This year-end episode of The Author’s Mic™ is not a guest interview and it’s not a “how-to.”

It’s a real-time reflection on what we built together — and what it takes to keep building when the numbers are confusing, the growth feels slow, and you’re showing up anyway.

The numbers that still don’t feel real

The Author’s Mic™ officially debuted on March 16, 2025.

Since then, I created 88 episodes — and by the time you’re hearing this, it’s closer to 92.

That’s not a small thing. That’s consistency. That’s discipline. That’s belief.

What I’m most proud of

I kept showing up.

Even on the days when I opened YouTube and realized I was the only view.

Even when the numbers didn’t match the effort.
Even when I was tired.
Even when I could’ve talked myself out of it.

Because the commitment wasn’t to “go viral.”
The commitment was to build something real — a space where indie authors, readers, and storytellers could be seen, heard, and supported.

The episodes that mattered the most

When I look back, some of the most important moments weren’t the polished ones.

They were the honest ones:

• burnout and boundaries
• self-care and stepping back
• building solo
• what it feels like when social media turns into a scoreboard

I also loved the episodes where I read from my books (Weight For It and You Sound White) — because reading your work out loud is vulnerable, and that vulnerability matters.

When guests started saying yes, everything shifted

The show started with me — but it was always meant to be bigger than me.

Once guests started coming on, the platform became what I hoped it would be from day one: shared space, shared wisdom, shared stories.

And the truth is: every guest brought something different — insight, laughter, strategy, honesty, heart. That’s what made the show feel alive.

What this year taught me (and what I hope it teaches you)

• Showing up matters, even when it feels invisible.
• Consistency is courage.
• Telling the truth about your process helps more than pretending everything is perfect.
• Helping others is part of the purpose — and it’s part of the brand.

This isn’t just about my books.
This is about building an ecosystem where indie authors connect with readers who actually care.

How to get involved

Be a guest on The Author’s Mic™: https://brightheadedpublishing.com
Free guide: https://brightheadedpublishing.com
Signed books: https://brightheadedpublishing.com
Indie Reader Society (IRS): https://brightheadedpublishing.com
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mJ9IIuhz4bjnKKtNf1oO0