their favourite books and have helped turn titles … into massive successes.”1 BookTok, like many TikTok trends, constantly evolves and provides infinite opportunities for content creation. Videos can include book reviews, recommendation lists based on particular genre or theme preferences, books that make readers feel certain emotions, and videos that focus on the aesthetics […]

Author Imposter Syndrome: What it is and how to conquer it Izzy Smith What is imposter syndrome? Ah, imposter syndrome, that niggling voice in our heads that tries to convince us that maybe we’re actually not good at whatever it is we’re doing – that we’re inadequate. That critical voice that’s whispers (or screams) — You’re not good enough. You’re not smart enough. You’re not capable. You’re a fraud. Imposter syndrome makes us doubt our abilities and feel like frauds, and this can be evident in the workplace, particularly in creative industries. People experiencing imposter syndrome might pressure themselves to be perfect and work harder, negatively impacting mental health and performance, and potentially leading to exhaustion and burnout. Imposter syndrome has a disproportionate effect on high achievers who struggle to understand or acknowledge their accomplishments. Suzanne Imes and Pauline Rose Clance, psychologists at Georgia State University, developed the concept of imposter syndrome in a 1978 study that focused on high-achieving women. While this study focuses on women specifically, imposter syndrome can affect anyone from any walk of life. Clance and Imes found that, “Despite outstanding academic and professional accomplishments, women who experience the imposter phenomenon persists in believing that they […]

Audiobooks Are on The Rise Audiobooks are becoming increasingly popular as a new artform that connects readers to books and their authors in a unique way. Audiobooks offer an intimate, conversation-like connection with authors and books. They are also facilitating a convenient reading experience that plays into our love of digital and audio platforms, and they continue the oral storytelling tradition that has been a part of human history for thousands of years. In two years, audiobooks grew by a whopping 515% Scribd’s 2021 year in review report found that audiobooks “weren’t on the search radar in 2019 but rocketed to the top in 2021. In the past year alone, from 2020 to 2021, searches that included the term “audiobook” grew by 22%. While that’s impressive, searches from 2019 compared to 2021 grew by a whopping 515%.”1 A study by Deloitte forecasts growth to an astounding $15 billion by 2027 for the global audiobook market.2 Audible, one of the biggest audiobook platforms, has also seen significant growth in audiobook popularity in readers aged 18 to 24, according to Laurence Howell, Audible’s content director.3 The author’s voice and personality add intimacy through audio The current climate, in which an author’s personality […]

We often get asked the question “What’s the difference between Traditional Publishing, Self Publishing and Dean Publishing?” So I thought I would take a second to outline the differences in case you’ve ever wondered… Traditional Publishing – an agent picks up your book, they pay for the entire process but also own the rights to your book and you get around 10% profit of each book sold. Self-Publishing – you as the author do all the work and pay for it – from writing, graphic design, finding suppliers/editors, printers and promotion. You have all the rights and all the profits. Dean Publishing – we do all the work and you keep all the rights and profits! Our incredible team helps you write your book, edit it, organise graphics, printing, the whole process is taken care of. You pay an upfront fee and all profits and rights are yours to keep! Not to mention we can turn your book into an audiobook, online course and other products as well as help you with promotion. So as you can see, you get the best of both worlds when you choose to publish your book with Dean Publishing. We always talk to our potential authors first […]

Did you realise 1 in 2 women aged over 50 is impacted with low bone quality or quantity leading to bone fracture? Let’s first look at why this happens. In your body, you have 2 main types of bone remodeling cells, osteoBlast which Builds Bone, and osteoClast which Collapses bone. We have continuous remodeling of bones over our lifetime and several external circumstances either favour bone-building or bone loss. Consider puberty, at this stage of life you experience a large influx of hormones and growth spurts occur and your bones get denser, stronger, and longer. We continue to lay down additional bone mass until we reach a peak around age 30. From here until menopause our bone mass is fairly consistent. Once menopause occurs the reduction of estrogen causes rapid loss of bone density, strength, and height. Women lose bone at about 2% a year for the first 5 years after menopause and then this slows to about 1% a year from there. Our body contains 2 main types of bone. Cortical or long and flat bones are found in your arms, legs, ribs, skull and pelvic girdle, and Trabecular, which is rounded bones found in the spinal column, hip […]

Recent research has now proven what we suspect to be true – the constant barrage of negative news and violent media does impact our mental and emotional wellbeing, and not in a positive way.  Just turn on the TV, read the latest news headlines or flick through twitter and you’ll be inundated with world disasters and horrific events. You could be forgiven for thinking that the world has gone crazy and people are more terrible than they are kind. Psychologist Steven Pinker and international studies professor Andrew Mack have researched this topic and discovered that the world is not as insane as we may think. Despite what headlines suggest violence has actually decreased, the world is factually more peaceful than its past and quality of life has improved for millions of people. We believe media platforms should reflect these truths and at the very least expose the reality of humanity. News worthy stories shouldn’t just expose the worst of people but it should also reveal the very best of people. Statistically speaking most humans are in the latter category. For every act of violence there’s a million acts of kindness. But we don’t hear about these do we? We hear about […]

Macedon Ranges’ very own multi-talented mum Susan Dean has been named as a finalist for the AusMumpreneur Awards. These awards celebrate women across the country that juggle the responsibilities of their professional and family life, with the aim of creating a community of support for hard working mothers everywhere. Ms Dean was nominated in three award categories: AusMumpreneur of the Year, Business Excellence and People’s Choice. Ms Dean is a life and business coach, a training facilitator, a publisher and an entrepreneur. Her publishing company, Susan Dean Book Publishing, employs 12 staff including two of her adult children, and is located in the Macedon Ranges. Ms Dean said although it can be challenging running a business while raising children, she enjoys the challenge. “I loved that I could work around my kids’ school and sports when they were growing up,” she said. “Now, having built a publishing house in the Macedon Ranges, both my adult daughters work with me. “Also, I just recently became a nanna, I even have a cot setup at the office so my granddaughter can come to work with us.” Ms Dean said it was important that anybody considering going into business should have a clear […]

Written by Ashleigh Meikle We’re All in This Together was written and published at the height of the Victorian lockdown. Six school friends – Kiana, Amin, Roshan, Casey, Ming, and Tyler – are separated from each other. COVID has meant they can’t see each other or go to school. They have to wear masks and stay home and remember to wash their hands. In 2020, the world has looked very different. Masks, Zoom meetings, sanitiser, and staying away from places we don’t need to go to. It’s been a tough year for everyone, and in Australia, Victoria has had the harshest restrictions. As I write this, I’ve been keeping an eye on the numbers as I have friends in Victoria I’ve stayed in contact with, and sent messages of support to, and I am damn proud of what they’ve done to smash the curve. This book is for them and it is also for all Australians. COVID-19 isn’t going anywhere soon. We still have to physically or socially distance for months to come. Washing hands and carrying around sanitiser and wipes has become so ingrained in us, this is also something that will continue, even after we find a vaccine. […]

Why is it here? Where did it come from? Did someone actually eat a bat? Can I still share my friends’ toys? If I cough, does that mean I have it? Why can’t I see Grandma? No doubt, if you have a young person in your life, you have had a myriad of questions thrown your way. If you are a parent, teacher, carer or guardian or anyone else who works with young people – you’re incredible and a total superhero in my eyes. It’s hard to know how to approach these conversations or how to answer some of these harder questions, especially when as adults, we’re still wrapping our own heads around it with new information coming out most days that we are processing ourselves. What is important to focus on, is ensuring your young person feels they can talk to you about what it is that might be bothering them or things they may be curious about. There isn’t an exact science or formula for handling these questions, but what we do know, is that it’s important not to ignore it and those young people feel empowered to help. This help could be as simple as better understanding […]

This week marks World Suicide Prevention Day and R U OK Day. The theme of World Suicide Prevention Day is ‘Take a minute, change a life’. It highlights the importance of speaking up and taking the time to listen. This is not just a slogan — it’s a fact! A critical fact. Sometimes the smallest acts can change lives. Sometimes just asking “Hey, are you OK?” can make all the difference in someone’s life. A smile, a kind word, a hand on the shoulder, a phone call — the smallest things can be the biggest things. You never know what someone is going through. They could be having the worst day of their life. Dean Publishing CEO Susan Dean has a friend called Debbie Reynolds. Debbie knows how vital these small acts of kindness and care can be. In fact, Debbie’s simple act of asking someone “Are you OK?” saved a life. Here is a brief version of Debbie’s powerful story in her own words: I had just taken over a new managerial position at a large call centre of approximately 150 people. I was walking around, as usual, saying my casual ‘Good mornings’ and getting to know the place and […]

This week’s newsletter column is written by Jess Van Zeil (@jessvanzeil) Jess is a resilience coach, writer and speaker who survived stage four ocular melanoma. She is also the author of Eye Won, a memoir about thriving in the face of adversity. I grew up believing that if I wanted to be happy, I needed to tick all the boxes of a “normal” life. I needed to have the nice car, the big house, the doting husband, the successful career, the beautiful children. I had planned my entire life out so precisely that when I heard the three words “you have cancer”, I was utterly blindsided. My well-structured life-plan came crashing down. I was 22 when I was told I had Conjunctival Melanoma, a rare and aggressive cancer. My doctor told me that my only choice was to remove my eye and close the eye-socket for good. He said it would look quite normal really, just “like having an armpit on my face”. (?!?!??!) I didn’t want to look different. I just wanted my NORMAL life and begged for different treatment option —chemo, radiation, immunotherapy, anything! His answer was simple: “without surgery, you will not be here in five years.” I wanted to scream, but he’d […]

We all have bad days. You know those days when nothing seems to go your way. It may begin that you burn the toast, get stuck in traffic and run late for an important meeting. The boss isn’t happy, the kids’ school phone to tell you that your youngest has an unidentified rash and needs to be picked up, the bank loan that you applied for got rejected. The big red button in your brain flashes “WARNING, WARNING, BRAIN OVERLOAD!”. Your inner-chatter goes haywire, “God, what a day!”, “Nothing is going my way”, “Why does this stuff always happen to me?” Basically, we get caught up in our story of our victimhood. Somehow, in the moment these things are just happening to you. It all becomes very personal. That night, watching TV as you rustle through bank papers and try to comfort your child all at the same time, a program catches your attention. A young, sweet couple are telling their story to a news program. Their disabled son needs some money for a new wheelchair, the bank is taking their house off them because they defaulted on their loan trying to pay their son’s medical costs. Halt! Your mind […]

I must confess — often my best ideas strike in the shower. I don’t know whether it’s the warm water or the fact that I have “switched-off” that induces these episodes of clear creativity. Unarmed with email or pen (obviously I don’t take either of these in the shower with me) — on many occasions I have been suddenly hit with an inspirational idea or magic solution that has me quickly covering my nakedness and dashing to my computer to take notes. And it seems I’m not the only one. Dr Scott Kaufman — a cognitive scientist and co-author of Wired to Create, described a study he conducted for Hansgrophe showing that 72% of people get creative ideas in the shower. Wow! 72%, and here I was thinking it was just me. Kaufman said the study “highlights the importance of relaxation for creative thinking.” Great idea for writer’s block or days you feel creativity stuck. The study concluded that “the feel of the water together with the tranquillity of the shower experience and being alone helps generate new ideas and fresh thinking”. The study also found that “people reported more creative inspiration in their showers than they did at work. […]

I’ve spent countless years neck-deep in the area of coaching training and self- development. I’ve been trained by some of the best coaches in the world— John Gray, Taki Moore, Dale Beaumont, Tony Robbins, Tad James, Scott Demoulin, Scott Harris and so many more. I’ve also been coaching others for decades. Like anyone in business or with a bad case of ‘the entrepreneurial bug’ — I’ve had my highs and my lows, my successes and my huge learning curves. I’ve made money and lost money, many times I have bitten off more than I could chew and had to chew like mad. Despite the variety of teachers, courses and coaches, there’s been one quality that has never changed. One trusty constant throughout the ever-changing world of business, and that is the need to learn from others who have ‘been-there-done-that’ and succeeded! Tony Robbins has said it over-and-over again because he knows the value of a genuine coach or mentor. Here are Tony’s top #3 secrets to success: Secret #1: The surest way to achieve success is to model someone who is already successful. If you don’t have good models, find someone who is the best in your chosen field and emulate […]

Recent research has now proven what we suspect to be true – the constant barrage of negative news and violent media does impact our mental and emotional wellbeing, and not in a positive way. Just turn on the TV, read the latest news headlines or flick through Facebook, linked in and Instagram and you’ll be inundated with world disasters and horrific events. You could be forgiven for thinking that the world has gone crazy and people are more terrible than they are kind. Psychologist Steven Pinker and international studies professor Andrew Mack have researched this topic and discovered that the world is not as insane as we may think. Despite what headlines suggest violence has actually decreased, the world is factually more peaceful than its past and quality of life has improved for millions of people. We believe media platforms should reflect these truths and at the very least expose the reality of humanity. Newsworthy stories shouldn’t just expose the worst of people but should also reveal the very best of people. Statistically speaking, most humans are in the latter category. For every act of violence, there are a million acts of kindness. But we don’t hear about these, do […]

In the early morning hours of August 2, 1990 Iraqi army tanks and helicopters crossed their southern border into Kuwait, beginning what would turn out to be a seven-month occupation of the tiny desert nation. Dr. Hanan Al-Mutawa, like many Kuwaitis, found herself stranded in the UK, unable to return home and wondering what the future held for herself and her country. It would seem there was little she could do but wait – but that’s not Hanan’s style. Legacy Makers are people of action, so Hanan set out to do what she could for her fellow displaced countrymen. With an eye not just on the immediate needs of refugees, but on the future of Kuwait, Hanan set up an academy in London for educating the children of Kuwaiti families there. She also convinced other existing institutions to accept refugee children. This was the start of a nearly 30-year (and counting!) run of transformational and educational programs that have been central to her life and work. Hanan’s focus has been on the empowerment of women. As successful as she’s been, it’s been no easy task with centuries of culture and tradition working against her. AGAINST THE GRAIN Hanan knows that […]

Susan Dean I’m not going to use the ‘c’ word in this blog. After all, you’ve probably heard the word thousands of times this week. You know the word — the one sounds like a beer but rhymes with iris at the end. I’m not going to tell you what to do during this time, as you’ve been inundated with countless reminders about washing your hands and social-distancing. I’m also not going to discuss the terrible impacts on the economy or the shopping scandals. The reason, I’m not going to do all these things is because if you’re like me, you know them back-to-front and inside-out already. You’re trying to do everything you can to remain positive in an unpredictable world that you sometimes think may have gone mad (think physical brawls over toilet paper). As the great writer and speaker Dr Wayne Dyer said, “You cannot always control what goes on outside. But you can always control what goes on inside.” So, given his wise words, I am using this time to control what I can. To focus on the inside. Now, as you may know, a large portion of my job entails flying interstate and overseas and being […]

If you’ve ever felt that there is a book inside of you and you haven’t yet written one, this might be an interesting way to get that book ‘out’ from inside of you. Equally, if you’re an experienced author and you’ve ever felt that your words could do even more, there’s much here for you too. And if you’re simply looking for an inspiring book to read, a kind of book you can start from any section and take out loads of insights, inspirations and ideas, then you will love what you see below as well. The book, “LEGACY – the Sustainable Development Goas in Action” is a book that’s worth writing your chapter for (read through to the bottom to see how you can get involved). And of course, it’s definitely worth reading to bring in new eye-opening perspectives to the way you live and work. To understand it better, join me for just 1 minute to get the profound idea this book conveys. And what’s even better, you can get a free sample chapter of your choice today from here. DISCOVERING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS The way this book came about is fascinating. And like many great things, it […]

Engineers are known for having a unique way of looking at the world. As children they were usually the ones taking their toys apart to see how they worked instead of just playing with them like the rest of us. Engineers have a knack for breaking problems down logically and developing methodical solutions – including problems that have nothing whatsoever to do with engineering. Former engineer Joshua Chimakula Ngoma has taken that keen problem-solving instinct and applied it to the unique and critical issue of agricultural development on the African continent. The detailed and lucid plan of this Legacy Maker manages also to simultaneously confront multiple problems that affect us all. THE FOOD PROBLEM Joshua grew up in rural Zambia and is well attuned to the cultural, environmental, and economic factors affecting the agricultural industry in Africa. Ultimately, he sees the issue as coming down to one thing: having enough food to support an increasing population. It’s a multi-faceted challenge. Each obstacle to achieving it seems to exacerbate the others. The increase in global population puts pressure on food supplies – especially for those most in need – but also on water supplies, diminishing the arable land for food growth. […]

It was a serendipitous meeting in all respects. At a business conference in Sydney in 2017, Australian dentist Catherine Yang was about to leave early when a friend convinced her to stay and listen to the last speaker of the day. “You’ll really be inspired by what he has to say,” Catherine’s friend had said. She was right. The speaker discussed the joy that comes from giving, and talked about meaningfully helping others in small, but collective ways that Catherine found accessible for the very first time. Surprisingly though, the speaker also happened to mention that he had had a tooth ‘crack’ just before he spoke. He made a lot of fun with the story. Then came a standing ovation. And Catherine (realizing she was the only dentist in the room) had position herself to make sure she and the speaker met. That speaker was B1G1’s Chairman, Paul Dunn. And even though it was Saturday evening already, Catherine insisted she open up her dental surgery to treat Paul AND drive Paul there too. When he was being treated at her dental practice – Chats Dental in Chatswood, New South Wales – Paul introduced Catherine to the Power of the Small […]

Dr. Andrew Bachour had a headache… not your garden variety headache, but one of those persistent, splitting, throbbers that can make you hate life. Unfortunately, those headaches had become a regular occurrence, disrupting Andrew’s life and work. Worse still, ‘normal’ treatments just weren’t doing the trick. He began trying to learn more about the human body in an attempt to try to pin down the root causes of his pain. Ironically, he had to suffer through these headaches while taking courses to learn more about them. What Andrew learned did so much more than cure his headache problem. It ultimately opened his eyes to a broader philosophy on healing. He learned that many health issues can be ameliorated by maintaining some of our most basic functions – like proper breathing, sleep, and posture. This shifts the focus from treating the “downstream” symptoms of a problem (which often just come right back) to directly correcting the causes for a more sustainable solution. Our planet’s systems are in many ways analogous to the human body. The Earth is a complex, evolving machine whose workings rely on multiple distinct, yet interconnected, parts – one of which is the human species itself. By turning […]

Jennifer Harrington has written what I consider to be the MOST helpful, needed resource for perimenopausal and menopausal women. The title says it all: From Invisible to Invincible. The subtitle is accurate: The Natural Menopause Revolution. Jennifer, a naturopathic physician, details menopause symptoms and causes in clear, straightforward language with a touch of humour. Most important, she outlines helpful remedies and strategies for not only surviving the Change, but learning to thrive and become the wise women we are meant to be. Her prescriptive advice follows the first letters of the word “invincible”. I is for Individualized Treatment Plan. She says, as we always have, that no two women are the same, so one-size-fits-all treatment shouldn’t be considered. N is for Nutritious Foods. Jennifer gives down to earth advice on how to eat ourselves healthy. For many of us, this is a major key to diminishing the worst of menopause symptoms. V is for Vitamins and Minerals. I thought as an RN and health advocate that I knew just about all there was to know about supplements and food sources, but I learned some additional tips that I am going to put to use right now. Yes, the worst of menopause is in my rear […]

Answering the questions that Google gets asked One of the beautiful things about Google is that, through its predictions feature, it will show you what some of the most popular search terms are for a query. This gives you an idea of what others are looking for online. This includes questions within a particular field. Though the results are often comical, it’s important to remember that results wouldn’t be where they are if they weren’t commonly searched for, meaning that a large number of people have the question. As such, it’s worth taking a moment to look at these questions and try to give succinct answers when possible. So, with that in mind, I’ve decided to take a stab at answering some of the most commonly searched questions regarding plagiarism and starting with the simple queries “Is Plagiarism” and “Is it Plagiarism” Is Paraphrasing Plagiarism? / Is It Plagiarism to Paraphrase? Paraphrasing is putting the thoughts, ideas and information of another into your own words. Proper paraphrasing, by itself, is not plagiarism but it’s important to remember that you still need to cite the original source of the information you’re paraphrasing. Though paraphrasing means that you avoid having to quote […]

A Free Book for All Children for World Book Day The Heroes in Publishing Aren’t Always Who You Think What happens when you mix World Book and Copyright Day with a team of mental health experts and 1700 children during a global pandemic? You get an informative and emotionally intelligent book about big scary topics, like COVID19. And that’s exactly what happened when the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings (IASC MHPSS RG) began a collaborative project with local and global leaders, teachers, parents, children and organisations. Here’s what went down: An en-masse survey was distributed across 104 countries in multiple languages; Arabic, English, Italian, French and Spanish. The global survey was primarily used to assess children’s mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. A whopping 1700 children contributed their thoughts and feelings to the survey. The themes that surfaced from the survey feedback were then used to develop a story. That story was then shared back to them in a storytelling-style book. The children, along with their parents, teachers, guardians and caregivers were asked to review and update the story. What resulted from this story is a beautiful book called […]