Surviving Toxic Relationships Podcast with The Matadoras · Elizabeth Jane and Deana Lynn

Episode 81: Write Your Next Chapter: Turning Pain into Purpose Through Publishing with Terry Whalin

·34 min·2 clips

Amazon is only 24% of our overall business, so publishing only on Amazon misses 76%.

Lizzie and Dina open the door wide for writers. They welcome Terry Whalen, whose background spans editing, magazine work, and more than 60 books, and they use that experience to connect personal healing with the practical work of getting words onto the page. The invitation stays gentle. The conversation starts with the idea that a hard season may still hold a book, especially for people who have walked through heartbreak, divorce, or a long season of healing and are looking for a new way to tell the truth. Terry stays grounded. He explains the choices between traditional publishing, self-publishing, and hybrid models, and he does it in plain language that makes the process feel less mysterious and less intimidating. The hosts keep circling back to purpose. They ask how writing can help someone heal, encourage readers, and leave something lasting behind. The company’s two-track approach comes up as Terry describes books that go through bookstore placement and monthly royalties, and books authors can sell directly through podcasts or websites while keeping the full proceeds. Timing matters too. He notes that physical books can be produced in about three to four months, while bookstore release takes about nine months, though still much faster than many traditional publishers. Community is part of the model. He talks about a private author Facebook group where more than 1,400 writers share ideas, cheer each other on, and stay connected long after their books launch. The episode also gets candid. Terry recalls a painful experience with a major Christian publisher, including a cover decision he and his co-author never got to see during production, and the story lands as a reminder that authors need more say in how their work is handled. That honesty gives the conversation weight. By the end, the hosts bring it back to the heart of the matter: writing can heal, inspire, and leave a legacy in printed form. The tone stays encouraging. Listeners leave with a clearer sense that their story can move forward, and that the next chapter may begin with one honest page.

As heard by us

A faith-filled publishing conversation for anyone ready to turn a hard season into a book.

Terry Whalen joins Lizzie and Dina for a conversation about writing through heartbreak, divorce, and the long road toward healing and purpose.

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Why you'd press play

If your story feels ready to become a book, start here.

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