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The History I started my shopify store around the 10th December 2023 after a viral video on TikTok on December 8th. So I integrated with Bookvault and stayed with POD shipping until February 2025. Since February 2025, I've been distributing and fulfilling all orders from my website in my own warehouse. These are the lessons I've learned from the last ten months of running my own website sales and distribution. And yes, I will talk numbers, but I'm making you wait till the end! Please note, I will talk about finances, systems and the occasional legal thing. Absolutely nothing I say is financial, legal or tax advice. You must seek advice from professionals in your own countries and tax territories. I recognise that this model is not for 99% of authors. It's a LOT of work. It's a lot of logistics, a lot of peopling, team building, paperwork and problem solving. This is as far removed from sitting behind a desk and writing 24/7 as you can get. Do not listen to this with an open heart. Be skeptical, that will keep you on the right track for creating a business you love. But know that I do love this and I am framing these lessons learned from that perspective. Why Direct? I'd always had a transactional website for Sacha Black work but it barely did £20 a month. So I knew the work I was about to scramble to do for Ruby may be for nothing. But I didn't want to be beholden to TikTok the way I'd been beholdened to other sources of income and I knew if I'd gone viral once, I could do it again and that would lead to relying on TikTok. What do I mean why? Two reasons: why should you as an author have a direct store but also why should readers come to you? For you, you can earn more per sale. POD companies integrating with shopify automatically give you more as there are no hidden fees. But when you shift to print runs you more than half the cost of printing each book. Of course you also give yourself a host of other problems like fulfillment and overheads, but you gain a lot more product flexibility and potential meaning you have the opportunity to make bigger profit. BUT and this is a big but, you have to work out what you want your business to look like. That said, there are consequences. I usually write and publish 3 books a year and this year I've dropped to 2 published. Though I will have written a 3rd and a short story by the end of the year. But I wasn't able to get that third one published. Despite that, this is going to be my biggest year ever for income. It already beat last year in 7 months. Which goes to show that you don't have to be rapid releasing anymore to make good money. The fact I've not published three, is a direct consequence of the warehouse and also the increasing team size and the need to train staff. Thankfully due to the Kickstarter, some rights deals an big increase in direct sales of products and merch, I haven't seen a dip in income. Which goes to show that you don't have to be rapid releasing anymore to make good money. There are other benefits like reader loyalty because you're treating them better, you are able to provide higher quality books and with extra goodies and sign all the books for example. And that's really the heart of the mindset shift you need to have and how you should frame thinking about a direct store. Why should a reader bother coming to you when they can get next day shipping for free on Amazon? Can you answer that before you set up your store? For me this looks like three promises: Every book that leaves the warehouse is handsigned by me (I do this in batches and sign for 4-5 hours and get several thousand books signed in one go so it doesn't disturb writing time.) They get extra bonuses for ordering directly like stickers, bookmarks and character art. Last, if they preorder a book in any format I have for sale on the website, it will get shipped BEFORE the public release date. We aim for delivery a couple of weeks prior but it depends on print runs and me hitting deadlines. Things to consider before leaving POD direct and moving to self fulfillment: Where are you going to stock your books? Do you have local warehousing facilities or somewhere you own you can use? Stock requires more space than you think. Because it's not just books you need space for, it's packaging, and space for parcels before collection and space for a computer and printer etc. What is your cash flow like? Do you have the capital that you can risk losing to spend on investing in this? Thanks to great advice from one of my closest author pals, I didn't buy shipping containers for conversion to put on family land which was a circa 40k investment. Instead I rented a warehouse so that I was only risking the cost of one year's rent circa 9k and I'd also be able to up and leave and close everything down if it went wrong. What's your problem solving resiliency like? Solving problems, if it's not your bag, is relentlessly exhausting. Problems arise in all areas of this business, from shipping to label printing to packaging to import and export paperwork, to sourcing products, VAT, pricing, website, delivery issues. Etc. The list is long. Honestly? There's rarely a day without some kind of issue that needs resolving. How does that make you feel? Excited or horrified? Pay attention to those emotions. The only business you should be building is one that brings you joy. Last, is the reality that if you want to fulfill direct yourself you *will* need staff—if you want to continue to write that is. If you think about it, POD direct staff your website for you. They have teams packing the boxes, printing labels and shipping everything for you. So no matter which way you cut it, whether it's you organising staff or your printers, someone has to do the leg work. Mindset shifts eCommerce Yes I'm an author, but running your own fulfillment from website sales means you also run an eCommerce business. And over and above that, I now run a physical product business because we have merchandise. Those combined make for a very, very different business structure and set of problems compared to the old school models of being an indie author. Traffic Direction First of all and most basic of all. I direct all traffic to my website without exception. My primary links on social media are my website. If people ask where they can buy my books, it's my website. If they say they can't then I'll direct them online to a more well known store. Schedules are a bitch. When you're writing in a solo business and uploading your books online, your schedule is essentially your own. When you then bring on a team, they are reliant on you delivering on time to make sure they can do their job. How does that make you feel? Knowing you *have* to deliver for someone else? For a long time I really hated being beholden to deadlines—probably a corporate spill over. But being responsible for a team and needing to deliver for them is very different. I adore my team, I love them and care about them and I *want* to deliver on time for them. This is a total re-framing for me. It's the right kind of pressure and responsibility attached to a deadline. Does that mean my creativity needs to show up on time? Sure, but I find this motivating because it's the right people around me. However, the first book post warehouse opening, we were all still learning and mistakes were made. I delivered one book late. That pushed everything and made a lot of the timelines difficult including getting the printed books delivered on time. For Architecti there were two main problems: a solid 20% of the order arrived damaged by rain. But we'd already sold almost all the initial print run so we couldn't spare 20% and thus didn't have enough stock to cover our preorders. So this caused a lot of anxiety. Under ordering stock is a terrifying prospect. As is over ordering because do you have enough space for it and what if you then don't sell it? The second mistake was releasing a book without checking the diaries of the warehouse team who happened to be on holiday during the fulfillment process. Which in a bout of shit timing, my mum then got sick in the crucial week. Meaning I had to stop writing and fulfill 1000 preorders single handedly. It was grueling physically, mentally and emotionally doing it on my own. We're never having that cluster fuck again. So we've produced a heat map style document with everyone's leave, delivery dates, deadlines for me, product ordering dates, prepping dates and fulfillment periods etc. This was an enormous lesson in logistics of both a warehouse and people. Exclusivity Kindle Unlimited works for a reason. It has books exclusive to Amazon, you literally cannot get them anywhere else. Meaning you're forced to get them there. If that worked for Amazon, you can bet you're arse it works for others. So I stole the idea. I have four novellas /short stories that I publish exclusively on my website. Does that mean a huge risk for loss of visibility and potential sales? Absolutely. No rank, no visibility in the biggest algorithm machine in the world. But it is also one of the key sales tactics I've used to get readers over to me. And boy has it worked. I make sure it's content I know they'll want, I flash the extra books on my reels and videos and then the questions flood in — how do I get those books… Well I'll tell you…! Preorders Preorders are both a gift and a logistical nightmare. How to get them? We ran an enormous campaign for Architecti. Ending up with 1027 paperbacks, 323 hardbacks and 193 ebooks. For a total 1543 preorders on my website. Plus over 1000 ebooks on Amazon. So the total preorders were in excess of 2500 preorders. Firstly you have to ask why should readers preorder direct to you? As mentioned earlier we make three promises: Everything is signed They get extras and goodies including a Roe-Mantics popsocket, series sticker and bookmark and an art print. As well as a Ruby Roe reading tracking and reading order and some stickers. They get the books delivered early (ebook and physical) We promoted the shit out of these three facts and I do believe this is the reason we did so well. That, plus almost two years of pushing direct sales and building reader trust. I won't go into all the marketing we did as this is a podcast about the warehouse. But we pushed HARD. We made a couple of mistakes: We didn't order enough books. We ordered 1000 paperbacks and ended up having to do a second print run because we sold over 1000 and obviously knew we needed stock on hand for general sales — a good problem to have obviously. But if we had ordered a higher quantity from the start we would have had a better price per book and saved ourselves some money and increased profit. That's a tough lesson to learn as we're always having to balance cashflow. The second mistake was packaging. We pride ourselves on making sure the books arrive in pristine condition. The consequence of that is how long it takes to package. The primary damage a book can fall prey to is the rain, or being dropped. We were individually wrapping each book in foam or bubble wrap before putting them inside bookwraps with the goodies to ship. This took me almost two weeks to do for circa a thousand parcels. I spoke to my warehouse neighbour who is a book box subscription company and discovered that they ship 1000 parcels in a couple of days because they uses origami boxes with packing peanuts and a plastic exterior envelope bag for water protection. This results in them working at a significantly faster rate than us. And has led us to get boxes designed and we're in the process of ordering 10k boxes. Customer Communication Customer communication has been an absolute maelstrom. The more products we create, the more complex everything gets. Becca used to be primarily a scheduler for me. Now, she's moved to be a customer services manager. Major issues include: when they preorder a book and put a published book into the same order. This is a means we have to email them to let them know they have two options: either we refund and they order separately or they wait for both their books. This is a huge problem as there are a number of preorders live at any one time and thus a ton of customer communication needed. It has gotten better as we have educated our repeat customers, put messages and labels on the site. But it is an ever present problem. We have decided to commission a coder to write some code for shopify so that we can charge two lots of shipping and split ship. We've also had so many communications about the tariffs. This has been so difficult because we are not the ones charging but we are the first point of call. It is in large part due to the team being incredible that we got through this. Last, I still receive an email for every single order. So I do one additional thing. I make a point to keep an eye on when someone has ordered multiple times in short succession and then send them to the team to refund duplicate postage. Protecting Writing Time This is so vital. And has been the hardest part of having a warehouse. I definitely feel like I lost 6 months of writing time. It's the reason I barely managed to get Architecti done, and the reason I didn't meet my primary goal of getting ahead of production this year. Staffing means interruptions. But more than that, having the discipline to put my phone on do not disturb or muting team chats while I write. Now that we're up to speed, refining processes and we have SOPs in place, I am finding it easier and easier to not go to the warehouse. We also stopped having the smaller deliveries sent to my house and instead they're going to my team's houses or direct to the warehouse. Regulations and Tariffs With a physical product business there are so many more regulations and acronyms and pieces of law that you have to deal with. The level of bureaucracy is quite astonishing and has caused a number of headaches. These headaches are not the type of headaches that most authors would want to deal with. You have to choose the poison you want to drink and I genuinely recognise that 99% of authors would not want this headache. The other matter here is that the regulations have required a colossal amount of time spent on them. More time than we anticipated. Something new is always being thrown at us and usually things that we do not have knowledge on. So we're constantly in a state of adapting and learning. This is both wonderful and also a little gruelling. As there's not many people doing this we don't have many options for checking we're on the right path, so having to trust ourselves that we've done the best we can with the knowledge we have. And also recognise that it's okay to not know everything. Logistics There's been a lot of logistic lessons learned too. Firstly, that shipping providers are a nightmare. They're massive organisations and that means corporate bureaucracy. Lots of being passed between departments and having to wait for responses. You're probably going to need additional app integrations some of which will cost. Just pay for the apps because it will make your life simpler. We have a DPD integration app that makes handling and managing preorders and labels considerably easier. Batch as much as you can: like signing books, preparing freebie packets, cutting foam and pre-building boxes. Batch packaging, in particular for preorders. For example, all the UK paperbacks then all the UK hardbacks etc. It's easier to do the same thing over and over and then task switch than it is to do it higgledy piggledy. Timelines Understanding the timelines for launches has been quite the challenge. When you're a solo indie you are in charge of your own time. When you have a team, and other people do parts of the publishing process, you're no longer working on your own schedule. Combined with the fact that a huge percentage of my turnover comes from physical book sales. This means we have to do print runs. Instead of loading up to KDP or the POD services and knowing it will be live the next day or a few days later after a proof copy. Print runs take a couple of days to finalise the files (up to several months for international printers) and then 2-3 weeks to print and deliver to the warehouse for UK printers, and several weeks to months for international. We then have to unpack them and check the quality and then I have to sign them. I am pretty fast at signing now and choose to sign in long batches 4-5 hours at a time and usually manage 1-2000 books in that time. The other timelines that need to be considered are how long things take to pack. But I've already talked about that. But it is something that needs to be considered when planning preorder fulfillment. The more preorders we get, the more significant the time it takes, that or we need more people to help pack. The Money This is the bit everyone is interested. All costs are in GBP. Set up costs for the warehouse were approximately £4-5000. This included the deposit, racking, furniture etc. In total, I've spent 100k on printing this year. However a significant portion of that was on the Kickstarter. So I don't count that in the costs for the warehouse. Those sit at £61,171. We are still holding a huge amount of stock in the warehouse so this spend should start to even out. In December 2023 I started the shop around 10th December, I made just shy of £1700 which I think was mostly due to the viral TikToks. In the month of May 2024 I broke £5000. November 2024 I broke 10k for the first time and in December 2024 I broke 15k. That was the month I knew I needed to take advantage of what I was building. I knew I wanted to do more for readers who were clearly willing to buy direct. In 2024, the website turned over £73.5k. I collected keys for the warehouse of January 31st. It took a couple of weeks to set the warehouse up and then we had print runs delivered around the 17th and started shipping on Feb 20th 2025. That was a £16k month, and the first time my Shopify sales beat my Amazon, only by a couple hundred pounds, but it still beat it. It wasn't lost on me that it was the first month I had taken control of distribution. April eclipsed Amazon at 29k and I've stayed between 15 and 29k a month since — Finally in November 2025, I surpassed 30k. As of 21st November we're standing at 222k for the year. I suspect we will end up with turnover somewhere between 230 and 250k for 2025. Creating definitive turnover and net profit calculations are difficult. What I can tell you is that between the warehouse, staff for the warehouse, utilities and insurances I spend approximately 18-1900 a month (21-23k per year). Shipping varies between 500 and 1500 a week on average but on preorder weeks it can spike to 8k. The highest month for shipping was 11k. I suspect for the year it will be roughly 45-55k. So for print costs, staffing, rent and shipping the total is approximately £133,971. I estimate 4-7k on other costs like packaging and freebies. So let's estimate £140k spend for £222k turnover. So I estimate approximately £82,000 in profit - to which I'll then have to pay tax. That's a 36% profit. Not as high as I'd like, but also it's year one and spend is always higher in year one because of set up. I expect that as we move into year two that will grow and my aim is to reach 45% but the ultimate goal will be 50% I'm not sure if this is possible but we will try. We have a lot of stock that we can sell without having to spend out anymore. In terms of granular costs to give you an idea of profit on the detail level: The cost of each book is loosely £2.20 per paperback for which we charge £10.99 on average. We allow for £1 of that to cover packaging and freebies. Meaning £3.20 of costs. Though this doesn't include a % for warehouse overheads. I don't have any advertising costs. I have bought all customers in from my mailing list, TikTok and Instagram. On average my returning customer rate is 35%. However, in months where I set up a new product preorder, that rate shoots up. For November 2025 it's 56%. Similarly, my average conversion rate is 5.83% conversion rate. What's interesting is that in those early months my conversion rate was 3.18%. This month it's 8.53%. I think this increase is twofold. First, I have a high returning customer rate, this automatically increases the conversion rate as your customers want what you're providing. Second, I think my marketing has gotten better and better. We're providing more books, stories and products that my audience wants and we're also getting better at marketing to market. Cash Flow One of the best things I did was create multiple pots and accounts. For a long time I'd lived under the assumption you could only have one business bank account. That was bad advice from an accountant. I have since left them and now have an excellent accountant. I've also had lots of advice from a dear friend who knows far more about money and systems than me. Cash flow can either sky rocket or cripple a business. And when you run a physical business the numbers you run with are so much higher that you can easily crush your company. One of my favourite tactics is to create mini pots and split money up. For every preorder we run I create a pot in my bank, like a mini bank and every week I put the amount earned for that preorder product into the pot. If the product requires a print run, I pay for it out of that pot. If we have to buy wholesale merch, I take it from that pot etc. I also set aside money for tax each month. I move both personal tax money and corporation tax money and set it aside in a high interest savings account. The biggest outflows for running a distribution warehouse are staffing, warehouse rent, shipping and print runs. For Architecti specifically, we had to do two print runs because we under ordered books. Meaning I had to outflow huge amounts of money twice. The print runs totalled £11,630. Plus 11,000 in shipping fees for that month. If I didn't have the money set aside for this, it could easily have pushed me into debt. One of the main things I did to help prevent cashflow issues, is have dozens of pots inside my bank accounts. Every week the team calculates the income for orders and shipping for each product we have on preorder (there are always usually 2 to 3) and then I transfer that money to individual pots. Meaning I save all the money from preorders right up until launch. I then take the money for the print runs from this pot and for the shipping. What's left is the profit which is taxable so I move the tax money into my tax pot and then keep the rest. This is the safest way I've found for managing cashflow and ensuring I don't spend money that needs to be saved for specific things. I also have an entirely separate account for my shopify. So all print runs are paid for out of the shopify account. All shipping payments go out of that account. All printing for freebies etc comes from that account. It becomes totally self managing and over time it increases. Then if I want to take out chunks of profit, I do and keep the account at 20k. This is the equivalent of the average monthly turnover for the shopify. So should cover all bills or worst case scenarios. I also have a tax pot where I move money each month. My accountants have a report that generates each month and estimates my tax. I then place my tax in a high interest account and leave it to earn some money before I have to pay it. Next Steps Business infrastructure. I recently visited Author Nation – the Las Vegas conference that was once 20books. There are so many areas for growth and improvement and I realised that I have essentially brut forced my way to the position I'm in. Upsell app Integration with better email upsell marketing system Possibly advertising Branded packaging
On the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Joe Solari sits down with ALLi Director Orna Ross for a candid debrief from Author Nation, where they talk about the energy of the conference, what it means for indie authors, and where the industry is headed. They cover everything from the value of in-person community to the rise of AI, new advertising opportunities, and the growing range of publishing paths available to authors. Orna reflects on meeting members face to face, the professionalism of the event, and what she sees as the key trends shaping author careers in the coming year. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of 2,000+ blog posts, and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. We invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. About the Host Joe Solari assists authors in developing successful businesses as the managing partner of Author Ventures LLC. In his role as a business manager, he supports his private clients, who collectively achieved gross royalties of twenty-two million in 2023, with an average pre-tax profit of 44%. This remarkable success results from implementing disciplined business strategies and maintaining an unwavering dedication to enhancing the customer experience.
How can you write science-based fiction without info-dumping your research? How can you use AI tools in a creative way, while still focusing on a human-first approach? Why is adapting to the fast pace of change so difficult and how can we make the most of this time? Jamie Metzl talks about Superconvergence and more. In the intro, How to avoid author scams [Written Word Media]; Spotify vs Audible audiobook strategy [The New Publishing Standard]; Thoughts on Author Nation and why constraints are important in your author life [Self-Publishing with ALLi]; Alchemical History And Beautiful Architecture: Prague with Lisa M Lilly on my Books and Travel Podcast. Today's show is sponsored by Draft2Digital, self-publishing with support, where you can get free formatting, free distribution to multiple stores, and a host of other benefits. Just go to www.draft2digital.com to get started. This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Jamie Metzl is a technology futurist, professional speaker, entrepreneur, and the author of sci-fi thrillers and futurist nonfiction books, including the revised and updated edition of Superconvergence: How the Genetics, Biotech, and AI Revolutions Will Transform Our Lives, Work, and World. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. Show Notes How personal history shaped Jamie's fiction writing Writing science-based fiction without info-dumping The super convergence of three revolutions (genetics, biotech, AI) and why we need to understand them holistically Using fiction to explore the human side of genetic engineering, life extension, and robotics Collaborating with GPT-5 as a named co-author How to be a first-rate human rather than a second-rate machine You can find Jamie at JamieMetzl.com. Transcript of interview with Jamie Metzl Jo: Jamie Metzl is a technology futurist, professional speaker, entrepreneur, and the author of sci-fi thrillers and futurist nonfiction books, including the revised and updated edition of Superconvergence: How the Genetics, Biotech, and AI Revolutions Will Transform Our Lives, Work, and World. So welcome, Jamie. Jamie: Thank you so much, Jo. Very happy to be here with you. Jo: There is so much we could talk about, but let's start with you telling us a bit more about you and how you got into writing. From History PhD to First Novel Jamie: Well, I think like a lot of writers, I didn't know I was a writer. I was just a kid who loved writing. Actually, just last week I was going through a bunch of boxes from my parents' house and I found my autobiography, which I wrote when I was nine years old. So I've been writing my whole life and loving it. It was always something that was very important to me. When I finished my DPhil, my PhD at Oxford, and my dissertation came out, it just got scooped up by Macmillan in like two minutes. And I thought, “God, that was easy.” That got me started thinking about writing books. I wanted to write a novel based on the same historical period – my PhD was in Southeast Asian history – and I wanted to write a historical novel set in the same period as my dissertation, because I felt like the dissertation had missed the human element of the story I was telling, which was related to the Cambodian genocide and its aftermath. So I wrote what became my first novel, and I thought, “Wow, now I'm a writer.” I thought, “All right, I've already published one book. I'm gonna get this other book out into the world.” And then I ran into the brick wall of: it's really hard to be a writer. It's almost easier to write something than to get it published. I had to learn a ton, and it took nine years from when I started writing that first novel, The Depths of the Sea, to when it finally came out. But it was such a positive experience, especially to have something so personal to me as that story. I'd lived in Cambodia for two years, I'd worked on the Thai-Cambodian border, and I'm the child of a Holocaust survivor. So there was a whole lot that was very emotional for me. That set a pattern for the rest of my life as a writer, at least where, in my nonfiction books, I'm thinking about whatever the issues are that are most important to me. Whether it was that historical book, which was my first book, or Hacking Darwin on the future of human genetic engineering, which was my last book, or Superconvergence, which, as you mentioned in the intro, is my current book. But in every one of those stories, the human element is so deep and so profound. You can get at some of that in nonfiction, but I've also loved exploring those issues in deeper ways in my fiction. So in my more recent novels, Genesis Code and Eternal Sonata, I've looked at the human side of the story of genetic engineering and human life extension. And now my agent has just submitted my new novel, Virtuoso, about the intersection of AI, robotics, and classical music. With all of this, who knows what's the real difference between fiction and nonfiction? We're all humans trying to figure things out on many different levels. Shifting from History to Future Tech Jo: I knew that you were a polymath, someone who's interested in so many things, but the music angle with robotics and AI is fascinating. I do just want to ask you, because I was also at Oxford – what college were you at? Jamie: I was in St. Antony's. Jo: I was at Mansfield, so we were in that slightly smaller, less famous college group, if people don't know. Jamie: You know, but we're small but proud. Jo: Exactly. That's fantastic. You mentioned that you were on the historical side of things at the beginning and now you've moved into technology and also science, because this book Superconvergence has a lot of science. So how did you go from history and the past into science and the future? Biology and Seeing the Future Coming Jamie: It's a great question. I'll start at the end and then back up. A few years ago I was speaking at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which is one of the big scientific labs here in the United States. I was a guest of the director and I was speaking to their 300 top scientists. I said to them, “I'm here to speak with you about the future of biology at the invitation of your director, and I'm really excited. But if you hear something wrong, please raise your hand and let me know, because I'm entirely self-taught. The last biology course I took was in 11th grade of high school in Kansas City.” Of course I wouldn't say that if I didn't have a lot of confidence in my process. But in many ways I'm self-taught in the sciences. As you know, Jo, and as all of your listeners know, the foundation of everything is curiosity and then a disciplined process for learning. Even our greatest super-specialists in the world now – whatever their background – the world is changing so fast that if anyone says, “Oh, I have a PhD in physics/chemistry/biology from 30 years ago,” the exact topic they learned 30 years ago is less significant than their process for continuous learning. More specifically, in the 1990s I was working on the National Security Council for President Clinton, which is the president's foreign policy staff. My then boss and now close friend, Richard Clarke – who became famous as the guy who had tragically predicted 9/11 – used to say that the key to efficacy in Washington and in life is to try to solve problems that other people can't see. For me, almost 30 years ago, I felt to my bones that this intersection of what we now call AI and the nascent genetics revolution and the nascent biotechnology revolution was going to have profound implications for humanity. So I just started obsessively educating myself. When I was ready, I started writing obscure national security articles. Those got a decent amount of attention, so I was invited to testify before the United States Congress. I was speaking out a lot, saying, “Hey, this is a really important story. A lot of people are missing it. Here are the things we should be thinking about for the future.” I wasn't getting the kind of traction that I wanted. I mentioned before that my first book had been this dry Oxford PhD dissertation, and that had led to my first novel. So I thought, why don't I try the same approach again – writing novels to tell this story about the genetics, biotech, and what later became known popularly as the AI revolution? That led to my two near-term sci-fi novels, Genesis Code and Eternal Sonata. On my book tours for those novels, when I explained the underlying science to people in my way, as someone who taught myself, I could see in their eyes that they were recognizing not just that something big was happening, but that they could understand it and feel like they were part of that story. That's what led me to write Hacking Darwin, as I mentioned. That book really unlocked a lot of things. I had essentially predicted the CRISPR babies that were born in China before it happened – down to the specific gene I thought would be targeted, which in fact was the case. After that book was published, Dr. Tedros, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, invited me to join the WHO Expert Advisory Committee on Human Genome Editing, which I did. It was a really great experience and got me thinking a lot about the upside of this revolution and the downside. The Birth of Superconvergence Jamie: I get a lot of wonderful invitations to speak, and I have two basic rules for speaking: Never use notes. Never ever. Never stand behind a podium. Never ever. Because of that, when I speak, my talks tend to migrate. I'd be speaking with people about the genetics revolution as it applied to humans, and I'd say, “Well, this is just a little piece of a much bigger story.” The bigger story is that after nearly four billion years of life on Earth, our one species has the increasing ability to engineer novel intelligence and re-engineer life. The big question for us, and frankly for the world, is whether we're going to be able to use that almost godlike superpower wisely. As that idea got bigger and bigger, it became this inevitable force. You write so many books, Jo, that I think it's second nature for you. Every time I finish a book, I think, “Wow, that was really hard. I'm never doing that again.” And then the books creep up on you. They call to you. At some point you say, “All right, now I'm going to do it.” So that was my current book, Superconvergence. Like everything, every journey you take a step, and that step inspires another step and another. That's why writing and living creatively is such a wonderfully exciting thing – there's always more to learn and always great opportunities to push ourselves in new ways. Balancing Deep Research with Good Storytelling Jo: Yeah, absolutely. I love that you've followed your curiosity and then done this disciplined process for learning. I completely understand that. But one of the big issues with people like us who love the research – and having read your Superconvergence, I know how deeply you go into this and how deeply you care that it's correct – is that with fiction, one of the big problems with too much research is the danger of brain-dumping. Readers go to fiction for escapism. They want the interesting side of it, but they want a story first. What are your tips for authors who might feel like, “Where's the line between putting in my research so that it's interesting for readers, but not going too far and turning it into a textbook?” How do you find that balance? Jamie: It's such a great question. I live in New York now, but I used to live in Washington when I was working for the U.S. government, and there were a number of people I served with who later wrote novels. Some of those novels felt like policy memos with a few sex scenes – and that's not what to do. To write something that's informed by science or really by anything, everything needs to be subservient to the story and the characters. The question is: what is the essential piece of information that can convey something that's both important to your story and your character development, and is also an accurate representation of the world as you want it to be? I certainly write novels that are set in the future – although some of them were a future that's now already happened because I wrote them a long time ago. You can make stuff up, but as an author you have to decide what your connection to existing science and existing technology and the existing world is going to be. I come at it from two angles. One: I read a huge number of scientific papers and think, “What does this mean for now, and if you extrapolate into the future, where might that go?” Two: I think about how to condense things. We've all read books where you're humming along because people read fiction for story and emotional connection, and then you hit a bit like: “I sat down in front of the president, and the president said, ‘Tell me what I need to know about the nuclear threat.'” And then it's like: insert memo. That's a deal-killer. It's like all things – how do you have a meaningful relationship with another person? It's not by just telling them your story. Even when you're telling them something about you, you need to be imagining yourself sitting in their shoes, hearing you. These are very different disciplines, fiction and nonfiction. But for the speculative nonfiction I write – “here's where things are now, and here's where the world is heading” – there's a lot of imagination that goes into that too. It feels in many ways like we're living in a sci-fi world because the rate of technological change has been accelerating continuously, certainly for the last 12,000 years since the dawn of agriculture. It's a balance. For me, I feel like I'm a better fiction writer because I write nonfiction, and I'm a better nonfiction writer because I write fiction. When I'm writing nonfiction, I don't want it to be boring either – I want people to feel like there's a story and characters and that they can feel themselves inside that story. Jo: Yeah, definitely. I think having some distance helps as well. If you're really deep into your topics, as you are, you have to leave that manuscript a little bit so you can go back with the eyes of the reader as opposed to your eyes as the expert. Then you can get their experience, which is great. Looking Beyond Author-Focused AI Fears Jo: I want to come to your technical knowledge, because AI is a big thing in the author and creative community, like everywhere else. One of the issues is that creators are focusing on just this tiny part of the impact of AI, and there's a much bigger picture. For example, in 2024, Demis Hassabis from Google DeepMind and his collaborative partner John Jumper won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry with AlphaFold. It feels to me like there's this massive world of what's happening with AI in health, climate, and other areas, and yet we are so focused on a lot of the negative stuff. Maybe you could give us a couple of things about what there is to be excited and optimistic about in terms of AI-powered science? Jamie: Sure. I'm so excited about all of the new opportunities that AI creates. But I also think there's a reason why evolution has preserved this very human feeling of anxiety: because there are real dangers. Anybody who's Pollyanna-ish and says, “Oh, the AI story is inevitably positive,” I'd be distrustful. And anyone who says, “We're absolutely doomed, this is the end of humanity,” I'd also be distrustful. So let me tell you the positives and the negatives, and maybe some thoughts about how we navigate toward the former and away from the latter. AI as the New Electricity Jamie: When people think of AI right now, they're thinking very narrowly about these AI tools and ChatGPT. But we don't think of electricity that way. Nobody says, “I know electricity – electricity is what happens at the power station.” We've internalised the idea that electricity is woven into not just our communication systems or our houses, but into our clothes, our glasses – it's woven into everything and has super-empowered almost everything in our modern lives. That's what AI is. In Superconvergence, the majority of the book is about positive opportunities: In healthcare, moving from generalised healthcare based on population averages to personalised or precision healthcare based on a molecular understanding of each person's individual biology. As we build these massive datasets like the UK Biobank, we can take a next jump toward predictive and preventive healthcare, where we're able to address health issues far earlier in the process, when interventions can be far more benign. I'm really excited about that, not to mention the incredible new kinds of treatments – gene therapies, or pharmaceuticals based on genetics and systems-biology analyses of patients. Then there's agriculture. Over the last hundred years, because of the technologies of the Green Revolution and synthetic fertilisers, we've had an incredible increase in agricultural productivity. That's what's allowed us to quadruple the global population. But if we just continue agriculture as it is, as we get towards ten billion wealthier, more empowered people wanting to eat like we eat, we're going to have to wipe out all the wild spaces on Earth to feed them. These technologies help provide different paths toward increasing agricultural productivity with fewer inputs of land, water, fertiliser, insecticides, and pesticides. That's really positive. I could go on and on about these positives – and I do – but there are very real negatives. I was a member of the WHO Expert Advisory Committee on Human Genome Editing after the first CRISPR babies were very unethically created in China. I'm extremely aware that these same capabilities have potentially incredible upsides and very real downsides. That's the same as every technology in the past, but this is happening so quickly that it's triggering a lot of anxieties. Governance, Responsibility, and Why Everyone Has a Role Jamie: The question now is: how do we optimise the benefits and minimise the harms? The short, unsexy word for that is governance. Governance is not just what governments do; it's what all of us do. That's why I try to write books, both fiction and nonfiction, to bring people into this story. If people “other” this story – if they say, “There's a technology revolution, it has nothing to do with me, I'm going to keep my head down” – I think that's dangerous. The way we're going to handle this as responsibly as possible is if everybody says, “I have some role. Maybe it's small, maybe it's big. The first step is I need to educate myself. Then I need to have conversations with people around me. I need to express my desires, wishes, and thoughts – with political leaders, organisations I'm part of, businesses.” That has to happen at every level. You're in the UK – you know the anti-slavery movement started with a handful of people in Cambridge and grew into a global movement. I really believe in the power of ideas, but ideas don't spread on their own. These are very human networks, and that's why writing, speaking, communicating – probably for every single person listening to this podcast – is so important. Jo: Mm, yeah. Fiction Like AI 2041 and Thinking Through the Issues Jo: Have you read AI 2041 by Kai-Fu Lee and Chen Qiufan? Jamie: No. I heard a bunch of their interviews when the book came out, but I haven't read it. Jo: I think that's another good one because it's fiction – a whole load of short stories. It came out a few years ago now, but the issues they cover in the stories, about different people in different countries – I remember one about deepfakes – make you think more about the topics and help you figure out where you stand. I think that's the issue right now: it's so complex, there are so many things. I'm generally positive about AI, but of course I don't want autonomous drone weapons, you know? The Messy Reality of “Bad” Technologies Jamie: Can I ask you about that? Because this is why it's so complicated. Like you, I think nobody wants autonomous killer drones anywhere in the world. But if you right now were the defence minister of Ukraine, and your children are being kidnapped, your country is being destroyed, you're fighting for your survival, you're getting attacked every night – and you're getting attacked by the Russians, who are investing more and more in autonomous killer robots – you kind of have two choices. You can say, “I'm going to surrender,” or, “I'm going to use what technology I have available to defend myself, and hopefully fight to either victory or some kind of stand-off.” That's what our societies did with nuclear weapons. Maybe not every American recognises that Churchill gave Britain's nuclear secrets to America as a way of greasing the wheels of the Anglo-American alliance during the Second World War – but that was our programme: we couldn't afford to lose that war, and we couldn't afford to let the Nazis get nuclear weapons before we did. So there's the abstract feeling of, “I'm against all war in the abstract. I'm against autonomous killer robots in the abstract.” But if I were the defence minister of Ukraine, I would say, “What will it take for us to build the weapons we can use to defend ourselves?” That's why all this stuff gets so complicated. And frankly, it's why the relationship between fiction and nonfiction is so important. If every novel had a situation where every character said, “Oh, I know exactly the right answer,” and then they just did the right answer and it was obviously right, it wouldn't make for great fiction. We're dealing with really complex humans. We have conflicting impulses. We're not perfect. Maybe there are no perfect answers – but how do we strive toward better rather than worse? That's the question. Jo: Absolutely. I don't want to get too political on things. How AI Is Changing the Writing Life Jo: Let's come back to authors. In terms of the creative process, the writing process, the research process, and the business of being an author – what are some of the ways that you already use AI tools, and some of the ways, given your futurist brain, that you think things are going to change for us? Jamie: Great question. I'll start with a little middle piece. I found you, Jo, through GPT-5. I asked ChatGPT, “I'm coming out with this book and I want to connect with podcasters who are a little different from the ones I've done in the past. I've been a guest on Joe Rogan twice and some of the bigger podcasts. Make me a list of really interesting people I can have great conversations with.” That's how I found you. So this is one reward of that process. Let me say that in the last year I've worked on three books, and I'll explain how my relationship with AI has changed over those books. Cleaning Up Citations (and Getting Burned) Jamie: First is the highly revised paperback edition of Superconvergence. When the hardback came out, I had – I don't normally work with research assistants because I like to dig into everything myself – but the one thing I do use a research assistant for is that I can't be bothered, when I'm writing something, to do the full Chicago-style footnote if I'm already referencing an academic paper. So I'd just put the URL as the footnote and then hire a research assistant and say, “Go to this URL and change it into a Chicago-style citation. That's it.” Unfortunately, my research assistant on the hardback used early-days ChatGPT for that work. He did the whole thing, came back, everything looked perfect. I said, “Wow, amazing job.” It was only later, as I was going through them, that I realised something like 50% of them were invented footnotes. It was very painful to go back and fix, and it took ten times more time. With the paperback edition, I didn't use AI that much, but I did say things like, “Here's all the information – generate a Chicago-style citation.” That was better. I noticed there were a few things where I stopped using the thesaurus function on Microsoft Word because I'd just put the whole paragraph into the AI and say, “Give me ten other options for this one word,” and it would be like a contextual thesaurus. That was pretty good. Talking to a Robot Pianist Character Jamie: Then, for my new novel Virtuoso, I was writing a character who is a futurist robot that plays the piano very beautifully – not just humanly, but almost finding new things in the music we've written and composing music that resonates with us. I described the actions of that robot in the novel, but I didn't describe the inner workings of the robot's mind. In thinking about that character, I realised I was the first science-fiction writer in history who could interrogate a machine about what it was “thinking” in a particular context. I had the most beautiful conversations with ChatGPT, where I would give scenarios and ask, “What are you thinking? What are you feeling in this context?” It was all background for that character, but it was truly profound. Co-Authoring The AI Ten Commandments with GPT-5 Jamie: Third, I have another book coming out in May in the United States. I gave a talk this summer at the Chautauqua Institution in upstate New York about AI and spirituality. I talked about the history of our human relationship with our technology, about how all our religious and spiritual traditions have deep technological underpinnings – certainly our Abrahamic religions are deeply connected to farming, and Protestantism to the printing press. Then I had a section about the role of AI in generating moral codes that would resonate with humans. Everybody went nuts for this talk, and I thought, “I think I'm going to write a book.” I decided to write it differently, with GPT-5 as my named co-author. The first thing I did was outline the entire book based on the talk, which I'd already spent a huge amount of time thinking about and organising. Then I did a full outline of the arguments and structures. Then I trained GPT-5 on my writing style. The way I did it – which I fully describe in the introduction to the book – was that I'd handle all the framing: the full introduction, the argument, the structure. But if there was a section where, for a few paragraphs, I was summarising a huge field of data, even something I knew well, I'd give GPT-5 the intro sentence and say, “In my writing style, prepare four paragraphs on this.” For example, I might write: “AI has the potential to see us humans like we humans see ant colonies.” Then I'd say, “Give me four paragraphs on the relationship between the individual and the collective in ant colonies.” I could have written those four paragraphs myself, but it would've taken a month to read the life's work of E.O. Wilson and then write them. GPT-5 wrote them in seconds or minutes, in its thinking mode. I'd then say, “It's not quite right – change this, change that,” and we'd go back and forth three or four times. Then I'd edit the whole thing and put it into the text. So this book that I could have written on my own in a year, I wrote a first draft of with GPT-5 as my named co-author in two days. The whole project will take about six months from start to finish, and I'm having massive human editing – multiple edits from me, plus a professional editor. It's not a magic AI button. But I feel strongly about listing GPT-5 as a co-author because I've written it differently than previous books. I'm a huge believer in the old-fashioned lone author struggling and suffering – that's in my novels, and in Virtuoso I explore that. But other forms are going to emerge, just like video games are a creative, artistic form deeply connected to technology. The novel hasn't been around forever – the current format is only a few centuries old – and forms are always changing. There are real opportunities for authors, and there will be so much crap flooding the market because everybody can write something and put it up on Amazon. But I think there will be a very special place for thoughtful human authors who have an idea of what humans do at our best, and who translate that into content other humans can enjoy. Traditional vs Indie: Why This Book Will Be Self-Published Jo: I'm interested – you mentioned that it's your named co-author. Is this book going through a traditional publisher, and what do they think about that? Or are you going to publish it yourself? Jamie: It's such a smart question. What I found quickly is that when you get to be an author later in your career, you have all the infrastructure – a track record, a fantastic agent, all of that. But there were two things that were really important to me here: I wanted to get this book out really fast – six months instead of a year and a half. It was essential to me to have GPT-5 listed as my co-author, because if it were just my name, I feel like it would be dishonest. Readers who are used to reading my books – I didn't want to present something different than what it was. I spoke with my agent, who I absolutely love, and she said that for this particular project it was going to be really hard in traditional publishing. So I did a huge amount of research, because I'd never done anything in the self-publishing world before. I looked at different models. There was one hybrid model that's basically the same as traditional, but you pay for the things the publisher would normally pay for. I ended up not doing that. Instead, I decided on a self-publishing route where I disaggregated the publishing process. I found three teams: one for producing the book, one for getting the book out into the world, and a smaller one for the audiobook. I still believe in traditional publishing – there's a lot of wonderful human value-add. But some works just don't lend themselves to traditional publishing. For this book, which is called The AI Ten Commandments, that's the path I've chosen. Jo: And when's that out? I think people will be interested. Jamie: April 26th. Those of us used to traditional publishing think, “I've finished the book, sold the proposal, it'll be out any day now,” and then it can be a year and a half. It's frustrating. With this, the process can be much faster because it's possible to control more of the variables. But the key – as I was saying – is to make sure it's as good a book as everything else you've written. It's great to speed up, but you don't want to compromise on quality. The Coming Flood of Excellent AI-Generated Work Jo: Yeah, absolutely. We're almost out of time, but I want to come back to your “flood of crap” and the “AI slop” idea that's going around. Because you are working with GPT-5 – and I do as well, and I work with Claude and Gemini – and right now there are still issues. Like you said about referencing, there are still hallucinations, though fewer. But fast-forward two, five years: it's not a flood of crap. It's a flood of excellent. It's a flood of stuff that's better than us. Jamie: We're humans. It's better than us in certain ways. If you have farm machinery, it's better than us at certain aspects of farming. I'm a true humanist. I think there will be lots of things machines do better than us, but there will be tons of things we do better than them. There's a reason humans still care about chess, even though machines can beat humans at chess. Some people are saying things I fully disagree with, like this concept of AGI – artificial general intelligence – where machines do everything better than humans. I've summarised my position in seven letters: “AGI is BS.” The only way you can believe in AGI in that sense is if your concept of what a human is and what a human mind is is so narrow that you think it's just a narrow range of analytical skills. We are so much more than that. Humans represent almost four billion years of embodied evolution. There's so much about ourselves that we don't know. As incredible as these machines are and will become, there will always be wonderful things humans can do that are different from machines. What I always tell people is: whatever you're doing, don't be a second-rate machine. Be a first-rate human. If you're doing something and a machine is doing that thing much better than you, then shift to something where your unique capacities as a human give you the opportunity to do something better. So yes, I totally agree that the quality of AI-generated stuff will get better. But I think the most creative and successful humans will be the ones who say, “I recognise that this is creating new opportunities, and I'm going to insert my core humanity to do something magical and new.” People are “othering” these technologies, but the technologies themselves are magnificent human-generated artefacts. They're not alien UFOs that landed here. It's a scary moment for creatives, no doubt, because there are things all of us did in the past that machines can now do really well. But this is the moment where the most creative people ask themselves, “What does it mean for me to be a great human?” The pat answers won't apply. In my Virtuoso novel I explore that a lot. The idea that “machines don't do creativity” – they will do incredible creativity; it just won't be exactly human creativity. We will be potentially huge beneficiaries of these capabilities, but we really have to believe in and invest in the magic of our core humanity. Where to Find Jamie and His Books Jo: Brilliant. So where can people find you and your books online? Jamie: Thank you so much for asking. My website is jamiemetzl.com – and my books are available everywhere. Jo: Fantastic. Thanks so much for your time, Jamie. That was great. Jamie: Thank you, Joanna.The post Writing The Future, And Being More Human In An Age of AI With Jamie Metzl first appeared on The Creative Penn.
Veronica and Terry have returned from the "Author Nation" convention and have more than a few thoughts. Paul will heckle. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Discord: https://discord.gg/pgmQxaVbGP Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help keep the podcast free and receive exclusive content. More information at https://patreon.com/drspodcast and https://buymeacoffee.com/drspodcast. #writing #fiction #podcast #chat #live #novel #story #narrative #publishing #author #writer #discussion #podcast #talkshow
Orna Ross and Joanna Penn sit down for a candid, back-and-forth debrief on Author Nation and SelfPubCon 2025, and some of the bigger creative questions raised by the conferences. They unpack the benefits and challenges of physical versus online events, then broaden the conversation into creative courage and change. Discover Drew Davies's "kill two things" rule, why Orna pressed pause on her Go Creative! series, and how Joanna is stepping into a new season with her Masters in Death, Religion, and Culture. As ever, you'll enjoy honest reflection, practical takeaways, and permission to step boldly into your own next creative chapter. About the Hosts Joanna Penn writes nonfiction for authors and is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author as J.F.Penn. She's also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. Orna Ross launched the Alliance of Independent Authors at the London Book Fair in 2012. Her work for ALLi has seen her named as one of The Bookseller's "100 top people in publishing". She also publishes poetry, fiction, and nonfiction and is greatly excited by the democratizing, empowering potential of author-publishing. For more information about Orna, visit her website.
Amazon rolled out a new KDP feature that could change how authors reach global readers. This roundup walks through what happened and why it matters without spoiling anything. If you publish through KDP or go wide, you need to know what just launched. Stay sharp and stay informed. KDP: Introducing Kindle Translate in Beta - https://www.kdpcommunity.com/s/article/Introducing-Kindle-Translate-in-Beta-Translate-eBooks-into-multiple-languages?language=en_US KDP: Kindle Translate FAQs - https://www.kdpcommunity.com/s/question/0D5at00000VrSMkCAN/kindle-translate-faqs?language=en_US&topicId=0TOat0000001UnFGAU&count=3 Amazon: Simple tips to spot impersonation scams - https://www.amazon.com/b?node=206290002011&ref_=pe_158999060_1300845330 Draft2Digital – https://DaleLinks.com/D2D (referral link) Draft2Digital: Clean Up Your D2D Account with Merge Tools - https://authoremail.com/email/campaigns/mt7177wad57c8/ Draft2Digital Content Guidelines - https://draft2digital.com/content-guidelines/ IngramSpark – https://IngramSpark.com IngramSpark's Share & Sell Giveaway - https://www.ingramspark.com/share-sell-giveaway Bookvault – https://Bookvault.app Apple Books for Authors – https://authors.apple.com Spotify for Authors: Introducing Audiobook Recaps - https://authors.spotify.com/blog/recaps The Bottom Line (subscription required): A Deep Divide Emerges between AI Users and Nonusers – https://DaleLinks.com/TheBottomLine Spoken.Press – https://spoken.press Twin Flames Studios: The State of AI Audiobooks in 2025 - https://twinflamesstudios.com/the-state-of-ai-audiobooks-in-2025 Dibbly Create – https://DaleLinks.com/DibblyCreate (affiliate link) Dibbly Create: Book Layout Studio Webinar - https://dibbly.com/join-free-webinar/ Dibbly – https://DaleLinks.com/Dibbly (affiliate link) ProWritingAid: Novel November – https://DaleLinks.com/NovNov (affiliate link) ProWritingAid Black Friday Deal – https://DaleLinks.com/ProWritingAid (affiliate link) Book Award Pro – https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Get Authentic Book Reviews – https://GetAuthenticBookReviews.com DropCap Marketplace - https://dropcapmarketplace.com/pricing Behind the Scenes at Author Nation 2025 - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2121723/episodes/18169217 Author Nation 2025: My Honest Review - https://youtu.be/AmmElopRJJY?si=xG915vwoZ1hf_q-q Amazon Ads Insights with Dale L. Roberts - https://booklinker.mykajabi.com/AmazonAdsDale The First 2 YEARS Sucked! Self-Publishing Secrets with Dale L. Roberts - https://youtu.be/K8iSpCkV4C0?si=Yk1q8Z9MDpTeh5r5 Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts
In early November 2025, I attended and spoke at Author Nation in Las Vegas. It was a fantastic conference for authors at all levels, and in this episode, I share my lessons learned and tips from reflecting on the event. The post Lessons Learned From Author Nation 2025 With Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.
In this episode, Jeff sits down with authors Christine Daigle, Tom Hollbrook, and JP Rindfleisch IX to talk about their experience at Author Nation.
293 / Curious about how conferences can spark inspiration, build connections, and transform your author business? We recap our experiences at Author Nation, share some lessons learned, and highlight community connection possibilities.Panel insights: romance, rom-com, cozy, and moreDirect sales, Kickstarter, and translations for authorsNew tech for signed ebooks and social media marketing
Meet the Thriller Author: Interviews with Writers of Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense Books
Other Books by Daniel Pelfrey Show Notes & Transcript In this episode: Transcript The post MTTA 226: Daniel Pelfrey (Live from Author Nation) appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.
Mark interviews Becca Syme about her latest project, about the journey she has been on since she launched her first Dear Writer, You Need to Quit book, and the various fiction titles she has written. Prior to the interview, Mark explains that he is at Author Nation in Vegas and that his introduction and post interview reflection were generated by ElevenLabs. Then his digital voice clone from ElevenLabs shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and Becca talk about: How it has been an extremely long year since Becca was last on the Stark Reflections Podcast Becca's long-time aversion to marketing and how she has decided to approach it The Kickstarter that Becca has launched and the various prizes she is offering for each of the tour stops The prize that Stark Reflections listeners can win just by listening and entering their name How Becca is trying to make each stop on the podcast guest tour different by focusing on different tips and ideas with every episode Mark's idea on how he deals with Kickstarters where international shipping isn't an option The limited number of vinyl albums that will be available through Becca's Kickstarter How the publishing industry has changed dramatically since 2017 when Becca's first "Dear Writer, You Need to Quit" book came out The cheeky thought that Becca was considering for her latest book with using the popular F-word expletive How long Becca's Kickstarter will be running Trying to spend more time on her fiction writing, but struggling with how much she loves collaborating with and helping other writers The positive impact of dating another writer where they can motivate one another to get more writing done How Becca had never intended to build a business as a coach and a non-fiction writer The two other pen names that Becca writes under for different series and genres. Mystery written as R.L. Syme. Paranormal Romance (written with a co-author) written as Cameron Reece. Urban fantasy under the name: Macy Dixon The recent "work vacation" that Becca took which helped enable some solid research for her writing Becca's reminder that under different pen names and genres, a writer will usually have a uniquely different voice The specific playlists that Becca has for each one of her pen names and genres and the very separate personas she embraces when writing each The comment Mark made that led Becca over to checking out his Clifton Strengths to confirm her suspicion How Becca is a real "sense of place" writer who connects emotionally with the physical space and the connection to the earth, the mountains, etc After the interview, Mark reflects on the idea of wanting to help writers, and how that often leads to one's own writing taking a back seat. Links of Interest: Becca Syme's Better-Faster Academy Better-Faster Academcy LINKS Better Faster Academy TOUR STOP GAME - Enter that you listened to Becca's interview on the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Becca Syme (MATL) is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and has individually coached more than 6000 authors at all levels. She is the author of the Quitbooks for Writers series and the popular Write Better-Faster course, and the host of the Quitcast for Writers podcast and YouTube channel. She also writes mystery novels and lives on one of the thousand lakes in Minnesota. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
My YouTube podcast channel was deleted without warning, leaving me searching for answers. Meanwhile, Baker & Taylor faces closure, PublishDrive partners with ElevenReader for AI audiobooks, and Bookvault unveils new Spot UV and foil upgrades. BookBaby highlights proven ad strategies that drive real sales, and Spoken earns ALLi's highest rating for author trust. It's a week packed with big shifts, bold moves, and major updates for indie authors in this week's Self-Publishing News. Self-Publishing News October 13, 2025 - The Final 3 Kickstarter Campaign - https://DaleLinks.com/Kickstarter LIVE: Game-Changing Author Strategies Revealed - https://youtube.com/live/C122wCbad-U My YouTube Podcast Channel - https://DaleLinks.com/YouTubePodcast Baker & Taylor Prepares Plan to Shut Down - https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/98777-baker-taylor-prepares-plan-to-shut-down.html PublishDrive Partners with ElevenReader for Instant Audiobook Creation - https://publishdrive.com/publishdrive-partners-with-elevenreader-for-instant-audiobook-creation.html PublishDrive: Book Marketing that Works Insights from Dale L Roberts - https://youtu.be/wos5AoL5jpk?si=_8KM8622A4fPkETF Bookvault Bespoke - https://bookvault.app/bookvaultbespoke-product-examples/ Booklinker - https://booklinker.com BookBaby: Examples of Book Advertising That Drive Sales - https://blog.bookbaby.com/how-to-promote-your-book/book-promotion/book-advertising-examples Spoken: V1.04 Release Notes: New Upgrades! - https://spoken.press - ALLi Watchdog List - https://DaleLinks.com/ALLi ALLi: SelfPubCon 2025 - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/conference-2025/ StoryOrigin: Mastering Self-Publishing: From Novice to Pro - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/mCWvXho_QwGFXcvN6PVe9A#/registration Michell Buck Books: Building an Author Platform with Dale L. Roberts - https://open.substack.com/live-stream/66104?utm_source=live-stream-scheduled-upsell Miblart: Book Marketing Strategies 2026 - https://miblart.com/book-marketing-webinars/ Author Nation - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorNation (affiliate link) Author Nation: MEET UPS AND OUTSIDE EVENTS - https://www.authornation.live/2025-meetups Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts
288 / Have you ever wondered how to build a writing career that's both creatively fulfilling and financially sustainable in today's fast-changing publishing world?Douglas Pratt shares the real markers of success, tips on seeking feedback, and why he moved away from strictly following “write what you know.”The importance of letting go of your “darlings” Defining success beyond book sales and fame Mistakes and lessons in craft, marketing, and series building Building a supportive writing community and finding mentors Adapting to industry changes in publishing
KDP just expanded its print distribution to new global markets, giving authors more reach than ever before. Meanwhile, Amazon Ads opened up Sponsored Brands access for every author, even if you only have one book. There's also plenty happening around the publishing world, from major events to author opportunities you won't want to miss. Tune in for the latest industry updates, insights, and surprises in this week's Self-Publishing News. The Final 3: Your Publishing Playbook, Rewritten (Kickstarter) - https://DaleLinks.com/Kickstarter MK Williams - https://1mkwilliams.com/ KDP Forum: Distribute your print books in the Republic of Ireland and Belgium marketplaces - https://www.kdpcommunity.com/s/article/Distribute-your-print-books-in-the-Republic-of-Ireland-and-Belgium-marketplaces?language=en_US&forum=KDP%20Forum Book Bounty:
What fuels indie author success beyond the page? In this conversation with Joe Solari of Author Nation, we explore how connection, insight and inspiration shape the heart of indie author culture. From building authentic community to sharing hard-won knowledge, discover why gathering together—online and in person—empowers authors to thrive.//Draft2Digital is where you start your Indie Author Career// Looking for your path to self-publishing success? Draft2Digital is the leading ebook publisher and distributor worldwide. We'll convert your manuscript, distribute it online, and support you the whole way—and we won't charge you a dime. We take a small percentage of the royalties for each sale you make through us, so we only make money when you make money. That's the best kind of business plan. • Get started now: https://draft2digital.com/• Learn the ins, the outs, and the all-arounds of indie publishing from the industry experts on the D2D Blog: https://Draft2Digital.com/blog • Promote your books with our Universal Book Links from Books2Read: https://books2read.com Make sure you bookmark https://D2DLive.com for links to live events, and to catch back episodes of the Self Publishing Insiders Podcast.
KDP has quietly confirmed a huge change to the Select program, and we've got the update. Plus, big audiobook news from ElevenLabs, a lifetime discount on Authorbase, and a special report from Jane Friedman on the past decade of publishing. All that and more in the Self-Publishing News for September 9, 2025. The Final 3: Your Publishing Playbook, Rewritten - https://DaleLinks.com/Kickstarter Email Marketing for Books - https://DaleLinks.com/EmailBook Sources: KDP: How to enroll in KDP Select - https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GD9PMU58BV24QFZ7#enroll Kindlepreneur: ghost categories. - https://kindlepreneur.com/how-to-choose-the-best-kindle-ebook-kdp-category/ Publisher Rocket - https://DaleLinks.com/Rocket (affiliate link) Amazon Ads - https://advertising.amazon.com Writer Beware: If Your Publisher Promised to Register Your Copyright, Check Your Registration Now - https://writerbeware.blog/2025/08/29/if-your-publisher-promised-to-register-your-copyright-check-your-registration-now Jane Friedman: How Publishing Has Changed Since 2015 - https://janefriedman.com/how-publishing-has-changed-since-2015/ GeniusLink - https://DaleLinks.com/Genius (affiliate link) ALLi's 2025 Author Income Survey - https://allianceindependentauthors.org/survey (deadline September 17, 2025) MailerLite: Free plan update: What you need to know - https://www.mailerlite.com/help/free-plan-update-faq MailerLite - https://dalelinks.com/mailerlite (affiliate link) Author Nation - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorNation (affiliate link) ElevenReader - https://elevenreader.io/ AuthorBase - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorBase (affiliate link) Lock in 20% off for life till September 30th. September 2025: Creating Multiple Income Streams from Your Book - https://twinflamesstudios.com/monetize?partnerid=r1397 (affiliate link) Draft2Digital's Self-Publishing Insider: Catching Up with Dale Roberts - https://www.youtube.com/live/WRG4SfnhDKg?si=JY2_3R4oSxEeCSlv Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts
Authors are buzzing over a new discovery in Audible's terms—and it could mean major changes to royalties and transparency. From audiobooks and AI tools to record-breaking sales and hidden fine print, this week's news covers it all. Don't miss your chance to act on limited-time offers and stay ahead of the curve. One overlooked line in KDP could explain everything. Sources: My Kickstarter Campaign - https://dalelinks.com/thefinal3 Daniel Greene: Nail in Audible's coffin - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BJIZA_OpDw&list=PLXCkkWHluK4Cr5gtRbFDrnkix22aFLwQI&index=1&t=2s Convince Audible to revise it's New Royalty Model - https://www.change.org/p/convince-audible-to-revise-it-s-new-royalty-model Jane Friedman's The Bottom Line - https://janefriedman.com/the-bottom-line-janes-publishing-industry-newsletter/ Voices by INAudio - https://www.voicesbyinaudio.com/ Fast Company: Spotify just redesigned the way you'll ‘listen' to audiobooks - https://www.fastcompany.com/91383062/spotify-follow-along Spoken - https://ihave.spoken.press/ Writer Beware: Author Complaints, Conflicts of Interest at Fortis Publishing - https://writerbeware.blog/2025/08/22/author-complaints-conflicts-of-interest-at-fortis-publishing/ ALLi News Podcast: AI-Generated Fake Books Resurface on Amazon - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-ai-generated-fake-books/ Latest Smashwords Sale Breaks Records - https://www.smashwords.com/about/updates Tax updates for books sold in Brazil and Romania. - Apple Books for Authors - https://authors.apple.com ALLi: Why Amazon Book Launches Fall Flat—and What to Do Instead: Publishing for Profit with Joe Solari - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-amazon-book-launches/ Author Nation – https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorNation (affiliate link) ProWritingAid Storyteller's Sale - https://DaleLinks.com/ProWritingAid offer good through August 28, 2025 (affiliate link) Dibbly Summer Sale - https://DaleLinks.com/Dibbly - use SUMMERSALE12 for 12% off - good until September 8, 2025 (affiliate link) Get Authentic Book Reviews - https://GetAuthenticBookReviews.com - $1 sale is good ONLY in August 2025 Booklinker: Fix Your Book Description in Four Steps - https://booklinker.mykajabi.com/Book-description Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts
In this week's self-publishing news, we cover Audible's controversial new royalty system that leaves authors earning pennies on the dollar, Amazon's broken AI book summaries, and a major class action lawsuit against Anthropic over pirated training data. We also spotlight new free author courses from CraveBooks, sales from ProWritingAid and MailerLite, and ALLi's latest contest for indie writers. Plus, Author Nation 2025 is coming fast with sessions from James Patterson, Andrew Davis, and more. Stay informed on the biggest changes shaping the future of publishing, and make sure you don't get left behind. *** TO BE VERY CLEAR, THE AUDIBLE ROYALTY STRUCTURE IS STILL IN BETA AND NOT OFFICIALLY ROLLED OUT TO ALL AUTHORS. *** Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. Sources: Daniel Greene - Audible Is Broken - https://youtu.be/xhTmMv_s578?si=kFIw2kvQXcAqtkyS Convince Audible to revise it's New Royalty Model - https://www.change.org/p/convince-audible-to-revise-it-s-new-royalty-model Amazon displaying AI summaries that are inaccurate (anecdotal) Writer Beware: Bartz v Anthropic: Find Out if You May Be Part of This Class Action - https://writerbeware.blog/2025/08/15/bartz-v-anthropic-find-out-if-you-may-be-part-of-this-class-action/ ProWritingAid (limited time offer) - https://DaleLinks.com/ProWritingAid (affiliate link) ProWritingAid Community - https://community.prowritingaid.com/ MailerLite (limited time offer) - https://DaleLinks.com/MailerLite (affiliate link) CraveBooks: Master The Art Of Book Promos - https://cravebooks.com/courses/promotion-readiness-course CraveBooks: Master Your Author Newsletter - https://cravebooks.com/courses/author-newsletter ALLi presents: Free “Write Your Why” Competition - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/conference-2025/write-your-why/ Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts
Your KDP dashboard just got a quiet update—and if you breeze past it, your ebook might lose out on visibility. In this week's Self-Publishing News, we break down what Amazon added, why it matters, and how it ties into a much bigger conversation around accessibility. Plus, we cover new promo tools, AI changes, and a warning about scammers targeting indie authors. It's a busy week, and you don't want to miss what's shifting under your feet. Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@dalelroberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. Sources: How to See Another Book's Keywords in Amazon - https://kindlepreneur.com/how-to-see-another-books-keywords/?affiliate=selfpubwithdale Publisher Rocket - https://DaleLinks.com/Rocket (affiliate link) Reach 45,000+ New Readers with BookDoggy - https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/press-release-written-word-media-partners-with-bookdoggy-to-expand-author-reach/ ALLi News Podcast: Anthropic Lawsuit Advances, Senate Grills Tech on AI Use, Kindle Colorsoft Gets Update - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-anthropic-lawsuit/ KDP: Accessibility for eBooks - https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GBPE3QVZ2J3HLQ4B?mc_cid=0c2de47626&mc_eid=433332c881 Digital Accessibility: The Right Thing, The Smart Thing, The Required Thing - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zNsXzo2TTjmK5xD0a6zP1w?_ics=1753722149922&irclickid=~4-dhmkhb736-ahgnlmuAqhia51UV0RHNLEADEuvnld861XUMFAxn&_gl=1*1f0r9qg*_gcl_au*NzMwMjczNTY0LjE3NTIwODY2NjY.*_ga*NjY4OTcyMDQuMTc0NDIzMDkzOA..*_ga_L8TBF28DDX*czE3NTM3MjIwNDAkbzI0JGcxJHQxNzUzNzIyMTQ5JGo2MCRsMCRoMA..&mc_cid=0c2de47626&mc_eid=433332c881#/registration Create personal illustrated storybooks in the Gemini app. - Storiad - https://DaleLinks.com/Storiad (affiliate link) - use code DALE50 to get 50% off Storiad Pro. Author Nation seeking volunteers - https://form.smartsuite.com/so8pqexh/D9a8mbe9ZM?kuid=64cf94e2-3c33-4be6-81ed-cf16b78d7ff4-1754943998&lid=31108&kref=nrBqRWv4lEXc Author Nation - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorNation (affiliate link) - I'll be speaking, emceeing, and hosting video interviews. Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts
In this episode of Self-Publishing with ALLi, Anna Featherstone talks with Stuart Grant, founder of the Digital Authors Toolkit, about how authors can use augmented reality (AR). The discussion covers what AR is, how it fits into the publishing process, and practical, affordable ways for indie authors to experiment with it. Real-world examples and tools help illustrate whether AR is a good fit for a particular type of book or publishing stage. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-Publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. Sponsors This podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. This podcast is also sponsored by Gatekeeper Press, the all-inclusive Gold Standard in Publishing, offering authors 100% rights, royalties, satisfaction and worldwide distribution. Gatekeeper Press, Where Authors are Family. About the Host Anna Featherstone is ALLi's nonfiction adviser and an author advocate and mentor. A judge of The Australian Business Book Awards and Australian Society of Travel Writers awards, she's also the founder of Bold Authors and presents author marketing and self-publishing workshops for organizations, including Byron Writers Festival. Anna has authored books including how-to and memoirs and her book Look-It's Your Book! about writing, publishing, marketing, and leveraging nonfiction is on the Australian Society of Authors recommended reading list. When she's not being bookish, Anna's into bees, beings, and the big issues of our time. About the Guest Stuart Grant is the highest-rated author website designer on Reedsy, with more than 300 author sites to his credit. A former radio presenter and theatre lecturer, he now runs Digital Authors Toolkit, helping writers build beautiful, profitable, and future-ready websites. A regular speaker at the Self Publishing Show, Author Nation, and Ireland's Publishing Show, Grant is known for blending practical marketing advice with innovative tech such as AR, AI, and animation.
Major updates this week in the publishing world: one major distributor is waiving its print market access fee for the next 12 months, while others are making key changes to how authors get paid or discover new readers. Plus, a brief outage, fresh promotional opportunities, and a couple of interviews you don't want to miss. Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee News Sources: Distribute Print Books to Ingram Without the Market Access Fee for 12 Months - https://publishdrive.com/distribute-print-books-to-ingram-without-the-market-access-fee-for-12-months.html Everand: Update on Subscription Payouts for Full Reads - https://help.publishdrive.com/everand-payout-updates Bookvault Outage Incident Last Week - https://status.bookvault.app/incident/619700 Barnes & Noble Press Blog: Bestseller Tips for Indie Authors - https://press.barnesandnoble.com/bnpress-blog/bestseller-tips-for-indie-authors/ The Sample Chapter Podcast - Interview with Dale L. Roberts - https://youtu.be/fcQs2cAr-WY?si=MvAKhOP5tPDtZEAl Terry Pappy: MSL 212 - Dale L. Roberts on Starting Part 1 - https://youtu.be/KXzchCH3WYk?si=7T7U7PrJsmZswBGI BookMARCon - https://bookbrush.com/bookmarcon/ Author Nation - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorNation (affiliate link) Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts
In this episode Mark speaks to author Johnny B. Truant about THE ARTISAN AUTHOR. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Johnny talk about: Johnny's return to this podcast (with neither of them being able to remember how many episodes he'd been on previously). Technically, this is his fourth time. Two previous episodes were interviews, and the other was Johnny's brief guest reflection spot in Episode 300 Why Johnny's new book THE ARTISAN AUTHOR is a much-anticipated and needed book in the industry A definition of what it means to be an artisan author, which is kind of the opposite of being a "rapid release, Kindle-only eBook" author The importance of taking away that stress-cycle of having to pump out so many books as a single prescription "how to do it" answer Remembering an important thing that, just like there is no single "the way" neither is being an artisan author The paradigm shift and mindset change that is required as a fundamental starting point How readers outside of the eBook/Kindle-only marketplace aren't as focused on lower price points and are okay with higher prices The reality of the publishing landscape in terms of the books being sold and money being earned The misinterpretation of the book Johnny and Sean Platt released years ago called WRITE, PUBLISH, REPEAT How there are two kinds of writers. The type who approach the business as trying to solve a puzzle and the type who approach it as a way of telling a story that they really want to share How a call of "go slow and make art" is not nearly as sexy as a "solution" The experience of driving off to meet a couple of long-term fans to sign and sell directly to them Connections and humanity being a key element of the artisan author experience The value of authentic connection, regardless of whether or not it's in person or online That powerful experience Johnny had doing one of his first major live book signing events as an author at Author Nation in Vegas and how that led to doing a lot more in person events The ability to adapt to a customer based on their reactions in person Look at it as connections, and then if sales happen . . . great! Being really generous with your time and attention Some of the logistics of doing an in person book signing A couple of unexpected and amusing anecdotes from selling books in person The Kickstarter that Johnny is doing for this book, which runs July 15 through Aug 14 (johnnybtruant.com/artisan) The additional "continuum of education" that Johnny is including in this Kickstarter (Artisan University) The importance of authors entering into things with conscious decisions rather than just blindly following the generic advice they've found And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on a few specific points from the discussion. Links of Interest: Johnny B. Truant's Website The Artisan Author EP 424 - Passion From Between and Beyond the Pages with Jessica Rampersad EP 322 - The Art of Noticing with Johnny B. Truant EP 302 - Fat Vampires, Storytelling, and Empathy with Johnny B. Truant EP 300 - Celebrating 300 Episodes with Guest Reflections Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Johnny B. Truant is one of indie publishing's early authorities, having created and co-hosted the original Self Publishing Podcast with Sean Platt and David Wright. He is also the author of the indie cornerstone guide Write. Publish. Repeat, and hosted the Smarter Artist Summit author conference in Austin, Texas from 2015-2018 with the same two partners. On the fiction side, Johnny is the bestselling author of Fat Vampire, adapted by The SyFy Network as Reginald the Vampire. His other books include Pretty Killer, Gore Point, Invasion, The Beam, Dead City, Unicorn Western, and over 100 other titles across many genres. Originally from Ohio, Johnny and his family now live in Austin, Texas where he's finally surrounded by creative types as weird as he is. The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
Major news just dropped in the world of AI and copyright, and authors need to pay attention. A federal judge made a surprising ruling about how AI models can use books, and it could change everything. Plus, new opportunities for indie authors with MailerLite, PublishDrive, Bookvault, and more. Catch up on everything happening in publishing this week. Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. News Sources: AI chatbots need more books to learn from. These libraries are opening their stacks - https://apnews.com/article/ai-chatbot-training-data-libraries-idi-e096a81a4fceb2951f232a33ac767f53 Federal judge rules copyrighted books are fair use for AI training - https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/federal-judge-rules-copyrighted-books-are-fair-use-ai-training-rcna214766 Amazon Prime Day 2025 - https://www.amazon.com/primeday BookLinker - https://BookLinker.com KDP Royalty Calculator: Free Tool for Authors - https://kindlepreneur.com/kdp-royalty-calculator/?affiliate=selfpubwithdale (affiliate link) Bookvault - https://bookvault.app PublishDrive - https://dalelinks.com/publishdrive (affiliate link) Spotify for Authors - https://authors.spotify.com How Indie Authors Are Doing in 2025: Mid-Year Survey Results - https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/we-asked-indie-authors-how-2025-is-going-heres-what-they-said/ All Call Indie - https://allcallindie.com/ New! Create and sell your digital products directly in MailerLite - https://dalelinks.com/mailerliteproducts (affiliate link) Get Authentic Book Reviews - https://getauthenticbookreviews.com Gemsy - https://dalelinks.com/gemsy (affiliate link) - use code DALE4JULY (good through July 8) BookMARCon - https://bookbrush.com/bookmarcon/ Author Nation - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorNation (affiliate link) Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts
A major shift in the book world is brewing as Everand acquires Fable, signaling a new direction for online book clubs and author-reader engagement. Meanwhile, Amazon has quietly cut more jobs—this time in the books division—raising questions about the future of publishing operations. But it's not all doom and gloom. Authors can tap into a fresh wave of events like the Book Launchers summit, the ALLi podcast, and the upcoming Author Nation conference to stay ahead of the curve. If you're serious about writing, marketing, or selling books, this week's news matters. Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. New sources: Everand Acquires Online Book Club Platform Fable - https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/97975-everand-acquires-online-book-club-platform-fable.html Amazon cuts more jobs, this time in books division - https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/amazon-cuts-more-jobs-this-time-books-division-2025-06-06/ Dibbly Create presents: Guided Book Flow - https://dalelinks.com/guidedbookflow (affiliate link) StoryOrigin: Nonfiction Books: A Guide to Book Launches and Marketing - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/9mjlZ4g0QaOUJNHg1OwXxQ#/registration Book Launchers presents: The Future of Book Marketing Summit - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorLaunckKit (affiliate link) Authortube Writing Conference - https://www.authortubewritingconference.com/ Author Nation - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorNation (affiliate link) The Truth About Book Promotions (and Why Authors Get It Wrong): Self-Publishing with ALLi Featuring Dale L. Roberts - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-book-promotions/ Written Word Media Speaker Series with Dale L. Roberts - https://www.youtube.com/live/bj8wjbSXgJE?si=hJMTc_RXJrJ3YEpx Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts
Amazon just made a major update that could reshape how your books perform on the platform. In this news segment, we break down what's happening, how it could affect rankings, and what indie authors should keep in mind moving forward. Plus, important updates from Kobo, MailerLite, AppSumo, and more. YouTube for Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/YouTubeBook Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. Sources: The Amazon Algorithm Change You NEED to Know About - https://youtu.be/vfiArlO2UkQ?si=gPFLjwCs8W7pdr6y KDP: Sales Ranking - https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201648140 Kobo and AI: Making Reading and Publishing Even Better, Together - https://kobowritinglife.com/2025/05/29/kobo-and-ai/ Amazon Ads: AI-powered Video generator - https://advertising.amazon.com/resources/whats-new/create-high-quality-ai-generated-videos-in-minutes The Bottom Line by Jane Friedman: 8th Note Press closing? - https://janefriedman.com/the-bottom-line-janes-publishing-industry-newsletter/ (subscription required) THE AUDIO PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL SURVEY SHOWS AUDIOBOOK SALES GROW TO 2.22 BILLION DOLLARS - https://www.audiopub.org/surveys NYT: The Times and Amazon Announce an A.I. Licensing Deal - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/29/business/media/new-york-times-amazon-ai-licensing.html Get Authentic Book Reviews - https://getauthenticbookreviews.com You may have received a fake email impersonating MailerLite - https://www.mailerlite.com/help/phishing-in-email-marketing Publisher Rocket Lifetime Deal (...still available???) - https://DaleLinks.com/RocketDeal (affiliate link) AppSumo presents Sumo Day - https://DaleLinks.com/AppSumo (affiliate link) AppSumo LTD: DepositPhotos - https://dalelinks.com/depositphotos (affiliate link) AppSumo LTD: Video to Blog - https://dalelinks.com/videotoblog (affiliate link) AppSumo LTD: PressRanger - https://dalelinks.com/pressranger (affiliate link) StoryOrigin: Amazon Ads Made Simple - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/CGTlyE84Txyf16VGfT8hmA#/registration Written Word Media: The Youtube Author Blueprint - https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/speaker-series/ Book Launchers: The Future of Non-Fiction Book Marketing - https://dalelinks.com/authorlaunchkit (affiliate link) Author Nation - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorNation (affiliate link) YouTube for Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/YouTubeBook Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts
In this episode of Brave New Bookshelf, hosts Steph Pajonas and Danica Favorite sit down with Jamie Davis, a seasoned author and the conference director of Author Nation, to discuss his journey from initial skepticism to embracing AI as a powerful tool for enhancing his writing process, streamlining workflows, and expanding his storytelling into visual and multimedia formats. With insights into his favorite AI tools like ChatGPT and Freepik, Jamie offers valuable perspectives on how authors can harness AI to refine their craft and reach wider audiences. Visit our website https://bravenewbookshelf.com to view the full episode notes, links and apps mentioned in the episode, and the full transcript.
Scams are getting smarter—and authors are the new target. In this week's publishing news, we cover what to avoid, what to watch for, and the latest tools helping indie authors succeed. Plus, the U.S. Copyright Office just made your publishing life a lot easier. Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. Sources: Spotify for Authors Terms of Use - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/spotify-for-authors-terms-and-conditions/ INAudio - https://www.inaudio.com/ U.S. Copyright Office Releases New Copyright Registration Toolkit - https://www.copyright.gov/newsnet/2025/1070.html Two to Avoid: Book Order Scams and Fake Reviews - https://writerbeware.blog/2025/05/09/two-to-avoid-book-order-scams-and-fake-reviews/ Getcovers: Top 10 Tools for Indie Authors 2025 - https://getcovers.com/blog/best-tools-for-indie-authors/ Get Authentic Book Reviews - https://getauthenticbookreviews.com/ Speech Transcription with parakeet - https://huggingface.co/spaces/nvidia/parakeet-tdt-0.6b-v2 ProseWrite - https://DaleLinks.com/ProseWrite (affiliate link) Bookvault Q&A Webinar - https://www.youtube.com/@Bookvault_app/streams StoryOrigin: Creating With Eyes Wide Open: Author Life in a Capitalist World - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/LcUd65SpR1mWS3WeiwajyQ#/registration Authors Guild: Translation Contracts 101 - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mZn6cNY-RKK3AbCk9a3G_A#/registration Dibbly Create: Scale Your KDP Business Fast: Publish Market-Ready Books in 30 Minutes - https://dibbly.com/join-free-webinar/?aff=DALE (affiliate link) Self-Publishing with ALLi: The Power of Relationships in Author Marketing - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-power-of-relationships/ Author Nation - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorNation (affiliate link) 30 Books in 30 Days Giveaway - https://DaleLinks.com/30Books Credit: Authors Guild - https://authorsguild.org/ Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts
Meeting summary for PublishDrive Q and A (09/03/2024)Quick recapThe team discussed the benefits and new features of Publish Drive, a platform that supports authors and publishers, including a free plan, a metadata generator tool, and a royalty splitter tool. They also explored the cost-effectiveness and time-saving aspects of using Publish Drive for catalog management, sales events, and promotions, as well as the potential for using AI-generated audio for book publishing. Challenges and potential improvements were also discussed, with a focus on continuous improvement and better communication within the team.Next steps• Russell to explore using Publish Drive for comic book distribution and connect with Danica for more details.• Monica to investigate using Publish Drive's Abacus tool for co-authored book royalty splitting.• Danica to follow up with Russell and Monica at upcoming conferences to discuss Publish Drive's ecosystem approach.• Publish Drive team to improve communication about their full range of services and tools to authors.• Authors interested in Publish Drive to reach out to Danica at danica@publishdrive.com for more information or personalized assistance.SummaryPublish Drive's New Features and ToolsRussell, Danica, and Monica discussed the recent announcement from Publish Drive, a platform that supports authors and publishers. Danica, the community manager at Publish Drive, explained that they now offer a free plan, allowing anyone to upload a book and try out their services. They also launched a metadata generator tool, which uses AI to create book descriptions and keywords, helping authors improve their marketing efforts. Additionally, Publish Drive introduced Abacus, a royalty splitter tool, designed to simplify the process of splitting earnings among multiple authors. The team expressed excitement about these new offerings and their potential to support authors at different stages of their journey.Discussing Publish Drive Benefits and CostsRussell and Danica discussed the benefits of using Publish Drive for authors, particularly those making less than $5 on a book. They highlighted the cost-effectiveness of Publish Drive compared to other solutions and the time-saving aspect of having a dedicated person, Frushi, who sends out promotional emails for store promotions. Danica also mentioned a tool that allows authors to compare the costs and benefits of using Publish Drive versus competitors. Monica shared her experience of going direct with some of her books, but noted that she still has some books that are not yet published.Discussing PublishDrive for Catalog ManagementMonica and Danica discussed the benefits and challenges of using PublishDrive for catalog management. Monica highlighted the cost-effectiveness of using PublishDrive, especially for large catalogs, and the ability to easily upload content to various platforms. Danica emphasized the importance of author feedback in improving the platform and the support provided by PublishDrive's customer success manager for transferring reviews. They also discussed the potential for future improvements and the platform's role as a software as a service. Monica expressed her need to explore the Abacus feature for co-authored content.Discussing Publish Drive for Sales Events and PromotionsDanica, Russell, and Monica discussed the benefits of using Publish Drive for sales events and promotions. Russell highlighted the convenience of not having to individually find and upload to each store, and the potential cost savings compared to using aggregators. They also discussed the importance of analyzing the effectiveness of their current processes and considering alternatives, such as using Publish Drive for all sales events. Monica emphasized the potential cost savings of using Publish Drive, as it bundles in payments that would otherwise be made separately.Product Integration and User-Friendly Dashboard DiscussionRussell expressed his satisfaction with the integration of various products into a single dashboard, which he found more user-friendly than logging into multiple dashboards. He also appreciated the ability to see all necessary information in one place, especially for promotions and price consistency. Danica agreed with Russell's feedback and mentioned that they occasionally conduct user interviews to improve the user-friendliness of their products. She also highlighted a new feature, the pod template generator, which can convert ebook covers into print covers, a feature that could be beneficial for authors like herself.AI Audio for Book Publishing ChallengesThe team discussed the advantages and challenges of using AI-generated audio for book publishing across different platforms. Danica mentioned that while Apple's AI audio is exclusive to their platform, Google Play's AI audio can be distributed to other stores like Kobo and libraries through Publish Drive. Managing multiple dashboards was highlighted as a challenge, with Danica preferring simpler processes. Moving books to Publish Drive was discussed, with Danica offering assistance from their customer success manager. Monica inquired about Publish Drive's ability to accept and distribute Google Play's AI audio, which Danica confirmed. Danica also mentioned upcoming presentations at author nation conferences to discuss Publish Drive's ecosystem and capabilities.Comic Creator Challenges and Platform SolutionsDanica and Russell discussed the challenges faced by comic creators in uploading their work to various platforms. Danica confirmed that their platform serves the comic community and that one prominent comic creator is making significant profits through their site. She offered to connect Russell with their customer success manager to help him navigate the process. Monica expressed interest in this topic, suggesting it could be a potential episode for their show. The conversation ended with an emphasis on continuous improvement and better communication within the team.Discussing Publish Drive and AI Tools for AuthorsRussell and Danica discussed the benefits of using Publish Drive as a distribution platform for authors. They highlighted the platform's ability to reach a wider audience, including places where other distributors may not have a presence. Danica emphasized the importance of authors being able to control which stores their books are distributed to. Russell also mentioned the challenges of using Apple's system, suggesting that Publish Drive could be a more user-friendly option. The team also discussed the potential for using AI tools to increase author efficiency and the upcoming Author Nation conference where Danica will be speaking about Publish Drive and AI tools. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.writermba.com/subscribe
Major updates are shaking up the self-publishing world this week! A popular author tool just expanded its reach, a new feature could help you earn more from your book sales, and indie authors now have a surprising new way to boost their global discoverability. Plus, one important deadline is coming fast—you don't want to miss it. Let's dive in! Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord heck out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. Sources: IngramSpark: Share & Sell Your Book - https://www.ingramspark.com/sell-my-book Apple Books for Authors - https://authors.apple.com Publisher Rocket - https://DaleLinks.com/Rocket (affiliate link) PublishDrive Celebrates 10 Years with 50% off all plans - https://DaleLinks.com/PublishDrive (affiliate link) PublishDrive: Exclusive copyrights - requirements and protection of intellectual works from future theft - https://streamyard.com/watch/PdF22kV9MRPn 30 Books in 30 Days - https://DaleLinks.com/30Books Author Nation (early bird ends on May 1) - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorNation (affiliate link) Author Nation 2025: Last Chance for Early Bird! - https://www.youtube.com/live/gRjaAi4WDuU?si=encEBnGbKpMo6xfp Book Launch Panel with Teddy Smith - https://subscribepage.io/booklaunchpanelshow Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts
Scammers are targeting authors, a major audiobook platform is expanding into new countries, and a new tool promises to simplify website building for indie writers. Plus, I uncovered a lesser-known audiobook distribution option you'll want to keep your eye on. All that and more in this week's self-publishing news roundup—don't miss it. Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. Sources: If You're an Author, Don't Fall for This Scam - https://youtu.be/V_ied17gNNE?si=Bo7VopHf3nBjp6zk Spotify Expands Its Audiobooks Offering To Listeners In Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein - https://newsroom.spotify.com/2025-04-15/spotify-expands-its-audiobooks-offering-to-listeners-in-germany-austria-switzerland-and-liechtenstein/ IngramSpark presents Tertulia for Authors - https://www.ingramspark.com/easy-author-websites-in-minutes-a-special-offer?e AMPlify Audiobooks - https://proaudiovoices.com/amplify-audiobook-distribution/ StoryOrigin presents Beyond Distribution: Building a Strategic Roadmap for Success - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/lwVxieXsTvqjDQNpm1VWyw#/registration Authors Guild presents How to Book Podcasts as an Author - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QSdnfY2uR0is1BUfku_tHw#/registration AppSumo presents DepositPhotos - https://DaleLinks.com/DepositPhotos (affiliate link) The Secrets of Successful Author Branding w/ Bryan Cohen - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-successful-author-branding/ Author Nation tickets - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorNation (affiliate link) Kitboga: Scammers Panic Exposed on Live Video - https://youtu.be/IKvs3InhTMo?si=ybPP8WITDJvX4wB6 Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts
Amazon is rolling out multiple AI-powered features, from recap generators on Kindle to Rufus, their new conversational shopping tool. Plus, they've launched a generative AI tool for sellers and announced a new reading sample update for eBook pre-orders. Meanwhile, copyright lawsuits against OpenAI and Microsoft are heating up, and Spotify is now accepting audiobook submissions. Get the latest on how AI is disrupting publishing and what it means for indie authors. Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. News Sources: eBook pre-orders will soon show a reading sample on Amazon - https://www.kdpcommunity.com/s/article/eBook-pre-orders-will-soon-show-a-reading-sample-on-Amazon?language=en_US Finding Publishing Opportunities in an Era of AI Disruption: Q&A with CEO Keith Riegert (paid subscription required) - https://janefriedman.com/publishing-opportuities-ai-keith-riegert Amazon launches generative AI to help sellers write product descriptions - https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/small-business/amazon-sellers-generative-ai-tool Amazon announces Rufus, a new generative AI-powered conversational shopping experience - https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/amazon-rufus?mc_cid=731c56011d&mc_eid=433332c881 Amazon Kindle's new feature uses AI to generate recaps for books in a series - https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/03/amazon-kindles-new-feature-uses-ai-to-generate-recaps-for-books-in-a-series/ Submit to Spotify Audiobooks Publishing - https://sites.google.com/spotify.com/short-form-audiobooks/make-a-submission Copyright cases against OpenAI and Microsoft consolidated in New York court - https://www.bloomberglaw.com/public/desktop/document/INREOpenAIIncCopyrightInfringementLitigationDocketNo3143USJPMLDec/3?doc_id=X10L562HT9O9VHRKA8D1VE5I4TK&mc_cid=731c56011d&mc_eid=433332c881 $5 billion class action suit over Apple's ebook licensing is based on false premises - https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/04/02/5-billion-class-action-suit-over-apples-ebook-licensing-is-based-on-false-premises ProWritingAid Online Beta Reader - https://dalelinks.com/betareader (affiliate link) Spoken Beta V0.8.6a: Personal Voice and Emotional Cueing - https://www.spoken.press/the-spoken-chronicle/v086a-release-notes-482025-personal-voice-and-emotional-cueing Manuscript Report - https://dalelinks.com/manuscriptreport (affiliate link) Audiobook Creation Key Concepts Mini Course - https://www.fleischmannmedia.com/audiobook-creation-key-concepts-free-mini-course Author Nation 2025 Speaker Announcement Webinar - https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NaVOwm-_TeOzDd5nQCUIuw?kuid=6ccf76e9-1bd6-49ba-9ba3-af46294ada6b-1744145713&lid=31108&kref=lniru4bBV7rK#/registration Space and Time Spring/Summer #148 - https://dalelinks.com/spaceandtime148 (affiliate link) Credit: The Bottom Line by Jane Friedman - https://janefriedman.com/the-bottom-line-janes-publishing-industry-newsletter/ Laterpress - https://www.laterpress.com/ Miblart - https://miblart.com/ Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts
ALLi Campaigns Manager Matty Dalrymple talks with Marketing Adviser Ricardo Fayet, co-founder of Reedsy, about the value of professional editing in self-publishing. Fayet explains the types of editing, how to manage costs, and why editors offer more than beta readers. He also discusses when to hire an editor, how editing improves writing, and the limits of AI tools. Sponsors This podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. This podcast is also sponsored by Gatekeeper Press, the all-inclusive Gold Standard in Publishing, offering authors 100% rights, royalties, satisfaction and worldwide distribution. Gatekeeper Press, Where Authors are Family. About the Host Matty Dalrymple podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors, and her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine. She serves as the campaigns manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors. Matty is also the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with Rock Paper Scissors; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with The Sense of Death; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including Close These Eyes. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. About the Guest Ricardo Fayet is one of the four founders of Reedsy, a marketplace that connects authors with top publishing professionals—from editors to cover designers, book marketers, and literary translators. He is the author of two books on book marketing and a regular speaker at writers' conferences including NINC, Author Nation, InkersCon, and The Self Publishing Show Live. Fayet also serves as the marketing adviser to ALLi. You can find Reedsy online: Website, YouTube, X, and Instagram.
Are you ready to take your nonfiction writing to the next level? In this episode of Author Nation, we explore Lifelong Learning for Authors and how continuous growth fuels creativity, authority, and impact. Guest Kami Wanous, The Freedom Scholar, shares powerful insights on Writing with Purpose: How Passion and Mission Shape Your Book and Why lifelong learning matters for writers.
Amazon KDP is quietly removing two critical tools for formatting your books. The Association of American Publishers notes a 6.5% increase in book profits in 2024. Bookvault is expanding into Australia and now has print on demand Down Under. And, Apple Books for Authors announced new category rollouts from 2024 for your books. All that and more in the self-publishing news for this week. Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. Sources: AAP December 2024 StatShot Report: Overall Publishing Industry Up 6.5% Year-To-Date, and Down 4.3% for Month of December - https://publishers.org/news/aap-december-2024-statshot-report-overall-publishing-industry-up-6-5-year-to-date-and-down-4-3-for-month-of-december/ Kindle Comic Creator and Kindle Kids' Book Creator will be unavailable from March 18, 2025 - https://www.kdpcommunity.com/s/article/Kindle-Comic-Creator-and-Kindle-Kids-Book-Creator-will-be-unavailable-from-March-18-2025?language=en_US&forum=KDP%20Forum 6 Tips to Engage your Readers with Author Follow - https://www.kdpcommunity.com/s/article/6-Tips-to-Engage-your-Readers-with-Author-Follow?language=en_US&forum=KDP%20Forum Apple Books for Authors - https://authors.apple.com/ Complete BISAC Subject Headings List (2024 Edition) - https://www.bisg.org/complete-bisac-subject-headings-list Australian Printing is Rolling Out in the Bookvault Portal! - https://bookvault.app/australian-printing-now-live/ ProWritingAid - https://DaleLinks.com/ProWritingAid (affiliate link) Book Bounty - https://DaleLinks.com/BookBounty (affiliate link) Game-Changing Features Coming to Self-Publishing! | Laterpress - https://www.youtube.com/live/aJUTUz7mQ1s?si=H1frWMOLMkj-Untc LIVE: Auditing Your Amazon Ads - https://www.youtube.com/live/gs4gXt849f8?si=jfpwTeMbQusKhE8r Authortunities Hub presents: Writers Block Party – Special Guest: Dale L. Roberts! - https://authortunities-hub.mn.co/ The BookFest Adventure - https://www.thebookfest.com/ Author Nation - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorNation (affiliate link) AUTHOR INTERVIEW w Special Guest Author DALE L. ROBERTS - https://www.youtube.com/live/HfATv5G3nLI?si=cMfpz5d2ytf-M4sh Review of "Wide Publishing for Authors" by Dale L. Roberts - https://www.outstandingcreator.com/reviews/review-of-wide-publishing-for-authors-by-dale-l-roberts Wide Publishing for Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/WideBook Bestseller Book Launch Plan Book Review | & Wide Publishing For Authors - https://youtu.be/bjrIDiZ5MWU?si=Atw_i19IvCyOToZd Bestseller Book Launch Plan - https://DaleLinks.com/BestsellerBook Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts
Hey there, Writer! Welcome back to another episode of The Resilient Writers Radio Show.This week, I had an inspiring conversation with Laura Jevtich—a writer, author, and social media creator with a fascinating journey that took her from geology to writing memoirs and beyond.Laura's story is anything but conventional. Originally trained as a geologist, she spent over a decade in the field before jumping ship during the Y2K era to become a computer trainer. This shift led her to start her own business in 2003, helping realtors with website content and blog posts. Little did she know that this early experience in writing would pave the way for her future as an author.In 2005, Laura and her husband Sasha made a bold decision that would change their lives forever—they bought a truck camper and hit the road, embracing a nomadic lifestyle that was nearly unheard of in their Northern Virginia community. As they traveled, Laura began documenting their journey, which led to the creation of her memoir, Unusual Adventures Traveling Through Life: A Memoir of Frugalness to Financial Freedom.Their journey wasn't just about travel; it was about reclaiming their time and energy. The couple realized that homeownership was holding them back from the adventurous life they craved. So, in 2006, after a six-week sabbatical, they sold their house and nearly all their possessions, choosing instead to live full-time in their RV. Their travels took them to national parks across the U.S., where Laura worked as a park ranger in places like the Grand Canyon and Canyonlands. Along the way, she continued writing, capturing their experiences in long-form articles and blog posts.By 2018, Laura decided to take a break from the road, settling in Pahrump, Nevada, where she and her husband built a home. But the writing never stopped. Encouraged by her father, she pivoted from writing about organization and minimalism to focusing on her memoir. We talked about how she dived into the writing world, reading memoirs, joining online communities, and learning the craft of storytelling. In 2022, she committed to finishing her memoir, winning NaNoWriMo by typing up her handwritten manuscript and completing the draft. After a rigorous self-editing process, she published the book in July 2023.Laura didn't stop there. She returned to her unfinished book on organizing, completing and publishing it in early 2024. She has since been deeply involved in the writing community, attending conferences like 20 Books to Vegas (now Author Nation) and embracing direct sales and marketing strategies.Now, Laura has once again jumped ship—this time from nonfiction to fiction. She's currently writing a historical romance, sharing her journey on Ream Stories, and was even featured on their homepage for historical romance.Throughout the episode, Laura shares valuable insights on following your passions, embracing change, and navigating the self-publishing world. She's a true example of resilience and reinvention, proving that it's never too late to chase a new dream.Enjoy the episode!
Want to create a deeper connection with your readers? In this episode of Author Nation, we explore Using Your Vibe to Connect With Readers with Dr. Jason Del Gandio. Learn how authors can influence readers and shape their writing style to enhance engagement. Whether you're writing fiction or nonfiction, your vibe plays a crucial role in how readers experience your work!
Welcome to Author Nation! In this enlightening episode, we explore how Kindness Driven Success for Authors can transform your writing journey. Join host Melody Ann and guest Michael Neece as they discuss the importance of emotional intelligence and effective strategies for coping with criticism in the literary world.Key Takeaways:Discover the powerful role of kindness in fostering a successful author career.Learn how to develop Emotional Intelligence for Writers to enhance your interactions with readers and peers.Explore practical coping mechanisms for dealing with criticism and rejection.Gain insights into self-reflection and journaling techniques to boost your writing confidence.Tune in and unlock the secrets to a more fulfilling and successful author journey, and don't forget to check out the shownotes at Kindness Driven Success for Authors: A Guide for Authors!
How can you balance creativity with business in order to have a profitable, long-term author career? What were the successes and challenges of the Author Nation conference? Joe Solari shares his perspective. In the intro, the money episode [Ink In Your Veins]; WISE for multi-currency banking; creative planning tips for 2025 [Self~Publishing Advice]; Surprising Trends […] The post Balancing Creativity With Building A Business, And Author Nation With Joe Solari first appeared on The Creative Penn.
Welcome to this episode of Author Nation, where we explore the art of writing with clarity and purpose. Join host Melody Ann and guest Leslee Hall as they discuss how to use plain words to deliver powerful messages. Discover accessible writing techniques that will transform your writing and help you connect with your audience.Key Takeaways:Learn how to write with impact by simplifying your language for broader accessibility.Discover the importance of identifying your core message to enhance reader engagement.Explore practical strategies to separate emotional reactions from logical thinking in your writing.Gain insights on how personal experiences can enrich your storytelling and resonate with readers.Don't miss this chance to elevate your writing skills and share your unique voice with the world! Read the notes at LINK.
The Sell More Books Show: Book Marketing, Digital Publishing and Kindle News, Tools and Advice
What is on your SUCK list that you hate to do and hope to automate? Today's top story is TikTok Press. Question of the week is What is on your SUCK list that you hate to do and hope to automate? Join the Sell More Books Show Afterparty group on Facebook and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. Be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.
Send us a textGet your pen and paper ready to take notes! Today's show is for you writers out there or those of you who are curious how a New York Bestselling author navigates the ever-changing waters of publishing books and collaborating with other authors. On the show today we chat with J.D. Barker and Christine Daigle.J.D. Barker is the New York Times and international best-selling author of numerous novels, including DRACUL, THE FOURTH MONKEY, A CALLER'S GAME AND BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR. He is currently collaborating with James Patterson. His books have been translated into two dozen languages, sold in more than 150 countries, and optioned for both film and television.By day, Christine Daigle is a clinical neuropsychologist whose work includes brain-computer interfaces translating brain signals into commands to control technology. When she has time, Christine Daigle is a multi-genre author whose latest release, Heavy Are The Stones, is a serial killer thriller co-authored with New York Times bestselling author J.D. Barker. She and Barker are also collaborating on a reboot of Flatliners, based on the original screenplay.In today's episode we discuss:· Their experience at Author Nation writers' convention.· The attention grabbing first line of Behind a Closed Door, “Would you kill a stranger to save your partner?”· Pushing sexual boundaries in books and movies.· The essential elements to writing a good thriller!· The research involved with the controversial book, Behind a Closed Door.· How to overcome writer's block.· Best advice for new writers or those writers trying to up their game.Check out Christine's website to learn more about her and her books!Head on over to J.D.'s website!Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!Check out my newest book, The Good Collar (Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series Book 1)!!!!!Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.Please visit the Cops and Writers website.Support the show
I recently attended Author Nation, the premier conference for self-published authors in Las Vegas. While it might seem like fiction authors and digital marketers are worlds apart, the lessons I learned prove otherwise. From innovative uses of AI to the art of leveraging "borrowed audiences" and creating content that captivates through curiosity, authors are blazing trails that marketers can follow. Join me as I share 10 game-changing insights from Author Nation that will inspire your digital marketing strategy in 2025 and beyond!Learn More: Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreads Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinforgrowth Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/freebies/ Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com
Episode 247 / We've both been traveling, so this week is a catch up episode about Jami's experience at Author Nation, the biggest author conference in the world, and Sara's cruise in the Mediterranean. Plus, details on Jami's surprise European vacation.Join us for a chat about connecting with other writers, author business phases, and special editions as well as the dangerous combo of wide-leg pants and escalators in Roman train stations.
Send us a textHave you ever attended a conference expecting one thing, only to leave with a completely different perspective? After returning from the electrifying Author Nation conference in Las Vegas, I was struck by a revelation that reshaped how I see my author and author educator journey. This isn't just about craft or strategy—it's about alignment, expansion, and knowing when to pivot. If you've ever felt like your path is evolving faster than you can keep up, this episode will resonate.In this episode of the Author Revolution Podcast, I'm sharing the surprising insight that came to me during Author Nation—an experience that felt like witnessing a past life. From energy shifts to big decisions, I discuss why it's essential to follow your intuition, even when it leads you in unexpected directions. Whether you're an author searching for purpose or simply curious about the intersection of mindset, manifestation, and transformation, this episode offers inspiration and clarity. Tune in to embrace the power of letting go and stepping into your next evolution.Exciting news, authors! My upcoming book, Write Your Reality, is kicking off soon on Kickstarter! This isn't just a book—it's a high-vibe journey into Quantum Manifestation and mindset mastery crafted for authors ready to transform their careers. Join the waitlist at authorrevolution.org/kickstarter and be the first to know when it launches. Get ready to manifest your dream author life! Are you an author at a crossroads, feeling stuck & unfulfilled in your author career? Do you know deep down it's time for a change, but you're unsure of the next step?The High Vibe Author is the only transformational membership designed specifically for authors like you—those who are ready to break free from limitations & step into the abundant life they deserve. Click here to learn more.Support the showThank you for tuning into the Author Revolution Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. For more insights and inspiration, visit Author Revolution. Don't forget to follow us on social media for updates and exclusive content: Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Go forth and start your author revolution!
Engage Readers and Grow Your InfluenceDiscover the power of group programs in this episode of Author Nation! Join us as we explore how group programs can engage your readers, boost your influence, and enhance reader success. Our guest, group program architect Kerry Dobson, shares her expertise in designing impactful group programs that benefit both authors and their readers.Key Takeaways from “Engage Readers and Grow Your Influence”Transform your book into a group program that builds lasting connections with readers.Learn the essentials to create impactful group programs and avoid common mistakes.Boost reader success through actionable steps and interactive support.Don't miss out on this insightful discussion! Visit www.authornation.com for more resources to grow your author journey, or check out this episode's show notes at this link:Building Influence and Engaging Readers through Group Programs - Author Nation
Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, James Blatch, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about renting shelves in bookstores, BQE Press Launches, the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards, and self-publishing's growing influence. Then, stick around for live questions at Author Nation! Author Ventures LLC is a Nevada limited liability company established to manage author networking and education events, as well as reader events. While a privately held company, we are advised by the indie author community. The community we serve helps select the content and the development of professional conduct at our events. Please review our Conduct of Code here. If you want to contact us, please reach out via email at hello@authorventuresllc.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/writersink/support
How can you write memoir with deep sensory detail? How does terroir in wine equate to the writer's voice? How can you manage your online presence while still protecting yourself from the haters? Multi-award-winning wine writer Natalie MacLean shares her tips. In the intro, initial thoughts on Author Nation 2024, photos from Death Valley @jfpennauthor, […] The post Writing Memoir And Dealing With Haters With Natalie Maclean first appeared on The Creative Penn.
Welcome to Author Nation! In this video, Melody Ann and guest Larry Mietus, "Chief Excuse Obliterator," discuss practical strategies for book marketing. If you're an author struggling with excuses and need tips on how to grow your reader base without feeling overwhelmed, this episode is for you. Larry shares his expertise on overcoming common marketing hurdles, how to stay disciplined, and creative ways to reach your audience.Key Takeaways:Overcoming common excuses that hold authors back from effective marketingDeveloping a disciplined approach to promoting your book every dayHow to market your book with small, consistent efforts and creative strategiesDiscover how small actions can lead to big success! Read more at https://authornationtube.com/small-effort-big-success-book-marketing/
Fall is here and authors will soon be packing their bags for Vegas! This year, the big conference to look forward to is Author Nation, being hosted for the first time by Joe and Suze Solari. Join us as we talk about what authors can expect from this new Vegas experience.//Draft2Digital is where you start your Indie Author Career// Looking for your path to self-publishing success? Draft2Digital is the leading ebook publisher and distributor worldwide. We'll convert your manuscript, distribute it online, and support you the whole way—and we won't charge you a dime. We take a small percentage of the royalties for each sale you make through us, so we only make money when you make money. That's the best kind of business plan. • Get started now: https://draft2digital.com/• Learn the ins, the outs, and the all-arounds of indie publishing from the industry experts on the D2D Blog: https://Draft2Digital.com/blog • Promote your books with our Universal Book Links from Books2Read: https://books2read.com Make sure you bookmark https://D2DLive.com for links to live events, and to catch back episodes of the Self Publishing Insiders Podcast.
In this episode, Matt & Lauren review the best ways to repurpose content for social media. They talk through reusing your existing social content, reposting other people's social content, and repurposing your book material as social content. Jump in to hear about Matt's recent appearance at Momentum and upcoming plans for Author Nation - or skip ahead to 13:50 to get right to the social media content strategies. Dive Deeper
On this episode of GoalChat, host Debra Eckerling talks about writing books with Scott Huver, author of Beverly Hills Noir; cozy, romance, fiction, and non-fiction writer Jessica Mehring; and Melody Owen of Author Nation. Whether you are writing long-form or short-form, fiction or non, writing has benefits for the author, as well as the reader. The panel discusses what led them to writing books; their approaches to the art, craft and promotion of writing; and more. Goals - Scott: Make a list of the people in your network who can help you accomplish your book goals - Melody: Start one conversation every day. And follow up - Jessica: Commit to writing something small every day Final Thoughts - Melody: If you have a book in you, don't let it sit - Jessica: There is nothing wrong with perfectionism - work with it, don't let it stop you from writing - Scott: Find the yes! If you believe in what you are doing, talk to whomever you need to until you find the yes Learn More About Scott Huver: Instagram.com/thehuve Jessica Mehring: JessicaMehringAuthor.com Melody Owen: AuthorNationTube.com Debra Eckerling: TheDEBMethod.com/Blog Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Custom and special edition books are more popular than ever - and more accessible than ever. In this episode, Lauren & Matt explore how indie authors can create custom editions of their self-published books. We look at popular customizations like sprayed edges, embellished covers, specialty bindings, and more! Love watching your podcasts? Publish & Prosper is now on video! Check us out on YouTube.Join us at Author Nation, November 11 - 15 at the Horseshoe in Las Vegas, Nevada!Dive Deeper
In this episode, Matt & Lauren help you maximize your book's potential with early readers like beta readers, sensitivity readers, and industry reviewers. We take a look at how and when to engage with them, how they can help your book, and what to offer them in return. Love watching your podcasts? Publish & Prosper is now on video! Check us out on YouTube.Join us at Author Nation, November 11 - 15 at the Horseshoe in Las Vegas, Nevada!Dive Deeper
In this episode, Lauren & Matt explore creative ways to boost book sales! Learn how limited editions, bundles, personalized products, and more can incentivize new and returning shoppers to buy directly from you - without resorting to discounts. Love watching your podcasts? Publish & Prosper is now on video! Check us out on YouTube. Join us at Author Nation, November 11 - 15 at the Horseshoe in Las Vegas, Nevada! Dive Deeper
Episode 234 / Liz Shipton is a freelance writer, hybrid author, and full-time, off-grid, liveaboard sailor. She shares how changing her lifestyle to become a digital nomad created more time for writing and how she uses Tik Tok to market her books.
How can you move past your limiting beliefs to find success as an author? How can you successfully self-publish in Germany? Andrea Wilk shares her thoughts in this episode. In the intro, how to cope with writer conferences [Ink in Your Veins]; Author Nation schedule; Conde Nast signs a licensing deal with OpenAI [Hollywood Reporter]; […] The post Author Mindset Tips And Publishing In Germany With AD Wilk first appeared on The Creative Penn.
Today's topic on Discover Rising Tides is Author Nation. First, we start with our Healthy Living, Happy Life segment with Denise Stegall. Today's topic is: Inspired Choices of W-I-N Jeanne Gallagher discusses Author Nation with our guest Melody Owen, Founder of Author Nation https://authornationtube.com/ Melody Ann is the founder of Author Nation and creator of the Book Success Blueprint. With experience in every facet of publishing, she simplifies the book-writing journey into five actionable stages. Author Nation offers comprehensive support, including writing sessions, coaching, workshops, resources, and office hours, making book publishing straightforward and fast. Melody has worked with both traditional and self-published authors. She has taught writing at universities and colleges in the Americas and Japan and hosts the weekly show, Author Nation Interviews. Melody is also a storyteller, having produced and performed her solo show, The Devil's Daughter. Submit Questions hello@discoverrisingtides.com Watch episodes at: discoverrisingtides.com
Today's topic on Discover Rising Tides is Author Nation. First, we start with our Healthy Living, Happy Life segment with Denise Stegall. Today's topic is: Inspired Choices of W-I-N Jeanne Gallagher discusses Author Nation with our guest Melody Owen, Founder of Author Nation https://authornationtube.com/ Melody Ann is the founder of Author Nation and creator of the Book Success Blueprint. With experience in every facet of publishing, she simplifies the book-writing journey into five actionable stages. Author Nation offers comprehensive support, including writing sessions, coaching, workshops, resources, and office hours, making book publishing straightforward and fast. Melody has worked with both traditional and self-published authors. She has taught writing at universities and colleges in the Americas and Japan and hosts the weekly show, Author Nation Interviews. Melody is also a storyteller, having produced and performed her solo show, The Devil's Daughter. Submit Questions hello@discoverrisingtides.com Watch episodes at: discoverrisingtides.com
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.
Indie Author Magazine (IAM) is on a mission to inform, educate, and inspire authors at every stage of their careers. Flip through the pages of any issue and you'll see thoroughly researched, unbiased content dedicated to helping authors build their businesses. But there's more to IAM than the magazine. Join us as publisher Chelle Honiker takes us on a journey exploring all that IAM has to offer, from the magazine, to Indie Author Training, podcasts, the Author Nation Conference and more! //Draft2Digital is where you start your Indie Author Career// Looking for your path to self-publishing success? Draft2Digital is the leading ebook publisher and distributor worldwide. We'll convert your manuscript, distribute it online, and support you the whole way—and we won't charge you a dime. We take a small percentage of the royalties for each sale you make through us, so we only make money when you make money. That's the best kind of business plan. • Get started now: https://draft2digital.com/• Learn the ins, the outs, and the all-arounds of indie publishing from the industry experts on the D2D Blog: https://Draft2Digital.com/blog • Promote your books with our Universal Book Links from Books2Read: https://books2read.com Make sure you bookmark https://D2DLive.com for links to live events, and to catch back episodes of the Self Publishing Insiders Podcast.
In this episode, Lauren is joined by Joe Solari, Managing Director of Author Nation, for our first-ever Publish & Prosper interview!Get excited for the Author Nation event coming to Las Vegas this November, take an inside look at CEX 2024, and hear Joe's thoughts on the future of indie publishing. Dive Deeper
Matty Dalrymple talks with Chelle Honiker about THE SALES FLYWHEEL, including what a sales flywheel is ... and what it is not; building a community through the flywheel; finding the nugget of humanity; the danger of teaching readers to expect free; sharing of yourself, but within parameters you set; building cyclical, not transactional, relationships; the importance of not emailing people only when you have something to sell them; and the flywheel approach to book launches. Interview video at https://youtu.be/msOKa4Bl7RM Show notes (including summary and transcript) at https://www.theindyauthor.com/240---the-sales-flywheel.html If you find the information in this video useful, please consider supporting The Indy Author! https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattydalrymple Chelle Honiker is an advocate for the empowerment of authorpreneurs, recognizing the importance of authors taking charge of both their craft and careers. She is the co-founder and publisher of Indie Author Magazine, IndieAuthorTraining, Indie Author Tools, and Direct2Readers.com; the programming director for the Author Nation conference; and a TEDx Organizer. Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she's learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors; her articles have appeared in "Writer's Digest" magazine. She serves as the Campaigns Manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors.
We're entering a new era for the indie author...In the last few years we've once more seen seismic shifts in the self-publishing industry. No one understands that better than author consultant Joe Solari, who recently took the reins of what was once the 20Books to 50k conference. Rebranding under the Author Nation banner, Joe has been on the front lines, helping authors marry their artistic dreams with concrete business goals. In this interview, we dive deep into the history of 20Books, the changes that are coming with Author Nation, and how Joe hopes to grow regional support around the largest author conference in the country. Joe Solari is a consultant for authors and publishers, known for his experience in business ownership, private equity, and fundraising. He holds a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Since 2016, he has been helping authors navigate the complexities of the publishing market and has written guides for this purpose. He the Managing Director of the Author Nation Conference and Co-founder of Cybercraft Studios.Joe SolariWebsite: https://www.authornation.live/2024tickets Twitter: https://twitter.com/author_nationInstagram: @author.nationFacebook: @authornationevents TikTok: @author.nationThe Author Wheel:Website: www.AuthorWheel.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorWheelGreta Boris:Website: www.GretaBoris.comFacebook: @GretaBorisAuthorInstagram: @GretaBorisMegan Haskell:Website: www.MeganHaskell.comFacebook & Instagram: @MeganHaskellAuthorTikTok: @AuthorMeganHaskell*****Thank you to our SponsorMany thanks go out to this week's sponsor, Stanley B. Trice. Check out his novel High School Rocket Science for Extraterrestrial Use Only on his website at https://stanleybtrice.com/. ⭐️ SUPPORT THE SHOW ⭐️If you're enjoying The Author Wheel Podcast, please consider supporting the show by clicking the link below! Your contribution helps us cover the ongoing expenses—like hosting and editing—that are critical to the creation of this podcast. Plus, you'll get a shout out on air and in the show note The Happy Writer with Marissa MeyerAuthors, from debuts to bestsellers, chat about books, writing, publishing, and joy. Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the Show.FREE Mini Email CourseHave you ever struggled to explain to others exactly what you write? Or wondered which of the many fiction ideas running through your brain you should tackle? If so, The Author Wheel's new mini-course might be your solution. 7 Days to Clarity: Uncover Your Author Purpose will help you uncover your core writing motivations, avoid shiny-thing syndrome, and create clear marketing language. Each daily email will lead you step by step in defining your author brand, crafting a mission statement, and distilling that statement into a pithy tagline. And, best of all, it's free. Click here to learn more!
Episode 211 / How do you live your best life through your writing career? We talk with Joe Solari about how to achieve author goals and how various business models, including direct sales and subscriptions, play into reaching those goals. We also discuss Author Nation, the largest indie author conference, and tips on how to have a great conference experience. New business models: direct sales, subscriptionsImpact of AI across industriesThe single factor that will attract readers to youStructure of Author Nation conference tracksWhat to do after the conference ends: why narrowing your focus is importantAuthor Nation: www.authornation.live Nov 11-15, 2024
ALLi Director Orna Ross welcomes the Alliance's newly appointed Business Adviser, Joe Solari. Listeners will get an insight into Joe's expertise and innovative vision for the indie publishing industry, followed by a detailed discussion about the upcoming Author Nation conference in Las Vegas, scheduled for November 2024, with early-bird tickets just released. Joe shares his exciting plans for the event, explains how it will differ from the 20Books conference, and what to expect if you attend this largest event in the world for indie authors. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our self-publishing advice center. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. Now, go write and publish! About the Hosts Orna Ross launched the Alliance of Independent Authors at the London Book Fair in 2012. Her work for ALLi has seen her named as one of The Bookseller's “100 top people in publishing”. She also publishes poetry, fiction, and nonfiction and is greatly excited by the democratizing, empowering potential of author-publishing. For more information about Orna, visit her website. Joe Solari assists authors in developing successful businesses as the managing partner of Author Ventures LLC. In his role as a business manager, he supports his private clients, who collectively achieved gross royalties of twenty-two million in 2023, with an average pre-tax profit of 44%. This remarkable success results from implementing disciplined business strategies and maintaining an unwavering dedication to enhancing the customer experience.
Join hosts J.D. Barker and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including more advances in Chat GPT and the rollout of Author Nation. Then, stick around as JP chats with thriller author Nick Petrie! Nick Petrie received his MFA in fiction from the University of Washington. His first novel, The Drifter, won the ITW Thriller and Barry Awards and was nominated for the Edgar, Anthony, and Hammett Awards. Now seven books into the series, his eighth and latest Peter Ash novel, The Price You Pay, releases tomorrow, February 6, and is available for preorder now. Check It Out! The Price You Pay - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-heavy-lift/18868754 Check out the first episode of the AuthorNation Podcast! - https://youtu.be/uUc3cDfofO4?si=CFHsUDucQd85TIMt More info on AuthorNation - https://www.authornation.live Show Links: Writers, Ink on YouTube! - https://www.youtube.com/@jdbarker_author/podcasts J.D. Barker - https://jdbarker.com/ Christine Daigle - https://www.christinedaiglebooks.com/ JP Rindfleisch IX - https://www.jprindfleischix.com/ Kevin Tumlinson - https://www.kevintumlinson.com/ Nick Petrie - https://nickpetrie.com/ TODAY'S SPONSOR: AutoCrit - https://www.autocrit.com/jd (click this link to take advantage of our Writers, Ink special offer!!!) Other Links Best of BookTok - https://bestofbooktok.com/ Booktrib - https://booktrib.com/author/writers-ink/ Music by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep Voice Over by Rick Ganley and recorded at Mill Pond Studio Website Design by Word & Pixel - http://wordandpixel.com/ Contact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/ *NOTE: Some of the links are affiliate links. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/writersink/support
Unlock the secrets of hybrid publishing with our latest Author Nation podcast!
Overdrive reports a record-breaking year for digital checkouts exceeding 662 million. 20Books Vegas may have seen their last year in 2023, but Author Nation founder, Joe Solari, is carrying on the annual conference with fresh ideas and new concepts. And, the Kindlepreneur Dave Chesson rolled out a new article about Keywords that Sell Books: Broad vs Niche Keywords. All that and more in the self-publishing news! The Self-Publishing Hub - https://theselfpublishinghub.com Join Channel Memberships - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl9CjdZQtzufqgYx0CidSbA/join Join my community at: Discord - http://dalelinks.com/discord Sources: OverDrive Users Borrowed 662 Million Ebooks, Audiobooks and Digital Magazines During 2023 - https://www.infodocket.com/2024/01/04/overdrive-users-borrowed-662-million-ebooks-audiobooks-and-digital-magazines-during-2023-19-increase-over-2022/ The Alliance of Independent Authors - https://dalelinks.com/alli (affiliate link) The Next Strategic Step On Your Author Journey And Author Nation With Joe Solari - https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2024/01/08/the-next-strategic-step-on-your-author-journey-and-author-nation-with-joe-solari/ Author Nation 2024 - https://www.authornation.live/ Publisher Rocket - https://DaleLinks.com/Rocket Keywords that Actually Sell Books: Broad vs Niche Keywords - https://kindlepreneur.com/broad-vs-niche-keywords/ Streetlib's Book Promo with Apple - https://r.send.streetlib.com/mk/mr/sh/7nVTPdZCTJDXP4ZFwEKPDuIkXZmlANG/48igcxiCcCdM Live Editing Session with Tom Bromley | Reedsy Learning - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/live-editing-session-with-tom-bromley-reedsy-learning-tickets-795988672547 Create Your Ultimate Authorship Plan for 2024 with Audrey Hughey - https://event.webinarjam.com/register/67/81yx3by6 The Ins and Outs of Self-Publishing with Melissa Addey - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEqcuyqqz8vHdP3v1kLzrvnliEHe62Ga6H2#/registration 6th Annual Women In Publishing Summit - https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/2024-women-in-publishing-summit-aff 100 Livestreaming & Digital Media Predictions, Volume 4 - https://geni.us/hxRW Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts
In this Author Nation episode, we delve into the world of recycling and book promotion tailored for nonfiction authors. Sarah Winkler, an expert in sustainable living, shares valuable insights on effective book promotion strategies and myth-busting realities. Join the conversation to explore the eco-friendly authorship journey, discover surprising recycling facts, and gain strategic tips for promoting your nonfiction book. Tune in for a blend of recycling wisdom and essential advice for authors navigating the promotional landscape.You'll Learn:Essential strategies to effectively promote your nonfiction book. How adopting eco-friendly practices can elevate your author brand. Insights into early audience building techniques. Practical tips on planning and executing a compelling book launch. Unexpected recycling facts and eco-friendly practices.Explore valuable insights and 3 actionable steps post-show at https://authornationtube.com/proven-strategies-for-book-visibility/
Wherever you are on the author journey, there are some important questions to consider along the way. Joe Solari outlines a strategic step forward for new authors, midlist indies, and those with ambitious financial goals. Plus, what is Author Nation? In the intro, Top 10 trends for publishing [Written Word Media]; Indie author predictions for […] The post The Next Strategic Step On Your Author Journey And Author Nation With Joe Solari first appeared on The Creative Penn.
A Conversation with Author Nation's Founder | The Book Success BlueprintEmbark on a transformative journey as Melody, founder of Author Nation, unveils the Book Success Blueprint—your roadmap to efficient and purposeful nonfiction authorship excellence! Learn about✔ Explore the five stages of the Book Success Blueprint: Author Roadmap, Wordsmith Mastery, Publish with Purpose, Launchpad to Success, and Book buzz Builder.✔ Uncover the importance of planning your book with a clear purpose and understanding your ideal reader.✔ Dive into the creative process of the wordsmith mastery stage, distinguishing between free-flow thinking and detailed problem-solving.✔ Learn about self-editing techniques and the role of beta readers in providing constructive feedback.For key highlights and actionable steps, visit: https://authornationtube.com/a-conversation-with-author-nations-founder
Author Nation represents the evolution, and future, of indie author conferences. Carrying the torch from 20Books Vegas, long regarded as the premier indie author event, Author Nation promises to take the indie author learning experience to the next level. And who better to have on board than Chelle Honiker, the publisher of Indie Author Magazine and now program manager at Author Nation. //Draft2Digital is where you start your Indie Author Career// Looking for your path to self-publishing success? Draft2Digital is the leading ebook publisher and distributor worldwide. We'll convert your manuscript, distribute it online, and support you the whole way—and we won't charge you a dime. We take a small percentage of the royalties for each sale you make through us, so we only make money when you make money. That's the best kind of business plan. • Get started now: https://draft2digital.com/• Learn the ins, the outs, and the all-arounds of indie publishing from the industry experts on the D2D Blog: https://Draft2Digital.com/blog • Promote your books with our Universal Book Links from Books2Read: https://books2read.com Make sure you bookmark https://D2DLive.com for links to live events, and to catch back episodes of the Self Publishing Insiders Podcast.
For five years, the 20Books Vegas conference has been a cornerstone in the indie author world, synonymous with growth, community, and innovation. It's been a vital hub where authors converge to share, learn, and envision their next big steps. But now, there's a shift on the horizon. The baton is being passed and it's heralding a new era for this much-loved event. With fresh leadership and renewed vision, the conference is poised to blend the familiar with the exciting unknown. In this pivotal moment, Episode 214 of the Author Revolution Podcast welcomes Joe Solari, the mind behind Author Ventures and the new architect of the Author Nation conference. We delve into the intricacies of this transition with Joe, discussing his book 'Advantage', the art of creating communities (and why they're so important), and his plans for the conference under Author Nation. Expect insights on maintaining the conference's cherished essence and the innovative changes poised to redefine this annual indie author gathering.
Today on the show we are chatting with the director of Author Nation, Joe Solari! Joe and Author Nation are taking the helm from Craig Martelle and the 20 Books to 50K Vegas Conference. 20 Books Vegas was the largest indie author conference and now Joe Solari and Author Nation have the epic task of keeping this amazing conference going and growing. Please enjoy my chat with Joe Solari.In today's episode we discuss:· Will there be cookies as big as manhole covers at Author Nation?· How Joe blended an MBA and a Fine Arts Degree into success. · What are some of the lessons learned and best practices that successful authors are now employing to maximize their author businesses? · Common errors you see authors make at the different stages of their careers and how to avoid them.· How do we stand out in such a crowded market? Is this going to transfer over to the conferences? If so, how and what will be the emphasis?· Why Joe Solari accepted the challenge of running the Author Nation conference.· What are your goals for the Author Nation conference going forward?learn more about Joe Solari and his work on his website.Check out Author Nation Live!Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.Please visit the Cops and Writers website. Do you enjoy gritty, action-packed real-life police dramas to get your fill of blood, heartache, and cop humor, and maybe even a little romance?I have partnered up with Michael Anderle and we have released a new crime fiction series called “Brew City Blues.” If you're a fan of Hill Street Blues, Southland, or Bosch you're going to love Brew City Blues! Brew City Blues is now live! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BLR7FX27Support the show
Today on the show we have returning champ, my friend and Superstar Author and director of the world's largest indie author conference, 20 Books Vegas, Craig Martelle. It was my pleasure to attend the last 20 Books Vegas run by Craig. I have gone to all the Vegas 20 Books conferences and have seen the positive impact these conferences have had on authors. Please enjoy my chat with Craig Martelle.In today's episode we discuss:· Craig's beginnings into writing after a career in the United States Marine Corps and being an attorney.· How he and Michael Anderle became fast friends and grew the 20 Books brand and conferences. · Why did he undertake such a humongous responsibility and personal financial risk for a not-for-profit conference?· How this conference literally has changed hundreds of author's lives for the better.· When did he know it was time to step down and walk away from this conference?· Words of wisdom for Joe Solari and Author Nation who will run the conference next year. · My personal gratitude to Craig and Michael for their friendship, partnership, and mentorship throughout the years. Learn more about Craig and his books on his website!Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.Please visit the Cops and Writers website. Do you enjoy gritty, action-packed real-life police dramas to get your fill of blood, heartache, and cop humor, and maybe even a little romance?I have partnered up with Michael Anderle and we have released a new crime fiction series called “Brew City Blues.” If you're a fan of Hill Street Blues, Southland, or Bosch you're going to love Brew City Blues! Brew City Blues is now live! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BLR7FX27Support the show
Last week I listened to a best-selling author give a masterclass on writing and content productivity tips. In this episode I go through the ones that impacted me the most. Show links: 20Books Author Kevin J. Anderson This episode is sponsored by Lulu.comBooks are among the top 3 most profitable and most utilized tactics to monetize content.Turning your content into a printed book with Lulu has never been easier. Create a free account today at Lulu.com to get started. ------- Like this episode? SUBSCRIBE on Apple, Spotify or Google. See all Content Inc episodes at the Content Inc. podcast home. Get my personal newsletter today and receive the first chapter of my new book for free.
Let's talk about marketing your book to get back into the swing of things. We've discussed before that writing a book can build the brand of business leaders, which can then drive revenue. To discuss success strategies, I'm joined by Melody Ann Owen of Author Nation to discuss the topic. Join us and check out Melody's company here: authornationtube.com Read this article on how to write a business book as well: https://www.christophtrappe.com/business-books-blog/
How many of you have had the idea that you might like to write a book someday but then you think, "OMG, I'm way too busy to take time out to write a book" or you might ask yourself, "who's going to read it?". Our guest, Melody Awnn Owen, will answer all these questions and help you understand that the writing and publishing process isn't quite as difficult as you think!Melody & I discuss:The big reason why most people who want to write a book, never publish that book. Why it might be important for lawyers, accountants, financial advisors & other professional experts to become an author.It seems everyone is writing a book. Is that true?Why do so many people want to write a book, but never publish?What we should all do before we start writing a book.What a creative practice is.How to develop a creative practice.With so many books on the market, how do we set ourselves apart? ABOUT MELODY ANN OWENMelody Ann helps leaders, speakers, and entrepreneurs get unstuck while writing their book and get answers to all their publishing questions without spending hours on Google so they can quickly write a successful book that their ideal clients will want to read, review, and recommend. She is passionate about allowing people to publish a high-quality, valuable book without reinventing the publishing process. Melody Ann is the Founder of Author Nation.Connect with Melody:Website (here)LinkedIn (here)Free resources (here)CONNECT WITH ME HERE:Leave me a voice message hereBook a Growth Strategy Session hereBe a guest on my show Profit Potential Audit hereP.S. Feel like you're Chief Everything Officer in your business?Sick and tired of constantly putting out fires?Are you finally ready to earn explosive profits and take multiple guilt-free vacations?If you've answered YES to any of the above, then I believe you'd be a perfect fit as a guest for my Profit Potential Audit interview on my podcast. Not only will you get at least one concrete strategy to move your business forward, but you'll also have the opportunity to increase your business's visibility when you share about the awesome work you do.APPLY here: Book a Profit Potential Audit Interview hereShare your feedback with me by clicking here and leaving a short voice message!
Many are doubting themselves that they can write a book. Overcoming self-doubt is a common challenge in creative pursuits. Our guest expert, Melody Owen, the founder of Author Nation, believes that story is embedded in our human existence, and that you have the stories and ideas you can share and to write in a book. In this episode, Melody shared some helpful tips on how you can turn your stories and expertise into a book. You can overcome hesitations and become the author you aspire to be.Don't miss:The key to having a book that people read, review and recommendHow you can turn your podcast into bookThe limitations of AI and how it can best help you as an author and as a podcasterThings to have in mind before you start writing a bookWhy you should not let the AI do the the entire job for youA book is a marriage of the author's goals and the readers goalsAbout Melody OwenMelody Owen is the go-to expert for speakers, leaders and entrepreneurs to help them pull out their expertise, put them into a book and take their business to the next level. She founded Author Nation, a community created for nonfiction authors, for people who have the expertise and the passion in their subject matter, and for entrepreneurs and professionals who need help getting their message and their story into the right hands. Author Nation is a go-to resource for becoming a successful nonfiction author, from planning to promotion and everything in between. Melody is also the host of Author Nation podcast, where she interviews authors and experts about writing, publishing, promoting books, and their book journey. Website: https://authornationtube.com/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/authornationYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/authornationResources:Get the #1 Blueprint to Grow a Podcast into a Networking Powerhouse HERE: www.amplifyou.com/blueprintAbout the Host:Michelle Abraham - Podcast Producer, Host and International Speaker.Michelle was speaking on stages about podcasting before most people knew what they were, she started a Vancouver based Podcasting Group in 2012 and has learned the ins and outs of the industry. Michelle helped create and launched over 30 Podcasts in 2018 and has gone on to launch over 200 shows in the last few years, She wants to launch YOURS in 2022!14 years as an Entrepreneur and 8 years as a Mom has led her to a lifestyle shift, spending more time with family while running location independent online digital marketing business for the last 9 years. Michelle and her family have been living completely off the grid lakeside boat access for the last 4 years!Check Us Out on:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMPLIFYOU.ca/Twitter: https://twitter.com/YouAmplifInstagram:
Changing the Narrative: Empowering Stories for a Brighter Future with Melody OwenIn this episode of Curiously Wise, Laurin engages in a transformative conversation with Melody Owen, a writer and publishing expert. They explore the power of stories, discussing the importance of understanding the narratives we tell ourselves and how they shape our lives. Melody shares insights on reframing stories, embracing emotions without judgment, and finding healing through writing. They delve into the significance of empathy and compassion, the role of fiction in expanding perspectives, and the transformative effects of changing one's narrative. Melody's community-based publishing solution, Author Nation, is introduced, along with her recommendation of the book "Just Mercy" by Brian Stevenson. In this episode we get curious about:The importance of understanding the stories we tell ourselves and how they impact our lives.The power of reframing stories and changing perspectives for personal growth and empowerment.The role of writing and journaling in healing and self-reflection.The significance of sharing personal stories and wisdom with others through writing and publishing.To learn more about our guest: Melody Ann helps memoir writers finish writing their books and decide whether to publish it or keep it for their own healing and records. She is passionate about supporting authors as they write their stories to change their internal story, empower themselves, and reconnect with their truth. Melody is the founder of Author Nation and is here today to give us the steps to empower ourselves and others through story.Website: Author Nation | Non-fiction Book Writing CoachFB: Author Nation | FacebookIG: https://www.instagram.com/authornationtube/LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melodyowen/Recommended Book(s):Just Mercy by Brian StevensonCreditsAudio Engineer: Sam WittigMusic: Where the Light Is by Lemon Music StudioPhotography & Design: Asha McLaughlin/Tej ArtTo learn more about Laurin Wittig and her work: https://HeartLightJoy.comCopyright 2023 Laurin Wittig
In today's episode, I am chatting with Melody Ann. Leaders, speakers and entrepreneurs leverage Melody Ann to unleash their expertise, finish writing their book and build their business to the next level. Melody is the Founder of Author Nation and is here today to talk to us about the art of storytelling and books she loves.
Create a Visual Budget for Authors | Your CEO dashboard Michelle Mitchell is an experienced business and financial coach who empowers women to create a successful and sustainable business doing what they love by bridging the gap between their passion and their profit.In this interview, Author Nation asks Michelle about The financial foundations that are essential for profitable business growth,The stories we tell ourselves about money, andKnowing and understanding what your numbers are telling you. Learn the steps to think like a CEO. Like this? Please like, comment and subscribe! ===============================================================
What does it mean to re-write your story? In a candid conversation with Melody Ann Owen, founder of Author Nation, we dive into the beauty of getting clear on your story and letting go or re-writing your past to better understand yourself and your place in the world now. Melody Ann shares her experience of growing up with labels that others placed on her as a result of being raised in a dysfunctional home. She shares the impact it had until she made the conscious decision to look at the story of her life and move forward with more intention. She offers beautiful insight into how to make peace with your past, and create a sense of purpose and fulfillment in your future by recognizing that the path forward is yours, in choice, and can be made with intention.We also talk about: - Writing for self vs. others - Mercy and forgiveness - Resilience and choice - Personal empowerment through stories - How to start your own writing path of healingAbout the Guest:Melody Ann helps memoir writers finish writing their books and decide whether to publish it or keep it for their own healing and records. She is passionate about supporting authors as they write their stories to change their internal story, empower themselves, and reconnect with their truth. Melody is the founder of Author Nation and is here today to give us the steps to empower ourselves and others through story.Visit her website: http://authornation.community/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/authornationInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/authornationtube/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melodyowen/About the Host: Tanya's mission is to create a legacy of self-love for women that reinforces trust in themselves through our programs, coaching, podcast, and book, The Trifecta of Joy! As Founder and creator of the Trifecta of Joy Philosophy, she combines over 30 years of research and work in various helping fields, to help you achieve your greatest successes!Using her philosophy of the Trifecta of Joy, her mission is to empower people through their struggles with the elements of awareness, befriending your inner critic and raising your vibe. This podcast is about sharing stories of imperfection moving through life to shift toward possibilities, purpose, and power in your life!Having had many wtf moments including becoming a widow, struggling with weight and body image issues, dating after loss, single parenting, remarriage, and blending families, Tanya is committed to offering you inspiration and empowerment – body, mind, and spirit! As a speaker, writer, and coach, Tanya steps into her life's purpose daily – to INSPIRE HOPE.Order your copy of the Trifecta of Joy – HELP yourself in a world of change right here.Get in touch with Tanya and follow the fun and inspiration in other places too!
Your Book Must Teach and Entertain | How to add humor to your writing // Neil Berliner is a comedy writer, comedy teacher, and medical doctor. He merges his passions on stage and in his charity work. Author Nation sits down with Neil to learn about his new book, Ha Ha History, and how and why all nonfiction authors should add humor to their writing. Like this? Please like, comment and subscribe! =======================================================
Build big relationships by hosting small gatherings for authors | The 2-hour cocktail party for authors // Nick Gray, author of The 2-Hour Cocktail Party, joins Author Nation to talk about hosting events, building relationships, and making everyone feel like they are the life of the party. In this interview we will discuss:Building big relationships by hosting small gatherings for author,Making your book launch feel like a cocktail party,Using TikTok to build relationships with readers, andYouTube shorts for nonfiction authors.Like this? Please like, comment and subscribe! =======================================================
Freedom for authors is in your systems // Systems simplify online marketing development so you can do more not just in your business but in your life. In this interview Author Nation chats with Sherri Coffelt about what systems busy authors need. They include: Scheduling system Email management systems Payment system Online marketing development Financial tracking system ===============================================================
Melody Owen, Founder of AUTHOR NATION - Changing the Publishing World! one Author & Reader at a time Connect with AUTHOR NATION below: https://www.authornation.online https://www.authornation.community https://www.authornationtube.com/join https://www.facebook.com/groups/authornation How to connect w Pink Cloud 9: Join Entrepreneurs FB Group & further promote your business here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pinkcloud9 If you would like to be on this vodcast™ show to promote your business/works/projects/books/etc contact here: https://linktr.ee/PinkCloud9 My audience: 75% women, global online but 75% USA, ages: 30-70, all industries & titles Read & Fill Out Form completely to be on this show here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfedtxI4thfhp-LKWwaR63Lu4JoP-6r2FuQyYkLLYcA0xxfRg/viewform Buy Me Coffee or Donate here: https://cash.app/$pinkcloud9ks or https://paypal.me/pinkcloud9ks or https://account.venmo.com/u/pinkcloud9ks You will receive a Thank You Gift directly from me Join us on Zoom here: Tues-Fri 9-4pm central, every hour on the hour basically, all over the world 75% USA (UK, Australia, Canada, etc) w thousands of businesses owners & FREE! 25% of my clients come from here: https://hnpabc.com/r/zqmcnfhl/networking #Entrepreneur & #Creatives #Promotional #Interviews #Marketing #Entrepreneurs #Creatives #CEO #vodcast #podcast #videopodcast #spotify #youtube #pinkcloud9 #pinkcloud9ks #garyvee #oprahwinfrey #tonyrobbins #brenebrown --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/pinkcloud9/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/pinkcloud9/support
Financial foundation for authors // Authors often struggle with building a solid financial foundation geared to supporting their writing. Not only that they need to contend with imposter syndrome while struggling with finances. Author Nation sits down with Mike Raber, business coach to talk about author finances, overpowering imposter syndrome, and moving from idea to influencer. Like this? Please like, comment and subscribe! ===============================================================
Stories fascinate me. I have been telling stories all my life, most of them true! I know the power of a story well told to change the lives of the people who hear it.I wear many hats but when you get to the core of what I do you will find an empathic, curious and community-minded human. I believe that no matter what I do – whether I am performing, writing, coaching or consulting – story is at my core. We all have stories and when we dig into them, we not only discover ourselves, but an entire community of people who have made us who we are today. https://www.melodyannowen.com/about-melody/
Trigger Warning - This episode contains discussions about child abuse; listener discretion is advised. When Melody was 16, she found out her father, a respected teacher in the community, had molested a friend of hers. It wouldn't be until 2012 that he was finally arrested and convicted of sexual assault on a minor.If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, depression, trauma, sexual abuse, or feeling overwhelmed, we've compiled a list of resources at https://secretlifepodcast.com______And check out his helpful list of Male Sex Abuse Survivor Websites:https://mentalpod.com/archives/4329______To share your secret and be a guest on the show email secretlifepodcast@icloud.com_____SECRET LIFE'S TOPICS INCLUDE addiction, recovery, mental health, alcoholism, drug addiction, sex addiction, love addiction, OCD, ADHD, dyslexia, eating disorders, debt & money issues, anorexia, depression, shoplifting, molestation, sexual assault, trauma, relationships, self-love, friendships, community, secrets, self-care, courage, freedom, and happiness._____Melody Ann is fascinated by stories. She has been telling stories all her life, most of them true! She knows the power of a story well told to change the lives of the people who hear it.Melody Ann is the founder of Author Nation, where she helps people turn their ideas into published books. She offers support, resources, and inspiration to aspirational and ambitious professionals looking to add authorship to their list of accomplishments. Links: Author Nation Community: http://authornation.communityYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/authornationInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/authornationtube/______Brianne's novel: SECRET LIFE OF A HOLLYWOOD SEX & LOVE ADDICT Check out the website: Secret Life Novel or buy it on Amazon______HOW CAN I SUPPORT THE SHOW?Tell Your Friends & Share Online!Follow, Rate & Review: Apple Podcasts | SpotifyFollow & Listen iHeart | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | Amazon | PandoraSpread the word via social mediaInstagramTwitterFacebook#SecretLifePodcastDonate - You can also support the show with a one-time or monthly donation via PayPal (make payment to secretlifepodcast@icloud.com) or at our WEBSITE.Connect with Brianne Davis-Gantt (@thebriannedavis)Official WebsiteInstagramFacebookTwitterConnect with Mark Gantt (@markgantt)Main WebsiteDirecting WebsiteInstagramFacebookTwitterAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Melody Ann Owen is a content strategist and storyteller. Story is at the center of human connection, whether you want to make a sale, or convince your partner to go to your favorite restaurant. While travelling and working in Asia and South America, Melody Ann lived the stories of the places she visited and the people she met. Now back in Canada, Melody Ann works with businesses and entrepreneurs to help create messages that matter, and develop content that creates connections. She is on a mission to help make networking more fun by convincing entrepreneurs to tell stories during their 30 second introductions. Melody Ann Owen is also the founder of Author Nation, a community for nonfiction authors who want to create their own success, on their terms. The community includes a YouTube channel, podcasts, and a live interview show every Thursday. Members also enjoy community write-ins, resources, workshops, and webinars. When Melody Ann is not creating content and supporting Authors, she is meandering in the mountains, creating new stories. LINKS: Author Nation Website: https://authornationtube.com/ (https://authornationtube.com/) Free Resources for Authors: https://authornationtube.com/resources/ (https://authornationtube.com/resources/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_SQx8tBlcAN-JVMIF53s3A (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_SQx8tBlcAN-JVMIF53s3A) Nutritious Truth Website: https://nutritioustruth.com (https://nutritioustruth.com) Email: melody@authornationtube.com Mentioned in this episode: Get my MP3 I have recorded my book in audio form. Get your copy for free at https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com Network without talking to strangers Did you know that you can network without ever talking to a stranger? It's true. Networking is not about awkward conversations and elevator pitches. It is about making connections and creating value. I'll teach you how in a two minute video at https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/innercircle
Melody Owen – is an Amazing Warrior. Her Warrior journey began in Ontario on a beef cattle farm, after university she traveled to Japan and South America living and working in Peru as a teacher and member of Oxford University Press. After giving birth to her first child and terrorism in Peru she moved back to Vancouver. After running a college English program, studying computer science and working in the “dot com bubble” in the early 2000s she started her own business and never looked back. Today, Melody Ann Owen - is the founder of Author Nation, a community where authors support authors where she has helped hundreds of authors, bring their books into the world, getting them into the hands of readers. She works with professionals and entrepreneurs to create books and other content that helps spread the message of the business, helping it to grow and flourish.
Do you want to know how to best shoot videos even if it scares you?Listen as Melody Ann Owen, founder of Author Nation, shares powerful tips and techniques to help you overcome your fear of the camera so you can make great promotional videos.In this week's powerful episode "How To Best Shoot Videos Even If It Scares You" you will discover...Why authors need to use video to connect with their tribeHow to overcome the fear of looking into the camera lensSuggestions for inexpensive, effective equipment to give you that professional touchThe best places to promote your videosAnd a whole lot more...Here's how to contact Melody Ann to find out more about her services.Get more gems from other guest experts, when you become a Book Marketing Mentors Premium Member today!
Calling all authors and writers! Jennifer Henczel interviews Melody Owen of Author Nation. Women in Podcasting Show - Listen to the podcast and watch the videos www.womeninpodcasting.show Women in Podcasting Club - If you're not a member yet, join our community for tools and strategies for monetizing your podcast and up-leveling your life. www.womeninpodcasting.club Women in Podcasting Members login here for all your perks, checklists, templates, workbooks, journals and guides: www.inspiredinfluencers.com/wip-club
Welcome to today's episode of the Create a Life You Love video podcast! The featured guest today was Melody Owen. Melody is a storyteller and story coach, who shared tips to reclaim your story, own it and move forward as the lead in your own life. She uses a narrative approach to help individuals, authors, and entrepreneurs own and tell their stories whether they want to understand their own narrative or share their story with the world. When she is not story coaching, she runs a YouTube channel and community for nonfiction authors called Author Nation. We had so much fun digging into topics such as: Where our internal narrative comes from Why we hold on to stories that no longer serve us How we can change our internal narrative and so much more! You can connect with her at: https://www.melodyannowen.com/ https://www.facebook.com/melodyowen https://www.instagram.com/authornationtube/ https://www.instagram.com/omelodyann/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_SQx8tBlcAN-JVMIF53s3A And be sure to check out her website to see her upcoming events, resources, and workshops: https://www.melodyannowen.com/ SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Have you saved your seat yet for the FREE Purpose and Impact Bootcamp? Come discover your purpose, uncover your unique talents and skills, and step into 2022 with clarity so that you can create the fulfilling life of impact that you've always dreamed of. You can get more details and save your seat at https://calylroadmap.com/PIB The host of the podcast, Chantal Cox, is the author of "Create a Life You Love: 10 Healthy Habits to Transform Your Life Now," and founder of Create a Life You Love Coaching. She specializes in helping women connect with their purpose so that they can live an aligned and fulfilling life of impact. You can find out more at: https://createalifeyoulovecoaching.com If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone that you think would benefit from it. Also, leaving a podcast review is always so very appreciated. You can quickly and easily leave a review from any device by going to RateThisPodcast.com/calyl. Enjoy the Journey, Chantal CreateaLifeYouLoveCoaching.com
In this episode, I interview Melody Owen about storytelling and its power. Melody is an entrepreneur and founder of Author Nation. She is the author of a memoir, The Devil's Daughter. We talk about editing, writing, and journaling among other things. Melody wears many hats. She is a performer, writer, coach and consultant at her core. Melody believes we all have stories and when we dig into them, we not only discover ourselves, but an entire community of people who have made us who we are today. Links: For Entrepreneurs https://nutritioustruth.com/ For Authors https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_SQx8tBlcAN-JVMIF53s3A https://authornationtube.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/authornation https://www.instagram.com/authornationtube/ For Storytellers and writing coaching https://www.melodyannowen.com/ https://www.instagram.com/omelodyann/ https://www.facebook.com/melodyowen