If I'm Being Honest: Straight Talk About Book Publishing & Promotion

Launch My Book
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  • Self-Improvement

If I’m Being Honest is a straight-talk podcast about self-publishing and book marketing—created for authors who want realistic expectations and practical advice. Hosted by Joel Pitney and Sayde Walker, the show explores what it actually takes to publish, promote, and sell books in today’s crowded marketplace. Featuring interviews with successful authors and industry experts, we dig into the wins, the missteps, the numbers, and the uncomfortable truths that rarely get discussed. If you’re a first-time author (or feeling stuck after publishing), this podcast is here to help you move forward with clarity, confidence, and honesty.

  1. 5d ago

    Why Owning Your Book Matters More Than Selling It with Paul Katz

    A publisher offered a traditional deal, but the plan came with a catch: an expensive hardcover, a slow release cycle, and less control over who actually gets the book. That trade-off pushed Paul Katz, founder of Entertain Impact and author of Good Influence and Commit Together, to choose independent publishing on purpose, even with the platform and connections that landed him a traditional offer. With his second book just recently launched, we unpack the real advantages Paul cares about in self-publishing and why he continues to choose that route: price control, ownership of intellectual property, faster execution, and the ability to run creative launch strategies on his own. Joel and Paul also get honest about the economics of nonfiction. Royalties are rarely the whole story, so we talk about treating a book like a lead magnet, a credibility builder, or a doorway into a larger mission, audience, or initiative. If you’re wrestling with “traditional publishing vs self-publishing,” this conversation gives you a grounded framework you can actually use. Then we go deeper into book marketing that works when you are not relying on luck. Paul shares what moved the needle most: mobilizing your network, building word of mouth, staying persistent past launch week, and being willing to do the small interviews because you never know what they unlock. We also talk about awards, reviews, beta readers, and why engaged supporters matter more than inflated follower counts. Commit Together is Paul’s practical, nonpartisan guide to civic participation, built to help moderates and independents take real action without becoming full-time activists.  Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Follow us on Instagram and Facebook Learn more about Launch My Book

    Why Owning Your Book Matters More Than Selling It with Paul Katz

  2. Oct 8

    Why Publishing A Book Takes Longer Than You Think

    You can do everything “right” and still miss your dream launch date and it has nothing to do with motivation. We’re talking about time, the sneakiest force in book publishing, and why writers routinely underestimate how long self-publishing actually takes. From the outside, editing, cover design, interior formatting, and uploading to Amazon KDP can look like a simple checklist. In real life, each step includes review cycles, waiting in someone else’s queue, and tiny changes that quietly snowball into weeks. We walk through the major phases that stretch a schedule: finishing the manuscript, copy editing, the hands-on reality of typesetting and interior design, and the surprisingly long arc of cover design when you add revisions, proofs, and late feedback. Along the way, we share practical ways to move faster without cutting corners, like finalizing your manuscript before layout and making key style decisions early so you don’t pay for endless tweaks later. Then we get into the part nobody can fully control: the publishing platforms. Amazon KDP and IngramSpark can flag files after you thought you were done, stall in review, or surface metadata issues that require more rounds with your designer. Our favorite safety net is a soft launch: make the book live quietly, test everything, order copies the way readers will, set up Author Central and Goodreads, and only then push your real marketing plan. If you want a calmer, more reliable book launch timeline, hit play, subscribe, and share this with one author friend who’s trying to rush the process. And if it helped, leave a review so more writers can find us. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Follow us on Instagram and Facebook Learn more about Launch My Book

    Why Publishing A Book Takes Longer Than You Think

  3. Oct 1

    Choosing the Right Publishing Path

    “What publishing pathway should I use?” sounds like a simple question, until you realize every option changes who pays, who owns the ISBN, who controls the accounts, and how much visibility you get into sales. We walk through the three common routes authors consider: traditional publishing, pure self-publishing, and hybrid publishing, and we translate the jargon into a practical decision you can actually make. We break down what “publisher investment” really means in traditional publishing: editing, design, production, distribution setup, and sometimes an advance. Then we get honest about the trade-offs: the long timeline, the need for patience and thick skin, the reality of rejection, and why platform matters so much (especially for nonfiction and book proposals). If the stamp of approval is part of your goal, we talk about that too, because ego and credibility can be real factors. On the self-publishing side, we explain print on demand through Amazon KDP and IngramSpark, how royalties work, and why accessibility has exploded. We also unpack hybrid publishing and the common pitfalls: the publisher owning the ISBN, operating under their accounts, taking a cut after you’ve funded production, and the “distribution” promises that can be easy to misunderstand. The core takeaway is simple: no matter how you publish, you still have to market your book, so choose the path that gives you the control, speed, and support you actually want. If this helps, subscribe on your favorite platform, share the episode with an author friend, and leave a review so more writers can find it. What publishing path are you leaning toward right now? Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Follow us on Instagram and Facebook Learn more about Launch My Book

    Choosing the Right Publishing Path

  4. Sep 24

    How to Be a More Productive Writer

    The fastest way to stop writing is trying to write perfectly. In this week's episode, Joel and Sayde get real about the gap between the beautiful book in your head and the rough draft you have to put on the page, and why “writing badly” is often the only way to finish a manuscript. We talk through the habits Joel relies on as a professional ghostwriter working on real deadlines: protecting long writing blocks, setting concrete goals like a chapter a week, and separating research and outlining from true drafting time. We also share a practical approach to distractions that doesn’t rely on willpower alone. Instead of pretending email, kids, and the internet won’t exist, we use planned breaks and small rewards to keep the writing moving. Then we go deeper into the inner game: meditation as a focus tool, how to loosen the grip of the inner critic, and why a lack of formal writing credentials can actually help you prioritize clarity over pretension. Finally, we wrestle with the hardest question of all: when is it “good enough,” and how do you recognize the moment you’ve got something alive without tinkering it to death? If you’re writing a nonfiction book, drafting a novel, or trying to build a reliable writing routine, hit play, subscribe, and leave a rating and review. What part of the writing process slows you down most right now? Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Follow us on Instagram and Facebook Learn more about Launch My Book

    How to Be a More Productive Writer

  5. Sep 15

    How To Get on Podcasts and Sell More Books with Michelle Glogovac

    A great podcast interview does not feel like “marketing” at all. It feels like sitting down for coffee and hearing a real person tell the truth behind their work and that is exactly why podcasts have become the new PR for authors, experts, and business owners. We sit down with Michelle Glogovac, the Podcast Matchmaker and author of How to Get on Podcasts, to unpack what actually gets you booked and what gets you ignored. We talk about why long form conversations beat short media hits, how podcast interviews can be repurposed into clips and social content, and why podcast SEO in show notes and descriptions turns one appearance into an evergreen asset that keeps showing up in search results. Then we get tactical: the one page media kit, choosing speaking topics that are specific (not generic), defining your ideal reader so you pitch the right shows, and writing an email that makes it effortless for the host to say yes. We also cover timing, realistic expectations, respectful follow ups, and why chasing only “big” podcasts can be a mistake if the audience will never buy your book. Along the way, Michelle shares an honest take on the blessing and curse of how accessible podcasting is, and why the industry needs higher standards for pitching, hosting, and guesting. If you want a practical podcast booking strategy for authors and a smarter approach to book promotion, press play. Subscribe, share this with an author friend, and leave a rating and review so more writers can find it. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Follow us on Instagram and Facebook Learn more about Launch My Book

    How To Get on Podcasts and Sell More Books with Michelle Glogovac

  6. Sep 8

    Why You Need to Keep Showing Up For Your Book with Jane Tabachnick

    Most book launches don’t fail because the writing is bad. They stall because we treat publishing like a sprint, not a marathon. Joel Pitney sits down with bestselling author and publishing strategist Jane Tabachnick to get painfully honest about what it actually takes to build an author platform that lasts, and why so many authors “quiet quit” about 60 days after launch when the instant-results fantasy wears off.  We dig into the long-game mindset that keeps a book alive for years, especially for nonfiction and business authors. Jane explains why most books are evergreen assets, how “good for book and good for business” simplifies your marketing, and why you probably already know more about book marketing than you think if you’ve ever grown a brand or sold a service. From there, we get tactical: leveraging word of mouth, building relationships with thought leaders and community builders, and making asks that feel value-driven instead of transactional.  You’ll also hear practical guidance on mapping the network you already have, organizing contacts early, avoiding the pitfalls of adding people to email lists without opt-in, and deciding when a one-to-one email beats a generic blast. We close with the unglamorous realities authors underestimate: getting reviews, securing endorsements or a foreword, and respecting timelines that can run 3 to 12 months for people with real editorial calendars.  Jane also goes over  the seven audiences she's identified for book launches and book marketing: Ideal Reader / ProspectsFriends & FamilyEmail listProfessional Network & ContactsSocial Media Connections & FollowersMediaPaid TrafficIf you want smarter book marketing, stronger relationships, and a clearer plan for the long haul, subscribe, share the episode with an author friend, and leave a review so more mission-driven writers can find it. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Follow us on Instagram and Facebook Learn more about Launch My Book

    Why You Need to Keep Showing Up For Your Book with Jane Tabachnick

  7. Sep 1

    Thinking Outside the Box with Russell Nohelty

    In this week's episode of If I'm Being Honest, we sit down with USA Today bestselling author Russell Nohelty, founder of Hapitalist, to have a frank, unfiltered conversation about why writers and authors should start thinking outside the box when it comes to their careers. It starts with analyzing your publishing pathways, defining independence, and discovering that optionality is the real superpower in modern book publishing. We get specific about the stuff that actually protects a long-term writing career: defining your non negotiables, spotting predatory publishing contracts, and insisting on basics like rights reversion and assignment clauses. Then we zoom out to the question most author marketing advice avoids: what does “enough” mean? Russell walks us through a simple exercise that exposes what many writers are really chasing, not fame, but time, peace, agency, and the ability to choose what you make next. We also tackle the hard math behind “one book success,” why ads often require a deeper catalog, and what to do if you do not want to write a 10-book series. We talk signature series strategy, market expectations, and practical alternatives like speaking, partnerships, and building an ecosystem around nonfiction. The thread that ties it together is radical acceptance: tell the truth about what you want, what you can do, and what the market rewards, then build a strategy where joy sits at the center. If you want a clearer, calmer approach to self-publishing, traditional publishing, and building a sustainable author platform, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a writer friend, and leave a review with your definition of “enough.” Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Follow us on Instagram and Facebook Learn more about Launch My Book

    Thinking Outside the Box with Russell Nohelty

  8. Aug 11

    In-Person Sales: The Marketing Strategy You Might be Overlooking with Lauren Domagas

    A literary agent tells you your book is “interesting” but they don’t know where it belongs on a shelf. Do you revise it into something safer, or do you publish the thing you actually meant to write? Host Sayde Walker sits down with Lauren Domagas, author and independent publisher of Songs for Mahalia, to unpack the moment traditional publishing uncertainty became a clear invitation to self-publish with confidence. We talk about what Lauren learned pitching at the San Francisco Writers Conference, why short story collections and cross-genre work can be tough for traditional publishing teams to market, and how indie publishing lets you keep creative control without sacrificing professionalism. Lauren shares what surprised her most about the process: how much she loved shaping the full reader experience, from editing and interior layout to book cover design and building the behind-the-scenes author business through print-on-demand distribution, Amazon KDP, and IngramSpark.  Then we get into the part most authors dread: book marketing. Lauren breaks down a local-first strategy built on in-person events, vendor tables, and genuine conversations that turn browsers into buyers. We dig into practical tactics like using a free sticker to grow a newsletter, thinking in funnels, cold emailing event organizers, and walking into a local bookstore to pitch as a local author. You’ll also hear why library requests matter, how to meet bookstore standards, and how selling face to face can reveal your real target audience faster than online sales dashboards.  If you’re navigating self-publishing, author platform growth, and book promotion that feels sustainable, this conversation is packed with grounded, repeatable ideas. Subscribe for more straight talk on book publishing and promotions, share this with an author friend, and leave a review so more writers can find the show. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Follow us on Instagram and Facebook Learn more about Launch My Book

    In-Person Sales: The Marketing Strategy You Might be Overlooking with Lauren Domagas
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About

If I’m Being Honest is a straight-talk podcast about self-publishing and book marketing—created for authors who want realistic expectations and practical advice. Hosted by Joel Pitney and Sayde Walker, the show explores what it actually takes to publish, promote, and sell books in today’s crowded marketplace. Featuring interviews with successful authors and industry experts, we dig into the wins, the missteps, the numbers, and the uncomfortable truths that rarely get discussed. If you’re a first-time author (or feeling stuck after publishing), this podcast is here to help you move forward with clarity, confidence, and honesty.

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