Coach Write

Holger Nils Pohl on Creating Clarity and Why Books Deserve to Be Beautiful

In this episode, you'll discover:
Why treating your book as a key business resource rather than a sales tool is the strategy that builds long-term thought leadership
How Kickstarter crowdfunding works as a publishing tool
The case for selling your books direct through your own platform, and how owning your customer data creates relationships that convert readers into coaching clients
How painting the edges of books by hand became a unique collector's edition, and what it teaches us about the value of things that deliberately do not scale
How life reshaped Holger’s creative process, and the unexpected way AI became a tool for rebuilding the ability to write
 
People and Resources Mentioned
To join this cohort of Coach Write90 go to https://coachwrite.co.uk/coachwrite90
The murder at Kendrick Manor by Jody Derby https://amzn.to/429cXxa
People who Pivot by Helen ONeill https://amzn.to/429RcNI
Authors Guild statement about model AI clause https://authorsguild.org/news/use-of-ai-in-publishing-and-new-model-contract-clause/
Prowriting Aid https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=15255
Shopify https://www.shopify.com/
Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/
Brandon Sanderson https://www.brandonsanderson.com/
Kevin Kelly a Thousand True Fans https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/
 
Connect with Holger
Website: www.holgernilspohl.com
Newsletter (with goodies attached!) www.holgernilspohl.com/email
Social media: everywhere under holgernilspohl
 
Connect with Helen
Website: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oneillhelen 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach_write

How to Get Your Book Into the Hands of Readers

This week's episode is a solo show on the question we always ask guests on the show. How do you get your book into the hands of readers?
In this episode, you'll discover:
Why getting your metadata right is the unglamorous but essential foundation of book discoverability, including categories, keywords and your blurb
How to use social media and your existing community to build momentum, whether your book is freshly launched or already out in the world
The power of promotion stacking and the book promotion sites that can give your launch sales a real boost
How paid advertising on Amazon and Facebook works, and why Amazon is the best place to start if you're new to it
Why podcasts, in-person events and PR are still some of the most effective ways to raise your profile as an author and get your book noticed
 
Resources and people mentioned
Join the next cohort of Coach Write 90: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk/coachwrite90
Publisher Rocket: https://publisherrocket.com/
Draft to Digital: https://draft2digital.com/
Barnes and Nobel: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/
David Gaughran: https://davidgaughran.com/best-promo-sites-books/
People Who Pivot by Helen ONeill: https://amzn.to/42qrkwT
Connect with Helen
Website: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oneillhelen 
 

From Antarctica to Author Iain McCormick on Frustration Inoculation and the Many Routes to Publication

Helen speaks to Iain McCormick, founder of the Executive Coaching Centre, coach supervisor, and trainer, and author of five books, the most recent being Frustration Inoculation: Eight Practical Steps from Struggle to Strength.
In this episode, you'll learn:
What frustration inoculation actually means, how it differs from conventional stress management, and why a proactive approach of anticipating and preparing for difficult situations is something any coach can bring to their clients.
What it's really like to publish across every route — traditional multinational, small press, academic, hybrid, and independent — and the honest trade-offs of each, from prestige and reach to creative freedom and royalty percentages.
Why Iain's most lucrative book per month is a self-published PDF, and how independent publishing opens up possibilities.
Iain's writing philosophy: never sit down in front of a blank page, always compose in your mind first, and follow the energy of what genuinely excites you — because that spirit comes through on every page.
 
Connect with Iain
Website: https://iainmccormick.net
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iainmccormick
Book: Frustration Inoculation: Eight Practical Steps from Struggle to Strength by Iain McCormick
 
Connect with Helen
Free masterclass 1st May at midday: From coaching practitioner, to published author: https://coachwrite.co.uk/chapter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oneillhelen/
Coach Write Reflections (free weekly newsletter): https://coachwrite.co.uk/reflections
People Who Pivot: https://amzn.to/4dfSqh0
 
 
People and Resources Mentioned
ProWritingAid https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=15255
Schema Coaching by Iain McCormick https://amzn.to/3QwUnw0
Donald Meichenbaum / Stress Inoculation Therapy https://www.donaldmeichenbaum.com/
Jeffrey Young / Schema Therapy
Coaching Plain and Simple by Peter Szabo https://amzn.to/41YhgLq
Cortex Journal https://www.scimagojr.com/journalsearch.php?q=14945&tip=sid
On the Road by Jack Kerouac https://amzn.to/4t4BtLJ
Fiverr https://www.fiverr.com/
Wispr (dictation tool) https://wisprflow.ai/
Coral Hart (AI author) https://coralhart.com/
The Bookseller https://www.thebookseller.com/
Cambridge University Press https://www.cambridge.org/
Society of Authors human authored certification https://humanauthored.co.uk/
Hachette https://www.hachette.co.uk/

Welcome to the Museum of a Life: Sue Finch on Poetry, Coaching, and Finding Your Voice

Helen speaks to Sue Finch, EMCC accredited coach, poet, and host of the podcast Singing as the Darkness Lifts, and author of two poetry collections: Magnifying Glass and Welcome to the Museum of a Life.
In this episode you’ll learn:
How a 30-year career in education led Sue to pursue an MA in Creative Writing and why building a structured commitment around her studies was the key to making time for her writing.
The rejection that sent Sue back to the drawing board, and how a single poem called Museum of a Life unlocked an entirely new way of thinking about what a poetry collection could be.
What the curation process for a poetry collection actually looks like, from organising poems into themed galleries, to working with an editor in a Zoom room reading poems aloud, to the moment a handmade blue apple became a book cover.
How Sue weaves poetry into her coaching practice, and why she believes that hearing your own thoughts out loud is at the heart of both disciplines.
Sue's advice for coaches and aspiring poets who want to start writing: splurge first, find your tribe, and choose wise people to help you edit. (Brilliant!)
 
Connect with Sue:
Website: https://suefinch.co.uk/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/suefinchcoachpoet
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@poetsuefinch
Blue Sky: @suefinch.bsky.social
X: @soopoftheday
Podcast: https://suefinch.co.uk/singing-as-the-darkness-lifts-podcast/
Book: Welcome to the Museum of a Life: https://amzn.eu/d/03gMpUqT
Connect with Helen:
Free newsletter: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk/reflections 
Coach Write 90: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk/coachwrite90 
People Who Pivot: https://amzn.to/4dfSqh0 
 
People and Resources mentioned:
Anna Saunders Cheltenham Poetry Festival https://cheltenhampoetryfestival.co.uk/meet-the-team/
Arvon:  https://www.arvon.org/ 
Queer writers for a brave new world https://www.queerlit.co.uk/products/queer-writing-for-a-brave-new-world 
Black Eyes Publishing https://www.blackeyespublishinguk.co.uk/ 
Jason Conway cover designer https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonleeconway/
Josephine Lay – editor at Black Eyes Publishing
In Good Company – Jo Hawkins and Zoe Hawkins https://www.igcompany.com/ 
The Table by Edip Cansever https://www.sharonsinger.ca/poem-of-the-week/table-by-edip-cansever 
52 Write a Poem a Week. Start Now. Keep Going by Jo Bell https://amzn.to/4bEqanb 
Gloucester Poetry Society https://www.thegloucestershirepoetrysociety.co.uk/ 
The Air Year by Caroline Bird https://amzn.eu/d/027OCLkj
Simplifying Coaching by Claire Pedrick https://amzn.to/48cHJIy
The Human Behind the Coach by Claire Pedrick https://amzn.to/4uWmVPj 
The Coaches Inn Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/3LLZFrIkNrtUDLdukZe8iX
Dream More by Dolly Parton https://amzn.to/4vf2sFV
Nebula Awards https://nebulas.sfwa.org/about-the-nebulas/how-to-participate-rules/

Tapping Into Publishing: Claire Turner on EFT, Entrepreneurship, and Getting Your Book Out There

Helen speaks to Claire Turner, EFT practitioner, founder of Abundance Alchemy, and author of Tap Into Your Happy and Tapping Scripts for Entrepreneurs.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
How Claire went from stressed corporate employee to EFT practitioner and why tapping was the turning point that changed everything
What EFT (or tapping) actually is, how it works physiologically, and why it’s so effective at removing the internal blocks that stop coaches and entrepreneurs from taking action
How Claire simplified the writing and publishing process to get her words into the world quickly and affordably
How she uses her books strategically as lead magnets and as part of a “shock and awe” welcome package for new clients
Why overcomplicating your publishing journey is often a protection mechanism in disguise — and the simple question to ask yourself to cut through it
 
Connect with Helen
Website: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oneillhelen 
Join the next cohort of Coach Write 90 starting 20th May 2026: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk/coachwrite90
Books: https://amzn.to/3MPS2Lq
 
 
Connect with Claire
Website: https://claireturnereft.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claireturnereftuk/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@claireturner-eft886
Email: info@claire-turner.com
Books:
How to Tap Into Your Happy: https://amzn.to/3P2FDEJ
Tapping Scripts for Entrepreneurs: https://amzn.to/3P2FDEJ
 
People and resources mentioned
Coach Write 90: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk/coachwrite90
Prowriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=15255
Brad Yates: https://www.youtube.com/@tapwithbrad
Louise Hay: https://www.louisehay.com/
Fivvr: https://www.fiverr.com/
KDP: https://kdp.amazon.com/
Molecules of Emotion by Candace B. Pert, Ph.D. https://amzn.to/4blN2WV
Terry Pratchett: https://amzn.to/3P3B9O8

The Inside Story: Writing, Rewriting and the World of Internal Coaching with Katharine St John-Brooks

In this episode, Helen speaks to Katharine St John-Brooks, leadership coach and author of Internal Coaching: The Inside Story, released as a second edition in November 2025.
In this episode you'll discover:
Why a second edition is never just a few tweaks, and how Katharine and co-author Julia Duncan turned a 10-year-old book into something that feels completely new
The co-authoring ground rules that made the collaboration work: who holds the final say, how to preserve a consistent voice, and why mutual accountability is one of the most powerful writing tools available
What the traditional publishing proposal process really involves, and why coaches with research or academic work behind them still have significant work to do to reach publication
Why evaluating organisations internal coaching programme isn't optional, and why ROI is such an important metric.
The value of having a dedicated writing space, wherever that might be (although trendy parts of London are recommended!)
 
Connect with Helen:
Website: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oneillhelen 
Join the no commitment wait list for the next cohort of Coach Write 90: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk/coachwrite90
Books: https://amzn.to/3MPS2Lq
 
Connect with Katharine:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharine-st-john-brooks-1a07b/
Book: https://amzn.to/4tZtbpb
 
People and Resources mentioned:
https://vivalacoaching.com/ai-in-coaching-glossary/
Global Code of Ethics https://globalcodeofethics.org/
Carol Hart https://coralhart.com/coral-method/
coachwrite.co.uk/blog
Insead training https://www.insead.edu/
Miles Downey https://mylesdowney.com/
CIPD https://www.cipd.org/uk/
Oxford School of Coaching and Mentoring (OCM) https://www.theocm.co.uk/educate/coaching-supervision/supervision-coaching-and-mentoring-certificate
EMCC https://emccuk.org/
David Lane Personal Development Foundation https://www.pdf.network/
Julia Duncan https://the-dp.co.uk/our-team/julia-duncan/
Royal Overseas club https://rosl.org.uk/
Paul Herdman
A Room of One’s Own Virginia Woolf https://amzn.to/400mcyw
Cheshire Novel Prize https://cheshirenovelprize.com/

Poetry as a Coaching Tool - Ross Nichols on Transformation Through Verse

In this episode, Helen is joined by Ross Nicholls — coach, mentor, ICF approved coach educator, and the author and editor of Poetry for Coaching: Transformation Through Verse — to explore the surprisingly powerful role that poetry can play in the coaching room.
Helen and Ross discuss:
How poetry works as a coaching tool — from evoking awareness and reframing perspectives, to helping clients find clarity, affirmation, and a sense of not being alone
The nine ways coaches can use poetry with clients, plus a tenth use: reflective practice for the coach themselves
Three poems read live from the collection, chosen for coaches and clients navigating overwhelm
The reality of producing an anthology — the stakeholder management, the emotional demands of editing creative work, and the power of a clear vision to keep a collaboration on track
Working with a partnership publisher and what that support made possible
 
Connect with Helen
Website: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oneillhelen 
 
Connect with Ross:
Website: https://www.poetryforcoaching.org
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/990933051982492
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-nichols-pcc-mba-535b4018/
Book: Poetry for Coaching https://amzn.to/4ai2AMk
 
People and resources mentioned
The Dip by Seth Godin https://amzn.to/4ae8E8w   
Rumi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumi
Leisure by W.H, Davies https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leisure_(poem)
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman https://amzn.to/3OnWrpa
Swatt Books https://swatt-books.co.uk/about/about-sam-pearce
 
*some of the links above are affiliate links

From Thesis to Book: Dr Benita Mayhead on Duty of Care in Coaching

In this episode, Helen O'Neill speaks with Dr Benita Mayhead, Executive Coach, Coach Supervisor, and Director of Coaching Practice at EMCC UK, and author of ‘Duty of Care in Coaching: A Comprehensive Approach to Navigating the Complexities of Contemporary Practice.’
 
Benita shares her experience of following a wobbly path to academia that resulted in her completing a doctorate in coaching and mentoring at Oxford Brookes University. She reveals the challenges and insights from transforming her doctoral research into an accessible, practitioner-focused book that serves both professionals in the field and academic programs.
Key Topics Discussed:
The unexpected path from thesis to published book and why it's not as straightforward as it seems
How to unlearn an academic writing style and find your voice
The usefulness and discomfort of feedback
Choosing a book cover that represents the message within the book
Why it's never the right time to write a book; and why you should do it anyway
 
Connect with Helen:
Website: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oneillhelen 
Join the waitlist for Coach Write 90: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk/coachwrite90
 
Connect with Benita:
Website: https://benitamayhead.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benita-mayhead-840ab95/ 
Book: https://amzn.to/4qT7Pb9

Turning Your Book Into an AI Agent with Wendy Keir

In this episode, Helen ONeill sits down with Wendy Keir, coach, mentor, and founder of Empower AI, to explore the fascinating intersection of book writing and artificial intelligence.
Wendy shares her journey of writing her book #BeMoreWolf: A Survivor's Story, Breaking the Trauma Cycle over eight months, and we debate whether that’s a long time or not!
We discuss:
Navigating the emotional challenges of writing about personal trauma
Her experience of being a writer with dyslexia
Lessons learned from self publishing on Amazon
How Wendy has transformed her book into an AI agent
Ethics and being human in an AI agentic world
 
Connect with Helen
Website: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oneillhelen 
Join the January 2026 cohort of Coach Write 90: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk/coachwrite90
 
Connect with Wendy
Website: https://wendykier.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendykier/
Book: https://amzn.to/4bCKPrX
 
Resources mentioned
The Creative Penn Podcast https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2026/01/05/2026-trends-and-predictions-for-indie-authors-and-the-book-publishing-industry-with-joanna-penn/

The Story Behind the Coach: Kenny Archer on Writing, Healing and Authentic Coaching

In the first episode of 2026, Helen speaks with Kenny Archer business coach and founder of Archer Inspirations. Kenny shares the deeply personal story behind his book, The Story Behind the Coach.
We discuss:
How to discover your authentic coaching identity.
How writing can become a tool for healing
The practical approaches that simplify self-publishing
Writing from the heart
 
Resources mentioned:
Free weekly newsletter from Helen: https://www.helenoneillcoaching.com/signup
Coach write 90: https://www.coachwrite.co.uk/coachwrite90
Coaching services: https://www.helenoneillcoaching.com/services
 
Connect with Helen:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oneillhelen 
Instagram: @helenoneillcoaching
 
Connect with Kenny:
Website: www.archerinspirations.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennyarcher-business-coach/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inspirationsarcher
Book: The Story Behind the Coach: https://amzn.to/4pkhmX2
*some of the links above are affiliate links