Reviews

Widens what an author can become; practical advice with grounded optimism; 5 stars

"The Profitable Author lays out a huge and lively roadmap for turning a writing life into a real business. The book moves through mindset, marketing, sales, income streams, and the day-to-day actions that keep an author afloat and happy. It mixes tough love with encouragement, and it shows how an author can build a long game instead of hoping for sudden fame....I found myself flipping pages and feeling the book widen the definition of what an author can become.
 

The writing is direct and warm. It never hides how hard this business can be, yet it never slips into cynicism....I liked how she blends practical advice with a kind of grounded optimism...
 

What struck me most was the emotional undercurrent. The book believes in authors. Not in a cheesy way. More like a steady voice saying you can do this if you show up and keep showing up. I loved how she reframes marketing as something flexible and personal....The mix of stories, checklists, and bite-sized reflections creates an easy rhythm....It feels like a mentor talking at the right speed for someone who wants change but does not want to burn out.
 

I think this book is a strong fit for authors who want to treat their writing as a real business without losing their soul in the process....It left me energized and surprisingly hopeful."

—Literary Titan
 

Best Advice for Authors in a Decade, 5 stars on Amazon

"Sharon Woodhouse provides a real eye-opening approach to the business of being a modern author. So many authors think building an email list is enough, but this book is packed with ideas, action plans, and business concepts that will take you so much further and help you build an audience in ways you haven’t yet explored, especially if you rely on a digital-first strategy. The breadth of issues is helpful, too. I especially love the way her advice tackles mindset as so many are playing it small and don’t even realize it.

Note, this isn’t a book about the craft of writing but how to be a professional author with a professional author business. It’s essential information for authors at any stage in their careers, whether traditionally or independently published or even pre-published. Read it, absorb the message, and think how you can apply it to your own situation.

Bottom line? I think this book will be a real game-changer for many authors."

—Carmen Amato, author of the Detective Emilia Cruz mystery series and the historical thriller Galliano Club series
 


Deserves a spot on every author's desk, 5-stars on Amazon

​"The Profitable Author is...More than a book. This is like owning the Encyclopedia Britannica of Running an Author Business. Filled with actionable ideas, examples, and references, Woodhouse arranged the information to make it easy to use. Dip in, digest, dip out. Rinse, repeat. After writing 80 books, I doubted I could learn anything new, and I was WRONG. This book is a perfect gift for any author wannabee, as well as anyone dealing with this brave, new world of self-publishing. Mine will have a special place on my desk so I can flip it open and refresh my mojo daily. It’s truly a useful tool."

—Joanna Campbell Slan, NYT Best-Selling Author
 

Critically important reading for aspiring and practicing authors
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"Critically important reading for aspiring and practicing authors….Far more than just another 'how to get published and sell a lot of books' instructional guide, The Profitable Author: 1,001 Ways to Build a Business You Love Around Your Book is a compendium of practical, proven, DIY actions and activities that you can use from a business perspective on what you write and the audiences you write for. Exceptionally well organized and presented, The Profitable Author is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections and workshops."
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—Midwest Book Review, Vol. 20, No. 4, The Writing/Publishing Bookshelf, April 2025

 
Not just for authors! 5 stars on Amazon
 
"Author Sharon Woodhouse offers a supremely useful handbook for the author/entreprenuer. Part mindset training, part warehouse of marketing ideas, and part examples of other successful authors who have found their groove, this is a compilation of bite-sized articles packed with ideas and inspiration. I kept stopping to take notes and write down ideas. This is customized for authors, but it applies to any creative business. By the time I was halfway through, I stopped and bought a copy for an entrepreneur who recently started a graphic design/branding business."
 
—David Bruns, co-author of the Command and Control series of national security thrillers


Like having our own personal trainer or secret agent

"I have only been a subscriber to The Profitable Author for a few short weeks and it’s already paying dividends and I’m experiencing positive progress.

Sharon is like having your own personal writing trainer and “hype-man,” always positive, always enthusiastic, and always encouraging your work.

And if the prompting isn’t enough to become proactive, her inside knowledge of all things literary is like having a secret agent working for you, deciphering publishing code, identifying allies and enemy agents, and ultimately navigating a difficult world for authors, particularly beginners such as myself.

The Profitable Author, as written and as an on-going subscription has been worth every penny and I highly recommend it to everyone thinking about dipping their toes into the literary pool."

—Harrison Fillmore, author of Godfathers of Chicago's Chinatown: Triads, Tongs & Street Gangs and Chicago Catholic Churches: A Sketchbook


Become a Profitable Author, buy this book, 5 stars on Amazon

"Sharon Woodhouse has written the Mt. Everest of author as entrepreneur self-help books. The others are speed bumps in the road. She folds 25 years of experience and 1,001 ideas into a completely accessible text. If you want to become a profitable author, buy this book, read it, and follow her advice."

—James Walker, author of Red Barber: The Life and Legacy of a Broadcasting Legend, Crack of the Bat: A History of Baseball on the Radio, Television and the Remote Control: Grazing on a Vast Wasteland, and more​​

A must-have resource for every author, 5 stars

"In The Profitable Author: 1,001 Ways to Build a Business You Love Around Your Books, Sharon Woodhouse shares over one thousand methods on how authors can generate more money from just one book...Some of the ideas are so ingenious that they took this author of twenty years by surprise!…[A] must-have resource for every author. This book is teeming with valuable and proven strategies that will help authors go from struggling to thriving.”

—Dawn Colclasure, Readerviews.com 



Made me feel excited, not overwhelmed, about taking control of my author journey, 5 stars

"The Profitable Author...is a practical and motivational guide for writers who want to turn their books into a steady, fulfilling source of income. The book doesn’t just focus on writing itself—it’s about what comes next. It teaches authors how to treat their writing like a real business by sharing tested advice on marketing, selling, managing time, creating multiple income streams, and building a life they enjoy around their books. Whether you’re self-published, traditionally published, or just starting, the book offers ideas on how to take small, daily steps to reach bigger goals. With tips on events, partnerships, merchandise, services, social media, and even mindset, Woodhouse helps authors customize a plan that fits their strengths, lifestyle, and values. This is not a “get rich quick” manual but a long-term guide to making writing work financially and personally.

Sharon Woodhouse’s writing is clear, friendly, and energetic. Her advice feels personal and authentic, drawn from years of experience in publishing and business coaching. The narrative structure is organized into themes like sales, marketing, productivity, and mindset, making it easy to use as a reference or read straight through. The tone is encouraging, and I liked how she emphasizes building a business that fits your life, not someone else’s idea of success. Her “do five things a day” tip stuck with me—it’s simple but powerful. The Profitable Author made me feel excited, not overwhelmed, about taking control of my author journey. It’s full of useful tools and motivation, especially for writers like me who want freedom, income, and purpose from their books."

—Mansoor Ahmed, Readersfavorite.com


A Must-Have! 5-stars

"​[A] must-have tool for both veteran and first-time authors! Its strength lies in the range from theory (examining the mindset necessary for successful promotion, exploring individual author values, recognizing that an author is a “multipreneur”) to mechanics (doing 5 things a day to promote your book, lists [e.g. 167 non-bookstore places to sell books], worksheets, and templates). The book is written as clearly as a textbook but in an engaging and energetic voice. It now sits next to my Strunk and White."

—Kathy Bauernfeind, author of Don't Give In! (You're NOT Just Getting Old)


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