Novel Marketing (Thomas Umstattd Jr. )

Novel Marketing turns 10 years old on September 30th, 2024! In this episode, Thomas Umstattd Jr. and James L. Rubart share highlights and lessons learned from 10 years of Novel Marketing.

You can find the blog post version of this episode, along with links to everything we talk about here. 

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Success in publishing requires more than just writing a great book. It requires people. People to publish your book, talk about it, buy it, and recommend it.

People. People. People. 

Some authors struggle in their careers simply because they are isolated. 

How do you connect with people who can help make your book successful? 

My grandparents’ generation called this “winning friends and influencing people.” My generation calls it “networking,” which strikes fear in the hearts of many writers.

One essential tool to help you get comfortable introducing yourself as a writer and talking about your work is your pitch. 

In ​this week’s episode​, Thomas Umstattd interviews Lindsey Hughes, who is a pitch master, having worked with Disney and major animation franchises.

You can find the blog version along with links to everything we talk about here.

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"Most authors sell most of their books on Amazon, and while Amazon has helped indie authors become publishers, they take a large bite of your profits.
But there is a way to earn more money on each book sale and connect with your readers via email. You can sell direct from your website.
If you’ve listened to Novel Marketing for a long time, you know I haven’t been a fan of authors selling direct from their websites because it was expensive, required technical sophistication, and tended to be a time-suck.
But in the last decade, the cost of selling directly online has decreased. Selling direct now makes sense for many authors, and in this week’s episode, we talk about it with Joanna Penn.
Joanna tells us:

• how buyer behavior has changed
• which web store tools work best for certain authors
• how all book formats can be easily delivered to readers
• how to create beautiful editions

With the explosion of AI and a slew of paperbacks and ebooks for sale online, this episode will teach you how to make your book stand out and earn more money per sale at the same time."

Click here to read the blog version.

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New York City is home to the Big Five publishers and the newspaper that publishes the New York Times bestseller list. Publishing culture is concentrated in New York City.
But since most of the gatekeepers, publishers, and agents live in New York City, many authors ask, "Don't I need to comply with New York values in order to succeed in publishing?"
In this week's episode, we'll hear from Larry Correia, who ran into that conundrum and has modeled a solution for everyone asking that same question. He's now a New York Times bestselling author of more than 25 novels, 50 short works, and two collections.
Larry tells us

• How and why he started writing for a niche audience.
• How he handled feedback from traditional publishers
• Whose feedback helped him thrill his readers most
• How authenticity and passion have fueled his creativity and career

Listen in this week to find out how to be an authentic author, sell more books, and expand your writing career by finding and writing for a specific group of readers. Read the blog version here.

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How much should your book cost? Your answer is critical to your book's success and your career as an author.

Authors have a wide range of pricing options, from free ebooks to $200 collector's editions. You might be wondering, "What is the best price for my book?" but that is actually the wrong question.

Instead, you should ask, "What are the best prices for my book?"

In https://www.authormedia.com/book-marketing-101-price/, you'll learn how your book's price impacts sales and discover 14 strategies for finding the optimum price for your book.

You'll learn:
- How pricing affects your reader's perception of your book's value
- When to price your book higher and lower
- Why free works for some authors

 discover how to price your book throughout its life cycle and determine which strategies work best for your genre and book. 

https://www.authormedia.com/book-marketing-101-price/. 

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There is a new scam targeting authors.
An enterprising scammer can use AI to write a book similar to your writing style. They can use an AI-generated cover similar to yours, and publish the book with a pen name that also happens to be yours.
Sometimes, Amazon even puts this fraudulent book in your Author Central account so customers see the AI book you didn’t write listed with the books you did write.
The crazy thing about this attack is that it might not be illegal.
It is such a new type of attack that there is no name for it yet. But in this week’s episode, I will call it “reputation theft.” Reputation theft is where someone you don’t know uses your name and style to sell their own books.
How do you protect yourself from reputation theft?
How do you navigate the many legal dilemmas authors face in this age of AI-assisted writing?
I invited literary lawyer Lloyd Jassin to guide us through this legal forest. He’s a publishing insider who tells us.

• The difference between copyright and trademark
• Which tool is best for protecting your name and work
• What you can do if you’ve been attacked by “reputation theft”

Listen in and learn how to protect your writing from copyright infringement and which legal tools can help you deal with AI-generated fraudulent versions of your books. Read more...

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Black Friday marketing phenomenon is an opportunity, but it's also a threat.
In this week's episode, I share some powerful tips to supercharge your book sales!
You'll learn

• What motivates people to buy books on Black Friday
• Which book promotion tactics work best on the big day
• Three mistakes to avoid when running your holiday promotion
• What to do if Black Friday marketing stresses you out!

Black Friday isn't technically a holiday, but you can still maximize your book sales while readers are in the buying mood. Click here to read the blog version.

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So you're thinking about self-publishing a book.
You've heard self-published authors can make more money, control the content and design, and have better access to marketing data.
But self-publishing a book can be daunting. There are so many factors involved: writing, editing, formatting, finding a cover designer, uploading to Amazon, setting up a sales page, and promoting your book.
Self-publishing, also known as indie publishing, is not for the faint of heart.
But sometimes the overwhelm comes from not understanding how the process works.
In this week's episode, we remove some of the overwhelm by talking with James Blatch, who has been helping authors self-publish for years.
You'll learn

• Which tasks you need to focus on at the beginning of your career
• Which tasks you must learn later
• Which task you need to begin long before you publish
• How to get your book on Amazon without paying someone else thousands of dollars

 Listen in and learn the seven critical steps to successfully self-publishing your book, and find out how to excel at each step of the process. Read the blog version here.

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When I was in college, I experimented with cooking Asian food, but my stovetop-cooked rice never tasted very good. Then, one of my Asian friends introduced me to the right tool for the job: a rice cooker. Its only function was to perfectly cook rice, and it worked every time.
While I never got good at cooking Asian food, I always had great rice because I had the right tool for the job.
When we're cooking up books, many of us waste time doing things the hard way because we don't have the right tools for the job. But it's hard to find the right tool if you don't know it exists.
In this week's episode, I am the guest! Derek Doepker interviewed me about tools that make writing and marketing easier. The interview first aired on the Bestseller Secrets Summit, and Derek kindly agreed to let me share a portion of that interview on Novel Marketing.
You'll discover

• Two tools every author must have
• A tool that saved me 106 hours (and can save you hours, too!)
• Tools to reduce your password-security stress
• And more!

 If you're losing time or simply want to fine-tune your writing systems, listen in or read the blog version about these time-saving tools for authors.

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For the last 11 years, audiobooks have seen double-digit sales growth year over year.

The audiobook market is now $1.8 billion.

That means audiobooks are no longer an optional, nice-to-have feature when you launch your book.

But how do you make an audiobook? Should you read it yourself or hire a narrator?

In this week’s episode, Scott Sigler walks us through the steps of turning your book into 
an audiobook, and you’ll discover you have several good options. You’ll learn how to

• Write a book that sounds good to listeners
• Edit with an audiobook-first mindset
• Find and work with a narrator
• Record the book yourself

Whether you’re in the beginning stages of writing your manuscript or a few months from launch, you’ll want to listen in to find out how offering an audiobook can validate the quality of your book and increase your sales in all formats. Read more in the blog version of this episode.

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Most authors build their websites on WordPress, partly because of its powerful and enormous plugin repository. A plugin is like an app for your website. Each of WordPress’s nearly 60,000 plugins can add specific functionality to your website. But how do you know which ones you need and which to avoid?
In this week’s episode, you’ll learn

• Three categories of WordPress plugins
• How to tell if a free plugin is good (or not!)
• Which plugins your author website needs
• Which plugins you should avoid

If you’ve been overwhelmed by the number of plugins available or haven’t yet added any to your website, listen in to find out where to start and which ones you need. Read more at the blog version of this episode.

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Did you know that one in five Novel Marketing listeners lives outside the United States?
Authors living overseas view America as the land of plenty because there are so many American readers. However, foreign authors often struggle to sell their books in America. Why? These United States are made up of 11 ethno-geographic regions, each with its own culture. Your book will resonate with one region more than others, but how do you find out where it will sell?
In this week’s episode, which will be our last episode of 2023, you'll learn about the vast differences between the 11 American nations, as categorized by Colin Woodard in his book American Nations.
You’ll find out

• Which regions are underserved by authors and publishers
• Which regions require nearly flawless writing
• Which regions will resonate with the themes and characters in your book

 Knowing how Americans are different from each other culturally can help you craft more interesting and believable American characters. It is also key to crafting marketing messages that resonate with American buyers.
The key to writing for American readers is to know which readers you are trying to reach. If you aim between two targets, you will miss them both. Listen in so you can target readers from the region where your book will resonate most. Read more in the blog post version of this episode.

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For those outside the publishing industry, the inner workings of the industry are wrapped in mystery.

• How do books get published?
• Who decides which books to publish?
• How well are books selling?
• How much money do authors really make?

In secretive industries, information is typically leaked through hacks, whistleblowers, and court cases. Cases involving big publishers rarely go to trial because big companies dislike having their secrets publicized.
But when one of the largest publishers in the history of publishing was taken to court by the Department of Justice, we got a rare peek behind the scenes.
Some of the best journalistic coverage of the DOJ v. PRH case came from Jane Friedman’s Hot Sheet newsletter, and in this week’s episode, I interviewed Jane Friedman about the trial and what we learned.
You’ll find out

• The scoop behind some astonishing and controversial stats
• How publishers decide which titles are allotted a marketing budget
• The biggest challenge traditional publishers have to solve soon

 Listen in or check out the blog post for insight into traditional publishing secrets, challenges, and methods.

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Google Chrome is the most popular web browser, but if you're just using basic Chrome, you're missing out on some amazing time-saving tools and assistance.
Wouldn't it be great if you had an assistant who could correct a typo in your email before you hit send? How much time would you save if you didn't have to think of a new password for every account? Would you get fewer headaches if you didn't have to scroll past obnoxious ads as you research?
Chrome extensions are tools that can help solve all of those problems! They can make you more productive, improve your writing, and give you more time to write.
But with more than 137,000 Chrome extensions available, how do you know which will be best for you?
In this week's episode, I'll recommend six specific Chrome extensions every author needs in 2024. If Chrome isn't your default browser, don't worry. Other browsers offer many of the same extensions.
Listen in and find out how you can leverage these tools to save time, reduce stress, and give you more time to write. Check out the blog version here.

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Do you long to see your story on the big screen? If so, I have good news.
Every streaming platform is desperate for new content to give them the edge in the ongoing streaming wars, and traditional TV stations and movie companies are as prolific as ever. Even radio stations and theaters are looking for new content.
But how do you turn a 100,000-word novel, which would be a 12-hour audiobook, into a two-hour movie? Is that even possible? Where do you begin?
Few things boost a book's sales like a giant Hollywood marketing campaign for the movie based on a book.
But how do you turn your book into a screenplay?
I asked Charles Harris in this week's episode. He's a bestselling author and award-winning director who's helped hundreds of authors turn their novels into screenplays.
You'll discover

• Differences between writing a book and a screenplay
• Techniques to distill your novel into a much shorter screenplay
• What kind of novel makes a good screenplay

Listen in or check out the blog post to discover the important differences between writing for the page and the screen and find out how to turn your novel into a screenplay.

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Are you thinking about quitting publishing or writing? You started full of energy and optimism, but it has been a hard road, and you feel tired.
Should you quit? My answer may surprise you.
Maybe you should.
Publishing is an industry where almost everyone has a financial incentive to see you keep going. People in the publishing industry don’t earn money if you quit. But there is a lot of money to be made by telling writers exactly what they want to hear: “You will be the next bestseller and hottest thing in publishing!! Just keep paying for coaching, edits, covers, and conferences! Eventually, you will be a star!”
Writing will cost you time and money.
How do you decide if it’s time to quit or keep going?
Only a handful of writers die at their keyboards, which means we all quit eventually. But how do you know if it’s time?
In this week’s episode, you’ll answer five clarifying questions to help you know whether it’s time to press on or bow out.
You’ll learn:

• Two uncomfortable publishing realities
• When the time is right (or wrong)
• What you need to invest or cut to achieve your ultimate goal

Listen in or check out the blog post to answer these five clarifying questions that will guide your decision.

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Two authors recently asked me the same question: “What should I do if I have no money for book marketing?"
It’s a question that requires exploration and evaluation. If you have the same question, you may be at a crossroads. You have two options if you want to write but have no money for marketing.
In this week’s episode, we’ll examine the two paths forward from the no-money conundrum. You’ll discover

• Whether money spent on writing is an expense or an investment
• How to turn the “expensive option” into the “budget option”
• How and where to invest your time when you don’t have the funds for publishing

 If you feel stuck because you want to write but you have no money to fund your writing, listen in and discover your next steps forward, and be sure to check out the blog version with all the links and articles I reference.

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A few years ago, the popular buzzword in the author world was "tribe." Building a tribe of readers was seen as the key to success. Reader relationships are still important for authors, so why did the term "tribe" go out of fashion?
Having a tribe of readers is still an incredible asset that will help you sell your books and raise your profile amongst readers, but you need to know how and where to build a tribe if you want it to grow.
In this week's episode, you'll learn:

• The difference between a platform and a tribe
• Why authors need a tribe
• How large your tribe needs to be
• Where to gather your tribe to ensure a positive experience

If you've been wondering how to listen to your Timothy or eavesdrop on a conversation between several of your target readers, listen in to find out how and where to build your tribe or check out the blog version of this episode.

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Email marketing is one of the most powerful tools for connecting with readers and selling books. Obviously, you want a lot of email subscribers, but it doesn't matter how many subscribers you have if they don't open and read your emails.
How do you craft the kind of emails that capture your reader's attention and help you sell more books?
In this week's episode, you'll learn

• Three elements that make readers open your emails
• Which element is least important
• What to write in your email newsletter

If you don't yet have your first 1,000 newsletter subscribers, listen in, and you'll be on your way to 1,000 subscribers. Be sure to check out the blog version for a long list of links related to growing your email list.

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How much money does it cost to become a professional author?
Any profession will cost you when you're just getting started. If you're broke, I recommend listening to my episode titled The Starving Author: How to Market Books Without Money.
Assuming you have some money, you need a spending plan. But how much money do you need to budget for the first five years of your writing career? I asked Kent Sanders, host of The Profitable Writer Podcast and founder of the Profitable Writer Community, a membership group that serves writers and helps them become more profitable.
In this week's episode, you'll learn

• How much money to set aside for writing-related expenses
• What writing tools and investments yield the best return for authors
• Which expenses you can avoid early in your career

 Listen to the podcast or read the blog version, and be sure to ask your questions and leave your comments on AuthorMedia.social.

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This year marks the end of an era.
The Book Launch Blueprint is entering its seventh and final year. Since we began offering it in 2018, it has been one of our most popular courses.
Launching a book is one strategy that works well for indie and traditional as well as fiction and nonfiction.
But why is a book launch so important?
In this week’s episode, you’ll discover

• Who needs a book launch (and who doesn’t)
• Other methods that work for some authors
• What a successful book launch does for your book and your career
• What we'll cover in this year's final Book Launch Blueprint

Registration for the final cohort of the Book Launch Blueprint course is now open.

• Registration Closes: Friday, April 12
• Live Student Orientation: Friday, April 12.
• Course Begins: Monday, April 15
• Course Concludes: Friday, May 10

Listen in to learn a few book launch secrets and get an overview of the course, or check out the blog version of this episode.

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The term "self-publishing" doesn't mean that you sit in a cabin in the woods all by yourself and emerge with a published book as if you'd done it all singlehandedly.
It's rare to find one person who has all the skills required to turn an idea into a physical book. We need cover designers, formatters, web designers, assistants, and more. You might be self-publishing, but you will need some help.
But what if you don't know anyone who can help? Where can you find skilled professionals who can produce the high-quality work your book deserves?
I asked Ricardo Fayet, the cofounder of Reedsy, a curated community of book professionals
In this week's episode, you'll learn

• How to search Reedsy to find experienced professionals who specialize in your genre
• How Reedsy vets the professionals in their marketplace
• How Reedsy makes money and saves you money at the same time

Listen in to discover how Reedsy can help indie and traditional authors create beautiful, compelling, and marketable books, and find all the related links in the blog version.

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You’ve heard me talk about the Five Ps of Marketing, and in this week’s episode, we tackle the third P: Place. In other words, where should you sell your book?
Many authors struggle to find the right place to sell their books. Whether you're an indie or traditional author, you must discover the best places to sell.
So, how can you unlock the power of place for your book?
In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why the location where you sell your book is important and powerful
• Three case studies on authors who have maximized sales in the right places
• Online and offline places where you can sell your book

Selling your book in the right place is important for connecting with the right readers and making sales. Listen in or check out the blog post to find out how place impacts your book sales.

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Almost every traditionally published book goes up for preorder before it comes out. However, the advice surrounding preorders can be confusing for indie authors. Some indies say preorders are critical. Others say having a preorder for your book can hurt sales.
Who is right?
Should you set up a preorder for your book? Are preorders a good idea or a bad idea?
Preorders can help or hurt, depending on what kind of author you are.
In this week’s episode, you’ll learn:

• What kind of author is helped by a preorder
• Why preorders are so important for some authors
• How to make the most of your preorder window

Listen in or check out the blog version of this episode to learn the benefits and drawbacks of making your book available for preorder before its launch date.

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The tools we use for writing have evolved over the centuries, from quill and inkpot to the printing press, to the word processor to AI. Recent developments in AI tools for writers have sparked everything from laughable images to controversy and fear.
Is AI evil? Is it safe?
In this week’s episode, we’ll discuss what you need to know about AI in our current day. You’ll learn

• How (and how early) it developed
• What threats it poses to writers
• What advantages it offers
• How to wield it for good in the world

Listen in or check out the blog version of this episode to learn what to watch for and how AI can increase your writing output and improve your craft.

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When readers browse Amazon, they have already decided to purchase a book. The only question is: Which book will they choose? What if there was a way to reach readers at this pivotal moment and persuade them to pick your book from the list they're considering?
There is! It is called Amazon Advertising, and it has become one of the most popular forms of book promotion for indie authors.
However, many authors feel intimidated by the idea of running Amazon ads.
In this week's episode, you'll hear from Alana Terry, a USA Today bestselling author of over 40 books and Amazon ads expert.
You'll discover

• Why Amazon ads might be a good place to start
• Six steps to quickly create your first ad
• How to determine whether your ads are working
• And much more

 If you've wanted to sell more books on Amazon but have felt overwhelmed by the process of running ads, listen in or check out the blog version of this episode to find out the quickest way to get started.

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An Uber driver's most valuable asset is his car. A photographer's camera is critical. An Uber driver with a broken car can't make money, and a photographer with a cheap camera will slowly starve.
What is the critical tool for an author? What tool will help you earn money and keep you from starving?
Your laptop!
You write, edit, and promote your book on your laptop. A reliable, compatible computer is key to your success. Put another way, an old, unreliable computer is a terrible liability.
Investing in a good laptop is not just a smart move, it's a potential tax-deductible business expense for professional authors.
But how do you know what kind of laptop is best for you?
In this week's episode, you'll find out:

• What kind of speed and storage an author's laptop needs
• What to avoid when buying a laptop
• What you don't need in a laptop

Listen in or check out the blog version of this episode to find out what kind of computer will best help you in your writing career.

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Author Media has a list of over 10,000 subscribers, and around half of them open our emails, which means our open rates hover around 50%. That’s a high open rate!
It’s partly because new subscribers join our email list through webinars I present for writers and authors. By the end of each webinar, attendees know enough to want to open emails from Author Media and me. Plus, the comments, questions, and polls associated with the webinar allow me to get to know my audience better.
If you want to get to know your “Timothy” and grow your email list by adding subscribers who want to open your emails, it might be time for you to host a webinar.
But how do you deliver webinars readers want to attend?
In this week’s episode, you’ll learn 12 tips for hosting educational and entertaining webinars people want to attend.
You’ll learn

• How to capture and retain your attendees’ attention
• How much time to spend on your presentation or Q&A
• What to do after the webinar to continue to the attendees

Listen in or check out the blog version to find out how you can build an email list full of your “Timothys” and grow an engaged tribe through hosting an author webinar.

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A few months ago, we released an episode called The Starving Author: How to Market Books When You Have No Money.
After the episode aired, several authors asked me a similar question: “What do we do if we do have money to spend?” You see, not all authors are starving. Some writers have spent years saving money, and they want to know how to get the best return on that money when they invest it in book marketing.
So, how do you supercharge book sales if you have money to spend?
In this week's episode, we’ll discuss marketing opportunities available to authors with a sizable marketing budget. You’ll learn

• Where to spend your marketing money before you publish
• Which marketing opportunities are more available to authors with money to spend
• How a publishing team can help you

 If you have a bigger budget for book marketing, opportunities abound. Listen in or check out the blog post version to find out which marketing expenses will yield the best return on your investment.

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My first DOS computer had no mouse. Its screen had two colors: green and white. Today, computers have mice and complex graphics, and there is no need to be a computer programmer in order to use a computer.
Technology gets easier to use each year. Even though it's easier than it used to be, sometimes you still need help. Many authors find that the biggest obstacle keeping them from writing, publishing, or marketing is technology.
Authors lacking technical sophistication often get pulled into overpriced schemes like hybrid publishing and struggle to succeed.
So, how can you learn to learn technology?
In this week's episode, you will learn the keys to

• viewing technology as less scary and more fun
• conquering your fear of technology
• learning how to learn a new technology

If you're ready to have a little fun and fewer tech headaches, listen in or check out the blog version of this episode and learn how to master technology.

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One key to becoming a bestselling author is the selling. And one element of sales is the sales pitch. Some authors think pitches are only to be used for pitching agents at writers conferences, but you can actually use a sales pitch whenever you talk about your book.
Your sales pitch convinces readers to care about and read your book. The stronger your pitch, the better your sales.
I’ve talked a lot about pitching novels in the past, but in this week’s episode, we’ll discuss a powerful recipe for pitching nonfiction that works so well that it can even work for fiction.
You’ll learn

• What elements you’ll need to write a compelling pitch
• Four formulas for writing your pitch
• How the formulas are used for different books

In the blog post version of this episode, you can download the 8-page companion worksheet to help you discover which pitch formula works best for you and use it as a guide for writing a great sales pitch for your book.

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Authors around the world are trying to reduce their reliance on Amazon. However, most of us still use and like Amazon. In fact, many authors earn most of their money from Amazon. But any company with a 90% market share can't be fully trusted.
One way indie authors can reduce their reliance on Amazon is by selling directly from their own author websites. Selling directly provides protection from the changes at an international company. It allows you to retain more money, control, and flexibility over pricing, bundling, and so much more.
In this week's episode, you'll learn about a new service called Bookvault that can print your special edition hardback, help you sell directly to readers, and take care of order fulfillment.
You'll learn

• Which specialty features Bookvault offers that KDP and Ingram don't
• How to sell directly to your readers (and keep more profit!)
• How Bookvault can help with order fulfillment
• How you can get a free upload from Bookvault

Listen in or check out the blog post version to find out how you can print high-quality hardbacks, outsource fulfillment, and sell directly from your author website, all without using Amazon.

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I remember watching Steve Jobs's keynote presentation for the original iPhone. This magical new device, he said, would revolutionize our productivity.
And at first, it did.
But then, along came apps. Soon, user experiences were scientifically optimized to be as addictive as possible. An author's productive output is inversely correlated with time spent on the phone.
In this week's episode, we'll talk about how to spend less time on your phone and more time writing. You'll learn

• How to boss your phone instead of letting your phone boss you.
• A revolutionary setting change that may drastically reduce your desire to look at your phone
• How to use your phone to write more productively

Listen in or check out the blog post version of this episode to discover ten tips for leveraging your phone to increase your productivity and limiting its ability to keep you from writing your book.

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With the rise of AI authors, how do you prove you are a human author? Most authors prove their humanity with their names and photos. Your identity protects you from being called a bot writer.
But what if you use a pen name? Will AI bring the age of pen names to an end?
 While pen names are going out of style, there are some reasons you might still consider using one.
In this week’s episode, you’ll learn seven reasons authors use pen names and if those reasons still make sense in an era where your verifiable humanity has become a marketing asset.
You’ll learn

• When it makes sense to use a pen name
• Whether a pen name can protect your true identity
• What a pen name does to your metadata

There are several great reasons (and a few bad ones) to use an author pen name. If you’re still trying to decide what your author name should be, or if you’ve used a pen name for years, this episode will give you some direction, so listen in or check out the blog version today.

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Can you make a living as an author without selling through Amazon? Many authors wonder.
Amazon is the sole revenue source for many indie authors, but Amazon’s algorithms can disable your KDP accounts and cut off your income without any human reviewing the action.
Authors find themselves pleading with a computer to reactivate their accounts while their livelihoods hang in the balance. While this scenario is rare, it does occur.
That’s why some authors connect with their readers without relying on Amazon. How do you do that, and what type of author can pull it off?
In this week’s episode, Connor Boyack shares his strategy for success and sustainability as a career author.
You’ll learn

• How to earn income from your books outside of Amazon’s ecosystem
• How to increase your profit margins without increasing costs
• How to attract and connect with the right kinds of readers

Listen in or check out the blog post version to find out how Connor’s reproducible strategy can also work for you.

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Being an author requires you to have hundreds of online accounts for different software and services. Websites such as Amazon, ConvertKit, Publisher Rocket, Patreon, K-lytics, Bookvault, AuthorMedia.social, AuthorsXP, BookBub, Kickstarter, Teachable, Bluehost, WordPress, Grammarly, and Plottr (to name a few) all require a username and password.
Some authors avoid using helpful tools simply because they don’t want to create and remember yet another username and password. It seems like too much hassle, and their writing and publishing efficiency and quality suffer as a result.
But what if there was a simple way to eliminate your password problems? There is!
In this week’s episode you’ll learn

• Four password mistakes to avoid
• Which tools provide password security
• My recommendation (which has changed in recent years)

If you’re ready to eliminate your password problems, listen in or check out the blog post version of this episode to find password peace of mind.

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Feeling overwhelmed by book marketing can lead authors to look for shortcuts. Shortcuts lead to expensive complications. Expensive complications lead to dead ends. Dead ends lead to suffering. Yoda would call this “The path to the dark side.”
Does this sound familiar? How do you escape this overwhelming cycle?
There are ten different stressors that can lead to book-marketing overwhelm. Most authors face at least one, and if you are completely overwhelmed, you may be facing all of them.
In this week’s episode, you’ll learn:

• Ten factors that may be causing your marketing stress
• How free courses may be contributing to your overwhelm
• How to improve your publishing vocabulary

Listen in or check out the blog version of this episode to discover which stressors are hounding you and how to implement simple solutions to mitigate your marketing stress.

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Your website is one of your most critical book marketing assets. It’s where you manage your online reputation, grow your email list, and sell books. But before you build a website, you need web hosting.
You have thousands of web hosting options, which can feel a bit overwhelming. How do you know what kind of host you need for your website?
In this week’s episode, you’ll discover

• What a web host does for your website
• Which kind of web hosting is best for authors (and which to avoid!)
• How much you should (or shouldn’t) spend on web hosting

If you’ve been wanting to build a website or have considered switching web hosts, listen in or check out the blog post version of this episode for some recommendations on finding the best service for your situation.

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You probably know that offering a reader magnet on your website is imperative to growing your email list, tantalizing readers with a sample of your writing, and eventually getting them to buy your book.
If you write novels, your reader magnet should be a short story, but if you don’t know how to write a great one, you’ll miss out on the many advantages short stories provide.
In this week’s episode, Steve Diamond, author and cohost of the Writer Dojo podcast, and I discuss the art of writing short stories.
You’ll learn

• The biggest mistake authors make when publishing short stories
• How short story techniques differ from those used in long-form pieces
• Two exercises that will build your short-story-writing muscles

 Listen in or read the blog version to discover all the ways writing short stories can benefit you, and learn to write a great one.

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Have you ever wondered if a course would be a better way to present the material in your book? Have your readers asked you to develop your book into an online course?
You probably know that online courses tend to sell at higher price points than books, but you also know they are a lot of work.
Will it be worth it for you? For your readers?
I’ve been creating and teaching online courses for over a decade and had to learn many things the hard way.
In this week’s episode, you’ll learn the easy way about the lessons I learned the hard way.
We’ll discuss

• Which types of online courses work in different situations
• How you can make sure your course will sell
• Tips for creating your first course

Listen in or check out the blog post version of this episode to discover whether the material in your book could be presented in a course and become a secondary source of revenue for you.

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Novelists often struggle with what to write or say in their email newsletters, blogs, and podcasts. Unpublished novelists often feel like they have nothing to talk about, and published authors know readers tire of constant book promotion emails.
So, what should novelists write about?
Writing a novel is a bit like woodworking. When you craft something from wood, you often have leftover pieces of lumber you can use elsewhere.
Savvy carpenters and writers know how to put the leftovers to use.
A novelist's leftover lumber is research!
In this week's episode, we'll visit with a historical novelist about how you can repurpose research.
You'll discover

• How to share your research in a way that interests your readers
• Logistical tips for conducting research on-site
• How to engage readers in different stages of your book's development

Listen in or check out the blog version of this episode. You might discover you have plenty of interesting bits about your novel to share with your readers.

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Authors often refer to their books as "babies." As I've worked in the publishing world with authors and now that we are awaiting the birth of our fourth child, I'm starting to see a lot of similarities between birthing a book baby and a human baby.
We can learn a lot about delivering a book baby by looking at the process of delivering a real baby. In this week's episode, you'll gain insight on

• The author's experience in each stage of book-baby development
• How to cover the expenses related to holding your book baby for the first time
• How to nourish your book baby and promote healthy growth

Listen in or check out the blog version of this episode to find out what to expect when publishing a book and what your "book baby" needs for a healthy gestation, birth, and life.

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A few weeks ago, Dazed Digital published an article asking why men no longer read novels. The article itself had no satisfying answers, but the question triggered a big discussion online, particularly on X, where everyone had a hot take.
But men are buying and reading books. And authors who write what men want to read are making millions of dollars.
In this week’s episode, you’ll hear from Alexander Macris, who wrote a rebuttal of sorts to the assumption that men don’t read novels.
In our conversation, you’ll learn
·      What men are (and are not) reading and why
·      How to write for male readers
·      Which storylines male and female readers want to read
·      How to market books to men
Listen in or check out the blog version of this episode for some surprising insight into what male readers are (and aren’t) looking for in a novel.

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I'm excited to announce that tickets are now for sale for the 2025 Novel Marketing Conference. The conference will be held in Austin, Texas, on January 17th and 18th. This event is not a typical writer's conference where you learn how to write and publish a book. Our conference is focused on book marketing, and our goal is to help you make 2025 the best year of your author career so far!
In this episode, you'll find out
·      Three special ingredients that make the Novel Marketing Conference unique
·      How this year's conference will differ from last year's
·      Why we've made certain deliberate choices for this year's conference
Listen in or check out the blog version of this episode to get details about the 2025 Novel Marketing Conference.

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The Holy Grail for many authors is to write a popular book series where readers of book one go on to read book two and so on. Writing a popular book series provides many marketing advantages, namely that your advertising is far more profitable.
But writing a series is also risky. Generally, you can only sell subsequent books to folks who purchased, read, and enjoyed the first book in the series.
For some authors, writing books in a series has shackled their otherwise good books to a relatively unappealing freshman effort.
So, how do you know if your book is a good fit for a series?
In this week’s episode, you’ll hear from Kristina Stanley, best-selling, award-winning author and the founder of Fictionary.co. We discuss

• Two types of series
• How to know if your idea can sustain a series
• Strategies for release and promotion of books in a series

Listen in or check out the blog version of this episode to learn about the many marketing advantages a completed series provides and how you can write a successful series.

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Are your book sales starting to dip a bit? Perhaps your book sales were once great and are now starting to fall. You may see this drop in sales for several reasons, but you don’t have to stand by and watch them drop indefinitely.
Most bestselling books see their highest sales during the pre-order period, followed by the launch month, and then experience a slow, steady decline. But you can extend a book sales lifecycle.
In this week’s episode, we’ll talk about

• Why your sales may be declining
• Which sales problems you can fix (or not)
• How to reinvigorate your sales (sometimes with very little extra investment!)

Listen in or check out the blog post to discover why your sales might drop and get a robust list of marketing strategies to boost them back up.

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Reader magnets are like real magnets. Sometimes, they aren't very magnetic, and other times, they're so magnetic that we can rapidly grow an email list of tens of thousands of readers.
A reader magnet is supposed to magnetically draw readers onto your list so that when you have a book to announce, lots of folks are ready and eager to learn more or buy.
But what if your reader magnet doesn't seem to be working?
In this week's episode, I interviewed Jonathan Shuerger to learn how his company, The Strategic Author, can help authors target their ideal market and create super magnetic reader magnets.
You'll learn

• How to gather intelligence on your target reader
• What questions you should ask to gather useful data
• How to use that intel to create a reader magnet they'll love

Listen in or check out the blog post version of this episode to discover why your reader magnet might not be having the impact you want and how you can make it more attractive.

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The last time I visited Barnes and Noble, I marveled at the comic book section. Western comic books only filled a couple of shelves, while around the corner, there was an entire aisle of manga comic books.
I wondered, “Why is Eastern manga so much more popular than Western comic books from DC and Marvel?” As I investigated, I discovered an interesting and shockingly ancient answer.
Western storytelling is typically based on the three-act structure, which dates back to Aristotle. But one ancient story structure that dates back to the time of oral storytelling and is still popular in the East, yet it appeals to modern Western readers.
Many Western storytellers have rediscovered it and used it to write some of the most enduring bestsellers in the English language, including Pride and Prejudice, Goodnight Moon, and Dracula.
In this week’s episode, we’ll discuss

• A story structure based on only two acts
• How to create a two-act structure for a sentence or a series
• How this structure might rescue a story you’ve been struggling to finish

Listen in or check out the blog post version of this episode to learn about this ancient story structure and how can you use it to make your book more appealing to readers.

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Has inflation eaten away at your book profits? Perhaps you want to start advertising and need some margin. Or maybe readers are not taking you seriously with your book's current low price.
You need to raise the price of your book, but how should you do it?
Most authors raise prices quietly. One day, the price just goes up, and they hope no one notices. But that approach is a massive mistake and a missed opportunity.
A future price increase is a rare opportunity, and in this week's episode, you'll learn how to

• Increase your price the right way
• Gain favor with readers by announcing a price increase
• Make the current price seem like a bargain

Listen in or read the blog version of this episode to discover how you can do a kindness for your readers, help them take action, and sell more books at a higher price with a reverse coupon.

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As Yoda says, “Difficult to see the future is.” But difficult is not impossible. Causes have effects, and the more you have a sense of the rhythms of the past, the better you can sense the future.
If it takes you two years to write a book, you owe it to yourself to ask, “What kinds of books will be popular in two years?” Reader preferences change over time, but sometimes they change rapidly. If you don’t keep up, you may get stuck writing a book people no longer want to read.
So, how can you determine what will be popular in a few years?
In this week’s episode, I speak with Alexander Macris about how history’s cyclical patterns can give us clues about what types of literature will resonate in the future. You’ll learn

• Why certain themes and plots are failing miserably in our current moment
• Where to find past ideas that are likely to resonate in the future
• Why certain themes resonate at different times in history

Listen in or read the blog version of this episode to get a head start on writing a book with themes that will resonate with readers in the future.

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Sometimes in marketing, it pays to zig when everyone else is zagging. In this digital age, when authors race to do everything online, it's easy to forget the magic of face-to-face interactions. Personal connections can transform your relationship with your readers and fellow authors.
A book festival is a fantastic way to meet with readers and writers at the same time in real life. But what is a book festival, and how can you organize one?
In this week's episode, I asked Dave Cohen to talk with us about book festivals. He's a British writer with more than four decades of experience writing comedy for the BBC. He saw a void in his community and stepped up to the plate for readers and authors_._ You'll learn
·      What a book festival is
·      Three types of book festivals (and which might fit your book best)
·      How the format could boost your book sales
If you've wished for an in-person venue to sell books and connect with readers and authors, listen in or read the blog version and see how you might be able to grant your own wish. 

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Choosing the right setting can supercharge your book sales. Some people read a book just for its setting. A good setting can lead to spin-off products like board games, art books, coloring books, calendars, comic books, and even movies.
Setting not only turns people on to a story, but it also turns people off.
Every author must answer the question, “How can I place my story in a setting that readers want to spend time in?” And the answer to that question is an art and practice called worldbuilding.
In this week’s episode, you’ll hear from Seth Ring, an author and expert worldbuilder. He co-hosts the WorldCraft Club podcast and teaches people how to build the worlds for their stories.
You’ll learn

• Three techniques for building a captivating world
• How to choose the right setting for your readers
• How setting can impact sales and reader enjoyment

Listen in or check out the blog to discover the power of creating immersive settings that captivate readers, leave a lasting impact, and boost book sales.

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Is your website’s Contact page serving your readers and web visitors?
In the past, authors simply shared their email addresses on their websites. But that opened the door to a flood of spam, which drowned out real messages from readers.
Connecting with your readers is essential to building your readership, so you can’t simply remove your email address from your website. But how do you create an effective Contact page that helps readers connect but keeps spammers out?
In this week’s episode, we’ll discuss the best practices for creating a contact page that truly works.
You’ll learn

• Which “Contact” page elements are necessary
• How to help readers to contact you by their preferred method
• How to keep spammers out of your inbox

Listen in or read the blog version to learn how to create a successful author contact page and form that helps readers and influencers find you and makes spammers leave you alone.

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Your author platform is your ability to spread the word about your book. As an indie author, your platform is directly linked with how large your book launch can be. Bigger platforms lead to bigger launches. All else being equal, traditional publishers always prefer large-platform authors to authors with no platform.
So, how do you grow your author platform?
This week’s episode is a webinar I recently presented.
You’ll learn
·      Two myths about author platform
·      What you’ll need to build an enduring platform
·      Answers to three common questions from authors about email, social media, and money.
Listen in or read the blog post to learn why having a solid author platform is crucial for indie and traditional authors. Find out how to build a platform that will give your book the best chance for success.

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Are you feeling overwhelmed by the endless task of writing, publishing, and marketing your book? From deciding which software to use for writing to figuring out how to keep track of all the characters in your story, the choices can feel paralyzing, and the number of things that need to be done can be very overwhelming.
Besides your writing tasks, you have the business side of things: scheduling meetings, tracking your finances, recording book sales, running ads, and figuring out if your business is actually profitable.
If just thinking about your to-do list is raising your blood pressure, it's time for you to take control and reduce your stress by learning a technique called project management.
In this week's episode, I spoke with Lorna K. Bailey. She's been an executive author's assistant since 2014, and she's helped many top authors grow their sales and increase their focus on writing.
We talked about
·      How to organize and prioritize your to-do list
·      The benefits and differences between digital and paper calendars
·      Tips for effective scheduling that helps you achieve your goals
Listen in or read the blog version to discover how project management techniques can help you tackle the overwhelming task of writing, publishing, and marketing your books.

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Many authors feel stuck. They're toiling away in obscurity, and none of their promotion efforts seem to go anywhere.Success in publishing is as much about who you know as what you know. And sometimes, the lack of knowing the right people keeps you from finding success.We still live in a world that's run by human people, and your connection to those humans will lead to your success. If the word networking makes you feel awkward, you need to change your mindset.Networking is about relationships.So, how do you network with other authors, influencers, industry professionals, and customers at the bookstore? And how do you network in a way that makes you and the person you're connecting with feel amazing?I asked Steve Garrity. He's spent more than 20 years in sales and leadership. He coaches and develops others to thrive, and he is the author of the upcoming book Greatfruit: How Cancer Led to Living a More Fruitful Life. His book is currently live on Kickstarter and has raised over $10,000 in preorders.In this week's episode, you'll discover
·     How to change your mindset about networking
·     How to stop worrying about what to say when meeting people
·     Tools and tips for building and maintaining relationships in your networkListen in or read the blog version of this episode to gain the courage and tools to connect with people and bless them.

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Where is publishing headed in 2025? Are we witnessing the end of traditional publishing or the birth of something new?
In this week's episode of Novel Marketing, we’re unpacking:

• The surprising trends reshaping the industry.
• Why successful indie authors are rejecting six-figure advances.
• How romantasy, premium books, and shifting political preferences are transforming bestseller lists.

And of course, we can’t ignore AI. We'll even see what AI has to say about the future of publishing and whether it can be taken seriously or not.Listen in or check out the blog version to discover what’s next for authors in 2025 and how you can adapt.

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Serialized fiction has been captivating readers for centuries, from nightly bedtime stories to Charles Dickens' Great Expectations to modern writers on platforms like Royal Road and Wattpad.
In this episode, I interview bestselling author Seth Ring, who shares how serialized fiction helped him write 25+ books, build a dedicated fanbase, hone his craft, and achieve financial success.
Discover:

• The benefits of writing serialized stories
• The key differences between Wattpad, Royal Road, and other serial writing platforms
• What serialized fiction means for the future of publishing

Whether you’re curious about trying serialized fiction or wonder if your genre is a good fit, this conversation will give you insight and direction.
Blog & Audio Version
Listen in or check out the blog version to discover the methods and advantages of writing in installments for your readers.

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Congrats on getting booked for a podcast interview! Whether you’re promoting your book or lead magnet, your audio quality on the podcast can make or break your credibility.
In our latest episode, we share pro tips on:

• How to prepare for your interview (beyond just showing up)
• Microphone techniques that make you sound like a pro
• The gear you need (that doesn’t break the bank)
• What to do after the interview is done

I’ve been podcasting since 2007, I’ve tested a lot of gear, and I’ve made some classic podcast blunders. This episode will help you avoid those mistakes, sound professional, and have fun.
Whether you’re planning a podcast tour for your book launch or wanting to purchase your first microphone, listen in or read the blog to learn how to make the most of your podcast guest opportunities.

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Have you ever set up a book table and stacked your books neatly, only to walk away with disappointing sales? You're not alone.
But there is a better way to sell books from your book table at in-person events.
In this week's episode of Novel Marketing, I sit down with Sarah Hickner, an expert in book table sales, to uncover:

• Common mistakes authors make at book tables (and how to avoid them)
• Simple tricks to draw readers in without feeling pushy
• How to use giveaways, bundles, and book covers to boost sales
• Why in-person events aren't just about selling books

Whether you're an introvert or a seasoned seller, listen in or read the blog version to learn how to set up an eye-catching table, use giveaways effectively, craft the perfect pitch, and avoid common mistakes that cost authors sales.

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If you’re thinking about writing a book series, you might want to reconsider, especially if you’re a new author. That’s not to say you should never write a series, but it can be a risky endeavor, and I can prove it with math.
In this week’s episode, I break down why writing a series may limit your potential readership. You’ll learn:

• The four steps every reader must take for your sequel to sell well
• The math behind why sequels struggle to sell
• The hidden dangers of "battered reader syndrome" and how it affects new authors
• A pre-series strategy for new authors

If you’ve ever wondered whether you should commit to a series or focus on standalones, listen in or read the blog post for a fresh perspective and a smarter strategy.

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To indie publish or traditionally publish? That is the question.
For years, indie publishing was seen as a fallback for authors who couldn’t land a traditional contract. But times have changed. Many indie authors now outsell and out-earn their traditionally published counterparts.
And yet, while many traditionally published authors are switching to indie, it’s far less common to see a successful indie author sign with a major publisher.
What would make an indie author turn down a traditional publishing deal?
I spoke with Scott LaPierre, an author and conference speaker, to find out.
In this week’s episode, we discuss:

• The biggest myths about traditional publishing
• How signing a contract affected book sales
• Traditional publishing’s take on pricing and marketing
• The cost of getting your rights back and why it matters

Scott gives a first-hand account of working as a traditional and indie author and where he landed after experiencing both routes.
If you’ve ever wondered which path is right for you and your book, listen in or read the blog version of our conversation.

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You think if everyone loves you, it will give your career a massive boost in the right direction? Of course it will. We tell you how to make it happen. And we’ll explain why it’s the easiest thing in the world to describe, but almost impossible to do.

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 007 – The Secret to Getting People to Love You appeared first on Author Media.

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You’re finished! You’ve typed, The End and you’re thrilled. (So are we. Congrats.) But now comes the marketing. So where exactly do you start? (Whether you have a contract or not.) We tell you exactly the places to begin, and trust us, it’s nearly painless.   Show Notes: Strengths Finder  AuthorMedia.com

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 008 – Where to Start Marketing Your First Novel appeared first on Author Media.

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If you’re not using Twitter, it might be because you don’t understand it, or you might not know the secrets to using it correctly. Join us as we talk about what to do, what not to do, and how Twitter can help you sell more books, as well as sell yourself.   Helpful Links: Twitter.com […]

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 009 – An Introduction to Twitter for Novelists appeared first on Author Media.

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Want to Sell More Books This Christmas Than Ever Before? The Christmas season is a sales juggernaut, if you know the ways to jump on that train. We give you 12 ideas that will cost you little to nothing, but could fill up your stocking in a really jolly way. Outline Christmas is a Tricky […]

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 010 – 12 Novel Marketing Ideas for Christmas appeared first on Author Media.

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Who Knew? Santa is a Brilliant Marketer? Yes, he sure is. Check out the secrets of Ol’ Kringle’s legendary success as a cultural icon and how you can apply the same principles to your career.   This episode is based on the this blog post from Author Media.

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 011 – Seven Things Santa Can Teach You About Book Marketing appeared first on Author Media.

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Every year, Author Media polls a panel of industry experts and collects a list of publishing predictions. We are going to share those predictions with you along with our commentary. 

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 013 – Publishing Predictions for 2014 appeared first on Author Media.

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Why do some authors rank better than others on Google? How does Google even work? I interviewed Tony Tovar, a search engine optimization (SEO) expert. He’s the CEO of Inbound Mastery and the person I contact when I have questions about how Google works.  Why is it important for authors to rank well on Google? […]

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 015 – How Google Works And Why Some Authors Rank Better than Others With SEO Expert Tony Tovar appeared first on Author Media.

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Show Notes Resolve to be as entertaining and helpful as possible. The more value you offer the more in demand you will be. If you shoot for being helpful you will be both helpful and will sell books. If you shoot for selling books you will be neither help nor sell. If you are boring […]

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 016 – How to Prepare for a Podcast Interview appeared first on Author Media.

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James & Thomas talk about how to ace your next podcast or radio interview.

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 017 – 12 Tips to Help You Nail Your Next Podcast Interview appeared first on Author Media.

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Talking Points What is Design by Committee? Something that everyone likes is typically something no one loves. Compromise leads to bad design. A camel is a horse designed by a committee. Think of a recipe. If you try to accommodate everyone’s preference you end up with catsup and peanut butter on ice cream. How do […]

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 019 – The #1 Killer of Good Book Covers & Websites: Design By Committee appeared first on Author Media.

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 I know, you’re wondering where we’re going with this. You’re probably saying, “Isn’t that the Novel Marketing podcast is all about?” Yes, it is, but in this episode, we’re going to tackle the age old question, should you promote yourself, or find someone else to do it for you?

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 020 – To Brag, or not to Brag, that is the Question! appeared first on Author Media.

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Talking Points: Esther Story: Esther Had a Tough Marketing Position Not in favor with the King Had a big ask. What does she do? She offers value and invites the King to a banquet in his honor. At the banquet does she offer her big ask? No, she invites him to a second banquet. It […]

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 021 – Queen Esther, Staggered Marketing & Why Waiting to Ask Can Boost Book Sales appeared first on Author Media.

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In this episode we are going to talk about Facebook. And more specifically, how to get more Facebook fans. Why Facebook is still important: Still the biggest social network (after email) Publishers pay attention to Facebook, particularly your PTAT score. 12 Ways to Get More Fans: Create sharable content particularly photos. Put a Facebook like […]

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 022 – 12 Ways to Get More Facebook Fans appeared first on Author Media.

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Learn how successful authors set SMART goals to foster perseverance and make progress in their writing career. 

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 023 – SMART Goals the Key to Marketing Success appeared first on Author Media.

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In this episode we talk about a powerful and easy way to market yourself and your writing to complete strangers … even if you’re a total introvert.

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 024 – An Easy Line to Help Introverted Authors Promote Their Writing to Complete Strangers appeared first on Author Media.

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In this episode we answer questions from listeners like you. If you would like to ask a question for a future Q&A episode click here. Question 1 “My question has to do with a specific niche – my novel is Christian fiction, including dragons, but not your typical fantasy with magic, talking critters, etc., so […]

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 025 – 25th Episode Q&A Extravaganza appeared first on Author Media.

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In this episode we’re going to talk about the legendary elevator pitch … and how to create one that does exactly what an elevator pitch should do. Talking Points: What is an elevator pitch? Sentence – High concept, the hook Paragraph – Radio Pitch / Back cover copy … Page – Short Synopsis Why do […]

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post How to Create an Elevator Pitch So Good That People will Stop the Elevator to Hear More appeared first on Author Media.

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A  popular marketing strategy is to put together a huge launch even focused around the launch date of the book. You are not a fan of the big fan of that strategy. Why not?   Walk us through the marketing techniques you used for your last book.   Tell us about your experiences with book […]

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 028 – Book Rollouts Vs Book Launches With James Scott Bell appeared first on Author Media.

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An author mastermind group can accelerate your writing and publishing career. Find out how you can start one. 

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 029 – How to Start a Mastermind Group appeared first on Author Media.

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This week we are talking with Allen Arnold about how to overcome that mysterious barrier to publication called “pub board.”

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 030 – Selling An Editor So She Can Sell to Pub Board With Allen Arnold appeared first on Author Media.

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Spirit Bridge by our very own James L. Rubart has just launched. Check it out at Amazon or at a book store near you.

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post Special Announcement: Spirit Bridge by James L. Rubart appeared first on Author Media.

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Many novelists have a hard time with blogging. So they end up ignoring this powerful tool. In this episode, Jim and Thomas talk about what to blog about and what topics to avoid.

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 031 – What Should Novelists Blog About? appeared first on Author Media.

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Not all authors need an agent. In this episode we talk with Steve Laube about what kind of authors need an agent and what kind of authors can go agentless.

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 032 – What is a Literary Agent Do You Still Need One appeared first on Author Media.

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Angela Hunt shares her publishing journey.

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post Angela Hunt’s Journey from Unpublished to Over 1 Million Book Sales appeared first on Author Media.

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Learn the pros and cons of offering your books for free and how you can incorporate giveaways into your overall marketing strategy.

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post The Upside and Downside of Free Books appeared first on Author Media.

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The cold reality of being a writer is that some people will hate you and your writing. What do you do about those people?

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post Trolls, Haters, and Critics Oh My – How to Handle Negative Feedback as an Author appeared first on Author Media.

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In this episode, we talk with Allen Arnold  about the deserts a writer can get stuck in, and how to get out.

You can find the blogpost version of this episode HERE.

The post 038 – How to Find an Inspiration Oasis in a Creativity Desert With Allen Arnold appeared first on Author Media.

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Branding is one of the most confusing topics under the umbrella of marketing. In this article, you'll learn the first step to creating your author brand.

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The post 041 – How to Create A Breakthrough Author Brand Step 1 – Look in the Mirror appeared first on Author Media.

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In this episode, we talk with agent and former editor Karen Ball.

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The post 039 – How Writers Should Market Themselves to Editors With Karen Ball appeared first on Author Media.

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In this episode we answer questions from listeners like you. If you would like to ask a question for a future Q&A episode click here. Question 1 “I was recently divorced and remarried and now I have a new last name. Should I change the name on my website and future books or use my old […]

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The post 040 – 40th Episode Q&A Extravaganza appeared first on Author Media.

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Discover the advantages and disadvantages of having a website as an unpublished author. Find out whether you, as an author, need a website.

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The post Do authors still need a website? appeared first on Author Media.

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Branding is one of the most confusing topics under the umbrella of marketing. In this episode, we look at the second step of creating a breakthrough author brand.

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The post 042 – How to Create A Breakthrough Author Brand Step 2: Look at Your Readers appeared first on Author Media.

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Learn how to listen in when your readers talk about you, and find out how their words can help refine your author brand.

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The post 043 – How to Create A Breakthrough Author Brand Step 3 – Look Through Your Readers appeared first on Author Media.

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Is your website copy boring readers? You only have seven seconds to capture attention so make sure your web copy works.

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The post 044 – Writing for Your Website – How To Craft Pages That Readers Actually Want to Read appeared first on Author Media.

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Some say bookstores are only interested in promoting the best-selling authors. While that’s not true, getting their focus will take some tricks and techniques. In this episode, we cover five keys to getting the attention of physical, walk-in bookstores.

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The post 045 – Five Keys to Working with Book Stores, Before You’re Published and After appeared first on Author Media.

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What if we said that getting your work ripped off could significantly boost your sales? In this episode, we explore why getting stolen from should make your day.   [atp_links linktype=”sbutn”]

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The post 046 – Why You Should Love It When Your Novel Gets Pirated appeared first on Author Media.

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Many writers love to write in multiple genres, is that a good idea? Should they narrow it down? If so, how should a writer pick the one with the best chance of selling? We answer these questions and more in this week’s episode.

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The post 047 – How to Pick the Perfect Genre to Write In appeared first on Author Media.

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Book signings are likely the most personal connection you’ll have with a reader. Because of that, it’s an important opportunity that could either leave the reader with a memorable experience, or could alienate a new friend. In this episode, we discuss the right way to sign books, so you give your readers an enjoyable moment they’ll remember.

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The post 048 – The Right Way and the Wrong Way to Sign Books appeared first on Author Media.

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