Knack 4 Business

Your Story Is Your Superpower, Here's Why | K4B with Marjorie Hollman

Marjorie Turner Hollman built a self-publishing coaching business after brain surgery changed everything. In this K4B episode, she shares what it really takes to turn your story into a book.

K4B podcast thumbnail — Marjorie Hollman with red glasses and headset, bold yellow text reads STORIES = POWER, open books and light bulbs on blue background

Hosts: Bernie Franzgrote & Wayne Pratt

Self-publishing coach Marjorie Hollman shares how persistence, editorial support, and self-publishing give authors control of their story and royalties.

GROWTH CATEGORY: Leadership & Ops

Most people have a story that could help someone else.

They just don't know how to get it out of their head and into a book.

Marjorie Turner Hollman built a career solving exactly that problem — and her path to this work started with brain surgery, a season of immobility, and learning to ask for help.

Watch the full conversation here

WHO THIS IS FOR

This episode is for SMB owners, solopreneurs, corporate escapees, and leaders who have lived through something worth documenting. It's also for anyone who has started writing and hit a wall — or who wants to use a book as a long-term marketing asset.

Key Lessons

You are too close to your own story — and that's normal

Marjorie sees this with almost every client. The writer knows the story so well that they skip the parts that matter most to a reader. A developmental editor doesn't rewrite your voice. They help you see what's already there and build the structure that lets a reader follow it. Think of it like the block of marble — the story is inside. The work is clearing away what isn't it.

Self-publishing puts ownership back in your hands

When you self-publish, royalties go directly to you. You control the cover, the format, the price, and the timeline. Marjorie chose not to become a publisher herself because she didn't want to carry the accounting and legacy infrastructure that traditional publishing creates. She helps authors own their work instead — completely.

Persistence is a practice you build, not a trait you have

Marjorie's own career grew through newspaper writing, personal historian mentorships, and a habit of pitching ideas when other writers waited to be asked. She calls it pushing on doors. Some open. Some don't. You go find another one. That same mindset is what she brings to her authors — and it's what separates the ones who finish from the ones who don't.

Practical Steps

Download Marjorie's free Self-Publishing 101 guide — built for anyone who feels overwhelmed and doesn't know where to start
Write down the one story from your business or life that you keep telling people in conversation — that's usually the book
Book a consult with Marjorie through MarjorieTurner.com if you have a manuscript that needs outside eyes

About the Guest

Marjorie Turner Hollman is the founder of MarjorieTurner LLC. Since 2012, she has helped aspiring non-fiction authors move from concept to completed book — offering manuscript coaching, developmental editing, cover design, and Print on Demand support. A native Floridian who came north for college and snow, Marjorie's own journey includes a season when she was unable to walk following brain surgery. Today she uses hiking poles to explore trails and writes accessible outdoor guides under her Easy Walks series. Her belief is simple: every story deserves to find its way into the world.

Connect with Marjorie on LinkedIn

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FAQ

Q: Do I need writing experience to work with a self-publishing coach? No. Marjorie works with first-time authors regularly. Her job is to help you find the story that's already there and build a structure that works — regardless of your writing background.

Q: What's the difference between a memoir and a business book? A memoir is centred on personal experience and often reads as a narrative journey. A business book focuses on lessons, skills, or a system the reader can apply. Many non-fiction books blend both — and Marjorie helps authors figure out which structure serves their story best.

Q: Why choose self-publishing over traditional publishing? Self-publishing gives you control — over your cover, your timeline, your pricing, and your royalties. Traditional publishing involves contracts, lengthy timelines, and giving up a share of earnings. For most small business authors and solopreneurs, self-publishing is the faster and more profitable path.