Nicolette Halladay on the Courage to Trust Your Story

Wendy & Rich 0:01
Coming to you from the Freedom Federal Credit Union Studios, Hartford County Living Presents, Conversations with Rich Bennett. 

I love this guy. You're not going to show up! I never went to get one. He's probably the second person to work in a family conference. No, no, no, it's not. 

Rich Bennett 0:27
are moments in life when the version of ourselves we've always known no longer fits, and the hardest part isn't figuring out what comes next. It's trusting ourselves enough to step into it. I am joined by author, publisher, and storytelling guide, Nicklet Holiday, founder of Inspired Hearts Publishing, and author of the Golden Thread and the Lineage of the Light. She helps people turn lived experiences into meaningful stories, not polished versions designed to please everyone, but honest stories rooted in truth, identity, healing, and self-trust. And through her publishing work, journaling workshops, and guidance for aspiring authors, she's helping people stop hiding behind fear, imposter syndrome, and perfectionism, so they can finally be seen for who they really are. And she is just sitting there laughing her tail off it maybe, because I'm just, I'm not speaking right today, I don't know why. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:33
I'm smiling with you. I'm smiling 

Rich Bennett 1:35
with 

Nicolette Halladay 1:35
you. So much for having me and that lovely introduction I appreciate it so 

Rich Bennett 1:42
couldn't even finish the introduction, I wasn't even 

Nicolette Halladay 1:44
much. 

Rich Bennett 1:44
finished, I couldn't 

Nicolette Halladay 1:45
I 

Rich Bennett 1:45
finish. I'm just tongue tied. I said no. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:49
I think you got to the heart of it. 

Rich Bennett 1:52
Oh god, I hope so. And for those of you that don't know, Nicklet's been on my other podcast, the author, pitching her book, which you all have to get when she read the excerpt, I was sold right away. And then I told her, like, hey, you got to come on this one too, because of everything she does. And it just, I think what you're doing, helping other authors, there's a lot of what you know this, there's a lot of aspiring authors that are looking for guidance. 

Nicolette Halladay 2:22
yeah, 

Rich Bennett 2:23
And they 

Nicolette Halladay 2:23
yeah, and 

Rich Bennett 2:23
don't know where to go. 

Nicolette Halladay 2:25
Absolutely. And not only aspiring authors, but published authors who are like, 

Rich Bennett 2:29
yeah, 

Nicolette Halladay 2:29
now what. I think that's a really common theme actually. There's so many different skillsets and writing, producing, publishing, and then marketing a book. And people kind of, you know, kind of somewhere in the way stumble and it's normal because none of us are really, you know, we're learning as we go. And we're putting it all together, and so yeah, I love authors. I love people who share their story, their vision, their mission, I think it's so brave. And so it's a pleasure to get to support those folks and helping them share more of themselves with the world. 

Rich Bennett 3:05
All right, so I have to ask you is because I love asking people this question. When you're in high school, you know, because in high school you're supposed to have a career goal. 

Nicolette Halladay 3:14
Yes, 

Rich Bennett 3:15
Probably only 2% follow that career goal. But 

Nicolette Halladay 3:18
right. 

Rich Bennett 3:18
anyway, so when you were in high school, what was it that you wanted to do? When you got older, when you became a grown up, 

Nicolette Halladay 3:27
Okay. Yeah, I don't know if I had, I don't, I don't remember really having a path like something at high school 

Rich Bennett 3:36
right? 

Nicolette Halladay 3:36
necessarily. I wasn't that responsible of a teenager to be honest with you, and all transparency. And to be that forthcoming, but in by the time I made it to college, I loved writing. 

Rich Bennett 3:51
Okay. 

Nicolette Halladay 3:52
I did kind of double with the idea of getting a journalism degree for a bit. And writing has always been just such a kind of an extension of me, it's how I process kind of what I'm experiencing in the It's how I connect with other people. So it's definitely been a mainstream in kind of the ways I've worked through the world, even in corporate just, you know, as, as a way of communicating. 

Rich Bennett 4:17
All right. So after college, what were you doing journalism? 

Nicolette Halladay 4:21
No, I actually didn't end up going into journalism. I went into early childhood education actually. 

Rich Bennett 4:27
Huh? 

Nicolette Halladay 4:28
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 4:30
Okay. 

Nicolette Halladay 4:30
And did that for a bit, I was a gymnastics teacher as a preschool teacher, and then I just took like a total left turn 

Rich Bennett 4:39
left 

Nicolette Halladay 4:40
got 

Rich Bennett 4:40
turn 

Nicolette Halladay 4:40
into real estate for a bit and did a lot of work behind the scenes, real estate, project manager, I worked for a business broker for a while. Um, yeah, I just kind of, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 4:54
Okay, are you like the female version of me just several different 

Nicolette Halladay 5:00
Oh, yeah Really? Yeah 

Rich Bennett 5:01
career? 

Nicolette Halladay 5:03
Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 5:03
yeah, although I 

Nicolette Halladay 5:04
I've been 

Rich Bennett 5:04
I do 

Nicolette Halladay 5:04
like 

Rich Bennett 5:04
it all your childhood. I 

Nicolette Halladay 5:06
do yeah 

Rich Bennett 5:06
did not 

Nicolette Halladay 5:08
Okay, 

Rich Bennett 5:08
I can do a tucking role 

Nicolette Halladay 5:10
you can still have 

Rich Bennett 5:11
Well, 

Nicolette Halladay 5:11
you done it recently? 

Rich Bennett 5:13
Well, when I fall down 

Nicolette Halladay 5:15
Oh, okay. Well, that's important. That's an important thing to know 

Hell, 

Rich Bennett 5:20
though. I'd be afraid to try it. I probably break my neck 

Nicolette Halladay 5:23
something. 

Rich Bennett 5:23
or 

Nicolette Halladay 5:23
No, I can still do a handstand, so I'm 

Rich Bennett 5:26
I can stand on my hands 

Nicolette Halladay 5:28
Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 5:29
it hurts oh 

Nicolette Halladay 5:30
Like 

Rich Bennett 5:31
yeah, 

Nicolette Halladay 5:32
my Okay 

Rich Bennett 5:33
yeah, I actually put my foot on 

Nicolette Halladay 5:35
You 

Rich Bennett 5:36
you could still do a handstand. 

Nicolette Halladay 5:38
I can still do a handstand. 

Rich Bennett 5:40
Well, I can't 

Nicolette Halladay 5:41
Yeah, that's what 

Rich Bennett 5:41
ask 

Nicolette Halladay 5:41
I 

Rich Bennett 5:41
you 

Nicolette Halladay 5:41
might 

Rich Bennett 5:41
to do it because nobody's gonna be 

Nicolette Halladay 5:43
see 

Rich Bennett 5:43
able to 

Nicolette Halladay 5:46
We 

Rich Bennett 5:47
don't sing as well, do hack Yeah, 

Nicolette Halladay 5:51
you? 

Rich Bennett 5:55
that's funny though because my daughter all and when she was in school, she was a hell of a writer And I even I've had authors that would look at her stuff and told her she needs to Finish her manuscripts and get it published 

Nicolette Halladay 6:10
Yes, 

Rich Bennett 6:11
but now she's doing early childhood. Oh 

Nicolette Halladay 6:13
Interesting They 

Rich Bennett 6:16
care 

Nicolette Halladay 6:17
okay, well, she can still finish her manuscript as she should As 

Rich Bennett 6:21
she would 

Nicolette Halladay 6:22
and maybe she'll maybe that'll be something she circles back around so I think life, you know 

Rich Bennett 6:26
yeah 

Nicolette Halladay 6:27
Life is Sting and sometimes we have more capacity or a little bit more opportunity and so you never know Life shifts for us, so 

Rich Bennett 6:36
oh yeah does alright, so when did you start in spot Let me wait a minute hold up two part question. 

Nicolette Halladay 6:43
yeah, 

Rich Bennett 6:43
When did you start inspired hearts publishing and why? Yeah 

Nicolette Halladay 6:47
So I started inspired hearts publishing in 2021 

And I 

Rich Bennett 6:54
Right 

Nicolette Halladay 6:54
had 

exactly like so many people, I was actually a virtual assistant before that for four years prior to Getting into publishing and I had Inevitably kind of found my way into the publishing niche and so supporting other publishers and I loved Supporting, you know, I love the process. I loved getting to support authors ensuring their stories And I was like, you know what I can do this. So I 

Rich Bennett 7:25
the 

Nicolette Halladay 7:25
took 

Rich Bennett 7:25
Did you write any books before that I 

Nicolette Halladay 7:29
Didn't I wrote in at the very beginning of starting my publishing company? I wrote in a few multi-author books 

Rich Bennett 7:38
Okay, 

Nicolette Halladay 7:39
and and they went on to produce eight multi-author books through Inspired hearts publishing and so that was a big bolt of kind of where I was getting to write and then just you know Writing on social media on blogs and that kind of thing, but my book, you know This is I'm finally walking my walk. I just published 

Rich Bennett 7:59
it okay 

Nicolette Halladay 7:59
March 2026 so Yeah writing a solo authored book. It's like as I was going through the process. I'm like oh, this is this is why I tell you know My clients though. So it's it's um, it's been really amazing to kind of Walk my walk walk my talk, I guess and experience it firsthand 

Rich Bennett 8:22
I'm gonna put the car in reverse here a minute because you said before you started as you were a virtual assistant Yes All right nickelett. How many different careers did have you had? 

Nicolette Halladay 8:35
It's been a progression. I don't know. There's been like probably 

Rich Bennett 8:39
too early childhood development 

Nicolette Halladay 8:41
Early childhood and the gymnastics that kind of went in it was 

Rich Bennett 8:44
uh they were together okay 

Nicolette Halladay 8:45
yeah, um and then after that I moved into real estate. I did some asset valuation um 

Rich Bennett 8:52
Okay 

Nicolette Halladay 8:53
work. For a local business um and I worked for an oil and gas company for a while as a project coordinator And then I went back to real estate and worked as a project manager for a business broker, so But that was really tight into the real estate also so And 

Rich Bennett 9:11
then a 

Nicolette Halladay 9:11
assistant 

Rich Bennett 9:11
virtual 

Nicolette Halladay 9:11
and then a virtual assistant I decided um, you know, I'm a mom of I was a mom of 3 by then um and Balancing you know full-time work and all the things that were happening my daughter was actually And she was in first grade at the time she was struggling with like severe anxiety 

Rich Bennett 9:30
And in first grade 

Nicolette Halladay 9:32
Yeah. Yeah 

Rich Bennett 9:34
hard. Wow 

Nicolette Halladay 9:34
It was She was throwing up almost every day because of it 

Rich Bennett 9:39
Any idea what was causing the anxiety? um 

Nicolette Halladay 9:43
Long 

Rich Bennett 9:44
if you 

Nicolette Halladay 9:44
story 

Rich Bennett 9:44
know mommy asking 

Nicolette Halladay 9:45
yeah, long story short, she was, uhm, at her dad's parents house, her grandparent's house and she saw something on the news about a school, a school shooting. 

Rich Bennett 9:56
Now away. 

Nicolette Halladay 9:57
And we didn't know like it came out. Uhm, and so anyways, I'm, I'm managing this, she was in first grade. I had a four year old, and then I had a, let's see, uh, 12 or 13 years old, and, uhm, my employer at the time was just not sympathetic to kind of the expo, what I was going through, was kind of trying to negotiate, just like, when I was working not necessarily like how much, I was just 

Rich Bennett 10:25
being 

Nicolette Halladay 10:25
to be more flexible. And, uhm, I just, I just had a knowing that this, thi isn't it. I, I, I got, I have to do something that I can both, be able to contribute and, 

Rich Bennett 10:39
right, 

Nicolette Halladay 10:40
support my family financially and also emotionally and all of the things. Uhm, and so I just, I took the leap. That's, that's been my, that's been kind of my entrepreneurial journey is, okay, I'm doing this. Uhm, and I'll figure it out along the way. And so I took the leap and, uhm, yeah, I had a successful virtual assistant company for four years before moving into publishing. So, 

Rich Bennett 11:03
wow. Something, I want to, uhm, hit on real quick, too, because anybody listening what Nicolet said there about her daughter at one year old, seeing something on TV, which, 

Nicolette Halladay 11:16
six years old. Yeah, she was a. 

Rich Bennett 11:17
Oh, she was six when she saw it. 

Nicolette Halladay 11:19
Yeah, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 11:20
Oh, I thought you said she was one years, one year. 

Nicolette Halladay 11:22
She was in first grade. 

Rich Bennett 11:24
Oh, oh, yeah, that's okay. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Greatest six years 

Nicolette Halladay 11:28
old. 

Rich Bennett 11:29
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But still at, at that age, 

Nicolette Halladay 11:32
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 11:32
people got to realize what kids see on TV and social media can cause a lot of emotional harm. 

Nicolette Halladay 11:41
Yeah, they don't have the, they don't have the processing skills. 

Rich Bennett 11:44
No. 

Nicolette Halladay 11:44
It's just, you know, that, that instance, like just wrecked her nervous system and her ability to feel safe in school. 

Rich Bennett 11:56
How is she now? Not 

Nicolette Halladay 11:57
Um, she's, she's very well adjusted. She's going to be a sophomore in high school next year and, um, yeah, she worked through all of that those anxiety. I think she still has a little bit of anxiety. But, uhm, 

Rich Bennett 12:08
as 

Nicolette Halladay 12:08
yeah, she's, she's doing, she's doing good. I mean, I think it's 

Rich Bennett 12:11
good. 

Nicolette Halladay 12:11
typical teenage ink stuff now, 

Rich Bennett 12:14
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 12:14
but, um, but yeah, she's, she's doing amazing and honestly, uh, doing, making that move was one of the best things I did for my girls because, 

Rich Bennett 12:24
yeah, which 

Nicolette Halladay 12:25
Had 

Rich Bennett 12:25
is 

Nicolette Halladay 12:25
this 

Rich Bennett 12:25
important. 

Nicolette Halladay 12:26
capacity because it's like, I am capable and I have all these tools and resources and I want to own my own time so that I, um, can, you know, also, I didn't want to, like, sacrifice my kids for a job, basically. 

Rich Bennett 12:43
No. Yeah, and you shouldn't have to. 

Nicolette Halladay 12:44
Yeah.

Rich Bennett 12:45
You shouldn't have to. I mean, unfortunately, there's a lot of people that do that. Um, 

Nicolette Halladay 12:52
I  mean, it's, It's a hard situation. A lot of 

Rich Bennett 12:55
it is. 

Nicolette Halladay 12:56
people have to and it's such a challenge. Um, and I also think we live in incredible times right now, um, where there are so many different opportunities to work online, to work remotely. And so if anyone's listening to this and kind of in that situation, um, the best advice I have for you is just be really open to the 

Rich Bennett 13:21
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 13:21
potential that's available to us because there are a lot of opportunities. I know, you know, going back to the news, we hear all the bad news, but there's also some amazing things and opportunities for us because of the times that we're living in right now. 

Rich Bennett 13:35
And the thing is you're seeing more solarpreneurs and entrepreneurs. 

Nicolette Halladay 13:39
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 13:39
Popping up then norm. 

Nicolette Halladay 13:40
Mm-hmm. 

Rich Bennett 13:41
You know, then 

Nicolette Halladay 13:41
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 13:41
you used to because a lot of people, they went that ability to be able to work from home and be there for the kids. We 

Nicolette Halladay 13:49
Ye. 

Rich Bennett 13:49
look at, you look at the homeschooling numbers now. That has gone a big time. 

Nicolette Halladay 13:54
Yeah. I think people for so long, you know, as women kind of entered the workforce. Um, it was like, this is what we do and and there wasn't a lot of questioning like what the sacrifice was. But by the time, you know, like my generation came around, it was like, oh, this is what we have to do because this is kind of the infrastructure. But then all these opportunities because of, you know, just online and how we're also connected globally. And so you don't have to find opportunities in your backyard now. There's things that can be, you know, potentially accessed from anywhere in the world. So, 

Rich Bennett 14:36
Yeah. Yeah. Alright, so now I wanna get back to the business, your business. The, the one that you're doing now, 

Nicolette Halladay 14:43
yeah. 

Rich Bennett 14:43
you know, not, not the virtual assistant thing, the inspired heart's publishing, 

Nicolette Halladay 14:49
uh-huh. 

Rich Bennett 14:50
Where did the title come from, the name come from. 

Nicolette Halladay 15:03
Inspiring, the goal of it was to inspire people to connect back to their inspired heart, 

Rich Bennett 15:09
Ooh, 

Nicolette Halladay 15:09
because I think so often we just are going through the motions and we 

Rich Bennett 15:14
yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 15:15
forget, we forget, like, what is it that lights us up? What is it that makes us feel connected? So I had run this challenge, so then when I opened my publishing company, inspired heart's publishing just seemed like a, like, it made sense. 

Rich Bennett 15:30
And correct me if you're wrong, but you're not just helping people publish their books. 

Nicolette Halladay 15:37
Mm-hmm. 

Rich Bennett 15:37
You're helping them write the books as well? 

Nicolette Halladay 15:40
Absolutely. I really work with people from conception all the way through the entire process and I kind of mentioned it earlier, maybe, before we, um, started the podcast, but there is an evolution that happens. There's, you know, you're 

Rich Bennett 15:55
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 15:55
writing the book and then you have to edit and produce and promote and publish in market.And  so, um, So yeah, I help people with the full kind of spectrum and a big thing that I also do is really, I work with a lot of entrepreneurs, so coaches, 

Rich Bennett 16:12
mm-hmm. 

Nicolette Halladay 16:13
healers, virtual mentors, a lot of the authors I work with feel very deeply connected to their business and their 

Rich Bennett 16:20
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 16:20
mission. And so figuring out how your book is fitting into your business ecosystem is also something that I, you know, put a lot of attention into with my authors. 

Rich Bennett 16:34
You think it's important for entrepreneurs and business owners to have their own book? 

Nicolette Halladay 16:39
Um, I think it is a tool to open up a lot of opportunities. 

Rich Bennett 16:45
Oh, yeah, 

Nicolette Halladay 16:46
people still hold books like in such a high regard. And so depending on your goals and, you know, if you're wanting to get on podcast or stages to share more about. Like, having a book is such an. And like a great differentiator like this is. 

Rich Bennett 17:05
Oh, yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 17:06
You know, um, and I also think that one of my favorite parts about the work that I do is the, the person author becomes in the process. Um, rarely does someone come to me and like write the book and publish it and end up being the same version of themselves. Um, 

Rich Bennett 17:26
Okay. 

Nicolette Halladay 17:27
and so the identity work that happens, the confidence, the clarity. You are, you kind of understand. It's easier to have these talking points and know kind of what direction you're going. So, um, that's, I think all of those pieces are why I think it's valuable to have a book. Is it. 

Rich Bennett 17:47
Right. 

Nicolette Halladay 17:48
Not necessary, not always. It just, it kind of depends. So. 

Rich Bennett 17:51
Alright. So when you sit down with a client and you're helping them write their book, it does actually does the early childhood education, help with that at all, because because you got to pick it. 

Nicolette Halladay 18:06
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 18:07
Pick it their mind and pull things out. But I would say strategically, right? 

Nicolette Halladay 18:13
You know, the, the biggest part of me supporting authors and writing is just holding space for them to flesh out their own ideas and being a sounding board. Um, asking the right questions, getting the infrastructure of the book together, and then staying accountable. It's like writing a book can feel really lonely. Um, 

Rich Bennett 18:31
yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 18:31
Kind of having that camaraderie and support through the process. I don't write the book for them. I just kind of support them in the process of doing it. I don't 

Rich Bennett 18:40
You're 

Nicolette Halladay 18:40
know. them. 

Rich Bennett 18:41
guiding 

Nicolette Halladay 18:41
I, I don't know. Yeah. I, I guide them. Um, I don't know if it's, I've always been so curious about. Like human development and, and psychology and relationships and kind of how we are, how and why we are who we are in the world. And so, I think that is what makes me really effective at the work I do. Um, and then just being a lover of humans and story, like I just think, yeah, there's, there's something so valuable to it. 

Rich Bennett 19:20
Interesting. All right. So if I come to you, and I say, Nicholas, I don't have a clue about writing, 

Nicolette Halladay 19:31
yeah, 

Rich Bennett 19:31
but people have been telling me that I need to tell my story. 

Nicolette Halladay 19:34
Where 

Rich Bennett 19:35
do you go from there? 

Nicolette Halladay 19:37
Um, so the first step is I have a, what I call a book blueprint. And so 

Rich Bennett 19:43
Okay. 

Nicolette Halladay 19:43
we get together, and we just flesh out the ideas for kind of what your book might look like, the title, the subtitle, the reason why you want to write it. Um, some of the like kind of deeper infrastructure questions, like how is this book going to feed your, like, business ecosystem? How's it going to fit? You know, are 

Rich Bennett 20:01
a 

Nicolette Halladay 20:02
using tool and your coaching services or are using it as a marketing tool to find, you know, connect with potential clients. And so just getting clear and all of those things, having kind of the structure. So, 

Rich Bennett 20:16
right. 

Nicolette Halladay 20:16
Like the chapter outlines, even if you don't stick to it, you have an idea like, okay, now I know I can show up and write every day and kind of move through this. I think that's such an important part, because other than that, you're kind of just like get lost in the process, right? 

Rich Bennett 20:32
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 20:32
And my favorite thing about it is people leave these sessions feeling so excited to write, um, and they're lit up and they're like, oh yes, this is it. And this is, because the, the, the questions go deeper than just what your book about. It's like, why are we writing it? Who's your reader? 

Rich Bennett 20:48
Right. 

Nicolette Halladay 20:49
Why does it matter? Um, you know, in two years, when your book is out there, what's it done for you? What's it done for the world? And so 

Rich Bennett 20:57
Oh wow. 

Nicolette Halladay 20:57
people feel super excited and lit up about it. And yeah, so 

Rich Bennett 21:01
first. 

Nicolette Halladay 21:01
that's the 

Rich Bennett 21:02
And you edit it as well. Or do you have something? Or is there another? 

Nicolette Halladay 21:06
Yeah. Yeah, I'm not an editor, but that's something that my team supports. 

Rich Bennett 21:12
Your team? How many people on your team? 

Nicolette Halladay 21:14
It's, I'm actually just, it's just me, but I have. 

Rich Bennett 21:17
Oh, okay, 

Nicolette Halladay 21:18
I work with contractors and folks that, you know, yeah, 

Rich Bennett 21:23
virtual assistants, right? 

Nicolette Halladay 21:25
More or less. 

Rich Bennett 21:25
Well, yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 21:26
Editors, virtual editors. No, and 

Rich Bennett 21:29
people, 

Nicolette Halladay 21:29
other support the process. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 21:32
It makes sense, but I guess the biggest, 

the biggest question that I have for this is because I mean, I've been trying to write a book for years. My life story,no , cause, yeah, nobody cares. Um, then I wanted to write something about podcast and started it, stopped because there's so many books about podcast. 

Nicolette Halladay 21:57
Mm. Really? 

Rich Bennett 21:59
Oh, my God. Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 22:01
I just want push back on it. I really want to push back on the idea of that. I mean, yes, there's lots of books about, about podcasting and what if like, who's your favorite musician? 

Rich Bennett 22:15
My favorite musician? 

Nicolette Halladay 22:17
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 22:17
Well, that's a loaded question. I 

Nicolette Halladay 22:19
one 

Rich Bennett 22:19
have 

Nicolette Halladay 22:20
of your favorites. 

Rich Bennett 22:21
favorites. 

Nicolette Halladay 22:21
One of your 

Rich Bennett 22:21
such, 

Nicolette Halladay 22:23
Mel. Well, 

Rich Bennett 22:24
what if that would be, that would be Louis Armstrong. 

Nicolette Halladay 22:26
Okay. I know. I don't know what that is, but I'll just 

Rich Bennett 22:28
it. 

Nicolette Halladay 22:28
gloss over So what if 

Rich Bennett 22:31
I'm in the middlehead? I've always liked Louis. 

Nicolette Halladay 22:33
Okay. Well, what if Louis said, oh, there's already so many musicians? 

Rich Bennett 22:38
I'm, 

Nicolette Halladay 22:38
what am I going to add? I don't know. 

Rich Bennett 22:42
Oh, 

why do you have to pull that on me? 

Nicolette Halladay 22:46
I'm just 

Rich Bennett 22:47
amazed. I never thought about that. 

Nicolette Halladay 22:50
Yeah. I mean, you can say that for anything honestly and your voice and your perspective and the things that you bring to it are going to be different and are going to connect with different people. And here's the deal. If you write a book about podcasting and you're out there sharing about it, people aren't going to be like, well, there's already so many books about podcasting. They're going to be like, I want to start a podcast. I'm going to read you know, Rich's book. 

Rich Bennett 23:24
Okay. Now I feel pressure from you to get my ass. 

Nicolette Halladay 23:27
Good. I'm doing my job. And 

Rich Bennett 23:31
funny 

Nicolette Halladay 23:31
it's 

Rich Bennett 23:31
because 

Nicolette Halladay 23:32
The deal is you have you know, you have this podcast. You probably have a ton of content. You probably already 

Rich Bennett 23:37
I do. 

Nicolette Halladay 23:38
have a bulk of the book written. That's another thing that we kind of explore in that book. Blue print because a lot of times, you know, people who come to me already have blogs or newsletters or podcasts interviews. And it's like, yeah, we can, you know, use a lot of this. So 

Rich Bennett 23:56
because originally, my first thought was almost like a business plan book. You know, writing, writing about podcasting how to go about doing it. 

Nicolette Halladay 24:06
Sure. 

Rich Bennett 24:06
Then I gave it all because I was dumb and said there was a lot of books and then 

Nicolette Halladay 24:13
it's 

Rich Bennett 24:13
I 

Nicolette Halladay 24:14
a 

Rich Bennett 24:14
figured, 

Nicolette Halladay 24:14
typical thing. That's why I wanted to push back. 

Rich Bennett 24:16
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 24:17
Because pretty much anything you are going to write about someone else is probably already written about. 

Rich Bennett 24:22
Won't. 

Nicolette Halladay 24:23
bing honest. There's very 

Rich Bennett 24:24
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 24:24
few, like, wow, this is just come at this time, like, completely new concepts, like, it's a perspective, you know, from the author. So, uh, that's why, that's the only reason why, you're not dumb. A lot of people think that. 

Rich Bennett 24:40
You're, you're gonna keep hounding me, uh, ah, ask people how come I haven't started, did I start on it again, 

Nicolette Halladay 24:48
I mean, 

Rich Bennett 24:48
aren't? 

Nicolette Halladay 24:48
I think it would be a good idea for you. 

Rich Bennett 24:51
Alright, so let me issue this then, because with that, it might, you know, it's a, there's several books about podcasting. And I'll be honest with you, my first thought was, nobody's gonna like this. 

Nicolette Halladay 25:05
You 

Rich Bennett 25:06
know, well, that was my, 

Nicolette Halladay 25:10
did you read any books about podcasting when 

Rich Bennett 25:12
oh 

Nicolette Halladay 25:12
you, 

Rich Bennett 25:12
my god, yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 25:13
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 25:14
Yeah, and there are some I didn't finish. 

Nicolette Halladay 25:16
Sure. 

Rich Bennett 25:17
Yeah. Because I was, after reading them, I was like, my first thought was they didn't know what they were talking about. 

Nicolette Halladay 25:24
Yeah, fair enough. 

Rich Bennett 25:25
Because podcasting has changed over the years. 

Nicolette Halladay 25:28
Sure. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 25:29
Yeah. Um, 

Nicolette Halladay 25:30
I can see. 

Rich Bennett 25:31
the monetizing parts would always tease me off. 

Nicolette Halladay 25:35
Yeah. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 25:36
Yeah. I'm going to do it again, but I think I think it's going to be a good idea, right, because it seems like these professional podcasters, you know, in their books and even when they're still doing their podcast, they talk about, well, you need so many downloads before you can monetize, which is a load of crap. 

Nicolette Halladay 25:50
Right. 

Rich Bennett 25:51
You know, because, and that was one of the, that's one of the reasons I wanted to write a bulk about podcasting, because I was fortunate enough that I was monetizing mine before I even recorded the first 

Nicolette Halladay 26:07
episode. It could be, 

Rich Bennett 26:08
yeah. 

Well, and now I keep dreaming, coming up with these dreams or I have positive dreams now ever since I stopped watching the news and I had one the other day. Can I get about right? Actually, it was after I talked to you on the other podcast. 

Nicolette Halladay 26:26
Oh, 

Rich Bennett 26:27
It 

Nicolette Halladay 26:27
interesting. 

Rich Bennett 26:29
was weird. I had a dream about writing a book about what I have learned since and what's changed my life since I started podcasting. Because of all the different guests I've had on and everything I've learned. 

Nicolette Halladay 26:43
Absolutely. 

Rich Bennett 26:44
But I think with that, I would have to get permission from my guests one night. If I shared any of their stories. 

Nicolette Halladay 26:51
Well, you're already sharing their stories on the podcast, so they've already given some kind of consent and would it be a big deal to circle back and say, hey, I'm featuring you in this book. I probably love it. 

Rich Bennett 27:03
Okay. You know what we handed this all turn around on? No. 

Nicolette Halladay 27:09
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 27:10
It is a damn reverse psychology. You've probably been studying or whatever. 

Nicolette Halladay 27:16
I just love to encourage and honestly, it is true. Podcast hosts are particularly well positioned to write 

Rich Bennett 27:28
book. 

Nicolette Halladay 27:28
a 

Rich Bennett 27:28
It 

Nicolette Halladay 27:29
really, it complements the podcast in such an easy way. Yeah. So, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 27:37
All right. Well, I contacted you and we sat down. You picked at my brain or whatever. What's the next and I have to start writing. So what's the next steps? 

Nicolette Halladay 27:51
So we do the book blueprint. So we have this 

Rich Bennett 27:52
Righ. 

Nicolette Halladay 27:53
foundational thing that we're both kind of working with. And then you just get to writing. And the nice thing about having the blueprint is you kind of have the themes and then we create a structure. It's like, okay, I'm going to write, you know, and this is some people want to write every day. Some people want to dedicate a few hours on a Sunday. Whatever their capacity is, 

Rich Bennett 28:13
right, 

Nicolette Halladay 28:14
it's like, right, deciding on the commitment. And then we reconnect every week and you know, you share what you've written. And we kind of just keep moving through the process. The nice thing about having the blueprint is one day you might might wake up and you just don't want to start with the introduction. You're ready to like, hey, this is on my mind. I'm just going to like, write about this. So it doesn't have to be sequential in how you're writing it. And so we just work through the process. Having a timeline is really important. I talked to someone yesterday and he was telling me about how it was his second book and he had been contacted. He had the idea for the book. He hadn't even written it yet. 

Rich Bennett 28:56
Right. 

Nicolette Halladay 28:56
Someone had contacted him about speaking on this topic and he's like, oh my gosh, I better write this book. I know that. Yeah. I know. And this is my second book in a nutshell. That's what I wanted to do. I was like, I don't know if I can write it in public in three weeks because he had a deadline. So deadlines are helpful. And that was this was like, I don't know, five years ago or something. 

Rich Bennett 29:11
not... 

Nicolette Halladay 29:11
So it's 

Rich Bennett 29:12
Wow. 

Nicolette Halladay 29:12
Even had AI or anything like that. Yeah. And most people like that's unreal. He's also in publishing. So he had the tools and he had already written one book. So there's, like, things but still that's, um, like, unusually fast. 

So making it a priority I think is important part of kind of having what you're building into, um, is as important. So a lot of times when I'm supporting people with the writing, you know, we're going over it, but a lot of it is still talking about like the bigger, like what are we doing as we're building this as you're writing it, kind of what's the things that we're building along it so that when it's ready, you have these opportunities that are kind of lined up already. 

Rich Bennett 30:08
Okay. So it's basically, you're helping them put the business together. 'Cause, well, let's face it, you write a book, you're selling it, it's a business. 

Nicolette Halladay 30:17
It is. Yeah, and that's something that a lot of authors just, You know, it's not the reason they wrote it. I mean, sometimes it is, but, 

Rich Bennett 30:25
yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 30:26
um, and I, you know, I write, I work with a lot of folks who are also writing memoirs so it's like a more of a 

Rich Bennett 30:33
Hmm, 

Nicolette Halladay 30:33
personal journey. Um, and how's that kind of, you know, how's that connecting the audience? So it's like kind of connecting with that Y and, and what is this book going to do? Because, 

Rich Bennett 30:44
right. 

Nicolette Halladay 30:44
you know, like book proceeds are great, but that's not really the best. Like, that's not, that's not how most authors, you know, get a, 

Rich Bennett 30:51
you're not going to make a living from it. 

Nicolette Halladay 30:54
I'm not, I mean, you could, but it's unlikely, right? 

Rich Bennett 30:57
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 30:57
Um, and so how are, what are the other kind of opportunities that writing and publishing a book are going to create, and really baking that into the process? I think it's important. 

Rich Bennett 31:09
So how often are you in in contact with your client as they're, 

Nicolette Halladay 31:14
uh, weekly or bi weekly, it just 

Rich Bennett 31:17
depends, 

Nicolette Halladay 31:17
kind of 

Rich Bennett 31:17
okay. 

Nicolette Halladay 31:18
Yeah, how quickly the timelines and that kind 

Rich Bennett 31:20
So 

Nicolette Halladay 31:20
of thing. 

Rich Bennett 31:21
you're a strong mentor. 

Nicolette Halladay 31:23
Yeah, I do. I am working alongside my client. 

Rich Bennett 31:27
Okay. 

Nicolette Halladay 31:28
And I've had so many authors, you know, kind of, Share with me that that's been such an important part, because it's easy 

Rich Bennett 31:37
yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 31:37
to get discouraged, it's easy to feel like kind of in your own echo chamber as a seaven any good. It's easy to get imposter syndrome, and all of that mindset stuff is also things that we just talk about and work through. So, um, and that kind of goes back to that identity work because, 

Rich Bennett 31:54
right. 

Nicolette Halladay 31:54
You're putting your work out there, especially when it's personal or vulnerable, you're sharing these things. I'd such a normal part of the process and you evolve as you move through it. 

Rich Bennett 32:05
And I think with that too, it's because you hear, you know, with doing podcasts, we talk about it all the time. But I think it's a lot of times it is harder when you put it down on paper. 

Nicolette Halladay 32:20
Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 32:20
because it's like it's permanent. 

Nicolette Halladay 32:22
yeah. Yes, I even experienced some of that with my book. I was like, Oh my gosh, what are, you know, what's what's my parents going to think not necessarily what's the stranger going to think, but, you know, the people in your immediate circle, it can feel really, really confronting. And what I, the outcome or the kind of where I stand on it is, I've had so many more people, I mean, maybe people quietly judge me and that's on them. I guess there's nothing I can do about it. But more people have said, wow, like I so connected to this story or this has been, 

Rich Bennett 32:57
Yeah, 

Nicolette Halladay 32:57
you know, I experienced something similar or the connection around it. I think when we share open and vulnerable people, people rarely judge the way we think they're people actually just really genuinely are interested and have compassion and so 

Rich Bennett 33:19
wow. So now the manuscripts done. You send it off to the editor. 

Nicolette Halladay 33:25
Yes, 

Rich Bennett 33:25
after the editing is done. Are you the first one to read it? 

Nicolette Halladay 33:31
Um, yeah, I'll read 

Rich Bennett 33:33
it. Before it's 

Nicolette Halladay 33:35
Okay, the author. Yes, read it 

Rich Bennett 33:36
published. 

Nicolette Halladay 33:36
alongside the author. Um, 

Rich Bennett 33:38
are you mean like this like a one on one? 

Nicolette Halladay 33:41
No, like here it is. We'll read it. 

Rich Bennett 33:43
Okay, 

Nicolette Halladay 33:45
yeah. 

Rich Bennett 33:47
My god, I'm saying this like I'm a client, 

Nicolette Halladay 33:50
but 

Rich Bennett 33:51
did. 

Nicolette Halladay 33:51
I 

Rich Bennett 33:51
Oh god. 

Nicolette Halladay 33:52
But by then, we already, you know, I've been working with you. So I'm very 

Rich Bennett 33:56
Right. 

Nicolette Halladay 33:56
intimately familiar with it. So then it's just kind of like, what's the final? This is, you know, the manuscript. So that's, that's the next step. Okay, we got through the editing. Fuf got through that part and made it through that. And then we move on to creating the cover, doing the formatting so that the book is 

Rich Bennett 34:20
in 

Nicolette Halladay 34:21
the book format for different, you know, the different formats for digital and paperback, hardcover, whatever it is. 

Rich Bennett 34:27
Right. 

Nicolette Halladay 34:28
Audio book. And then we, not audio book, that's kind of extra, but eventually, potentially. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 34:36
But do you help with the audio version? 

Nicolette Halladay 34:40
Um, not, help with the distribution of it. 

Rich Bennett 34:45
Okay. Okay. Okay. Not the recording part. 

Nicolette Halladay 34:47
No, no. And actually like with AI now, like even Amazon has like an opportunity, 

Rich Bennett 34:53
I know. 

Nicolette Halladay 34:54
Oh, it's, it's a lot easier. 

Rich Bennett 34:56
I saw that they just came out, but recently. 

Nicolette Halladay 34:58
Yeah. And I've been kind of, I don't have an audio book of mine yet. I'm like, do I do that or do I do it in my own voice? I'm still 

Rich Bennett 35:05
Yeah. You're, you, well, I would, I mean, I know it takes time. 

Nicolette Halladay 35:09
trying to do something. 

Rich Bennett 35:10
But you have that pleasant voice. I would do it in your own 

Nicolette Halladay 35:13
thank you. I, yeah, I think it's personal. Like 

Rich Bennett 35:16
voice. 

Nicolette Halladay 35:16
it 

Rich Bennett 35:17
It 

Nicolette Halladay 35:17
makes 

Rich Bennett 35:17
is, 

Nicolette Halladay 35:17
it really intimate. And when someone's hearing you and especially when you're trying to build trust and kind of all those things, I think it adds a lot different element than like an audio, even though some of them are pretty, like, they, they're pretty good. I think it 

Rich Bennett 35:31
if, 

Nicolette Halladay 35:32
depends on the book. 

Rich Bennett 35:33
And yeah, 

Nicolette Halladay 35:33
who you are, but, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 35:34
I mean, because when you, when you read your excerpt on my other podcast, just hearing it from you, like I said,it  sold me on it. Then 

Nicolette Halladay 35:44
Thank you for 

Rich Bennett 35:44
I 

Nicolette Halladay 35:44
that 

Rich Bennett 35:44
do 

Nicolette Halladay 35:45
feed. 

Rich Bennett 35:45
know, I do know there are some books, you know, novels when you have different characters and all that. 

Nicolette Halladay 35:50
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 35:50
If you can't do all the character voices. 

Nicolette Halladay 35:53
Yeah. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 35:55
Yeah. It makes sense. 

Nicolette Halladay 35:57
Sure. 

Rich Bennett 35:57
But just here. 

Nicolette Halladay 35:57
Yeah. I just, I think it just depends. And maybe the author isn't great at. 

Rich Bennett 36:02
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 36:03
Like they might not sound as good. So it just kind of depends, right? Just because you can write, doesn't mean you can do a good audiobook. 

Rich Bennett 36:10
Right. 

Nicolette Halladay 36:11
So yeah. So there's, there's some, but so anyways, we go back to the formatting. So we're doing the formatting. We're getting, we're working through the cover design, getting that all dialed in. We have now we have the manuscript. We have the cover decided, that's been, you know, finalized formatting for the manuscript is ready. And so then we just do the, we order the proof so that, you know, you can see it in the format that it's going 

Rich Bennett 36:38
Right. 

Nicolette Halladay 36:39
to come out in. Then it's a lot of times another proof read through it because there's things that you're going to catch when you're reading through. 

Rich Bennett 36:46
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 36:47
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Make those changes. And then, you know, that's when you're putting together your launch plan, what, how are you going to kind of bring this out into the world? What's what's your priorities? And then the longer vision, because a lot of times, espec, I mean, a lot of people hear like, "Oh bestseller on Amazon." And it's, it's kind of a fun incentive to like get to be a bestseller on 

Rich Bennett 37:11
Amazon. Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 37:12
It's just a, it's the short term, kind of like what your, the longer vision is so much more important. So kind of what are we doing long term? How are you going to continue to connect with an audience and get your book into more reader's hands? 

Rich Bennett 37:26
All right. So now, now the book is published. 

Now, do you help them out afterwards as well, or, or do you recommend, because we know marketing's the toughest 

Nicolette Halladay 37:42
part. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 37:42
yeah, I know publishing companies don't help with marketing, but do you recommend like marketing companies or whatever to help them or give them tips on marketing? I know you 

Nicolette Halladay 37:53
Yeah. Like, 

Rich Bennett 37:53
tell them to get on other podcasts, which is excellent marketing, 

Nicolette Halladay 37:56
Yes, and you know, by the end, they're going to have a strategy, whether 

Rich Bennett 38:01
right? 

Nicolette Halladay 38:01
that's continuing to work with me, 

Rich Bennett 38:02
a net blueprint. 

Nicolette Halladay 38:05
Uh-huh. 

Rich Bennett 38:07
Ah. Okay. 

Nicolette Halladay 38:08
Yeah. And just building into it. Like, as we're 

Rich Bennett 38:11
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 38:11
working together, you know, over the six-month time frame or whatever by then, it's like, we have a pretty good idea of like what this how this is going to look by the time it's ready. So, um, you know, it just, it kind of depends. Sometimes people want additional support. Sometimes people are ready to kind of, you know, take it from here and use the tools that I've provided and get out there and start being your book spokesperson, which is the thing that authors aren't always necessarily, you know, like, trained on. 

Rich Bennett 38:43
Right. 

You're listening to the conversations with Rich Bennett. We'll be right back. 

If you love books, you need to experience the Book Fair Bel Air. This incredible community event brings together authors, readers, and book lovers of all ages for a celebration of stories, creativity, and connection. What makes it special is the chance to meet authors in person, hear their stories, and purchase books directly from them. I've attended myself and I can tell you there's nothing quite like discovering a great book and talking with the person who wrote it. It makes the experience more personal and far more meaningful. Whether you're looking for your next favorite read, something for your kids, or even a unique gift, you'll find it at the Book Fair Bel Air. It's family-friendly, welcoming, and full of the kind of energy that reminds you why books matter. Learn more and see upcoming event details at bookfair@bellair. org. Again, that's bookfair@bellair. org. All right, so the books published. I'm just using me as a guinea pig here again 

Nicolette Halladay 40:04
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 40:04
for some reason. 

Nicolette Halladay 40:07
Nothing 

Rich Bennett 40:07
it. 

Nicolette Halladay 40:07
to do with 

Rich Bennett 40:09
My book is published, but after it's been out for a few years, it's like, "Oh god, I need to add this." So you have different editions, like second editions. 

Nicolette Halladay 40:21
Sure, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 40:22
Do you help them with that as well? 

Nicolette Halladay 40:24
I have. 

Rich Bennett 40:25
Yeah. Already you have? 

Nicolette Halladay 40:27
Yeah, I've had people come back and say they wanted to do like in a little bit of an update, even if it's just a small thing. And that's one of the benefits of self-publishing because you have complete 

Rich Bennett 40:37
overall 

Nicolette Halladay 40:39
over the whole process. I think sometimes people, you know, there's some stories out there that people, it's just not as easy when you're tradition. 

Rich Bennett 40:47
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 40:47
Sure, which traditional publishers have their own benefits and that's a whole another thing, but if there's a potential of this book kind of having an evolution, I think it makes it easier when you publish offer. So a lot of times people will come back to me and I've had people. There was one woman who she just wanted to add like a QR code. It wasn't even like a revision. It was just like adding a little bit more of a marketing thing. 

Rich Bennett 41:13
Right. 

Nicolette Halladay 41:14
So you know, it's kind of the same process. You have to add it into the you have to add it into the manuscript and then re-upload it. It's pretty it's simple process honestly. 

Rich Bennett 41:26
I, so Nikolette. Because I love feel good stories. And you've been you've been working with some authors. Can you can you share a feel good story of somebody that you helped? 

Nicolette Halladay 41:42
Like the story they shared in their book. 

Rich Bennett 41:44
Or no, I mean from beginning to the end. It's a feel good story that you, you helped somebody with their book about it after it was published and all that. They were just so giddy like they just kept praying giving you praise like I'd already be doing. 

Nicolette Halladay 42:04
yeah. Well, I think right now I'm working with an author. She's working on her third book in a series. 

Rich Bennett 42:13
Oh 

Nicolette Halladay 42:14
And it working with her has I've just I think just seeing the confidence in her authorship and how she's 

Rich Bennett 42:26
right 

Nicolette Halladay 42:27
journey. How she's feeling confident she's going out there. She's doing the book fairs. She's getting on podcast and that's what makes me happy. I don't know if people are 

Rich Bennett 42:34
yeah, 

Nicolette Halladay 42:35
gushing over me all the time. And it's fine. That's not unnecessary. But seeing people succeed. Seeing people 

Rich Bennett 42:44
yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 42:44
On the stages they wanted to like that's I think that's the thing. I know I have a I have a lot of stories I've worked with over a hundred authors who've contributed to multi-author books that I've um 

Rich Bennett 42:58
you have. 

Nicolette Halladay 42:59
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 43:02
Wow. 

Nicolette Halladay 43:03
sure? 

Rich Bennett 43:03
Are you 

Nicolette Halladay 43:03
Um so they were a chapter they were a chapter in a multi-author book. So um yeah. So yeah. Um and my favorite my favorite thing is to see them take that chapter and like 

Rich Bennett 43:18
yeah 

Nicolette Halladay 43:19
it's like their book. Because some people write a chapter and never do a thing with it. And then there's people who are out there sign out for the book fairs getting on like they're like this is my story and I'm owning it. I'm I'm leveraging the stages. I'm doing all the things. Um and so I just I love the grit 

Rich Bennett 43:37
yeah 

Nicolette Halladay 43:37
that seeing the grit and just like I'm gonna do this. I think it's just the confidence um and 

Rich Bennett 43:44
wow. 

Nicolette Halladay 43:45
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 43:46
I know a lot of your clients are learning things from you, bu have you learned anything from any of your clients? 

Nicolette Halladay 43:53
Absolutely. Oh my gosh, yes! I feel like, you know, I like to say I do business. I like to do business not as usual, 

Rich Bennett 44:04
Right. 

Nicolette Halladay 44:04
because I feel like, especially the work that I do, I'm working with people who are sharing really vulnerable stories. Sometimes things they've never shared with other people. Now they're doing publicly in a book. And I feel like the reciprocity in what I've received is equal if not more to what I've supported other people through, just learning about different spiritual modalities, seeing people's stories, seeing people persevere, just all the things. So, I continue to learn from my authors. 

Rich Bennett 44:40
Yeah, 

absolutely. Yeah. I love that. But before I ask you this next question, do people get in touch with you, if they want to work with you, they want to get that blueprint going and become a published author 

Nicolette Halladay 44:58
how 

Rich Bennett 44:59
and stop worrying about it and just 

Nicolette Halladay 45:01
They're 

Rich Bennett 45:01
get 

Nicolette Halladay 45:02
ready to do 

Rich Bennett 45:02
done. 

Nicolette Halladay 45:03
it. 

Rich Bennett 45:03
Yes. 

Nicolette Halladay 45:05
Well, they can go to my website, which is InspiredHardsPublishing.com. Go check it out. And I'm just opening up something, because after producing, you know, eig multi-author books, and then I've supported in over 50 books coming to the market. So, I've worked with a lot of authors, right. 

Rich Bennett 45:24
Right. 

Nicolette Halladay 45:24
And the multi-author book, specifically, the over the astounding kind of feedback that I get is the community created around the book is sometimes the favorite part. And so it's not just people like submitting, like we are work, we're creating, it's like a networking group, like a massive, you know, people are becoming each other's, you know, clients or referral partners or partners sometimes like there's all kinds of cool things that happen. And so finally, hearing it and being like, how can I support authors? Because we are in just such unique times, you know, the world's crazy. There's things are hard. And I'm like, these are people I have served and I love. I love these kinds of humans that are sharing that are like wanting to imprint the world in a positive way. Whether sharing vulnerable stories about themselves or sharing a vision or a modality or whatever it is. Like these are people who really want like in their heart of hearts. And I know them because I've become friends with them myself and have I'm their client. And they're my like there's, you know, all this is the author community. It's not just like a part of it's like a it's a. I feel like it's an integral part of being 

Rich Bennett 46:40
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 46:40
an author. And so I'm opening up the line. Author circle, which is we're going to meet once a month. It's a free group. Come and join. And find support, support other authors and share about what you're doing, support each other and your next projects. There's a lot of things that I'm really excited because really I just asked myself this one question. How can I help? Like how can I, 

Rich Bennett 47:05
Right. 

Nicolette Halladay 47:06
how can I be a more service and then kind of looking back and being like, well, you create community around book. So why don't you do this on kind of a bigger scale. So go to my website. There's an offer. There's a, you know, a sign up sign up for that we're going to meet. And I think it's the third Wednesday of every month. A two hour call that we all come together. And then there's going to be like a online community connected to it too. 

Rich Bennett 47:30
Oh, and it's free. 

Nicolette Halladay 47:32
It's free. I just want to support authors, 

Rich Bennett 47:35
but you, but you have to be an author. 

Nicolette Halladay 47:37
If you're writing a book, if you are published a book, if you want, you know, like just if you 

Rich Bennett 47:44
think 

Nicolette Halladay 47:44
haven't 

Rich Bennett 47:44
about writing a book, about 

Nicolette Halladay 47:46
thinking 

Rich Bennett 47:47
somebody 

Nicolette Halladay 47:47
you'll 

Rich Bennett 47:47
that 

Nicolette Halladay 47:47
be inspired. 

Rich Bennett 47:48
It's ragging you, throwing 

Nicolette Halladay 47:49
there you go. And, and, and the thing about it, the best thing about it is it's not really me. It's you come in and you get this whole network of 

Rich Bennett 47:59
you. 

Nicolette Halladay 48:00
people 

Rich Bennett 48:00
Yeah, 

Nicolette Halladay 48:00
who are supporting each other. Like 

Rich Bennett 48:02
like 

Nicolette Halladay 48:02
I'm not 

Rich Bennett 48:02
that's important. 

Nicolette Halladay 48:03
Yes. And so I'm going to do like review challenges, like all kinds of cool things inside the script, just to support authors, just being like what can I do? How can I serve? So for anyone listening, I think, especially if you're an entrepreneur, if you're a business owner, asking that one question, like without what am I getting out of it, but literally. 

Rich Bennett 48:24
Right. 

Nicolette Halladay 48:24
Can I serve right now? Just how, where am I most needed? Where am I going to be the most useful? And this is kind of what I've landed on. 

Rich Bennett 48:34
So. Oh, I love that. All right. So the retreats. 

Nicolette Halladay 48:38
Yeah. They're 

Rich Bennett 48:39
doing retreats. Now, is this something that's going to be every year? 

Nicolette Halladay 48:44
yeah, it was really ambitious and I was like, I'm going to do four retreats and that's 

Rich Bennett 48:49
all. 

Nicolette Halladay 48:53
So I am, I'm going to do one retreat this summer in August, 

Rich Bennett 48:57
uhm, okay. 

Nicolette Halladay 49:11
The theme is really how we lose ourselves in relationships and coming back to ourselves and how we learn to trust ourselves again. And, uhm, so I was at the end of a tumultuous relationship it ended and I was really just got it, I was just outside of myself trying to kind of put my pieces back together. And I started just trusting the kind of guidance that was coming in without question. I was just like, okay, I'm doing this. It was a part of me building the self-trust back. So I had just started writing the book and I reconnected with some family that a couple hours away in Silverton, Colorado. And, uhm, the bulk of my book was written there, there's, I have lineage there. There was so much support like 

Rich Bennett 50:03
yeah, 

Nicolette Halladay 50:03
spiritual support, human support, nature support. S, uh, long story short, my uncle's longtime partner was in hospice at the time when I reconnected with them. And she owned this beautiful Victorian bed and breakfast, it's like 1870 Victorian bed and breakfast. And I connected with her daughter and we've just become dear friends and I was a support for her. They weren't really, it wasn't operational so they had a lot of space so they're just like come, come here anytime you want, come. And so I just went and I wrote so much my book there. And the community that's just the how, like the how they're so much like energy that is 

Rich Bennett 50:50
right 

Nicolette Halladay 50:51
both like of. Underleader. Energizing, but also super grounding and so there's just so much so, yes, I'm offering a writing retreat for folks who are in the process of writing a book or want to get their books started and you don't even have to be writing a book. Maybe you're just coming. I think another thing about we haven't really talked about, b writing for clarity and like moving through transformation 

Rich Bennett 51:15
kind 

Nicolette Halladay 51:15
or transition, like it creates it's cathartic, you know, so yeah, some hosting and retreat there and it's going to be a pretty intimate gathering of about 10, 10 folks. We get to stay in this beautiful bed and breakfast, which is absolutely gorgeous and Judy who was my uncle's partner was an artist and so her artwork is, you know, in splayed and the energy of the house they kept so much of the kind of infrastructure and things to keep it like the stained glass and the wall. 

Rich Bennett 51:52
Right, 

Nicolette Halladay 51:53
like it's just has so much energy, so I'm just so excited to welcome people the way that this house has welcomed me and now I get a welcome folks to come and kind of experiences. 

Rich Bennett 52:03
Now is that where I already filled up or can people still 

Nicolette Halladay 52:06
And 

Rich Bennett 52:06
sign up? 

Nicolette Halladay 52:08
the best way to do that is just actually email me or reach out to me on social media and we can kind of have a conversation, but there is on my website you can go and check it out. The details and there's an application and then we can just get on a phone call make sure it's kind of going to be a good fit. 

Rich Bennett 52:27
And you're only doing it once 

Nicolette Halladay 52:29
this year. Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 52:31
this year, but you could be doing it again next year 

Nicolette Halladay 52:33
we'll see how it goes, well, you know, I mean it's like yeah, 

Rich Bennett 52:37
I 

Nicolette Halladay 52:41
just want to do the one I'm excited about the one like a mission like I'm going to do so and then I was like, oh my gosh, like this is unrealistic. So the one and I just want to put a lot of care and attention into it and just support the folks who come are going to be so lucky just to receive all the amazing energy of this property in the town. 

Rich Bennett 53:02
Yeah, 

Nicolette Halladay 53:03
yeah. 

Rich Bennett 53:04
Oh, you say it old Victorian, I'm already like I want to go but 

Nicolette Halladay 53:08
okay in August, but I. Is that not good? 

Rich Bennett 53:17
Yeah, you guys doing again next year, 

Nicolette Halladay 53:19
Okay, well the thing about Silverton is it is nestled in between two mountain passes. So there is no way to get there at easy time. It's not it's it's a 

Rich Bennett 53:31
it's 

Nicolette Halladay 53:31
beautiful 

Rich Bennett 53:31
got to be 

Nicolette Halladay 53:32
drive, 

Rich Bennett 53:32
beautiful. 

Nicolette Halladay 53:33
it's gorgeous and it's so because of the kind of where it is, it's still like has this. old small town. Like, you know, it's, it hasn't been completely commercialized, which a lot of 

Rich Bennett 53:50
[BLANK_AUDIO] 

Nicolette Halladay 53:51
other, you know, Colorado mountain town has. It's been kind of spirit of that. But it is rich, like it, you know, the winters are rough and so I have to be really mindful about what we're going, but yeah, so it's going to be gorgeous. And there's so, and it's, and it's good, it's a spacious retreat. So I'm going to, 

Rich Bennett 54:11
yeah, 

Nicolette Halladay 54:12
give lots of opportunity for people to kind of do their own exploring, community, you know, come together or have some community building stuff, opportunities to work with me and kind of through the writing process and, and a rejuvenation. I mean, you're just going to feel I just, I think the folks who come are just going to feel so rejuvenated and also have this whole, lik, excited, excitement to kind of 

Rich Bennett 54:39
right, 

Nicolette Halladay 54:40
pour into whatever their project 

Rich Bennett 54:42
is. I just want to come there and cook for everybody. 

Nicolette Halladay 54:45
Oh, you do. Oh, well, I cook. 

Rich Bennett 54:49
Do you have a grill? Is there a grill 

Nicolette Halladay 54:51
there? There's a grill. 

Rich Bennett 54:52
There's a grill. A real grill or is it one of those, you know, gas ones? 

Nicolette Halladay 54:56
I really haven't. 

Rich Bennett 54:57
I'm massive. 

Nicolette Halladay 54:58
I don't know. I'm like, I'm not really familiar with anything. 

Rich Bennett 55:01
I 

Nicolette Halladay 55:01
cook. 

Rich Bennett 55:01
could 

Well, what wasn't you said we didn't hit on? Because there is something I really want to ask you and talk to you about, but you said there was something we didn't hit on. What was that? Something about clarity or something? 

Nicolette Halladay 55:15
It might have been the identity work that kind of, 

Rich Bennett 55:19
yes, 

Nicolette Halladay 55:20
they're the process of writing a book and who you're becoming in the process. 

Rich Bennett 55:23
Yeah, explain that. 

Nicolette Halladay 55:26
I think especially when we're writing about, you know, personal kind of stories and memoirs even in other nonfiction a lot of times you're folding in your stories, your experiences. That's what makes it uniquely your perspective. And we, and even if you're writing just any kind of book, really, just there is so much of this. And I'm sure you've probably experienced this as being a podcaster 

Rich Bennett 55:52
is right. 

Nicolette Halladay 55:52
There's a lot of kind of, we bump up against a lot of friction. So like, is this even good enough? Is anyone gonna even read this? Who am I to write this book? Like a lot of these limiting beliefs are so common for people to kind of move through. And a lot of times, unfortunately, it just stops people in their tracks. I mean, sometimes it can be so debilitating that people are just like, I can't, I can't, they can't see through it, they can't see past it. But what I, w I, what I've said for a long time is it's like, it's like a portal of the visibility portal 

Rich Bennett 56:29
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 56:29
when you're putting yourself out there and the confidence that you, that kind of gets percolated I guess in doing something so brave. And the clarity that comes through when you write a book. I mean, honestly, you just, when you, when you put so much time and attention and thought into, especially if you're writing about your business and I've had so many people who are just like, wow, I didn't even know how to explain what I did. You know. And now it's easy. I know the talking points. I know exactly what it is and why and all those things. So the clarity and who you are, which just also lives to like, our confidence in talking about what we do, especially as entrepreneurs and especially as like kind of people in wellness or spiritual mentors or 

Rich Bennett 57:21
oh 

Nicolette Halladay 57:21
coaching, 

Rich Bennett 57:21
yeah, 

Nicolette Halladay 57:21
it's like, there's it's sometimes hard to like, 

Rich Bennett 57:25
um, 

Nicolette Halladay 57:26
understand the tangible things. And so writing through that process, I think, creates so much clarity for us and understanding what we do and why. And so there's that there's, you know, bumping against kind of all the imposter syndrome and all the things. And I don't know through the process, I think you kind of emerge as 

published author and you get 

Rich Bennett 57:53
a 

Nicolette Halladay 57:53
to, you know, just, I mean, it comes up on at dinner, you know, at dinner parties and there's just this kind of like anchor for you to pull people back into your story into the work you're doing. And that's so cool to me. I love that part of it. 

Rich Bennett 58:11
The thing that I noticed too, especially from talking to all these different authors, it's when I don't know what it is, but when you have that title in front of your name author, 

Nicolette Halladay 58:26
yeah, 

Rich Bennett 58:26
publisher, 

Nicolette Halladay 58:26
I know. 

Rich Bennett 58:32
So I'll tell you this. So I had a friend of mine. He just wrote his second book. And he comes, our club puts on a fair every year. And the issue was the first time he came and said that he set up that and he's going to be there again this year. And he just said it felt so weird when people came up and bought his book in Anston for his autograph. 

Nicolette Halladay 58:57
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 58:58
Perda, from a lot of authors are like, 

Nicolette Halladay 59:00
Yes. It 

Rich Bennett 59:01
yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 59:01
feels, it's like I'm just a normal person who happened to write a book. Yes. 

Rich Bennett 59:06
Yes. 

Nicolette Halladay 59:06
Yeah, and it's 

Rich Bennett 59:06
But, 

Nicolette Halladay 59:07
true, but people do have this high regard for authors. And there is, and it's armed because you put this attention and dedication into sharing something and, 

Rich Bennett 59:17
oh yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 59:18
um, you know, I think it's like, I don't know, I'm, I'm, I'm kind of looked it up in a while, but I think it's like only 3% of people who say they want to write a book actually do it and publisher something like that. It's a pretty low percentage. So it's like just-

Rich Bennett 59:33
man that percentage. 

Nicolette Halladay 59:34
The, you're not, not for long. 

Rich Bennett 59:36
Okay, yes, ma'am. 

Nicolette Halladay 59:38
So, just the dedication and like carving out something. And I think, you know, we see this across different things. I mean, if you see someone train for a marathon, you, you have regard for them that they completed it, you know, because it's like, it's, it takes like dedication and commitment. And you, you know, sometimes sacrifice. And so there's all these different things. So I think, I don't think it's like in its own lane. I just think it's a great accomplishment. And it's, you know, it's something that people do still hold in really high regard, which is interesting that it's also really fun, like party talk. Like, oh, by the way, I wrote a book. People lean in. They 

Rich Bennett 1:00:20
about 

Nicolette Halladay 1:00:20
want to hear 

Rich Bennett 1:00:20
it. 

Yeah, oh yeah. Well, and even as a reader, when I get a book from somebody, I love it when it's signed. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:00:28
Yes. Absolutely. 

Rich Bennett 1:00:30
And when you get it from them in person, and it doesn't even have to be in person. But when they 

Nicolette Halladay 1:00:36
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 1:00:37
said you had a book and it's--

Nicolette Halladay 1:00:38
Oh, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 1:00:38
Nice. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:00:39
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 1:00:40
Wow. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:00:40
It goes a long way, right? That's one of the things I tell my authors to do, is like, as a networking opportunity. Or if there's someone you really want to collaborate with, that's a great way. Send them a copy of your book signed, you know, so there's all kinds of ways that--

Rich Bennett 1:00:58
It's? 

Nicolette Halladay 1:00:59
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 1:01:00
It's like the days, you know, back in the days before emailing everything when you would get those personal notes. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:01:08
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 1:01:08
From somebody, or, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:01:09
Right? 

Rich Bennett 1:01:09
you know, something in the mail. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:01:11
Yes, it's a big deal. 

Rich Bennett 1:01:12
It looks, yeah. It looks forward. So I have to tell you this. I had my daughter, because she works at the daycare. And our next four neighbors have two little kids, and the one little girl, Maddie, she's always asking, "You know, Uncle Richie, when's the next-- when you have a party, when you have a party?" Well, my daughter told her we were-- that it was my-- who was it? Okay, so my daughter told her that we get-- we were celebrating her grandmother's birthday, '93 birthday, I think, whatever. So Maddie, the little girl, grabbed the pine cone, and she brought it over and she left it on our front porch, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:01:55
that-- 

Rich Bennett 1:01:55
saying 

Nicolette Halladay 1:01:56
Oh. 

Rich Bennett 1:01:56
It's for Grace's grandmother. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:01:58
Oh. 

Rich Bennett 1:01:59
So, I get a text message from my neighbor yesterday from Maddie's father. 

Say in how tickled she was because they received a mail from somebody-- or a letter-- a card in the mail from somebody, on this road, they didn't know who it was from. And when she read it, Maddie, it was from my mother and daughter. It was a 

Nicolette Halladay 1:02:21
Oh. 

Rich Bennett 1:02:21
little three-year-old 

Nicolette Halladay 1:02:23
Oh, 

Rich Bennett 1:02:23
four-year-old 

Nicolette Halladay 1:02:23
that's--

Rich Bennett 1:02:23
girl who was tickled. And they were tickled. They're like, "It's something you don't see anymore."

Nicolette Halladay 1:02:29
Let's bring back sending personal message--

Rich Bennett 1:02:32
Yes. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:02:32
To people, I think it's so sincere and people-- I know when I receive it, it means a lot to me. 

Rich Bennett 1:02:39
Oh, yeah. Yeah, it does. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:02:41
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 1:02:42
You're only 

Nicolette Halladay 1:02:42
And 

Rich Bennett 1:02:42
promised--

Nicolette Halladay 1:02:43
people are just so-- you know, like fast paced and 

Rich Bennett 1:02:46
of 

Nicolette Halladay 1:02:46
kind 

Rich Bennett 1:02:47
into 

Nicolette Halladay 1:02:48
there. It's just like, to take a minute and say, "Hey, I see what you did, and I appreciate you. Like thank you."

Rich Bennett 1:02:55
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:02:55
A way like that, I think, it goes a long way. So yeah, so sending someone a book, you know, it's just-- it goes a long way, because people-- it's saying I thought of you. I think this is something, you know, that you-- you might enjoy, and I want to give this to you, so. 

Rich Bennett 1:03:12
Yeah. All right, so, Nicolette, are you ready for this? Because I have been dying to 

Nicolette Halladay 1:03:18
you--

Rich Bennett 1:03:18
ask 

Nicolette Halladay 1:03:18
What is it? 

Rich Bennett 1:03:22
What is the goddess clinic? 

Nicolette Halladay 1:03:25
Oh, 

okay. So the goddess clinic is a monthly opportunity. It's something I am collaborating with my dear friend Ann Mentor, an she's also written-- client, I've been her client, all the--

Rich Bennett 1:03:43
Okay. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:03:43
uh, Abigail Bonsumonsu. Montsu Bonsu, sorry. 

Rich Bennett 1:03:49
(laughs) 

Nicolette Halladay 1:03:50
See, 

Rich Bennett 1:03:50
that 10 times real fast. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:03:52
I know. Um, and uhm, it's really just, it's kind of similar to the line author community. It was Abigail's spark, she said. 

Rich Bennett 1:04:07
Okay. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:04:08
I support people right now. How can I do more? She's a spiritual mentor. And uhm, so it's a monthly call. It's free. People come in and uhm, get some opportunity to fill up their own cup, to connect with other uhm, women, mostly. Uhm, who are, you know, just, so it's a, it's a spiritual gathering. Um, Abigail does some light language transmission. We journal about uhm, kind of what's coming up. And you leave feeling super, uh, filled up. 

Rich Bennett 1:04:43
Oh wow. How long have you been doing this? 

Nicolette Halladay 1:04:46
And this is just this year, we started 

Rich Bennett 1:04:48
Okay. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:04:48
it in 2026, so. And it's a monthly gathering, and you know, come and join us, because I think so often, especially with women, we're just so used to filling, doing all the things nurturing, and just overextending. Uhm, and this is just an opportunity to come and pause and just take care of your heart, take care of yourself and 

Rich Bennett 1:05:18
yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:05:18
uhm, yeah, so. 

Rich Bennett 1:05:20
Get revitalized, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:05:22
yeah 

Rich Bennett 1:05:22
emotionally, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:05:22
like emotionally, yes, 

Rich Bennett 1:05:24
Which is 

Nicolette Halladay 1:05:25
yeah. 

Rich Bennett 1:05:25
important. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:05:26
Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 1:05:26
Very 

Nicolette Halladay 1:05:26
it's, 

Rich Bennett 1:05:27
important. How 

Nicolette Halladay 1:05:27
I 

Rich Bennett 1:05:27
do 

Nicolette Halladay 1:05:28
think 

Rich Bennett 1:05:28
people 

Nicolette Halladay 1:05:28
it's one. 

Rich Bennett 1:05:28
sign up for that? 

Nicolette Halladay 1:05:30
So you can go to, if you go to my website, I don't think I have a sign up for it there, but you can go to either Facebook or Instagram, and now there's, you know, a link there. Probably Facebook 

Rich Bennett 1:05:42
Okay. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:05:43
would be the first thing, but I think it's a pin post on my Facebook page, so just 

Rich Bennett 1:05:48
That's 

Nicolette Halladay 1:05:48
go. 

Rich Bennett 1:05:48
how I found out about it. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:05:49
Oh yeah, okay, 

Rich Bennett 1:05:51
yeah, I 

Nicolette Halladay 1:05:51
yeah, 

Rich Bennett 1:05:51
saw, I saw all your Facebook page, I'm like, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:05:53
what is those? 

Rich Bennett 1:05:54
Interesting? 

Nicolette Halladay 1:05:55
Yeah, I almost hate taking credit for it because honestly, it's Abigail's kind of brainchild, and then I was like, oh, I can support you with it. Uhm, and so the bulk of it is Abigail, and she's absolutely brilliant. She is brilliant at helping women see themselves clearly for the goddess that they are, and so. 

Rich Bennett 1:06:17
Sounds like to me that you need to bring her into the podcast. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:06:24
Yes, okay. I 

Rich Bennett 1:06:26
That 

Nicolette Halladay 1:06:26
would 

Rich Bennett 1:06:26
means you... 

Nicolette Halladay 1:06:26
love 

Rich Bennett 1:06:26
The 

Nicolette Halladay 1:06:26
that. 

Rich Bennett 1:06:27
co-host. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:06:28
Oh, okay, 

Rich Bennett 1:06:30
fun. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:06:30
that 

Rich Bennett 1:06:30
Well, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:06:30
would be 

Rich Bennett 1:06:30
you know we're better than me, I 

Nicolette Halladay 1:06:32
know 

Rich Bennett 1:06:32
well. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:06:32
her very 

Rich Bennett 1:06:32
Yeah, it's all true. I think that would be... 

Nicolette Halladay 1:06:35
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 1:06:36
I think that would be interesting. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:06:38
Okay, I would love to do that. 

Rich Bennett 1:06:40
Yeah, and 

Nicolette Halladay 1:06:40
Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 1:06:40
I'm... 

Nicolette Halladay 1:06:41
shit! 

Rich Bennett 1:06:41
The co-host to join in. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:06:43
It kind of sparked, because I think at the beginning of the year, we were both just feeling kind of like discouraged, honestly. 

Rich Bennett 1:06:50
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:06:50
Kind of like, what do we do? Like how do we, you know, like... Neither of us felt like we were really in a place to be like, I don't know, like there's people out protesting, doing this, doing that, and it's like, but we just want to support people. You know, 

Rich Bennett 1:07:05
Right. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:07:05
we just want to support, like, how can we like, leave better energy, 

Rich Bennett 1:07:10
I 

Nicolette Halladay 1:07:10
and... 

Rich Bennett 1:07:11
love that. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:07:11
So that's kind of her idea for it, and it's just... It's such a beautiful gathering, like, you just, you'll leave feeling like so, just... Let up, just 

Rich Bennett 1:07:26
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:07:26
feeling complete, you know, and I think some people probably haven't felt like that in a really long time. 

Rich Bennett 1:07:30
Oh, ye. Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:07:31
And that breaks my heart, because I've been there, too. So I really do know and understand and prioritizing our emotional and our spiritual wellness, making sure that we have a lot of support. Seeing and unseen support and feeling that support is just such an essential part of our well-being, and I think more people who are putting a focus on that is creating a better world. So... 

Rich Bennett 1:07:56
And I can see that turning into retreats as well. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:08:00
Maybe we'll... 

Rich Bennett 1:08:01
I mean, because doing a virtual is one thing, but you 

Nicolette Halladay 1:08:04
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 1:08:04
know... Exactly. Group... 

Nicolette Halladay 1:08:06
Oh. 

Rich Bennett 1:08:06
Gather? 

Nicolette Halladay 1:08:07
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 1:08:08
It's... 

Nicolette Halladay 1:08:08
Absolutely. 

Rich Bennett 1:08:09
Like, what's it called? The aras? 

Nicolette Halladay 1:08:13
Aras? 

Rich Bennett 1:08:14
Orra? Orra. The orras. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:08:15
Hmm. Yes. Exactly. 

Rich Bennett 1:08:17
Growing strong around 

Nicolette Halladay 1:08:18
Oh. 

Rich Bennett 1:08:19
here. It's 

Nicolette Halladay 1:08:19
Yes! 

Rich Bennett 1:08:19
like...oh, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:08:21
Absolutely. And...and in person is...you know...I mean...it's 

Rich Bennett 1:08:25
yeah. Feel 

Nicolette Halladay 1:08:26
just... 

Rich Bennett 1:08:26
the energy better. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:08:27
You know, and you just, you get people, like, there's only 

Rich Bennett 1:08:30
Mm-hmm. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:08:30
so much we get from these screen interactions and then you just, you meet, I don't know if you've have ever, like, had an opportunity to meet someone, I'm sure you have, that you've, like, interviewed or something, and then you meet. 

Rich Bennett 1:08:41
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:08:41
And you're like, well, you're so much taller than I thought. 

Whatever it is, you just get, like, you know, like, you get the whole sense 

Rich Bennett 1:08:49
person. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:08:49
of the 

Rich Bennett 1:08:49
Yes. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:08:50
Uhm, and I feel like, honestly, in person, doing things in person is gonna, like, take a whole swing back because people are craving, community, and connection in this way, that, 

Rich Bennett 1:09:05
uhm, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:09:05
and though we have all these digital platforms in way to stay connected, people feel more disconnected than ever, and also unsure of how to connect with people. Uhm, and so, I think just creating opportunities, so absolutely, yes, I could see it being a retreat, and I wouldn't be surprised if Abigail hosts her own retreats, sometimes, she's absolutely brilliant, so, uhm, definitely check her out, follow her on social media, she does a ton, uhm, in sharing, kind of her wisdom with the world, but, uhm, yeah, that's, that's, that's basically the, the, the gist of the, uhm, writing retreats in Silverton also. It's because it's, it's not just about writing, it's about being our full selves, and being 

Rich Bennett 1:09:49
with, yeah, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:09:50
who we are in connecting with other people who are doing that too, and, uhm, creating a community around it, so. 

Rich Bennett 1:09:58
Oh my god, I could just see, and there's so many things you could do, I mean, just even like a meditation circle, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:10:07
Yeah, yeah, we'll do, 

Rich Bennett 1:10:08
yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:10:09
we're gonna, 

Rich Bennett 1:10:09
get the Tibetan bowls going and every 

Nicolette Halladay 1:10:11
Yes, yes, absolutely, 

Rich Bennett 1:10:13
time. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:10:14
and that, you know, I mean, even in the, at the writers' retreat because so many of the people I work with are kind of in this transformational, somehow, and spiritually connected, you know, open-minded. Like, th people 

Rich Bennett 1:10:28
who 

Nicolette Halladay 1:10:29
come, uhm, there's a resonance, typically, with the work, that kind of who I am, and that's why they choose to work with me, but, uhm, there's gonna be opportunities for a lot of connection to self and to each other. 

Rich Bennett 1:10:43
Got to go. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:10:43
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 1:10:44
Jeez. See, now, you gave me homework, and now, I gave you homework, so you got to get her on the podcast. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:10:51
Okay, that would be fun, I would 

Rich Bennett 1:10:53
to. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:10:53
love 

Rich Bennett 1:10:53
I gotta, I 

Nicolette Halladay 1:10:54
in 

Rich Bennett 1:10:54
gotta 

Nicolette Halladay 1:10:54
there. 

Rich Bennett 1:10:54
get 

Nicolette Halladay 1:10:54
Share, 

Rich Bennett 1:10:54
my ass 

Nicolette Halladay 1:10:55
I, 

Rich Bennett 1:10:55
work on this book. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:10:57
Any chance I have to share about Abigail and her work, I just can't, she's been such a like, trans, she's been such a like pivotal person for me. 

Rich Bennett 1:11:08
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:11:09
And, uhm, so. 

Rich Bennett 1:11:10
A good mentor. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:11:11
She's an incredible mentor. 

Rich Bennett 1:11:13
And, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:11:13
Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 1:11:13
I mean, that's a-

Nicolette Halladay 1:11:14
because she never, and you know why, because she never really tells you what to do. She 

Rich Bennett 1:11:18
back. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:11:18
always guides you 

Rich Bennett 1:11:18
Right. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:11:19
herself. 

Rich Bennett 1:11:20
Ooh. Ooh. Alright, so before I get to my last questions, are there anything you would like to add? 

Nicolette Halladay 1:11:28
Geez, we've covered a lot. 

Uhm. 

Rich Bennett 1:11:31
Oh, there's so much more we could cover too, but...

Nicolette Halladay 1:11:33
I know, we gotta do it. No, I just wanna encourage people to come, either to the goddess clinic, if that's feeling, uhm, like something, it kinda reminds me. I probably need to put something on my website so people can find it easier. Uhm, so, uhm, to come to that, if that's feeling, and then the aligned authors community, if you are thinking about writing, have written, have published, a book in our really wanting some community. 

Rich Bennett 1:12:04
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:12:05
Accountability, and an opportunity to connect with other people doing that too, then definitely come join us there too, because my favorite thing, I've kind of, you know, kind of moving away, I mean, not that I'm moving away from social media, but using it more intentionally to opportunities to have actual real world 

Rich Bennett 1:12:26
whether...

Nicolette Halladay 1:12:26
conversations, 

Rich Bennett 1:12:26
Yes. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:12:27
...like on Zoom or in person, or it's kind of like, I'm using this as an opportunity to connect deeper, because I think that's what I want, that's what I need, and I think that's what other people are, it's gonna benefit other people the most too. So, uhm, so come and connect with us. 

Rich Bennett 1:12:44
So, I need you to pick a number between one and five. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:12:49
Hmm. 

Uh, three. 

Rich Bennett 1:12:52
Three. Alright, let me find that block bear with me in a minute. Alright, now pick a number between 41 and 60. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:13:03
51? 

Rich Bennett 1:13:05
51. So, I love doing this. I let the guess pick the last question. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:13:10
Oh. 

Rich Bennett 1:13:11
What it is, and I 

Nicolette Halladay 1:13:11
it--

Rich Bennett 1:13:12
don't know what 

Nicolette Halladay 1:13:12
Oh, okay. 

Rich Bennett 1:13:13
We have 100 different questions here, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:13:15
and--

No, okay. 

Rich Bennett 1:13:18
(laughing)

This is a perfect question. 

What's a simple pleasure in life 

Nicolette Halladay 1:13:26
Hmm. 

Rich Bennett 1:13:26
that you believe is often overlooked? 

Nicolette Halladay 1:13:32
Mmm, geez. There's so many. 

Rich Bennett 1:13:36
Hmm, hmm. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:13:42
The first thing that I have to, I'm just gonna share both because 

Rich Bennett 1:13:45
Okay. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:13:45
those are all the, The first thing that came to me is just breath. What? Deep breaths? 

Rich Bennett 1:13:50
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:13:51
Breath. Like, just working on your breathing and being present, I think it's so like it just, it's the most like everyone can, you know, everyone can do it and it's, um, something that will really bring you back to yourself. But then the other thing is, I think, connection. Like, finding support, like, building support, um, seeing an unseen, I always add in that because I'm a spiritual person, um, and nurturing genuine friendships. 

Rich Bennett 1:14:24
Mm-hmm. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:14:24
Nurturing genuine business connections. Like, really looking for opportunities to connect with other people, I think it's so important. 

Rich Bennett 1:14:34
Yeah. So that was a great answer. I think that's the first time that question's been asked, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:14:39
um, 

Rich Bennett 1:14:40
that I can think of. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:14:41
That's a, it's, it's a hard one and there's a lot. I think there's so 

Rich Bennett 1:14:44
things 

Nicolette Halladay 1:14:44
many 

Rich Bennett 1:14:45
there is a 

Nicolette Halladay 1:14:45
I'll 

Rich Bennett 1:14:45
lot. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:14:45
take for granted. Another thing. I mean, nature, obviously. Um, 

Rich Bennett 1:14:50
it was my first thought. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:14:51
Yes. I mean nature. But I think people genuinely appreciate nature too. So, some people do. I 

Rich Bennett 1:14:59
Some 

Nicolette Halladay 1:14:59
don't know. 

Rich Bennett 1:14:59
people 

Nicolette Halladay 1:14:59
probably depends on the circles you're in 

Rich Bennett 1:15:02
I think too many people take it for granted. They don't 

Nicolette Halladay 1:15:04
through. 

Rich Bennett 1:15:04
go out and they enjoy, you know, they don't enjoy it. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:15:08
I think a lot of times people go out to nature and appreciate the activity, the thing they're doing 

Rich Bennett 1:15:13
the activity 

Nicolette Halladay 1:15:13
but 

Rich Bennett 1:15:13
they're doing, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:15:14
instead of just being in it and just like, observing it and recognizing how brilliant it is and how much we can learn from it and how rejuvenating it is and grounding, like, there's so many things about nature that are 

Rich Bennett 1:15:31
Oh, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:15:31
incredible. 

Rich Bennett 1:15:31
yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:15:32
Um, and then do it with a friend and then that brings in the connection and take some deep breaths while you're at it. There you go. You got all of 

Rich Bennett 1:15:38
it. You get is so much better outside 

Nicolette Halladay 1:15:42
Yes. Absolutely. 

Rich Bennett 1:15:44
nature. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:15:44
I agree. 

Rich Bennett 1:15:45
and it goes with the 

Nicolette Halladay 1:15:46
And, 

Rich Bennett 1:15:46
breath as well. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:15:47
And here's the deal going for a walk in nature is meditation too. So, 

Rich Bennett 1:15:51
oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Just keep an eye on that coyote following. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:15:56
Yeah, just virtual bubble 

Rich Bennett 1:15:59
them. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:15:59
around 

Rich Bennett 1:15:59
They're trying to pet it. Like, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:16:01
I'm probably not a good idea. 

Rich Bennett 1:16:05
Nicolette. Thank 

Nicolette Halladay 1:16:06
you. You're surroundings. That's an 

Rich Bennett 1:16:08
oh, yes, definitely. And I am the person that we probably I got to be happy to doing that. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:16:15
I have the habit of being oblivious. Like, sometimes I'm just like, oh, I'm going to go and then someone's like, is this like, is that a good idea? 

Rich Bennett 1:16:24
I'm 

Nicolette Halladay 1:16:26
like, oh, I don't I was just thinking it would be nice to connect in nature, not the wildlife. Like that might be out there. Yeah. I 

Rich Bennett 1:16:35
see a bear comment. I'm going to be like, here, I'm going to eat. Don't feed the bears, Rich. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:16:40
Definitely don't feed the bear. Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 1:16:44
they're going to be feeding on me. Nicolette, thank you so much. You was great seeing you again. And don't forget your homework. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:16:51
I'm going to I'm on my homework. I'm 

Rich Bennett 1:16:53
Okay, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:16:53
definitely doing don't forget yours. I'm 

Rich Bennett 1:16:57
going 

Nicolette Halladay 1:16:57
to do it. 

Rich Bennett 1:16:58
Well, yes, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:16:58
valuable book. 

Rich Bennett 1:16:59
I know I have to because you're going to stay you're going to look, I know you're going to be arrested. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:17:05
I'm probably going to ask you to keep asking you about it. 

Rich Bennett 1:17:07
And sometimes that's what I need. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:17:10
There you go. 

Rich Bennett 1:17:10
I need somebody to this. Yes. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:17:13
Yeah, we all do. 

Rich Bennett 1:17:14
I'm 

Nicolette Halladay 1:17:14
We all 

Rich Bennett 1:17:14
in 

Nicolette Halladay 1:17:15
do. 

Rich Bennett 1:17:15
trouble now. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:17:15
But honestly, I think my best advice for you is like, how can it be fun? 

Rich Bennett 1:17:22
Yeah, oh, I know it would be fun. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:17:25
And then do it that for that reason. 

Rich Bennett 1:17:27
Yeah, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:17:28
anything. So 

Rich Bennett 1:17:29
I'm 

Nicolette Halladay 1:17:29
don't. 

Rich Bennett 1:17:29
just. I'm the type that it's hard for me to write stuff down or even type stuff 

Nicolette Halladay 1:17:34
down. Well, you can. 

Rich Bennett 1:17:35
Although I could speak 

Nicolette Halladay 1:17:36
in 

Rich Bennett 1:17:36
it 

Nicolette Halladay 1:17:36
you couldn't narrate it. 

Rich Bennett 1:17:38
Yeah, I could dictate 

Nicolette Halladay 1:17:39
I 

Rich Bennett 1:17:39
it. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:17:39
mean, there's so many tools right now and that's 

Rich Bennett 1:17:41
Yeah. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:17:41
something a lot of people do is, you know, like, I don't know I can I can talk for hours so I can do that and then. 

Rich Bennett 1:17:48
Yeah, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:17:48
describe it and work from there or so. But also, you know, I think it's good practice to start writing, you know, just maybe just start a little bits. 

Rich Bennett 1:17:58
I'm going to start on it right after Memorial Day. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:18:01
All right, sounds. 

Rich Bennett 1:18:02
I 

Nicolette Halladay 1:18:03
Well, 

Rich Bennett 1:18:03
promise. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:18:03
I hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend 

Rich Bennett 1:18:05
two. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:18:06
and 

Rich Bennett 1:18:06
I'll be it's going to be raining, but I'm going to be cooking our grilling. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:18:10
Nice. That sounds great. 

Rich Bennett 1:18:12
Whether it doesn't. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:18:13
I mean, the reigning the reigning week. 

Rich Bennett 1:18:15
I ain't 

Nicolette Halladay 1:18:16
It's 

Rich Bennett 1:18:16
nothing. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:18:16
it's good. I don't know. 

Rich Bennett 1:18:18
I 

Nicolette Halladay 1:18:18
We 

Rich Bennett 1:18:18
mean, it's not going to be storming. It's just showers. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:18:21
know. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 1:18:22
But we had we had a good snowfall here and I was. It was the biggest snowfall we had this winter. I wanna say we had like 12 inches or 

Nicolette Halladay 1:18:31
wow. 

Rich Bennett 1:18:31
so. Maybe 15, I don't know, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:18:33
Hm. 

Rich Bennett 1:18:34
but I'm out there smoking. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:18:37
Why, 

Rich Bennett 1:18:38
know, I think. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:18:38
are you, 

Rich Bennett 1:18:38
Bar, let me rephrase 

Nicolette Halladay 1:18:39
yeah, 

Rich Bennett 1:18:39
that. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:18:39
I, 

Rich Bennett 1:18:40
Barbecuing, 

Nicolette Halladay 1:18:41
I 

Rich Bennett 1:18:41
I was out there. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:18:42
Ah, my god, this is an interesting. 

Rich Bennett 1:18:44
I was out there barbecuing. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:18:48
I knew what you meant. I did, but I'm glad you put a fight in front of the listener. 

Rich Bennett 1:18:53
On that note, Nicolette, thanks so much. 

Nicolette Halladay 1:18:56
That sounds good. Have a wonderful weekend. Thank you everyone. 

Rich Bennett 1:19:00
Well, first of all, Nicolette. Thank you so much for coming on the show. And for what I think was a conversation that went far beyond writing and publishing books. What really stood out to me is that writing a book isn't just about putting words on paper. It's about trusting yourself enough to say, "My story matters." It's about pushing past the doubts, the imposter syndrome, the fear of being judged, and realizing that your unique perspective might be exactly what someone else needs to hear. And honestly, Nicolette may have accidentally given me some homework during this episode. If you've listened this far, you heard or called me out on my excuses for not writing my own book. So maybe we're all leaving this conversation with a little homework today. Whether you're thinking about writing a book, starting a business, sharing your story, or simply trying to figure out your next chapter in life, I hope this conversation reminded you that you don't need all the answers before you begin. Sometimes you just need enough courage to take the next step. If you like to learn more about Nicolette, inspired Hearts Publishing, the aligned author community, her upcoming retreats, or her book, The Golden Thread and The Lineage of the Light, be sure to visit InspiredHartsPublishing.com, and I'll have the link in the Shared Notes for that. And connect with our social media as well. And as always, remember this, your story matters, your experiences matter. And the things you've lived through may one day become the very thing that helps someone else find their way forward. Until next time, keep supporting one another, keep having meaningful conversations, and keep finding the courage to share your story.