Author Media Podcasts

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Channel • 4 Shows

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Books

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Christianity

Christianity

Updated Biweekly
Careers

Careers

Updated 2019-03-19
Christianity

Christianity

Updated 2025-12-03

3D AGO

The Cultural Zeitgeist Shift That's Making Indie Authors Rich

There’s a culture shift underway that most authors aren’t seeing. Even traditional publishers can’t figure out why their titles are resonating. If your book isn’t selling, it could be a cover or craft problem, but it might be a zeitgeist problem. In this week’s episode, you’ll hear from fantasy and LitRPG author Seth Ring. We discuss the biggest cultural shift in storytelling in two decades and what it means for your books. You’ll discover What’s become of the morally conflicted anti-hero tropeWhat readers are tired of and hungry forA sure-fire way to write a story that resonates for this new zeitgeistThis cultural shift puts authors in a uniquely strategic place. If you want to make an impact with your writing and bring hope and change to the world through stories, it’s your time to shine. Listen in or read the blog version to find out how. Blog Link: https://www.authormedia.com/the-cultural-zeitgeist-shift-thats-making-indie-authors-rich/ AuthorMedia.social link: https://authormedia.social/c/novel-marketing/the-cultural-zeitgeist-shift-that-s-making-indie-authors-rich YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/zVz0pd-P3TU Support the show

3d ago

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1h 2m
4D AGO

How to Stay Motivated When Writing Gets Hard

To say yes to something good, you often have to say no to other things. In the past, we’ve discussed that sometimes quitting writing is the right move for your career and life. But what about when you know you can't quit? What do you do when you feel called to write but the work is hard, success is nowhere in sight, and you're dragging your feet? What if you need the income from writing to feed your family? In this episode of the Christian Publishing Show, Brian Hicks joins me to talk about how writers can keep going. Brian has spent decades studying what separates people who push through from people who give up. You’ll learn: The ultimate motivation hack for Christian writers that has nothing to do with bestseller lists or salesThe daily choice that will change your writing lifeThe best (and worst) way to start your writing careerListen in or read the blog version to find out how you can keep writing when you're broke, rejected, and exhausted. Blog Link: https://www.christianpublishingshow.com/how-to-stay-motivated-when-writing-gets-hard/ Author Media.social Link: https://authormedia.social/c/christian-publishing-show/how-to-stay-motivated-when-writing-gets-hard Support the show

4d ago

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1h 11m
APR 1

Apple's Cheapest Laptop Ever: Should Authors Buy It?

I bought and tested Apple's cheapest laptop so you don't have to. I stress-tested the MacBook Neo with a 250,000-word document, ran every major writing app, and pushed the machine to its limits. Whether the Neo is right for you depends on what you use your computer to do, because authors do more than just type words into a word processor. In this week's episode of Novel Marketing, you’ll learn What you should look for (and ignore) when buying a laptop in 2026Which laptops I recommend for authors, podcasters, and PC usersWhether the MacBook Neo is the right choice for you as an authorWhich laptop I will not recommend in 2026Listen in or read the blog version to find out which machine is the best bang for your buck and your use cases as an author. Support the show

Apr 1

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44 min
MAR 25

Your Friends Lied About Your Book Cover

Your author friends are lying to you about your book cover. Well, not on purpose. They can’t help it. When authors are trying to pick a book cover, they often ask their friends which cover they like best. But that strategy doesn’t work because your friends look too closely. They think about your feelings. They vote based on which cover has more votes. But your cover isn’t for your friends. It’s for strangers. In this week’s episode, we unpack why beautiful covers, which are loved by your friends, fail to help your book sell. You’ll hear how one author made his losing ads profitable without rewriting a single word of his book. In this week’s episode you’ll learn What makes a cover “good”How you can get accurate data on what will make readers click to buyHow much you’ll need to spend to get a cover that sellsIf your ads aren’t working, it may be time to examine the elements of your cover. Listen in or read the blog version to find out how. Support the show

Mar 25

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44 min
FEB 18

Why Your Book Isn’t Selling: Metadata

If your book isn’t selling, it may not be your writing. It may be your metadata. In this week’s episode of the Novel Marketing Podcast, you’ll hear from Dave Chesson, creator of Publisher Rocket, and learn about the hidden engine behind book sales on Amazon. Even if your book is well-written and professionally edited, Amazon doesn’t read your book. It reads your metadata. And if your metadata is unclear, inconsistent, or confusing, Amazon won’t show your book to readers, even if it’s amazing. In this episode you’ll learn: What your book’s metadata isWhere you can manage it (and make it most effective!)How to include the most effective elements and language in your metadataAnd common metadata mistakes to avoidIf you want your book to show up in search results, convert better when readers click, and avoid the dark recesses of the “miscellaneous shelf,” listen in or read the blog version. Support the show

Feb 18

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1h 1m
MAR 4

Your Author Toolbox: Part 2

Do you ever wish you had a team of writing, publishing, or marketing professionals to consult? Do you wish you had an assistant to help with the business and marketing side of writing? What if you could have both for less than the cost of a couple of lattes? In this week’s episode, you’ll hear about the newest additions to the Novel Marketing Patron Toolbox, a growing suite of practical tools designed specifically for authors like you. Inside this episode, you’ll discover: New editing tools that can help you at each stage of the editing processNew business tools to help you create an overall strategy and analyze resultsNew book promotion tools to help you connect with new readersAnd many moreWhether you’re producing an audiobook, building a fictional world, planning classroom resources, or have questions for an agent or a CPA, these tools are designed to save you time, sharpen your strategy, and give you a head start before working with real human professionals. Listen in or read the blog version to learn more. Support the show

Mar 4

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52 min
2025-12-31

The 5 Year Plan to Become a Professional Author

If you ask a bestselling novelist how long it took to go from aspiring writer to published success, the answer is usually about ten years. One reason it takes so long is that most authors learn about writing in a haphazard way. They read a blog post here, listen to a podcast there, attend a conference where they receive a firehose of information, and then watch YouTube videos hoping to fill in the gaps. It is an overwhelming way to learn. If you have ever felt overwhelmed by everything you need to know about publishing, you know exactly what this feels like. But what if you could cut that ten-year learning curve in half? In our latest podcast episode, I talk with Christy Award Hall of Fame author James L. Rubart about the Five-Year Plan for Becoming a Professional Author. It’s a step-by-step training approach designed to help fiction writers build skills in the right order (without the overwhelm). This isn’t a “shortcut” or gimmick course. It’s a craft-first path that helps writers avoid wasted years, bad habits, and out-of-order learning. In this week’s episode, you’ll discover: Why most authors stall outHow to accelerate the mastery of storytellingWhat separates “good” writers from professional-level authors in the current publishing landscapeIf you’ve ever wondered whether you’re developing your craft in the smartest way possible, or where you should start, listen in or read the blog version. Support the show

2025-12-31

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45 min
2025-07-23

How to sell 1,000 books a month

Ever wonder how some authors consistently sell a thousand books a month? What marketing tactics are they using? How can I get those results too? In the latest episode of the Novel Marketing Podcast, I talk with Susan Neal, author of nine books and CEO of the Christian Indie Publishing Association. Susan shares how she layers her marketing efforts—from podcast interviews to press releases—to drive book sales month after month. Here’s a taste of what you’ll learn: Which tactics helped her sell 7,000 books in 8 monthsHow to successfully pitch podcasts, blogs, and media outletsHow to avoid common author mistakes that hinder salesWhether you’re launching your first book or looking to grow sales of your back list, listen in or read the blog version. You’ll be inspired by Susan’s method and eager to try her tactics. Support the show

2025-07-23

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32 min
FEB 25

How to Become a Professional Writer With Joanna Penn

Is your writing a hobby or a profession? The answer to that question changes everything. Many authors claim to be professionals but act like hobbyists. They write what they want instead of what readers will pay for. They try to fit a finished book into a genre instead of studying the genre first. They publish without a marketing plan or budget and are shocked by low sales and few reviews. They expect professional results from a hobbyist approach. If that sounds familiar, there’s good news. You can choose the professional path. In this week’s episode, you’ll hear from author and podcaster Joanna Penn, who hosts the longest-running indie publishing podcast. You’ll discover: How to build a sustainable author career in an era of AIWhich marketing activities you should choose and which to ignoreBusiness principles that apply to your writing careerHow to use AI to do the business tasks you dislike so you have more time for creativity and storytellingTo learn how to build a sustainable author business in an era of rapid change, listen in or read the blog version. Support the show

Feb 25

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50 min
2025-06-25

How to Create Sales Optimized Book Pages for Your Author Website

Well, this is embarrassing. After 12 years of teaching authors how to build better websites, I realized I’ve never covered the most important page on your site: your book page. Your book’s webpage isn’t just for selling your book anymore. It’s now key to showing up in Google search results and getting recommended by AI tools like ChatGPT. In this week’s episode, you’ll learn: The biggest mistake authors make when creating book pages (and the easy fix!)The elements your book page must have to help AI and human searchersWhat your book page needs to outrank Amazon and Barnes & NobleThe critical section most authors skipYour book deserves a better web presence, and your readers deserve an easy way to find it. Listen in or read the blog version to learn how to design an effective page that helps readers discover you and your books. https://www.authormedia.com/how-to-create-sales-optimized-book-pages-for-your-author-website/ Support the show

2025-06-25

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27 min

Author Media podcasts help authors write resonate books, build powerful platforms, and change the world with writing worth talking about. Each show is hosted by Thomas Umstattd Jr. who has been helping independent and traditionally published authors since 2007.

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