International Women's Day: Amplifying Your Voice with Karen Strauss {ep. 156}
March 8, 2025
In this episode, Alexa Bigwarfe interviews Karen Strauss, founder of Hybrid Global Publishing. Karen shares her journey from traditional publishing to hybrid publishing, the challenges authors face, and the hidden costs of publishing. Learn how a book can elevate your business, establish authority, and open doors to new opportunities.
In this podcast episode, Alexa and Karen discuss:
- Karen’s Publishing Journey
- Started in publishing by accident while working at Macy’s, where she managed book events.
- Moved into traditional publishing, working at Bantam, Random House, McMillan, and Crown in sales, marketing, and publicity.
- Noticed that her voice was being muted in the corporate world, which motivated her to start her own company.
- Founding Hybrid Global Publishing
- Left the corporate publishing world amid industry instability and mergers.
- Transitioned to selling books for independent publishers before founding her own hybrid press.
- Personal challenges, including breast cancer, reinforced her decision to help others, particularly women, amplify their voices through publishing.
- Focus on Business and Personal Development Books
- Hybrid Global Publishing specializes in books by entrepreneurs, coaches, and speakers.
- Helps authors use books as lead magnets to grow their businesses and gain speaking opportunities.
- Expanding into memoirs, especially those that can help authors build a brand, podcast, or business.
- Why Choose a Hybrid Publisher?
- Traditional publishing offers limited royalties and control, while self-publishing can be overwhelming.
- Hybrid publishing provides expert guidance without taking ownership of an author’s work.
- Many authors underestimate the complexity of publishing—editing, design, distribution, and marketing all require professional input.
- The Hidden Costs of Publishing
- Many authors overlook essential costs, such as editing, formatting, and marketing.
- Some hybrid publishers charge extra for necessary services like return policies and copy editing.
- Karen emphasizes the importance of vetting publishers carefully and knowing what’s included in a package.
- How to Submit to Hybrid Global Publishing
- Interested authors can submit their book idea on the website.
- A 30-minute call helps determine if it’s a good fit.
- The submission process includes reviewing a synopsis, a couple of sample chapters, and an editorial assessment.
- Advice for Aspiring Authors
- Publishing is a business investment—paying for expertise ensures a higher quality product.
- Authors should focus on what they do best and leave the publishing logistics to professionals.
- Choosing the right publishing path depends on the author’s goals—whether it’s book sales, business growth, or speaking engagements.
- Final Thoughts & Women in Publishing Summit
- Karen praises Alexa’s work in building a supportive publishing community.
This episode provides a deep dive into the world of hybrid publishing, offering practical advice for authors looking to publish their books effectively and strategically.
Karen has held various positions in the Publishing industry for over 35 years. She worked at Random House, Macmillan, Crown and Avon in Sales, Marketing, and Publicity.
She has worked with celebrities such as President Jimmy Carter, Jimmy Stewart, Martha Stewart, George F. Will and Og Mandino. In 2010 Karen founded Hybrid Global Publishing, a firm that works with Entrepreneurs, Speakers, and coaches to help them write, publish, distribute, and promote their books in order to generate unlimited leads, get on more speaking stages, and grow their business by attracting more clients. Karen has helped over 1000 business owners become successful published authors and has helped 700 authors reach #1 bestselling status.
Learn more here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbstrauss21/
https://hybridglobalpublishing.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kbstrauss