Hi, my blog family! Today, I’m so excited to share the official launch of my new book, The Retreat Leaders Playbook! This has been an intense labor of love over the last few years and I’m so proud that I’ve crossed sharing this with the world off my bucket list. As many of you know, my family and I have built our business model around hosting retreats, that’s why we’ve got The Retreat Ranch! For this week’s blog, please indulge me as I share more about my new book. It’s written from my heart as a gift to guide you on how to profitably join the retreat business. What can I say? I’m retreat crazy and I’d love it if you caught my bug too!
Writing about Transformational and Profitable Retreats
As I’ve previously shared, writing a book is no easy journey for any author, seasoned or not. It is a labor of love that involves you permanently opening up a bit for the world to see and judge. To borrow from my blog, Authoring 202: 7 Key Steps to Writing a Book, my process went something like this:
Step One:
- Who is my audience: Anyone interested in truly providing an amazing retreat.
- What is your message: Learn how to Host Transformational + Profitable Retreats.
- What do you want them to learn: The secret to designing, marketing, and executing truly transformational and profitable retreats.
- What do I want them to feel while reading the book: Hope, joy, success, and inspiration.
Step Two:
I created a lengthy outline. Then I tweaked, plucked, shaved, and grew ideas that would further build it out.
Step Three:
I wrote it. Then I rewrote it. Then I read it and I became even more proud of what I was sharing with the world.
Step Four:
I edited it, then I contracted a professional editor through my publishing house, Scooters Publishing to edit it. Man, oh man, this bit is kinda exhausting; I can’t tell you how many times I reread it to get it to what I deemed to be perfection (and I still find things I want or need to change…it kinda never ends).
Step Five:
I found someone to do the book’s layout. I went with a professional because designing how a book should flow is essential!
Step Six:
I’ll admit, this bit was fun. I even involved family, close friends and members of my team! I used 99designs.com to contract an amazing freelance graphic artist. They then went on to create multiple design layouts for us to vote on. Then, once we settled on our beautiful cover (yes, I am very biased!), I had them prepare covers for different versions of the book, so that was print, e-book and audio.
Step Seven:
Publish! I truly cannot believe I’m finally here. This is a big moment for me, and another dream come through. To share my passion with others is a big motivational factor in my life. I want us all to win at whatever we do, even if it’s a shared interest.
About The Retreat Leaders Playbook
My book is an indispensable guide for those in any field who believe in the potential of retreats as a means to grow their businesses. It is packed with over a decade’s worth of my personal and professional experience as a seasoned retreat host.
I never want a book to be boring! So, I’ve written it in my usual open, friendly, and engaging style – all while staying TRUE to sharing knowledge about the retreat field. I’ve even added a few true stories that provide real-world context on my years of experience as an international retreat host.
At the heart of the book are four unique systems:
- Designing a Retreat
- Marketing a Retreat
- The Retreat Execution
- Growing from Retreats
As I explain in my book’s summary, these systems are the result of meticulous research, experiential learning, and insights from other retreat hosts.
What Next? Share It with All of You!
Blog family, take a moment to hop on over to my Amazon Author’s Store and pick up a copy of my new book. You can even pop by The Retreat Ranch website, to sign up for the online course version of the book. Then tell a friend, another friend and all your family! 🙂
Oh! Don’t forget to leave a review. I’m always happy to hear about how my books have helped you achieve your personal goals!
XOXO Shannon
