The Publishing Performance Show

Teddy Smith
  • 5.0 (13)
  • Books
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to The Publishing Performance Show, the quintessential podcast for both budding and veteran self-published authors! Join your host, Teddy, as he sits down with with successful indie authors and top experts in the publishing world, who generously share their unique journeys, creative inspirations, and future aspirations in their writing careers and the wider industry. Immerse yourself in a trove of valuable insights and actionable advice on writing, essential tools, and practical tips to elevate your self-publishing prowess. Whether you’re just beginning your literary voyage or seeking to refine your craft, this show brims with wisdom and inspiration to help you thrive in the self-publishing realm. Each episode promises listeners at least one actionable tip for their self-published books and a must-read recommendation from our esteemed guests. Tune in for an inspiring, informative, and thoroughly enjoyable exploration of the indie author experience!

  1. 1d ago

    H.J. Chammas – How to Use a Book to Build Authority, Get Clients & Grow Your Coaching Business

    H.J. Chammas is the founder of Authority Publishing, a full-service publishing, promotion, and monetization platform for coaches, consultants, and experts who want to use a book to build their authority and grow their business. After leaving a successful corporate career and becoming financially independent through real estate, H.J. invested $65,000 in a traditional publishing deal that flopped — and used that painful experience to reverse-engineer what actually works. He has since helped authors across the Middle East and beyond turn their books into platforms, leads, and high-ticket client pipelines.   In this episode: • H.J.'s $65,000 publishing mistake — and the mindset shift that turned everything around • Why chasing royalties is the wrong goal, and what to chase instead • How to research your audience, competitors, and keywords before writing a single word • The tools H.J. uses for Amazon research: SEMrush, KDP Rocket, and Helium 10 • What separates an authority book from a generic collection of ideas • Three approaches to writing your book: ready manuscript, interview-based transcription, or ghost writing • Why AI-written books are getting flagged on Amazon — and what to use AI for instead • The right way to launch a book: why big spike launches are vanity publishing in disguise • How Amazon ads work as a long-term strategy, not a short-term sales tool • Why social media rarely works for nonfiction authors — and what LinkedIn outreach actually delivers • The publish, promote, monetize framework: how Authority Publishing works with authors from manuscript to ongoing client acquisition • What to bring to your first conversation with H.J. — and why clarity on your niche comes before everything else   Resources mentioned: • Authority Publishing: https://authority-publishing.com/ • SEMrush (keyword research): semrush.com • KDP Rocket / Publisher Rocket: publisherrocket.com • Helium 10 (Amazon research): helium10.com • LinkedIn (recommended platform for nonfiction authors): linkedin.com   Connect with H.J. Chammas: • Website: authority-publishing.com • LinkedIn: H.J. Chammas • Free book:  Connect with Teddy Smith: @teddyagsmith Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/ Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/ Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com Support the show Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

    40 min

  2. Jun 5

    Jo Blackwell – How to Use YouTube and Substack to Build a Writing Brand (Without Going Viral)

    Jo Blackwell is a writer, podcaster, researcher, and personal brand builder whose work centers on helping women over 50 rethink aging. After raising four children, navigating perimenopause, and spending 14 years as a professional portrait and brand photographer, Jo founded the Midlife Movement in 2018 to share the latest science on aging — challenging the outdated cultural narratives that tell women their best years are behind them. Her books include Oh Crap, I'm 50, 50 Facing 50 (a BBC-featured photography project), and her most recent release Aging Wonderfully Well. She hosts the Midlife and Beyond podcast and publishes regularly on YouTube and Substack. In this episode: How perimenopause and depression led Jo to start writing again — and how a blog became a book and a movementWhy building a personal brand before publishing made a measurable difference in book salesThe "grandmotherly vibe" lesson: why leaning into who you actually are is the most powerful branding strategyHow Jo uses YouTube and Substack as a content loop — and why she stopped trying to make Facebook workUsing audience comments, YouTube polls, and Facebook group data to decide what books to write nextHow to overcome the fear of putting yourself out there, especially as an older womanPractical advice for starting a personal brand after 50: platform selection, content planning, and setting your own boundariesThe right way to use AI in your writing process — as an editor and sounding board, not a content generatorWhat's inside Aging Wonderfully Well: self-ageism, perimenopause, brain research, and the science of becomingWhy Jo says she's never been happier than in her 60s — and what that means for women who think it's too late to start Resources mentioned: Substack (platform for newsletters and audio): substack.comYouTube (Jo's video platform): youtube.comPinterest (used as a visual search engine): pinterest.comLinkedIn (for collaboration): linkedin.comRiverside (podcast recording tool): riverside.fm Book Recommendations: Aging Wonderfully Well by Jo Blackwell Oh Crap, I'm 50: Journey from Fearful to Fabulous by Jo Blackwell Connect with Jo Blackwell: Website: joblackwell.co.ukYoutube :https://www.youtube.com/@JoBlackwell-MidlifeAndBeyondPodcast: https://joblackwellmidlifeandbeyond.substack.com/podcast Connect with Teddy Smith: @teddyagsmith Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/ Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/ Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com Support the show Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

    44 min

  3. May 11

    Robert Moutal of Cover Design App – Why Your Book Cover Is Killing Your Sales (And How AI Can Fix It)

    Robert Moutal is the founder of Cover Design App, an AI-powered tool that helps independent publishers create professional, market-ready book covers using principles from semiotics, color theory, and design psychology. A publishing coach with a master's degree in semiotics and communication, Robert has personally published more than 60–70 books and built Cover Design App to solve the exact problems he saw holding self-publishers back: poor typography, bad stock imagery, and covers that failed to communicate genre at a glance. In this episode: Why book covers have a bigger impact on Amazon sales than most authors realize — and the 3-second rule every self-publisher needs to knowThe most common cover mistakes self-publishers make, including bad stock images, cramming too many elements, and typography errorsHow Cover Design App uses semiotics and psychology — not just aesthetics — to build covers that actually performColor theory for book covers: what each color communicates to readers and why getting it wrong can tank your salesHow the app's Market Intelligence feature analyzes competitor covers on Amazon to help you stand out within your genreThe Thumbnail Test: why your cover must be readable at every size Amazon displays itA full step-by-step walkthrough of Cover Design App, from market research and design brief to generating variations, iterating, and exportingHow to create a complete visual package — cover, author photo, A plus content, and Amazon description — in about 20 minutesWhy A plus content is free advertising space inside your Amazon listing that too many authors are wastingHow to edit existing designer covers inside the app, translate covers into other languages, and repurpose assets for a series Resources mentioned: Cover Design App: coverdesignapp.com/Teddy (10% off forever with this link)Ideogram (AI image generation tool referenced for design): ideogram.aiAmazon KDP: kdp.amazon.comFiverr (mentioned for comparison): fiverr.comCanva (mentioned as a common tool authors misuse): canva.com Connect with Robert Moutal: Website & app: coverdesignapp.comSpecial discount link for listeners: coverdesignapp.com/Teddy (10% off forever) Connect with Teddy Smith: @teddyagsmith Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/ Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/ Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com Support the show Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

    30 min

  4. Apr 29

    Kevin Anderson – The Truth About Ghost Writing: What It Costs, Who Does It, and How It Actually Works

    Kevin Anderson is the CEO, founder, and editor-in-chief of Kevin Anderson & Associates, one of the publishing industry's most respected ghost writing and editorial firms. With a team of former Big Five acquisitions editors, publishing executives, literary agents, and bestselling authors, his company has helped bring more than 7,000 books to life — producing around 500 titles per year. Their clients range from celebrities and Fortune 500 CEOs to first-time memoir writers with extraordinary stories to tell. In this episode: How ghost writing actually works — and why it's a deeply collaborative process, not just writing from a promptWhy skilled ghost writers are nothing like AI: the role of empathy, intuition, and journalistic interview skillThe types of clients who hire ghost writers: celebrity memoirs, business books, IP-based novels, and personal legacy piecesHow Kevin Anderson & Associates structures every project, including kick-off meetings, ongoing Zoom interviews, beta testing, and cultural accuracy reviewsWhy defining your publishing goal before you write a single word is the most important first stepThe First Chapter Rule: why getting sign-off on one complete chapter before writing the rest saves enormous time and prevents costly mistakesTypical project timelines — from 6-week rush projects to the more standard 8–12 month engagementHow ghost writing fiction differs from nonfiction, and why novels are actually harder to structure than business booksWhat ghost writing costs — from entry-level ($20K+) to high-end ($500K+) — and what drives the priceHow to vet a ghost writer: what credentials to look for and red flags to avoidWhen ghost writing is NOT the right fit — and why a book coach or developmental editor might serve you betterThe inside story on some of Kevin's most fascinating projects, including the Five Nights at Freddy's novels and the Oz Perlman mentalism bestseller Resources mentioned: Kevin Anderson & Associates website: https://kawriting.comReedsy: https://reedsy.com Connect with Kevin Anderson: Website: kawriting.com Connect with Teddy Smith: @teddyagsmith Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/ Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/ Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com Support the show Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

    47 min

  5. Mar 17

    Michael Stewart of Sudowrite – How to Write your Book with Sudowrite

    Michael Stewart is the Community Lead at Sudowrite, an AI creative writing partner designed primarily for fiction writers. His background is in journalism and nonfiction writing, but he discovered his struggle with fiction perfectionism early on—unable to finish first chapters because everything needed to be perfect from the start. Sudowrite helped him accelerate past the "s****y first draft" phase to get to the editing work he loves. Michael works with a community of 16,000+ authors on Sudowrite's Discord server, leads 12 teachers rotating through daily live classes, and helps writers find their unique workflows with AI tools. He's passionate about ensuring authors remain essential to their creative process while using AI to eliminate tedium. In this episode: AI democratizes writing access like personal computers didRomance authors accelerating from 6 to 200 books yearlyImport Novel reads work nine times, builds Story BibleStory Bible catalogs characters, settings, synopsis, outlineWrite button generates 150-1,500 words as smart autocompleteStuck locally vs structurally: two types of writing blocksPlugins ecosystem for niche workflow needsChat feature more powerful than ChatGPT with full contextPedal assist metaphor: eliminate tedium, focus on what you loveCharacter cards with Enneagram types and custom traitsCharacters Prompt the Author: role-play scenes through character eyesNew editing tool in beta highlights passages with custom feedbackMinimal involvement creates soulless, clichéd fictionAuthors must remain essential to avoid generic AI writing Resources mentioned: SudoWriteJoin the SudoWrite DiscordBook: "Steering the Craft" by Ursula K. Le Guin — for deepening craft skillsClaude AIChatGPT Connect with Michael Stewart: TwitterLinkedIn Connect with Teddy Smith: @teddyagsmith Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/ Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/ Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com Support the show Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

    45 min

  6. Mar 6

    Madeline Shue ElevenLabs - Create Professional Audiobooks for $100-200 Using ElevenLabs AI (plus how to get Michael Caine to be your narrator)

    Madeline Shue is the Publishing Lead at ElevenLabs, an AI audio platform founded in 2022 and based in London with approximately 400 employees worldwide. ElevenLabs builds AI audio models including text-to-speech, speech-to-text, music, and sound effects, bringing these innovations to consumers, creators, and enterprises globally. Madeline works specifically on everything related to authors, publishers, and audiobooks, helping creators who previously lacked resources or ability to reach global audiences share their stories in audio form. She manages the journey from manuscript to production, post-production, and distribution through ElevenLabs' audiobook products and their consumer app, Eleven Reader. In this episode: ElevenLabs history: from 250-word text boxes to full audiobook productionThe first beta tester uploaded entire manuscripts 250 words at a timeAI audio quality now indistinguishable from human narrators for many books90% of published books don't have audiobook counterpartsElevenLabs Creative: new consolidated audiobook hubTwo production options: Dynamic Narration (free) vs Original AudiobookDynamic Narration: listeners choose from 500+ voices including Michael CaineOriginal Audiobook: full creative control, voice selection, editing capabilityVoice cloning: narrate your book in your own voiceAudio drama creation: Zephyrus One sci-fi example with music and sound effectsJudy Garland's voice clone narrating The Wizard of Oz6,000+ voices in the library from real people who earn when voices are usedDesign custom voices with prompts for specific charactersVoice library filters: trending voices, usage stats, genre collectionsIconic voices: Albert Einstein, Michael Caine, Robert ReynoldsDual POV narration easy for romance with alternating voicesPronunciation dictionary for fantasy names, spells, unusual termsDirect speech feature: record how you want words pronouncedEditing typically takes equivalent time to audiobook durationFree Dynamic Narration option takes 5-10 minutes to publishQuality requirements: proper formatting, no table of contents in audioCopyright ownership: you own everything you create with ElevenLabsEleven Reader royalties: 25 cents per hour streamed, 60% on direct salesNo exclusivity requirements on any platformDistribution integrations: Spotify, Findaway, direct MP3 downloadProduction costs: $100-200 for full-length books ($10-20 per finished hour)Multicast auto-assignment or manual voice selection by highlighting text Resources mentioned: ElevenLabs: elevenlabs.ioElevenCreative: https://elevenlabs.io/creativeContact: reader@elevenlabs.io Connect with Madeline Shue and ElevenLabs: Email: reader@elevenlabs.ioFacebook Group: Authors of Eleven LabsWebsite: elevenlabs.ioTwitter: https://x.com/elevenlabsio Connect with Teddy Smith: @teddyagsmith Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/ Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/ Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/ Support the show Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

    43 min

  7. 12/23/2025

    Walt Hampton – The 6 Paths to Finishing Your Book (Even When You’re Busy)

    Walt Hampton is the Acquisitions Editor and Director of Marketing at Summit Press Publishing, where he reviews incoming manuscripts and helps authors do more than simply publish—he helps them get the book out into the world in a big way. Walt works with entrepreneurs and high-performing professionals to turn their books into keynotes, programs, coaching and consulting offers, and long-term marketing assets—because, as he puts it, it’s not about the book, it’s what you do with the book. In this conversation, Walt breaks down practical strategies for busy writers, including time blocking, reducing interruptions, reverse-engineering your writing sessions, and his six paths to finishing your book (from one-page-a-day all the way to ghostwriting). In this episode: Walt’s dual role: acquisitions (reviewing manuscripts) + marketing (helping authors leverage the book)What makes Summit Press different: publishing + continued support long after launchReal examples of book leverage: building keynotes and high-ticket programs around the bookWhy publishing success requires long-term momentum (it’s a marathon, not a sprint)Time mastery for busy professionals: clarity of “why” + small consistent stepsTime blocking: scheduling writing like client work (starting with just 1 hour/week)Reverse-engineering the process: define thesis/TOC/conclusion so each session has a purpose“Write the closing argument first”: drafting the conclusion early to create a destinationCommon time-wasters: phone proximity, alerts, and constant interruptionInterruption science + attentional residue: why refocusing takes longer than you thinkSimple boundary systems: turning everything off + enrolling assistants/teams to protect focus timeThe “sticky note on the glass door” tactic for open-office interruptionsWhere AI helps (and where it hurts): great for brainstorming/themes + proofreading, bad for “soulless” manuscriptsFinal takeaway: begin imperfectly—editing comes later, but you can’t edit a blank page Resources mentioned: Summit Press Publishers: https://summitpresspublishers.com/Brick by BrickJourneys on the Edge: Living a Life That Matters The Power Principles of Time Mastery: Do Less, Make More, Have Fun Connect with Walt Hampton / Summit Press: Summit Press Publishers: https://summitpresspublishers.com/ Connect with Teddy Smith: @teddyagsmithWebsite: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtcFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinstaYoutube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSwLinkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/ Support the show Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

    43 min

  8. 12/17/2025

    Nicholas Keating-Casbarro – Creating Factions, Religion, and Government for Your Fictional World

    Nicholas Keating-Casbarro is the author and creator of the Vitilarium Universe, a far-future sci-fi series following humanity after becoming multi-planetary. With seven books planned, Nicholas crafts character-focused stories exploring themes of power, corruption, government structure, and humanity's potential futures. A former medical professional turned author, Nicholas writes in an omniscient perspective similar to Frank Herbert's style, focusing on meaningful dialogue and immersive action scenes. He's expanded the Vitilarium world beyond books into comic book adaptations for Comic-Con audiences, working with illustrators Francisco Nilo, colorist Chandran Panusamy, and graphic designer Ahmed Gitar. Published through hybrid publisher Atmosphere Press, Nicholas maintains a massive Excel story guide tracking everything from character backstories to planetary exports across seven colonized worlds. In this episode: The Vitilarium Universe: humanity's future as a multi-planetary civilizationThe Alcubierre drive: using exotic material for faster-than-light travelDiscovering ancient alien ruins on Diorum, the seventh colonized planetUsing conspiracy theories and "what if" questions for world-buildingStarting world-building with themes, not plot detailsCreating factions before characters (government, gangs, militias, religion)The Coalition for Prosperity: naming totalitarian governments ironicallyWriting the tenets of a future religion (with a no-cult disclaimer)The question-based method: every answer creates new questions to defineThe massive Excel story guide with unlimited tabsBuilding a survivalist protagonist who survives deadly fauna outside megacitiesSelf-editing with story Bible and Book One PDF open for continuitySix rounds of proofreading to catch spelling and comma errorsWorking with editor John Smith to fix character motivation issuesMaps of megacity Kairos and faction sigils for reader immersionWeaving world-building through character dialogue, not exposition dumpsTreating plot holes as opportunities to add new technology or detailsTools: Excel, Word, coffee, and nicotine (manual approach)Google Notebook LM: AI tool for querying your own manuscriptAdapting books into comic series for Comic-Con crossover audienceWorking with Atmosphere Press hybrid publisher model Resources mentioned: Vitilarium Series website: https://vitaleriumseries.com/Inside Vitilarium Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/InsideVitalerium/giftAtmosphere Press: https://atmospherepress.com/Google Notebook LM: https://notebooklm.google/ Connect with Nicholas Keating-Casbarro: Website: https://vitaleriumseries.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vitariumstudio/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/vitarium.fb/reels/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/vitalerium-series-official-website Connect with Teddy Smith: @teddyagsmithWebsite: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtcFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinstaYoutube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSwLinkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/ Support the show Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

    48 min
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About

Welcome to The Publishing Performance Show, the quintessential podcast for both budding and veteran self-published authors! Join your host, Teddy, as he sits down with with successful indie authors and top experts in the publishing world, who generously share their unique journeys, creative inspirations, and future aspirations in their writing careers and the wider industry. Immerse yourself in a trove of valuable insights and actionable advice on writing, essential tools, and practical tips to elevate your self-publishing prowess. Whether you’re just beginning your literary voyage or seeking to refine your craft, this show brims with wisdom and inspiration to help you thrive in the self-publishing realm. Each episode promises listeners at least one actionable tip for their self-published books and a must-read recommendation from our esteemed guests. Tune in for an inspiring, informative, and thoroughly enjoyable exploration of the indie author experience!

Information

  • Creator
    Teddy Smith
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    153
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Publishing Performance Show
  • Show Website
    The Publishing Performance Show

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