12/04/2025
GW Tolley – Bio
GW Tolley is an International Author, Self-Publishing Coach, and Media Creator driven by a single mission: to empower others to share their stories.
He is the:
* Writer / Executive Producer of the i am JOSIAH Film Project
* Podcaster of Scenes of a True Story – i am JOSIAH
* Author of 22 books, with multiple Amazon Best Sellers Rank achievements
* Udemy Instructor of SELF-PUBLISHING — Outside the Box
* Self-Publishing Coach whose clients have reached Amazon Best Sellers Rank
*Executive Producer & TV Host of What’s Your Story
* Google Influencer with 122+ million views in four years
The Publishing Journey
GW’s publishing journey began when one of North America’s largest publishing companies released his first book. This experience gave him a firsthand understanding of the industry. From there, he transitioned fully into self-publishing—releasing 22+ titles across multiple formats: traditional print runs, Amazon paperbacks, Kindle eBooks, and Audible audiobooks.
His journey from traditional publishing to complete creative control provided deep insight into every aspect of the process—knowledge he now shares widely. As GW often says: “God did all of that.”
The Purpose: WRITE It OUT
Through writing, GW discovered a powerful form of emotional release during some of the most difficult seasons of his life. This personal breakthrough inspired him to create the WRITE It OUT Program, designed to help Firefighters, First Responders, Military Service Members, and Police Officers process heavy emotional burdens through storytelling.
Advocacy: You Mean More Than You Know
GW’s message is simple yet vital:
You matter. You have purpose. Take a moment to breathe—there is help at your fingertips. Call someone, reach out, or speak up. If your story helps even one person, it is worth it. “Tell it like it is and let it fly—there is purpose in the pain.”
Su***de Awareness
GW has personally faced moments of deep despair, where his prayer was, “Lord, take me.” He knows the feeling of being lost, crushed by life’s weight, and brought to rock bottom. But surrender gave way to renewal. Today, his prayer is Psalm 118:17: “I will not die, but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.”
Deaf / Hard of Hearing Advocate
Growing up 98% hard of hearing until corrective surgery in his second year of high school, GW is a passionate advocate for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, using his own journey to raise awareness, and support.
Homeless and Hunger Advocate
GW’s compassion is shaped by lived experience. After identity theft led to his home being foreclosed on Christmas Eve, he spent the next decade moving eight times. Some nights, he survived by drinking heated water just to quiet the hunger enough to sleep. These experiences fuel his commitment to stand with those facing homelessness and food insecurity.
Why the Self-Publishing Book?
After publishing books across multiple genres, sizes, and formats—including a bilingual children’s book—GW found that countless aspiring authors were overwhelmed by too much information and no clear starting point. This inspired his book, “What Is STOPPING YOU from Self-Publishing? You Have a Book Idea—Now What?”
The guide breaks down the full process in simple steps:
Book sizes & margins
Cover design
Types of self-publishing
ISBNs & barcodes
Copyright
Branding & domains
Audiobook creation
Turning a book into TV, radio, podcast, or feature film opportunities
His message remains:
“Share your stories— the world is waiting on them.”
What is STOPPING YOU from Self Publishing: You have a book idea and now what? Click the Amazon link: https://a.co/d/5tMzQgw
Current Project
GW’s true-story film project, “i am JOSIAH,” is now in development and already making a global impact. At its pilot stage, the story has resonated across 25+ countries, with momentum continuing to grow.
What’s next? Stay tuned and join the journey at:
👉 iamJosiahProject.com
