Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author Podcast Craig Tuch

Most of us are familiar with Kickstarter, having seen (or helped fund) a variety of cool gadgets and ideas. But what isn't as well-known is the immense potential it holds for authors. That's why we were excited to sit down to chat with Oriana Leckert, Head of Publishing for Kickstarter, to discuss those possibilities. 
Oriana joined us to share her valuable insights into how authors can utilize Kickstarter to bring their creative projects to life - including how authors can use it to secure upfront funding for their writing projects, mitigate risk, and embark on innovative endeavors beyond the usual process of a book release. 
With over 88,000 publishing projects and $500 million in pledges from nearly 5 million backers, Kickstarter's potential audience is vast and proven. So whether you're a seasoned author or just starting out, we'll take you through the essential information you need to know before you decide if Kickstarter is the right avenue for your next project.
 
Kickstarter for Authors
https://www.kickstarter.com/publishing
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links: 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which means there's no better time to discuss the crucial role that reading and writing play in promoting good mental hygiene. Writing benefits us authors in a variety of ways, such as providing a mental workout for the brain, or serving as a cathartic outlet for dealing with personal traumas or toxic personalities in our lives. Meanwhile, well-written fiction can allow readers to more easily identify with our stories, allowing them to take inspiration in the struggles and triumphs of our characters and use them as inspiration in finding a path forward in their own lives.
Today, romance author Amey Zeigler shares her personal experiences of using reading and writing to cope with mental health challenges. As a reader, Amey found that her connection to a novel she read helped her cope with the post-partum depression she was battling, and as an author, she discovered how her writing connected with and lifted the spirits of readers facing their own struggles. As Amey explains, authors that use their life experiences to create more powerful characters and stories can find deeper and more transformative connections to their readers.
Not only could this be therapeutic for both, but often a strong and meaningful connection is all it takes for readers to start recommending your book to everyone they know, which can do far more for sales than any expensive ad campaign you might run.
 
Amey Zeigler
http://www.ameyzeigler.com/
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links:
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast
 

On this special episode of Fully Booked, hosts Craig and Roland have some exciting news to share: we're thrilled to announce that we'll be talking about crowd-funding for authors with one of the team members from Kickstarter in the coming weeks! But before we do, we want to hear from you! Do you have any burning questions about how authors can leverage crowdfunding, or Kickstarter specifically? Send them our way and we'll do our best to include them in the interview.
Plus, we'll be taking a look back at the top 5 most-listened-to episodes of Fully Booked so far this year. From the roadmap for a powerful book launch, to the importance and value of writer’s groups, and AI, we'll discuss what we think made these episodes so popular and why you won't want to miss them!
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links:
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast
 

Just as writing short stories is very different to writing novels, there’s a lot more to selling them as well. Generally, a short story is sold for a fixed amount to a publisher, meaning you don't get ongoing royalties - but if you do things properly, you can have the opportunity to sell that same story to other publishers again and again.
The most important thing is to understand all your rights. That way, you can only sell which rights are strictly necessary to each publisher, while ensuring that at some point most of these rights revert back to you. Multi-award-winning author Douglas Smith is an expert in this subject, having written extensively on how authors can maximize the value of their short story rights. Today, he sits down with Craig and Roland to go through everything you need to know on the subject: From understanding the different markets, to the format you're selling in, to the various dimensions of rights that need to be considered like geography, language and occurrence.
By following Douglas' advice, authors can maximize the reach of their stories as well as their earnings, ensuring that each one has the potential to bring in income for years to come.
 
Douglas Smith
http://www.smithwriter.com/
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links: https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast
 

In the digital age, writing has become more collaborative than ever - in part thanks to the plethora of online groups and websites that offer support and resources for authors. From general writing help to finding niche communities, these groups can be a game-changer for writers seeking camaraderie and shared knowledge.
In this episode of Fully Booked, New York Times bestselling author Mimi Barbour shares the story of creating a private author group which has helped many writers build their careers. Mimi discusses how her group got started, the impact it has had on her and other members, and the behind-the-scenes efforts that go into running it. From managing social media and writing blogs, to organizing box sets and maintaining a group mailing list, the collaborative efforts of the group have yielded remarkable results.
While there may be challenges in running and being part of a private author group, Mimi demonstrates that the rewards are worth the effort. The companionship and support among members can lead to great success and open up new opportunities that may not have been possible individually.
 
Mimi Barbour
https://mimibarbour.com/
 
The Author’s Billboard
https://authorsbillboard.com/
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links:
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast
 

When it comes to book marketing and sales, understanding the difference between the cost of acquiring a new reader and the value that new reader provides is crucial for authors, and goes beyond just the price they paid for your book.
In today's episode, JD Caron, owner of Weekend Publisher, sits down with Craig and Roland to share the expertise he's gained in helping hundreds of authors understand this fundamental concept and why it’s so essential in marketing and promoting your books effectively. JD breaks down the process of calculating both the cost and the value of a reader, which can be more complex than it seems because there are many factors that influence how much acquiring new readers can cost - and multiple ways authors can increase that reader's value after acquiring them.
Continuing to confuse these two concepts or assuming they’re the same can be a costly mistake. Only by grasping the distinction between cost and value can authors make informed decisions that will improve their marketing and expand the efficiency of their sales strategies.
 
JD Caron is owner of Weekend Publisher
https://www.weekendpublisher.com/
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links:
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast