Photo by Danielle Barnum Photography
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Welcome to Season 5 of The Book Marketing Action Podcast with Becky Robinson, where we give you information you can immediately implement to increase your influence and market your books more successfully.
In the final episode of Season 5, Becky is joined by Jenny Lisk—founder of the Widowed Parent Institute and award-winning author—who talks about her purposeful approach to sharing her story and insights with a broader audience, underscoring her commitment to filling the resource gaps she encountered as a widowed parent. She describes the challenge of determining which personal experiences to share publicly and the fine line between sharing her own story as a grieving parent while also respecting the stories of her grieving children. Additionally, the episode highlights Jenny’s strategic use of podcasting to build community, illustrating how her podcast has become a significant platform for dialogue on grief and parenting.
Key Points From This Episode:
[01:46] Jenny shares about herself and her work in the world.
[03:17] Jenny talks about what it was like to write in real time about the heart-wrenching journey of having a terminally ill husband.
[05:42] Discover how and when Jenny decided to share her experiences and her story more widely.
[08:11] Jenny reveals the resource that was most useful for her as she crafted her memoir: The Anatomy of Story by John Truby.
[10:00] Why has it been so important for Jenny to open up about her journey as a widowed parent? She shares some reflections.
[11:57] Jenny discusses what she has seen and experienced as a result of making the intentional choice to share her journey in online spaces.
[16:15] Jenny explains how she decides which experiences or stories are okay to share in real-time vs. which ones should be shared later or kept private.
[20:26] Jenny talks about interviewing her daughter on her podcast, which she has done once before.
[20:58] (AD) Learn about our Book Marketing Strategy Live Course.
[22:29] Jenny discusses her decision to start a podcast and what inspired it.
[25:11] Jenny reveals how long she did her podcast before she launched her first book.
[26:08] Discover how starting a podcast helped Jenny find her voice and navigate being a widowed parent.
[28:06] Jenny shares some of the most impactful ways she repurposes her content, which includes creating evergreen email sequences.
Action Steps:
- If you’re thinking about ways to repurpose your content, consider whether you can create an email sequence that’s evergreen. This is an effective way to help people continue to get your best ideas.
- If you’re struggling with the feeling of vulnerability as you approach the launch of your book, write down this quote from author Julie Lythcott-Haims: “Memoir is an act of service.” Every time you question your journey, take a look at that quote to remember why you’re doing it.
Resources:
- We’re giving away both of Jenny’s books! Two random winners will be selected, one receiving a signed and personalized copy of Widowed Parents Unite and the other receiving a signed and personalized copy of Future Widow. Winners will be selected randomly on Friday, November 22, and will be notified via email. Fill out this form to enter!
- Explore Jenny’s website and sign up for her newsletter.
- Follow Jenny on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, YouTube, and Tiktok.
- Learn more about the Widowed Parent Institute, founded by Jenny.
- Listen to The Widowed Parent Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
- Discover these free resources from Jenny:
Key Quotes:
I’m working on some picture books for grieving kids, and my daughter is my illustrator, which I’m very excited about. —Jenny Lisk
I’d never planned on raising two grieving kids myself. I wanted to start sharing in real time how this was unfolding for me. —Jenny Lisk
I knew memoir is inherently a vulnerable genre. You’re telling something about your life and the ups and the downs and the good and the bad and all these things. —Jenny Lisk
I didn’t expect to have this vulnerability freak out. —Jenny Lisk
My topic is widowed parenting, and I’m talking to widowed parents, and yet my kids’ stories are their own to share. —Jenny Lisk
The podcast and the ability to talk to people, learn from them, and build relationships with them have really been an important part of this whole journey. —Jenny Lisk
Sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter to connect with Becky Robinson and gain access to ongoing learning and conversation.
Explore our archives! Listen to Becky’s five favorite episodes:
- Episode 106 with Jane Friedman
- Episode 108 with AJ Harper
- Episode 112 with Clint Pulver
- Episode 121 with Juliet Starrett
- Episode 125 with Michael Bungay Stanier
I am the founder/CEO of the Weaving Influence team, the author of Reach: Creating the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book, or Cause, and the host of the Book Marketing Action Podcast. I’m a wife and mom of three kids, and I enjoy running, reading, writing, coffee, and dark chocolate.