Interview With Author Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, and I’m passionate about helping people embrace change, define success on their own terms, and live with greater peace, purpose, and authenticity. I’m the founder of the Best Ever You Network, host of The Best Ever You Show podcast, and a master life coach. My work is rooted in decades of experience guiding individuals through personal transformation, grounded in gratitude, compassion, and practical mindset tools.
To date, I’ve written several books, including Percolate – Let Your Best Self Filter Through, The Change Guidebook, The Success Guidebook, and my latest release, The Peace Guidebook. I’ve also co-authored bestselling children’s books like A Lesson for Every Child: Learning About Food Allergies and Dream Big With Food Allergies.
Each book is part of a broader movement to help people not just survive life’s challenges—but rise, transform, and thrive through them.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called The Peace Guidebook: How to Cultivate Hope, Healing, and Harmony for the Good of Humankind. I co-authored it with Dr. Katie Eastman, and together we created it as an extension of The Percolate Peace Project, our global movement to inspire one million acts of personal and collective peace.
We were inspired to write this book because we saw how many people were struggling—not just with world events, but with inner unrest, relationship strain, grief, and disconnection from themselves. So often, peace is treated as a luxury or something we wait for when life calms down. But we believe peace is a practice—one that begins with each of us and can ripple outward to create meaningful change.
The Peace Guidebook offers a practical roadmap rooted in ten principles of peace. It’s a call to return to what matters most: presence, compassion, courage, and the daily decision to choose peace, even in a noisy world. We believe peace is possible—and it starts with us.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’d say one of my unusual writing habits is that I often write out loud. I pace, speak ideas into my phone, or walk around the house narrating paragraphs before I ever sit down to type them. My writing is very conversational and heart-centered, so I find that speaking it first helps keep the rhythm natural and authentic.
I also write best when I’m surrounded by nature—especially near water. Some of my clearest thoughts come while walking on the beach or sitting quietly in my backyard in Maine or South Carolina. I’ve learned not to force creativity. I listen, pause, and allow the words to come when they’re ready, even if it means jotting notes in the middle of the night or while I’m baking cookies.
I treat writing like a practice—something sacred and intuitive, not just a task to cross off.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve been deeply influenced by authors who blend personal growth with practical wisdom and emotional truth. Books like The Success Principles by Jack Canfield and Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo helped shape my understanding of self-leadership and resilience. I’m also incredibly inspired by the work of Brené Brown, particularly her books on vulnerability, courage, and authenticity.
From a spiritual and life perspective, the teachings of Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross have had a profound impact on me, especially in understanding grief, transition, and the power of compassion. It’s no surprise that I’ve partnered with Dr. Katie Eastman, who continues that legacy beautifully in our work together.
Children’s books have also played a big role in my life—both reading them as a mom and writing them. I’ve always believed that the simplicity of a great children’s book can carry life-changing messages in just a few lines.
Overall, I’m drawn to books that don’t just teach—but transform. The kind that help you feel seen, understood, and inspired to grow into the best version of yourself.
What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m focused on launching The Peace Guidebook and inviting people around the world to join us in making peace a personal and collective practice. The book is officially available for pre-order, and we’re encouraging readers to be part of the first wave of this global movement.
With The Peace Guidebook, my co-author Dr. Katie Eastman and I have created a practical, heartfelt roadmap to help people navigate uncertainty, heal what’s unresolved, and lead with compassion. It’s built around the Ten Principles of Peace and filled with real stories, prompts, and accessible tools for everyday life.
Alongside the book launch, I continue to host The Best Ever You Show podcast, where I interview thought leaders, changemakers, and everyday people making a positive impact. The podcast has over 8 million downloads worldwide and serves as a powerful extension of our mission to inspire meaningful, authentic living.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The best method for promoting my books has been a combination of community-building and consistent visibility across platforms that align with my message. My own website, BestEverYou.com, is a central hub for everything I do—from book launches and podcast episodes to reader resources and blog content. It’s where people can connect with the deeper mission behind the books and become part of the community.
Beyond that, The Best Ever You Show podcast has been a powerful tool for promotion. Featuring high-profile and heart-driven guests, it creates space for honest conversations that tie directly into the themes of my books. Social media also plays a key role, especially Instagram and LinkedIn, where I engage with readers directly and share daily reflections tied to the messages in The Peace Guidebook, The Change Guidebook, and The Success Guidebook.
I’ve found that the most effective promotion is never just about the book—it’s about the conversation it sparks and the lives it helps change.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Absolutely—write from truth, not trend.
Your voice matters, and your lived experience has the power to help someone else heal, grow, or see themselves more clearly. Don’t get caught up trying to sound like everyone else. The most impactful writing comes from honesty, vulnerability, and the courage to share what’s real—even if it’s imperfect.
Also, don’t wait for the “perfect time” to write your book. There will always be distractions and doubts. Start where you are, with what you have. Trust that clarity comes through the process, not before it.
And finally—build your community as you build your book. Connect with people who align with your message and support your growth. Your book isn’t just pages on a shelf—it’s an invitation into something bigger. Treat it like the beginning of a movement, not the end of a task.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever heard—and now live by—is:
“Don’t wait to be chosen. Choose yourself.”
That simple shift changed everything for me. I stopped waiting for someone to give me permission, open a door, or validate my voice. I realized that I didn’t have to be perfect or have it all figured out to begin—I just had to believe that what I had to share was worth sharing.
Choosing yourself means showing up, even when it’s scary. It means using your voice, writing your truth, and building what you wish existed—even if no one else sees it yet.
That advice gave me the freedom to create Best Ever You, write books that matter to me, and help others do the same. And it’s what I hope every reader of The Peace Guidebook or any of my work begins to believe too: you are enough—and it’s your time to lead with love.
What are you reading now?
Right now, I’m reading Living Untethered by Michael A. Singer. His insights on inner freedom and surrender align deeply with what we teach in The Peace Guidebook—that peace is something we practice by letting go of what we can’t control and learning to live from within. It’s one of those books that invites you to slow down and examine the way you’re showing up in your own life.
I’m also re-reading The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo. It’s a favorite in The Best Ever You Book Club—a collection of daily reflections that center you, challenge you, and remind you of the beauty in the everyday. It’s a great companion for anyone doing personal growth work.
And I always recommend Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. It’s one of the most transformational books I’ve ever read. In our book club and in my own life, we return to this one often because it speaks to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of living with purpose—even in the hardest circumstances.
All three books pair beautifully with the conversations we’re having in The Best Ever You Book Club—about presence, peace, transformation, and choosing a life aligned with your values.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Next, I’m leaning into something a little different—and deeply personal. I’m currently working on a book of self-help poetry titled Start Here: Poems for Becoming Your Best Ever You. It blends short, powerful poems with reflective prompts to help readers reconnect with themselves, especially during moments of transition, self-doubt, or awakening. It’s raw, real, and rooted in truth—and it’s unlike anything I’ve published before.
I’m also continuing to develop content around The Peace Guidebook, including workshops, guided practices, and companion resources to support readers in making peace an everyday reality. There’s a growing movement around this book, and it’s my mission to nurture it far beyond the page.
Looking ahead, I’d love to explore more children’s books, perhaps one that supports kids in understanding emotional peace or navigating food allergies during travel. I believe our work should meet people at every stage of life—and that storytelling, when rooted in love and purpose, can guide hearts of all ages.
Writing for me is never just about the words. It’s about the connection—one reader, one soul, one moment at a time.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I’d choose books that offer depth, perspective, and a little soul-soothing wisdom—because on a desert island, I’d need more than just survival tools. I’d need meaning.
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl – This is the one I always return to. It reminds me that we can find purpose in even the hardest circumstances—and that meaning is something we create, not something we wait for.
The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo – For daily grounding, reflection, and poetic perspective. It’s like having a friend whispering reminders that you’re not alone, even in solitude.
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran – For its timeless spiritual insight and lyrical beauty. It speaks to the human experience in a way that transcends place and time.
A blank journal – Maybe this doesn’t count, but I’d want something to write in. On an island—or anywhere—reflection, creativity, and connection with self would be essential. And I believe everyone should be writing their own story, even when no one’s watching.
Author Websites and Profiles
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino Website
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino Amazon Profile
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino’s Social Media Links
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