Building a business from the ground up takes grit, but Ally Machate is an expert entrepreneur. She joins host Seth Goldstein on an episode of the Entrepreneur’s Enigma Podcast for a conversation about her transition from corporate publishing to business ownership, providing insight into her journey and the path to success. Ally values the direct, hands-on involvement in projects—and the ability to innovate quickly—afforded by entrepreneurship, and she and Seth discuss all that The Writer’s Ally has to offer to clients. Their conversation reveals a few of the foundational philosophies behind The Writer’s Ally, including an emphasis on matching team members by personality in addition to skill and experience, and helping authors create books that serve as strategic business tools, and they also discuss the challenges facing those in the publishing industry, and Ally’s perspective on emerging trends—including the benefits (and costs) of AI. Ally leaves listeners with a few pieces of practical advice, encouraging writers and aspiring business owners alike to:
- Always carry a method to capture ideas (a notebook, or a phone, will suffice) because inspiration can strike unexpectedly.
- Use AI thoughtfully as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for genuine creativity
This fascinating conversation is available on several of your favorite audio streaming services, and we think you should give it a listen!
How Ally Machate Turns Books into Powerful Business Tools
The Entrepreneur’s Engima
Hosted by Seth Goldstein
December 30th, 2025
Check it out!
Ally Machate is on a mission to help authors make great books and reach more readers. A bestselling author and expert publishing consultant, Ally has served small and “Big Five” publishers, including Simon & Schuster, where she acquired and edited books on staff. Her clients include authors with such companies as Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, Rodale Inc., Chronicle Books, Kaplan Publishing, Sourcebooks, and Hay House, as well as independently published bestsellers. As founder & CEO of The Writer’s Ally, Ally and her team lead serious authors to write, publish, and sell more high-quality books.
