Turning a Shelved Novel into a Hit Podcast and Publishing Deal

Author Liz Whitehurst first wrote Messenger in 2019 because she believed deeply in its message of human connection — but after struggling to publish, she set the manuscript aside.

As isolation swept the world during the pandemic, Liz realized her story about strangers connecting across New York City had become even more relevant. So she decided to reimagine Messenger as a serialized podcast, releasing weekly audio episodes that breathed new life into her story. Listeners were captivated and began sending in their own tales of serendipity, which Liz turned into bonus episodes mirroring the original story’s central themes.

Liz’s creativity grew Messenger from a shelved manuscript into a publishing deal and print release in 2021. And when the opportunity arose to relaunch Messenger as a book, Books Forward was thrilled to help Liz share her innovative storytelling with a wider audience.

Strategic Media Amplification

Our team positioned Liz as an expert on blending literary and audio storytelling – a strategy that yielded glowing results.

We secured guest articles about her process in Writer’s Digest, Elephant Journal, Women Writers, Women’s Books, Insecure Writers’ Support Group, Writers Helping Writers and more. We also landed features in NaNoWriMo and Kind Over Matter, among many other outlets, expanding her visibility among both aspiring and established writers.

By showcasing Liz’s creativity and her willingness to experiment across mediums, we positioned her as a key voice in how authors can reach new audiences by reimagining how stories are told.

Modern Storytelling, Modern Success

Liz is inspiring proof that today’s authors can build thriving readerships by experimenting fearlessly and embracing new platforms. Her innovation, along with Books Forward’s strategic publicity, facilitated a successful book launch to readers and listeners across the globe.

“All that you and the Books Forward team did exceeded my hopes and expectations,” Liz said of her book publicity campaign. “Your kindness, patience, expertise and responsiveness knew no bounds. You held my hand and walked me through every aspect of what was a new and daunting process for me. I couldn’t have done it without you! I am AMAZED at all you’ve accomplished for Messenger.”