Author, Podcast Host, Realtor: Building a Creative Empire by Brittany Ranew

As a successful realtor, people are surprised to find out that I’ve just self-published the first book in my magical fantasy series Riley Jordan & The Fire Prophecies: Lion of Fire. Most think I would have gone the nonfiction route and published a book about how to be successful at buying or selling houses or starting a podcast. It does make sense to find a way to build your brand and authority that way, but I’ve never been one to take the expected route. And much like the hero of my novel, Riley Jordan, I was a little lost after college.

Creativity was my passion, but I couldn’t get out of my own way. I let fear hold me back—fear of failure, fear of success, fear of what other people think. It made me feel lost. The only thing I knew for sure was that I worked hard, was a self-starter, and cared deeply about people. Once I embraced these qualities, doors started opening for me, which gave me the confidence to pursue my creative dreams.

I started imagining Riley Jordan & The Fire Prophecies in 2008. I outlined the novel and series and did a lot of research. I completed the first novel in 2013 and started querying literary agents in hopes of landing a book deal. What I didn’t know at the time was that the book wasn’t ready, and more importantly, I wasn’t ready.

In the meantime, I became a realtor. I’ve always blazed my own trails, so becoming a realtor was a way I could start a business without a ton of risk. Having the creative control to run my own business fueled the successful real estate business I have today. In 2020, I started the St. Pete Soul podcast so that I could immerse myself in the culture and provide more value for my clients. It’s through the podcast that I became part of our local small business community and, shortly after, was branded as the Relocation Expert of Tampa Bay.

Once I experienced the confidence of running a successful real estate business, I was ready to share Riley Jordan with the rest of the world. Like Riley, I took my destiny into my own hands. I decided to self-publish because, again, I wanted creative control over my creation. St. Petersburg Press provides the perfect partnership: They walked me through the publishing process step by step and helped me bring my book to every shelf, but I was in control of all the final decisions.

Self-publishing Lion of Fire is no different than how I became a writer, podcaster, and realtor: I had to tap into my drive to succeed and my ability to push myself. I had to let go of my fears, invest in myself, and trust in what I want and believe in. I had to let go of perfection and learn to enjoy the journey. I worked hard, took the initiative, and became friends with people in this new community of writers and publishers. It’s not magic, but it’s pretty close. Learn more about Brittany Ranew at www.brittanyranew.com