Academia Meets Amazon Success
"Having Debbie’s team was exactly what I needed-someone sensible to tell me what to do next and provide that essential nagging. I no longer dread the book-writing process. In fact, it's now enjoyable. I know exactly how to make each book work for me professionally and personally."
Emma Williams, PHD - Author of Leaving Academia - emmawilliamsphd.com
The Challenge: Emma had a bestselling course and a powerful message - but turning it into a book left her overwhelmed and stuck.
Emma Williams knew she had valuable content in her successful online course, 'UNIque', aimed at empowering women in academia. With years of experience and credibility behind her, transforming this content into a book seemed like the obvious next step. How hard could it be?
Turns out—quite hard indeed
Emma had previously published a collaborative book through a traditional academic publisher.
However, the experience left her frustrated due to minimal support, high book pricing, and limited promotional assistance. She realised she needed structured support, accountability, and clear guidance for her next project.
After turning her 'UNIque' course transcripts into a massive Word document, Emma found herself overwhelmed. The project quickly became a daunting task, "a monster under the bed" that lingered unfinished.
Who is Emma Williams, PhD?
Emma Williams, PhD, is a coach, author, and researcher developer dedicated to empowering academic researchers to move forward positively and proactively in their careers. With over 30 years in the higher education sector, she specialises in researcher development and career coaching. Emma is the creator of the 'UNIque' online course and the author of The UNIque Guide for Women and Leaving Academia. Her work focuses on providing practical tools and insights to help academics navigate their careers with confidence.
The Solution: Transform the 'UNIque' Course into a Market-Ready Book
Emma’s course was packed with valuable insights but it needed to be reshaped into a compelling narrative fit for readers beyond her student base.
Solution Step 1: Structure, Edit, and Publish UNIque
We took Emma’s course transcripts—once an overwhelming Word doc—and helped her shape them into a clear, engaging book. With professional editing and structured deadlines, Emma moved from stuck to finished.
We reorganised the content to follow a logical reader journey, filled the gaps with new material, and turned the raw transcript into a polished manuscript. Then we handled the design, formatting, and publishing—making UNIque available globally via Amazon and IngramSpark. What began as “the monster under the bed” became an Amazon bestseller and a true business asset.
Solution Step 2: Write a Second Book That Opens Doors
After the success of UNIque, Emma had more to say. Her next book needed to reach even further—towards mainstream visibility and publishing recognition.
Through Debbie’s cohort model, Emma wrote Leaving Academia with support, accountability, and encouragement from a like-minded group. Weekly sessions, feedback, and community helped her stay on track and refine her ideas.
We encouraged Emma to clarify her message, shape her intellectual property, and own her voice. Her confidence grew—and so did her clarity.
Solution Step 3: Launch Strategy & Award Positioning
With the book complete, we focused on smart publishing: creating a strong launch plan, leveraging Amazon categories, and entering key awards.
The result? Leaving Academia not only became a bestseller but was also shortlisted for a prestigious Business Book Award and featured by Nature as a top career book for 2025.
"Debbie is the only reason I can now say I have 3 books! The last two were solo authored titles and I'm pretty sure they would not have happened without this pocket rocket of a Brummie. As soon as Debbie explained her process I could see it was going to work for me. Timelines, deadline, a structure and accountability to get me through the writing with something I am proud of. All supported by her professional team of editor and designers. Debbie understands the highs and lows of being an author but doesn't let you dwell in sulks or procrastination. On publication day I don't know who was more excited. Debbie genuinely joins you on the authors journey.
Emma Williams, PHD - AUTHOR OF Leaving Academia - emmawilliamsphd.com
Here's what Emma has to say:
"Having Debbie’s team was exactly what I needed, someone sensible to tell me what to do next and provide that essential nagging. I no longer dread the book-writing process. In fact, it's now enjoyable. I know exactly how to make each book work for me professionally and personally"
What Debbie Says About Emma
"Emma is an absolute joy to work with. She sticks to deadlines brilliantly, she's consistently supportive and insightful within the cohort, and her clear, practical feedback and sense of humour make her an invaluable member of our writing community."
