From Idea to Deal: Elaine Lin Hering's Publishing Journey
In this inspiring episode of Kind of a Big Book Deal, Meghan Stevenson talks with author and leadership expert Elaine Lin Hering about her nine-year journey to publishing her debut book Unlearning Silence with Penguin Random House. Elaine shares how the idea sparked from her work at the Harvard Negotiation Project, what held her back, and how she finally took action. From doomscrolling on LinkedIn to securing a six-figure book deal, Elaine offers an honest, behind-the-scenes look at the emotional highs and lows of traditional publishing.
Listeners will learn how to trust their gut, why finding the right team is essential, and how silence—personally, professionally, and culturally—can shape our lives more than we realize. If you’ve got a book idea and don’t know where to start, this episode is packed with real talk, laughs, and powerful lessons that will give you clarity and courage.
This week’s guest is Elaine Lin Hering. She is a speaker, facilitator, and former Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School. She works with organizations and individuals to build skills in communication, collaboration, and conflict management. She has worked on six continents and facilitated executive education at Harvard, Dartmouth, Tufts, UC Berkeley, and UCLA. She has served as the Advanced Training Director for the Harvard Mediation Program and a Managing Partner for a global leadership development firm. She has worked with coal miners at BHP Billiton, micro-finance organizers in East Africa, mental health professionals in China, and senior leadership at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Her clients include American Express, Chevron, Google, Nike, Novartis, PayPal, Pixar, and the Red Cross. She is the author of the USA Today bestselling book Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent, and Live More Fully (Penguin, 2024).
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