🎙️ Behind the Book: How Marjorie Turner Hollman Systemized Self-Publishing Success
Welcome back to Systems With Laura 🎙️
In this episode, we explore what it really takes to move from a finished manuscript to a professionally published book, without getting overwhelmed by tech, tools, or the endless self-publishing advice online.
This week, I’m joined by Marjorie Turner Hollman, an author, developmental editor, and book shepherd behind MarjorieTurner LLC. Marjorie supports writers from the very first draft all the way to holding their finished, self-published book in their hands.
Marjorie shares how she built repeatable systems to guide authors through editing, layout, printing, and distribution, and why most people don’t fail at self-publishing because of writing, but because they don’t have a clear process to follow.
This conversation is both grounding and empowering, especially if you’ve written a manuscript but feel stuck, unsure, or intimidated by everything that comes after.
In this episode, we talk about:
- How Marjorie became a book shepherd and built her self-publishing service
- The step-by-step system behind turning a manuscript into a real book
- Why most authors get overwhelmed after finishing their draft
- How to structure your self-publishing workflow without burning out
- The most common mistakes first-time self-publishers make
- What Marjorie would do differently if she were publishing her first book today
🎧 If you’re sitting on a manuscript or dreaming of publishing your own book one day, this episode is for you.
📒 Grab a notebook, hit play, and let Marjorie show you how self-publishing can become a clear, structured system, not a stressful guessing game.
🔗 Connect with Marjorie Turner Hollman
- Website: https://www.marjorieturner.com
- Email: marjorie@marjorieturner.com
- Amazon Author Page: Available via her website
🤝 Episode Sponsor: Proprium Agency
This episode is sponsored by Proprium Agency, a business workflow & automation agency helping service-based businesses replace chaos with clarity through smart tools, automation, and intentional system design.
If your business feels overwhelming, overly manual, or dependent on you doing everything, Proprium helps you design systems that support sustainable growth, without burnout.
☎️ Want direct help from Proprium?
Book a 15-minute discovery call to explore how we can support your operations and client delivery with better systems.
👉 https://connect.proprium.agency/discovery-call
🌐 Join the Proprium Digital Network
A space for founders and operators who want:
- Better systems without unnecessary complexity
- Practical guidance on tools, workflows, and automation
- A clear path from messy operations to structured, scalable processes
👉 https://proprium.agency/proprium-digital-network
🔗 Stay connected with Laura Plantak
- Website: https://www.lauraplantak.com
- Laura’s Learning Lab Newsletter: https://lauraplantak.com/newsletter
- Instagram: @thelauraplantak
- LinkedIn: Systems With Laura Podcast
If this episode inspired you, leave a comment, share it with a writer who needs to hear it, and subscribe for more behind-the-scenes conversations on building sustainable, system-supported businesses.
