Terry Cumes on Special Guests, Writing Through the Pandemic, and Finally Publishing His Book

What does it take to turn a book idea into a finished, published book? For Terry Cumes, the journey involved a year of dedicated writing, several more years of figuring out the next steps, and learning when to ask for help. In this episode of The Story Cure, I talk with Terry, author of Special Guests, about the people, experiences, and unexpected stories that inspired his book. Terry helps run a wellness center in Peru's Sacred Valley, where travelers arrive for wellness, spirituality, cultural experiences, and time in the Andes. Over the years, those guests have provided plenty of memorable stories. Terry began writing during the pandemic, when the center's rooms were empty and he finally had the time to focus on a book he'd wanted to write for years. He shares how he built a writing routine, why taking notes is so important, and what happened when he finished his manuscript but didn't know how to move forward. We also discuss choosing a specific period of life to write about, handling sensitive topics with honesty and balance, and the value of getting support with editing, book design, publishing, and promotion. In this episode: Building a consistent writing routine Capturing stories before the details disappear Getting unstuck after finishing a manuscript Finding the right support throughout the publishing process Writing honestly about complicated experiences Bringing a book to life through art and thoughtful design Lessons Terry learned from publishing Special Guests Terry's story is a reminder that finishing a book is a major accomplishment, but it's not the end of the journey. Sometimes the next step is simply recognizing where you need help and finding the right people to move forward with.