Podcasts about indie publishing

Pellerin Books founders Laura Palmer and Jessie Sullivan on how readers discover books now, where to put your marketing money, and why the quality of the book still decides everything.You'll learnThe rule that quietly decides which authors get a publisher's time, budget and attention.Why the first question about marketing a book is never “how?”How to research your readers and your market without paying for a single tool.The metric that makes an ad campaign look like it is working when nothing is.What a cover and a developmental edit should cost, and the one place never to skimp.Why raising your ad budget too fast makes it perform worse, not better.How subscription reading changed what a sagging middle chapter costs a writer.Whether a publisher actually cares how many followers you have.Three books on writing that between them cover almost everything, and the two-word rule that keeps readers turning pages.Why you cannot keyword your way into a reader's life in the age of AI search.Resources & Links

Watch as a full video episode on YouTubeOn this week's episode, we are talking about MrBeast & James Patterson's apparent book flop, and wondering if publishers will learn that social media following doesn't translate into book sales. Plus, we talk about the Self-Publishing Partnership's collapse, and discuss how NOT to behave at conventions after stories of a very pushy author came out of WorldCon.00:00 Intro01:02 From the Slush Pile - Listener Comments17:43 Self-Publishing Panic - Another Unbound?26:09 WorldCon Drama - When the Hustle Goes Wrong34:02 MrBeast Book Bomb - Is Publishing The Most Dangerous Game?42:45 Stranger Than Fiction - Nadine's Idea Factory45:19 The Final Chapter - Entertainment Catch-upLinks:Almost 100 authors affected by Self-Publishing Partnership collapseIs There a Wrong Way to Chase Your Dreams?Is MrBeast and James Patterson's Novel Collaboration Headed for a Disastrous Debut?South Korean police officer admits to closing missing person cases to avoid workAdventures in Publishing-land is brought to you by STET Podcasts - the one stop shop for all your writing podcast needs, featuring Page One - The Writer's Podcast, The Conversation with Nadine Matheson and more! Find all our shows here!Follow us on BlueskyFollow us on InstagramBuy the Book: The Shadow CarverBuy me a cup of coffee ☕️ | Buy books by my guestsFollow Me Bluesky | Substack | Instagram | Facebook | Threads Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before a novel hits shelves, some authors are inviting readers into the process—one chapter at a time. This episode explores pre-publication serialization with novelist Matty Dalrymple, who's serialized her twelfth and latest novel to subscribers. We dig into: · For authors: real-time reader feedback, revision insight, and built-in pre-launch buzz · For readers: early access, behind-the-scenes author notes, and a voice in shaping the story · Why it builds loyalty: daily engagement, milestone rewards, and a shared sense of journey between author and audience //Draft2Digital is where you grow 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. • 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.

How human are you when your body can be replaced?Australian comic creator Stephen Kok of SigmaTestudio joins The USDN Podcast for an in-depth conversation about TRANSHUMAN Vol. 4: Betrayal, human augmentation, comic book lettering, crowdfunding, and the realities of creating independent comics.At the center of TRANSHUMAN is Rivka, a former soldier living in a world where technology can repair, augment, and increasingly replace the human body. But if our bodies can be replaced piece by piece, what actually makes us human?Stephen takes us inside the philosophy and science fiction behind TRANSHUMAN, Rivka's evolution across four volumes, and what Volume 4: Betrayal means for the next chapter of her story.We also go deep into Stephen's work as a professional comic book letterer. In an extended discussion on the art and psychology of lettering, Stephen breaks down how word balloons guide a reader's eye, how lettering affects pacing and storytelling, why placement matters, and how great lettering becomes an invisible part of the comic-book reading experience.Stephen also shares lessons from more than a decade of independent comics, Kickstarter fulfillment, building trust with crowdfunding backers, measuring campaign success by readers instead of dollars, and why creators need to stop waiting and start making their work.FOLLOW STEPHEN KOK / SIGMATESTUDIOWebsite: https://sigmatestudio.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sigmatestudioInstagram - @eskay8888: https://www.instagram.com/eskay8888/Kickstarter - TRANSHUMAN Vol. 1-4: Betrayal: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1917428739/transhuman-vol-1-to-4-betrayal-sci-fiPROTECT YOUR COLLECTION WITH BCW SUPPLIESLooking for comic book bags, boards, boxes, storage, and other supplies to protect your collection?USDN is a BCW Supplies Affiliate. When you shop through our affiliate link or use code USDN, your purchase helps support The United States Department of Nerds at no additional cost to you.Shop BCW Supplies: https://www.bcwsupplies.com/?acc=usdnAffiliate Code: USDNAs a BCW Supplies Affiliate, USDN may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through our affiliate link or code.SUPPORT THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF NERDSThe USDN Podcast puts independent comic creators, writers, artists, publishers, and creator-owned comics in the spotlight.Subscribe or follow the show wherever you listen to podcasts and join the Council of Nerds.Find USDN everywhere: https://linktr.ee/usdn_podcastThe USDN Podcast - Where Indie Comics Come to Life.

Everybody seems to be telling entrepreneurs to write a book.Write it in a weekend. Use AI. Upload it to Amazon. Become a bestselling author. Watch the clients roll in.Except…that's not quite how it works.This week on Casa De Confidence, Julie sits down with publishing expert Ally Machate, founder of The Writer's Ally, to pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to write and publish a book that supports your business, serves your reader, and creates lasting impact.With experience that includes working at Simon & Schuster and helping authors navigate the publishing process, Ally challenges one of the biggest assumptions in entrepreneurship: just because you can write a book doesn't necessarily mean you should—or that the book you're planning is the right one.Ally explains why the first question shouldn't be “What should I write?” but rather “What do I want this book to do?”Do you want it to attract clients? Generate speaking opportunities? Grow your email list? Establish thought leadership? Change the way people think about an issue?That answer changes everything.Julie also gets personal about her own publishing experience, including what she would do differently, the emotional reality of receiving developmental edits, and why publishing her book ultimately opened doors far beyond book sales.In This EpisodeWhat You'll HearWhy not every entrepreneur needs to write a bookThe difference between publishing a book and publishing a book people actually want to readWhy identifying your reader comes before writingHow a book can support your larger business strategyWhy your book is a product—not your babyWhat developmental editing actually doesWhy copyediting alone isn't enoughWhere AI can help authors—and where it still falls shortHow to create a transformational journey for your readerThe “macrocosm and microcosm” approach to structuring nonfictionTraditional publishing vs. hybrid publishing vs. DIY self-publishingWhat Ally calls supported indie publishingWhy distribution, ISBNs, Amazon KDP, and IngramSpark matterWhy giving books away can sometimes be smarter than selling themHow books create opportunities for coaching, consulting, speaking, and visibilityWhy becoming a bestseller isn't the only—or even necessarily the best—definition of publishing successOne of Ally's most important reminders?“If you're talking to everyone, you're connecting with no one.”Before investing months—or years—writing your book, get clear about the person you're writing for and what you want the book to accomplish.Because the goal isn't merely to become a published author.It's to write the right book.

Tara from Author Support joins the D2D Team to answer author questions and bust common myths about publishing with Draft2Digital. //Draft2Digital is where you grow 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. • 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.

Christopher Reda joins the USDN Podcast to discuss the growth of Critical Entertainment, expanding into comic shops across the United States and Canada through Universal Distribution, the creation of the Indie Comic Alliance, the Zombie Zero Deluxe Hardcover campaign, Patriot Comic Books, K-Toon Studios, and the future of independent publishing.From building a catalog of original comics to creating new opportunities for independent publishers and reaching readers through retail, crowdfunding, and new publishing imprints, Christopher shares what it takes to grow an independent comic book company while maintaining its creative identity.In this episode, we explore Critical Entertainment's move into wider distribution, the mission behind the Indie Comic Alliance, bringing the complete Zombie Zero series to hardcover through Zoop, adapting films into graphic novels through Patriot Comic Books, bringing K-Comics to English-speaking audiences through K-Toon Studios, and what's next for Critical Entertainment.Topics Covered:• Christopher Reda and Critical Entertainment• Expanding into comic shops through Universal Distribution• The creation and mission of the Indie Comic Alliance• Zombie Zero Deluxe Hardcover Edition• Crowdfunding through Zoop• Taking Zombie Zero beyond comics• Patriot Comic Books• Adapting Blackout and God Is a Bullet from film to comics• K-Toon Studios and bringing K-Comics to new audiences• Building and growing an independent comic publisher• What's next for Critical EntertainmentSupport Zombie Zero - Deluxe Hardcover Edition:https://zoop.gg/c/zombiezeroVisit Critical Entertainment:https://www.criticalentertainmentla.com/Explore the Indie Comic Alliance:https://indiecomicalliance.com/Visit Patriot Comic Books:https://www.patriotcomicbooks.com/Follow Critical Entertainment:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/criticalentertainmentFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/criticalentertainment

One hero was only the beginning.Lo Plater, creator, writer, and founder of Dark City Comics & Multimedia, returns to the Council of Nerds to discuss E.P.I.C. #2: ARISE ALPHAS - Part 1 and the expansion of the Dark City Universe.When Lo first joined USDN, we introduced Chris Tayborne, a young archaeology student transformed by the ancient cosmic technology known as the Alpha Bands. Since then, E.P.I.C. #1 has gone from Kickstarter campaign to fulfilled comic, giving Lo firsthand experience with the realities of producing, crowdfunding, and delivering an independent comic.Now the story is getting much bigger.The activation of the Alpha Bands has awakened the mysterious Alpha Strand, triggering the emergence of super-powered Alpha Humans around the world. Some will become heroes. Some will become villains. Others will fall somewhere in between.Lo takes us inside the mythology behind the Alpha Strand, how Chris responds to discovering that his transformation wasn't an isolated event, and why building the Dark City Universe means creating a world that extends far beyond E.P.I.C. himself.We also get into the realities of independent comic publishing: Kickstarter fulfillment, unexpected shipping costs, communicating with backers, building the right creative team, planning rewards, printing and distribution, direct-to-consumer relationships, supporting fellow indie creators, and why Lo believes creators are ambassadors for independent comics.With multiple characters and projects already being developed across the Dark City Universe, ARISE ALPHAS - Part 1 represents the next step toward the larger world Lo envisioned when he first entered the Council.E.P.I.C. #2: ARISE ALPHAS - Part 1 heads to Kickstarter in September 2026.

Kevin Tumlinson, the Wordslinger, is back on the StoryCraft Cafe. We both came up during the first Kindle wave, and lately we've both felt it: that scrappy, take-the-bull-by-the-horns indie spirit is back, and a lot of it is being driven by what's happening in traditional publishing right now. We talk about why authors are walking away from trad deals, why AI detectors are a scam with a subscription button, how the Claude watermark actually works, and Kevin's best advice for new authors: forget the world and go own your fifty-mile radius. In This Episode The indie spirit is back (00:00) — Hank on the early David-and-Goliath days, the hybrid years, and why that energy is brewing again. What Kevin's up to (03:00) — The Wordslinger Podcast every Thursday, Ten Shots, and the new Story Cuts, reviewing movies and shows from a novelist's point of view. Back to the Wild West (04:40) — Draft2Digital's new $20 onboarding fee, and how the AI witch hunt has circled indie publishing back to its earliest days. AI as a writer's room (06:00) — Hank uses a chatbot like a friend across the coffee table for ideation. Nobody clicks a button and gets 80,000 words. Kevin remembers the same panic over Photoshop and CGI. Guilty until proven innocent (11:40) — The $2.4 million deal an agent pulled over an AI accusation. One more gate, and no law behind it. Hundreds of Kevin's viewers have given up on trad because of it. AI detectors are a racket (14:50) — A clean manuscript flagged "100% AI," then an upsell to "humanize" it. How the Claude watermark works (16:55) — Statistical word choices that add up across a fully generated manuscript. It can flag AI text, but it can't name the user. And you shouldn't be generating your book anyway. Assistive technology isn't cheating (19:10) — Non-native speakers, writers with disabilities, and a quadriplegic author who dictates his books. Never submit what the machine spits out, but don't demonize the tool. Add a unicorn, blow up the spaceship (22:10) — Two pieces of get-unstuck advice that still hold after fifteen years. Own your fifty miles (23:45) — A thousand true fans will support a career, so why hunt them worldwide? Kevin set out to be Austin's thriller writer: every bookstore, every farmers market, local ads. Then expand twenty-five miles at a time. How to become unavoidable (29:30) — Copies in every county library, friends at every bookshop, signings at coffee shops. You can't do that nationally on $500 a month, but you can at home. Hank's rural county has 100,000 people. Direct sales and the Amazon basket (32:30) — Build your store early but don't push it as the only way to buy. Let retailers do discovery, keep the email list growing, and have the storefront ready for the day Amazon shuts you off. School visits and Paolini (36:25) — Kevin's hundred talks at Houston schools moved a few thousand copies in three months. Eragon got found the same way. Trad math doesn't work (43:15) — Smaller advances, higher expectations, spine-out shelving, and no backup when accusations come. Kevin's direct store pays 97%. If you're the engine anyway, keep the money. Where publishing is headed (46:30) — The most divided Kevin has seen the industry since the early days. In five years the labels stop mattering. Indie and trad are merging, and the future is bright. Links Kevin's hub for books, Substack, and podcasts: kevintumlinson.com The Wordslinger Podcast, Ten Shots, and Story Cuts on YouTube The Writers, Ink podcast Draft2Digital Kevin Kelly, "1,000 True Fans" "If you can just dominate local, you will make a living." — Kevin Tumlinson Try out Dabble free for 14 days and see why it's the best writing tool on the planet—no credit card required! Visit our website at www.dabblewriter.com to get started. Subscribe to our channel for more live events like author interviews, Writing Sprint Wednesdays, Feedback Fridays, and Fireside Chats. We're all about helping authors hone their craft with engaging, fun, and educational content. On top of all that, Dabble Premium members get access to exclusive content like Craft Q&A Office Hours, Wordsmith Workshops, Deep Dive articles, bonus resources, and guest speaker workshops. Happy writing! #IndiePublishing #SelfPublishing  #AuthorTube #KevinTumlinson #StoryCraftCafe #Wordslinger #WritingCommunity #WritingTips #WritingAdvice #AIandWriting #AIDetection #Draft2Digital #BookMarketing #DirectSales #1000TrueFans

In this episode, we delve into new data from Edison Research that found U.S. fiction audiobook listeners prefer Spoken's multi-cast AI narration to that of human narrators. The study surveyed over 1,000 fiction audiobook listeners who blind-tested human narration against Spoken's Multi-Cast™ AI narration. To help us understand the data, we're joined by Phil Marshall, founder of Spoken, and Megan Lazovick, vice president at Edison Research.  In this episode we discuss:  • The methodology behind the research  • The key results — favorability, engagement, and listener sentiment before and after  • Whether listener willingness to try AI narration was measurably impacted  • When to consider human narration vs. AI narration  • What this means for authors and publishers considering AI narration //Draft2Digital is where you grow 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. • 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.

Liberty Speidel Hardt is a Kansas City-based author who writes urban fantasy mysteries featuring characters so persistent they literally won't shut up until their stories hit the page. With 13 published titles and a voice that's equal parts solid, funny, and quirky, she combines supernatural elements with gritty crime-solving in stories that refuse to look away from darkness but always point toward hope. When she's not crafting plot twists, Liberty is an avid D&D player, knitter, Star Wars nerd, and busy mom who shares her chaotic creative household with her author husband Joshua, a rowdy cat, and an equally rowdy dog. Check out Liberty's website here: https://libertyhardt.substack.com/Find Liberty's books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Liberty-Speidel/author/B00HRJRL4UJoin Becky Grogan's The Writer's Pulse to get personalized marketing help for your book! https://www.beckythebookcoach.com/marketing-groupcoachingWant to find out about the WorldShift summit and start your author newsletter? Click on my affiliate link: https://worldshift2026.manyworldswriting.com/?ac=qsMLoX5NWant to be on Pencils&Lipstick? https://www.katcaldwell.com/contactSign up for my writers' newsletter to learn more about the craft of writing, know when my workshops are and be the first to get exclusive information on my writing retreats. https://katcaldwell.com/writers-newsletterWant more information on my books, author swaps, short stories and what I'm reading? Sign up for my readers' newsletter. https://storylectory.katcaldwell.com/signup You can always ask me writing questions on instagram @author_katcaldwell

Bobby Campbell returns to the USDN Podcast to discuss Tales of the Illuminatus #3: Opus Chao and the journey of bringing the legacy of Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson's Illuminatus into comics.Bobby joins The Chairman to look back at how the series has evolved from Issue #1 to Issue #3, how his creative process has changed, and the challenge of honoring the original Illuminatus material while finding his own voice within its world.The conversation also dives into the realities of independent comics and crowdfunding. Bobby discusses why building a growing readership matters more to him than simply raising more money, how comic production has changed during his years in the industry, mistakes new creators make when starting out, and why creators preparing for Kickstarter should get as much of their book finished as possible before launching.We also explore Opus Chao, what makes Issue #3 different, where Tales of the Illuminatus goes next, and what Bobby hopes readers ultimately take away from the series.Support Tales of the Illuminatus #3: Opus Chao and Late Pledge on Kickstarter:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bobbycampbell/tales-of-illuminatus-3-opus-chaoExplore Tales of the Illuminatus:https://talesofilluminatus.com/Follow Bobby Campbell:BlueSky:https://bsky.app/profile/bobbycampbell.netInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/bobbycampbell777/

Sometimes discovery writing leads to dead ends, character inconsistency, or stories that wander off track. USA TODAY Bestselling Author Paul Austin Ardoin joins us with tips to help pantsers looking for practical tools to strengthen their stories without losing what makes them discovery writers. //Draft2Digital is where you grow 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. • 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.

How can you tell where the real innovation in publishing is happening right now, and why is it emerging from the indie side first? How do you market your own book when you've spent 35 years marketing everyone else's? John Bond talks about Going Indie and what he's learned about authors who last. In the intro, my thoughts on writing with AI, Charles Dickens and encouragement for the 3-year-old dancing to K-Pop at the wedding, UK copyright law, The end of an era — Hugh Howey; Notre Dame, Paris; Today's show is sponsored by Bookfunnel, the essential tool for your author business. Whether it's delivering your reader magnet, sending out advanced copies of your book, handing out ebooks at a conference, or fulfilling your digital sales to readers, BookFunnel does it all. Check it out at bookfunnel.com/thecreativepenn This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn John Bond is the co-founder of Whitefox, a premium publishing services agency, and has over 35 years in traditional publishing, from bookselling to marketing and management. He's also the co-author of Going Indie: Publishing Your Book Your Way, with James Silver. 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 Why 2012 was a watershed moment for publishing in the UK Whether the snobbery around self-publishing has finally gone How to co-write a book with someone, and why there's no formula The pride swallowing involved in getting endorsement quotes for your own book The shadow economy of indie sales that no industry chart measures The hallmarks of writers who build a long-term career You can find John at wearewhitefox.com. Transcript of the interview with John Bond Jo: John Bond is the co-founder of Whitefox, a premium publishing services agency, and has over 35 years in traditional publishing, from bookselling to marketing and management. He's also the co-author of Going Indie: Publishing Your Book Your Way, with James Silver. So welcome back to the show, John. John: Thank you, Jo. Thanks so much for having me. Jo: You were last on the show in 2022. You've been on a couple of times, but just set the scene. Tell people a bit more about you and your long background in publishing. John: I suppose I could say I started as a marketing manager at Penguin back in the early 1990s in London, and that role eventually evolved into running sales and marketing, as it often does. I did that at Penguin and at HarperCollins. Then I ran one of the publishing divisions at HarperCollins, including 4th Estate, and published Hilary Mantel and Jonathan Franzen and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and others. I left that in 2011 and set up Whitefox in 2012, and it's a classic startup story. It was somebody I worked with at HarperCollins. We sat around a kitchen table, came up with an idea for a business, which was Whitefox, and that's grown into the creative agency that it is today. Jo: So back then, did you think, “I can do this better”? Was that the impetus, “I can do publishing better than Penguin and HarperCollins”? John: No, I thought we would solve a problem. There's something very attractive about that whole startup mentality and beginning something from scratch. I mean, I was in my early 50s. I'd had a long career in traditional publishing. On the plus side, I knew a lot of people, and I thought I could get meetings, people would reply to my phone calls or my emails. On the downside, I didn't necessarily have the energy of a 20 to 25-year-old. I knew a lot of people and I knew quite a lot of things, and I also knew what problems something like Whitefox could solve. We set up with this idea that if we could galvanise and organise the diaspora of freelancers in the publishing space and make them available to anybody that wanted to make a book, that that would be quite a powerful thing. These incredibly creative, wonderful people who were below the radar and were not particularly valued or managed or utilised properly. I thought if we could access that and make that available not just to traditional publishing people who know about these people, but to individual authors, businesses, brands, people that wanted to make a book, and if you added a layer of our expertise from traditional publishing, that could be quite powerful, I suppose. That's what I was thinking back then. Jo: It's funny, though. You said these wonderful freelancers who were not particularly valued or managed or utilised properly. That could also apply to a lot of authors in traditional publishing. John: Totally. Totally. But if I'm honest, I don't think I was thinking about that. What's really evolved since we started, even in that 2011, 2012 period, is so much has happened to independent writers, indie authors. The whole ecosystem has become much more vibrant, and what is accessible to those writers is much greater. I'd like to think we've played a part in that. What that's done is put power back into writers' hands, and that quickly became apparent in the business as a byproduct of what we'd set up. Jo: Yes, and 2012 I do think in the UK was a pivot point, because I got into self-publishing in 2006/2007 when the Americans did with the beginning of the Kindle and the iPhone. Really the American ecosystem grew first. I happened to be in Australia, and so I think I was able to escape the negativity of the vortex in the UK, which took a number more years to embrace self-publishing as a force to be reckoned with as opposed to an embarrassing thing in the corner for vanity press. Do you see 2012 as a changing point in UK publishing? John: I think we'd just come out of the Kindle moment, hadn't we? There were all sorts of conversations going on about how that was going to change things forever. I think no one quite knew what the upshot of that was going to be, but we knew that it was incredibly disruptive. In 2012, Penguin, as it was then, before Penguin Random House, had offered to buy Author Solutions for $115 million, presumably seen as some kind of defensive measure as to what the market was going to evolve into. I think it felt like a real period of change. In the UK, James Daunt took over running Waterstones, and he was then ultimately going to run Barnes & Noble. It felt like a bit of a watershed. I think we were lucky in that sense, that maybe in the UK and in London, what we were creating coincided with an opening up of opportunity and creativity, and people wanting access to more tools to be able to do things themselves. Getting this idea that you invest in your own talent and what that could mean for your ability to do things quicker, better. Some of it was happenstance, but lucky for us. As you say, we then became aware that in a sense a lot of these things had come to fruition earlier on the US side. In London, that whole idea of setting up something that wasn't a traditional rights-owning model, but where you wanted to be working with people creatively, felt actually really exciting and timely. Jo: And when you started to work with independent authors, probably a couple of years after that, you started to work with a lot more indie authors and things really started to change in terms of the business side. Did you feel any of the snobbery from the traditional industry? Like you mentioned, you have a lot of contacts, a lot of connections. I came to your wonderful launch party and there were just people from all over the industry. I wondered if you got any kickback, or if anyone raised their eyebrows a little bit at who you were choosing to work with? John: Oh, definitely. And I would say I really think that's gone. You may think differently, Jo, but from my perspective, I think there has been such an evolution in the nearly 15 years that we've been going. So any of that residual snobbery, looking down your nose at people that were going DIY, producing multiple books, learning from every single publication. We've spoken about this before. I remember you sat on the panel of a FutureBook conference in the UK, which was run by a trade magazine, with this idea of looking at the, in quotes, “digital future of the business.” It felt like there were a lot of things being talked about, but not a lot of action on the traditional side. I suppose some sort of awe that there was some magic going on with people who were making a success of self-publishing. But then quite a lot of people looking down their noses at things that shouldn't get through the gatekeepers. I do think that's gone. Or if it's not completely gone, I can see it on the way out of the door, because there's no room for that when agents are struggling to sell books to publishers because publishers are looking at the next indie author, the next Freida McFadden, the next Sarah J. Maas, the next Rebecca Yarros. So whoever it may be, or wherever they're publishing, whatever they're doing now, wherever they may be, knowing that a lot of those people will already be publishing and be on not their first, second, third or fourth, but potentially their 10th or 11th book. It's a race to see who can help those authors, as a traditional publisher would see it, amplify what they're doing. I think the idea that there's an us and them, if it did exist then, which it certainly did in certain publishing quarters, is gone. I used to go to those conferences, like the FutureBook Conference, and certain publishers would talk about publishing, and when they meant publishing, they meant a really tiny area of quite literary, traditional imprints. That's what publishing meant. They didn't even mean publishing to mean educational publishing, or children's publishing, or academic publishing, and certainly not Kindle or POD or whatever. So I think that's had to change for very good, sound, commercial, economic reasons. Jo: Yes, you're right. I definitely have heard, as we go to similar events sometimes, and you do hear agents used to talk a lot more about finding books very occasionally in a slush pile, or doing courses so you could meet people and do pitch events and all this. Now it's often build an audience on BookTok or whatever, and sell lots of books, and traditional publishing as an amplifier, as you said. That's how I always hear them pitch it now, the question of— What can traditional publishing still do when indie authors can do so much? It does seem to be, well, we can amplify you, we can get you into traditional press, we can get you in traditional bookstores, we can help you with film and movie deals, that kind of thing. So that's really interesting, because that's actually changed quite a lot. They don't now seem to say, “Oh, well, we can make sure we pay you,” or, “We are editorial success as such.” John: I think they don't say editorial success or quality or indeed marketing, because that was what used to be said. I think there's an understanding that a lot of indie writers are better marketeers of their own books than traditional publishers, and if you go into the publishing machine, then you'll get your slot. It lasts for a certain period of time and then that moves on to another book. Whereas obviously if you're writing your own book and you're marketing your own book, you're able to do that yourself 24/7 wherever you are in the world, and you will know more about your readers and your audience and how that evolves than a traditional publisher would. What they probably mean now is, as you said, as much as anything, distribution, or even physical distribution. Because to be part of that process, I think that is still where a large conglomerate is able to wield some muscle, with this idea that if you physically want to see your book in bricks and mortar retailers in X outlets around the world, that's potentially easier to do if that is your aim, via a traditional publisher. So it is constantly evolving, because it used to be that marketing was the silver bullet, and I don't think that's the case anymore. Jo: No. We'll come back to marketing, shall we? Struggling with marketing. So let's get into your book. You recently co-wrote Going Indie with James Silver, Publishing Your Book Your Way. Obviously you already knew a lot about indie authors, so I wonder, what did you discover in the process of researching the book and the interviews you did? And I was one of your interviews. Did anything come up that surprised you, since you're already pretty embedded in the world? John: I would say some of it was reinforcing what I knew. So how everything is so intertwined, how in some ways unlinear everything is. People are doing lots of things in a different order to the way that traditionally writers would perceive this relay race of a manuscript gets passed to an editor, an editor passes on. That's just not how it is or needs to be anymore. I still think there is—not even a misconception—but I think there's a received wisdom that when you're talking about self-publishing, you're talking about fiction. The majority of books that Whitefox produces are not fiction, they're non-fiction. Some of them are quite mainstream, some of them are quite niche. That idea of connecting to your audience and your followers, and being slightly more scientific about how you find readers in your non-fiction niche, I think is still unspoken about in a way, in that genre fiction tends to be what people automatically assume the conversation is about. This probably doesn't surprise you, but I was pleasantly surprised to have it confirmed to me quite how much swapping and sharing there is of skills and knowledge in that space. I'm not saying indie writing is egoless at all, but there's quite a lot of sharing of knowledge and what works, and collaboration, which I think is great to see. Again, if you've, as I did many years ago, come out of corporate conglomerate publishing, traditional publishing, there's less of that by the very nature of the kind of organisation. And look, we just talked about marketing a little while ago. I do think this whole idea that the cutting edge of experimentation, it's not traditional publishing, it's indie writers. They are looking at not just how to find readers, but how to fulfil orders, how to make commercial sense of what they're doing from the absolute outset and get-go of what they're doing. And just how now the lines are blurring between what would be classified as traditional digital publishers and the writers who are doing their own thing, or doing their own thing on behalf of a few other writers. Those lines have completely blurred. There used to be this traditional hardback, paperback, X number of books a year, a year after hardback there's a paperback. This is the model we have been doing for centuries, and people doing things on their own. I think that's blurring massively, and the Venn diagrams of people's areas of expertise are just overlapping massively. Jo: Well, I think you're right there, and certainly the hardback special editions with sprayed edges and foil. A lot of us now are doing that first and not putting out the other, or putting out the rest of it at the same time. I dare say probably there are more indie authors with sprayed edge hardbacks than there are traditionally published authors. John: I'm sure that's right. And what's interesting is if you go to a traditional book printer, they are loving the direct communication with writers, that's not coming through traditional channels and traditional relationships. It's great business, it's interesting. I think that's something that's even developed in the last couple of years, that cutting out of some of the middle men required. Jo: Yes, and in terms of supporting freelancers and small publishing houses and printers and stuff, the other thing I've heard is that indie authors pay upfront, or they pay quickly, compared to some of these big publishers who are asking for long lead times and steep discounting. So actually a lot of these independent businesses are doing better under indie author work than they were under traditional. John: I think that's right, and that's what I mean also about the sharing of information and this collaborative idea of sharing creative knowledge. I mean, I'm making it sound like a kind of 19th century cooperative, which it isn't. I'm not suggesting that for a second. It's this idea that there's a lot of people learning a lot of things and there's a keenness to share some of that information, because if you've developed your own readership for your unique creative product, some of those learnings are very exciting. The printers I've spoken to love working on those kinds of things, because they are also being challenged to come up with new ways of developing ever more innovative physical product. Jo: Yes, I think it's a fun, creative time for sure. Things like Kickstarter, which you came on and talked about crowdfunding years ago, and I've obviously done. I think, what am I on now? Seven? I've just done my seventh. John: Wow. Jo: It's so much fun. But now what's happening is traditional publishers are arriving on Kickstarter and all that kind of thing. So we really see a blurring. Let's come back to your book, so Going Indie. You co-wrote it. Now obviously there are lots of positive sides of collaboration, but in terms of any challenges with collaboration and co-writing and the writing process of doing this? Because I've done this several times and I've found it very challenging. So tell us about the collaborative writing process. John: We thought a lot about it before we took it on. What I would say, having done it, is I am assuming there is no formula for how you do this. At Penguin I worked with a married couple who were crime writers, and they wrote books together. They merged their names so it appeared to be one name. I could not tell you, and they didn't share what that process was, whether they were writing different chapters or … I don't know. So I can only speak from my own experience. James is an established journalist. He's great with deadlines. He was very good at chivvying me along when I needed to be persuaded to hit the deadlines that I'd promised. I write blogs, I write newsletters, I write content for our website, but this is my first book. I've never written anything of this length. So in a way it started with the structure. It started with this idea that we would play to what we perceived as our respective strengths in terms of writing. We absolutely were not each writing every third word or anything like that. It was a process of trust in different parts. I thought, James had done some research and will be better at writing that. He deferred to me on areas that he took to be my areas of expertise. We did every interview for the book together. We went over the notes from those before they became part of the interviews for the book. And some of the book's elements are diagrammatic, so those are very easy to collaborate on. I think we tried to be professionally, creatively constructive with each other. So it was raising an eyebrow rather than shouting at each other if we didn't agree about something. A lot of it was down to the editing, and I don't know what your experience was like with a co-writer, but a lot of it came down to: here is something which is quite baggy. How do we, between us, make this as tight as we possibly can? I don't mean copy editing or proofreading. I mean the actual sort of, how do we get this into a pithy, usable, practical but discursive book? We didn't ever set out for this to be a pure reference book at all. We wanted to take a snapshot of what was going on. So a lot of it was genuinely trying to do some research and get people to feed into what was going on from lots of different perspectives, which is why we wanted to get mainstream traditional publishers, we wanted to get agents, we wanted to get indie writers, we wanted to get people who have all sorts of experiences and perspectives. That's what makes it what it is, which is, here's what we think are some of the interesting discussion points of what's going on now. Jo: It is a fantastic snapshot. I think it's really interesting—and obviously you also have seen my book, Successful Self-Publishing, which is on its fourth edition—this is one of the difficult things with snapshot type books. So have you already thought about that? I know this one has just come out, but have you thought, “Oh no, in five years we have to do it again”? John: Well, I think we thought we're going to have to address AI, which we do in the book, and we really tried to caveat that with saying, look, so much may change so quickly, and here we are talking about what we know now. We obviously tried to set the context for where we are now, and we tried as much as possible to make something which would last as long as we can. I think what we did think was, we have tried to make it as international a perspective as possible. But at the same time, we are a London-based agency, and a lot of the views will be from people based in the UK. So I think what I would like to explore is something that looks at potentially somewhere like the US, where I think there'll be different people that would perhaps have different perspectives on different things. So I think we thought about potentially there being future iterations of the book, but not yet. Jo: Not yet. This is the challenge with non-fiction, of course. On that, I would say what you just said around the US and stuff, the successful UK authors all use the same systems as the US. So I wouldn't say that the US … I mean, we all have the US companies we all use. I say Kobo is obviously Canadian, but I would say that we use the same ways of doing things. Obviously you might interview a different author, but … John: That was all I meant. I meant interviewing. Because we've interviewed agents and authors and publishers and they are largely UK based. So it was the idea that maybe there are some perspectives on things rather than systemic. Jo: Differences. John: Yes. Just that. Jo: So then I guess another challenge, we've kind of nodded to it so far, is marketing. So let's talk about the challenges of getting this book out in terms of publishing and marketing. Because you've been on the inner circle side, trying to do that for other people's books, but your own book, this is a whole nother thing. So tell us about that. John: Well, how do you do it, Jo? I mean, honestly, I've loved some of it. I get how you become completely obsessed with your book and trying to make sure that you can get it into the hands of the people that you want to get it into the hands of. We've got some great endorsement quotes, which was a task that, how can I say this? I would call it pride swallowing. The idea that you really try and get people to say nice things about your book and, if they don't reply, you think, “How much do I pester them? How much do I annoy them by asking them again nicely?” And the absolute sheer unadulterated joy when they come back with something positive that you can use and utilise in some way. So that whole process of waiting for feedback, I suppose, and hoping that people are going to like what you've done and help you spread the word for it. We had a launch event, we've given books away. We've published the book as ebook and POD. I think one of the great things about that is it's enabled us to be completely adaptable and make changes right up until the last minute. That drove everybody in my team completely crazy because we were making changes up until the last minute. So, is the book definitely going to be available on publication date? What's it going to do? You know, all of that kind of stuff. Also, just getting this idea that I suppose you can never stop. Is that a very obvious thing to say to a writer? It probably is. You just can't stop, because if you go, “Right, well, I've done it,” complacency is the enemy. Just as soon as you've got that quote, or someone said that they're going to give you an opportunity to talk about it on a platform, it's just another day and you've got to keep thinking about how you can spread the word and tell people that it exists. Jo: Yes, well, I think that's right, and particularly non-fiction, which unless it's very timely and you must get it out right now. But other than that— Most books you just have to keep marketing for years. Then just as you say, when do you stop? Well, you kind of never stop unless you want to, unless you want to retire and just give up, basically. Dean Wesley Smith, who's a big writer in the US and a kind of a mentor of mine in past years, he talks about it as this massive sea of books. And when a book arrives, he pictures it coming down and landing on the water. So the day you launch, it's landed on the water, and then it begins to sink. Then there are all these other books coming down. It's like this rain of books, and your book is sinking as soon as it lands. And your job is to keep it afloat somehow. John: Keep it afloat. Jo: Yes. John: I think you're right, and it's such an interesting perspective for us, who work with a lot of people who have one book. You know, they've spent 10 years writing it. It's their life story. It's their memoir. It's their self-help book. It's their book that accompanies them on their speaking journey, or whatever. Then there are the people who are writing constantly and can't stop writing because they're exercising that creative muscle all the time and wanting to get better, and wanting to improve and learn and understand why this works and why that hasn't worked. Just getting a glimpse into what it must be like for that person for whom writing is not a hobby. I kept saying to myself, “This is not something you're doing as a hobby.” I want this book to be of value to people, and if I'm investing that time and effort into something that I want to get out there, you've got to commit to whatever it is you need to do to make sure you're not sinking. Jo: Yes. John: I will now not be able to get that image out of my head. Jo: Yes. I know there's people listening who don't have a mind's eye, which I always find fascinating, but for those of us with a mind's eye, you can now picture that and you will never forget it. The other thing, I guess, is that, having done a lot, over 40 books now, the inevitable thing is you cannot keep pushing all of those books back up to the surface. So when you do get the bug as such of writing, the most interesting thing for all of us is always the next book. It's always like, ooh, the next thing I'm doing, I'm very excited about. So you do have to pick your battles on marketing. So have you got the bug, do you think? Are you thinking of other books in general? Because as you said, you must be, I guess, in your 60s. John: I am. Jo: You could retire. John: I am. You were talking about that long career. I could. I mean, I really love doing it, and I would love to do more. I think one of the things that surprised me was just how many ideas came up while we were doing the book about tangents that one could take it. I have no desire to write a novel. I don't want to do that. I wouldn't be very good at that. I do think there are some interesting spaces around where there's a kind of intersection of creativity and learning, and how you can develop books that would help people who are trying to achieve different things in different sectors of publishing. So without getting too granular about it, this book doesn't really address brands who want to become publishers, and I think that is something that our business has developed into working with, not just individuals, but businesses and brands. I think there's definitely spin-offs of this book which are not about repeating what we've done so far. And this whole idea of what you've been doing for a long time, what we've been doing since 2011, 2012, it's evolving now at such a speed. I mean, who would have known what was going to come out of TikTok? As you talk about TikTok to Shopify, that whole kind of new ways of finding readers, of taking books to market. As you said, Kickstarter, crowdfunding. There's all sorts of things that I think will emerge, because in a funny sort of way traditional publishing at the moment feels quite conservative with a small c. I mean, the bestsellers. Dan Brown is number one in the bestseller list this week in the UK as I speak, who has been a bestseller forever. And obviously new writers come along the whole time, but the market feels a little bit as if it's waiting now for innovation. I think if that innovation's going to happen, it's probably going to happen in the indie space before it happens in mainstream publishing. So people are coming to us and thinking, does that represent a trend? Does that represent something which could be a way of looking at something a little bit deeper, doing some research around and creating something which is not a long book, not a massive thesis, but something which is indicative of something which could be useful for people. Jo: Just coming back on the Dan Brown is in the bestseller list. I think this is completely to do with the way that traditional publishing measures things. For many years, more than a decade, probably since the beginning of Kindle, certainly the beginning of Kindle Unlimited, there is a shadow economy, I call it, or a parallel economy. I would say that almost zero of my own personal sales are measured by any industry standards. Anyone who makes any money from Kindle Unlimited or Kickstarter or Shopify, or selling direct in any form, or selling books at conventions, none of this is measured by any traditional things. As you know, the New York Times list, for example, does not include Amazon sales in their bestseller list. So you've got indie authors in the UK who are incredibly successful who have to decide, say, someone like LJ Ross, for example, decides, “Okay, I'm going to set up a proper imprint with Gardners or whatever so that I can get in bookstores so that I can hit a Sunday Times list or something.” So I would say that seeing things like Dan Brown on a bestseller list has almost no meaning in the shadow indie economy. John: No, you're absolutely right. We're not even able to see audiobook sales. Jo: Yes, audio. Any kind of borrows, like Spotify. John: No, you're completely right. I suppose I was making a broader cultural point, that it doesn't feel like there's an enormous amount of innovation going on or risk taking within what I would call mainstream trade publishing. And there doesn't seem to be the need to be, because there will be more consolidation. Small companies will be bought by big companies, so there's growth through acquisition. There's still a hope that something will take off that is a surprise, and there's still an enormous reliance on established brands who, even through the traditional metrics of how you measure them, are probably selling less, but still at the top of the pile. I suppose that's what I was meaning. Jo: Yes, and I agree with what the industry looks at as signals. It's just, as we said, a lot of these signals are invisible. So coming onto innovation, at London Book Fair this year there were a lot of sessions on AI, and you mentioned AI briefly, and there is a chapter in Going Indie on generative AI. And of course there's a lot of negativity and drama and lawsuits and this, that and the other. But at the same time, at London Book Fair, a lot of traditional publishers talking about using it, and of course they always say, “Oh, we use AI only in marketing and business, not with the creative or editorial.” Everyone makes this distinction. What are your thoughts on what's happening and where's it going with AI? Is a lot of this stuff not happening in public and just going on behind closed doors? John: I think so. We do have a chapter in the book on AI. We've generated summaries of every chapter using AI, which we explicitly said in the book as well. We've got our Ten Commandments of what we think are useful guidelines. I think that there has to be an enormous amount being done, whether it's experimentation or speeding up for efficiency's sake, or things that slow you down, within mainstream publishing. There has to be more than just the guardrails around the creative process. And clearly when we're talking about metadata, book description, cover copy, presumably royalty calculations, presumably if you're trying to grow your newsletters. There has to be an enormous amount of activity going on. We're driven by the market, so we do not commission. Writers come to us and they either want to work with us and we want to work with them, or that doesn't happen. So we're in a sense seeing what the market is seeing, and that is a whole range of things. As I've said before, there's a lot of sweeping generalisations out there, which if you look back to that Kindle moment, we were talking a little while ago about what was going on in 2010/2011, about the enormous broad brush strokes that were being perceived as a result of Kindle. Kindle has affected some areas of publishing, it's affected some not at all. I think it will be absolutely fascinating when the sweeping generalisations stop and there becomes, I suppose, even more transparency. The thing that people are looking for, isn't it? A little bit less opaqueness as to what is really being done. Because everybody's being so careful about what they say they're doing and what they're not doing. I suppose ElevenLabs is the one where people are openly engaging on the audio side. I mean, everyone is being so careful and cautious. Jo: Me too. John: What do you think? We spoke a bit about AI within the book, and I'm interested to know what you think. Jo: Well, I've obviously been openly talking about it since 2016. I openly talk about using it, and I've got my Patreon community where we talk about how we're using it, and tips on how to use it. But then, because I have been writing and publishing since 2007, 2008, I'm very strong in my creative voice. I'm very strong in my understanding of what I consider to be my level of output, and what I publish under my own name is what I publish under my own name. John: Totally. Jo: So the problem is for people who are less confident, I think, in what they're doing creatively perhaps. I know some people feel like they're scared it will take over or something. When you're as strong-minded as me, it's not taking over anything. John: It's not going to take over anything. And the other side of the coin is how many people are finding Whitefox using ChatGPT. Jo: Mm. John: I'm thrilled that we are emerging, through very detailed briefing of AI, as something that is worth engaging with. Jo: Positive marketing. John: Yes, exactly. As you say, I think there's a lot of negativity, and I think it will settle down eventually. I think less hysteria. Jo: Yes, hopefully sooner rather than later. So as we come to an end, you've been in the publishing industry a long time and seen a lot of people who have disappeared, but also those who've lasted. I wondered if maybe you could comment on those who last, because I definitely feel like I'm in my 50s now, and I want to keep doing this. I'm pretty obsessed with— What are the hallmarks of people who have a long-term career? So reflections on that. John: Oh, that's such a good question. I think there's some common characteristics and themes. So I think authenticity, I think this idea of being continually curious. I think there are people who can't help but create, and this idea that once you've sort of expelled once, that's enough. I think there's people that just can't stop creating, whatever you do with it. But this idea that the more you do, the better you get, the more you evolve and keep an open mind. I think there's definitely entrepreneurial writers who love this idea of keeping their readers engaged, and how that conversation is something that evolves and that collaboration evolves, is fascinating. I think if you love that, and you listen, there's always an opportunity to keep building on what you do. I love the writers who we work with. I can think of a writer who we're working on his fourth novel at the moment, and he is a bundle of positivity. No matter the trials and tribulations, the things that have gone wrong, his expectations definitely not being met with his first book. He definitely has this idea that he wants to keep writing, he wants to get better, and he is getting better. It isn't a journey that has a beginning and an end. It's something that will continue for as long as he wants to write. Every single book that he has published, he has learned and gained confidence, gained a network of connections that he's utilised himself now to not make the first half a dozen mistakes he made on the first book. Who knows where it will end up? But certainly the satisfaction he's getting, and the sales he's getting, are growing as he becomes savvier and quicker to make the right choices and decisions. So I think that's my honest answer to that. I think there are definitely people who think, “Phew, I have really wanted to do this book. Now I can rest easy. I've done my book.” Then there are people who really, whatever their objective, whatever the definition of success is from the get-go, just can't help creating. I do love that and respect that. I don't think our book falls quite into that category, because I think it's a slightly different thing. I think there are people who are still making a success of what they do and redefining that as they go on, and who are really open to ideas and input from different people and are not closed off. I love working with those people. Jo: So where can people find Going Indie and everything you do online? John: Well, Going Indie is available online at all good bookshops. It's available at Amazon and anywhere you buy books online as ebook and POD. Our website is wearewhitefox.com, and you'll find information about not just our book there, but a lot of other things that we're doing on that site. Jo: Brilliant. Well, thanks so much for your time, John. That was great. John: Thank you so much, Jo. It's been a pleasure. The post Going Indie, Publishing Innovation, And The Challenges Of Book Marketing With John Bond first appeared on The Creative Penn.

How do you turn the stories in your head into an original fantasy universe and then convince people to care about it?Jesse Wolfe joins the USDN Podcast to discuss The Legend of Kyyden #2, his journey from writing novellas to creating independent comics, and everything he's learned while building a creator-owned fantasy series from the ground up.What began as stories Jesse simply needed to get out of his head has grown into an ambitious creator-owned fantasy world with a long-term story still waiting to unfold. With The Legend of Kyyden #2 launching on Kickstarter October 12, Jesse takes us behind the pages of Kyyden and the realities of turning an idea into a comic, finding an audience for it, and continuing to build when you're responsible for far more than simply writing the story.Topics CoveredThe journey from writing novellas to creating comicsThe origins and philosophy behind The Legend of KyydenBuilding an original fantasy universeIntroducing readers to Kyyden through DimitriLearning from constructive criticismProtecting your creative vision as an indie creatorBuilding an audience and community around independent comicsReturning to Kickstarter for Issue #2Creating different editions for different audiencesPlanning a long-form creator-owned comic seriesThe realities of learning every part of independent comic productionJesse's influences and the future of The Legend of KyydenSupport The Legend of Kyyden #2

Author Nation is the world's largest indie author conference, built around a simple belief: successful authors are built through community, strategy, and consistent action.  But Author Nation is more than a four-day Vegas Convention; it's a community meant to help authors build sustainable, prosperous creative careers in the golden age of content creation.  In this episode, you'll learn:  • The mission and philosophy behind Author Nation  • The importance in community building for authors  • What makes Author Nation stand out from other author conventions //Draft2Digital is where you grow 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. • 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.

Ancient relics. Supernatural power. A thirteen-issue epic years in the making.In this episode of The USDN Podcast, The Chairman sits down with W. Frank Walk, creator of Hellstones, to discuss Hellstones #1: Into the Fray and the journey of building a long-form creator-owned comic series through Pigmacast Studio.From developing the mythology behind Hellstones to balancing the responsibilities of writer, creator, and colorist, Frank shares what it takes to produce an independent comic while building a world designed to tell a complete thirteen-issue story.The conversation also explores crowdfunding, earning long-term backer trust, comic book production, and the realities of independent publishing.Topics Covered• The creation of Hellstones• Expanding the world established in Hellstones #0• Writing, creating, and coloring an independent comic• Behind the scenes of comic book production• Building a planned thirteen-issue story• Crowdfunding and building backer trust• Independent publishing and creator-owned comics• The future of Pigmacast StudioLearn More

How can independent publishers achieve sustainable growth in an increasingly competitive marketplace? In this episode of “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA),” AdventureKEEN Publisher and COO Molly Merkle shares advice about the power of niche publishing and the strategies publishers can use to build loyal readers, stronger sales, and resilient businesses. You'll learn practical tactics about: - growing your backlist through publisher acquisitions and mergers - revitalizing older titles through redesign and repackaging - how to build strong relationships with specialty retailers and distribution partners - and more! Whether you're looking to grow your publishing company, strengthen your backlist, increase profitability, or better understand your target audience, this episode is packed with real-world insights and proven publishing strategies you can put into action right away. GUEST BIO Molly Merkle began her career in book publishing nearly 40 years ago as an intern during college, then moved to full-time work for Menasha Ridge Press, one of AdventureKEEN Publishing's now seven imprints. In early 2023, she was named AdventureKEEN's publisher and continues to serve as its COO. Merkle has been key to executing the company's vision for growth, including the acquisition and integration of several independent presses over the years. She's also helped lead the company through hardship and challenges, which are a fact of life for entrepreneurial publishers. Merkle serves on the board of The Publishers Cooperative, a group of established and emerging independent publishers committed to creating a strong, diverse, equitable, and inclusive publishing industry together. Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,900 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He's also passionate about indie publishing, because he's an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures. LINKS Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/ Learn more about the AdventureKEEN at https://adventurewithkeen.com/ Follow IBPA on: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/independent-book-publishers-association Follow the AdventureKEEN on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/adventurekeen/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/adventurewithkeen/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@adventurekeen LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/adventurekeen/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@adventurekeen Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/adventurekeen.bsky.social Blog - https://adventurewithkeen.com/blog/ Learn more about The Publishers Cooperative at https://thepublisherscooperative.com/ Learn more about the Book Industry Charitable Foundation at https://bincfoundation.org/ This episode is presented by Total Printing Systems. Learn more at https://www.tps1.com/

Joe Kazmer and Jarrod Burris join The USDN Podcast to discuss Collision Force #2, an action-packed creator-owned comic that's been described as an "R-Rated G.I. Joe."From building an original comic universe to crowdfunding and cinematic storytelling, Joe and Jarrod share the story behind the series, how their creative partnership began, the transition from screenwriting to comics, lessons learned through Kickstarter, and why action comics still have an important place in today's independent comic industry.In This Episode The origins of Collision Force  Building an "R-Rated G.I. Joe" for indie comics  Creator-owned worldbuilding  Screenwriting vs. comic writing  Writing action for comics  Crowdfunding lessons  Why action comics still matter  The future of Collision Force Learn More

Substack for indie authors: where to start, what to post, and how to grow. Sinem Günel of Write • Build • Scale joins the D2D Self Publishing Insiders podcast to give you the playbook — from setting up your publication to landing your first subscribers and building a readership that follows you from book to book. //Draft2Digital is where you grow 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. • 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.

The Draft2Digital team discusses the Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale and how authors can get the most out of our Smashwords Sales as marketing opportunities.  //Draft2Digital is where you grow 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. • 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, KWL Director Tara Cremin sat down and spoke with VP of Self-publishing and Originals, Ashleigh Gardner! Both Ashleigh and Tara have been with Kobo for many years and have incredible insights and understanding into the world of self-publishing. We are super excited to share this episode featuring such a prominent voice in the development of digital self-publishing! Ashleigh tells us about her history with Kobo, her work at Wattpad, her experience returning to Kobo, her idea of what a successful indie author is in 2026, shares some great advice for indie authors entering the Kobo ecosystem, and much more. Publish on Kobo Writing Life.

In the world of children's literature, the path to creativity often begins in unexpected places. For Perin Gurel, it was her daughter's whimsical story idea that sparked the creation of her own middle grade novel, Laleh and the Language of the Birds. In this episode, we explore fascinating insights from Perin about her writing journey, the cultural significance behind her characters, and how she weaves scientific and academic research into her stories.For bonus content and  info on upcoming episodes, subscribe to the Middle Grade Matters newsletter here: Newsletter, and follow us on Instagram, Threads, and Twitter.I love audiobooks! If you do, too, consider switching to Libro.fm, a platform that supports indy bookstores.If you're enjoying this podcast, please leave a rating and review (thank you!).

Frederick Littles joins The USDN Podcast to discuss Wise Acre Comics, Dark Sentinel: Origins #2, Magnus Jakuta, independent comic publishing, crowdfunding, comic production, and the realities of building a creator-owned publishing company.As the founder of Wise Acre Comics, Frederick has spent years developing original comic book properties while building a publishing company dedicated to producing creator-owned stories with long-term vision and lasting impact.From flagship titles like Dark Sentinel and Magnus Jakuta to expanding into action figures and collectibles, Wise Acre Comics is focused on creating an interconnected universe of original characters that extends beyond the comic book page.But building comics is only part of the story.During this conversation, Frederick shares the realities of independent publishing, managing creative teams, coordinating production schedules, running successful crowdfunding campaigns, earning the trust of backers, and balancing the creative and business sides of the comic book industry.Frederick also reflects on his military service, finding a second mission through comics, and the passion that continues to drive Wise Acre Comics forward.During this conversation, The Chairman and Frederick discuss his journey into comics, the founding of Wise Acre Comics, the origins of Dark Sentinel and Magnus Jakuta, creator-owned publishing, comic production, crowdfunding, expanding into collectibles, building original intellectual property, leadership, perseverance, and the future of Wise Acre Comics.TOPICS COVERED• Frederick Littles' journey into comics• The founding of Wise Acre Comics• Building a creator-owned comic publishing company• The origins of Dark Sentinel• Magnus Jakuta and expanding original IPs• Independent comic production and publishing• Managing creative teams and production schedules• Crowdfunding strategies and lessons learned• Building trust with Kickstarter backers• Expanding into action figures and collectibles• Leadership, perseverance, and long-term vision• Military service and finding a second mission• Building sustainable creator-owned intellectual property• The future of Wise Acre ComicsSUPPORT FREDERICK LITTLES & WISE ACRE COMICSWebsite:https://www.wiseacrecomics.com/Campaigns:https://www.wiseacrecomics.com/pages/kickstarter-zoopInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/wiseacrecomicsPROTECT YOUR COLLECTION WITH BCW SUPPLIESShop BCW Supplies:https://www.bcwsupplies.com/?acc=usdnUse code USDN for 10% off your order.Affiliate Disclosure:USDN may earn a small commission if you use our affiliate link or code. This helps support the show at no extra cost to you.FOLLOW THE USDN PODCASThttps://linktr.ee/USDN_PodcastCONTACT THE USDN PODCAST: thechairman@usdnpodcast.comFollow The USDN Podcast for more conversations with independent comic creators, writers, artists, publishers, and storytellers exploring indie comics, crowdfunding, creator-owned publishing, comic production, worldbuilding, and the realities of the independent comic book industry.The USDN Podcast - Where Indie Comics Come to Life.

JaVon O. Stokes joins The USDN Podcast to discuss STRONG #1, Kimora Sampson, superhero worldbuilding, representation in independent comics, building Visually Stoked Media, and the realities of independent comic book publishing.STRONG #1 continues the story of Kimora Sampson, a former Olympic athlete whose life changed forever after a tragic car accident left her paralyzed from the waist down. When an ancient cosmic force known as the Essence empowers her, Kimora gains the ability to transform into a 6'3", 200-pound superhero of unbelievable strength—but only for short periods of time.Following the best-selling STRONG #0, JaVon begins the ongoing adventures of one of independent comics' most compelling new superheroes.As Kimora reveals the true depth of her power, kindness, and heart, political figures begin moving against her. Meanwhile, mysterious forces known as Magnus and Chivalry emerge with plans of their own.But STRONG is about more than superpowers.Inspired by the powerful women of color in JaVon's life, the series explores internal strength, identity, resilience, family, ambition, and what happens when everything you thought defined you is suddenly taken away.During this conversation, The Chairman and JaVon discuss his journey into comics, the creation of STRONG, the inspiration behind Kimora Sampson, the mythology of the Essence, building an ongoing superhero universe, creating meaningful threats for an incredibly powerful character, representation in comics, reaching new readers, independent publishing, and the future of Visually Stoked Media.SUPPORT JAVON O. STOKES & VISUALLY STOKED MEDIAWebsite:https://www.visuallystoked.comX:https://twitter.com/Visually_StokedInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/visuallystokedmedia/PROTECT YOUR COLLECTION WITH BCW SUPPLIESShop BCW Supplies:https://www.bcwsupplies.com/?acc=usdnUse code USDN for 10% off your order.Affiliate Disclosure:USDN may earn a small commission if you use our affiliate link or code. This helps support the show at no extra cost to you.FOLLOW THE USDN PODCASThttps://linktr.ee/USDN_PodcastCONTACT THE USDN PODCASTthechairman@usdnpodcast.comFollow The USDN Podcast for more conversations with independent comic creators, writers, artists, publishers, and storytellers exploring indie comics, crowdfunding, comic book creation, worldbuilding, publishing, and the realities of the independent comic book industry.The USDN Podcast - Where Indie Comics Come to Life.

Building an Indie Fantasy Universe One Comic at a Time | Frank GoodieEvery fantasy world begins with a single idea.This week on The USDN Podcast – Where Indie Comics Come to Life, The Chairman sits down with Frank Goodie, founder of AshVeil Comics and creator of Thelbe Jack: Seeds of Ruin.Together they discuss:• Building an original fantasy universe• Creating compelling characters and lore• Turning ideas into published comics• Lessons learned from Kickstarter• Balancing comic creation with a full-time career• Long-term planning for an interconnected comic universe• Advice for aspiring indie comic creatorsWhether you're a fantasy fan, comic creator, or someone dreaming of publishing your own stories, this episode offers an inside look at what it takes to build a world from the ground up.Follow Frank Goodie

Tikiri Herath is the award-winning author who went from working in federal intelligence to writing her own worlds of suspenseful thrillers. Changing careers can be an intimidating prospect, but Tikiri took a new path and built a thriving author business along the way. This week, we'll discuss: • Pivoting mid-career from corporate work to full time novelist. • Running indie author-dom as a business. • Writing thrillers with strong female leads. //Draft2Digital is where you grow 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. • 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.

Shawn McBee and Maciej “MJ” Jankowski join The Chairman on the USDN Podcast to discuss Westron #2, their supernatural horror detective comic inspired by the creatures, legends, and folklore of Slavic mythology.After the first issue reached its Kickstarter goal in just six hours, Shawn and MJ return to expand the dark supernatural world of Westron.In this conversation, they share how a chance connection through Discord led to their creative partnership and the creation of the series, why Slavic mythology offers an untapped world of terrifying creatures and stories, and how they balance authentic folklore with building an original comic universe.The conversation also explores the realities of independent publishing and creator-owned comics, lessons learned from crowdfunding, the Kickstarter mistake they won't make again, the challenges of funding future issues, planning a long-term story with a definitive ending, and what lies ahead for Westron.Support Westron #2 on Kickstarter:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/propsmith/westron-2Learn more about Westron:https://westroncomic.comConnect with the USDN Podcast:https://linktr.ee/USDN_PodcastBusiness & Media Inquiries: thechairman@usdnpodcast.com

What happens when Sherlock Holmes survives Reichenbach Falls and enters a world where vampires, supernatural forces, and gothic horror are real?Casus Belli joins The United States Department of Nerds Podcast to discuss Holmes: Undead #2, the latest chapter in Killer Entertainment's six-part A Study in Crimson story arc.In this conversation, Casus takes us behind the scenes of Holmes: Undead and explains how the series reimagines one of literature's greatest detectives while remaining rooted in the legacy of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.We discuss why Sherlock Holmes remains relevant nearly 140 years later, the decision to transform Professor Moriarty into an immortal vampire, the challenge of balancing detective fiction with supernatural horror, and revisiting the legendary confrontation at Reichenbach Falls.Casus also shares his journey from martial arts and professional wrestling into independent comics, the origins of Killer Entertainment, working with writer Thomas Pugh and artist Virgilio Calcagno, and the realities of creating and crowdfunding indie comics.The conversation explores the Holmes: Undead #2 Kickstarter campaign, variant covers including the Deerstalker and Andy Duggan Infinity Flux variants, what's coming in Issue #3, the upcoming Gothic Market convention in Minneapolis, and future Killer Entertainment projects The Gingerbread Man and The Death Planner.Support Holmes: Undead #2 on Kickstarter:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/casusbelli/holmes-undead-issue-2Visit Killer Entertainment:https://www.killerentertainmentllc.com/Follow Killer Entertainment and Holmes: Undead:YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@casusbelli123Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1483075489302282/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/casus_belli123Threads:https://www.threads.com/@casus_belli123

Amy Award is a spicy romance author who believes that all bodies are beautiful and deserve their own love stories with Happy Ever Afters. This week, she joins us for a deep dive on building connections with fans. You'll learn:  • Why direct author-reader connection is indie authors' secret superpower • Proven strategies for turning casual readers into lifelong superfans • How Amy built a devoted community — and what you can steal from her playbook //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. • 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.

Ben Lacy returns to the USDN Podcast to discuss SAMSON #1-3: Samson Versus The New Reich!, the latest Kickstarter campaign from Biting Comics.Inspired by real historical events, SAMSON blends alternate history, superhero action, and wartime drama into a unique creator-owned comic universe. During this conversation, Ben shares the real-world history behind the series, the evolution of the Biting Comics universe, his approach to writing complex heroes, and the lessons he's learned from years of crowdfunding independent comics.We also discuss Kickstarter strategy, finishing books before launch, connecting multiple comic series into one shared universe, and what lies ahead for both SAMSON and Biting Comics.Whether you're an indie comic fan, aspiring creator, or Kickstarter enthusiast, this episode offers an inside look at the passion, planning, and perseverance behind creator-owned comics.

In this episode I'm chatting with Stacia Lowe about how she built an author career by combining her passions for storytelling, knitting, and financial literacy while raising four sons. She discusses writing middle grade novels inspired by her family, growing a loyal readership through her newsletter, and why embracing the "slow and steady" approach has helped her build a sustainable writing business. The conversation also explores practical marketing strategies for indie authors, the importance of budgeting for publishing expenses, and how Stacia and her husband now help other writers through their publishing company.Find Stacia here: https://staciaraelowe.com/Pre-order Ezekiel's Path from Amazon.com here: https://amzn.to/4gVXOrm Pre-order Ezekiel's Path from Barnes and Noble here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ezekiels-path-adam-alva-lowe/1150449427Lowe Budget Kid's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lowebudgetkids/videosLowe Budget Publishing Author QuestionnaireGet on Stacia's newsletter: https://staciaraelowe.com/newsletter-join-save/ And find Stacia's books: https://staciaraelowe.com/home-2/stacia-rae-writes/Sign up for my writers' newsletter to learn more about the craft of writing, know when my workshops are and be the first to get exclusive information on my writing retreats. https://katcaldwell.com/writers-newsletterWant more information on my books, author swaps, short stories and what I'm reading? Sign up for my readers' newsletter. https://storylectory.katcaldwell.com/signup You can always ask me writing questions on instagram @author_katcaldwell

Kyle Valle and Erin Áine return to the USDN Podcast to discuss Autonomous, the innovative indie horror series helping launch Screamify's new Micro Horror format.After first joining the USDN Podcast in December 2025 to discuss ZombieCON Volume 1, Kyle and Erin return to the Council to share the journey behind their latest project. We explore the evolution of Big Squid Productions, independent horror filmmaking, vertical storytelling, production challenges, working with Screamify, and what it takes to create original horror outside the traditional studio system.Whether you're an independent filmmaker, horror fan, or creator looking for inspiration, this episode offers an honest behind-the-scenes look at bringing ambitious ideas to life with passion, creativity, and determination.Topics Covered• Autonomous• Screamify Micro Horror• Independent Horror Filmmaking• Vertical Storytelling• Big Squid Productions• Behind-the-Scenes Production Stories• Independent Film Distribution• ZombieCON and Returning to USDN• The Future of Horror StorytellingFollow Kyle Valle & Erin Áine:ZombieCONInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/zombieconmovie/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zombieconmovie/Big Squid ProductionsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigsquidfilms/Kyle ValleInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kykyv71/Erin ÁineInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/erin_aine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mewnownews/Support USDN

Bruno Catarino returns to the USDN Podcast to discuss Crimson Bay Issue #2, the latest installment in his creator-owned martial arts comic series inspired by classic fighting games, action cinema, and crime dramas.In this episode, Bruno shares how Crimson Bay has evolved since its debut, the importance of balancing action with character development, building an original comic universe, collaborating with artist Samuel Donato, and the lessons he's learned through crowdfunding on Kickstarter.We also explore the challenges of launching original intellectual property, the opportunities presented by public domain characters, convention pitching, and what the future holds for Crimson Bay and Bruno's growing catalog of creator-owned comics.If you're passionate about indie comics, comic book writing, Kickstarter campaigns, martial arts storytelling, or creator-owned publishing, this episode is packed with practical insights and behind-the-scenes discussion from an experienced independent creator.Support Crimson Bay Issue #2Kickstarter:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/redwulfcomics/crimson-bay-1-2-fatalfury-action-cobrakai-character-dramaFollow Bruno Catarino:Bluesky:https://bsky.app/profile/brunocatarino.bsky.socialConnect with USDN

Romance Writers of America® (RWA) has a long history of advancing the common interests of career-focused romance writers through networking and advocacy and by increasing public awareness of the romance genre.  In this conversation you'll learn about:  • The RWA's historic mission of uplifting the romance genre  • The many ways RWA helps career-minded romance authors advance their careers  • What's in store for next month's RWA Annual Conference //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. • 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.

324 / This week we're sharing Jami's discussion with Joanna on The Creative Penn Podcast about rebuilding your writing business after a break.✨ This week's sponsor is Bookfunnel: https://bookfunnel.comWaiting to publish and business planningImpact of personal loss and griefWriting through and about griefDecision to fictionalize real experiencesBalancing therapy and storytelling in writingConcerns over reader and family reactionsRebooting an indie author businessFuture writing plans and creative change

Panopticon, Surveillance, and Indie Comics with Matt StevensWhat happens when a prison doesn't need guards because the prisoners believe they're always being watched?This week on the USDN Podcast, Jeff "The Chairman" Fountain welcomes writer, artist, and creator Matt Stevens to the Council of Nerds to discuss Panopticon, a psychological science fiction comic that explores surveillance, memory, identity, freedom, and the systems that shape human behavior.Matt shares the inspiration behind Panopticon, the philosophy that influenced the story, his journey into creator-owned comics, founding Dark Web Comics, launching the project's Kickstarter campaign, and what's next with Panopticon: The Chasm.Whether you're a fan of indie comics, science fiction, psychological thrillers, or creator-owned publishing, this episode offers an insightful look into the creative process behind one of indie comics' most thought-provoking new series.Guest LinksPanopticon:https://www.panopticoncomic.comDark Web Comics:https://www.thedarkwebcomics.comLate Pledges:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/panopticoncomic/panopticon-1Read Issue #1 Free:https://embed.macroverse.com/portal/019d9496-2048-7299-8a67-b5d88ceb30eaInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/panopticoncomic/Dark Web Comics Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thedarkwebcomics_/Support USDNSubscribe:https://www.youtube.com/@USDN_PodcastSupport USDN Through BCW Supplies:https://www.bcwsupplies.com/?acc=usdnUse Coupon Code: USDNSave 10% on your retail order while supporting the USDN Podcast.USDN receives a 5% commission when coupon code USDN is used on qualifying purchases.This has been the USDN Podcast - Where Indie Comics Come to Life.

NYT Bestselling Author Alessandra Torre and co-founder of Inkers Con joins us to discuss opportunities authors should be considering in 2026. In this episode, we'll learn: • 3 areas where authors should focus their efforts from 7x NYT bestsellling author Alessandra Torre • What's in store at Inkers Con 2026, a premier online author conference and one of the only conferences to offer a money-back guarantee  • Challenges and Opportunities for authors in 2026 //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. • 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.

Writer Michael Barron and artist Jack Van Thomme join The Chairman on the USDN Podcast to discuss The Secret Lives of Demon Hunters, a supernatural horror comic about marriage, monsters, hidden darkness, and the people who spend their nights hunting demons.In this episode, we talk about slice-of-life horror, the origin of The Secret Lives of Demon Hunters, building a world of demons and possession, horror storytelling in comics, writing satisfying endings, Kickstarter preparation, reward tiers, indie comic promotion, and the reality of launching a creator-owned comic.Ashley and Jordie may look like an ordinary married couple, but behind closed doors and beneath the surface of everyday life, they are fighting something far darker. The Secret Lives of Demon Hunters blends relationship-driven storytelling with supernatural horror, giving readers a grounded emotional core inside a world of demons, shadows, and secrets.Topics include:• The Secret Lives of Demon Hunters• Slice-of-life horror• Horror comics and supernatural storytelling• Demons, possession, and hidden darkness• Writer and artist collaboration• Building a horror world in 24 pages• Writing twists and satisfying endings• Kickstarter comics and crowdfunding• Indie comic promotion• Creator-owned storytellingSupport The Secret Lives of Demon Hunters on Kickstarter:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/secret-lives-hunters/the-secret-lives-of-demon-hunters-a-24-page-horror-comicFollow Michael Barron:https://www.michaelbarronauthor.comMichael Barron on Bluesky:https://bsky.app/profile/barronauthor.bsky.socialFollow Jack Van Thomme:https://www.instagram.com/real_jackvt/Follow USDN:https://linktr.ee/USDN_PodcastBusiness & Media Inquiries: thechairman@usdnpodcast.comThe USDN Podcast - Where Indie Comics Come To Life

As authors, we strive for success, but without the right mindset, it can be impossible to build a sustainable author career. Russell Nohelty of Hapitalist joins us to discuss how authors can find career success without sacrificing joy.  In this week's episode, you'll learn:  • The importance of balancing passion and business.  • The Philosophy behind Hapitalist.  • How to build a serious author career without taking yourself too seriously. //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. • 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.

Send us Fan MailHannah and Laura are welcoming back to the pod their friend, author Adrian M. Gibson, to talk about his newest release, A Murder Most Fungal! Adrian delves into how his experience working in restaurants helped him create characters, the responsibility writers have for the information they put out to their readers, and how he tries to capture the lived truth of ordinary experiences. *CW for the episode: discussions of food, racism, politics, colonialism, death, murder, violence, language barriers, ableism, resident schools, genocide *Be sure to follow Adrian online at:Adrian M. Gibson | Author & PodcasterInstagram: @adrianmgibsonMedia Mentions:A Murder Most Fungal by Adrian M. GibsonMushroom Blues by Adrian M. GibsonSFF Addicts PodcastThe Book of Spores AnthologyThe Blackfire Blade by James LoganHaruki Murakami's worksSupport the showBe sure to follow OWWR Pod!www.owwrpod.com YouTube: @owwrpodBlueSky: @OwwrPodTikTok: @OwwrPodInstagram: @owwrpodThreads: @OwwrPodSend us an email at: owwrpod@gmail.comCheck out OWWR Patreon: patreon.com/owwrpodOr join OWWR Discord! We'd love to chat with you!You can follow Hannah at:Instagram: @brews.and.booksThreads: @brews.and.booksTikTok: @brews.and.booksYou can follow Laura at:Instagram: @goodbooksgreatgoatsBlueSky: @myyypod

Sean Wood joins The Chairman and the Council of Nerds to discuss The Fog Within, his creator-owned post-apocalyptic comic series that blends science fiction, action, mystery, and time-bending adventure.With The Fog Within #5 launching on Kickstarter, Sean shares the origins of the series, how a simple run through a foggy day sparked the concept, the challenges of building a creator-owned comic universe, and the lessons he's learned from running multiple successful crowdfunding campaigns.The conversation explores worldbuilding, indie publishing, Kickstarter strategy, creator-owned storytelling, and the realities of building an independent comic career one issue at a time.Topics include:• The origins of The Fog Within• Worldbuilding and character creation• Kickstarter crowdfunding• Creator-owned comics• Indie publishing• Writing and storytelling• Building a comic universe• Lessons learned as an independent creator

How do two creators living in different countries build a creator-owned comic together?In this episode of the USDN Podcast, The Chairman sits down with writer Marco Vito Oddo and artist Victor Costa, the creative team behind OTHERKIN, an indie horror and urban fantasy comic series inspired by works such as Hellboy, Hellblazer, and Swamp Thing.The conversation explores the origins of Otherkin, how the project evolved from an abandoned video game concept into a long-form comic universe, the challenges of independent publishing, and the realities of creating a comic series across continents.Marco and Victor discuss worldbuilding, horror storytelling, character development, writer-artist collaboration, creator-owned comics, comic book influences, and the lessons they've learned while building Otherkin one issue at a time.Topics include:• The origins of Otherkin• Creator-owned comics• Horror and urban fantasy storytelling• Writer and artist collaboration• Building a long-form comic universe• Character creation and worldbuilding• Independent publishing challenges• Physical vs digital comics• The future of Otherkin• Advice for aspiring comic creatorsIf you're a fan of indie comics, horror comics, creator-owned storytelling, and comic book creation, this episode is for you.FOLLOW MARCO VITO ODDOInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/marcovito.oddo/Substack:https://marcovitooddo.substack.com/FOLLOW VICTOR COSTAInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/victorcosta.art/FOLLOW OTHERKINInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/otherkin.comic/USDN LINKShttps://linktr.ee/usdnpodcastBusiness & Media Inquiries: thechairman@usdnpodcast.comBCW Supplies Affiliate PartnerNeed comic bags, boards, storage boxes, top loaders, comic collecting supplies, or shipping materials?Shop BCW Supplies:https://www.bcwsupplies.com/?acc=USDNAffiliate Code: USDNDisclosure: USDN may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through this affiliate link at no additional cost to you. Your support helps us continue spotlighting indie comic creators and producing creator-focused content.The USDN Podcast - Where indie comics come to life.

Lexi, Nick, and Mark from the Draft2Digital Team is here to answer author questions about publishing, best practices, and distributing your books with Draft2Digital. //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. • 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.

Writer and creator C.E. Massari joins The Chairman on the USDN Podcast to discuss his upcoming 120-page original graphic novel, The Mafia vs. The Klan, coming from Source Point Press.Described as John Wick meets The Godfather, The Mafia vs. The Klan is a historical revenge noir inspired by real family history, Prohibition-era violence, and the question of what happens when justice fails.In this conversation, we talk about the real story behind the book, the legacy of Augustina Massari, turning family tragedy into fiction, writing about the Klan without glorifying hate, the moral complexity of revenge, the Mafia as a storytelling force, and why comics were the right medium for this project.We also discuss Source Point Press' relaunch, the upcoming Kickstarter pre-sale campaign, the black-and-white noir visual style, working with artist Martin Gimenez, and the realities of indie comics, crowdfunding, professionalism, and creator relationships.Guest Links: C.E. Massari Substack: https://cemassari.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c.e.massari/ Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cemassari/the-mafia-vs-the-klan?ref=profile_created&category_id=252Watch / Subscribe to USDN: https://www.youtube.com/@USDN_PodcastBusiness / Media Inquiries: thechairman@usdnpodcast.comBCW Supplies Affiliate Linkhttps://www.bcwsupplies.com/?acc=usdnUse code USDN at checkout.Affiliate Disclosure: USDN may earn a small commission if you use our affiliate link or code. This helps support the show at no extra cost to you.The USDN Podcast - Where Indie Comics Come to Life.

The Write Brothas Entertainment joins The Chairman on the USDN Podcast for a deep dive into indie comics, creator-owned sci-fi, worldbuilding, and the ambitious 88 Universe.Founded by Decarlo Tatum Jr. and Neil Newman, The Write Brothas Entertainment is built on one powerful belief: “It's okay to imagine.”In this episode, we discuss the origins of The Write Brothas, their creative partnership, the move from film and television ideas into comics, and the process of building a full indie sci-fi universe from the ground up.We also explore the world of “88,” including Ominus, General Muakuu, the Zowen-Kag, Planet Edine, anime-inspired storytelling, cinematic influences, and the importance of originality in indie comics.This conversation is about more than one comic book. It is about imagination, creator ownership, independent storytelling, and what it takes to build something original when there is no rulebook.Guest Links:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/writebrothasent?igsh=cHphNTM5dTNweDJvWebsite:http://www.twbstudios.com/USDN Podcast Links:YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@USDN_PodcastLinktree:https://linktr.ee/USDN_PodcastBusiness / Media Inquiries: thechairman@usdnpodcast.comBCW Supplies Affiliate Link:https://www.bcwsupplies.com/?acc=usdnUse Coupon Code: USDNAffiliate Disclosure:USDN may earn a small commission if you use our affiliate link or code. This helps support the show at no extra cost to you.The USDN Podcast - Where Indie Comics Come to Life.

Send us Fan MailSend us Fan MailIn this enlightening episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we sit down with author PK Stewart, who takes us on her transformative journey from a successful career in business management to becoming an indie author. After spending six years crafting her debut novel, PK has embraced the indie publishing world with confidence and a clear strategy, leveraging her business acumen to navigate the complexities of the authoring process.PK shares her early inspirations for writing, revealing how her love for storytelling blossomed from her childhood reading experiences. She discusses the pivotal moment at a writers' conference that ignited her belief in her own potential as a writer and the decision to pursue an indie path rather than traditional publishing.Listeners will gain valuable insights into the realities of indie publishing, including the challenges of marketing oneself and the importance of balancing creativity with the business side of writing. PK opens up about her Times End series, exploring the themes of inequality and climate change while ensuring her narratives remain engaging and entertaining.As she reflects on her journey, PK emphasizes the importance of trusting one's creative instincts and the power of community support within the writer's world. She also shares her upcoming projects and her passion for teaching others in the writing community.Join us for an inspiring conversation that encourages aspiring authors to pursue their dreams and carve out their own paths in the literary world.What You'll Learn in This Episode:- The journey from business management to indie author- Insights into the indie publishing process and marketing challenges- The significance of character-driven storytelling- How to balance creativity with the business side of writing- Tips for growing an audience and engaging readersFor more information on PK Stewart and her work, visit www.pkstewart.com and stay connected through her newsletter and upcoming Substack, *Where the Story Leads*. https://www.amazon.com/Inside-Tree-Line-Times-Book-ebook/dp/B0C9SQ7LGSSupport the show

What does it take to write and publish 43 books? In this inspiring episode of the Speaking Podcast, we sit down with Aaron Ryan, a prolific author and voiceover artist who has mastered the art of indie publishing. From his early "calling" in second grade to his latest epic sci-fi releases, Aaron shares the secrets behind his incredible productivity and creative process. We dive deep into the advantages of being an indie author—retaining rights, commanding higher royalties, and maintaining total creative control. Aaron also reveals his unique approach to marketing: stop "selling" and start being an enthusiast. Whether you're an aspiring writer, a fan of epic sagas like Dissonance and The Talisman, or simply looking for a masterclass in following your passion, this conversation is packed with heart, humor, and actionable advice.     Timestamps Timestamp Topic Description 0:00 Welcome & Introduction to Aaron Ryan 0:47 The 43rd Book Launch: A prolific journey in writing 1:35 The Origin Story: Writing "The Electric Boy" in second grade 2:41 A Mother's Gift: Reclaiming childhood memories and early work 3:31 Creative Inspiration: J.R.R. Tolkien and the legacy of Lord of the Rings 4:34 Cinematic Roots: How movies like "I Am Legend" spark book ideas 5:21 The Structure of Creativity: Riding the wave of inspiration 6:12 The Reactive Career: Balancing authorship with voiceover work 6:43 The Art of the Book Cover: Subjectivity and designing your own brand 8:16 The Growing Library: Managing a massive catalog of work 9:17 Indie vs. Traditional Publishing: Why creative control is king 11:37 The Enthusiast's Marketing Strategy: Stop selling, start sharing 12:54 Box Sets and All-in-Ones: Meeting readers where they are 14:35 Formatting for Legibility: Trial and error in book design 16:13 The Emotional Toll of Writing: Therapeutic work and the 9/11 connection 25:57 Dealing with Reviews: Developing structural integrity against the "haters" 31:19 Trajectory vs. Endorsement: Why the mission comes before the feedback 33:05 The 51-Hour Audiobook: Bringing stories to life as a voice actor 34:40 The Talisman Finale: Navigating the multiverse and interstellar names 36:31 The Heart of the Work: Why "The End" saga and "Forecast" are personal favorites 42:52 Where to Find Aaron: AuthorAaronRyan.com and exclusive groups 43:44 Outro: RoyCoughlan.com and the PodFather Network      

Dan Sehn of Argo Comics and writer Ray MacKay join The Chairman on the USDN Podcast to discuss GWP: Guys With Powers, a creator-owned indie superhero comic launching on Kickstarter.This episode dives into the creation of an original superhero universe, the challenges of crowdfunding indie comics, the importance of promotion, and what it takes to build new heroes outside the mainstream comic machine.Dan and Ray break down the world of GWP: Guys With Powers, including Cosmos, Radioactive Girl, Phaze, Dominico, and the Turbo Twins, while also discussing Argo Comics, indie publishing, Kickstarter, creator-owned comics, superhero storytelling, and the current state of the comic book industry.Support GWP: Guys With Powers on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dansehn/gwp-guys-with-powersFollow the creators: Ray MacKay: https://www.instagram.com/raymackaywrites/ Argo Comics: https://www.instagram.com/argocomics/Follow USDN:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/USDN_PodcastBusiness / Media Inquiries: thechairman@usdnpodcast.comSupport USDNBCW Supplies Affiliate Link: https://www.bcwsupplies.com/?acc=usdnUse Code: USDNAffiliate Disclosure: USDN may earn a small commission if you use our affiliate link or code. This helps support the show at no extra cost to you.The USDN Podcast - Where Indie Comics Come to Life.#IndieComics #KickstarterComics #ComicBooks #SuperheroComics #CreatorOwnedComics #GWP #GuysWithPowers #ArgoComics #RayMacKay #USDNPodcast

What happens when a lifelong comic fan, toy collector, and convention veteran turns his passion into creator-owned comics?In this episode of the USDN Podcast, The Chairman sits down with John McLaren of Phantom Ink Comics to discuss the origins of ToteMan, Villains Anonymous, Argyle Avenger, NinjaBoy, and the journey from comic collector to comic creator.John shares the personal inspiration behind ToteMan, including how the character helped explain epilepsy to his son, while also discussing the realities of independent publishing, convention culture, creator-owned storytelling, and the enduring appeal of classic comic book adventures.From Gen X nostalgia and comic collecting to building a universe of original characters, this conversation explores why indie comics continue to thrive through passion, creativity, and community.Follow John McLaren / Phantom Ink Comics:Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Gen.X.ToyboxInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/genxtoyboxYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/user/PhantomInkProductionFollow the USDN Podcast:Linktree:https://linktr.ee/USDN_Podcast