The start of a new year always brings a mix of energy and pressure.

Many of us are sitting down right now to think about our marketing, communications, and content plans for 2026 — what to start, what to keep, what to change, and maybe even what to finally let go of. And if we're being honest, that planning process can feel even heavier than it used to.

There are more tools. More platforms. More advice. And now, more AI — promising speed, efficiency, and scale, while adding another layer of decisions and noise.

As I’ve been working with AI this year, here’s where I’m landing (for now): AI isn’t the enemy — it’s a thoughtful partner. Discover how to use AI intentionally for productivity, creativity, and amplifying your expertise.

Recently I had a truly insightful conversation with a friend who's navigating the world of communications for a wonderful nonprofit. We chatted about the unique challenges of sharing impactful stories, especially when the organization’s work involves sensitive situations and clients privacy is paramount. It made me reflect on how many purpose-driven organizations are doing incredible work but might feel stuck when it comes to effectively communicating their mission and building engagement online.

As we head into a new season, I wanted to share a few incredible upcoming events and conversations designed to spark inspiration, foster connection, and ignite action. If you’re looking to surround yourself with bold thinkers, purpose-driven leaders, and meaningful conversations… don’t miss these!

How often do we overcomplicate our messaging, our services, and even our sense of purpose, when the real magic lies in embracing what comes naturally? We realized that the simplest phrases often carry the greatest clarity, helping us to see how our varied experiences connect under a single, authentic belief and vision.

While South by Southwest (SXSW) calls itself a festival and was originally focused on the music scene back when it started, it is now much more like a Lollapalooza + Sundance + TedTalk spread over 10 days over a mostly 10 x 10 block radius in downtown Austin.

It's never a fair question to ask “who did your website?” because it's typically a collaboration involving many people's time, talents, and resources. My new site is no exception, and I want to ensure everyone involved gets credit for transforming nancysheed.com into what it is today.

I was so honored to moderate HAYVN’s inaugural HerStory evening earlier this week. Chatting with Felicia Rubinstein and Kristen Rzasa was a most inspiring time as we heard of their journeys, challenges, and successes as thriving entrepreneurs.

If you have been curious about how podcasting might serve you and your business – you are not too late as the podcasting game is still on the rise. And if you’re not leveraging this medium to amplify your voice and connect with your audience, you’re likely missing valuable opportunities.

Even in this era of social media proliferation, your website is still a key marketing tool for you and your business. As it is controlled by you (not a mega platform that changes the rules of engagement frequently and unexpectedly), it makes sense to regularly check that your website is working as hard as it can for you.

No surprise: what’s good for the bookseller is good for the book author. At this year’s ABA Winter Institute, I attended a conference session called “The New Marketing and Media Strategy” hoping to get caught up on the latest tips and trends.

Technically, I like to say my new year starts on February 1st. This gives me the space and grace to go into January feeling OK and open – NOT overwhelmed! It also allows me to fully enjoy the holidays with family and friends. 

This week I ran across this list of “25 Podcasts for Authors on Writing, Publishing, and Book Marketing” from the team at bookbaby.com. While it’s thorough, thoughtful, and cleverly organized, I was surprised to see that several of my go-to writing / author / book publishing focused podcasts were NOT listed. 

Twenty years ago this month, I quit corporate – or opted out – as they called it back then. 

You know the drill – commuting from the burbs to NYC by train, working in cubicles on the 35th floor of a midtown building, surrounded by co-workers, and lots of buzzy publishing activity of a weekly magazine. 

Memoirs have a unique power to captivate, inspire, and connect with readers on a deeply personal level. 

They are windows into the lives, experiences, and emotions of their authors, offering a glimpse of the human condition in all its complexity. 

In a fun and informative conversation last week, I spoke with Holland Saltsman of The Novel Neighbor and Eric Bursch of USA Today to discuss the relaunch of the USA Today best-selling booklist. The relaunch of this iconic list brings new opportunities for authors, publishers, and independent bookstores.

Escaping the algorithm trap: Building authentic connections on your own terms. Recently I’ve witnessed two different scenarios where people referred to the algorithm as though it were a being: “The algorithm doesn’t like me today.” and “We can’t stop posting or we will be penalized by the algorithm.”

I admire the idea of disruption but it sort of scares me too. I’ve been thinking about how to disrupt my own business but that sort of scares me too.