Buzz on Book Biz

Over his 20 year career, Tony has grown over 10,000 small businesses and a dozen Fortune 500 companies, including Ford, General Motors, AutoNation and ADP. He has managed over $400 million in advertising spend and in 2009 earned the prestigious title of Google Partner of the Year.As an entrepreneur, business owner, and enterprise marketer, Tony worked with, literally, the best businesses in every industry, including Google, Microsoft, Ford, BMW, and Foster Grant to name a few.After working with these companies, he learned how they grow consistently and predictably, using adversity to pivot towards opportunity in order to survive and thrive in all manner of economic conditions.Later, Tony returned to his entrepreneur roots to bring the strategy, tactics and resources normally reserved for large enterprises to small businesses. Today, he is focused on bringing that same vision to podcast hosts and guests – to make podcasting profitable.He believes that by growing small businesses, together we can impact not just our local communities but also our world. We talk about his book, Big Fish Results: How to use the ‘Net' for a Bigger Catch, and his book “Small Steps to Grow Profits.” He is currently launching his new company Castocity: Making Podcasting Profitable.  We talk about his books and his goal now to help podcasters and guests on podcast monetize with his unique software and strategy. Have a listen! To learn more about Tony, visit: https://tonyguarnaccia.com/To learn more about Castocity, visit: https://castocity.com/—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Part of the book landscape includes the work of ghostwriters. My guest in this episode is Glen Plaskin, America's Premiere Ghostwriter and celebrity interviewer. Glen studied to become a classical pianist, but his life took a turn when he spent several years writing the biography of the famous classical pianist Vladimir Horowitz. The success of his book led him into his career as a writer. He has interviewed a vast array of celebrities and politicians for profile articles in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Cosmopolitan, US Weekly. His interview subjects have included such figures as Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Harrison Ford, Audrey Hepburn, Paul Newman, Nancy Reagan, Calvin Klein, Sylvester Stallone, Bette Midler, Betty White, Shirley MacLaine, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Dolly Parton, Barbara Walters, Diane Sawyer, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, and Senator Edward Kennedy. He has also ghostwritten books for CEOs, celebrities, and that includes memoirs. We talk about how he got into ghostwriting, and he shares stories from some of his most interesting and memorable celebrity interviews. Have a listen and find out who were his favourite famous interviewees!—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Kim Derrick Rozdeba is the Vice President of Communications, Public Affairs, Science & Sustainability at Bayer Inc. in Canada. Kim is a senior communications and marketing expert with over thirty years of diverse experience in petroleum, airline, telecommunications, automotive, and life science industries.He has served on several boards and committees such as the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Youth Ag-Summit (architect), Canadian 4-H Council, Outstanding Young Farmers of Canada, Alberta Ballet, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Calgary's Science Centre, and the Commanderie de Bordeaux.Kim is passionate about building strong brands and is an avid blog writer on the topic. One day it occurred to him how little was written about branding from a gender perspective, especially from an entrepreneurial women brand leader. Exploring the idea, he realized this was an untold story of a long list of women he found so inspiring that he decided to make these inspirational women the subject of his first book, Branding Queens. We talk about brands, marketing, and a few of the extraordinary women entrepreneurs whose stories are in his new book.For information about Kim and his book: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/derrickrozdebahttps://rozdeba.comhttps://www.rozdeba.com/branding-queens-media-kit/—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

In this episode, I interview Regina Bergman who is an International Best-Selling Author, International Public Speaker, Profit Acceleration Specialist, Host of Pursuing Profit with Principles Podcast and TV show, and co-host of Regina Partain Bergman, CEO of Bridgeport Strategy, not only helps transform businesses, both online and offline, and local economies, but helps entrepreneurs realize their vision of impacting lives and changing the world while creating a sustainable, profitable business. She wrote Bullet Proof Your Marriage,  Generate Cash Flow Quickly: the 10 Secrets to Creating Profit Now, and 45 Minute Business Breakthroughs. She has other books in the works including a book on grief. Our conversation ranges through her first book which was on marriage, to her business books and her company. We discuss what many entrepreneurs miss when they start a company, and don't set it up correctly from the beginning (and can't sell it when they want to), as well as the challenges and benefits of writing books to grow your authority as an entrepreneur. Have a listen!To learn more about Regina Bergman's company, Bridgeport Strategy, head to this link:https://bridgeportismarketing.com/—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

When Mark Bellow retired from his career of 44 years as an attorney, he decided to start writing novels, and uses his books to tackle social justice issues.With his award winning “Zachary Black Legal Thriller Series,” he has created fictional novels about sexual abuse by the Catholic Church, a bigoted President, Islamophobia, white supremacists, and a divided nation, the Me-Too movement, police shootings of black men, gun control, and immigration at the border. His first book “Betrayal of Faith” while fictional, was based on his own experience as one of the first attorneys to sue the Catholic Church over sexual abuse by clergy. We have a lively conversation about his books, his passion for justice, and his goal to continue writing fiction about social issues.Have a listen!To connect with Mark, his books are on Amazon and most online book sources, and his website is: https://www.markmbello.com—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

BUZZ on BOOK BIZ takes a different turn in this episode. Host Richelle Wiseman flies solo and raises concern about recent book bans in United States schools and libraries. She explores how Critical Race Theory is being used as a catch all term to fight children being exposed to US history of Slavery, the slave trade, and any discussion of racism. This episode only scratches the surface of a much bigger discussion about race, equity and inclusion…but for this podcast, the focus is on books.Have a listen!—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Some people have the ability to see trends forming before others can see them. Sam George is one of those people. Whether it was Socio-political and cultural trends or communications phenomenon, Sam has written books about what he has been able to see in advance of most other cultural observers. He was a co-author to a book written in 2005 titled “The Great Divide: Retro vs Metro America." It identified the very beginnings of what has become a  culture war in the United States. His latest book is “I'll Get Back to You: The Dyscommunication Crisis: Why Unreturned Messages Drive Us Crazy and What to Do About It.”  We have a robust discussion about both books, and how technology has impacted our ability to genuinely communicate and connect with one another. Sam has some fascinating observations as a digital marketer about emails too!  Listen in!Sam George's books can be found on Amazon.  Here is the link to “I'll Get Back to You”—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Nichole Compton is a lawyer, a published author, and the host and legal analyst for Kentucky's first courtroom television show called Deadbeat: Kentuckiana Child Support Court. She is a successful entrepreneur who coaches other business owners. For over a decade, she has maintained her own law firm while serving her community in Louisville in a variety of ways, including training paralegal interns, as a Family Court guardian ad litem and certified mediator, and hosting free seminars. She has written a number of books including In Quietness & Confidence: Life Lessons, Small Revelations and Whispers from God, and Real Queens Like Me: Stories of Great Black Women who Changed the World.  We talk about the connection between her law practice, and why she is running to become the Circuit Court Judge for Louiville, Kentucky in the May 17 Primary. She is a fascinating and inspiring woman who wants to turn her Real Queens book into a 10 book series!Nichole's Book: Real Queens Like Me—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

My guest in this episode is Tim Jacobs, the CEO and Owner of JWC Publishing in New York.  From the time he was a young boy, Tim enjoyed books, and he remembers his mother typing at her typewriter in their kitchen. He was always fascinated with the act of writing, and ended up pursuing writing and publishing for his career. Since 2012, JWC has bee building relationships with authors and publishers by providing editing, proofreading, ghostwriting, and coaching services. We talk about his target audience of clients who are business owners and entrepreneurs who want a book to help grow a business.  Tim's company has a great process for getting clients to finish and publish their books in 3 to 6 months. Listen in! Tim JacobsCEO, JWC Publishinghttps://www.jacobswc.com/—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Drew Neisser is the CEO and Founder of Renegade, a New York based award-winning strategic marketing boutique for B2B innovators. He has also created CMO Huddles for B2B Chief Marketing Officers. Drew is the author of two books, The CMO's Periodic Table: A Renegade's Guide to Marketing, and Renegade Marketing: 12 Steps to Building Unbeatable B2B Brands.  Drew is considered among the top B2B influencers by Adobe/Marketo, Gartner, IBM and Pega Systems. He is a strategist, writer, and he has helped rebrand a number of large US companies. Throughout all of his work, Drew shares his passion about the role marketing can play to make our lives a bit better. We talk about how his books have helped his company, and helped him achieve the status as an influencer in the marketing space. Our chat ranges over marketing books, publishing, and what he sees as the effect of the pandemic on marketing going forward. Have a listen!  You can find Drew's most recent book – written and published during COVID  here.Renegade Marketing: 12 Steps to Building Unbeatable B2B Brands—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

In this episode of Buzz on Book Biz, I am delighted to interview a children's author and publisher of children's books. Formerly an elementary school teacher, Arielle Haughee (Hoy) is a six-time RPLA-winning author and the owner of Orange Blossom Publishing. She is an editor, speaker, and writing coach, and was previously the Executive Vice President and Conference Chair for the Florida Writers Association. She was honored with the President's Award from FWA in 2020, and in 2021 Pling's Party was awarded Children's Book of the Year. We talk about children's books, what makes a good children's book, and how she works with children's authors to publish their books. Children's books are not as easy to write as some people might think! Have a listen as Arielle is full of insights about kids books and the importance of illustrations.—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Steve Feld is a successful business coach who helps entrepreneurs and small business owners grow their companies. From his own years of experience owning a number of businesses, he applies his strategies, tools and processes to his clients' businesses. Our conversation focuses specifically on how writing books has helped him grow his own company. Now he is about to release his seventh book. His first book, 45 Minute Business Breakthroughs, has had a dramatic impact on his business revenue.  Listen to why this business coach is a big believer in writing books. Steve's website:  http://www.bizcoachsteve.com/about/—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

My guest Judy Weintraub is a remarkably talented and very busy person. She is a lawyer, and she also runs SkillBites, a company she started to help business owners write, publish and market their books.  She describes why she started SkillBites, and how she helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses with a book. Judy is also the author of books for her own legal business, The Essentials of Negotiating Effectively, and How to Build Successful Business Partnerships. Have a listen to this inspiring conversation! Judy's website:  https://skillbites.net/—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Dancho Dimkov started his first business at age 21, and he is a native of Macedonia. He has grown and built several companies and is focused on helping business-t0-business (B2B) leaders grow their businesses with his lead generating strategy. He is the founder of BizzBee Solutions and along with being an expert in using LinkedIN and emails to generate high value leads, he has written a book “Sweet Leads” which describes his company's successful strategy. He has helped over 450 consultants, agencies, start-ups and entrepreneurs, and his strategy also works for authors of business books to market their books. Dancho has amazing expertise in the B2B space and his book is a terrific resource which I highly recommend. Enjoy a great marketing discussion! Get in touch with Dancho:Website: BizzBeeSolutions.comAmazon:  Sweet Leads —Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Julie Broad is the founder of a self-publishing services company called Book Launchers. She is an Amazon Overall #1 Best Selling Author and she knows how to get her clients to the bestseller list too. Through Book Launchers, and her popular YouTube channel “Book Launchers TV”, she helps subject matter experts write, publish and promote nonfiction books that will boost their businesses. Her latest book is “Self-Publish and Succeed” captures her leading tactics for non-fiction books, and her real expertise is in helping subject matter experts write a book with the marketing of the book in mind to have impact, results, and sales. Listen in to our lively conversation! Get in touch with Julie:Website: BookLaunchers.comYouTube:  Book LaunchersAmazon: Self-Publish and Succeed—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Every author who publishes books would love to get publicity. My guest today is Scott Lorenz who is the President of Westwind Book Marketing. It is a public relations and marketing firm which helps authors get the publicity they deserve. HE works with best-selling and self-published authors to help them promote all types of books. He is also the author of an award-winning book titled, BOOK TITLE GENERATOR.  Our conversation ranges over how he gets publicity for his clients, how the book industry and book marketing has changed, and how is book is a valuable tool for picking a bestseller book title. Have a listen and get his book!To get in touch with Scott: www.book-marketing-expert.comHis blog:  www.book-publicist.comHis book, Book Title Generator:  https://www.amazon.com/s?k=scott+lorenz&ref=nb_sb_noss_1—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

In this episode, Richelle talks about “Developing the Mindset of a Writer.” From her own experience as a writer, and the experience of other writers, she describes aspects to developing a writer's mindset,  including inspiration from Steven Pressfield's book, “The War of Art.”  Listen in and learn about how to deal with common mindset blocks writers face, and about a writer's “will set”, not just mindset.  Have a listen!—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

There are so many different kinds of publishers in the self-publishing, hybrid and traditional spaces.  In this episode, I have the privilege of interviewing Becky Norwood, a #1 International Bestselling author, speaker, & book publishing expert. She is also the CEO of Spotlight Publishing™ and she has brought over 300 authors to #1 bestseller category. Becky is truly a heart-centered publisher who cares about her authors and their books' success. She is widely recognized for the empowering intuitive way she guides authors to weave storytelling into their books and their marketing.  Becky sets her authors up for success with the creation of a media kit, and a remarkable suite of marketing strategies and tools.  Have a listen and you'll be amazed at what Spotlight Publishing does for its authors.  Contact Becky at: https://www.spotlightpublishing.pro/becky@spotlightpublishing.pro—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Melanie Herschorn wants to make your book and brand sparkle online. As a content marketing strategist for women coaches and speakers worldwide, she's on a mission to support and empower her clients to create clear messaging and content that shines a light on their individual experience, skillset, and books. With her unique combination of entrepreneurship, award-winning journalism and PR experience, Melanie guides her clients to attract and nurture leads and position themselves as industry experts. She also loves to provide content marketing tips on her podcast VIP Access and in her Facebook group Sparkles and Strategy.Melanie's company website is:  https://vipdigitalcontent.comHer podcast is: VIP Access which is on Apple, Stitcher, Overcast, TuneIn, Podcast Addict, Spotify, CastBox, Deezer, and Podchaser—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Connie Whitman is the CEO of Whitman and Associates and she is an international best-selling author of her book, Easy Sales Process: 7 Steps to Sales Success.  Connie is also a speaker, podcast host of 2 podcasts and an influencer. Her genius is helping business owners, salespeople and entrepreneurs grow their revenue through enhanced communications and sales skills. Her other two bestselling books are Bright Spots and Engaging Experts.  Known for her high energy, passionate and heart centred approach to sales, teaching and coaching, Connie is thrilled to share inspiring content on her two weekly international podcasts, “Heart-Centred Sales Leader,” and “Enlightenment of Change.” Have a listen to our lively exchange about books, publishing and how Connie's books helped her business.Connie's Links:Website: https://whitmanassoc.comEmail: connie@whitmanassoc.comCommunication Style Assessment (CSA)™ https://whitmanassoc.com/csa/Podcast Links:Heart-Centered Sales Leader Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heart-centered-sales-leader/id1543243616Enlightenment of Change Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/enlightenment-of-change/id1313299091—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

In this episode, Richelle talks about the importance of a book's title in making that book a success.  A book can be a strong, well-written book, but if the title isn't a good title – meaning one which successfully captures attention and hooks readers in  -  then that well-written book will languish on the shelves of book stores.  Whereas…the reverse is true. A so-so book with a terrific title can do well in terms of book sales.  Have a listen to what a good book title must have in order for the book to succeed.—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

My guest today is Hawk Mikado, and he is known as a Marketing whiz with the nickname, The Funnel Genius.  Hawk Mikado is also a 3X International Best Selling Author, Speaker & Publisher of Funnel Magazine.He's a top ClickFunnels Certified Partner, professional Neuro-Linguistic Communication Trainer, skillful Business Strategist & the #1 Funnel Builder for authors, speakers, coaches, and consultants.With 10 years of marketing, sales and copywriting experience, Hawk has helped business leaders and companies add 6+ figures to their businesses using his & his Launch Funnel Framework™.   Our conversation focuses on marketing books and Hawk's experience of working with authors to sell their books using his funnel software.  He knows how to help authors turn readers into clients. If you are interested in another perspective on marketing books, have a listen!You can find Hawk Mikado at https://funnelsforauthors.com—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

My guest in this episode is Amy Collins who has been in the book industry since 1991. She has been a book buyer for a chain of bookstores in NY, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. She gained extensive experience as a book marketer, and now she is a literary agent with Talcott Notch. She is also a USA TODAY and WALL STREET JOURNAL bestselling author. We have a great conversation about fiction for young adults, sci-fi, fantasy, and historical novels. I asked what she looks for in a book she decides to take on and pitch to publishers, and she provides great advice to writers who want to pursue the traditional publishing route with the assistance of a literary agent. Have a listen!To contact Amy Collins, her website is: https://amysadvice.com/and also https://querymanager.com/query/AmyC—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

My guest is Alex Strathdee who is a guru when it comes to launching and marketing books on AMAZON. A life-long book lover, Alex released his own first book at age 21. He hired a consultant to launch his book to the top of the Amazon charts and then…nothing. With no budget or brand, Alex had no way to make an impact with his book other than getting creative. With zero budget, he was able to convince 11 colleges to send the book to 40,000+ students. Alex is now the founder of AdvancedAmazonAds.com, and he works from various countries around the world. Everything he owns fits into a backpack and duffle bag. This is a fun conversation with a pro in the Amazon ad space. Listen in!You can find Alex at: https://www.advancedamazonads.com/—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Brian Wood is a published poet and also a literary agent. He has been in the book industry for years, and worked as a regional book buyer for all the Coles Book Stores in Canada, and then in 2001, he was the Western Regional buyer for Chapters Indigo.  As a literary agent, he is focused on non-fiction books about sports and athletes.  Our conversation ranged from sports to atheism and a bunch of things in between. We discuss Brian's poetic influences and how his poetry wrestles with issues of faith and doubt, and unanswered questions about life.  We have fun talking about the role of a literary agent, as well as sports stories and teams, and all in all, this is a really interesting chat. Tune in!—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Rachel Sentes is a professional writer, publicity and publishing consultant, and editor for Equation books. She specializes in writing publicity campaigns for books, documentary film, innovative products and businesses, pet advocacy and veterinarian businesses. Rachel has booked clients on CTV National, BNN, CNN, The Seattle Times, Global, Shaw, City TV, Vice.com, TruthoutOrg, Huffington Post, The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, NewsTalk 1010, TSN, Bloomberg Radio and The Vancouver Sun to name a few. Rachel helps authors who are planning to publish or have just published, and who need help with everything from deciding the right publishing path to getting their books into stores or on virtual shelves.  We have a free-ranging conversation about all aspects of getting publicity for authors and their books.  Tune in! Rachel's website is:  https://www.gal-fridaypublicity.com—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Terry has written and published many of his own books and has been an acquisitions editor for several large US publishing houses. We discuss the changes and challenges in the publishing industry, and he provides terrific advice to writers seeking to find the right publisher for their books.Our conversation covered some aspects of marketing books and what writers need to know about marketing. His new book “Book Proposals that Sell” will be out on October 5, and I highly recommend his book, “10 Publishing Myths” which is a good place for first time authors to start learning about the industry.Have a listen to a seasoned writer and publishing expert!  Here is where you can learn more aboutTerry's new book:  https://www.bookproposalsthatsell.com/Also: Get 10 Publishing Myths here: https://bit.ly/marketing4books—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Caroline Walker joins me in this interview to talk about a well known literary press in Canada, Thistledown Press which is based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  Caroline has had a rich and diverse career in the publishing world and she became the Managing Editor at Thistledown in October 2020.  We talk about the kinds of books Thistledown publishes, how they work with book agents and also  take manuscripts directly from authors. Thistledown sells its books through the University of Toronto Press. Like all publishers in this COVID period, Thistledown has had to look at how to launch and market books without live events, but hopefully that will change soon.  Listen in as we hear another perspective on how authors should carefully choose the publishers they approach by doing their homework first to find the best fit!    https://www.thistledownpress.com/index.cfm—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Fay Thompson is the publisher and editor in chief of Big Moose Publishing. Big Moose is a self-publishing company in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, in the Canadian prairies. Fay wrote and self-published her first book in 2013 which gave her first experience with the publishing world. Five years later, Fay put out her second book – the first published under the Big Moose Publishing imprint – and learned a lot more about the publishing world.As she navigated the steps involved in putting out a professional product, Fay realized she had all the skills and know-how to do this herself and help others in the process. Big Moose Publishing was born.When she’s not writing or publishing, Fay is an inspirational coach and speaker. Fay loves empowering people. She is excited to empower others to become authors, knowing that each person’s story makes a difference.  To learn more about Big Moose Publishing, visit:  http://bigmoosepublishing.com/—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Britt East joins me in this interview to talk about his new book, A Gay Man’s Guide to Life.  Britt is a speaker and writer whose own growth and development experience led him to write a book to help other gay men overcome the obstacles – both internal and external – that prevent them from having the love and happiness they seek. In our conversation, Britt explains his own views on the sources of homophobia in our culture (this will surprise you), and he has interesting ideas about gay culture too.  Britt talks about his own journey through challenges and hope, as well a his journey as an author to write, publish and market his book. You can learn more about Britt, his writings, and his book at:  www.britteast.com   Enjoy listening to my conversation with Britt East.—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Shelley Francis is an Audiologist, Coach, Speaker, and Author of the book “No Child Left Unwrapped; Understanding and Honoring the Gifts every Child is Born with.”As an Audiologist she spent over 25 years specializing in helping people hear and listen with their ears, and now she helps people listen without their ears. Through one on one coaching sessions, group programs, and creative listening journeys, she helps people to reconnect with their heart and their inner truth bringing more peace and purpose into their lives.—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Tom Teague is a former software engineer for Exxon and NASA, and when he left the corporate world, he became an “Online Business Coach.” He coaches entrepreneurs how to establish and succeed at running an online business. His new book “Online Business Success for Thought Leaders: Create Visibility for Positive Impact” was just published on Amazon and became a bestseller in just a few days. Tom explains his writing process, his goals for his book and who will benefit from reading it. Tom helped me set up a new website for my first online course last year and I know he is truly an expert at helping entrepreneurs navigate the technology, the software and the strategy for setting up an online business. His book can prevent business owners from making common mistakes and getting lost in the weeds with his clear, well-organized and proven processes for succeeding online.You can find Tom’s book at www.onlinebusinesssuccessbook.com or on Amazon.You can learn more about how to work with Tom at: www.choicedigitalstrategies.com—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

In this episode, Richelle goes solo to talk about what she has learned so far from her guests for this podcast. The publishing world has changed dramatically, and this provides more opportunities for writers to get their books published. Have a listen!—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

My guest in this episode, Michael Butler, is the CEO of Beyond Book Publishing, a full service hybrid book Publisher based in Dallas, Texas. He is a book launch expert, an author, speaker and a media Coach who helps authors get television, radio and podcast interviews. He has been called a “book marketing genius” by Brian Tracy, and has written a book titled:  “Best Seller Status – Becoming a Best Selling Author in the Digital Age.”We talk about ways to market a book and Michael has some tricks up his sleeve. Have a listen!—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

My guest in this podcast is Bruce Kirkby. He is a Canadian wilderness writer and adventure photographer who has been recognized for connecting wild places with contemporary issues. Over his 30 year career, he has traveled through 80 countries, and his accomplishments include being on the first modern crossing of Arabia’s Empty Quarter desert by camel, a descent of Ethiopia’s Blue Nile Gorge by raft, a sea kayak traverse of Borneo’s norther coast and a trek across Iceland.  He is a columnist for the Globe and Mail, and author of two bestselling books.  Our conversation focuses on his newest book Blue Sky Kingdom: An Epic Family Journey to the Heart of the Himalaya. He and his wife took their two young boys (ages 7 and 3) on a journey to visit a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the mountains of the Himalayas, and he describes what they learned about life, about priorities, and their son’s autism.Listen in! You won’t be disappointed.—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Children’s books became extremely popular in 2020, thanks to kids being at home a lot, and libraries being closed. That was good news for writers of children’s books. My guest today is Sara Leach, a Canadian award-winning author of nine books for children, including the recently released Duck Days.  We talk about her inspiration for her books, and her experience publishing with a traditional publisher versus self-publishing, as she has done both.  Sara has some real insights into what makes a children’s book a good book that kids will love. Have a listen!   You can learn more about Sara and her books at her website: https://www.saraleach.com/—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Kae Wagner is an author, marketer and speaker. She is also CEO and founder of North Star Marketing which is based in Pennsylvania. In our conversation, we talk about the books she has written about marketing, and she provides some excellent tips and insights for authors who want to understand how to market their books.  Her books have had a major impact on her own business and she speaks from a great deal of experience about writing a book to help promote and grow your business. Listen in!—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Today’s guest is Karen Stiller who is a professional writer, and senior editor of a national Canadian magazine called “Faith Today.” As a journalist, she has shared stories from Africa, Southeast Asia and North America. She has a Master of Arts in Creative Non-Fiction from University of King’s College, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and an honorary doctorate from Providence University College & Seminary. In our conversation, we talk about her book “The Minister’s Wife”, how she got it published, and how she sees the often challenging role of being married to a minister. Her husband Brent is an Anglican priest and they have three adult children. We delve into the world of Christian publishing which is a large market, particularly in the United States, and we talk about the writing and editing process with a lot of great insights for writers just beginning down the road to writing their books. Tune in and listen to a deep conversation! —Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

My guest in this episode is Cathy Davis. She and her partner run Davis Creative Publishing in St. Louis, Missouri.  Cathy is also an international bestselling author, an international speaker and trainer. Davis Creative helps authors write, publish and promote their books with a range of services. They serve authors from all walks of life who are at many stages in the writing and publishing process. In our conversation, Cathy explains that Davis Creative is not a self publishing company but rather a resource for authors who need specific help within the publishing process, such as cover design, marketing strategy etc. COVID has actually made Davis Creative busier as more people have been at home with more time on their hands to write their books. She has a wealth of knowledge about how first time writers can avoid costly mistakes, and how they can take the best possible steps forward for success.  Davis Creative is hosting a free webinar on January 14 called “Navigating the Wild, Wild West of Publishing” and you can find more information about that event and register here: https://daviscreative.com/wild-wild-west/—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Katherine Fawcett joins me for a conversation about her new book of short stories, The Swan Suit, which is a wonderful read. Her stories are a mix of fairy tale, fantasy, irony and wit, unexpected twists and turns and they snap, crackle and zing in sometimes surprising ways. We discuss her writing process, her influences, and her experience self-publishing 2 early books, and then publishing with 2 Canadian traditional publishers, The Little Washer of Sorrows with Thistledown Press, and The Swan Suit with Douglas & McIntyre. Katherine is from Squamish, British Columbia and when she isn’t writing, she is teaching music. She enjoys the mountains and ocean, skiing at Whistler, and she can’t wait to get back to fiddle and bluegrass jams and rehearsals with the Sea to Sky Orchestra. Join us for a fun conversation!—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Did you know there is a Canadian hybrid publisher which is focused on publishing non-fiction books by business owners and thought leaders? My guest in this episode is Trena White, who with her colleague Jesse Finkelstein, co-founded Page Two Publishing in 2013. Page Two is located in Vancouver, British Columbia and it publishes books by thought leaders, subject matter experts and Organizations. It has distribution agreements in Canada and the United States and almost 50% of its authors are American.  Listen in as Trena talks about the books they publish and ones they will publish in 2021. We also discuss the process for how to get a book published with Page Two Publishing. Find out more about Page Two on their website: www.pagetwo.com—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Our guest in this episode is Steven Spatz, President of Book Baby which is the largest Self-publishing company in the United States. Steven had a long career in retail marketing with Fortune 500 companies like Mattel and Hasbro. He joined AVL Digital in 2004 to lead the direct-to-consumer marketing teams for the music industry brands like Disc-Makers, Oasis and CD Baby.He was tapped to lead the company’s new publishing division in 2014 and drove expansion of the company to the full service self-publishing giant that it is today. In our conversation, Steven talks about the roots and history of Book Baby, how it differs from other self-publishing companies, and how it provides greater revenues to authors by selling their books from its shopping page. Book Baby has a reputation for quality books and they do everything in house from graphic design to every aspect of the print process. When COVID-19 hit in March, Book Baby did a marvelous pivot to stay open and keep all its 150 staff employed. Tune in to find out what they did!   Plus you can find a ton of information about all aspects of publishing a book on their extensive website:  www.bookbaby.com-Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Douglas & McIntyre is one of the bright stars in the Canadian publishing constellation. Next year, D & M will celebrate its 50th Anniversary. My guest in this episode is Anna Comfort O’Keefe who is the publisher at D & M. We talked about how the publishing world has had to change to adapt to the “discoverability” of books by readers. Social media has played a big role in that. We also talked about the process at D & M to get published. New writers can submit unsolicited manuscripts, and Anna has some great insights into how to make the decision between going with a traditional publisher or with a self-publishing company. D & M publishes a wide range of genres but is focused Canadian authors who write about topics or stories that are of interest to Canadians. Have a listen and learn about one of Canada’s publishers of major and minor Canadian award-winning authors.https://douglas-mcintyre.com/-Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

My guest on this episode of Buzz on Book Biz is Thomas Umstattd of Author Media which is based in Austin, Texas. Thomas was a literary agent and book marketer for a big traditional publishing house. He founded Umstattd Media in 2007 which was focused on building websites for authors and small businesses.In 2009, he launched an award-winning blog called AuthorTechTips.comand that blog enabled him to launch his company, Author Media in 2011. Author Media provides online training and marketing services for authors who want to learn how best to sell their books. Our conversation ranged over the pros and cons of traditional vs indie or self-publishing, and Thomas has some great insights and tips when it comes to marketing books. Listen and learn what you need to know about social media and mailing lists if you are an author.—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

In this podcast episode, my guest is Sharon Butala, a Canadian writer and novelist who has written many award-winning fiction and non-fiction books. We talk about her writing career of publishing over 20 books, her passion for the Saskatchewan prairies, and her advice to writers who are just starting out and trying to get published. She reads a passage from one of her books which is my favorite, The Perfection the Morning: An Apprenticeship in Nature (1994). Her most recent book is a short story collection called Season of Fury and Wonder. It was published last year and was shortlisted for the Rogers Writers Trust Fiction prize, and it won the City of Calgary W.O. Mitchell Book Prize.  Sharon has also received the Order of Canada and she is truly a national treasure.—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

On this episode of Buzz on Book Biz, we will be talking to Kelsey Attard, the managing editor of Freehand Books in Calgary. Freehand is a literary press which focuses on fiction as well as creative non—fiction and graphic memoirs. We will talk about how Freehand selects manuscripts, how writers can submit their books, and she offers some great tips and advice for writers looking for a publisher. Freehand Books boasts of a catalogue which contains some award-winning books, including some from first time authors. We also talk about the way COVID has affected publishers and the book world. Listen in to our chat about publishing in Canada.—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

For business owners, consultants, and coaches, writing a book for their business can open many doors and stages (remember those?).  Listen to Brent Barootes, President and CEO of Partnership Group, as he explains how writing a book titled “Reality Check – Straight Talk about Sponsorship Marketing” led to surprising opportunities for his company and for him personally. If you have toyed with the idea of writing a book for your business, you’ll be inspired when you hear Brent’s story.www.partnershipgroup.ca—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Kesley is the head of the Business Development department of Greenleaf Book Group, a hybrid publisher based in Austin, Texas.  We talk about the differences between traditional publishers, self-publishers, and hybrid publishers.  Kesley lays out a strong case for how and why Greenleaf’s hybrid model serves authors better than the other two options.  If you’re not quite sure what a “Hybrid Publisher” is, then listen in as Kesley explains.Greenleaf Book Group Online Brochure Publishing Quizz (What kind of publisher is right for you?)—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Because Buzz on Book Biz is about writing, publishing and marketing books, my guest for our first episode is Mitchell Levy who had done all three. Mitchell is an international bestselling author of over 60 books. He is the publisher at AHAthat (https://ahathat.com) and has created 20 businesses in Silicon Valley, including 4 publishing companies that  have published over 800 books. So, he knows a thing or two about marketing books too. Our conversation focuses on how business owners can create books which increase their credibility and authority in their field. To connect with Mitchell, go to his personal website and book time on his calendar at:  https://MitchellLevy360.comAlso, check out Mitchell’s show about thought leadership. Visit https://www.thoughtleaderlife.com/—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook

Coming August 18, professional book coach & writer Richelle Wiseman will interview published authors, book publishers and book marketers to find out what works and what doesn't for publishing and marketing books successfully. We will also talk about tips and trends in book publishing and book marketing!—Richelle Wiseman: website | linkedin | facebook