“The Book Was Ready—But Was I?”

Sal and Kirsten open up about imposter syndrome, unexpected setbacks, and the emotional weight of hitting publish for the first time.

Every writer reaches that fork in the road—the moment where you stop dreaming about writing a book and start figuring out how to actually do it.

For Sal Gallaher and Kirsten Nixon, that moment sparked a long, winding, deeply personal journey. A journey that led them to self-publish their debut books after years of learning, self-doubt, detours, and deciding this story deserves to be told.

This week on Writes4Women, Pamela Cook chats with Sal and Kirsten about the realities of indie publishing: the joy of holding your book for the first time, the overwhelm of wearing all the hats, and the emotional grit it takes to say “I’m doing this”—even when it feels impossible.

Whether you’re considering self-publishing or just need a reminder that your writing journey is yours to define, this episode is a warm hug and a creative nudge.

🍿 For paid subscribers: Sal and Kirsten open up about the moments that nearly stopped them—last-minute disasters, inner critic spirals, and the one diagnosis that changed everything. Plus, the surprisingly emotional side of self-publishing no one warned them about.

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Here are the top three takeaways from Pam’s conversation with Sal and Kirsten:

1. You Can Learn as You Go—But You Have to Start 📚

Neither Sal nor Kirsten had a roadmap when they began. Sal dived into writing after her daughter said, “Mum, stop talking about it—just do it.” Kirsten started her nonfiction interviews to answer a question for herself: How do women build creative businesses?

They both learned the hard way—through editing mistakes, publishing trial-and-error, and all the real-world lessons that come after you write “The End.”

💡 Takeaway for Writers: Don’t wait until you “know enough.” Start messy. Learn as you go. Trust that every step forward teaches you something the next one will need.

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2. Self-Publishing Isn’t a Shortcut—It’s a Creative Business 🛠

From formatting and cover design to launch events and Amazon listings, Sal and Kirsten both realised that being an indie author means being a creative and a business owner. They hired freelancers, managed timelines, and figured out digital platforms like Amazon and Draft2Digital—sometimes with spreadsheets, sometimes with tears.

💡 Takeaway for Writers: If you choose the indie path, treat it with the respect it deserves. Invest where it matters. Know your limits. And remember: marketing is part of the craft too.

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3. There’s Power in Owning Your Story—And Your Process ✨

Sal’s book Secrets in the Lakes is a genre-blend of romance and suspense, set in a fictional California lake town. Kirsten’s Voices of Entrepreneurial Women features heartfelt interviews with inspiring women from all walks of life.

Neither book fit neatly into a “marketable” box—and that’s the beauty of it.

💡 Takeaway for Writers: If your story doesn’t fit the mould, maybe that’s because it’s meant to break it. Self-publishing gives you the freedom to follow your vision, not someone else’s formula.

Connect with Sal

• Instagram

• Website

Connect with Kirsten

• Instagram

• Website

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✨ Subscriber Bonus: The Truth Behind the Launches They Almost Didn’t Pull Off 🚀

This week’s bonus episode goes deeper with Sal and Kirsten as they reveal the messy, human side of bringing a book into the world.

✨ The launch day disaster that nearly derailed everything
✨ The unexpected diagnosis that changed everything—and how writing helped
✨ The voices in their heads (and the one tool that helped quiet them)
✨ What no one tells you about self-promotion and self-belief

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to go indie—or what it looks like to keep writing when life throws curveballs—this one’s for you.

💛 Want to hear the full conversation? Subscribe as a paid member for just $7/month to unlock this behind-the-scenes chat and get all the insider insights!

🎧 Get Inspired. Get Encouraged. Get Writing.

Happy writing! 🎉