Today we’d like to introduce you to Cori Wamsley.

Hi Cori, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up reading tons of books and loving everything about where they took me when I sat down and got absorbed in a really good story. As a professional, after obtaining my master’s, I started working for the Department of Justice and then the Department of Energy as a technical and scientific writer and editor. Fast forward ten years, and half of the PR department was let go, so I had an opportunity to reinvent myself as a writer/editor. I started freelancing and enjoyed helping people tell their personal stories through articles, blogs, web copy, and press releases. The funny thing is that I had written five novels by the time I started my freelancing business, so whenever I spoke about my work and mentioned that, people were really curious about how to write a book. I didn’t realize till then that coaches and speakers need a book for their brand.

Soon, I started taking on book editing clients and realized that there are so many things I could help them with before they have a finished manuscript. I started offering book coaching at that point, and a few years later, I opened my publishing house because coaches and speakers are usually overwhelmed with the sheer volume of tasks and things to know associated with publishing a book. It makes it easier if I can take that stress off of them.

I’ve had a business for almost nine years now and a publishing house for three. The best thing about the work I do is that I get to help people deep-dive into their stories in a way that showcases their brilliance, their strengths, and the ups and downs of their journey. I get to help these people connect with others who are a few steps behind them, showing them the path to take toward hope.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like anyone’s journey, there have definitely been challenges!

I started my business having no idea what I was doing and with no intention of ever owning a business. Of course, I “built the plane while I was flying it!” I had to figure out who I was, what I wanted, what I would tolerate, and all the other things that business owners have to figure out. Running a business is a gigantic personal growth journey, and even this far in, I’m still learning. I’ve had to adapt to technology that I had never used before. I built my first website and maintained it for years by myself. I’ve had to vet and hire contractors to work with me on publishing projects. And I’ve had to fire clients. It’s been a ride!

On top of all of this, I’m a mom, too. I started my business when my kids were 1 and 3 years old. Now that they are 9 and 11, I have a more solid idea of how to balance the two pieces of my life, but I’m still not perfect. They still interrupt my client calls. I still frantically shoo them away off-camera when I’m being interviewed. I still get calls from the school during my work day to drop off clean pants because one of my kids dumped milk on herself. Nothing is perfect. I am, however, so thankful that I get to do what I do and be my own boss because it lets me be present for those beautiful moments of growth, change, happiness, and challenge that my kids go through. I don’t need permission to run them to the doctor or comfort them when a rough day at school brings them home in tears. I think the key to all these challenges is to expect the unexpected and not worry about “needing” to be somewhere else when you’re doing what is most important. There is ebb and flow. Leaning from one side to the other. And it’s never perfect.

As you know, we’re big fans of Aurora Corialis Publishing. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Aurora Corialis Publishing works with leaders who have a transformational story to share. We help them write and publish books that build a relationship with their audience so they can get booked, get more clients, make more money, and create the change they want to see in the world. Our authors develop award-winning books that make an impact, teach important lessons, and guide others through their challenges because we believe that your words can make a difference in others’ lives.

I am the book coach for my company, and I’m also an author of ten books myself. I steer the ship and help guide our authors on any part of the journey that they need help with. I’ve surrounded myself with a team of experts that I’m proud to say I adore and trust to help me with the vision to create next-level literature that helps our client’s brands.

What sets me apart from other publishers and book coaches is that I’m so well balanced with creativity and the harder business skills like organization and navigation through a process. I’m highly anchored while being open to the creative part of the process, like a balloon tied to railing, free to flow with the breeze and safely staying in the zone. I also come with an arsenal of credibility. I hold a bachelor’s and a master’s in English literature, I’ve written ten books, and I spent ten years writing for the government. My perspective on the ROI that a book delivers is unique as well, since I know that authors don’t just need to sell books; they need to create an evergreen marketing piece that works with their brand to warm up their audience for next steps. I believe that book writing can be cathartic and also strategic. As a fiction author, I’m able to help writers create nonfiction books that feel like a fiction book would because I KNOW storytelling intimately and help them use all the tricks to captivate their readers.

I’m most proud of our ability to help authors tell deep stories. Our books don’t share standard information that you could just google. They are unique glimpses into real people’s lives. These are the stories that bond us as humans.

Because we want to meet our authors where they are in their journey and make it easier for them to reach the end of the path and get a book in hand, we offer three different entry points to our services. If an author needs help writing their book, they can enroll in our private or group coaching or work with our ghost writer. If an author has written their book on their own, they can bring us that manuscript. For all three entry points, our authors’ books go through two rounds of editing before I do a final quality review. They also receive layout and cover development for ebook and paperback versions. During the publishing phase, we have PR and marketing for our authors to help get the word out about the book.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My best advice is to be adaptable. Even if you think you have a great plan, there are always things you don’t account for because you just can’t predict them. People get sick, the economy goes up and down, you feel like a program you’ve been running for a couple years is old and stale and doesn’t excite you anymore. Getting caught in the feelings that can surround these changes, the frustration, anger, annoyance, whatever, will just keep you from moving forward. You have to be able to assess, reposition yourself and your brand, and then keep moving forward.

Pricing:

• Our packages start at $8,000.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.auroracorialispublishing.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coriwamsley/
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Cori.SmithWamsley/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cori-wamsley-667498112/
• Youtube: http://youtube.com/c/coriwamsley

Image Credits
Headshots by MEDIA – The Creative Agency and Danielle Cubarney