By Nea Simone
There’s something sacred about the written word. The quiet power of a blank page. The intimacy between a writer and her truth. That’s where I started. That’s where I still return.
But somewhere along the journey, I realized that my words weren’t meant to live solely on the page. They were meant to be spoken, shared, lived. And eventually, they became the foundation of a platform that has taken me into rooms I once only dreamed of.
From Pen to Podium
When Reaching Back was released, I thought my job was done. I had poured my heart into the story. I had rewritten scenes late at night. I had cried through chapters. I thought I would quietly step back and let the book speak for itself.
But then came the calls.
Book clubs. Literary conferences. Women’s leadership summits. People weren’t just reading the story—they wanted to hear from the woman who wrote it.
I’ll never forget that first keynote. I was terrified. I had pages of notes, a trembling voice, and a prayer in my chest. But when I walked off that stage to a standing ovation, I knew something had shifted. My voice didn’t just belong to the page—it belonged to people.
Building the Brand
As the invitations grew, I began to see the bigger picture. This wasn’t just about one book. It was about vision. It was about legacy. I had the opportunity to build something beyond authorship—a platform rooted in storytelling, strategy, and soul.
So I started speaking with intention.
I invested in my craft as a communicator.
I said yes to podcasts, panels, corporate trainings, and community roundtables.
I didn’t wait for someone to crown me “expert” or “influencer.” I just showed up, again and again, as myself—with truth, clarity, and a message that mattered.
And when I founded Bespoke Media Marketing, it wasn’t a departure from writing—it was a continuation. I had spent my career crafting narratives. Now I was helping others find their story, their audience, their tribe.
Turning Purpose Into Profit
Let’s be clear: monetizing your voice is not selling out—it’s showing up.
It’s creating value from your experiences.
It’s knowing that your journey, your knowledge, your perspective holds weight.
Yes, I wrote bestselling novels. But I also wrote pitch decks. I wrote keynotes. I wrote brand strategies. And every word was rooted in the same intention: to connect, to elevate, to empower.
Today, I’m proud to say that my voice is my business.
I speak. I write. I mentor. I build.
And I get paid to do it because I refused to keep my light dimmed.
For the Woman Reading This…
If you’re sitting on a story—speak it.
If you’re shrinking in rooms you’re meant to lead—stand up.
If you’re waiting for a sign—this is it.
You are not “just” a writer.
You are not “just” a speaker.
You are a voice. A platform. A movement in motion.
With power & purpose,
— Nea
Leave a Reply