In this profound and inspiring conversation, Lana McAra — award-winning, international bestselling author of 48 titles with over one million copies sold, and founder of Vendela Publishing — joins Sam to share the story behind her creative resurrection and her mission to help authors reclaim their power.
Once known as Rosie Dow, Lana wrote 27 titles under her former name before walking away from both her publisher and identity after a difficult divorce. For five years, she couldn’t write — until she rebuilt herself as “Lana 2.0,” a freer, wiser version who founded Vendela Publishing LLC to offer authors 100 % rights, royalties, and creative control.
Together, Sam and Lana unpack the emotional journey from silence to authorship: how writing heals trauma, what makes fiction transformational, and why the publishing industry needs reinvention. Lana reveals her ghostwriting process, how she crafts authentic voices, and the ethics that define meaningful storytelling.
She also breaks down how Vendela Publishing teaches authors to launch like the Big Five — without losing their soul — and why, as she says, “bestsellers aren’t accidents; they’re promises kept at scale.”
Learn more about Lana’s work at vendelapublishing.com
