Book Marketing Success Podcast

This video was created using NotebookLM from Google based on a podcast recording of me with Judith Briles and a text document on 10 key book marketing tactics. I like this video better than a similar one created and posted yesterday. Why? Because the graphics are more engaging. And that's because I learned how to edit output from NotebookLM.Be Heard: Create Your Content EngineHost your own podcast.Be a guest on other podcasts.Create short content-rich videos.Build Your Tribe: Community and Direct ReachOwn one social network.Host your own online summit.Participate in other people's summits.Send a weekly email.Go Big: High-Impact OutreachSpeak at events. especially offline.Pitch major TV shows.Pitch major magazines.I share the main points for this podcast. But not the entire transcript (which you can access at the top of this podcast entry).Website: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.comWebsite: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.comBook Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

A powerful 10-point strategy gives you a clear, actionable plan to market your books. Four manageable strategic phases build on each other.1. Build the Foundation: The Stuff You Own and ControlFirst things first, the foundation: Building the stuff that you own and control. This is your content engine that's going to establish you as an authority in your space for the long haul. So what's the key here? It's how these three steps work together like a well-oiled machine.Your weekly podcast is the heart of your content engine. It's where you have your deepest conversations.Then, pull out shareable video clips from that podcast.And finally, pick one social media channel and focus on sharing those clips to pull people back to your main content.It's a smart interconnected system. This is where the magic is.For your podcast, feature people you want to honor. It's not just about getting interviews. It's about building genuine relationships.Your videos should be short and sweet but packed with value. Post them everywhere: YouTube, Rumble, Vimeo, and all your social networks.For social media, don't try to be everywhere at once. Pick one network like Instagram or TikTok and get really, really good at it.Your own content engine should now be humming along,2. The Expansion: Tap into Other People's AudiencesIt's time for phase two, the expansion. You've got your own valuable stuff now, so the strategy shifts a little bit.Start tapping into other people's audiences. It's all about leveraging platforms that other people have already built. How? Be a guest on other podcasts. Use tools like ListenNotes.com and Matchmaker.fm to locate the most targeted podcasts to reach your audience.You should also speak at events, both online and in person. Note: While online speaking is great, there is absolutely nothing that beats a live in-person speech for making a real connection.This plan also has a cool two-sided strategy for summits. You can host your own, or you can be a guest at someone else's, or both! If you host your own summit, you're in the driver's seat. You control the whole conversation and you build your brand as a leader.But being a guest, that's a fantastic shortcut to a built-in audience without all the logistical headaches. Which one's right for you? That depends on where you're at right now.3. The Email Connection: Own Your RelationshipsWe've covered building your platform and borrowing other people's, but this step is about owning the relationship with your biggest fans. It's about creating a direct line to them that no algorithm or social media platform can ever mess with.Social media is rented land. Your website could get buried by Google. But your email list is your direct, unfiltered line to the people who want to hear from you. It is the most valuable and bulletproof asset you can build as an author.How to use this direct line is simple: Send one email, every single week, no matter what. Send out emails that are short, packed with value, content rich, and inspirational. You're not just trying to sell them something, you're serving them consistently.4. The Amplifier: Pitch to the Major LeaguesThe final and most ambitious phase of this book marketing plan is the amplifier. Once you've got your foundation built, your expansion strategy working, and you have a direct connection to your tribe, you are ready to pitch to the major leagues.Take your message and scale it up, big time. Getting attention from major media isn't about getting lucky with one great pitch. It's about engaging in a persistent professional effort. And. as this timeline shows, the plan is to send a new idea, a new proposal, to your target outlets at least every two weeks.This steady drumbeat shows the media that you are serious, creative, and not going away. The rules for this final phase are all about focus and relevance. Pick one national TV show and one major magazine to start with.But here's the kicker. Your ideas have to be newsworthy. Connect what your book is about to what people are already talking about right now. Link your expertise to current events. That is what makes a producer's ears perk up.ConclusionThis table sums it up perfectly. You've got 10 individual tactics, but they all funnel into these four core strategies.You build your foundation with your content. You get expansion by leveraging other platforms. You forge a critical connection with your weekly email. And, finally, you become the amplifier by pitching the major media. It's a complete, integrated book marketing system where every part supports the others.This 10-point book marketing plan is so much more than a to-do list. It's an author marketing blueprint for building a career. Looking at this book marketing system, the question you should be asking yourself isn't, how can I possibly do all of this at once? It's much simpler than that.The real question is, what is the very first brick you're going to lay for your author platform starting today?Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.comWebsite: https://www.bookauthorauthority.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

Note: The attached video is one of three videos created by NotebookLM from Google using the 10 Ways to Market Your Books report created by the Comet browser from Perplexity AI as input. I shared the first two videos in the past few days/ It's interesting to hear how each of these videos approached the 10 Ways.1. Building Your Foundation: Author-Owned Assets (website, email marketing)2. Engaging Your Community: Dynamic Social Proof (social media, reviews, buzz with teasers and giveaways)3. Amplifying Your Reach: Leverage Audiences (partner with another author, podcast recommendations)4. Driving Sales: Convert Interest into Action (paid ads, author events)xHow to Write an Article Trove Book (Write a Book in 10 Days or Less Series)The easiest lengthy book to write in 10 days or less is to collect a number of your articles on your website, text from podcast episodes, blog posts, or social media posts and compile them into a themed book. This book shows how you to create such a collection quickly and easily.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

Note: The attached video is one of three videos created by NotebookLM using the 10 Ways to Market Your Books (via Comet AI) as input. I shared one video yesterday and will share the third video tomorrow). It's interesting to hear how each of the videos approach the 10 WaysThe top ten most effective ways to market a book in 2026 combine digital footprint, author community, and direct outreach to maximize reach and sales.* Digital Footprint - Be Findable Online* Author Community - Strategies to Build Trust* Direct Outreach - Ensure You Are HeardHow to Write an Article Trove Book (Write a Book in 10 Days or Less Series)The easiest lengthy book to write in 10 days or less is to collect a number of your articles on your website, text from podcast episodes, blog posts, or social media posts and compile them into a themed book. This book shows how you to create such a collection quickly and easily.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

The following ten points were written by the Comet AI browser based on the following question: What are the ten best ways to market a book in today's world?I would quibble about the results of the AI's recommendations — and I will do so in a later podcast episode. I would also use most common language in making these points. Too many long words and too many long paragraphs.Note: The attached video is one of three videos created by NotebookLM using the following words as input. In the next two episodes, I'll be sharing two additional videos created by Notebook LM in a fwe minutes.The top ten most effective ways to market a book in 2026 combine digital engagement, community-building, and strategic partnerships to maximize reach and sales.1. Social Media MarketingUsing platforms like TikTok (BookTok), Instagram (Bookstagram), and X (formerly Twitter) to engage readers with authentic, behind-the-scenes content helps authors build visibility and brand loyalty. Choosing one or two platforms that align with your audience ensures consistent engagement rather than scattered efforts.2. Influencer & Partnership MarketingCollaborating with book bloggers, podcasters, and relevant influencers helps authors reach engaged audiences through trusted recommendations. Relationships built on shared interests and authenticity are more impactful than broad, transactional promotions.3. Email Marketing & Author NewslettersA consistent newsletter or mailing list is one of the most reliable long-term assets for authors. By offering exclusive content, early previews, or discounts, writers can nurture loyal readers outside of unpredictable social platforms.4. Book Blogs, Podcasts, and Media OutreachAppearing on book blogs and podcasts, or sending press releases to targeted outlets, expands a book's visibility across established communities. This strategy works especially well for authors who wish to reduce reliance on social media.5. Building an Author Website and SEOA dedicated author website acts as an online hub for readers, containing book details, press information, and blog updates. Optimizing it for discovery through Google Search Console, Analytics, and SEO best practices ensures sustained organic traffic.6. Amazon and Meta AdvertisingRunning targeted ads on Amazon and Meta platforms remains a powerful driver of sales. Promotional pricing campaigns (like temporary discounts) attract new readers and improve visibility in algorithms and rankings.7. Speaking Engagements and Author EventsParticipating in literary festivals, book signings, or conferences helps authors connect personally with readers. Hosting workshops or talks about the book's themes can lead to immediate sales and future opportunities.8. Reader Reviews and TestimonialsEncouraging reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, and BookBub boosts credibility and discoverability. Sharing positive reviews on social channels and websites reinforces social proof.9. Cross-Promotions With Other AuthorsPartnering with authors in similar genres to share audiences through joint emails, giveaways, or bundles amplifies exposure while minimizing costs.10. Book Teasers, Giveaways, and Promotional GraphicsCreating visual content—like teaser trailers, quote graphics, or giveaways—helps generate pre-launch excitement and viral sharing, especially when timed with major milestones or seasonal events.These ten approaches together form a balanced, multi-channel marketing plan adaptable to both indie and traditionally published authors in 2026's competitive marketplace.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.How to Write an Article Trove Book (Write a Book in 10 Days or Less Series)The easiest lengthy book to write in 10 days or less is to collect a number of your articles on your website, text from podcast episodes, blog posts, or social media posts and compile them into a themed book. This book shows how you to create such a collection quickly and easily. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

Passionate about the environment? Write a book! Passionate about inner city health? Write a book! Passionate about gun violence? Write a book! Whatever cause you support, you can support it more effectively by writing a book versus donating money or time.And create more impact than doing a simple video or podcast.Website: https://www.ProToPublished.comWebsite: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.comWebsite: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.comBook Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.How to Write an Article Trove Book (Write a Book in 10 Days or Less Series)The easiest lengthy book to write in 10 days or less is to collect a number of your articles on your website, text from podcast episodes, blog posts, or social media posts and compile them into a themed book. This book shows how you to create such a collection quickly and easily. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

There's no better way to build and nurture a career than to start by writing a book. Books open doors. Books get respect. Books get you promotions. And books get you job offers, again and again.Website: https://www.ProToPublished.comWebsite: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.comWebsite: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.comBook Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.How to Write an Article Trove Book (Write a Book in 10 Days or Less Series)The easiest lengthy book to write in 10 days or less is to collect a number of your articles on your website, text from podcast episodes, blog posts, or social media posts and compile them into a themed book. This book shows how you to create such a collection quickly and easily. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

Books are the best business card you can carry. Your book is a business card on steroids. You can create a very big business card that will get the attention of your customers and prospects. That is how you create more business and more sales in everything you do.Website: https://www.ProToPublished.comWebsite: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.comWebsite: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

The best way to develop great customers is to give your book to prospective customers. Those prospects who read your book and like it will become your best customers.Just write a book that answers the top 20 questions that prospects ask you again and again. Prospects always ask better questions after reading a book. If they ask the right questions, they will hire you and keep hiring you. That's the best kind of customer.Website: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.comWebsite: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.comWebsite: https://www.ProToPublished.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

The following story is taken from a tweet a few days ago sent out by The Redheaded Troublemaker (https://x.com/try2underit).I've Been Banned from Tractor SupplyYesterday I was at my local TSC store buying a large bag of my dog's food for my Australian Cattle Dog. I was in the checkout when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog?What did she think I had an elephant? So, since I'm retired and have little to do, on impulse I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, I was starting the Purina Dog Diet again.I added that I probably shouldn't, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but I'd lost 10 pounds before I woke up in intensive care with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms. I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pockets with dog nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry.The food is nutritionally complete so it works well, and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.)Horrified, she asked me if I ended up in intensive care because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I stepped off the curb to sniff an Irish Setter's ass end and a car hit me.I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard. I'm now banned from Tractor Supply. Better watch what you ask retired people. They have all the time in the world to think of things to say.And they are incredibly good at telling stories.Here's the tweet: https://twitter.com/try2underit/status/1974678659261706527Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Website: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.comWebsite: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.comWebsite: https://www.ProToPublished.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

I recently saw a viral video featuring the strategies dogs use to get snacks from their humans (see the video here: https://www.myincrediblewebsite.com/dogs-know-how-to-manipulate-humans-for-food-food-food).With the right techniques, almost any person can be persuaded to share their meal. Here are a few of the most effective strategies of dogs, along with my comments on how anyone can entice anyone else to do what they want.1. Position yourself in your human's direct line of sight.The first step in getting what you want from someone is to get yourself in front of them — by email, social media, fax, phone call, podcast invite, letter, postcard, or more.2. Lower your ears enough to look like you're starving. Place your paw on top of your human as if to say, “I hate to interrupt but I will.”The second step: Let your target person know your need — what it is that you want from them. Be very clear. Be firm. Be persistent.3. Channel the tragic energy of a dog who's never seen food before even if you literally just licked your dinner bowl clean.Be passionate in pursuing your dream. Be passionate in communicating what you want. Be passionate in reaching out to anyone who can help you. Ask. And ask again.4. Release a small dramatic sigh every time your human takes a bite while maintaining unrelenting eye contact.Again, be persistent. Keep making contacts. Maintain eye contact, ear contact, touch contact, email contact, phone contact, letter contact, real person contact. Be dramatic at least some of the time. Be clear the rest of the time.When used in combination, these techniques have been known to produce a 92% success rate. That's probably a fake statistic, but possibly accurate nonetheless.The key to success in marketing is building relationships with key influencers. Use the strategies of dogs to help you build those relationships. Bow WOW!Website: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.comWebsite: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

The tips for today's podcast came from a recent Time magazine article on 5 Ways to Make Small Talk When You Have Social Anxiety.Practice in low-stakes settings.Start by speaking at your local library, bookstore, Rotary Club, or a friend's house (or your own).Script some go-to phrases.Practice telling some stories from your own experience.Use the echo technique.Encourage your audience to ask you questions that you can answer, drawing on your experience & knowledge.Find an anchor.When speaking to a crowd, focus on one or two receptive people in your audience. Talk to them.Have an exit strategy ready.End your talk with a great sales pitch for your book, your products, or your services—or someone's product or service you can recommend.Book Author Authority: https://www.bookauthorauthority.comBook Marketing Bestsellers: https://www.bookmarketingbestseller.comBook Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

The above video was created from a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation created with the help of Microsoft Copilot. It essentially expanded on the presentation I created in the last video (based on an article by Jamie K. Wilson, The Death of Enchantment).I was actually, for the most part, disappointed with this creation—too abstract, almost devoid of life. But I thought you should be able to compare my original video at https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/what-hollywood-sadly-has-forgotten with the above video created by PowerPoint and Copilot but vocalized by me.I suspect I won't be using Copilot anymore to create videos. Not good enough by my estimate.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.comBookstore: https://www.bookmarket.com/bookstore This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

The following is excerpted from an article by Jamie K. Wilson, The Death of Enchantment (https://pjmedia.com/jamie-wilson/2025/08/26/the-death-of-enchantment-why-hollywood-no-longer-holds-us-n4943034).The spell of story is not complicated, but it is sacred:Trust the writer.Trust the director.Trust the story to carry its own truth.And most importantly: Trust the viewer.Hollywood has forgotten that the audience is not a passive consumer but a participant. A story isn't finished until it's received — until the viewers buy into it, suspend their disbelief, and join the communion. But today's studios no longer trust the viewer. They treat audiences as problems to be managed, as minds to be manipulated, as children to be lectured. …But the cure is the same as the cause: trust restored. Allow stories to be stories again, and the spell will hold. The lights will go down, the screen will flicker to life, and once more, strangers will gasp together in the dark.Thanks for reading Book Marketing Success! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

IntroductionI discovered another AI app that you can use to create slide show presentations (and videos like the one above). The app, Microsoft Copilot, allows you to create slide shows using PowerPoint. Both Copilot and PowerPoint are part of a Microsoft 365 subscription ($99 per year, personal edition).I started with three lines of information, as shown below. I entered these lines into the Create with Copilot option that comes up when you start up PowerPoint. Within a few minutes, Copilot and PowerPoint generated a sixteen-slide presentation that became the basis for the above video.Writer's Block: In Case of an Emergency, Break the GlassThere really is no such thing as writer's block or any other block to getting things done. Blocks only exist if you let them. If you move on, they melt away.As the blue collar comedians, say, “Get ‘er done!” Move on!The text for the video is showcased below. Note how Copilot took three lines and made sixteen slides with the following extensive content.Microsoft Copilot and PowerPointToday I'm showcasing another presentation program you can use, Microsoft PowerPoint combined with Copilot, to create another version of my writer's block information.So we're going to talk about understanding the concept of writer's block, debunking the myth, the reality of writer's block, practical strategies to overcome perceived blocks, and cultivating long-term productivity and creativity.Writer's block is commonly defined as an inability to generate new ideas or work, causing creative paralysis.These beliefs influence how writers view their creative struggles and shape their response to overcoming challenges.The creative blocks such as this are often portrayed in literature, where creative blocks are often depicted as a mysterious curse impacting writers, especially novelists, symbolizing an insurmountable barrier to creativity.Film and media portray creative blocks as unavoidable challenges that dramatically affect artists and writers' work.Anxiety can cause mental blocks by creating fear and stress that hinder creative thinking and writing flow.Perfectionism leads to unrealistic standards that prevent progress and increase fear of failure in writing tasks.Also, unrealistic expectations create pressure that can block creativity and cause frustration during the writing process.Writer's block is basically a myth.Many experts believe blocks are not a real condition but misconceptions about creativity. Creative pauses are often temporary challenges, not permanent stoppages in writing or creative ability. Also, lack of motivation can cause writing delays mistaken for writer's block.Prolific writers maintain consistent work habits, regardless of obstacles, highlighting consistency over inspiration.Discipline is crucial in overcoming challenges and driving steady creative output among successful creators.Persistence outweighs mysterious creative blocks, enabling writers to produce work consistent with their story.Viewing creative struggles as normal helps writers maintain motivation and reduces frustration during the process.Believing challenges are solvable fosters resilience and encourages persistent effort towards progress.A positive mindset helps sustain continuous progress despite encountering creative blocks.Practical strategies to overcome perceived blocks.Embrace imperfection. By accepting imperfection allows progress by reducing the pressure of perfectionism in creative work.Avoid overthinking. Moving on without over analyzing every detail prevents stagnation and fosters creativity.Set goals. Some of the techniques for maintaining momentum is to set goals.Break tasks into small goals to sustain momentum and make progress manageable and rewarding.Use timed writing sessions to reduce pressure and encourage focused, consistent work intervals.Employ free writing techniques that promote creativity and flow by removing constraints and allowing spontaneous ideas to emerge.Use humor. Humor eases stress and makes creative work more enjoyable, helping to overcome mental blocks.Simplify tasks, reducing overwhelm and making creative work easier and more approachable.Cultivate long-term productivity and creativity.Build resilient writing habits, first by establishing consistent writing routines to help you maintain discipline and overcome creative challenges effectively.Develop writing habits that anchor productivity by creating dependable pathways to sustain creativity and output.Embrace imperfection and continuous progress. Recognize that first drafts are not perfect and that helps reduce pressure and fosters creativity. Be ready to do ongoing revisions to help refine your ideas and improve the quality of work over time.Embrace imperfection enables sustained effort and growth in creative projects.Learn the lessons from blue-collar comedians. Get her done. Blue-collar comedians embody a straightforward practical mindset focused on action rather than excessive planning. The key lesson is to begin tasks promptly to overcome procrastination and build momentum.ConclusionEmphasize completion without overthinking to ensure productivity and success in any endeavor.Recognize that writer's blocks is often a mental barrier rather than an actual inability to write.Dispel common misconceptions about writer's block to foster a healthier writing mindset.And then implement actionable techniques—practical strategies to unlock your productivity and sustain creativity in writing.Gamma Vs. Microsoft Copilot and PowerPointBoth programs produced informative slide show presentations and videos. Personally I preferred the output from Gamma because it included actual examples and stories that enlivened the presentation.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.Websites: https://BookAuthorAuthority.com and https://www.BookMarket.com/bookstore This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

I discovered a great AI app that you can start using for free and then pay $5.00 per month for an upgrade. This app, Gamma (https://www.aippt.com), allows you to quickly create slide show presentations. And then use the presentation to create a video like the one above.I started with three lines of information, as shown below. I entered these lines into the Gamma app and within a few minutes, Gamma generated a ten-slide presentations that became the basis for the above video.Writer's Block: In Case of an Emergency, Break the GlassThere really is no such thing as writer's block or any other block to getting things done. Blocks only exist if you let them. If you move on, they melt away.As the blue collar comedians, say, “Get ‘er done!” Move on!The text for the video is showcased below. Note how Gamma took three lines and made ten slides with the following extensive content.In case of an emergency, break glass. The truth about writer's block.Writer's block isn't about what you think it is. It's not an immovable barrier, but rather a temporary obstacle that only exists if you allow it to.This presentation explores the reality behind the myth and provides practical solutions to get your creativity flowing again.The Myth of Writer's BlockJerry Jenkins puts it bluntly, writer's block is a myth. No other profession accepts a block as a legitimate reason to stop working. If you wait for motivation or inspiration to strike before writing, you'll be waiting forever.Creativity doesn't appear on demand. What we call writer's block is actually a combination of fear, procrastination, and perfectionism, masquerading as creative stoppage.Rather than accepting blocks, successful writers develop strategies to push through the resistance.Famous writers who struggled and won.Samuel Taylor Coleridge experienced what he called an indefinite, indescribable terror that prevented him from writing for an entire year in 1804.Paul Sylvia, a psychology professor and author on motivation, went nine months without making progress on his own book about motivation.Despite these profound struggles, both men eventually overcame their creative paralysis by fundamentally changing their mindset and establishing new writing habits.What really causes writer's block?This pie chart showcases from Research Insights, a 2024 University of North Florida study.Psychological factors including stress and anxiety. That's the big dark purple pie slice on the right.Next, fear of criticism, the lower, more lavender pie slice.And then perfectionism, which is the next as we rotate around.Procrastination.And then other factors.Two main types of blocks.There are two main types of blocks, plot block and life block.Plot block occurs when story logic stalls. Character or plot feel stuck.This is a craft problem fixable with patience, restructuring, and narrative technique.Life block results from personal issues that can drain creative energy. It can require addressing deeper needs, self-care, mental health support, or lifestyle adjustments.Recognizing your specific block type is a crucial first step to implementing the right solution.Practical hacks to break the block.You can schedule writing. Treat writing like a job. Paul Sylvia committed to two hours daily. No excuses. Consistency builds momentum and trains your brain for creativity.Step two, you can do free writing. Set a timer for 10 to 15 minutes of unfiltered, unedited writing. This bypasses perfectionism and often produces unexpected insights.And you can change the environment. So if one place isn't working, work at a cafe or park or library. Environmental novelty stimulates new neural connections and fresh perspectives.These practical approaches work because they shift focus from outcomes to process, making writing a habitual action rather than a high stakes performance.Embrace fear and imperfection. The best writing is born of humility. That's from mystery writer and thriller writer Dean Kuntz.Fear is natural and justified. Embrace it as a motivation.Perfectionism kills progress. Done is better than perfect.Writing imperfectly today creates a foundation for better writing.The most prolific writers aren't fearless. They've simply learned to write despite their fears.The power of mindset.Move on and melt the block. Blocks only exist if you let them. Writer's block is a construct we create and maintain.Recognize it as a temporary state, not a permanent condition. As the blue-collar comedians say, get 'er done. Simple forward motion is often the best solution. Action creates its own momentum.An act of faith: Writing requires belief in your ability to figure it out as you go. Trust the process and keep moving forward.Your mindset determines whether obstacles become barriers or stepping stones. Choose to see blocks as temporary challenges rather than immovable obstacles.Motivation is not a gift, it's a choice. Waiting for motivation is like waiting for a bus that may never come. You have to start walking.Here's the motivation equation.Traditional belief: motivation inspires action, which inspires results.The reality: action inspires results, which increases motivation.Motivation is generated by the act of writing itself. The more you write, the more you want to write. Start small, but start today.Your emergency glass, smash it and write.The world needs your story, so get ‘er done.Writer's block is a temporary illusion. It dissolves the moment you decide to move forward despite uncertainty, fear, or imperfection.Your words matter. Break the glass, pick up your pen, and start writing right now.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.Resources: https://www.bookauthorauthority.comBookstore: https://www.bookmarket.com/bookstore This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

In a column for PJ Media, publicist and novelist Scott Pinsker wrote that there are no happy endings. As readers and listeners, we never want a good story to end.Here is what Scott wrote:One more time: There are no happy endings!After all, when a story is truly great, we don't want it to end. We need the story to go on and on forever — and for the adventures to continue. When it's finally time to say goodbye, we mourn the loss.And mourning isn't happy.But it's par for the course in storytelling; the immoveable yin to the irresistible yang. Can't have one without the other. As American genius, billionaire, playboy, and philanthropist Tony Stark noted before his death:“Part of the journey is the end.”I remember when the hand-picked substitute author massacred the ending of The World of Time series by Robert Jordan. There were and are so many stories still to tell of that world, but the replacement author simply let the story peter away. So disappointing.But, of course, he didn't have the inspiration or vision that the original author had. He couldn't tell the stories. BUT the publisher should have found some fans that would have loved to continue those stories, to continue celebrating an incredible world populated by very interesting people. I hope there are some fans that will tell those stories. They have my permission — and encouragement — to do so.As authors, we should all have fans that are inspired to continue telling our stories — whether fiction or nonfiction.Stories are always worth continuing. They shouldn't have an end. Why not tell more of your story today? You have the time!And when your time ends, I encourage other courageous writers to continue your stories. Stories without end. Stories that live on and on. Stories that change lives. Stories that move us to greater things.Move on! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

The following tips are adapted from an article in Woman's World magazine.Trust your vision. A sense of independence sparks unique visions.Balance wonder and rigor. Daydream a little. Relax to spark your wonder. Then focus on the details.Tap into positivity. Reveal your passion. Study: People who write for the joy of it produce more creative work.Unleash your inner child. Having fun spurs active listening, curiosity, improvisation, and collaboration.Take a chance on yourself. Don't be afraid to try new things. Explore your own voice.Bounce ideas off a friend. A good friend can allow you to test ideas. Note: Just don't let them become too critical. You want their help, not their negativity.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Web: https://bookauthorauthority.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

Why give away your books when you can sell them instead? Here are ten reasons why you might want to give away your books as a strategy for making more sales of everything you have to offer.1. Entice People to Action.If you want a potential customer to act, you can give them a free book as an enticement. Many websites offer free reports or books to encourage people to sign up for their newsletters or podcasts. A key reason: Books are still valued by consumers.2. Make an Upsell.If you are using your book to sell a higher-priced course, webinar, or summit, then giving away the book is a good strategy for convincing people to buy your upsell.3. Offer a Sample.Give away a shorter book to give readers a taste of your larger, more expensive book.Note: A similar strategy is to sell a shorter book on Amazon for a very low price to give people a taste for your more expensive books, your longer books, or any additional books in a series.4. Give as a Prize.Give your book away to charities as a prize. Books as prizes are a great way to promote your business or service or higher priced products.5. Offer Speaking Take-Aways.If you are speaking at a conference, a summit, or another group event, giving away a book is an easy way to have attendees take you (or your ideas) home with them.A free book builds credibility and provides audience members with your contact details so they can follow-up on any of your services or products they want to buy.6. Create a Moon Book Club.Offer your books as monthly mailings to key contacts for coaching, consulting, speaking, and other high-paying engagements. In this situation, you mail out copies of print books to your key contact list as a tool for establishing your credibility with these key people.7. Offer 99 Cent Specials.Books under a dollar are considered just like free books for most readers. So, offering low-cost books for sale are a way of setting a value for the book but essentially keeping the book as “free.”Bestselling author Robert Allen recently offered his #1 Bestseller: How You Can Become a Bestselling Author in Only 30 Minutes a Day as an ebook for only 99¢ via Amazon. He used it to introduce his high-priced service to help writers become bestselling authors.8. Introduce Readers to a Series.One of the best ways to introduce readers to your series of novels is to give away the first book in the series. If they like that book, they will buy into the entire series.9. Publish a manifesto.Write and share a manifesto that proclaims your new vision for society, the environment, the world, the universe, or your key topic. Manifestos are generally given away to build the widest possible readership for your new vision.10. Share Your Book.You can give away your book to anyone and everyone simply because you want people to benefit from what you've written.If you give away books, never give away junk. Never give away AI creations as your own work. Whatever you give away must represent your work, your writing, your ideas, your creativity, your thought processes, and the higher priced services and products you offer.If your giveaways truly represent what you offer, you'll be able to upsell recipients to anything else that you want to create. And at a higher and higher price. Great content inspires great fans.Order Book Marketing 263 here: https://amzn.to/3TM6CDs on Amazon.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

Judith Briles, The Book Shepherd, and book marketing expert John Kremer deliver a fast hour of 10 plus strategies to deliver book marketing success in 2025 on the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast. Your takeaways include:Overall strategies to leap forward.Why every author should have a newsletter.Tips for creating your own Summit and why you should.How to start your marketing offline.Why magazines are still hot and how to target/pitch to them.Why you should reach for a national TV show.Why being a podcast guest is a must do and two sources to use.And, of course, much more.Tune in for lots of ideas and how-to tactics via the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

JohnToday I'm interviewing Connie Bennett, author of I Blew My Diet, Now What? She's going to tell us a little bit about how to get to speak at a TEDx event.TEDx is a local event produced in different cities around the country. TEDx talks are a really great opportunity to expose you and your book to a book buying audience.ConnieI'm an author and I've been a long-time fan of yours since my first book, Sugar Shock, came out. Later, I came out with a book called Beyond Sugar Shock. And now I just came out with I Blew My Diet, Now What?I am a former sugar addict and also a former carb addict. For years I did really, really well. I ate very, very cleanly. But more than a decade ago after my mom passed away. It was a difficult year watching her lose a battle to cancer. I blew my diet.Hence, the new book. I come clean at last to the world about what I was doing, which was hanging out in movie theaters and in my home and secretly stuffing my face with crunchy, greasy, salty movie popcorn and other carb garbage, what I now call carbage.JohnI know that you recently spoke at the TEDx conference in San Diego, If you'd like to watch her TEDx talk, check it out here: I wanted to find out from you. Connie, how did you get in to do a TEDx talk? Because I know that it's not always easy to get to do a TEDx talk.ConnieWell, the very first thing I did was I decided that I was going to do a TEDx talk, come hell or high water, I was going to do it. So, my first step literally was deciding that I was going to do it.So then I began to research. I even took a course or two about how to get a TEDx talk.Then one day it hit me. I had moved to San Diego. I had been living there for a number of years. Then I thought: Why don't you just volunteer at my local TEDx? I don't even know how I got the idea, but I did. So I volunteered at the local TEDx.I watched the speakers and became friendly with them. I think, yeah, I want to be up there just like them. So that was my first step, volunteering.Then the next year, I actually applied to my local TEDx San Diego and I got turned down. But I did make it through round one. So, round one you submit something in writing and then round two you had to submit a video. I made it that far but was rejected that first attempt.A few months later, TEDx had auditions yet again, so I applied again and got turned down again. Then I got an email saying, hey, would you be interested in doing this special thing that we're doing with TEDx San Diego? And that is what let to my talk.Going local was the way to go because after the first time they turned me down, they knew me.I've met several people who'd been through a similar situation. They had applied, and they had been turned down. They tried again. They applied, and they got turned down again, and finally they were accepted.You can apply for TEDx talks in other cities, but it's good to start first with the TEDx event closest to where you live.JohnActually, I think that that's two incredible pieces of advice that you really talked about.One was simply being persistent. You have to knock on the door more than once. You can't take it as a rejection. It's just they have to know you better.ConnieThe other part of it is you have to be very gracious. They turn you down. You do not want to write to them and say, why was I turned down? You've got to be really careful about the way that you're persistent.You want to be politely persistent. But you don't want to get turned down and then all of a sudden send an email and say, hey, why didn't you accept me? So you need to be very, very careful and walk this fine line.JohnBut I am convinced that that going local is the way to go.I also thought it was really wise of you to volunteer. It's an incredible way to get to know the people behind the local TEDx. It's a really great opportunity, as you said, to meet the speakers and get to talk to them.ConnieIt was it was totally fun. And it also it stoked me. It got me like really excited about doing like I want to be one of those people,But I volunteered to get to know more about the talks and the people behind the local TEDx talks. I was like, I want to know more about this.I know I want to do a TEDx talk at some time. I hadn't set my sight on doing it in San Diego. But the actual act of volunteering, it was just so exciting to see these speakers do their thing. You just learn so much just watching what they went through.Now my talk was less than seven minutes. A lot of TEDx talks, they're a little bit longer. And I went even a little long. I'm telling you, every single word counted.I've heard of a lot of situations where people give a TEDx talk and then it goes so viral that it could lead to a book.JohnThat's one reason that speakers want a TEDx talk, because they're more likely to get an offer from some publisher saying, wow, I saw you and I liked what you did. A TEDx can open doors. Such talks give you great credibility and it gets a lot of attention.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

How can you tell if you're a professional writer?Professional writers do three things:1. They don't write anything until they've sold it.2. They sell their work more than once.3. They write every day without fail.That's it. That's how you become a professional author.Are you professional? Or are you an amateur?Now you know how to tell which you are.Be honest.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

I'm sharing a note from somebody that I'm newly following on Substack, Yana G.Y. I've been doing episodes about stories lately. And the key thing about stories is you've got to be real. You've got to be human.The title of this episode is The World Needs More Humans.The subtitle is Are You Ready to Write Relatable, Raw, Vulnerable?And here's the note that Yana G.Y. shared, I believe, earlier today.The world doesn't need more noise.It needs more humans.Raw. Relatable. Vulnerable.Keep writing. — Yana G.Y. That's from Yana G.Y.. I encourage you to subscribe her Substack newsletter.And that's how your stories should be written—with passion, with vulnerability, with a human touch. Raw. Relatable. Vulnerable.Are you ready to write like this?Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. And get the next 10 books in the Write a Book in 10 Days or Less series free! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

Do you have a nonfiction book out now or one coming out soon?If so, you've probably wondered, "How can I sell as many books as possible in the limited time I have?"After working with more than 15,000 non-fiction authors and helping launch such bestsellers as Rich Dad Poor Dad and Chicken Soup for the Soul, my friend Steve Harrison has learned what works (and doesn't) when it comes to selling books.Sell More Books Crash CourseHe'll reveal strategies and tactics successful authors use in a special event on Zoom, next Thursday, May 1st, called the Sell More Books Crash Course.It will run from 12 noon – 8 PM Eastern (9 AM – 5 PM Pacific) and you may attend for free.To reserve your spot, at no cost to you, just click the link below:https://m164.isrefer.com/go/sellmorecrashcourse/A10005/Here's a sneak peek at what you'll get:A personalized 2-to-3-page game plan designed to give you greater confidence and clarity so you can focus on the things that matter.The most critical decision to make in order to sell a lot more books.Five ways to sell more books on Amazon most authors know nothing about.Case studies of authors who've sold thousands – even millions – of books via bulks sales of 100… 1,000… even 10,000 copies or more in a single order.How to enjoy telling people about your book without being sales-y.The one-page document that gets your family and friends to help promote your book.How to launch your book to bestseller status.The strategy one author used to get over 20,000 reviews for his book on Amazon.What it takes to get on national TV.How an author who felt intimidated by social media grew a large following.Sign up here: https://m164.isrefer.com/go/sellmorecrashcourse/A10005/I'm proud to be one of Steve's compensated affiliates because I know this event could make a big difference to your book sales!The average author releases a book with high hopes, but only ends up selling fewer than 250 copies.Don't let it happen to you! Join Steve on Zoom next Thursday:https://m164.isrefer.com/go/sellmorecrashcourse/A10005/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

The following is excerpted from a newsletter Guy Kawasaki, the Apple and Canva evangelist, sent out about a week ago. I love his advice. I'd recommend you follow it when appropriate.Facts tell, but stories sell. If you want to change someone's mind, skip the data dump and share a story that resonates emotionally. When I was evangelizing the Macintosh, I didn't just talk about specs—I told stories about how the Mac empowered creatives to design, write, and innovate in ways they never could before.Stories bypass skepticism. They're not something people argue with, they're something people feel. Whether you're pitching a product or convincing your boss to greenlight your idea, craft a narrative that makes your audience see themselves in the story.By the way, I wrote a revised and updated edition of my book Wise Guy—it's new name: Wiser Guy. Don't miss a new collection of honest, humorous, and heartfelt stories! You can preorder it here: https://amzn.to/3GmUbdL.Appeal to Emotion, Not Just LogicPeople make decisions emotionally and justify them logically. If you're trying to win an argument, tap into what your audience cares about most. When I pitched the Mac, I didn't just say, “It's user-friendly.” I said, “It's the computer for the rest of us.” That phrase hit people in the gut—it made them feel included, empowered, and part of a revolution.Think about what your audience values. Is it security? Freedom? Belonging? Frame your argument in a way that aligns with their emotional priorities.Handle Skeptics Like a ProSkeptics are inevitable, but they're not your enemy—they're your opportunity. The key is to listen, not argue. When someone doubted the Mac, I didn't try to bulldoze them with counterpoints. Instead, I asked questions to understand their concerns and then reframed my argument to address those doubts.For example, if someone said, “The Mac is too expensive,” I'd respond, “It's an investment in your creativity and productivity. What's the cost of not having the best tools?” By reframing the conversation, I turned objections into opportunities.Make It About Them, Not YouHere's the secret sauce: people don't care about your argument—they care about how it affects them. When you're evangelizing an idea, focus on the benefits to your audience, not the features of your product or point of view.For instance, when I pitched Canva, I didn't say, “It's a graphic design tool.” I said, “It's the easiest way to make your ideas look amazing.” See the difference? One is about the tool, the other is about the user. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

I'm correcting something that happened yesterday on Easter. Some people had trouble downloading the book, How to Write a Bestseller in 30 Days or Less: 111 books you can write fast — with examples.So I switched the book from being a Word document to a PDF document. That should make it a lot easier for you to download. This is the link to download the document now as a PDF: http://bookauthorauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/The-Book-Authority-Guide-on-Writing-a-Bestseller.pdf.I hope the PDF document will help you get access to it much more quickly.The link is also available on my podcast website (right here: (bookmarketing.substack.com) so you can click on the link there to download the PDF (see the link above).How to Write a Bestseller in 30 Days or Less will be available for one week after the International Day of the Book, also known as World Book and Copyright Day. It's on April 23rd, the anniversary of William Shakespeare and Don Miguel Cervantes' deaths. It's a day when many people around the world celebrate books.One week later would be the 30th of April, just so you know. So the book will be available for free download until then.You are welcome to share the link for the free download so you can share the book with anybody you want, as long as you share it in one piece. Don't cut part of the book out and share it with people. Share the entire book with them.On May 1st, the book will go on sale on Amazon and Gumroad.Yesterday, I also told you about another free offer: The Book Authority Guide to Why You Should Write a Book. Here the link to download that book freely as well: https://bookauthorauthority.com/the-book-authority-guide-on-why-write-a-book.It's actually better to share documents as a PDF anyway rather than as a Word document.I really would like you to get a free copy of both books. So I hope that you will download them and I'm hoping that you will benefit from both of them.They're really great books and they're really the beginning of an entire series that I'm going to be announcing over the next few weeks that you will be able to buy.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

I want to introduce you to my new book, Write a Bestseller in 30 Days or Less: 111 books you can write fast — with examples.This week, I'm making a special offer. You can download the book for free at this URL: https://bookauthorauthority.com/the-book-authority-guide-on-what-to-write.That link will give you an immediate download of the book as a Word document so that you can play with it if you want.I wanted to make it easy for you to get and it's absolutely free. You don't have to leave an email. You don't have to pay anything.You can just download the book. And, maybe more important, you can share it with your friends. You can give it away to them. You can send them this link so that they can download it for free themselves: https://bookauthorauthority.com/the-book-authority-guide-on-what-to-write.Be sure to read the book first before you decide to share it with your friends. That way you'll know that you really want to share it. Again, the book is free to you and to your friends.This free offer is good for one week after the International Day of the Book, also known as World Book and Copyright Day.After that one week, Write a Bestseller in 30 Days or Less will be for sale via Amazon and Gumroad, and that will be the only way that you'll be able to access it—to buy the book. And, of course, it's well worth it.Write a Bestseller in 30 Days or Less is already for sale as an e-book (https://amzn.to/4cBGnYU), a print paperback (https://amzn.to/42zc14J), and a print hardcover book (https://amzn.to/4jmaVR8) via Amazon.com.And I don't mind if you want to buy the book on Amazon. I don't mind the extra income. But you don't have to buy it.You can download it for free, again, at the download URL: https://bookauthorauthority.com/the-book-authority-guide-on-what-to-write.Late last year I shared with you a different book that I wrote, The Book Authority Guide on Why You Should Write a Book. That book is also available for free as a download at https://bookauthorauthority.com/the-book-authority-guide-on-why-write-a-book.The Book Authority Guide on Why You Should Write a Book will be available indefinitely. At some point, of course, it will be for sale only (as it is already on Amazon.com).So, you can download both books for free for at least the next week or so: Why you should write a book and how to write a bestseller in 30 days or less.If you go to my podcast portal at https://bookmarketing.substack.com, you can click on the links to access the book without having to write down the long links.Again, once you download these books, you can share them with anyone you want. Share it freely! As long as you keep the book exactly as I wrote it.I hope you'll take advantage of this offer and learn why you should write a book and what sort of books you can write—and write fast!Happy Easter! He is risen1Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

Drop Everything and Read Day is coming up on April 12th! Get ready to celebrate!D-E-A-R Day, which stands for Drop Everything and Read, is a national celebration of reading designed to remind families to make reading a priority in their lives.It's celebrated every year on April 12th, which is the birthday of Beverly Clearly, the author of the Ramona books. A main feature of the Ramona books was the DEAR Time, a reading practice where everybody would drop everything and read for a while.I'm giving you advance notice to celebrate Drop Everything and Read Day on April 12th by inviting your followers, your email subscribers, and your social network to celebrate the day with you and drop everything and read your book.Or if you don't want them to read your book, then have them read my book 1001 Ways to Market Your Books.Either way that's fine with me: Your book, or mine!Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

I encourage you to think about telling more stories — to entice people to read your books, to interact with you on social media, or to become an advocate for you.The more stories you tell, the more listeners will become involved in what you have to teach and what you have to share.All good stories are alike in that they are truer than if they had really happened and after you are finished listening to one, you will feel that all that happened to you and afterwards it all belongs to you: the good and the bad, the ecstasy, the remorse and sorrow, the people and the places, and how the weather was. If you can get so that you can give that to people, then you are a storyteller. — Ernest Hemingway, novelistAnd if you are a storyteller, then you really are somebody that people will pay attention to, that people will listen to.Comment on this storytelling episode and receive a free copy of my new book, Write a Bestseller in 30 Days or Less 111 Books You Can Write Fast — With Examples!Website: https://www.bookauthorauthority.comWebsite: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.comBook Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

Folks say that the best stories of the South are written in recipes; you hear it so much it begins to sound like just something to say. But I have seldom listened to my people speak of the past without talking, sooner or later, about chicken. We honor people with it. — Rick Bragg, humorist and storytellerAlmost every great culture tells incredible numbers of stories through the foods that they serve, the foods that they eat, the foods that they cook, and the recipes they create.Think about that in terms of how you go about marketing your books, your services, your other products. Learn to tell a story. Create a great recipe.And the recipe doesn't have to be about food. It can be about how to get something done. Just start to share some of the best stories you can possibly share.Comment on this video post and receive a free copy of my new book, Write a Bestseller in 30 Days or Less 111 Books You Can Write Fast — With Examples!Website: https://www.bookauthorauthority.comWebsite: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.comBook Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

Today, I want to share something from Dan Nikas, who's the founder of GearBunch. He said,My journey from Detective Sergeant to founding GearBunch, an e-commerce brand that hit nearly $5 million in its first year, has taught me the importance of authentic storytelling.When you tell a story, tell it authentically. Tell a real story and tell it from your heart. Tell it from what you actually have experienced, what you hear, what you see, what you are! So become an authentic storyteller.Comment on this video post and receive a free copy of my new book, Write a Bestseller in 30 Days or Less 111 Books You Can Write Fast — With Examples!Website: https://www.bookauthorauthority.comWebsite: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.comBook Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to another Book Authority video minute. Today I want to feature a quote by Issa Rae, an actress, director, producer, and all-around wonderful person.Storytelling is forever.Make no mistake, but sometimes the stories get detached from the storytellers.The best stories do.Doesn't that make sense? Don't we often detach a story from who the storyteller was?And really, as a storyteller, it really doesn't matter because what is important is the story. Get ready to tell your own story over and over again.Leave a comment here and receive a copy of my new book: Write a Bestseller in 30 Days or Less: 111 Books You Can Write Fast — With Examples!Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

Start writing your own story today. Don't wait! Take control of your life and set the direction you want to take.Do the same with your writing. Take control today. Don't let AI be your voice. Use your own voice. Your voice is what leads to better writing, more powerful writing, writing that moves people, writing that sells. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

I wanted to take the time to introduce you to a new series I'm doing of Instagram videos (which I will also share on other social media websites).In this new series I will talk about why you should write a book. Note: there are many good reasons to do so. And I will also talk about how you should go about marketing your books.So, I'm going to be doing short videos, one or two minutes long, every day. That's my goal, as part of my new Instagram marketing plan!This is the first episode of that series where I just wanted to introduce you to the concept of this Book Authority Video Series.If you comment on this video post, I will send you a copy of my new book: Write a Bestseller in 30 Days or Less: 111 Books You Can Write Fast — With Examples!Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

In an hour-and-a-half Meetn session, John Kremer answered questions from book authors on his birthday (76 years old as of January 16, 2025).Here are a few of the show notes from that session:Meetn.comMeetn.com is a less-expensive alternative to Zoom, with more capabilities. Rick Raddatz is the founder and CEO of this service.Stream Simultaneously to Multiple Social Media Platforms — Meetn grants you the ability to live stream to many social media platforms at the same time with its unique one-click Start-Streaming button.Video Share with One-Click Simplicity — Meetn provides the capability to upload and share your videos, PowerPoint presentations, or testimonials…faster, better and easier.Title Events Before You Start Recordings — Meetn allows you to name your virtual webinars with one click so you'll never lose a recording again.Persuade Your Participants to Buy Faster — Meetn's CTA function gives multiple options that make it a more comfortable alternative to monetize webinars and live events without forcing you to type hyperlinks inside the chat.Custom Web Page Popper — This monetization tool makes it easy to pop-up web pages during your presentation so none of your participants leave your Meetn room and get distracted from your Call-To-Action.Custom Exit Page — This monetization tool makes it seamless for your early abandoners to experience and take advantage of your re-engagement message that historically leads to 15-25% more automated profits.Custom Featured Button — Imagine creating any call-to-action button and display it on your Meetn toolbar for your participants. It could be a Donation button, an Application button, or any other button of your choice.Custom Call-to-Action Pop-up — Meetn allows you to create any custom pop-ups with your own headlines, subheadlines, photos, pop-up backgrounds, and call-to-actions with a single clickable button inside your presentation.You don't get the above features with Zoom.Clip ChampClip Champ is the Microsoft Office program that allows you to create videos, including videos featuring AI narration that is very human like. You have this program if you subscribe to Microsoft Office.Check out these two videos I created for novels using Clip Champ:Thrall Conspiracy: Genesis by John Sorflaten — https://tellmeastory.substack.com/p/thrall-conspiracy-genesis-by-johnLife by Chance by John Graves — https://tellmeastory.substack.com/p/life-by-chance-by-john-gravesBook Publicity Opportunities for Book Authors Via Email NewslettersBook Industry Online Newsletters: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/pitch-your-book-story-to-book-industry-publicationsBook Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

If you subscribe to Microsoft Office, you have access to the new Microsoft Clipchamp program for creating videos using AI, images, videos, and text to speech.Above, I showcase a text to speech video I created using the words and image from my previous newsletter. To create this video, I used Microsoft Clipchamp.Check it out!Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Website: https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.comWebsite: https://www.bookauthorauthority.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

Host a Podcast and Be a Podcast Guest!John Kremer: Every author should have a podcast. I still believe that. I've been promoting it for a long, long time.I still really believe that because I think podcasting is one of the most powerful tools you have for getting the word out about yourself.The neat thing in today's world, it's easy to create a combined audio-video podcast that you can syndicate on 40 or 50 platforms.Judith Briles: How many people come in and start a podcast with absolutely amazing intentions? Kind of like when people are going to do a blog and then within six months the blog is dead. Is there any stats on the startup for podcasts that start petering out?John Kremer: I don't know of any specific stats, but I do know from my own anecdotal experience that probably 80 or 90% of podcasters give up on their podcasts within six months. It becomes too much work. It's too hard. It's every week. But the thing is, you don't always have to do a podcast that's going to be a forever podcast. You could do a limited edition 10-episode podcast.Some of the most popular podcasts in the world are limited podcasts. They cover a true crime case, and then once you're done covering it, the podcast is done. But the podcast lives on in all the podcast syndication sites. It lives on in Audible. It lives on in Amazon. It lives on in lots of places.Judith Briles: Some of the news shows I'll pick up once in a while, they have both the ongoing, like in perpetuity, like ours has been, and we're seven years old now. But they also have limited edition episodes, almost like a serial book and then it's over. And then maybe they'll come back again when they have a new serial to start up.John Kremer: Even a limited podcast series still gives you the benefits of a podcast, especially the power of syndication.One of the incredibly powerful things about podcasts is that it puts you on 30, 40, or even 50 of the major websites on the Internet, including Apple, Amazon, Audible, Google Play, Spotify, Pandora, and more!You know the power of a podcast because you built up a listenership for your podcast, and you've had millions and millions of listens and possibly views because I know you also put it up on YouTube.Podcasts not only allow you to syndicate it to all these powerful websites, but it also gives you the opportunity to exchange views and podcast episodes with other podcasters.Ask key influencers and authors this question: I'd love to interview you for my podcast, but I would really like it if you would also interview me for your podcast. I think we have complimentary audiences that would like to hear both of us talk on each other's podcasts.The Book of the Month ClubJohn Kremer: I'm going to talk about the Book of the Month Club. Now, this isn't the old line Book of the Month Club, which died a sad death.Judith Briles: So, how do we create our own Book of the Month Club?John Kremer: I met somebody once at one of your seminars, and I'm still trying to track down his name now because I seem to have misplaced it in my move to Arizona.But he offered a book of the month club. He was a business speaker and consultant to corporations. What he did is he wrote 12 short books. I'm talking about short books, 96 to 128 pages, somewhere in there.Then whenever he'd go out and speak or whenever he attended a convention, whenever he met somebody that might be a potential client or customer or speaking agent, he added them to his book of the month club.Once a month, he mailed out real books to his prospect list, a list of about 500 potential customers. He kept adding people to the list as he spoke in different venues and met people on planes, in hotels, or at convention sites.His book of the month bluc not only justified him printing hundreds or thousands of copies of his books but it also impacted his speaking engagements and his corporate consultations.From a business standpoint, his book of the month club made perfect sense for him because he picked up all kinds of coaching clients, speaking engagements, and corporate programs that he would do.To be successful with such a club, first you have to write 12 books. And you can't produce junk. You have to produce real content worth reading, something that would showcase your experience and help to sell people on other products and services you have to offer.The neat thing is that at the end of every book, of course, he included a pitch for his coaching and his speaking and his corporate programs.His book of the month club was designed for a business audience. But the thing is, novelists, memoir writers, cookbook authors, and other writers could release five to 10 pages per week instead of releasing a book a month.One chapter per month, a recipe per week, something like that. They could email it out. Or they could podcast out episodes. They could even do YouTube videos.I just ran across an old friend of mine, Peggy Glenn, who's now doing videos under the name Grandma Potty Mouth where she shares fun recipes. She's a little spicy in her videos. They're entertaining and fun. She obviously enjoys it. And she actually got a book deal with a New York publisher to publish a cookbook.It wouldn't be that hard for any author, regardless of what kind of book they're writing, to offer a book of the month club or pages per week club or something like that.As you share, be sure to collect listener email address so you can email out the episodes or posts or videos to your list.It means that you don't have to invent new content for your email every week. You can simply be podcasting a book. Or email out a book a few pages at a time.The classic case of this is the novel, The Martian, which the author originally released as a series of blog posts. The story became so popular that Andy Weir ended up self-publishing his book before he got a contract offer from a major publisher to publish the book. Of course, it got made into a movie. He ended up making millions of dollars on what began as a simple blog.Judith Briles: Many authors sell their ebooks on Amazon, but they don't go any further.John Kremer: The neat thing is now with Amazon Kindle, you can do a paperback and a hardcover as well. And they actually encourage you to do those now. And an audio, an AI-generated audio that's actually not bad.Give Away Your BookJudith Briles: Yeah, it really can make a powerful difference to have different versions of your book.Authors are too often afraid to give away their book. I really think it's important to get rid of that mindset because I think in some ways giving away pieces of your book.John Kremer: For novelists, I recommend giving away your first book because I know you got three more books in you. I don't know any novelist other than Harper Lee and Margaret Mitchell that don't have a dozen novels in their heart and soul.One of the best ways to market the second novel is to give the first novel away.Offer the 1st Book in a Series to Sell the 2nd BookJudith Briles: Here's a little trick I found when I've been in bookstores. I have a historical fantasy fiction book called The Secret Journey. Book two is The Secret Hamlet and book three, The Secret Rise.When people meet you for the first time, they usually want to start with book one. If they like it, they'll come back to the trough. I typically tell a bookstore to order 20 to 25 copies of my book. I've learned to ask booksellers to order 20 to 25 of the 1st novel in a series and a dozen of the 2nd novel.In one instance, I asked readers, “How would you like to read book one for free if you buy book two?” That got their attention.So I said, “Do you ever read e-books? Are you on Amazon's Kindle? Let me sign book two for you and you can go up on Kindle Unlimited and download book one for free.” Within five minutes, I sold another five books of book two.Reach Out to InfluencersJohn Kremer: The first step to marketing your books is to reach out to influencers in your topic area.Judith Briles:; How do we find the influencers?John Kremer: It should be easy for you to find influencers in your topic area. If you don't know who they are, you're probably not writing on the right topic— because you should be a fan of that topic if you're writing in it.For example, I think it's terrible to write science fiction if you've never read science fiction. It's terrible to write a business book if you don't read business books.That's a crucial element in researching your audience, researching your topic, and making your book 10 times better.Work with Your CompetitorsJudith Briles: Many times I talk with authors and I ask them, who are their competitors? One author told me, “Well, I don't have any competitors.”I said, what BS? She just looked at me startled.That is total BS. We all have competitors. Ask yourself, what are the names of authors who are comparable to what you write? Or, who is competing for your services? Who is competing for your wisdom? Who's out there trying to get people to buy their books that have storylines in your genre? Those are your competitors.So I don't actually call them competitors. I call them friends or potential friends. And they can become friends, right?John Kremer: Back when I started out, Dan Poynter had written The Self-Publishing Manual. We partnered together, and he sold thousands of copies of my 1001 Ways to Market Your Books. And I sold thousands of copies of his self-publishing manual. I did the same for Tom and Marilyn Ross with their Complete Guide to Self-Publishing.I didn't see them as competitors at all. I saw them as people who were offering great content, and I could sell their content. So one of the first things you should do is ask your competitors is: “Can I sell your books?”Via the Amazon affiliate program, you can easily sell competitor or compatible books.You can also publish a catalog that you send out to customers when they order your books direct from you. That's how I created my first catalog. If you create a catalog to send out to customers who order your book direct from you, you can generate lots of extra orders. With my catalog, I ended up selling thousands of other authors' books that I stocked in-house.Potential competitors should be cooperating with each other. One of the best things that writers can do is work together with other people writing similar books to reach out to their audiences and expand each author's audience.The Audience as Super FansJudith Briles: You're talking about the audience as super fans. Who are these unique animals out there? Number one, they're mostly women, but they devour anything in the genre because they're always on the prowl looking for new things. So, why not create a cooperative collective of other authors like you?Or you can create a collection of related author books on Amazon and collect referral fees for encouraging such sales.Earlier when we were talking about the Book-of-the-Month Club, we both said we miss them because they were curating books. And there's still room for curators.John Kremer: I could see you doing a science fiction podcast that interviews your favorite SF authors and promotes their books. Any author can do that.When authors tell me that they can't think of anything to podcast about, I'm going, duh. All you have to do is interview people. Just interview your favorite authors.If you started interviewing a few famous authors, you can also start to become famous by associating and interviewing those celebrated authors. You start to become well-known. Their audience starts to seek you out because they say, wow, this person seems to know what they're talking about.Back in the day, I would have loved to interview Isaac Asimov or Jerry Pournelle or other science fiction authors. I went to a couple of world science fiction conventions and actually got to sit down with some authors and talk to them. In today's world you could easily go to the next world science fiction convention and record a whole year's worth of podcasts.And that's just the first half hour of the podcast. Listen in for even more great ideas!Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.ResourcesThe I-Don't-Have-Any-Time Hour-a-Day Book Marketing Plan: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/the-i-dont-have-any-time-hour-a-day-book-marketing-plan51 Ways to Help a Book Author You Love: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/36-ways-to-help-a-book-author-you-loveThe Ultimate Guide to Social Media Hashtags for Book Authors (439 author hashtags): https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/423-social-media-hashtags-for-book-authorsBook Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

The first secret of success is very simple: Tell the truth. That is how you build relationships with potential customers. This first secret does not change, no matter how successful you become. You must always tell the truth. — John Kremer, author of 1001 Ways to Market Your BooksTruth is the easiest thing to sell. — Daymond JohnThe secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new. — SocratesBe truthful, gentle, and fearless. — Mohandes GandhiWeb: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.comWeb: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

Have you thought of creating videos to market your books, writing, and other products and services? If so, here are a few statistics that should encourage you to do more with video in the coming year.Viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video compared to 10% in text.More businesses are now using video than ever before. 90% of businesses plan to use video for marketing in 2024.85% of Facebook videos are watched without sound.66% of people will watch the full video if it's less than 60 seconds.1 in 4 consumers have made a purchase after seeing a video story on Instagram.The sweet spot for video ad length is 6-10 seconds. Short-form videos offer a great return on investment.80% of consumers want to see more short-form videos this year.For American adults, the average daily social media time for video is plateauing. Still, video consists of 60% of social media time among American adults.84% of people claim to have visited a website after watching a video promoting a product or service.Video production is often outsourced. Many marketers also use AI to create marketing videos.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

I've just completed a new book, A Is for Asterisk * - An A to Z Guide to Punctuation and Related Symbols (from the new ABC Book Series).According to the grammar experts, there are either 14 or 16 primary punctuation marks, but there are also mathematical operators, newly invented punctuation marks, emojis, and other symbols that are becoming popular as people write and post to social media.This new book is an A to Z guide to many of these punctuation marks and symbols. Enjoy!My hope is that this short book will help you become a better writer. I think you'll enjoy the book.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

One of my readers shared another key idea for back cover copy: testimonials. Linda Condrillo had a suggestion for the back cover:Visualize what you want on the back cover—including rave reviews from prolific authors. Then send your final (perfect) manuscript to those authors, or other prominent people you admire or even know. Ask them to write a review for your back cover (and also have a sample of suggested text waiting, just in case they ask you for it).You may be very surprised at the responses! I did just that. Voila!Linda's strategy outlined above is the same strategy I've used on the back cover of my 1001 Ways to Market Your Books. Here's the latest version of my back cover:If you collect the right testimonials from a variety of people talking about how they use your book in a variety of way, those testimonials can really sell a book. Are you convinced by any of the testimonials above. I know that I get inspired by the testimonials whenever I read them. They keep me going.Web: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.comWeb: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.comBook Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

First, a few notes from yesterday's podcast episode.1. The author of Power and Petroleum died shortly after I reviewed her back cover copy. Apparently her book was never published.2. I write promo copy for all authors, no matter where they are on the political spectrum. My job is to write great copy for any author who hires me to copywrite for them.Here's my copywriting on environmental policy and promotion:If you want people to be worried about global warming, don't talk about global warming.Too big. Too hard to grasp. Too hard to figure out how to help.Tell the story of one lone polar bear cub who is losing its home as it melts around him.We will respond to that.3. I have no problem with people speaking Spanish. For the past 18 years, I've lived in two bilingual states: New Mexico and now Arizona. I interact with Spanish speakers all the time. I studied Spanish in college. It's a beautiful language. But in the context of the sales copy for the book, I did essentially denigrate Spanish. I apologize for that.A Novel of Ancient RomeThis novel had a front cover that looked much more like a nonfiction academic title than a novel. It needed fixing.The back cover read: “A thought-provoking story that is truly original — Copernican in nature. The premise meshes well with historical evidence, which lends startling merit to a sequence of events exquisitely revealed in this gripping novel. The theory proposed will inspire intriguing debate among readers, historical scholars, and theologians for decades to come.” That's it.There's nothing in the back cover copy to draw the reader into the drama of the novel. Is the novel truly gripping just because the back cover says so? The cover also says other things — none of which indicates the novel is gripping. The rest of the copy says that the book is a theory, an academic think piece. Nothing wrong with an academic think piece, but think pieces are not novels. Not ever.My guess — and it is only a guess based on the jacket — is that this book has a great story to tell, but where is it? Stories involve people, not ideas. Focus first on people. Then focus on the plot. Only then can you move on to tell stories about those people struggling with ideas or conflicts.Besides better descriptive copy, the back cover needed a few testimonials or reviews. The copy was too sparse to sell the book to most readers.Website: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.comWebsite: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.comBook Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

As you may know, I critique book covers as part of the consulting services that I offer. A number of years ago I had the challenge of reviewing a number of book covers for a client. One of the books was titled Power and Petroleum. Now, the front covers of the books were okay, but the back cover copy was terrible. In this episode, I'll critique the back cover of Power and Petroleum.First, the title is boring. It has no power to convince people to pick the book up.The back cover of this book was too focused on abstract ideas rather than immediate impact. Here is the original back cover copy:A Wake-Up Call!Hugo Chavez of Venezuela is the successor to Fidel Castro as the enemy of the United States in the Western Hemisphere!!Read quotes from Chavez's speeches to know his intentions: To absorb Colombia and form La Gran Colombia, with Castro as his guide; and with China assisting in future adventures!This warning is by a former resident of Venezuela, and former advisor to the Venezuelan oil industry.In writing the above copy, the author used four exclamation points. There's only one reason why the writer used so many exclamation points: The copy was weak.Note: Exclamation points do not create excitement. Details create excitement. If you don't believe me, read my rewrite below:In the coming years, gasoline prices will triple.Cocaine will be on every street corner.Cuba will dictate U.S. policy in the Americas.South America will be ripe for revolution.Mexico will fall.Communists will be knocking at our door.Terrorists will be streaming in through our porous borders.You will be sitting in jail—along with three of your children.No one will be safe.Are you listening?If Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela, has his way, the above headlines will be the norm in just a few years. Venezuela and Columbia will join with Cuba and China to create a new reality for the Western Hemisphere. It's time Americans woke up.In Power and Petroleum, Emma Broussard, a former adviser to the Venezuelan oil industry, reveals the hidden intentions of Chavez and his cohorts. You have a choice: Read this book, or learn how to speak Spanish and keep your head down.Notice how the details above created more drama, more urgency. Now that's drama (whether it's a true projection or not). It gets attention. And it's not out of line with what the old cover copy hinted at.Whether the book matches the back cover copy, that I don't know. I didn't read the book. But I could certainly sell lots of copies with a back cover with the drama outlined above.How is your back cover copy?Ask yourself:Does your back cover copy get readers excited about picking up your book and buying it?Does it make them want to start reading the book right away?Does it create urgency and excitement?If it doesn't, rewrite it. Add more details. Create more urgency. Give people reasons to open your book.If your back cover copy does succeed, congrats. You've take the first step in selling more copies of your book.Website: https://www.BookAuthorAuthority.comWebsite: https://www.BookMarketingBestsellers.comBook Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

I've just published a new book on why you should write a book. It's called The Book Authority Guide on Why You Should Write a Book by John Kremer. It's now available on Amazon in Kindle ebook format ($2.99), paperback ($12.99), and hardcover ($19.99).But you can get the book free as a PDF by clicking here: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Book-Authority-Guide-on-Why-Write-a-Book.pdf.Enjoy. It's my gift to you! It's a full-color ebook as well as a full-color print book available on Amazon. The PDF, of course, is also full-color!Want to know more? Just call me at 928-767-4022. Or email me at JohnKremer@BookMarket.com.Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

I just loved this video I created and then pinned to Pinterest:It combines a testimonial video from Jack Canfield along with a gif of my 1001 Ways to Market Your Books. I think it's fun.“We love 1001 Ways to Market Your Books. We followed it to the letter. Without his book, we wouldn't be where we are today at the top of the bestseller list.” — Jack Canfield, co-author, Chicken Soup for the Soul seriesAnd here's the transcript from Jack's testimonial:Read books on marketing books.John Kremer wrote a great book called 1001 Ways to Market Your Books.When we did Chicken Soup for the Soul, we took about 900 of those ideas that we thought were relevant, made a post-it for each one. I had two staff people writing them for days.We put them on a wall about 12 feet long. Every day we took a post-it off and did it. It took us two years to get through all those post-its.But by the end of that, we were #1 on the New York Times list and we stayed there for three years.When the second book came out, it was #2 on the list. At one point, we had #1, #2, and #3 on the New York Times list because we kept doing those things.You can watch this video on Pinterest as well. Check it out here:https://www.pinterest.com/pin/57983913942730196Or watch another video on Rumble:https://rumble.com/vg2xaj-jack-canfield-on-1001-ways-to-market-your-books-by-john-kremer.htmlBook Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

On January 16, 2024, John Kremer hosted his 75th Birthday Bash with a Book Marketing Q&A session. In this session, he answered participant questions on marketing books, publicizing books, and more.Sources: https://www.bookauthorauthority.com and https://www.bookmarketingbestsellers.comFree Book OffersFive of the participants in the Q&A webinar made free offers to anyone listening in. Here are their offers.Freddy Niagara Fonseca offer a free ebook for poetry lovers, Nature Poems for a New Dawn. It's packed with witty and mystical poems you can read on your phone wherever you go. When you join Freddy's email newsletter, you can download his book here: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/427947/107845540909155533/share.You can download a free copy of Explore Vancouver Washington by Patty Grasher by going here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/uo5x82nbrjKeith Wilhelm offers a free ebook, Self-Love Unleashed. You can have and give all the love you want. Download it here: https://parentinghappydance.com/free-stuff.You can purchase a free copy of Sara Freeman Smith's Action Planner and 30-Day Gratitude Journal by clicking here: https://www.urgems.com/store/p/action-planner-30-day-gratitude-journalJohn Kremer offers a free ebook, Marketing in 501 Words or Less. Download the free book here (at the bottom of the page): https://www.bookauthorauthority.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

In mid-December, Judith Briles and John Kremer recorded a podcast episode on How to Market More Books in 2024.I thought I posted this last week but, alas, the tech zombies chewed it up. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

To celebrate my quarter century on Earth (75th birthday!), I'm hosting a free Q&A session on marketing, promoting, and selling your books.What? - John Kremer's Birthday Bash Q&A on Book MarketingWhen? - Tuesday, January 16th at 4:00 p.m. Pacific, 7:00 p.m. EasternWhere? - https://meetn.com/bookmarketingsuccess (nothing to download, just come to the website and join the meeting)Join me tomorrow for a good time, great questions, incredible answers, and a celebrity event of wonder and delight! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

The key to getting what you want is really simple. If you want love, you have to give love. If you want happiness, you have to give happiness. If you want abundance, you have to share abundance. If you want money, you have to give money.But there is one caveat.You can't give with larceny in your heart. You can't give with an expectation of reward. You must give with a generous heart. You must give freely and openly, without pause, without hesitation. You actually must be a genuinely good person.You might remember the one question that Santa asks every child when they are sitting on his knee, giving him the list of what they hope to receive for Christmas. What does he ask? He asks them just one question. Have you been good this year?If you become a genuinely good person, miracles happen. When you give generously, everything comes your way. I call this the multifold secret.It's very simple.Whatever you give out to the world will come back to you multifold. The universe is generous if you are generous. It's a fundamental law of the universe. It all comes back to you in ways that multiply what you give out.When I was a child, my mother would plant gardens wherever anyone would let us plow a part of their lawn. And we planted many things, but the one thing I remember so vividly is what happened when we planted a kernel of corn. That kernel grew up into a plant that gave us two to three ears of corn. And each of those ears of corn featured hundreds of kernels of new corn, delicious corn, sweet and juicy corn.That's the multifold secret at work.It's how nature works. It is a universal law. Go with it.So this has been the introduction to the Book Authority Guide to Getting What You Want.In the coming lessons, I'll be sharing tips and secrets from some of my friends and mentors. People like Zig Ziglar and Jack Canfield, Jim Rohn and Tony Robbins, Oprah Winfrey and Earl Nightingale, Les Brown, Marcy Shimoff, Phil Town, Lisa Nichols and Stephen Covey.You're going to love the course. I hope that you'll join me in the rest of this course.You can sign up for the course at https://bookauthorauthority.com/why-you-need-the-book-authority-course-to-getting-what-you-want This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

You can make anywhere from $5,000 to $150,000 before your book is published if you know just a few secrets. Here are four ways that you can make money before your book is published.One, you can coach or consult. Focus on the topic of your book. You can make anywhere from $30 per hour up to $1,000 or even $2,000 per hour. I charge $600 an hour for my consulting and I get it.Two, you can make bulk sales to corporations, associations, and catalogs. You can make anywhere from $200 for a case of books up to $200,000 if you're somebody like the authors of Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul which sold over a million copies to one of the pet food companies before the book was even published.Three, you can make pre-sales of your book to your tribe, subscribers and fans. When I first came out with 1,001 Ways to Market Your Books, when it was called 101 Ways to Market Your Books, I sold over $50,000 in books before I'd even written the book.But then I had to deliver. But it was nice because I had the publication of the book all paid for by the pre-sales. And I told people exactly when I would deliver the book, and I did deliver it. It took a lot of work, a lot of typesetting and writing and proofreading, all at the same time essentially. But I got it done and I delivered the books on time to the people who had bought ahead of time.Point four, you can sell sponsorships for your book or advertising in your book. In many editions of a 1001 Ways to Market Your Books, I sold sponsorships. I sold between 20 and 30 sponsorship with each edition. Companies and services paid to be featured in the book. They also wrote an article for me and got a credit line at the bottom. And I made over $30,000 on those sponsorships. And that paid for the printing of the book.So essentially, I was making money from the beginning when the book started to sell because the books didn't cost me anything. Because I had sold $30,000 in sponsorships.I've used these four methods to make as much as $50,000 per book before my books were published.You can too!Book Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe

Last month I reported the results of just one pinned image I shared via Pinterest on August 21, 2023. Since that time, the pin has received more than 4 million impressions! Yup, that's correct: over 4,000,000 impressions. In fact, the pin has received 4,150,000 impressions and counting!Plus, it has generated 115,070 clicks (interactions) as well as 19,810 saves and, most important, 19,110 clicks to my main website.Check it out at: https://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/everybody-somebody-anybody-and-nobody-who-are-you.My previous article: 2 Million Impressions and 11,000 Clickthroughs: https://bookmarketing.substack.com/p/2-million-impressions-and-11000-clickthroughsBook Marketing Success is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or, better yet, paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bookmarketing.substack.com/subscribe