Are you an aspiring author with a powerful story to tell but unsure how to get it published? In this exclusive interview with Marjah Simon, Quantum Courage Speaker, a leading expert in the publishing industry, and founder of Author Writer’s Academy, discover how you can transform your experiences and wisdom into a published book that not only captivates readers but also generates income and leaves a lasting legacy. Learn the secrets to overcoming the challenges of traditional publishing, leveraging modern technology, and maintaining your authentic voice to create an impact that reverberates for generations. By becoming an author, you can increase your Money, Impact, and Legacy, creating a ripple effect that lasts.
Marjah is a capturer of stories on a mission to bring heart-led wisdom into the world. She has lived her life with an incredible ability to bounce back from adversity, to step through fear into courage, and to create spaces that forever inspire generations.
A veteran of the US Army and Air Force with a background in law, diplomacy, and behavioral science, she now uses her ability to draw out authentic stories to help entrepreneurs become published authors. As the founder of Author Writer’s Academy, Marjah is dedicated to transforming hearts and minds by sharing empowering stories. She sees the potential in people to make an impact and won’t let you disappear until your story is lived and told.
Marjah Simon, Author Writer's Academy
What is it that inspires you to do what you do?
Let me put it this way: I consider myself to be a generational wealth creator, and when I say wealth, I mean wealth beyond money. To be truly wealthy is to find success and fulfillment in every area of your life. While that can involve material gain, I believe it is also about knowledge. Knowledge is something that I want to make sure I'm a conduit for, to allow as many people as possible to pass their knowledge on to generations. I want to ensure who they are, what they've done, and what they've figured out is captured and preserved so that their knowledge and impact get passed on, not just in their family but out in the world, into the hands of the people whose lives will change. That is my mission, vision, and purpose; it is what drives me.
So where does this passion and drive come from?
I'm not sure why, but years ago, I was reading the Bible and a single verse in Proverbs 13 popped out. It said: “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children.” and it planted a seed in me. I wanted to be that person who left that inheritance of knowledge, wisdom, freedom, money, fun, health, love, joy, and a better life for future generations.
Being a first-generation American, I saw what my father and his family had to figure out and endure on their own, being sent to the US as teens from Trinidad and Tobago. However, one of the things he always instilled in me is that education is key to opening up doors for your life and for your future.
When I was a little girl, my dad would make me read books before I would be allowed to go out to play, and I was quite angry about it. I would hear my friends outside playing and was stuck with a book 10 inches thick. I didn't understand half the words, but I had to read two or three pages before I could leave. It was a part of my upbringing, and it went from a hate to a love where I discovered a space to escape.
We grew up in a very impoverished situation, and in books, I got to see the possibilities; I got to examine other people's lives and stretch my mind and my imagination into what could be possible for myself and for my future. I found a really beautiful gift that I now get to replicate through Author Writer’s Academy. I help other people create their stories, publish their books, and become a light in the darkness for so many others.
I truly believe that one of the things we can always count on is the wisdom, guidance, and comfort brought by literature. Whether you are reading immersive fiction or the experiences of others retold in print, whether it’s an entire book or a single sentence, you always take something new away from it – something you hadn’t thought of before or something that can help you through the challenges you are facing at the moment. For me, it was that one line from Proverbs 13:22. It planted something in me that grew into a desire to create ripple effects in the world.
I call myself a grave robber. I'm here to rob the grave of all of the wisdom and knowledge that falls into it every day, to be forever lost. They say the richest place on Earth is the graveyard because there lies all the people who said, “One day.” One day, I’m going to write my book. One day I’m going to share my story. One day I’ll be an author. But that day never comes.
Why Publishing?
In all fairness, becoming an author was a challenging, scary, and daunting thing, and still is for most people. When I wrote my first book, Fork Disease, Go Vegan, it was painful and hard. I went with the traditional publisher who took my resources, my revenue, and my royalties but didn't actually help me produce my book. I struggled on my own for over a decade trying to write it and put it out into the world, and when it was over, I didn't want to ever write again. When we are putting out something good for the benefit of the world, I believe the whole process should also feel good. My next book, The One Law, was a spiritual download of information that poured through me onto the page. When I found the courage to get out of my own way and publish, the people and processes appeared that made it fun and easy. I decided to recreate this process for others.
I wanted to create a space that felt good for authors to have that same support, so I created Author Writer’s Academy. We work together with our authors, flowing together from idea to published book. Most of our clients don't even have to write a word if they don't want to. I interview them with my attorney skills to bring out their stories, their lessons, their “a-has,” their knowledge, and then my amazing writing team and I put all of that together so that they can become authentic published authors. With our help and support, they can create an impact and leave a legacy for generations to come.
But it’s about more than just becoming a published author. I look at everything our authors do from a business perspective so there's money flowing into them from their project from multiple streams of income. We talk in-depth about their mission, vision, and purpose, and their plan beyond the book. Whether they have a business or not, or are intending to launch a business from their book or not, I do this with all of our authors so that they can find clarity on what they are doing now and what they can do in the future.
Most of our authors are established entrepreneurs, executives, and professional entertainers both in sports and in stage/screen/music. These people have taken nontraditional routes in life and are now making that impact and looking to leave that legacy. They are going beyond the millions and becoming truly wealthy. To me, it’s not about the million, it’s about the MIL, the Money that flows generationally to create that Impact and ripple effect of a Legacy that reverberates long after we’re gone.
There's something I read that said that within two to three generations, a person is forgotten and that makes me quite sad. When we know where we come from and whose shoulders we’re standing on, we show up with better reverence and respect for their lives and ours.
This is why I make sure that the Author Writer’s Academy books have one focus in mind: no matter what the topic is, when you finish reading our books, you'll know and love that author. You'll understand their journey, and you as the reader will be able to walk away with actionable tools that you can apply to your own life. It's actually something that will impact your life and make a difference so that you can continue to expand your circle of influence in the world and hopefully reach out to the Author Writer’s Academy so we can do the same for you.
If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why?
If I could change one thing about my industry, it would be to dispel the misconceptions that keep people from becoming authors. I once had a meeting with an author who had an impactful story to tell but she was hesitating. She wanted to wait and look at other options; one of these options was to go through a traditional publisher because she thought it would be safer. But the industry has changed dramatically in recent years. Most traditional publishers now require authors to have a significant following and a well-known name. You need to have your marketing and finances already in place for them to consider you so they can piggyback on your success and take a percentage.
Once, traditional publishers were the gatekeepers, playing a crucial role in creating and curating our knowledge and entertainment. Their selection process was often biased, only publishing names, topics, and content that they felt deserved to be published, and that meant a lot of voices were excluded. However, even the voices they did allow to be heard were heavily edited to be safe and acceptable, stripping away all authenticity from the author.
Nowadays, we have the opportunity to speak and choose for ourselves, presenting our authentic voices, stories, and lessons without being censored by the biases of what is deemed marketable or acceptable. Self-publishing has evolved. It used to be seen as a low rate, but now self-published authors are respected. The respect comes from the quality of what you're saying, not how you got published. Whether you choose a traditional publisher or a boutique agency like Author Writer’s Academy, it’s about maintaining your rights and authenticity.
This also leads to another challenge authors face: the rise of Artificial Intelligence in publishing. While AI can be beneficial to authentic authors, it is not a replacement for human creativity. Unfortunately, many are using AI to churn out low-quality books aiming for short-term profits without leaving a meaningful legacy. These books lack heart and soul. At Author Writer’s Academy, we embrace modern technology, using AI as an enhancer for our authors, not a replacement.
We are a modern company publishing our authors across multiple platforms to maximize their impact. Part of our mission is to break down barriers and remove these misconceptions about the industry. We understand how it is changing and we are adapting to the change. Misconceptions and fears delay many from becoming authors. If something prevents you from telling your story, sharing your wisdom, and making an impact, it is likely a fear-based thought. And it would break my heart if that was the reason that I didn't get to rob the grave of your story.
What does the future hold for you and Author Writer’s Academy?
I'm really excited about the future of Author Writer’s Academy. I want this to be a generationally impactful company for decades and centuries to come. I want our authors to be heard, seen, known, elevated, and remembered, so the company's future is moving in that direction.
We are creating movie scripts and treatments for some of our authors who deserve to have their stories on the big screen. We hope to feature many of our authors in magazines like this one and the upcoming AWA Magazine. I am also releasing the MIL With Marjah podcast which will feature our authors so that they can share their books as well as talk about what else they are doing beyond the pages.
In addition to being a publishing company, we strive to be so much more and offer so much more to our authors. Through every step of the journey, we are helping them realize their ambition of becoming a published author but, more importantly, we are getting them heard, seen, known, elevated, and remembered across multiple media avenues.
What should we do to impact our M.I.L. stories with the world?
With our team, you can step into your truth, share your story, and inspire a generation. You have a story within you, and NOW is the time to share it!
If you have a story you want to tell, a message you want to share, or a book you want to publish, now is the time to do it. Everything is in place to support your success. Reach out and connect with Author Writer’s Academy to see your book idea come to life in as fast as 90 days. Visit our website to start your journey today. Don’t let your story go untold. Make an impact and leave a legacy with ease at Author Writer’s Academy.
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