We were lucky to catch up with April Cox recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi April, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

I help authors learn to self-publish their children’s books and build a business around authorship. Traditional publishing routes are highly competitive and are looking for authors with a huge following. If they do select a book for publishing it takes years to get through the process and the author receives a very small percentage of the royalties.

My company provides training and handholding to walk through every step of the self-publishing process. Authors are in control and receive 100% of royalties.

Some think that self-publishing means sub-par work, but that is not the case with my program. We have a list of pre-vetted editors, illustrators and designers that provide professional service. This results in a book that can compete with traditionally published books.

Another clear benefit is the time to market. When it takes weeks to publish a book instead of years, that means you can publish more and build a business more quickly.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Embarking on a journey from a 35-year technology career to finding my passion in helping aspiring authors has been filled with unexpected turns, triumphs, and a deep sense of fulfillment.

Bidding a fond farewell to the corporate world, I ventured into the realm of publishing to fulfill a dream not just for myself, but for many others. As the heart behind Little Labradoodle Publishing and a children’s book author myself, I’ve learned that dreams aren’t just chased; they’re nurtured, shared, and celebrated.

This adventure began with a simple desire to create something lasting for my grandchildren, evolving into a passion project amid life’s ups and downs. My prayer for a fresh start was answered in an unexpected way when a corporate restructuring led to my layoff. This gave me the push I needed to explore the world of publishing. Downsizing my life allowed me to laser-focus on what truly brings me joy—writing and helping others bring their stories to life.

A turning point came when I met a fellow author who had been mistreated by a predatory publishing company. This encounter opened my eyes to the challenges many face in the publishing industry. It made me realize I wanted to be part of the solution. Starting with a small workgroup of authors, I found immense joy in guiding and supporting others through their publishing journeys. This small group blossomed into a program that has now helped over 1,500 authors. Being affectionately called “The Dream Maker” by those I’ve helped reminds me daily of the impact we can have on each other’s lives.

Little Labradoodle Publishing is more of a community than a company. I strive to offer services that empower authors to self-publish with confidence, including coaching and comprehensive courses. Yet, it’s the connection with authors and others in publishing that I value the most. Through my YouTube channel and our vibrant Facebook group, I aim to make the path to publishing less daunting for everyone.

If there’s one thing I hope to share, it’s that every story is worthy of being told. If you’ve ever dreamed of writing a book but doubted the possibility, I’m here to say it’s not only possible but probable with the right support and a bit of guidance.

Learn more about this shared journey and how we can make your publishing dream come true at selfpubmadesimple.com. With a bit of courage, support, and passion for storytelling, your book can move from dream to reality.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

YouTube has helped me to create authority, and helped others discover me and my services. It is a platform that allows individuals to get to know me, my values, and my personality.

By stepping outside my comfort zone, I have been able to serve authors providing valuable information that has resulted in an exponential growth in my business and simplified lead generation.

I also actively connect and collaborate with others – interviewing experts in the field of self-publishing. Not only does that provide content that individuals want/need, but it also helps me to learn and grow as an authorpreneur.

There is nothing I am doing that others cannot, but it requires us to believe in ourselves and take that first step.

Earlier this week, I reached 350,000 views and over 350 videos uploaded on youtube and 8000+ subscribers. It may seem small to others but for me it is nothing short of remarkable.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Recently it became obvious to me that selling time for money does not scale well. I am one person and while my background is in IT and I am familiar with long hours that go with that, it doesn’t provide a high quality of life.

I realized that my oldest grandkids are growing up too fast. I missed too many games and gymnastics meets. I am building a strong team with a goal of working less on 1:1 and more small group and large group coaching.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.selfpubmadesimple.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/selfpubmadesimple
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/selfpubmadesimple
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilcox/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/selfpubsimple
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/self-publishingmadesimple