Podcasts about Print on demand

Sarah Franklin from Lulu teaches us how to turn our content into professional-quality books that build our brand and create new revenue streams. Sarah is the Public Relations Manager for Lulu.com, the publishing and print on demand company started in 2002 by Red Hat Founder Bob Young. Her primary role is to educate creators about the benefits of Lulu. With over 16 years experience in the publishing industry, Sarah is passionate about helping authors find ways to connect with their audience. In previous roles, she led author public relations campaigns and coached many more in preparation for their book launches. She lives in Raleigh with her family. Publishing a cookbook does not have to mean chasing a traditional book deal or managing inventory from your garage. Sarah shares how food bloggers can use Lulu's print-on-demand platform to create beautiful, flexible products without the hassle. From simple PDFs to polished spiral-bound books, this episode will help you see your content in a whole new light. Key points discussed include: - Cookbooks increase your authority: A printed book helps establish your expertise and leaves a lasting impression on your audience. - Print on demand keeps things simple: Skip the upfront investment and sell only when someone places an order. - Customize every detail: Choose your format, binding, paper type, and more to match your brand and audience preferences. - You can start small: A holiday collection, themed mini book, or even a recipe calendar is a great way to begin. - Revenue stays in your hands: You keep the profits instead of splitting them with publishers or distributors. - Publishing is easier than you think: All you need is a PDF of your book and cover, and Lulu provides templates to guide the process. - Marketing starts early: Build momentum before launch with pre-release buzz, giveaways, and local media outreach. - You are qualified right now: You do not need permission or a giant audience to publish something valuable. Connect with Sarah Franklin Website | Instagram

✨ Suis-moi sur Instagram : https://instagram.com/laurita.socaliente/ Pourquoi devrions-nous tous plus pratiquer le silence, garder notre calme et maîtriser notre esprit ? - Choisir ses batailles - Le silence n'est pas une faiblesse - Qu'est ce que tu as fait pour que l'autre se sente confortable de te traiter comme ça ? - L'inconfort que génère le silence est gold - Quand on se tait, on entend - Moins tu en dis, plus on t'écoute - Le silence est aussi une réponse A tout de suite ;)

In this episode I'm sharing 5 print on demand niches that you can target to increase your sales in the near future

I'm building a fully functional print on demand store from scratch using Everbee store, step-by-step, in 15 minutes!

#543 What if you could turn funny ideas into a six-figure print-on-demand empire? In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, UK-based entrepreneur Michael Essek shares how he went from graphic designer to globally successful t-shirt seller using platforms like Redbubble, Amazon Merch on Demand, and Etsy. Michael breaks down the numbers game behind early traction, the art of creating viral designs, and how humor, trend awareness, and adaptability became his superpowers. You'll learn why over-designing can kill creativity, what separates a funny joke from a bestselling shirt, and how his idea-generation platform Idealy is helping creatives shortcut success. Whether you're a designer, copywriter, or curious entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with insight, inspiration, and practical tips! What we discuss with Michael: + From web designer to t-shirt mogul + First success selling on Redbubble + Leveraging Merch by Amazon to scale + Why quality beats quantity in design + Finding viral jokes and trends + Tools and methods for idea generation + Importance of testing before scaling + Building mini-brands across platforms + Using AI to boost creativity and speed + Creating Idealy to streamline ideas Thank you, Michael! Check out Michael Essek at MichaelEssek.com. Check out Idealy at Idealy.app. To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MillionaireUniversity.com/training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want to hear from more incredible entrepreneurs? Check out all of our interviews ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway reports on a renewed wave of AI-generated fake books appearing on Amazon under real author names, prompting concerns about trust and transparency. He also covers the final closure of Boundless Books—formerly Unbound—leaving authors unpaid and in limbo, and raising familiar questions about communication breakdowns, sales reporting, and royalty transparency. Sponsors Self-Publishing News is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. Self-Publishing News is also sponsored by book cover design company Miblart. They offer unlimited revisions, take no deposit to start work and you pay only when you love the final result. Get a book cover that will become your number-one marketing tool. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. About the Host Dan Holloway is a novelist, poet, and spoken word artist. He is the MC of the performance arts show The New Libertines, He competed at the National Poetry Slam final at the Royal Albert Hall. His latest collection, The Transparency of Sutures, is available on Kindle.

Summary In this episode, Julie Berninger interviews Jay De Souza, who shares his journey from a stressful corporate job to becoming a successful print-on-demand entrepreneur. Jay discusses the importance of understanding customer needs, the significance of niche marketing, and the emotional aspect of selling products. He emphasizes the use of technology and tools to enhance business efficiency and the necessity of maintaining a positive mindset for long-term success. The conversation also covers emerging trends in the apparel market and practical tips for aspiring entrepreneurs. Takeaways Jay is about to cross 125,000 shirts sold on Amazon. Stress can manifest physically and is a silent killer. Designing for the customer is crucial for success. Niche marketing is essential for effective selling. Utilizing technology tools can streamline the design process. Selling emotions is key to connecting with customers. Competition in the market validates demand for products. A year of commitment is necessary for business success. Implementing what you learn is as important as learning itself. Quality design is essential; ugly designs won't sell. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Milestones 01:58 Transitioning from Corporate to Print on Demand 07:34 Understanding Customer Needs 10:23 Niche Marketing Strategies 15:35 The Importance of Emotion in Design 24:34 Tech Stack and Tools for Success 31:05 Navigating the Algorithm: Understanding Customer Confusion 31:54 Targeting Big Niches: The Balance of Competition 33:13 Defining Your Ideal Customer: Niche Down for Success 35:07 The Importance of Keywords: Broad vs. Long Tail 36:50 Shopping Mindset: Understanding the Buyer's Perspective 39:00 Creative Chaos: Organizing Your Design Process 41:11 Emerging Trends: Summerween and Beyond 45:57 Nutrition Label Parodies: A Unique Design Opportunity 48:53 Researching Trends: Finding Your Target Demographic 52:59 Mindset Matters: Resilience in Business 57:44 Setting Realistic Expectations: The Long Game in Business   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/V3yHdicbwXo   Resources Free POD Workshop: https://goldcityventures.com/gifting-gold-podcast Free Digital Product Workshop: https://goldcityventures.com/workshop-pdcst Gold City Ventures Website: https://goldcityventures.com/pdcst Follow Jay on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayswayworks Check out Jay's Membership: https://go.goldcityventures.com/jays-way

Amazon Merch on Demand is almost impossible to compete with for most print on demand sellers. As a result, I'm recommending you AVOID selling these products on Amazon, in favor of some other options that I'm outlining in this video

ALLi Campaigns Manager Matty Dalrymple talks with Michael Pietrobon, founder of Canadian book design and self-publishing company Foglio, about budget-friendly ways to add audio to eBooks without producing full audiobooks. They discuss using sound effects and leitmotifs to enhance stories, technical standards for eBook production, sourcing free audio, AI clean-up, and creating interactive enhanced eBooks. Michael also offers advice on ensuring device compatibility and distribution, while noting that print books should remain a priority for authors. Sponsors This podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. This podcast is also sponsored by Gatekeeper Press, the all-inclusive Gold Standard in Publishing, offering authors 100% rights, royalties, satisfaction and worldwide distribution. Gatekeeper Press, Where Authors are Family. About the Host Matty Dalrymple podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors, and her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine. She serves as the campaigns manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors. Matty is also the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with Rock Paper Scissors; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with The Sense of Death; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including Close These Eyes. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. About the Guest Michael Pietrobon is the founder of Foglio, a Canadian company specializing in high-quality book design and self-publishing services. With more than a decade of experience in typesetting, cover design, and eBook formatting, Michael helps authors bring their books to life—professionally and on their own terms. He works with writers across genres to create print-ready and digital books that meet both creative and industry standards. He is especially passionate about innovations in publishing, including interactive eBooks and audiobook design, and believes independent authors deserve the same design quality and distribution reach as traditional publishers. Michael can be found at foglioprint.com, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

Text me!In today's episode, Amanda Hofman shares her entrepreneurial journey, discussing her experiences in running businesses, the importance of hustle, learning from mistakes, and the role of swag in branding. She emphasizes the need for entrepreneurs to take ownership of their work and the significance of building relationships through quality merchandise.TakeawaysAmanda's journey began with Urban Girl Squad, proving her entrepreneurial spirit.Hustle is essential for success in any business venture.Entrepreneurship is not for everyone; it requires a willingness to face challenges.Learning from mistakes is crucial; ignoring red flags can lead to bad decisions.Quality swag can enhance brand relationships and should not be treated as mere promotional items.Companies often print swag inefficiently, leading to low-quality items.Swag should be seen as a marketing tool, not just a giveaway.Opting for print on demand can solve many swag-related issues.Building relationships through swag is key to effective branding.Entrepreneurs have the power to say no to bad partnerships.Connect further with Amanda on LinkedIn HERE or visit her website HERESupport the showLINKS TO FREEBIES BELOW: WEEKLY NEWSLETTER where I share all the tips and tricks on how to grow organically online HERE ABOUT THE HOST: Former Executive Recruiter turned Online Marketing Expert & Entrepreneur. I'm here to show you that you can do it too! I help women to start, grow and scale their personal brand and business online through social media. In 2021 I launched ChilledVino, my patented wine product and in 2023 I launched The Feminine Founder Podcast and in 2025 I launched my Digital Marketing Agency called The Feminine Founder Marketing. I live in South Carolina with my husband Gary and 2 Weimrarners, Zena & Zara. This podcast is a supportive and inclusive community where I interview and bring women together that are fellow entrepreneurs and workplace experts. We believe in sharing our stories, unpacking exactly how we did it and talking through the mindset shifts needed to achieve great things.Connect with me on LinkedIn HERE IG @cpennington55 FB HERE Follow the podcast page HERE Buy ChilledVino HERE

Watch my process for identifying new trends in minutes, without having to endlessly comb through Amazon listings by leveraging Merch Dominator's web app

Tidalwave was born out of bringing production in-house for their e-commerce brand. While Bradley & Matt may have underestimated the gravity of this endeavor, they found greater value in the opportunities that came with it, propelling them to becoming the 37th fasting growing business in 2025. Topics of discussion include: grass being greener on the other side, having sales before skills, 3PL & fulfillment, utilizing twitter/X, focusing your customer profile, automations and equipment, print on demand, box robots, managing your PnL, and the value of friendship.

✨ Suis-moi sur Instagram : https://instagram.com/laurita.socaliente/ En amitié, personne ne nous apprend à naviguer. On apprend sur le tas, et parfois, on fait des erreurs. Êtes-vous un bon ami ? Avez-vous de bons amis ? Voici quelques réflexions autour de l'amitié, à partager d'urgence avec votre bff ! - Certains amis ne sont là que dans les bons moments - Certains ne sont présents que dans les mauvais moments (true story) - Le rôle de l'amitié dans les burn out - Choisir l'ami qui nous choisit - Il y a des amitiés de circonstances - L'effort est un reflet direct de l'intérêt - On ne sauve pas quelqu'un qui est accro à ses problèmes - Certains s'alimentent de ta réaction - Because I healed does not mean you can access me again - Ton pote en a marre de t'entendre parler de ce que tu ferais - Les gossip et les amis A tout de suite ;)

In this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi Member Q&A podcast, hosts Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black discuss whether media liability insurance is worth the cost for memoir authors and explain how it differs from errors and omissions coverage. Other questions include: What printers offer special features like sprayed edges and foil for print books? How can authors effectively run a presale campaign from their own website? What should I do if Amazon terminates my KDP account? How do Genius Link and Books2Read compare for universal book links? Is it time to reevaluate Findaway Voices now that it's part of Spotify? When do audiobooks become a worthwhile investment of time and money? And More! Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-Publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. Sponsor The Member Q&A podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. About the Hosts Michael La Ronn is ALLi's Outreach Manager. He is the author of over 80 science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers. He writes from the great plains of Iowa and has managed to write while raising a family, working a full-time job, and even attending law school classes in the evenings (now graduated!). You can find his fiction at www.michaellaronn.com and his videos and books for writers at www.authorlevelup.com. Sacha Black is a bestselling and competition winning author, rebel podcaster, speaker and casual rule breaker. She writes fiction under a secret pen name and other books about the art of writing. When Sacha isn't writing, she runs ALLi's blog. She lives in England, with her wife and genius, giant of a son. You can find her on her website, her podcast, and on Instagram.  

In this episode I'm sharing 5 print on demand niches that you can target to increase your sales in the near future

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway reports on a coordinated bot attack that hit indie authors using Shopify, leaving some with unexpected fees and limited recourse. He also covers new and proposed legislation across the UK, EU, and US, including the UK's Online Safety Act, concerns over enforcement of the EU AI Act, and the US White House's pro-tech AI action plan—all with implications for author rights and content access. Sponsors Self-Publishing News is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. Self-Publishing News is also sponsored by book cover design company Miblart. They offer unlimited revisions, take no deposit to start work and you pay only when you love the final result. Get a book cover that will become your number-one marketing tool. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. About the Host Dan Holloway is a novelist, poet, and spoken word artist. He is the MC of the performance arts show The New Libertines, He competed at the National Poetry Slam final at the Royal Albert Hall. His latest collection, The Transparency of Sutures, is available on Kindle.

In this week’s Throwback Thursday segment, hear how an independent artist who launched a small print-on-demand store eventually landed a licensing deal with a major retail brand—and what the experience has been like so far. Side Hustle School features a new episode EVERY DAY, featuring detailed case studies of people who earn extra money without quitting their job. This year, the show includes free guided lessons and listener Q&A several days each week. Show notes: SideHustleSchool.com Email: team@sidehustleschool.com Be on the show: SideHustleSchool.com/questions Connect on Instagram: @193countries Visit Chris's main site: ChrisGuillebeau.com Read A Year of Mental Health: yearofmentalhealth.com If you're enjoying the show, please pass it along! It's free and has been published every single day since January 1, 2017. We're also very grateful for your five-star ratings—it shows that people are listening and looking forward to new episodes.

This week I'm joined by Print on Demand Expert Cassiy Johnson and she's answering rapid fire questions to help you have more success with your POD Etsy shop. We cover everything from whether POD and digital products can coexist in the same shop, to whether you should run daily sales, design strategies, interpreting stats—and so much more. Tune in for expert advice on maximizing your POD potential! **“How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy” is not affiliated with or endorsed by Etsy.com    STUFF I MENTIONED:  Apply to be on the Podcast: https://sprw.io/stt-xfsV5fhDxxT3NJGVBghmWp   FIND CASSIY: Cassiy Johnson on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CassiyJohnson Get Simply Listed on a 14 day FREE Trial: https://simplylisted.io/?via=lizzie This tool will automate your Mockup Process through Printify saving you TONS of time setting up your listings!   Get Cassiy's POD course/Mentorship Group (The POD Roadmap): https://www.cassiyjohnson.com/a/2147563306/rLmqwFZc Join Cassiy's Trend Membership: https://www.cassiyjohnson.com/a/2148142897/rLmqwFZc    ---------------------- Learn from Lizzie: Got Questions? NEED ONE-ON-ONE HELP?

Kittl now supports advanced text editing! This means we can create designs inspired by best-sellers with text colors and effects, all from your web browser!

On the Publishing for Profit stream of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Joe Solari investigates why Amazon book launches no longer deliver lasting results. He explains how the algorithm now favors steady reader engagement over quick sales spikes—and how understanding this shift, along with the rise of AI-powered search, can help authors thrive in the new publishing landscape. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of 2,000+ blog posts, and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. We invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. Sponsor This podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. About the Host Joe Solari assists authors in developing successful businesses as the managing partner of Author Ventures LLC. In his role as a business manager, he supports his private clients, who collectively achieved gross royalties of twenty-two million in 2023, with an average pre-tax profit of 44%. This remarkable success results from implementing disciplined business strategies and maintaining an unwavering dedication to enhancing the customer experience.

How do you go from Michigan small business roots and San Francisco startups to the frontlines of reviving a beloved publishing company—and what have you learned along the way? In this insightful episode, host Ed Parcaut sits down with Eric Jorgensen, CEO of Scribe Media, author, operator, and entrepreneur. Eric opens up about his journey from working in venture-backed Silicon Valley startups (including his decade-long run at Zaarly), to publishing his own books, and eventually stepping in to save Scribe Media after its near-collapse. Drawing from his background as both an operator and an author, Eric shares the skills that helped him navigate crisis, what it means to truly listen to customers, and why clear communication between product and audience is the key to building anything lasting. You'll hear: The difference between self-publishing, traditional publishing, and why owning your book matters Insider lessons from the “jobs to be done” framework for understanding what customers really need Real talk on the challenges and rewards of writing a book (including typos, reviews, covering niche topics, and the emotional journey behind every decision) How Eric and his team helped bring Scribe Media back to life—and what the future holds for authors Whether you're an entrepreneur thinking about taking your story to the page, or a curious listener interested in business turnaround stories, this episode is packed with honest advice, personal stories, and practical tips on telling your story and building your authority. Learn more about Scribe Media, writing your own book, and why sometimes the best path forward is helping others share what they know with the world. Connect with Scribe Media: https://scribemedia.com Connect with Ed Parcaut: https://edparcaut.com Ready to become the authority in your industry? Press play and find inspiration for your own journey! #EdParcaut #EricJorgensen #InnerEdisonPodcast #ScribeMedia #BookPublishing #Entrepreneurship #SelfPublishing #WritingJourney #AuthorLife #BusinessBooks #PublishingAdvice #Ghostwriting #BookMarketing #StartupStories #Leadership #PodcastInterview #BookLaunch #AuthorExperience #PublishingIndustry #Storytelling

Best Design Tool (with discount)

On this episode of Some Future Day, we crack open the playbook for financial freedom with one of America's most prolific entrepreneurs, Andrew Cartwright. From being cut off by his father at just 12 years old, to building 32 companies across 17 industries and managing 86 streams of income, Andrew's journey is anything but ordinary! He has flipped businesses, invested in blockchain, put gold on the blockchain ledger, and even built a personal brand that empowers millions online. But here's the kicker: he's not selling hype. Andrew is showing you how to buy your first business using SBA loans, how to generate passive income through print-on-demand stores, and how to build a white label supplement brand in under 10 minutes.From margin and manufacturing to personal branding and Web3, Andrew Cartwright drops tactical advice you can act on today. If you've ever felt like financial freedom was out of reach, if you've been looking for a roadmap, a mentor, or just a spark, this episode is your blueprint! This isn't about a get-rich-quick scheme. It's about real tools, real talk, and really taking action. Because on Some Future Day, wealth doesn't just happen. It's built. And that future can start right now.Episode Links:Website: https://andrewcartwright.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@andrewcartwrightInVideo: https://invideo.io/Print On Demand: https://www.printful.com/Supplement White-labeling: https://supliful.com/Order Marc's new book, "Some Future Day: How AI Is Going to Change Everything"Sign up for the Some Future Day Newsletter here: https://marcbeckman.substack.com/To join the conversation, follow Marc Beckman here: YoutubeLinkedInTwitterInstagramTikTok

Increase your sales immediately using this method to find brand new Etsy products that are generating 10+ sales/day

I found an early access print on demand product on Printify that's currently projected to reach an all-time high in search interest, according to Google Trends!

✨ Suis-moi sur Instagram : https://instagram.com/laurita.socaliente/ Si vous êtes sous emprise : https://coaching.socaliente.fr/sortir-de-lemprise Et si c'était nous, le comportement toxique dans la relation ? Et si on avait tous, quelque part des traits toxiques ? Lesquels sont-ils et comment s'en débarrasser ? Dans cet épisode, on parle, avec humour, de nos traits de personnalités qui peuvent s'apparenter à de la manipulation, sans même que l'on en ait conscience. Dans le désordre, on aborde des thèmes comme : - la jalousie - le gaslighting - toujours vouloir avoir raison - fliquer - ghoster et d'autres traits qui font froid dans le dos ;) Et bien évidemment, comment s'en défaire dès maintenant! A tout de suite ;)

Summary Emily's Free POD webinar: https://goldcityventures.com/august-2025-pod-workshop-podcast In this episode, Julie Berninger and Emily discuss the latest trends in print-on-demand products, focusing on five unique items that are currently performing well on Etsy. Emily shares her insights on wedding vow journals, funny career candles, teacher tote bags, personalized ornaments, and hidden message mugs, providing practical advice for beginners looking to enter the print-on-demand space. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs and the potential for unique, giftable products in the e-commerce market. Takeaways Emily crossed $600,000 in revenue from her POD shop. Wedding vow journals are a surprising bestseller on Etsy. Funny career candles connect with specific audiences. Teacher tote bags offer a unique gift option. Ornaments can sell year-round, not just during holidays. Hidden message mugs are a trendy gift idea. Etsy is a go-to platform for unique gifts. Understanding customer needs is crucial for product success. Simple designs can lead to significant sales. Print on demand allows for easy entry into e-commerce. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Print on Demand Success 05:36 Exploring Wedding Vow Journals 10:51 The Rise of Funny Career Candles 13:43 Innovative Teacher Tote Bags 18:06 Year-Round Sales of Ornaments 22:53 Hidden Message Mugs: A New Trend Resources https://goldcityventures.com/august-2025-pod-workshop-podcast - Emily's Free POD Webinar https://goldcityventures.com/gift-lab-podcast - The Gift Lab Course https://goldcityventures.com/pdcst - Gold City Ventures Website Follow Emily on: https://www.instagram.com/ecommemily - Emily's Instagram https://www.youtube.com/@ecommemily - Emily's YouTube

My guest this episode is Cheryl Carpinello, a retired English teacher from Colorado who writes books based on Arthurian legend and ancient history to help reach reluctant young readers. She draws on more than 20 years of classroom experience and brings her stories to life through school visits and workshops. Cheryl is also part of an international author consortium that offers support and collaboration for indie writers. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of 2,000+ blog posts, and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. We invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. Sponsor Inspirational Indie Authors is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. About the Host Howard Lovy has been a journalist for 40 years and now amplifies the voices of independent author-publishers and works with authors as a developmental editor. Find Howard at howardlovy.com, LinkedIn, and X. About the Guest Cheryl Carpinello is a retired high school English teacher who writes stories rooted in Arthurian legend, ancient history, and mythology to help young readers—especially reluctant ones—connect with timeless values like courage, honor, and friendship. Her Feathers of the Phoenix series blends biblical themes with time travel, while her Grandma/Grandpa's Tales support early reading skills for children as young as four. Cheryl also leads medieval-themed school workshops and poetry activities, and she enjoys connecting with readers at fairs and events. You can find Cheryl on her website, Amazon, Facebook, Instagram, and X.

In this episode I'm sharing 5 print on demand niches that you can target to increase your sales in the near future

This is the best way to make $5K a month with Etsy Print On Demand in 2025!In today's video, we break down my step by step guide to getting your Etsy shop to $5,000 per month in profit by selling only Print On Demand products.

Leaders spend $5-10K monthly on ads that disappear overnight. But what if there was a single asset that could instantly elevate your authority, attract ideal clients, and open doors to unparalleled speaking opportunities for YEARS to come? In this episode, Jason sits down with Everett O'Keefe, "The Book Whisper," who's behind over 200 bestselling launches. They dive deep into why authorship isn't just about writing—it's about igniting your legacy and multiplying your impact.

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway explains a major development in the lawsuit against Anthropic, where a judge has allowed authors to proceed as a class in claims tied to piracy—potentially leading to significant damages, but only for those with timely registered U.S. copyrights. He also covers a Senate hearing questioning tech's use of copyrighted works and a new Kindle Colorsoft model that reinforces Amazon's continued interest in graphic novels. Sponsors Self-Publishing News is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. Self-Publishing News is also sponsored by book cover design company Miblart. They offer unlimited revisions, take no deposit to start work and you pay only when you love the final result. Get a book cover that will become your number-one marketing tool. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. About the Host Dan Holloway is a novelist, poet, and spoken word artist. He is the MC of the performance arts show The New Libertines, He competed at the National Poetry Slam final at the Royal Albert Hall. His latest collection, The Transparency of Sutures, is available on Kindle.

I compared HelloCustom's personalization features to Printify's and did a complete breakdown for print on demand sellers in today's video. This side-by-side comparison lead me to favor HelloCustom overall

In this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, Dale L. Roberts talks with J. Kevin Tumlinson about building a personal author brand that attracts loyal readers. They explain why branding is about human connection rather than logos, how your mindset can shape your writing career, and how to create a brand that grows with you. The conversation includes practical tips on finding your voice, taking smart risks, and building long-term relationships with your audience. Sponsor This podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. About the Host Dale L. Roberts is a self-publishing advocate, award-winning author, and video content creator. Dale's inherent passion for life fuels his self-publishing advocacy both in print and online. After publishing over 50 titles and becoming an international bestselling author on Amazon, Dale started his YouTube channel, Self-Publishing with Dale. Selected by Feedspot and LA Weekly as one of the best sources in self-publishing of 2022, Dale cemented his position as the indie-author community's go-to authority. You can find Dale on his website or YouTube. About the Guest J. Kevin Tumlinson is an award-winning, bestselling thriller author and seasoned podcaster known as the Voice of Indie Publishing. With a background in film, TV, and radio, he's helped thousands of authors build self-publishing careers while traveling the world with his wife, Kara. His debut novel, The Coelho Medallion, won a 2016 Shelf Notable Indie award, and his passion for history, archaeology, and science fuels both his fiction and his public speaking. Kevin is also the former host of the Wordslinger Podcast and co-host of Writers, Ink, regularly working from coffee shops and hotel lobbies across the globe.

This is a beginner-friendly print on demand product that you can design using Printify's designer, and copy these shortcuts to improve your efficiency while you're at it!

Smithlist is a job board for leadership roles at small businesses. If you're not ready to buy a business but want to lead one:Smithlist - Operate & Lead a BusinessAnica John bought a print-on-demand business to have more time with her kids without compromising her career ambitions.Topics in Anica's interview:Experience at Amazon, WalMart, and Disney StreamingChoosing entrepreneurship over returning to officeBuying a publishing company for indie authorsHigh capex = moatDiversity of their genres and clientele Resurrecting a dead dealHow DiggyPOD stacks up to Amazon KDPCarefully planning tech upgradesAward-winning customer serviceRunning a business from out of stateReferences and how to contact Anica:LinkedInanica@anicajohn.comDiggyPODrejiggGet complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund TeamWork with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:Pioneer Capital AdvisoryLearn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:The Acquisition LabConnect with Acquiring Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton RohozovProduced by Pam Cameron

In the first session of Building a Print Business That Will Last, an exclusive, 4-episode Podcast Conference, Henrik Müller-Hansen, CEO at Gelato, joins Deborah Corn to discuss the rise of print-on-demand, the merging of B2B and B2C markets, and how platforms like GelatoConnect are enabling print businesses to meet evolving customer demands, scale globally, and remain competitive in an increasingly digital and automated landscape.   Mentioned in This Episode: Henrik Müller-Hansen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henrikmullerhansen/ Gelato: https://www.gelato.com/ GelatoConnect: https://www.gelato.com/connect GelatoConnect Success Stories: https://www.gelato.com/connect/customer-stories  Transform Your Business with GelatoConnect: https://www.gelato.com/connect/why What's New in GelatoConnect: https://www.gelato.com/connect/product-news  Free Webinars: https://www.gelato.com/connect/webinars  GelatoConnect Product Demo: https://www.gelato.com/connect/product-demo-home GelatoCreators Community: https://www.gelato.com/community Deborah Corn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahcorn/ Print Media Centr: https://printmediacentr.com Subscribe to News From The Printerverse: https://printmediacentr.com/subscribe-2  Girls Who Print: https://girlswhoprint.org Project Peacock: https://ProjectPeacock.TV 

On the Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast, Orna Ross and Joanna Penn talk about the creative process behind poetry and short fiction. They reflect on how they decide what form a piece should take, how emotion and memory shape their work, and why writing short can sometimes be harder than long. They also discuss editing, publishing, and why indie authors have the freedom to write what matters to them. Sponsor This podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. About the Hosts Joanna Penn writes nonfiction for authors and is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author as J.F.Penn. She's also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. Orna Ross launched the Alliance of Independent Authors at the London Book Fair in 2012. Her work for ALLi has seen her named as one of The Bookseller's “100 top people in publishing”. She also publishes poetry, fiction, and nonfiction and is greatly excited by the democratizing, empowering potential of author-publishing. For more information about Orna, visit her website.

In this episode I'm sharing 5 print on demand niches that you can target to increase your sales in the near future

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway covers Spotify's expanded audiobook options, Meta's refusal to support the EU's AI code of conduct, and the fast-approaching deadline for the $100,000 Novel Prize. He also highlights new data suggesting the romantasy trend still has years of life, especially in emerging subgenres. Sponsors Self-Publishing News is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. Self-Publishing News is also sponsored by book cover design company Miblart. They offer unlimited revisions, take no deposit to start work and you pay only when you love the final result. Get a book cover that will become your number-one marketing tool. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. About the Host Dan Holloway is a novelist, poet, and spoken word artist. He is the MC of the performance arts show The New Libertines, He competed at the National Poetry Slam final at the Royal Albert Hall. His latest collection, The Transparency of Sutures, is available on Kindle.

✨ Suis-moi sur Instagram : https://instagram.com/laurita.socaliente/ Le pretty privilège, qu'est ce que c'est ? Existe-t-il vraiment ? Comment en bénéficier ? Quels en sont les inconvénients ? ⚠️  L'intro est longue ;) l'épisode commence vers 5' et quelques! - Quand il y a privilège, il y a discrimination - Les standards de beauté vont à l'inverse de ce qui est accessible - La beauté est presque le privilège le plus facile à obtenir - Ton mindset te rend pretty or ugly - La vie n'est pas pour les faibles - Vous avez le privilège d'avoir des oreilles - Le moaning te rend peu attirant. - Le cas Luigi Mandore - Quand on est beau, on polarise - Tu dois faire deux fois plus pour réussir dans certains domaines - Vous êtes privilégié(e) - Quand on est beau, on a moins le droit à l'erreur A tout de suite ;)

Summary In this episode, Julie Berninger interviews Juna from Detour Shirts about the world of print on demand, specifically focusing on selling apparel like t-shirts. Juna shares his extensive experience in the industry, discusses various AI tools for design, and provides valuable tips for creating standout designs. The conversation emphasizes the importance of quality over quantity in design, the role of AI in enhancing creativity, and practical strategies for success in the print on demand space.   Takeaways Juna has been in print on demand since 2005. AI tools can significantly speed up the design process. Quality of designs is more important than quantity. Using unique typography can make designs stand out. Good use of color is essential for eye-catching designs. Creating interesting layouts can differentiate your products. AI can help generate ideas for phrases and designs. It's important to fill space effectively in designs. Designs without text can still be successful. Experimenting with different tools can enhance creativity.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Print on Demand Apparel 02:51 Exploring Technology in Print on Demand 05:34 The Role of AI in Design 08:27 Comparing AI Tools for Print on Demand 11:41 Maximizing Design Listings for Sales 14:31 Quality vs. Quantity in Design 17:28 Five Tips for Effective T-Shirt Design 20:56 Designing with Detail: The Importance of Elements 22:54 Creating Unique Designs: Standing Out in the Marketplace 26:10 Typography Matters: The Art of Text in Design 32:03 Color Choices: Using Color to Enhance Designs 38:31 Layout Creativity: Making Designs Visually Engaging Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rb8nhN9jU0E Resources: https://goldcityventures.com/gifting-gold-podcast - Free Workshop to learn the basics of selling POD https://goldcityventures.com/workshop-pdcst - Free workshop to learn the basics of selling digital products online https://goldcityventures.com/pdcst - Gold City Ventures Website Kittl: https://go.goldcityventures.com/kittl Follow Juna on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DetourShirts 

Send us a textIn episode 265 of Beyond The Story, Sebastian Rusk interviews “Merch Queen” Amanda Hofman, CEO and Co-Founder of Go To Market, a woman-owned branded merchandise company revolutionizing swag. Amanda shares her journey from founding NYC's Urban Girl Squad to building a brand that makes meaningful merch fun and accessible. She also talks about entrepreneurship, pivoting during the pandemic, and life in NYC with her family, rescue dog, and love for running and cycling.Tune in for valuable lessons on entrepreneurship and the importance of establishing a strong brand identity.TIMESTAMPS[00:02:47] Print on Demand technology.[00:06:13] Innovative brand merchandise strategies.[00:08:06] Exciting design process for brands.[00:12:39] AI as an enhancer.[00:15:25] Branded merchandise strategy importance.[00:18:46] Gifting platforms over storefronts.[00:21:44] Merch as business support.QUOTES "We connect to the values of a company. We don't connect to the logo of a company. We connect to how it makes us feel, how it relates to our identity." - Amanda Hofman"Your branded merchandise should look, feel, and taste as good as that. And if it doesn't, don't do it." -Amanda Hofman“ AI is going to be there to make a life just that much easier on, on, on what we're doing.” -Sebastian Rusk==========================Need help launching your podcast?Schedule a Free Podcast Strategy Call TODAY!PodcastLaunchLabNow.com==========================SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSSebastian RuskInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/podcastlaunchlab/Facebook: Facebook.com/sruskLinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/sebastianrusk/YouTube: Youtube.com/@PodcastLaunchLabAmanda HofmanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gotomarketstudio/?hl=en LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandagoldfinehofman/ ==========================Take the quiz now! https://podcastquiz.online/==========================Need Money For Your Business? Our Friends at Closer Capital can help! Click here for more info: PodcastsSUCK.com/money==========================PAYING RENT? Earn airlines when you do with the Bilt Rewards MastercardAPPLY HERE: https://bilt.page/r/2H93-5474

In this episode, Matt & Lauren review the power of print-on-demand books for subscription-based creators. Whether your content is behind a paywall, time-boxed, frequently updated, or even just spread out over multiple channels, print books can be a great way to support your fans, reach new subscribers, and further establish your expertise and authority. Learn why we think POD print books are a great value add for your subscribers, different ways to monetize your printed content, and how to easily sell and distribute your new products. Don't miss Content Entrepreneur Expo, THE event for creators, authors, and entrepreneurs. Visit cex.events to learn more and use promo code LULU100 to save $100 on your ticket

In this episode of Self-Publishing with ALLi, Anna Featherstone talks with Stuart Grant, founder of the Digital Authors Toolkit, about how authors can use augmented reality (AR). The discussion covers what AR is, how it fits into the publishing process, and practical, affordable ways for indie authors to experiment with it. Real-world examples and tools help illustrate whether AR is a good fit for a particular type of book or publishing stage. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-Publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. Sponsors This podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. This podcast is also sponsored by Gatekeeper Press, the all-inclusive Gold Standard in Publishing, offering authors 100% rights, royalties, satisfaction and worldwide distribution. Gatekeeper Press, Where Authors are Family. About the Host Anna Featherstone is ALLi's nonfiction adviser and an author advocate and mentor. A judge of The Australian Business Book Awards and Australian Society of Travel Writers awards, she's also the founder of Bold Authors and presents author marketing and self-publishing workshops for organizations, including Byron Writers Festival. Anna has authored books including how-to and memoirs and her book Look-It's Your Book! about writing, publishing, marketing, and leveraging nonfiction is on the Australian Society of Authors recommended reading list. When she's not being bookish, Anna's into bees, beings, and the big issues of our time. About the Guest Stuart Grant is the highest-rated author website designer on Reedsy, with more than 300 author sites to his credit. A former radio presenter and theatre lecturer, he now runs Digital Authors Toolkit, helping writers build beautiful, profitable, and future-ready websites. A regular speaker at the Self Publishing Show, Author Nation, and Ireland's Publishing Show, Grant is known for blending practical marketing advice with innovative tech such as AR, AI, and animation.

Kittl Flows are a gamechanger for print on demand design! Just drop in an idea or design, connect a Smartboard, add a prompt and watch your vision unfold.

Matty Dalrymple talks with David Wogahn about PRINT STRATEGIES FOR INDIES, including the pros and cons of using platforms like IngramSpark and KDP for print-on-demand services, sharing insights on costs, logistics, and strategies for maximizing print book sales. David highlights the technical challenges of producing high-quality print books and the dynamics of managing discounts and pricing. The conversation covers the complexities of print runs, hardcover editions, large print books, and the importance of aligning one's distribution strategy with specific goals and budget.   Interview video at https://bit.ly/TIAPYTPlaylist Show notes at https://www.theindyauthor.com/show-notes   If you find the information in this video useful, please consider supporting The Indy Author! https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattydalrymple   David Wogahn is the founder and president of AuthorImprints, which is a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and has taught self-publishing classes for Writer's Digest University, Jane Friedman, ALLi, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), and the Santa Barbara Writers Conference, among other publishing professional organizations. David is the author of six books about self-publishing, including the Countdown to Book Launch® series. In 2012, he became the author of the first LinkedIn Learning course on the topic of self-publishing.   Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she's learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors; her articles have appeared in "Writer's Digest" magazine. She serves as the Campaigns Manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors.

Do you want to grow your business? One way to do that is with exposure! And influencers can help with that! Please do not roll your eyes or envision a high-priced celebrity holding a product and smiling! We are joined by expert Erin Sparrow for real world advice on collaborating with other small business owners to spread the word about your products. From influencers to podcasters to authors and more, Erin has grown her business by working with others to reach a whole new audience and she is going to share how! Be sure to sign up for Kittl and give it a try for yourself: https://link.craftingcamps.com/kittl Erin Sparrow is the owner of Sparrow and Wilde, a small business selling licensed merchandise for authors and other creators. Erin started Sparrow & Wilde in June of 2022 as a side hustle selling mainly print-on-demand apparel. In May of 2023, Erin signed her first author licensing contract with Sarah J. Maas, which allowed her to design and sell merchandise based on best-selling book series like A Court of Thorns and Roses. Since then, Erin has signed with seven other authors, and expanded the Sparrow and Wilde product line to include temporary tattoos, accessories, and more. Erin has also collaborated with podcasts, influencers, and other businesses to create mutually beneficial partnerships. During the growth of Sparrow and Wilde, Erin kept track of every step of her process. In April 2025, she launched a 6-week course to help others build shops of their own. The course focuses mainly on Etsy & print-on-demand (as that is how Erin started her shop, and is a great low-risk/low-cost way to start), but also discusses author licensing, social media, and scaling.This 6-week course is designed to take you from square one to a thriving Etsy Print-on-Demand business. Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale your existing shop, I'll guide you through everything from setting up your shop and mastering SEO to trend research, design tools, licensing, customer service, and long-term scaling strategies.What makes this course different? Most courses focus on either creativity or business. But in this course, every single week includes both! Each week has a Creativity Section where you'll develop your design skills, learn about trends, and create standout listings. And there's a weekly Business Section covering the essential steps for opening and maintaining a small business (both from my own experiences and from my background as a CPA).See the course at: https://link.craftingcamps.com/sparrow Check out Cori's Etsy shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChapterCraftStudio Don't forget to shop our merch store to support the podcast! https://link.craftingcamps.com/merch Let us help you craft your future by turning your passion into a paycheck. Angie Holden and Cori George are teaming up for a series of live events dedicated to helping you start and grow your craft business. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss any of the future episodes!Sign up for our email newsletter here: https://crafting-camps.ck.page/4715c59751Ask us questions here: https://forms.gle/ShKt64gKjeuneMLeAWant more from Cori and Angie? Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channels and follow on Instagram using the links below.https://www.instagram.com/craftingcampshttps://www.instagram.com/heyletsmakestuffhttps://www.instagram.com/angieholdenmakes

When Sarina found Stephanie Pao on social media, she knew she had to interview her. Stephanie has the job we all want—she owns a bookstore on wheels. La Fleuria is L.A.'s first mobile romance bookstore, and we are here for it. Tune in to hear our interview with Stephanie. We're discussing how she got this idea, where she turned for advice, and how she figures out what to stock and where to park La Fleuria!Show links include: #YouAndYourBookstore episode with Mary Laura PhilpottLa Fleuria book truckStephanie on InstagramStephanie's LinktreeLa Fleuria's popup schedule Thrown for a Loop, Sarina's upcoming release (pub date 11/4/25)TropeTruck, a book truck whose owner generously contributed knowledgeIngram, the wholesale bookseller we discuss in some detail (because Jess needed to understand how this bookseller access to indie authors works!)Books Stephanie recommends and loves to sell at La Fleuria:Yes No Maybe by Jessica Sherry (La Fleuria's #2 bestseller!)Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana ZapataHey, Jess here to talk to you about a new series I have created just for supporters of the #AmWriting Podcast.I met an aspiring author and speaker who has an idea for a book that just knocked me over. I said, please, please write that book. This is someone who had an idea that has a place in the market. It's timely. She's the perfect person to write it, and I asked her, I begged her, if I could please mentor her through this process publicly on the podcast.So while we're not giving her full name and we're not giving the actual title of the book, because we don't want to hand those things away, I am coaching her through the entire process, from preparing her book proposal to querying an agent. I'm going through the whole thing with her. She knows nothing about the publishing industry, she knows very little about how one goes about writing a book—so essentially, this is as I mentioned before, from soup to nuts, From Authority to Author, and hopefully we'll get her there.But really, whether or not this book ends up selling, whether after this book she ends up having a speaking career, this is about the process of preparing to do that. I hope you'll join us.This series is for supporters only, so if you are a free subscriber right now, consider upgrading. Remember, if you upgrade, you'll also get the ability to submit for our First Pages Booklab, and lots of other fun stuff that we put out just for supporters—So come join us. It's a lot of fun.Transcript below!EPISODE 457 - TRANSCRIPTJess LaheyHey, Jess here to talk to you about a new series I have created just for supporters of the Hashtag AmWriting podcast. I met an aspiring author and speaker who has an idea for a book that just knocked me over. I said, please, please write that book. This is someone who had an idea that it has a place in the market. It's timely. She's the perfect person to write it, and I asked her—I begged her—if I could please mentor her through this process publicly on the podcast. So, while we're not giving her full name and we're not giving the actual title of the book, because we don't want to hand those things away, I am coaching her through the entire process—from preparing her book proposal to querying an agent. I'm going through the whole thing with her. She knows nothing about the publishing industry. She knows very little about how, you know, one goes about writing a book. And so she essentially—this is, as I mentioned before from soup to nuts, From Authority to Author, and hopefully we'll get her there. But really, whether or not this book ends up selling, whether this book—she ends up having a speaking career—this is about the process of preparing to do that. How do you write a book? How do you prepare to become a speaker on the back of that book? So I hope you join us. This is a series for supporters only. So if you are a free supporter, or if you're a free subscriber right now, consider upgrading. Remember, if you upgrade, you'll also get access to the ability to submit for our First Pages Book Lab and lots of other fun stuff that we put out just for supporters. So come join us. It's a lot of fun.Multiple Speakers:Is it recording? Now it's recording, yay. Go ahead. This is the part where I stare blankly at the microphone. I don't remember what I'm supposed to be doing. All right, let's start over. Awkward pause. I'm going to rustle some papers. Okay, now one, two, three.Jess LaheyWelcome to the Hashtag AmWriting podcast. This is the podcast about, oh, writing all the things—the short things, the long things, the nonfiction, the fiction, the poetry, the book proposals, the agent queries—all the things. In reality, though, this podcast is about two things. It is about getting the work done, and flattening the learning curve for other writers. I'm Jess Lahey. I am co-hosting today. I am the author of The Gift of Failure and The Addiction Inoculation, and you can find my journalism at The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic.Sarina BowenAnd I'm Sarina Bowen. I am the author of many romance novels. My next one is called Thrown for a Loop and it's coming from Forever in November, and I could not be more excited. And it is in the vein of romance, publishing, and readership that I have invited a guest to talk to us today because she has done something so outrageously cool that I needed to hear more in person. So please welcome Stephanie Pao, who has started Los Angeles' first romance book truck. She's become a bookseller, and I am here to hear all about it. Welcome, Stephanie.Stephanie PaoHi, thank you so much for having me.Sarina BowenMy pleasure. If you wouldn't mind, I would love to hear—how did this happen? Like, how did you decide that the world needed a book truck? Because that is just a cool idea and I never thought of it. And like, so how did you decide to actually make it a thing? And what did you do?Stephanie PaoYes, okay. The idea actually came to me—I lived by the beach, so I was walking by the beach and I saw a vintage Volkswagen truck for sale, and I just couldn't get it out of my mind. It isn't the truck that I have now, but I kept thinking, what could I do with it? And I've always loved books—romance in particular—and I've been looking for something that I could do that kind of took my previous experience, which is marketing, but melded it with something I really enjoyed. And I just thought maybe I could start a book truck. And I started to do research and I saw that there are many book trucks across the country. At the time, I think maybe there was just one or two romance ones and I was lucky enough to be able to speak with someone who had a romance book bus called Trope. She has a bookshop now and she really gave me a lot of confidence that I could probably do this too. I ended up taking a course on bookselling and started looking for a truck. The truck I ended up finding was actually the first truck I found on Facebook Marketplace. The man who was selling it had completely restored it. And he was so excited that I wanted to do this book shop in a truck idea, that he actually helped me and designed all the shelves, and he built it, and he didn't charge me for it.Sarina BowenOh my goodness!Stephanie PaoYeah. So it felt very serendipitous and almost meant to be. And now it's been like two months and I'm having so much fun.Sarina BowenWow. Wow. Oh my goodness. I feel like you should be teaching a class on how to live, right? You're like, "I'm good at this thing, but I'm really interested in this other thing, and I'm going to stick them together and it's going to be great."Stephanie PaoYeah, I feel like it was a little bit of like manifesting, I guess.Sarina BowenWell, wow, that's so great. So how many books does your truck hold at once? Like, what is the size of your store?Stephanie PaoYeah, so it holds about 350 books, and I've taken to also stacking books on top to display my favorite books. So I think it might hold almost 400.Sarina BowenOkay. And so of course, when we think about the bookstores that we grew up going to—you know, there are these giant cavernous Barnes & Nobles, there are smaller independent bookstores—and they're all numbering in the thousands. But by specializing in a category that you really love, like suddenly 400 is you know, it's a workable amount for what romance readers might be looking for on any given day. So, but still, there's a lot of good books in the world. How do you choose?Stephanie PaoYeah, I do a mix of like books that I've read and loved. I have been a voracious reader—I've read my whole life—but I've been a voracious reader for a couple of years. I also do a lot of books that I get recommendations from friends or that I just see are very popular online. So I think people will want to find those, but I think it is hard. I'm still figuring out the right balance of what types of romance to carry.Sarina BowenRight. Right. Because we all have our favorite you know, parts of the genre and they might not be the ones that are killing it.Jess LaheyBut the thing that I'm really excited to hear about is the thing that I love so much about independent booksellers. I get a sense for the bookseller when I go to the bookstore. Like, there are certain bookstores I rave about not necessarily because they're huge, not necessarily because they're beautiful—but because I can tell that when the bookseller recommends something to me; I know who that person is. Or I know the sense of the curation at the store. And that excites me because I feel like I'm in capable hands. So I'm really curious—especially to hear about your curation, and how you decide what you're going to carry—and then I'm also, and I know Sarina is going to ask this question, but in my head, I'm like, how do you find your readers? That's the part I'm so excited to hear about. Like, how do you know where to go? How do the people find you? Because I think that's the magic—is connecting the people with the books. And that's what I feel like a really great curation does. It says, "If you like this, try this," or, "Oh, you're new to this genre? Let me tell you where you should start with this genre." That's what's magic to me about independent booksellers, and the idea of you getting to do it in a very concentrated way with a particular genre is just—it makes me so happy. I'm just so happy you're out there doing this, Stephanie.Stephanie PaoThank you.Sarina BowenSo one time I was reading the listing of a literary agent, I think, and somebody had said, "What do you like about this job?" And the agent said, "I get to invest in my own taste." And I thought that was a really interesting way of looking at her job—but also of your job as well. And before we get to “How do you find the readers?”—because that is a really important chapter of this conversation—I just, from the listener standpoint: are you constantly deluged by authors who are like, “Pick me, pick me”? Like, what would you tell an author who is trying to navigate the bookselling world? What have you learned about your end of being a bookseller that an author might need to hear?Stephanie PaoYes. Okay. So first I want to say, like the curation part—My like number two best seller is actually an indie author's book who I love, and I can see from the book selling, like software that I use, that I'm the only bookstore of the 200 plus bookstores that carry her book, and it's the second best seller for me. Like. I've sold over 30 copies in like two months. So I think it really is like the passion of the bookseller, and I have had quite a few authors reach out to me, and they'll come to events. And I feel like it's, I don't have a good process on how I'm vetting all the authors, but I think it's like, if we make a personal connection, I will try to go out of my way to like read their book, because we've connected in some way, and I love reading, and I just feel like because we've like, either met in person or we've exchanged nice messages on social media, it does make me want to read someone's book more, because I have that personal connection, which is probably how people feel when they go shop at an indie books, or they have the personal connection with, like, a bookseller. So I think that's very similar. Um, I had people like, bring me their books, which does make it easier for me to, like, already have it ready. I don't have to look it up to read it or remember to look it up as well, but I know that, like, probably has a cost to it as well. But I had someone just bring me an F1 romance book yesterday at one of my pop ups, and I've been on an f1 kick. I don't know if she noticed that from my personal social but, like, I am very intrigued already, and now I have itSarina BowenThat's so lovely.Jess LaheyFor the listeners out there who are interested in this very specific topic, in our show notes I'm going to link to an episode we did with Mary Laura Philpott, who used to be at Parnassus, about making connections with booksellers. Because there are things you can do to go out of your way—before your book comes out, or when your book is coming out—to say, “Hey, I have this book coming out, would you be interested at all in getting a copy?” So it's something that can happen that authors can work on. And I'm going to definitely drop the link to that episode in the show notes.Sarina BowenYeah. I had this earlier this year. I was noticing—I started keeping track of how many romance bookstores are in the world. And now I have a list of 60, more than 60. And for a little while, when one just sort of popped up in my social, I was writing an email—because authors get a lot of publisher copies, you know, and sometimes after the launch of the book we end up with a box of like 15 copies still sitting here—and I was sending an email like, “Congratulations on your new store! That's amazing. Can I send you a signed author copy? Because I just have them here. It's a gift.” And the uptake of that is, you know, almost 100%. But I don't ever want to presume that a bookseller wants a copy, you know, unless I check first, because that just seems cheesy. You know, it's, it's, it's hard for authors to know, like, how to be a good partner and not irritating. And anyway, I just thought, you know what your thoughts about that are?Stephanie PaoYeah. I mean, I think for me, like, I am a new store and, like, a single-person business. So anyone that reaches out to me, I'm like, “Oh my gosh, what do you mean? How do you know about me? Why would you want to send me something?” So I'm sure, like, the like, weariness goes both ways, where we are, like, we're also—a lot of people are, like women—or maybe like, not used to promoting themselves more. So I think, like, just shoot your shot. I have an event coming up at like, a big, like, kind of mall, and they said they don't really do things like that with partners like this, but they were impressed that I shot my shot. So I have like, a summer series with them, and I think it's the same for, like, promoting your own book.Sarina BowenYeah, I guess this whole conversation is an exercise in trying.Stephanie PaoYeah, like the worst that could happen is, I think probably they would maybe say no or not respond to your request—which I do feel like I am guilty of that, because I get a lot and I don't know how to best, like, manage the flow of people saying that they want to send books. But that isn't because I don't want to reply. It's more like, I don't have a good system.Sarina BowenIt's hard. So I definitely want to hear how you figure out where to go. Like, where does the truck go? How do you know who to ask? Like, is that a lot of asking and hoping for the, for the best as well. Like, how does it come together?Stephanie PaoYeah, that has been a trial and error process. I think I started off applying to more markets, because they're looking for vendors anyways. But those usually have costs. And I found a few markets that I really enjoy going to, so I go to them monthly now. And…Sarina BowenWhat kind of markets, can I ask?Stephanie PaoYeah, they're like, one is like a night market. They do it like, a couple times a month in a city of LA called Lakewood, and there's like food, there's usually, like a theme, so like, there was an AAPI night, or they had— I don't know if you know those, like toys called Labubu — but the last event I did was a Labubu themed one. And then I do another market that is in Culver City, and it is similar—like, there's food and drinks and then there's, like, people selling different like, a lot of artisan-made things,Sarina BowenOkay.Stephanie PaoYeah, um, and then I reach out to local businesses as well. And I found, like, right away, I reached out to so many, and I didn't hear back from that many, because I was just starting out. I didn't have that many followers at the time. But the people who I found, and I did pop up set, they were so kind, and they let me dictate, like a day where I come back monthly, so I just have like places that I will go monthly, which makes it a lot easier to, like, have it like a set schedule, and then I just try to test new places and add on.Sarina BowenLike, what kind of business? What? What makes a good what's a good sort of connection?Stephanie PaoYeah, well, so the first place that said yes to me was another women-owned business. And I do feel like they are, like, more inclined to, like; take a chance on another woman-owned business. So she actually has a flower shop, and she does like high tea on the days that I go. So she has people going there for like, high tea— but it's on a very visible Street. It's on the Pacific Coast Highway, so I think it's—I'm not sure it's benefiting her in any way, because I'm not sure my customers are going to buy flowers, um, but she has a space for me to pop up, and it doesn't like detract from her business, and it adds something fun to her guests. And I also go to coffee shops and breweries, and I do want to start reaching out to restaurants as well.Jess LaheyI'm actually looking at her pop-up schedule on her site right now, and there's also—I wouldn't have even occurred to me—but these silent readings that I see every once in a while on social media that I'm like, "Oh, if I lived in a city, I would be going to those all the time," where people just get together to read together. I've also seen them—people getting together just to write together—and those? That's brilliant. Showing up for something like that is such a wonderful idea, and your pop-up schedule looks fantastic. I'll definitely be dropping that into the show notes as well.Sarina BowenWell, I just want to push back on the idea that the flower shop isn't getting anything out of you stopping there, because, like—so she runs a flower shop. I'm just certain she has a tiny core number of people who come every week and get fresh flowers because, you know, money is no object, and why not.But then there are other people who are on her list, maybe, who are only there when it's somebody's birthday three times a year. But if you're coming on a certain day, and she can tell her following, you know, that, "Oh, stop by on Tuesday because La Fleuria is going to be here, and it's, you know, the romance book truck, and you definitely want to check it out," it gives her a timely thing she can tell the people that do like flowers. And, you know, she's going to maybe have more foot traffic on that day than she otherwise might not have had.Stephanie PaoYeah, I think it's more maybe imposter syndrome, because she has like 800,000 followers.Sarina BowenWow!Stephanie PaoSo I'm like drop in your bucket.Sarina BowenWow. Well, maybe we should all be in the flower business.Stephanie PaoYeah.Jess LaheyWell, what did you have to sort of overcome with your own resistance in order to try this new thing? Because when writers have this same problem, we have an idea. It's a little glimmer, a sparkle, of an idea. It's so appealing in our minds. But, like, the commitment to actually, like, set aside six months of your life and write an entire book because you had this glimmer of an idea is a process, and that is why there aren't as many people who write complete books as you have ideas for them. So how did you convince yourself that, um, that this risky thing was—was something you ought to commit to? And how did you make that decision?Stephanie PaoYeah, I think I'm still convincing myself that...Jess LaheyOkay, fair, fair.Stephanie PaoUm, I think it's actually really—it's really hard, because I think we're really programmed, or at least I was, on, like, this typical metric of success, which is, like: go to college, get a job, keep climbing the corporate ladder. And so I just kind of thought I would be doing that my whole life. But I never once thought, like, does that make me happy? Like, I was in a marketing job, and I was like—I climbed up to, like, VP, but I didn't enjoy it at all. And I just thought that's what we were supposed to do. So I think for me, I have been freelancing for three years because I got really burnt out, and I've just slowly come to terms with, like, maybe what I build for myself, or what I want for my life, is different than what all my friends have. Because I still talk to my friends that I've had for a long time, and I don't think they understand what I'm doing. And I feel like you will get a lot of resistance from people that you know, because they just want you to do the thing that feels safe to them, which is not venturing and doing something completely unknown. So I think it's, like, being really comfortable with the idea yourself and that not everyone's going to get it—but that's okay, because the people who do will, like, really support you. And then, of course, like, I'm not going to sugarcoat it—it is like a big financial risk. I think if you're setting aside time to write and not doing, like, other work, like—it is a risk either way. So I am lucky enough to have support, and I think that's, like, really important to share; that, like, my parents supported me so that I could take this on. And I—I started taking less and less clients from my, like, freelancing work to prepare to do this. And, like, I am still not, like, super profitable, but I know that I can, like, push back into freelancing if I really need to. So I think it's—I'm comfortable knowing that there are other means of, like, income if I really need it. But I really want to give myself time to see where this goes.Sarina BowenRight, I love that. So, of course, you knew that freelancing was—that you had some connections there, which helps, so you have, like, a little bit of a cushion for yourself, which is amazing. You—you mentioned earlier that you took a course in bookselling, and I just wonder how you found that, and how—how you felt. Was it information that you already had? Did it just give you confidence? Or did you really learn a lot from that course?Stephanie PaoWell, I found it through the American Booksellers Association. It was, like, a linked course that they had on, like, how to get started with opening your own bookstore. And I did learn a lot. I think at the time, I was really debating whether I should do a bookstore or do something more mobile. And that course actually made me feel like—when we did all the calculations—the rent is so much in LA that it just seemed, like, much, much too risky to do a store first. Like, maybe building up a customer base before investing in a shop. So I think I did learn a lot. I also—there's—I get a lot of the same questions from people who want to start something similar. And I got all of that information through this course. Like, a lot of people ask me where you buy books from, and things that have to do with bookselling that aren't very well known. And I think the course provides that information.Jess LaheyNice. Do you do you use Ingram [Ingram Content Group], and so you have like a special account as a bookseller?Stephanie PaoYes. And I just started opening, like, accounts with the publishers, because I wasn't sure how much I was going to order, and you have to meet minimums to order through the publishers. I was like, I don't know how quickly my inventory is going to go, but now I think it will be more worth it, because you get a better, like, discount through the publishers.Jess LaheyAs someone who's not involved in the bookselling community or the independent publishing community—just for my knowledge—one of the things that I, you know, often lament is if I like an author that is an independent bookseller and their print books are hard to come by. How do you—is Ingram someone who helps you bridge that? Does Ingram do this, like, print on demand? Sorry, there—my husband's home. Could you explain how this works a little bit to me?Stephanie PaoSo I also—well, I'm not 100% sure—but yes, Ingram does the print-on-demand books, and they have books from a lot of independent authors on there. I have a friend who is an indie author, and she said that she first listed her book on Amazon, but then the bookstores couldn't buy it, so she had to do something to get it on Ingram. So I'm not sure how that works, but I've also bought directly from a few authors, like the author I mentioned, who is, like, my second best seller. I buy directly from her, and I'm not sure where she gets her copies, but it is a much better deal than through Ingram.Jess LaheyYeah. So, Ingram—their first and primary business was as a wholesaler for traditionally published books. So, you know, in the '90s, when I briefly worked at Random House, Ingram was—you know, when a new book is published, Ingram buys a certain amount of them, and Baker and Taylor buy a certain amount of them, and they stand as a middleman who is ready to wholesale those books to booksellers. And then, of course, they created their print-on-demand service so that, probably, when you log into Ingram, you can see indie titles and traditional titles sort of all together in their offered database. But I did learn something recently about indies and Ingram that was a real eye-opener for me, which is that an author who opens an IngramSpark account and uploads their files there—like, like an indie author that you buy from probably does—has to set a discount amount. And unfortunately, the number that the bookseller gets is not the same as what the author sets. So the author can set a discount to retail in a band between, I don't know, 40 and 60 or something like that. But, um, in order for a bookseller to get their maximum discount, I have to put 53% discount or greater—like 53 or 55—and if I put 52 instead, then the bookseller gets, often, a very bad discount that is not 52%; it's more like 30%. So there's this magic that happens at the 53% author discount that allows you and your colleagues to get the max discount in your Ingram account. And it took me only, like, eight years to learn this magic.Jess LaheySo Stephanie, this is why we keep Sarina around, because she knows how this stuff works.Stephanie PaoI figured it was there was something, because the range in discounts I see from indie offers is so wide from like 20 to 40% and at 20% it's almost not even worth it to carry.Sarina BowenRight. I bet it isn't.Stephanie PaoYeah.Sarina BowenSo you if somebody Well, but, and that's where the confusion comes in, because here's an author, and she's putting 45% in that box, and then you're seeing it at 20 and going, this isn't worth it. And of course, like both of you, could be frustrated because…Jess LaheyExactly!Sarina BowenBecause that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. So um, but I have learned that 53 is the magic number, and that if an author puts 53 and then you will get your max discount. And it took me way, way too long to understand this.Jess LaheyThis is like… this is, this is—these little random things that come up occasionally—are, you know, why I talk about flattening the learning curve for other authors or booksellers or whomever that listen to this podcast. Because how on earth would you know that? And then you're frustrated because you can't carry a book, because you can't make money on it. The author's incredibly frustrated because you can't—won't—carry the book, and then that piece of information never gets across. So thank you for diving into that dorky detail for me, because, again, I think that's such an important piece of information that no one would ever know unless someone somewhere is discussing it. So thank you.Sarina BowenUm…you're welcome. It's really just inside baseball—like picky junk that takes up my week. But here we are.Jess LaheyI know. But the people who listen to this podcast—in particular, the people who are fans of Sarina Bowen—are often people who are also writing within the indie space. And so how, you know—how are they going to find this stuff out?Sarina BowenWell okay.Jess LaheyOkay.Sarina BowenEven if it's not as you know, as joyful as the following your dreams and the flower shop stuff, but we're here to do all of it.Jess LaheyWell… But the big—this is also a big part of it, because there are also going to be people out there who are like, Oh, I don't want to open a brick-and-mortar store, but Oh, a truck? I mean, like, for me, that's the entry point. That's very, very exciting to me. So, the other reason I wanted to be on this podcast today is because I want to understand how that works, and is it a way into something that would really feed your soul and your heart—and not to mention your book… sell—your, your bookshelves.Sarina BowenOf course. So, Stephanie, before we go, I would love—since you're the expert here—I would love for you to recommend a couple romances that you're excited about right now. And if you wouldn't mind, I would be super thrilled to hear what your number two bestseller is—that you, that you are her best bookseller.Stephanie PaoYeah, okay. It's Yes No Maybe by Jessica Sherry, and it is a story of a woman who has, um, scars on her face from, like, an accident from when she was younger. And she's, like, always felt not worthy of, like, all the good things in life, and she's settling. And she moves next door to a romance writer who has writer's block, and she becomes basically his muse. And it's, like, very sweet but very emotional. Some other books I love—I recently finished Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and I've never cried so hard in a book. And it's, like, also such a beautiful love story. I, like, have chills thinking about it.Sarina BowenWow.Stephanie PaoYeah. And then, just like a favorite that I always recommend is All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata. I'm in my late 30s, so I feel like I love when characters are in their 30s and still figuring things out, and I love a slow burn romance.Sarina BowenAll right. Thank you so much. I, um—I love those choices. Um, we've all walked into bookstores and seen, like, the same five books on the front table that we've seen in every other bookstore we've walked into that month. And it's really lovely to hear some different recommendations from you, and we really appreciate it. Thank you so much for spending some time with us today to talk about this super fun project that—that Jess and I are like, Ooh, we could just quit everything and get a...Jess LaheyYeah. Well, no. The other thing is, I'm like, Okay, when's my next speaking engagement in Los Angeles, and can I make it coincide with one of your pop-up dates so that I could come by?Stephanie PaoI will drive the truck to you.Jess LaheyThat… actually, we'll figure it out. Because I just, I'm dying to see your truck, dying to see how it works. I just, I'm loving the selections. And I'm just really happy for more than anything else, I'm really happy for someone who has found a way to turn something they love into a business that can work. So I'm just so happy for you.Stephanie PaoThank you. Thank you so much for having me. This was really fun.Sarina BowenIt was entirely our pleasure. And thank you listeners for tuning in once again to the am writing podcast, and until next week, keep your heads in the game and your butt's in the chair.Jess LaheyThe Hashtag AmWriting podcast is produced by Andrew Perrella. Our intro music, aptly titled Unemployed Monday, was written and played by Max Cohen. Andrew and Max were paid for their time and their creative output, because everyone deserves to be paid for their work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe