Behind the scenes with author Laura Cathcart Robbins and her meteoric memoir, the award-winning Stash: My Life in Hiding Artwork

The Selfish Gift - Go public with your purpose

What does it take to "go public" with your life's work? The Selfish Gift podcast is a series of deep, personal conversations with authors and creators about how they made the leap from practitioner to public figure. Hosted by Wonderwell book publisher Maggie Langrick, the podcast also serves up the very best advice from publishing professionals, from editors and literary agents to publicists, brand strategists, and mindset coaches. We ask ALL the big questions, like: When and why did you decide to "go public" with your life's work? How did you deal with self-doubt? What steps did you take, and how hard was it, really? Each of us has a unique gift to offer humanity. When we boldly share it with the world, we expand into the grandest version of ourselves and come fully alive. Listen in to discover how to level up your life and make the world a better place through purposeful publishing.

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The Selfish Gift - Go public with your purpose

Behind the scenes with author Laura Cathcart Robbins and her meteoric memoir, the award-winning Stash: My Life in Hiding

April 24, 2024 • Maggie Langrick • Season 3 • Episode 38

It's famously difficult for a first-time, unknown author to get a memoir traditionally published, much less to have traditional publishers get into a bidding war over it. Laura Cathcart Robbins defied all the odds when she burst onto the "quit lit" scene with her brilliant, brave recovery memoir, Stash: My Life in Hiding (Atria/Simon and Schuster, 2023).

Stash is the candid account of an affluent, Hollywood wife and mother struggling with addiction, and her battle to get sober even as her marriage is falling apart. It is relatable, inspiring, courageous, and a real page-turner! The book went on to appear three times in the New York Times, was named a "best memoir of the year" by Elle magazine, and earned its author awards, accolades, and national media coverage.

In this episode of The Selfish Gift, Laura opens up and tells all about her unconventional—and often "surreal"—meteoric rise as a celebrated author, including:
• How the first article she ever published went viral and changed everything
• What it's like being one of the only Black authors in the recovery memoir genre—and why we need more memoirs from authors of color
• The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that kickstarted her publishing journey, even though the offer itself wound up being a dead-end
• How and why she started her popular podcast, "The Only One in the Room", and what she's learned from her guests
• The tough advice she received after her first book proposal was rejected years ago—and why she followed it
• How she laid down a track for her author career long before her book was published ...and much more!

Tune into this inspiring and revealing conversation and learn how vulnerability, determination, and the love of writing fueled Laura's success.

For more, check out:
https://lauracathcartrobbins.com/
https://maggielangrick.com
https://wonderwell.press

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Maggie Langrick

Host