About & Bios

TEDTalk Linda Sivertsen
Linda Sivertsen
Linda book signing

For the media…

If you’re looking for headshots, bios, press releases, book cover or podcast graphics (media assets), these pages are for you. If you don’t see what you need, write to linda@bookmama.com.

Linda’s bio

Linda Sivertsen, “Book Mama,” is in LOVE with books—reading, writing, and selling them. Her titles have won many awards and hit all the lists as an author, co-author, and former magazine editor and ghostwriter. But her driving force has been to publish sustainably. Naïve and optimistic enough to believe in magic, she’s on a mission to save forests via her role as a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Ambassador. When she’s not fostering literary love matches on her Beautiful Writers Podcast (a favorite stop for writers on tour), writing, and promoting Beautiful Writers, or midwifing books at her Carmel or virtual writing retreats, Linda can be found on the back of a horse or running with her dogs. She and her husband live on their ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Beautiful Writers book bio

Imagine you’re at a dinner party with some of the most successful authors of our time: Elizabeth Gilbert, Dean Koontz, Terry McMillan, Cheryl Strayed, Steven Pressfield, Jenny Lawson, Deepak Chopra, Martha Beck . . .  “Book Mama” and Beautiful Writers Podcast cocreator Linda Sivertsen is the host. As she’s sharing her story of the many hilarious, outrageous, and practical things she did to launch her bestselling writing career, your favorite writers chime in with their own anecdotes, leaving you enlightened and newly inspired. The wisdom in these pages will nourish anyone who appreciates the art of storytelling and dreams of living a creative life.

We did it. You can too!

2023 International Book Awards Winner (Business: Writing & Publishing) & 2023 Firebird Book Awards “Speak Up Talk Radio” Winner. Hashtags: #BeautifulWritersBook #BookMamaMusings #LindaSivertsen

More . . .

Now, for a little first-person fun: Hi! I’m Book Mama, a magical thinker who believes in your big dreams. Don’t think you have what it takes? I’m a college dropout who put six commas in every sentence and went on to write, co-author, and ghostwrite eleven books (two New York Times bestsellers), 40 magazine articles, and host one of the world’s top writing podcasts. 🎙️

My books have won awards, made headlines, hit all the lists, and put me on national TV. I’ve met deadlines at the foot of my parents’ deathbeds, written regularly in the middle of the night as a full-time mom, and delivered chapters to Simon & Schuster AND Hyperion from the fetal position after learning that my then-husband of 19 years was in love with someone else.

I’ve dropped one of the biggest agents in the biz (without a backup plan) because I wanted to feel more of a heart connection. I walked away from the best book deal of my life b/c the publisher wouldn’t print the book on recycled paper & soy inks (3 weeks later, they agreed… phew!). I’ve written for divas and superstars and the humblest spiritual love bugs. And my faith in self-help was severely tested when I was hired to (and did) pen a NYT bestseller with a popular teacher who ended up going to prison.

Good grief, I’ve learned a few things. Most importantly, about rejection. My dogs and I eat rejection for breakfast. When the universe or some VIP publishing exec says, “No,” we get scrappy in our house. And creative.

I’m a book proposal doctor, author whisperer, agent connector, idea-fairy, and huge-hearted cheerleader of creativity for writers of all genres–and every gold-plated publishing dream. In the past twenty-five years, I’ve authored & co-authored eleven books (two New York Times best-sellers), including Beautiful Writers: A Journey of Big Dreams and Messy Manuscripts—with Tricks of the Trade from Bestselling Authors (BenBella Books), the digital bestseller Your Big Beautiful Book Plan with Danielle LaPorte, Generation Green: The Ultimate Teen Guide to Living an Eco-Friendly Life with her son, Tosh (Simon & Schuster), Lives Charmed: Intimate Conversations with Extraordinary People (HCI), and Harmonic Wealth (Hyperion).

Two of my favorite jams are midwifing 6- & 7-figure book deals at my bi-monthly writing retreats in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA (profiled in CARMEL magazine) and hosting my top-ranked Beautiful Writers Podcast (on iTunes since 2015). I LOVE asking my writing idols how they show up day after day, year after year, book after book.

My work has been featured on CNN, E!, ExtraThe New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the NY Post, the International Business TimesNY PostFamily CircleTeen Vogue, The Huffington Post, and on the TEDWomen stage ... and I’ve received wide coverage on my app, and been featured on Inc.; Forbes.com; Glamour.com; MarieClaire.com; and in The Motley Fool’s “10 Best Podcasts for Women.” Go from Idea to Done to Sold with me live, via one of my online programs, or reading my blog at BookMama.com (w/ a “Best of The Web” nod from the Daily Muse). Because friends don’t let friends write alone. Write on!

Bottom line: I love writers, books, collaboration, dog & wild horse rescue, and beating the odds. Let’s connect. I can’t wait. Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

Writing Retreats in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Join me in one of the most enchanting artist communities in the world–for sisterhood, synchronicity, and focused, intentional, blissful writing. King beds, ocean views, and gourmet food make scripting your dreams second nature at the iconic La Playa Hotel. It’s HEAVEN! Whether you write in the hotel’s gorgeous gardens, in your cozy room, at the shoreline, or tucked into a local patisserie, the sea air, and ancient cypress trees will flood your senses and get the ink flowing. See why this Think Tank of the most loving order is every writer’s secret (and not so secret) dream and why many people come again and again. Honor your voice, find your people, and sell your book(s). At last.

Contact: For Media Inquiries

Because of several book deadlines/lifelines, and those of my retreat participants, my schedule is tight and I’m not able to answer all inquiries. If you’d like my support with a book project, see the “Work with me” tab. I wish there were 50 hours in a day! But, I’m fairly active on social media and hope to see you there, and/or in the Beautiful Writers Group.

 

Thank You!

xo

Linda Sivertsen Bookmama with Merry

Publish or Perish: Ready to Launch Your Writing? My Top Secrets to Landing the Deal

Download my free audio right now for:

  • THE #1 secret I’ve ever found for taking writing from good to unignorable—fast!
  • The top 3 little-known mistakes I see most new writers make, preventing them from landing that coveted book contract.
  • How to script your Book Proposal’s success so that you land your dream agent and dreamier book deal

You’ll also be added to my monthly newsletter for all the latest intel.

I know this about you with your writing dreams. You’ve got world-transforming ideas tickling your brain. A unique perspective on a corner of life somehow overlooked. A tale that won’t stop unfurling its chapters inside your mind. The dream, the ache to write, is always there. And yet, something—time, confidence, life—is holding you back. 💚

Not on my watch! Coming to you this morning from beautiful Carmel-by-the-Sea, where I often wrote (and finished!) this book and where I’ve helped many people do the same. My best intel is here on these pages, plus that from my fave writing mentors and friends (Cheryl Strayed, Terry McMillan, Steven Pressfield, Liz Gilbert, Dean Koontz, Sabaa Tahir, Anne Lamott, and 55 others. . . ) to help make your path a heck of a lot easier and more FUN . . . all for less than the price of a pastry and coffee! 🥐☕️

#FriendsDontLetFriendsWriteAlone

We did it. You can, too! https://bit.ly/BeautifulWriters (link in bio).

#BeautifulWritersBook #WritingMemoir #Excerpt #BestsellingAuthorAdvice #WritingTips
#BeautifulWritersPodcast 🎧 #CarmelWritingRetreat

“A page-turning beach read doubling as how-to. Magic.”
—Jenny Lawson, #1 New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and blogger at The Bloggess
...

The mayhem continues! 😱😂🐶 At least @uscfb is winning (so far!). And mama gets a break while Daddy takes over next week while I’m in Carmel—ahhhhh. Will miss them, but OMG, yes! ❤️💛 #carmelwritingretreat ...

Happy belated 26th anniversary to my favorite couple in all the land! 💕🥳 Watching you two literally grow old together (while staying freakishly young—maybe on account of all those veggies? 🥗🥒🥦🥬🥕) makes life 10000% more special! Love you Seester, @carolallenastrologer & brother @billslimallen. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ At least another 26x2, k? 🙏 ...

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Linda Sivertsen

Linda Sivertsen

Author🌿Beautiful Writers Podcast (& Book 8-22)🎧FSC Ambassador🌲
Virtual & Carmel Writing Retreats📚

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