216: How to become a bestselling author and build a business around your book (featuring Dina Marais)

How to Write for a Living

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216: How to become a bestselling author and build a business around your book (featuring Dina Marais)

Simple steps to write, publish, and leverage your story for bigger impact and income.

David McIlroy

and

Dina Marais

Jun 26, 2025

Transcript

➡️ Stop overthinking and finally publish that article — join The 5-Day Article Sprint that gets you from idea to inbox in under a week. Get it here.

Season 2, episode 16 is here!

In this episode, I chat to

Dina Marais

, a coach and publisher who helps aspiring authors turn their stories into bestsellers. Our conversation is packed with insights for any writer dreaming of seeing their name on a book cover and building a thriving business behind it.

What we covered:

How Dina pivoted from IT to coaching and publishing, helping over 100 authors reach bestseller status.
Why multi-author books are a powerful first step for new writers — and how they work behind the scenes.
The biggest difference between publishing a solo book and a collaborative anthology.
How writing just one chapter can kickstart your brand and audience building.
Dina’s practical approach to coaching writers — from story feedback to launch strategy.
How to choose book categories and time your launch to hit number one on Amazon.
Why podcast guesting and evergreen content matter more than chasing social media trends.
How to use your book as a gateway to bigger programs, courses, and speaking gigs.
The mindset shift every author needs: don’t wait for perfection, start sharing your story now.
A powerful reminder that your story, exactly as it is, can help walk others home.

Make sure to subscribe to Dina’s publication before you go!

Go deeper:

What’s next?

I’m ready and waiting to support you in the next stages of your creator journey. Here’s how I can help:

Start Your Podcast on Substack: A complete course guiding you from concept to launch, based on everything I’ve learned so far during my own podcasting journey. Learn to plan, brand, record, edit, publish, and promote your podcast while building an audience. Perfect for creators eager to share their voice with the world.
The 1K Daily Writing Challenge: Build a consistent habit by writing 1,000 words daily for 30 days. Along the way, you'll get encouraging video prompts, accountability support, and plenty of inspiration to ignite your creative spark. Nail your rhythm. Find your flow. Transform your writing journey forever.
One-To-One Coaching: A live coaching session over Zoom plus a full video audit of your Substack publication. Ideal for those who want to grow their online presence, identify their key strengths, and develop a long-term business strategy. Upgrade to VIP Membership for full access.
Promote to 23,000+ readers: Get yourself in front of a highly-engaged online audience via email, podcast and social media.