episode 53: Mila Johansen

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Guest: Mila Johansen

Mila Johansen's slogan "Self-publishing is easy as 1-2-3 for Anyone at Any Age" is the philosophy behind her coaching and methodology for helping authors write and publish books. Johansen, a writing and publishing coach, focuses on her "Short Book" concept to make the process accessible and achievable for all. 

Mila Johansen

Author

Mila Johansen is a professional speaker, writer, published author and teacher.

She is the author of twenty-two plays and musicals that circle the globe, along with two teaching manuals, 101 Theatre Games and 50 Scenes to Go. 

She has written just under ten screenplays and enjoys the process. Mila has one Young Adult historical novel, The Four Thieves,  finished and ready to publish, along with several children’s picture books. She also has three provocative upmarket women’s fiction novels almost completed.

Mila also teaches social media, screenwriting, creative writing, public speaking and herbology at a local adult education school. 

Mila recently completed a book about her famous suffragette grandmother, Jessie Haver Butler, for the 100th anniversary of women winning the right to vote in August, 2020. 

Mila lives on her organic citrus ranch in Northern California with her husband, four dogs and a cat.  

Mila Johansen's self-publishing method

Johansen emphasizes that the self-publishing process can be broken down into simple steps, especially by starting with a "Short Book," which can be as brief as 36 pages. 

Her approach for aspiring authors includes:

• The Short Book concept: She teaches people to write and publish a shorter book first. This is less overwhelming than a full-length manuscript and helps authors establish themselves as experts in their field.
• Overcoming mental blocks: Johansen encourages writers to push past perfectionism and imposter syndrome, advocating for simple, consistent writing sessions of just 20 minutes a day.
• Utilizing Amazon: She teaches the technical aspects of self-publishing, including how to format and advertise books on platforms like Amazon.
• The Modular Book: Johansen is also the inventor of this concept, which allows an author to create multiple books from one manuscript. 

About Mila Johansen

Johansen is a long-time professional writer, speaker, and teacher. Her background includes: 

• Plays and musicals: She is the author of 22 plays and musicals that have been performed internationally.
• Other writing: She has written screenplays and a historical book, From Cowgirl to Congress, about her suffragette grandmother, Jessie Haver Butler.
• Family legacy: A professional public speaker, Johansen was trained by her grandmother, who spoke alongside figures like Eleanor Roosevelt and Gloria Steinem.
• Coaching experience: She has coached authors worldwide for years, helping dozens of people write and self-publish their books.