Mark Dawson is a best selling self-published author on multiple platforms including Amazon and Kobo. He is the author of the John Milton thriller series and its spin-off Beatrix Rose. In addition, he’s written several ‘Soho Noir' novels. Mark’s breakthrough came when he developed a marketing strategy for promoting and selling his books. His swift success enabled him to quit his 9 to 5 job and he has generated gross revenues of more than a million dollars in less than five years. Mark has become a leading voice in the self publishing industry and he advocates and teaches a strategy based around offering books for free, mailing list development and social media advertising. In 2015, he published the first version of what is now his acclaimed online course ‘Advertising for Authors’. He has also developed a course for writers at the start of their careers – Self Publishing 101. James Blatch co-hosts the podcast and he represents the first time, wannabe author. James is a former BBC News journalist who is currently writing his first novel. Between them James and Mark explore the world of self publishing with a focus on actionable tips for new and experienced indie authors.
Listeners of The Self Publishing Show that love the show mention: mark and james, james and mark, self publishing, ducker, spf, indie authors, sps, dawson's, helpful and insightful, platt, published, courses, love the interviews, tiny, launch, i've learned, writers, candid, turns, provided.
The Self Publishing Show podcast is a must-listen for every indie author, regardless of genre. The show provides a wealth of information and offers a glimpse into the global indie author community. One of the best aspects of this podcast is the interviews and banter between hosts James Blatch and Mark Dawson. James is a conscientious host who conducts great interviews and shows genuine interest in his guests, while Mark brings his expertise as an accomplished self-published author. Their dynamic makes for an enjoyable listening experience.
One of the worst aspects of the podcast may be that it occasionally promotes Mark Dawson's self-publishing courses. However, this is only a small part of the show and shouldn't detract from the overall value it provides. The rest of the airtime is filled with helpful interviews, tried-and-tested advice, and reviews of indispensable resources, all free to listeners.
In conclusion, The Self Publishing Show podcast is an incredibly helpful resource for anyone interested in self-publishing. It offers a friendly atmosphere that makes the task of selling books feel doable. With a mix of genres represented and tips covering everything authors need to know, this podcast helps connect writers to valuable knowledge and inspires them to pursue their self-publishing careers. Whether you're just starting out or have been published for years, this podcast provides invaluable insights and motivates authors to achieve success in today's competitive market.
James talks to Joe Solari, the man responsible for the world's largest gathering of indie authors and Darren Hardy, from Amazon KDP, who is the most listened to guest we've ever had on the show.
Nick Thacker VP of Author Success at Draft2Digital joins James to dive into what's new and what D2D can offer the self publishing world.
James talks to Marco Moutinho from Dibbly, a content creation platform, which can help you with freelance services. Dibbly also offers an AI tool ‘Kip' that has some fantastic features to offer the indie author.
This week James talks to bestseller Suzy K Quinn and editor Adam Strange from Kevin Anderson & Associates, who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience on editing to the show.
Join James and Carlyn Robertson from BookBub talking about what's new at BookBub and what BookBub can offer.
A fast emerging aspect of indie marketing is direct selling. Bookvault have risen quickly to the top of many authors go-to suppliers for print-on-demand, especially for those special editions that can be extremely good for your bottom line. This week's show features a chat with Bookvault's Alex Smith.
Vellum is the gold standard for editing your book ready for publication. Listen as James Blatch talks to Brad West about tips for preparing your book
Listen as James talks to Mike Hourigan who is the Vice President of Marketing at Written Word Media, where he brings more than 15 years of digital marketing expertise to the table.
Join James and the numbers man, Alex Newton from K-lytics who digs beneath the Romantasy data and explains current trends
Join James Blatch and Stuart Grant from Digital Authors Toolkit and also the highest rated web designer on Reedsy, as they discuss the future of Author websites, direct selling, and how you can make your website stand out.
Join James and Victoria Gerken from Podium Audio as they discuss how audio is exploding the world of publishing and providing authors with another income stream
Join James Blatch and Chris Banks as James reveals the speakers and sponsors attending the Self Publishing Show Live in London 2024 and Chris talks about what's new at ProWritingAid and AI, but making sure you add the human touch.
Join James Blatch as he takes on a hot topic of the moment, AI, and how it impacts authors and creators. Should you be afraid or accepting of this new wave of technology?
Tune into this week's episode of the Self Publishing Show to hear more from Michael, including whether selling direct would be preferrable to selling on Amazon, why he chooses to publish his audiobooks exclusively on ACX, and why consistency in magic and worldbuilding rules is key for any kind of Fantasy story.
Marc Reklau went from struggling writer to earning seven-figures, all by applying the same self-help advice he writes about in his books.
Tired of tweaking your Amazon Ad keywords? Let Merch Jar automate the process for you.
From novelist to tabletop game creator, Paddy Finn explains how he created a seven-figure company in an industry where the players come up with the stories.
Danica Favorite describes the benefits of releasing wide with PD and how you can have a say on the future of AI in publishing.
Bypass royalty cuts and sell your paperbacks and hardcovers direct to your readers with Bookvault.
Michaelbrent Collins is a bestselling trad- and indie-published author and screenwriter who teaches writers the principles of writing success.
Mark Dawson embarks on a solo episode exploring how authors can optimise the time available to them to write (and sell) more books.
As an Australian living in South Africa, Tony Park explains what he does to make sure he reflects African places, people and practices correctly.
Getting reviews and reader feedback can be difficult. The Pigeonhole is a new way to transform your relationship with your readers.
Veteran podcaster and SEO expert Thomas Umstattd explains what the Christian market is and what authors need to consider when writing for it.
As Launchpad prepares to welcome new students, Mark Dawson breaks down his top ten tips for aspiring authors.
With a quarter of Amazon categories not having their own bestseller rankings, it's important to choose ones that'll help promote your book.
Self-publishing veteran Joanna Penn talks about her new non-fiction book “Writing the Shadow” and where her writing career will go from here.
Book covers, translations, audiobooks – these can all cost a lot of money and put off promising writers. Draft2Digital wants to make self-publishing accessible for all.
Laura Burton almost gave up on writing after getting a bad review from someone she knew. Then she found the Ads for Authors course, and is now a full-time author.
A.I. is a fast-developing field, and it's important for authors to use it both effectively and ethically.
Lloyd Richards' novel flopped 11 years ago. A single TikTok video sent it to the top of the US Amazon charts.
As the Self Publishing Show hits its 400th episode, Mark and James take a look at how the industry has changed and what lies in the podcast's future.
Dialogue expert Jeff Elkins explains how the way our characters talk influences the way our readers view their personalities.
Damon Courtney's BookFunnel is the perfect way to distribute your audiobooks outside of traditional store systems.
SPS Live 2023 was our biggest conference yet – Mark and James take a look at the highlights.
It's important to connect with your audience in a way that's meaningful to them – Book Rockstar can show you how.
Rosa Lee only started writing two years ago, but a surprise viral video on Tiktok means she's now a full time Dark Romance author.
Ricci Wolman explains the various services Written Word Media offers plus the recent partnership with Hello Books.
Dave Cohen is a stand-up comic who's written for TV shows including Not Going Out and My Family – now he's written a book about how to add comedy to your screenplays and novels.
Andrea Wilk and Freya von Korff are bestselling authors living in Germany – here's why you should be translating your books for that market.
The founder of Fictionary explains how it can assist writers in improving the plots, characters and pacing in their stories.
Ryan Cahill couldn't work after moving to New Zealand, so he built a career from writing Epic Fantasy instead.
Readers, agents and the press often care more about how you are and why you write than what you write.
Stuart Grant isn't just a key member of the SPS team – he's also the highest rated web designer on Reedsy.
As much as 20% of the population has a disability – Jeff Adams and Michele Lucchini discuss how to expand our content to include everyone.
Martha Carr explains how to kill it with crowdsourcing and world-building collaborations.
With Launchpad about to open, Mark and James discuss the careers the course has helped build.
A book can lend kudos to a subject-matter expert, but only if they know how to get them into the hands of readers.
© 2020-2025 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
