The Author Revolution® Podcast

Carissa Andrews

Indie publishing is a lot, and most advice only covers half of it. The Author Revolution Podcast covers both halves: the practical systems (series planning, rapid release at a pace you can sustain, writing sprints, publishing and marketing) and the inner work that decides whether you follow through (money beliefs, your nervous system, energy).I'm Carissa Andrews, an indie author with 30+ books since 2013. I'm not here to hype you or promise results. I'll tell you what I've tried, what held up, and why it works, so you can decide what fits your life.New here? Good places to start: "3 Series Types: Which Do You Have?", "Is There Such a Thing as Sustainable Rapid Release?", "How Do We Avoid Rapid Release Burnout?", and "Have You Taken a Vow of Poverty?"Courses and masterclasses are self-paced at authorrevolution.org.If the show helps, a rating or review helps other authors find it.

  1. 15/10/2025

    From Spooky Season to Sleigh Your Season: A Simple, AI-Backed Blueprint for Indie Authors

    Send us Fan Mail It’s skeletons-on-the-lawn season, but we’re talking holiday sales—because nothing is scarier than hitting December with “vibes + a coupon code.” In this episode, I break down why an AI-assisted plan is your unfair advantage this year and what actually goes into a calm, zero-chaos strategy you can stick to. (The step-by-step how happens live in my upcoming masterclass—details below.) You’ll learn: Why books are still the cozy, affordable gift (even when the economy is wonky AF)The 6-rung Holiday Ladder: Spark → Launch → Amplify → Ship → Digital Pivot → New-Year ResetHow to pick one seasonal win and a giftable hero offer readers actually wantWhy a real ship-by date saves your sanity—and how to pivot to all-digital afterThe only 3 KPIs worth watching (no spreadsheet monsters)A quick on-air prompt to craft your 20-word “perfect gift” hook in ChatGPTWant the HOW with me as your copilot? AI Holiday Sales Blueprint for Authors (w/ Launch Lab GPT) — Live on Zoom Friday, Oct 24 @ 1 PM CT, 60 minutes + replay • $37 Save your seat: https://www.authorrevolution.org/offers/2bViFmDL/checkout Prefer all-access? Masterclass Membership — $25/mo (every class + all replays). Join here: https://www.authorrevolution.org/offers/GFFvDBh4/checkoutGrab cocoa, open ChatGPT, and let’s sleigh your season. 🎁✨ Support the show Thank you for tuning into the Author Revolution Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. For more insights and inspiration, visit Author Revolution. Don't forget to follow us on social media for updates and exclusive content: YouTubeGo forth and start your author revolution!

  2. 17/09/2025

    End of an Era: Behind the Scenes at Author Revolution

    Send us Fan Mail A note about this episode: I recorded this in September 2025. The sale, release dates, and 2026 plans I mention were current then and aren't now. My courses and masterclasses are self-paced at authorrevolution.org, and I'm not creating new courses right now. In this one, I'm getting vulnerable and taking you behind the scenes of a major pivot at Author Revolution. After years in constant creation mode—masterclasses, courses, podcasts—I'm pressing pause on "business as usual" to close out one era and make space for what's next. I share how 2024–2025 became my phoenix year: the collapse, the lessons, the hermit/role-model season (hello, Manifesting Generator life), and the clarity that's emerging as I realign with what Author Revolution is truly meant to be. If you've felt the nudge to prune, simplify, or let go in your own author life, this one's for you. In this episode: * Why endings aren't failures—they're invitations to align * What it looked like when partnerships, systems, and "shoulds" fell away * The real difference between mindset-only work and bringing your body/nervous system on board * How pruning creates room for your next chapter (and how to spot what to release) * What I was working on at the time: Write Frame of Mind (2025 Edition) and Write Your Reality Where to find the courses The limited-time Course Vault Sale I describe here was in September 2025. Everything is self-paced at authorrevolution.org: https://authorrevolution.org/ Mentioned * Write Your Reality and Write Frame of Mind (2025 Edition) - now available! * Courses and masterclasses: https://authorrevolution.org/ Takeaways for aligned authors * Pruning ≠ quitting; it's strategic space-making * Your business evolves as you do—let it * Mid-manifestation is still momentum If you're ready to simplify, realign, and rise—this episode is your permission slip. Until next time… go forth and start your author revolution! Support the show Thank you for tuning into the Author Revolution Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. For more insights and inspiration, visit Author Revolution. Don't forget to follow us on social media for updates and exclusive content: YouTubeGo forth and start your author revolution!

  3. 20/08/2025

    The Taylor Swift Method: Revitalizing Your Backlist Books

    Send us Fan Mail Ever feel like you're trapped on the publishing hamster wheel, churning out book after book just to stay relevant? You're not alone. For years, certain corners of the indie publishing world have been pushing the "publish fast, publish often" mantra, leaving authors exhausted and overlooking a goldmine sitting right in their back pocket—their backlist. In this game-changing episode, we explore how Taylor Swift has mastered the art of keeping her entire catalog alive, relevant, and profitable year after year. From turning a decade-old song into a cultural phenomenon to weaving interconnected stories across platforms, Taylor demonstrates that creative work doesn't have an expiration date. Your books deserve the same treatment. We break down three powerful principles from Taylor's playbook that any author can apply: finding new hooks for old works, making every release feed the whole catalog, and playing the long game with a cohesive marketing strategy. These techniques transform your backlist from forgotten projects into valuable assets that continue generating income without requiring constant new creation. Ready to stop treating your books like one-and-done projects and start giving them the life and sales they deserve? Discover how to identify your most profitable backlist titles, use ChatGPT to create promotional content in minutes, and automate your marketing cycles for sustainable success. Your author revolution starts now—join us to learn how your existing books can become your greatest asset, not just another digital dusty shelf. Want the step-by-step process? Join Backlist to Bank! For just $37, you’ll learn how to use ChatGPT to revitalize your backlist like the Taylor Swift of the book world!  👉 Grab your spot here: https://www.authorrevolution.org/offers/2ziAQFXP/checkout  Support the show Thank you for tuning into the Author Revolution Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. For more insights and inspiration, visit Author Revolution. Don't forget to follow us on social media for updates and exclusive content: YouTubeGo forth and start your author revolution!

  4. 16/07/2025

    You Need a Personalized Book Launch Plan (and AI Can Help)

    Send us Fan Mail Most book launch strategies are built for someone else’s goals, schedule, or energy level—not yours. That’s why they feel exhausting, overwhelming, or just plain off. But what if you could co-create a launch plan that actually fits you—with a little help from AI? In today’s episode, we’re talking about the why behind personalized launch strategies and how tools like ChatGPT can support you in creating a book launch that’s strategic and aligned. This isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what works for you. 🎓 Want the step-by-step process? Join the AI-Powered Launch Lab! For just $37, you’ll learn how to use ChatGPT to map out your next book launch in a way that feels good—and gets results. 👉 Grab your spot here: https://www.authorrevolution.org/offers/2T8wv66F/checkout 📺 Can’t make it live? No worries—a replay will be made available. 💥 Want ongoing access to all previous and future masterclasses for just $25/month? 👉 Join the Masterclass Membership here: https://www.authorrevolution.org/offers/GFFvDBh4/checkout Let’s ditch the launch chaos and start creating strategies that actually work for you. Support the show Thank you for tuning into the Author Revolution Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. For more insights and inspiration, visit Author Revolution. Don't forget to follow us on social media for updates and exclusive content: YouTubeGo forth and start your author revolution!

  5. 21/05/2025

    Beyond the Basics with Oriana Leckert: Transforming Your Kickstarter from Good to Magnetic

    Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered what truly makes a Kickstarter campaign magnetic instead of merely functional? This episode pulls back the curtain on the art of author crowdfunding with someone who's witnessed thousands of campaigns from behind the scenes. Oriana Leckert, Head of Publishing at Kickstarter, joins us to share insights that go far beyond the typical campaign advice. As she reveals, her role encompasses far more than just technical guidance – she's part publishing expert, part crowdfunding consultant, part life coach, and part cheerleader. This unique perspective allows her to spot the subtle differences between campaigns that simply meet goals and those that transform author careers by building genuine community. We explore the most overlooked opportunities in author campaigns, from creatively engaging backers to designing rewards that deeply connect to your book's world. You'll discover why some authors set funding goals too low out of fear (and the potential consequences), how to strategically reveal stretch goals to maintain momentum, and why Kickstarter's algorithm rewards early engagement. Oriana also shares stunning examples of imaginative rewards that created unforgettable backer experiences, from custom yarn for knitting-themed novels to scented candles based on romance protagonists. Whether you're contemplating your first campaign or looking to elevate your next one, this conversation will reshape how you think about crowdfunding as a cornerstone of your author career. Kickstarter isn't just a funding platform – it's a powerful community-building tool that can transform not just how your books are published, but how you connect with readers for years to come. Support the show Thank you for tuning into the Author Revolution Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. For more insights and inspiration, visit Author Revolution. Don't forget to follow us on social media for updates and exclusive content: YouTubeGo forth and start your author revolution!

Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Indie publishing is a lot, and most advice only covers half of it. The Author Revolution Podcast covers both halves: the practical systems (series planning, rapid release at a pace you can sustain, writing sprints, publishing and marketing) and the inner work that decides whether you follow through (money beliefs, your nervous system, energy).I'm Carissa Andrews, an indie author with 30+ books since 2013. I'm not here to hype you or promise results. I'll tell you what I've tried, what held up, and why it works, so you can decide what fits your life.New here? Good places to start: "3 Series Types: Which Do You Have?", "Is There Such a Thing as Sustainable Rapid Release?", "How Do We Avoid Rapid Release Burnout?", and "Have You Taken a Vow of Poverty?"Courses and masterclasses are self-paced at authorrevolution.org.If the show helps, a rating or review helps other authors find it.