Inspired by her remarkable teaching journey, Genet knew she had a book to write. The Author Learning Center (ALC) gave her the guidance and support she needed to get focused and bring her story to life.

My family, friends, and colleagues encouraged me for over three decades to write a memoir of my first year teaching in the arctic village of Shishmaref, Alaska. In part, because doing so might heal the wounds from that time, and because they could see that my experiences continued to influence who I am as a teacher. Writing this book helped me sort that out for myself and will hopefully help others in similar predicaments of novelty, naivety, and self-doubt.

"The ALC meets me where I am in the writing process. Through articles, videos, courses, and other formats for interacting with authors, I get the answers and support I need right at the time that I need them."

The ALC meets me where I am in the writing process. Through articles, videos, courses, and other formats for interacting with authors, I get the answers and support I need right at the time that I need them. I have found my involvement with the ALC to be quite personalized and accessible. I trust the experts who give the information; they really do want the best for all members.

"The Three Phases of Book Marketing program really gave me focus. I loved the pacing of the course and the alternating each week between instruction and group interaction."

The Three Phases of Book Marketing program really gave me focus. I loved the pacing of the course and the alternating week of each week between instruction and group interaction. The instruction helped me understand how to think ahead about marketing and repurposing my material, arranging chapters in a certain way, and choosing a title that would really grab a reader. And I know I can always come back to the material I need, when I need it.

"The instruction helped me understand how to think ahead about marketing and repurposing my material, arranging chapters in a certain way, and choosing a title that would really grab a reader."

To anyone who wants to write and publish a book, I offer two pieces of advice: Get support and create boundaries for writing time.

No matter how disciplined you are, or how clear you are on the book you want to write and publish, you must bring other people along to support and guide you. The actual writing can be a solitary affair, but eventually you have to venture out and share your writing, through all phases of your manuscript. Invite feedback with the mindset of a data collector: Can readers follow the main points I am making? Are they staying engaged? Is my book relevant to their lives? These are the kinds of questions all writers hope will be answered in the affirmative -- but you won't know if you don't share!

So, collect a small tribe of people who will be honest with you and who will delight WITH you in your writing. Their delight will carry you when you're doubting yourself. And then you will carry THEM into the joy, mystery, and intrigue of whatever it is you want to publish into the world.

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