Every Founder Has a Book Inside | Andrea Susan Glass of WritersWay

What we talked about.

Sunny Ray sits down with Andrea Susan Glass of WritersWay to explore whether every founder has a book inside them. Andrea, a book coach, former ghostwriter, and copy editor, explains why she waited until her early 70s to write her own first book, and how that experience led her to coach nonfiction authors who want to self publish. She walks through the reasons people write, from memoirs with a message to business books that work as a big business card, and shares that roughly 20 percent of her clients never finish. The conversation covers her focus on holistic health and wellness experts, a typical 90 day path from idea to finished book, and a moving story about helping a teenager write about overcoming a suicide attempt. Andrea also gives her view on using AI as an assistant without letting it rewrite your voice, previews her upcoming book Build a Book Business, and describes plans for digital courses. Her core advice is to decide honestly whether a book is right for you, and if so, make it unique.

Not every founder must write a book, but Andrea Susan Glass shows how the right one can build authority, trust, and new opportunities.

The questions, and the answers.

What finally made you take the leap to write your own book after wanting to write your whole life?

I wanted to be a writer from childhood, but I kept hearing you can't make a living at it, so I did other things, including ghostwriting. In my early 70s I started thinking about life expectancy and doing what I always wanted before it's too late. Around 2021 I sat down and said I'm doing it. The hardest part was choosing a topic that was right for me and for readers.

What did ghostwriting and copy editing teach you about how books really get made?

They taught me about other people's voices. As a ghostwriter or copy editor, you maintain the author's voice and uniqueness. There are a lot of books out there, so standing out requires a unique voice. Now as a book coach, I help people keep that voice. I learned that there is a voice in everyone, and we just have to learn how to pull it out.

How many people say they will finish it this weekend and never do?

Maybe 20% of the people who start working with me don't finish because something else distracts them. When someone says they'll finish this weekend and doesn't, the book never was a top priority. The motivation, meaning what the book will do for you personally or for your business, has to be strong enough to move it to the top of your priority list.

What motivates most of your clients to write a book?

There are about a dozen reasons. Some write a memoir with a message, often after something life-changing, hoping to help others or leave a legacy. With business books, people see the book as a big business card. It opens doors to podcasts, summits, speaking, and clients, and it shows you as the authority. Most authors don't get rich from sales, but the trust it builds matters.

Why do you focus on nonfiction and on experts?

Nonfiction is easier to write because it's like talking, and I don't write fiction. I also don't think a coach can be strong in both, since fiction needs plot, characterization, and description, and it's a very competitive market. Fiction audiences are hard to define. With nonfiction, my authors know their argument and who reads their type of book, which helps them write for a specific audience.

What's your view on using AI for writing?

I use it effectively, like an office assistant. I ask it for advice, feedback on tightening my writing, research, podcast ideas, and book titles and subtitles. I never let it rewrite anything. I recommend sticking with one tool so it learns your voice and needs. Use it wisely, let it assist, but don't let it take over.

What does a founder's first book need to be to be worth the effort?

It needs to be unique, not generic. Ask what makes your product, your company, and you different. Take ten real estate agents: they all sell homes differently. Put that different expertise into the book, in your own voice, style, and brand. You share your expertise, but the way you say it is what makes the book stand out and benefit you.