How My Client Landed a Book Deal, TEDx Talk, and Grew Her Audience to 30K Followers
When I met Colette in 2023, I was immediately struck by her clarity of vision. It’s rare to meet someone who knows exactly what they want and is willing to do whatever it takes to bring it to life.
When we first started working together, she had a rough draft of a book, 300-something Instagram followers, no email list, no podcast... just a powerful story she was determined to tell.
Today, just two years later, she has:
– A book deal with Penguin Random House
– Over 30,000 followers across Instagram (14k), TikTok (9k), LinkedIn, and Facebook (5k)
– 850+ email subscribers
– A top 5% podcast, Insights from the Couch
And her TEDx talk was just selected as an Editor’s Pick by TED, a distinction given to only 0.07% of talks.
It’s about her personal journey through marriage and divorce, the cost of staying quiet in a relationship, and what it really takes to build a love that lasts. It’s also the subject of her upcoming book, The Cost of Quiet.
Colette is a couples therapist based in Orlando, Florida, and when we started working together, she was in the midst of a major personal and professional transformation.
She had spent years working on a book about relationships deeply rooted in her own lived experience, and was on a mission to share it with the world. She didn’t have an agent yet, but she was determined to find one.
I watched her put herself out there: attending events, joining Toastmasters, following up with people, showing up to every coffee date, every conversation, every opportunity.
While Colette led the bold, front-facing work, my role was to help her translate her vision into something tangible behind the scenes.
Together, we worked on:
• Personal brand story development
• Website design and messaging
• Creative direction for her photoshoot
• Social media strategy
• Business offer development
• Marketing systems setup
+ Content strategy and development
Since we’ve started working together, Colette landed a top literary agent, signed a Big Five book deal with Penguin Random House, booked a TEDx talk (chosen as an Editor’s pick!), created a top 5% podcast, and grew her social media following to 30,000.
These results didn’t happen by chance: they were the product of strategic, intentional work and relentless dedication.
Colette is one of the hardest workers I know. Every single day, she has put herself out there — pitching, emailing, showing up to events, having real conversations with people, building genuine relationships, and pushing past the discomfort of entering a whole new world. She has been relentless in the best way: focused, brave, and completely committed to her vision.
Photos by Elizabeth Joy Sanders
Supporting Colette through this phase of her life has been a gift.
She’s one of the most tenacious and visionary women I’ve had the privilege to work with. And while she’ll tell you she still sometimes experiences fear getting up on the big stage or speaking on the news, you’d never know it. She moves forward anyway. In my mind, she’s fearless.
And if you ask me? She’s just getting started.
If you’re ready for the next big thing in your life — whether it’s landing a book deal, growing your audience, or getting clear on your next business offering, I’d love to support you.
You can apply here or reach out to my office directly with any questions: hello@annavatuone.com.
