Cathryn Marshall, a State University of New York at Fredonia graduate and 22-year village resident, released her third published work in June. Using her years of business acumen, Marshall’s new book, entitled “Virtual Wealth: How To Create Revenue & Amazing Relationships,” is a book to help business owners cultivate their business, but Marshall said that lessons taught in the book have broader terms applications outside of just business owners.

“Business owners struggle with revenue generation and struggle with so many different aspects of what it takes to have a life on top of running a business,” Marshall said. “The book is inspirational but strategic. It gives people a way to do things that apply to life and business. Anyone can get a benefit out of the stories and experiences in the book.”

Marshall grew up around writing her entire life, as her mom was an English teacher. On top of that, Marshall herself started running a painting business when she was 16, which she operated until she turned 22.

From there, she worked at Millard Fillmore Hospital as a therapist, as her background was in social work at UB, before moving to Atlanta. Marshall’s experience in many different fields is part of the reason she’s been a successful author.

“I had a specific focus in the fitness industry, and I have other consultants and coaches asking me to come to them,” Marshall said. “I realized that no matter what the business is, they all share the same concepts. I’ve had lawyers, doctors, and today I even had someone show up trying to build a holistic health community. I tend to be the voice of reason.”

The most recent book took around 10 months to release, though it only took a weekend trip to Blue Ridge, Ga., for the book to be written. With it being the third book in a line, Marshall is pretty experienced in being an author by this time. While her first book is still selling copies, it is currently available in spiral backing, while the most recent two books have been released on Amazon for sale and are self-published. The first book was a food log meant for personal training uses, while the second book is another nutritional book, titled “Simple Fat Burn.” This third book, being a book meant for business in a broader scope, is a testament to Marshall’s flexibility and well-rounded knowledge.

And Marshall’s books have been met with a good amount of success.

Her first book continues to sell copies and has been written and rewritten a few times, while “Simple Fat Burn” got her featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which helped her make waves in being a personal speaker, being on TV, and participating in other committees.

“Your book is your big business card,” Marshall said. “It’s a game changer if you’re a speaker. I’ve been a regular guest on NBC because I’m an author and speaker. I’m president of a national networking company “What Women Want Networking.” I’ve been speaking on big stages and conferences and I’m not doing that without a book.”

Marshall has hit her struggles while writing her books, including overcoming the barriers of doing things she didn’t necessarily know how to do. Calling the process, a ‘big emotional rollercoaster,’ Marshall said the struggle was well worth the process of writing.

“The most wonderful thing is when someone shakes your hand and tells you your book changed their life,” Marshall said. “I realized then it was so worth it to publish a book.”

Marshall said the biggest struggle for aspiring authors is considering the audience you’re writing for. While people may wonder if people will benefit from the book they write, Marshall emphasized that focusing on your audience then promoting what you write is the key to success in writing.

“You think about your audience, and you write for your audience,” Marshall said. “Then you have to get on social media and let people know you’re coming out with the book and they’ll support you and actually buy the book. Connect with as many people as you can, both offline and online.”

Marshall said her roots in Western New York helped establish her family values that have stayed with her whole life, while the education background instilled in her at a young age has helped her become successful today.

“I can’t imagine a better place to raise a family than Fredonia,” Marshall said. “With it being a college town, education was implanted in me early. I learned the family values that carried me through my whole life.”

Marshall’s book can be purchased on Amazon, along with her other books, here https://www.amazon.com/Virtual-Wealth-Revenue-Amazing-Relationships/dp/1737426609