New Author Podcast

Jerry Evanoff
  • 5.0 (8)
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

First time authors Jerry Evanoff and Rich Kacy take you through their writing, publishing and marketing strategies. You'll get to hear every success and every mistake along the way.

  1. 1D AGO

    Substack, BookFunnel & the API Problem We're Trying to Solve | Ep 345

    This week on the New Author Podcast, Jerry and Rich attempt to solve the great modern writer dilemma: Substack vs. MailerLite vs. BookFunnel vs. reality. Jerry dives deep into whether Substack can integrate with BookFunnel, hunts for API roadmaps like a man searching for buried treasure, and contemplates manually deleting and re-uploading subscriber lists every week (before realizing that might be… mildly unhinged). The big question: can you grow on Substack without breaking your existing email system—or your sanity? Rich approaches it from a different angle, focusing less on integrations and more on discoverability and community-building, because maybe the tech isn’t the point. Maybe the readers are. They also talk about: Email automation strategies Early-access content ideas Unsubscribe gray areas (and why they make everyone nervous) Whether Substack even wants to play nicely with third-party tools Using ChatGPT to generate podcast titles and descriptions (yes, again) It’s part marketing strategy, part tech frustration, and part two writers trying to build something sustainable without duct-taping five platforms together. If you’ve wrestled with Substack, BookFunnel, email lists, or the eternal “how do I grow without breaking everything” question—this one’s for you. 📬 Contact InfoJerry EvanoffEmail: jerry@jerryevanoff.comWebsite: https://jerryevanoff.com Rich KacyEmail: rich@richkacy.comBluesky: @KacyHimself

    1h 31m

  2. FEB 18

    Two Hosts Again, One Deep in a Revision - Ep 344

    Rich is back after time away handling family matters, and the show settles into that familiar rhythm: a little life, a lot of writing, and the kind of honest “here’s where I’m stuck” talk that makes the work move again. Jerry breaks down the biggest Book 2 overhaul he’s done so far—condensing cliffhanger split-chapters, trimming confusion, and rebuilding the opening so the story hooks earlier and cleaner. Word count drops hard, chapters get reorganized, and the editor’s notes keep steering Jerry away from over-complication and toward clarity the reader can follow. They also dig into the gap between drafting and the work that comes after—why so many writers finish a draft and freeze, why editing can feel like the real craft, and how deadlines change everything once you finally commit to one. Also: Jerry eats at warp speed, becomes a regular everywhere he writes (against his will), fights his writing app login problem, and buys an expensive golf club because winter makes people do strange things. Getting back to routine after time away Revision strategy: cutting, consolidating, and clarifying Avoiding “plot convenience” and over-complication Drafting vs. editing (and why people stall after draft one) Deadlines, momentum, and preparing for copyedit Building a writing app while AI tries to “help” by breaking things Jerry EvanoffEmail: jerry@jerryevanoff.comWebsite: jerryevanoff.com Rich KacyEmail: rich@richkacy.comBluesky: @KacyHimself

    1h 8m

  3. FEB 5

    Episode 343 - New Author Podcast Quick Hit #2

    It's another Quick Hit as Jerry is alone again (naturally?). He'll take us through his lack of writing followed by his excitement for writing. He'll complain about the weather and tease some things he wants to talk with Rich about.Jerry EvanoffWebsite: ⁠⁠https://jerryevanoff.com⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠jerry@jerryevanoff.com⁠⁠Instagram: @JerryEvanoffAuthorRich KacyEmail: ⁠⁠rich@richkacy.com⁠⁠Bluesky: @KacyHimself

    25 min

  4. JAN 22

    Episode 342 - A New Author Podcast Quick Hit

    It's a shorter episode this week, just Jerry as he takes us through his week, his struggles with his book 2 edit and how he's trying to get through it. 📬 Contact Info Jerry EvanoffWebsite: ⁠https://jerryevanoff.com⁠Email: ⁠jerry@jerryevanoff.com⁠Instagram: @JerryEvanoffAuthor Rich KacyEmail: ⁠rich@richkacy.com⁠Bluesky: @KacyHimself

    26 min

  5. JAN 13

    Outlines, Editors, AI Tools & Why We Love Schedules | Ep 341

    Jerry and Rich return for Episode 341 of the New Author Podcast, kicking things off with internet gremlins, podcast intros no one listens to, and the universal dream of someday having too many ads. From there, it’s a deep dive into the messy middle of writing life: Jerry walks through rebuilding a massive rewrite outline for Book 2, cutting chapters that didn’t work, fixing “plot conveniences,” and learning (again) why editors are both correct and emotionally devastating. He also shares how he’s using AI tools like ChatGPT and NotebookLM to summarize drafts, plan revisions, and even help build a custom writing app—with all the joy and chaos that comes with it. Rich talks about juggling multiple genres, recovering from a brutal cold, navigating real-life stress, and trying to restart a writing routine while library schedules are apparently designed by caffeinated wildlife. There’s discussion of writing goals, why routines matter, the danger of never closing Scrivener, and whether setting goals actually motivates anyone at all. It’s a long episode, but it’s honest, practical, and exactly what writing weeks really look like. 📬 Contact Info Jerry EvanoffWebsite: https://jerryevanoff.comEmail: jerry@jerryevanoff.comInstagram: @JerryEvanoffAuthor Rich KacyEmail: rich@richkacy.comBluesky: @KacyHimself

    1h 3m

  6. 12/30/2025

    Writing Goals, Editor Reality Checks & End-of-Year Chaos | Ep 340

    It’s the final New Author Podcast episode of 2025, and Jerry and Rich close the year the only way writers know how: exhausted, opinionated, and surrounded by unfinished plans that somehow still count as progress. Jerry breaks down the reality of developmental edits—including why trying to make a murderer “sympathetic” may be a losing battle—and walks through a full Book 2 rewrite strategy, complete with chapter surgery, outline-first editing, and accepting that editors are almost always right (even when it hurts). He also logs 161,000+ words for the year, obsesses over a custom writing app, and sets ambitious but realistic 2026 writing, publishing, and financial goals. Rich recaps a holiday road trip fueled by audiobooks and family tension, outlines a packed 2026 writing plan across thrillers, cozies, novellas, and short fiction, and explains why Substack might be the least-bad option for audience building right now. Along the way: libraries, fences, greenhouses, anxiety, early mornings, and the strange comfort of daylight slowly returning. No spoilers. Plenty of process. And just enough self-awareness to survive January. Jerry EvanoffWebsite: https://jerryevanoff.comEmail: jerry@jerryevanoff.comInstagram: @jerrye25 Rich KacyEmail: rich@richkacy.comBluesky: @KacyHimself

    1h 19m

  7. 12/18/2025

    Episode 339: 2025 Writing Recap — Wins, Misses, and What Comes Next

    In Episode 339 of the New Author Podcast, Jerry Evanoff and Rich Kacy wrap up the year with a candid 2025 writing recap—what worked, what didn’t, and what surprised them along the way. Jerry breaks down finishing his series, sending Book 2 off for a developmental edit, hitting (and missing) yearly goals, and why he deliberately paused marketing until more books are ready. Rich looks back on a wildly productive year that didn’t follow the plan at all—genre hopping, first drafts piling up, and why 2026 needs to be about finishing, not starting. They also talk writers groups, book clubs, endings that don’t quite land, holiday slowdowns, financial goals, and the strange satisfaction of reviewing a year that didn’t go “right” but still went well. This episode closes out 2025 and sets the stage for a focused 2026. Jerry EvanoffWebsite: https://jerryevanoff.comEmail: jerry@jerryevanoff.com Rich KacyEmail: rich@richkacy.comBluesky: @KacyHimself

    1h 4m

  8. 12/11/2025

    Episode 338: Cold Medicine, Chicken Coops & 3,331 Words Before Lunch

    This week, Jerry tries to podcast through a head cold while Rich wrestles a chicken-coop door, dislocates a knuckle, and still writes 3,331 words before most people finish breakfast. Naturally, that derails into a deep dive on Substack, reader newsletters, and whether either of them will ever understand how the platform actually works. Jerry talks about Instagram reels, accidental viral dog videos, and why Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer might be a murder ballad. Rich falls down a Pringles rabbit hole and confesses he may or may not be raiding the library snack stash like a gremlin after hours. Meanwhile, writing progress continues: Jerry preps to hand his manuscript off to his editor and plans a week of Chick-fil-A, Panera, and panic. Rich finishes his novel and immediately starts analyzing it with Claude because nothing says festive holiday spirit like 40 pages of AI critique. Also covered: • Traffic rage • Gift-card Christmas shopping • Trying to sleep with clogged sinuses • Why ath-rin (aka Afrin) betrayed Jerry • Planning for 2026 without crying • A box of new PLAAY.com sports games that will absolutely tank Jerry’s productivity If you like chaotic author energy, questionable health decisions, and two writers trying to out-nerd each other, you’re home. Spotify Keywords / Tagswriting podcast, indie author, author life, fiction writing, self-publishing, revision process, editing, Substack for authors, pro writing aid, Claude AI, Instagram reels for writers, cozy mystery writing, productivity for writers, publishing journey, board game hobby, Plaay.com games

    1h 34m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

First time authors Jerry Evanoff and Rich Kacy take you through their writing, publishing and marketing strategies. You'll get to hear every success and every mistake along the way.

Information

  • Creator
    Jerry Evanoff
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    319
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jerry Evanoff
  • Show Website
    New Author Podcast