Ashley Mansour is a bestselling author, book strategist, and founder of LA Writing Coach and Brands Through Books. She is a writing coach and business owner with a passion for storytelling and helping hundreds of other authors find their way in book publishing. She is committed to making the writing process accessible through online classes, boot camps, courses, and is best known for her writing system, the TAP method. For more on Ashley and LA Writing Coach and Brands Through Books, visit www.writingcoachla.com/about-ashley.

Your journey from the media and entertainment industry to becoming a bestselling author is inspiring. What motivated you to make such a significant career shift?​

I felt pulled toward books, authorship, and the desire to help others write and publish life-changing books. There’s something truly magical about watching someone evolve into the author they always wanted to be—and prove to themselves not only that they can write a great book, but that it can become a bestseller people love, too. While I loved working in entertainment and adapting books for film and television, I had to return to what I felt was my true calling: helping people tell their stories and become authors.

In The Author’s Success Code, you outline nine secrets for writing and publishing success. Could you share one or two of these secrets that you believe are most crucial for aspiring authors?

All nine secrets are essential, but two that have been true game-changers for me—and for the hundreds of authors I’ve worked with—are the first and the last.

The first: Develop a clear and definite purpose. Napoleon Hill speaks about “definiteness of purpose,” and I believe it’s one of the most important ingredients for conquering any big challenge. You must understand why your book matters so deeply to you. I have all my authors craft a compelling Purpose Statement before they ever begin drafting. This helps them clarify who they’re writing for, what the book is about, and why it’s a must-write. Without this clarity, it’s hard to begin with true conviction.

The last: Go further, faster with a mentor and expert guide. As my mentor, Brendon Burchard says, we must “summon the best of who we are.” It’s been my experience from day one: if you want to succeed, you need a coach, mentor, or guide. We don’t always recognize our own potential—which is why having someone in your corner, helping you navigate the path, is so powerful. Just look at the acknowledgments section of any bestselling book. No successful author does it alone.

Many writers struggle with imposter syndrome. What advice do you offer in your book to help authors overcome self-doubt?

I think imposter syndrome is a self-confidence issue. I’ve seen it affect many first-time authors who feel they’re not “good enough” or “ready.”

My advice is simple: Do it anyway.

It’s okay to feel nervous, scared, or unqualified. But that’s not your signal to stop—it’s your sign to start. The best antidote to imposter syndrome is massive action. Set a goal, take bold steps forward, and prove to yourself that you can keep the promises you make. When my authors finish their first draft, the imposter syndrome often disappears—because they’ve done the thing they doubted and proved they were capable all along.

​You emphasize the importance of mindset in achieving writing goals. How can authors cultivate a mindset conducive to success?​

We teach a Mindset Mastery for Authors course in my 90-day writing program, Book Accelerator and a lot of that curriculum is around understanding how your mind works, how beliefs create your thoughts and emotions, and how to forge new more empowering beliefs about yourself and the world around you. If your thoughts are not aligned with your goals and your desires, it’s time to change them! And the good news is you can! Beliefs can change. You hold the power to decide you want to believe something new, something different about yourself at any given moment. Creating and forging a new belief is the first step.

Your TAP Method has been pivotal for many writers. Can you explain what the TAP Method entails and how it aids the writing process?

The TAP Method is built on three pillars every author must master: Time, Accountability, and Process. You need to know how to manage your time and write efficiently. You need systems to stay accountable. And most importantly, you need to understand the step-by-step process of writing a successful book. When my authors move through the TAP Method, they gain clarity about their audience, their message, and their story. They learn who they’re writing for, what they’re writing about, and why it matters so deeply. Without those answers, you’re not truly ready to write your book. The TAP Method gets you ready!

​In your experience, what are the common pitfalls that new authors face, and how can they be avoided?​

Mindset is a big one, as we’ve already discussed. Related to that is writing before you are really ready. I have seen this happen thousands of times in my career. Someone gets an idea, they feel a burst of inspiration to write about something, and they just start writing. That might work for a little while, but eventually, most first-timers run out of steam, their focus fades, and lose sight of where the book is going. Eventually, they give up—with a half-finished book.

I used to do this too, before I developed the TAP Method. But I’ve since found a better way. What I teach now and practice with my own books is to simply build your foundation first and plan the book from start to finish before you start writing. When you sit down to write, you should know exactly what belongs in each chapter, how you are going to write it, and what the shape of the book is going to be. That level of clarity builds confidence—and fuels your writing from a place of purpose.

How can writers effectively use their personal stories to build a profitable brand or business?​

Your story is your authority. It’s that simple—and that powerful. Most people don’t know how to effectively communicate their authority story and that’s where you must start. You have to start by crafting your authority story—the story that explains your “why,” your transformation, and the value you now bring to others. When your story is clear, you can begin building credibility, connection, and trust. It becomes the foundation for your brand and the fuel for products, programs, and services you can offer to others who want the results you’ve experienced.

With the evolving publishing landscape, what are the key factors authors should consider when choosing between traditional and self-publishing?​

There are two simple factors: control and speed to market. How much control do you want to have over the material and the publishing? And how fast do you want the book to get out there? Answer those two questions and you will understand how to publish. I break this down in detail in The Author’s Success Code, but the bottom line is: the right publishing path is the one that aligns with your goals.

Having sold the film and television rights to your debut novel, what insights can you share about adapting books for screen?​

Learn story structure and storytelling as much as you can. The rules go back to Shakespeare, Chaucer, and even the Bible. The medium changes but the essence of what works is often the same. Not everything translates from page to screen, however, so be prepared to shift and help mold the story to the a visual, time-bound format. Flexibility and strong narrative instincts are key.

For writers aiming to turn their manuscripts into successful businesses, what initial steps should they take?​

I break this down in a framework I teach called the PAE SYSTEM. There are just three easy steps:

1) Understand your unique value and learn how to POSITION yourself as the expert authority.

2) Develop clear and tangible ASSETS you can offer your ideal readers to convert them to ideal buyers. This means you must have programs, products, and services that you can sell beyond the book.

3) Create a marketing ENGINE to bring people to your book and then into your business.

Can you share a success story from one of your clients that exemplifies the transformative power of writing and publishing a book?​

I have so many! One of my favorites is my client Chris, who wrote and published his first book with us in just a matter of months. After learning the TAP Method, Chris went on to write and publish many more books and has since become a bestselling author several times over. Chris also used the PAE System to turn his books into multiple six figures in business revenue. He’s one of our standout success stories, but I’m proud to say I have many more featured at writingcoachla.com—and 22 authors share their journeys in my book The Author’s Success Code.

What upcoming projects or initiatives are you excited about?​

I’m thrilled to re-open enrollment into Book Accelerator this year—we’re offering more coaching, more curriculum, and more ways to help authors become bestsellers than ever before. We’re also expanding to include the business side of publishing, with modules on marketing, business development, and PR. On a personal note, I’m excited to release my next novel—a psychological domestic suspense set in my hometown of Los Angeles. This one’s been a long time coming, and I can’t wait for readers to dive into the dual POVs, the dramatic twists, and the unexpected ending.

The Author’s Success Code: 9 Secrets to Write and Publish a Book That Will Change Your Life by Ashley Mansour

The role of an author can feel daunting. There is little time for life outside of work, and the number of books being written, published, and sold every day is massive. It can feel hard to break through the noise of the literary landscape to nail down a piece and get it published. If this is your struggle, look no further than Ashley Mansour, multi-time bestselling author and writing coach, who has nine tips that will help authors lay out a realistic and achievable plan to get their book written, published, and achieve their dreams of becoming an author.

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