Podcast Summary: The BossBabe Podcast

Episode 477: From Rejected Author to $2.5M Revenue: The Exact System That Changed Everything

Host: Natalie Ellis
Guest: Ashley (Writing Coach LA)
Date: August 28, 2025

Episode Overview

In this inspiring episode, host Natalie Ellis sits down with Ashley, an international bestselling author and founder of Writing Coach LA, to uncover her journey from repeated rejection as an aspiring author to building a $2.5 million coaching business. Ashley shares the step-by-step system that transformed her writing career, developed her successful Freedom Fast Track sales engine, and enabled her to help other aspiring authors achieve their dreams. The conversation also delves into finding personal purpose after a life-altering accident, the unique “DNA” of every business, balancing creativity and sales, and motherhood as an ambitious entrepreneur.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ashley's Path: From Rejection to Publishing Success

• Early Writing Aspirations: Ashley’s love for writing began at age 7, but writing her first book took three years and led to multiple rejections from publishers.
• Discovering the System: The turning point came after hiring a coach (Deborah), who introduced her to a repeatable writing process.
• Breakthrough Success: Applying this system led her to write her next book—a YA dystopian sci-fi—much faster. It became an international bestseller, gained a publishing deal, and was optioned for film and TV.
• Organic Business Growth: As word spread, others asked for her guidance, ultimately leading her to found a flourishing coaching business.

“Like anything, there’s a system to writing books… You can learn this process. Anyone can learn it.” – Ashley (02:19)

2. The Impact of a Life-Changing Accident

• Critical Moment: A near-fatal car accident with her husband (Jan 2, 2018, [08:34]) prompted a profound reassessment of her life and ambitions.
• Refocusing Priorities: This “dark night of the soul” led Ashley to intentionally build a life and business aligned with her passions and gifts.

“That was my wake up call because everything changed… If you can just focus, if you can just put your efforts into one thing… maybe you’ll see a difference all around.” – Ashley (09:10)

3. Turning Passion Into Profit: The Business Evolution

• Business Growth: Started focusing on coaching in 2019; now at $2.5M in revenue with a small team.
• Learning Sales & Marketing: Initially resistant to selling, but realized mastering sales engines and funnels was essential for sustaining and expanding her mission.
• Freedom Fast Track: Gained pivotal skills in building funnels and sales systems, finding ways to align marketing with her own creative style.

“It’s so important to know how to make money… You want to feel confident: I can go out, I know I can make money, I have a sales engine that works.” – Ashley (12:35)
“My brain does not like [learning funnels]… But you have to make it a priority and figure out how to do it in a way that works for you.” – Ashley (15:15)

4. Honoring Your Unique Business DNA

• Personalized Approach: Recognizes that every business is unique and must be built around the founder’s strengths and voice.
• Authenticity and Flow: When Ashley leaned into her own style (not just copying others), business felt more joyful, clients were better-matched, and results improved.
• Leveraging Data: She learned to listen to the story her business’s numbers were telling, using data to drive decisions rather than guesswork.

“Your business is a life form. It’s got its own DNA because you are your own person and unique, you know.” – Ashley (17:13)
“What is the story the numbers are telling me? If I can listen to that… now I can really understand the unique DNA of your business.” – Ashley (18:56)

5. Building a Successful Sales Engine

• Core Elements:
  • Organic traffic: Warm network, referrals, Instagram community, newsletter.
  • Content nurturing: Consistently delivering value up front.
  • Conversion event: Five-day “Get Your Book Done” bootcamp that moves dreamers to action and “warms them up” for her Book Accelerator program.
  • Invitation to join: The program is offered at the end, but attendees always leave with tangible value, whether or not they join.

“You have this network, this audience, and when they know and like you, they trust you, you give them an opportunity—come to this free thing, you’re going to learn so much. That’s the core engine." – Ashley (21:19)

• Key Tactics:
  • Over-teaching (intentionally) to ensure attendees feel helped, not just sold.
  • Social media channels (esp. Instagram) and email list as primary lead generators—warm leads far outperform cold ads.
  • Predictability comes by understanding the flow from audience > email list > conversion event > sales.

6. Streamlining for Alignment and Freedom

• Simplification: Previously tried too many funnels, leading to confusion and burnout. Now focuses efforts on what works (the bootcamp funnel).
• Delegation Myths: Challenged “boss” culture that says founders should stop doing what makes them successful. Embraces being hands-on in key areas.

“If the business takes off because of that thing, why should we have to give it up just because some guru said you need to delegate that?” – Natalie (31:07)
“No one’s going to care about your business baby at the level you are… There needs to be someone that leads the way.” – Ashley (32:53)

7. Weekly Structure for Creative Flow & Growth

• Work Rhythm:
  • Mon/Tues: In-the-business—client sessions, team meetings, Zoom calls (“up” days).
  • Wed/Thurs: CEO work—vision, planning, internal projects (“down” days).
  • Friday: Catch-all for family needs and overflow.
• Productivity Hack: Inspired by Michelle Obama’s distinction between “up” and “down” days.

“Mondays and Tuesdays are my in-the-business days… Wednesdays and Thursdays, I need to take a step back… and plan the vision.” – Ashley (33:40)

8. Reimagining Success Post-Motherhood

• Prioritization Shift: After becoming a mom, success is less about scaling at any cost and more about time freedom and presence with her daughter.
• Fluid Childcare Strategy: Currently works two full “up” days per week with additional flexibility. Emphasizes the importance of unapologetic self-care and continual adjustment.

“Now I’m more like, how much time can I spend with my daughter where I’m present?… What I’m prioritizing now is how I want to feel in the business and how I want to feel day to day.” – Ashley (36:47)

9. The Author’s Success Code & Lessons for Writers

• About the Book: The Author’s Success Code: Nine Secrets to Write and Publish a Book That Will Change Your Life compiles Ashley’s framework, mindset shifts, and strategies for aspiring authors.
• Core Guidance: Overcome the “blank page” barrier, leverage structure, and realize that writing and publishing are learnable skills.
• Reviews Matter: Stresses the importance of leaving reviews for authors and podcasters.

“If we can just get that first draft done, that milestone is everything. And then beyond that, the rest of it becomes a lot easier.” – Ashley (46:14)

10. Investing in Learning & Playing the Long Game

• On Funnels & FFT: Ashley’s first cohort after implementing Freedom Fast Track netted $10,000, immediately paying for itself.
• Mindset for Growth: Investment fuels accountability and learning; results correlate with level of participation and implementation.
• Key Advice: Seek a playbook, invest, show up, and focus on learning from mentors whose approach resonates.

“When you pay, you pay attention.” – Ashley (51:54)
“Do it with the intention of, what do you want out of this? What do you want at the end of this process?... That’s the key, I think.” – Ashley (50:07)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You can learn this process. Anyone can learn it.” – Ashley (02:19)
• “That was my wake up call... If you can just focus, if you can just put your efforts into one thing… maybe you’ll see a difference all around.” – Ashley (09:10)
• “Your business is a life form. It’s got its own DNA because you are your own person and unique, you know.” – Ashley (17:13)
• “What is the story the numbers are telling me? If I can listen to that… that’s magic.” – Ashley (18:56)
• “When you pay, you pay attention.” – Ashley (51:54)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–03:58 – Ashley’s journey to becoming an author; early failures and pivotal coaching
• 06:10–09:45 – Life-altering car accident and transforming priorities
• 12:32–14:47 – Building a $2.5M business and learning sales/marketing as a creative
• 16:08–18:34 – How every business has a unique DNA
• 20:15–24:43 – Sales engine: five-day bootcamp, content strategy, and conversion events
• 27:51–31:29 – Burnout from complexity, myth-busting about delegation
• 33:40–36:23 – Ashley’s weekly structure for mixing creative and CEO time
• 38:51–44:05 – Motherhood, childcare balance, boundaries, and unapologetic self-care
• 46:08–47:10 – Details on Ashley’s book and coaching philosophy
• 48:21–52:22 – Investing in learning, the importance of implementation, and results

Get Connected & Next Steps

• Ashley’s Website: writingcoachla.com
• Instagram: @ashleymwrites
• Book: The Author’s Success Code (available at major retailers)
• Bootcamp & Funnel: Details and signup via website

Closing Reflection

Ashley’s story is a powerful example of resilience, the impact of intentional systems, and the importance of blending creativity with business acumen. Whether you dream of writing a book, making sales on repeat, or building a freedom-based business, her journey demonstrates that with the right mindset and method, predictable profit and genuine fulfillment are within reach.