33: Lead Well Live Well with Dee Blick - Episode 3333: Lead Well Live Well with Dee Blick - Episode 33
UK Health Radio Podcast
Host Dee Blick talks with publisher Brenda Dempsey about her path from teacher to book publisher, the rise of shorter non-fiction books and the idea of the "authorpreneur." Their discussion touches on honest storytelling, legacy building and how sharing real experiences, including addiction and recovery, can influence others to change.
52:46•31 Oct 2026
From Teacher to Trailblazing Publisher: Brenda Dempsey on Short Books and Big Impact
Episode Overview
- A book can grow out of an ordinary career shift, as Brenda shows moving from 25 years in teaching to founding a hybrid publishing house.
- Strong developmental editing focuses on the reader, blending experience, expertise and evidence with real-life stories rather than lectures.
- Short, clearly written non-fiction books (around 20,000–30,000 words) can be highly effective and more accessible for busy authors and readers.
- Brenda’s "authorpreneur" concept encourages authors to treat their book as part of a wider mission, including speaking, courses and global reach.
- Dee’s reflection on her TEDx talk "from addict to author" underlines how sharing vulnerable personal stories can inspire others to address addiction.
“If you've got a story, you've got a book.”
Get ready to be moved by real-life accounts of creativity, courage and second chances in this conversation between host Dee Blick and publisher Brenda Dempsey. Although the focus is on writing and business, anyone rebuilding life after addiction or major change will recognise the themes of reinvention, mindset and sharing your story to help others.
Brenda explains how a phone call inviting her to contribute to a book nudged her from 25 years in teaching into coaching, anthology projects and eventually founding Book Brilliance Publishing in 2020. She laughs about insisting, "I'm not a writer. I'm not a publisher. I'm not an author," and then shows how that story completely changed. Her journey feels especially relevant if you're wondering what to do with hard‑won lessons from recovery or personal struggle.
A big part of the chat is Brenda’s approach to editing and why real impact comes from honesty rather than lecturing. She draws on her English teaching background and special needs work, breaking things down into bite‑size pieces and pushing authors to add emotion, evidence and lived experience: "People don't want to be lectured and spoken to.
They want to learn through your failures, your ups, your downs." Dee shares how Brenda pushed her to deepen a key chapter in her own book, transforming the emotional power of the story. Brenda also talks about her concept of the "authorpreneur" – an author who sees their book as part of a bigger mission, speaking on stages, creating courses and building a legacy.
Shorter non‑fiction books get plenty of attention, too, with Brenda arguing that clear, distilled writing can be just as powerful as a 50,000‑word tome. Towards the end, Dee reflects on her TEDx talk "from addict to author" and how one audience member quietly realised, "I, too, am an alcoholic and I don't want to drink anymore." It’s a reminder that sharing our stories – whether in a speech or a book – can change lives.
So, if there's a book in you, what’s stopping you from starting today?
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