The Gatecrashers Podcast: Recent Episodes
Amanda Luedeke and Charis Crowe
STORM THE GATES OF PUBLISHING with VP and literary agent Amanda Luedeke and novelist Charis Crowe.
Teaming up to talk about both sides of publishing (self-publishing and traditional), Amanda and Charis share their combined twenty years of experience in the industry from both sides of the desk. They offer a glimpse behind the "gates" as they share the realities, opportunities, and difficulties of the publishing world.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor and Luedeke. In her 10+ year career she's done business with top-tier publishers and independent houses. www.macgregorandluedeke.com
Charis Crowe is a marketer, speaker, freelance editor, and longtime aspiring author who for years stood at the gates of traditional publishing only to choose the self-publishing path.
The Gatecrashers reflect on lessons learned in 2022. Aaron Schlegel donation fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/schlegelfamilydonation
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Literary agent Amanda Luedeke entered a writing contest. Hear about what happened.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Literary agent Amanda Luedeke entered a writing contest. Hear about what happened.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Things to keep in mind when sending out book queries.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Writing goals are hard. The Gatecrashers discuss tips and tricks to make them less hard.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers discuss the final verdict of the Penguin Random House anti-trust trial.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Something's rotten in the state of publishing. Women make up most of the work force yet hold fewer high-level positions.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Charis gives an update on her indie author journey!
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
As AI improve, authors and publishers are wondering when we can expect AI-narrated audiobooks. The Gatecrashers discuss.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Can computers create good book covers? The Gatecrashers discuss this new technology. Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Amanda shares how she landed her own book deal and what that process looked like.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Read all about it! The Gatecrashers discuss how recent publishing-related tech news affects authors.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
How many marketing dollars per book do publishers spend? The Gatecrashers discuss this and more from the antitrust trial.
Source: https://mailchi.mp/hotsheetpub/bn-backlist?e=d650b3b0a0
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
One takeaway from the big antitrust trial seems to be the thought that agents only care about getting big book advances, and that if they can do that, then they've done their job. Is this true? The Gatecrashers discuss.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
It was the tweet heard round the publishing world, but is it true? Do 50% of books sell 12 copies or fewer? The Gatecrashers weigh in.
https://twitter.com/aprilhenrybooks/status/1566230658766503937
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
New York Times bestselling authors Sofia Lapuente and Jarrod Shusterman give tips for a strong coauthoring relationship.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Why do bookstores choose to carry one book over another? Why do some books perform better in certain areas of the country? The Gatecrashers sit down with bookstore owner and literary agent Elisa Saphier to discuss the art of bookselling.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers interview author Mel Todd, owner of Bad Ash Publishing. Mel is a Bestselling Amazon author in Urban Science Fiction and Urban Fantasy with over 30 titles to her name, plus stories in multiple anthologies.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The LLC resource we mention can be found here:
https://www.llcuniversity.com/llc-annual-fees-by-state/
Bad Ash publishing and Mel's books can be found here:
https://badashpublishing.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Mel-Todd/e/B07CW41H8X/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1
The Gatecrashers sit down with award-winning novelist Piper Huguley and discuss the importance of fighting to tell the story that you want to tell.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers share updates and announcements about their publishing journeys!
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers read first-page submissions and offer comments and critiques.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Yes, authors can write and pitch their own press releases. The Gatecrashers discuss how.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Create your very own story bible! Free story bible templates found here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/yq5ncpjcevpjfleuwcwfd/h?dl=0&rlkey=cjfh2b3bmkmelqav2qu02213b
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers read first-page submissions and offer comments and critiques.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers share a tip on an easy way to get your book translated.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers read first-page submissions and offer comments and critiques.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
What content should you put into your author newsletter? The Gatecrashers have some tips.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers read first-page submissions and comment on the craft.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers discuss James Clear's Atomic Habits and how it can help writers.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers discuss a simple omnibus tip to generate sales.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers chat about their favorite cryptocurrency.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Conference season is upon us! The Gatecrashers give four tips for a successful conference experience.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers want to see your first pages!
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Ever wondered what literary agents REALLY think? The Gatecrashers offer a glimpse into their uncensored thoughts.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Bestselling author Brandon Sanderson has raised over $23M in 4 days on Kickstarter. The Gatecrashers discuss how this move is disrupting the book industry.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Ever wondered what literary agents REALLY think? The Gatecrashers offer a glimpse into their uncensored thoughts.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Ever wondered what literary agents REALLY think? The Gatecrashers offer a glimpse into their uncensored thoughts.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Ever wondered what literary agents REALLY think? The Gatecrashers offer a glimpse into their uncensored thoughts.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Most authors think they are marketing when they are actually creating. Listen in as the Gatecrashers unpack the dangers of creating more things.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Forget followers. Authors need to build communities. The Gatecrashers dive into what this means and how to do it.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Ever wondered what literary agents REALLY think? The Gatecrashers offer a glimpse into their uncensored thoughts.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Ever wondered what literary agents REALLY think? The Gatecrashers offer a glimpse into their uncensored thoughts.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
From #booktok to #authortok, the Gatecrashers talk about how authors can use TikTok to their advantage.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
What are the rules of thumb when trying to grow a platform on TikTok? The Gatecrashers give a few tips.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
What is TikTok and why should authors be on the platform? The Gatecrashers discuss.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
How much does it cost to produce an audiobook? Should you narrate? The Gatecrashers give a crash course on audiobooks.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
No, it's not always a good idea to price your ebook at $2.99. The Gatecrashers discuss the psychology and strategy behind book pricing.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Part two! Our apologies for the dreadful audio. The Gatecrashers discuss how whale readers make and break careers.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Our apologies for the dreadful audio. The Gatecrashers discuss how whale readers make and break careers.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers discuss three different approaches to book-release marketing, as originally presented by Elana Johnson at the 20Booksto50k conference.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Charis discusses her main takeaways from the 20Booksto50k 2021 indie publishing conference in Vegas.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Slow and steady book sales are better than that two-day spike on Amazon. The Gatecrashers discuss why.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
What are your strengths as a writer? The Gatecrashers discuss six common strengths and how to spot them in your writing life.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
What are your strengths as a writer? The Gatecrashers discuss six common strengths and how to spot them in your writing life.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Part 2! What if your manuscript isn't the problem? What if it's you? The Gatecrashers discuss six common flaws that they see in themselves and other writers.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
What if your manuscript isn't the problem. What if it's you? The Gatecrashers discuss six common flaws that they see in themselves and other writers.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Supply chain shortages, holiday shopping concerns, and a flooded audio market. The Gatecrashers discuss how COVID-19 is currently affecting book publishing.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
How do you fix your writing life? Sometimes you just have to throw out the rulebook.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Is your manuscript the problem? Or are you the problem? The Gatecrashers discuss what it takes to face your flaws as a writer.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Is it even possible to have a 15,000-word writing day? Is it realistic to write while juggling a career and family? The Gatecrasher say yes!
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Sell your books and make money using live events! Listen in as Ben Wolf dishes on how to be successful hand-selling your books and your brand.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Sell your books and make money using live events! Listen in as Ben Wolf dishes on how to be successful hand-selling your books and your brand.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
New York Times bestselling ghostwriter and collaborative writer David Thomas shares what it takes to make a living on telling someone else's story.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
When trying to figure out how to land a job in publishing, Patnacia Goodman Googled it. Hear about her journey into Christian nonfiction and her perspective on the market.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Each author's journey is a bit different. Meet Kaira Rouda. The bestselling novelist who self-published, genre-hopped, and worked with a few agents before finding her stride.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
You sign with an agent. They shop your book. Then they drop you. Is your book dead in the water? Are you "unpublishable"? The Gatecrashers discuss this unique listener-submitted situation.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
You sold your book to a publisher, but years have passed and it's not selling. So now what? Is the book stuck forever?
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers discuss literary fiction and what it takes to work in that part of the industry.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Ask an editor what type of project they want to see, and they'll be vague and unsure. But ask them what type of book projects they're tired of seeing, and they could write you an entire bulleted list. Listen in as the Gatecrashers share exactly what's on those bulleted lists. These are the projects that editors in the romance genre are sick of seeing.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
When a bunch of publishers want the same book, it goes to auction. The Gatecrashers talk about the ins and outs of the book auction process.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
From writer retreats to the super-secretive publisher retreats, the Gatecrashers discuss the various industry getaways and whether or not they're worth it.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Ask an editor what type of project they want to see, and they'll be vague and unsure. But ask them what type of book projects they're tired of seeing, and they could write you an entire bulleted list. Listen in as the Gatecrashers share exactly what's on those bulleted lists. These are the projects that Christian nonfiction editors are sick of seeing.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Ask an editor what type of project they want to see, and they'll be vague and unsure. But ask them what type of book projects they're tired of seeing, and they could write you an entire bulleted list. Listen in as the Gatecrashers share exactly what's on those bulleted lists. These are the projects that nonfiction editors are sick of seeing.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Receiving a one-star book review can feel like someone just called your baby "ugly." Still, it's something every author needs to navigate. The Gatecrashers discuss how authors can learn to rise above the one-star and negative reviews and come out unscathed.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Type B authors tend to be easygoing, go-with-the-flow people. While these traits serve them well in book publishing, they can also cause problems.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Type A authors are go-getters who aren't afraid of conflict and push for what they want. While these traits serve them well in book publishing, they can also cause problems.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Is it ok to cosplay? Is it ok to wear jeans and a t-shirt if it fits your brand? Is it better to dress up or down? The Gatecrashers discuss book publishing's unspoken dress code.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers discuss Facebook's recently announced publishing platform, which should offer newsletter services, superfan subscription services, and more.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers discuss the difference between traditional book marketing and self-published book marketing.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Every author needs a break now and again. Here's how to make sure that break effectively sets you up to get back in the game when it's time.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
What do book editors REALLY think? We asked them. Hear the things that editors wish they could tell their authors (but can't) in this episode of The Gatecrashers Podcast.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
How do you figure out what kind of people are reading your books? The Gatecrashers have some ideas.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
What do book editors REALLY think? We asked them. Hear the things that editors wish they could tell their authors (but can't) in this episode of The Gatecrashers Podcast.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers give an update on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting book publishing.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
We writers have a tendency to be verbose. But that doesn't always give us the results we want and need. From marketing copy to career updates, the Gatecrashers talk about when less is more.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers discuss the three things that traditional publishers look for before signing a self-published author.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
What do book editors REALLY think? We asked them. Hear the things that editors wish they could tell their authors (but can't).
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
If you ever feel like you're out of your league and don't belong in the writing world, you're not alone. The Gatecrashers talk about imposter syndrome...how to overcome it and even welcome it.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
What do book editors REALLY think? We asked them. Hear the things that editors wish they could tell their authors (but can't).
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
What do book editors REALLY think? We asked them. Hear the things that editors wish they could tell their authors (but can't) in this episode of The Gatecrashers Podcast.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Authors! It's time to stop apologizing for self-promotion. Here are ways that you can think differently about promoting your book.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Every agent needs to start somewhere, but not every agent will excel at their job. The Gatecrashers discuss how to spot which newbie agents will learn and grow and which ones will bring more harm than good to your career.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
What's the best use of your book marketing dollars? The Gatecrashers weigh in.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
How should you market your book? The Gatecrashers discuss new and out-of-the-box book marketing ideas that you probably haven't tried yet.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
What happens when authors or publishers get sued? The Gatecrashers discuss the various circumstances that typically surround author courtroom drama and who wins ... and who loses.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Everyone uses launch teams (or street teams) to promote their new books. And almost everyone does a poor job of managing these groups. The Gatecrashers talk about how to run a successful launch team and get the results you need.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Publishers expect you to use influencers to help promote and market your book. The Gatecrashers discuss what that looks like and how to get the best results from your influencers' efforts.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
As an author, most of your book endorsements will come from people you know. But it's possible to get endorsements from people you don't know! Listen in to hear all about endorsement etiquette and how to go about asking for endorsements from outside your immediate circles.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
What is the difference between book endorsers, book influencers and launch teams (or street teams)? The Gatecrashers unpack these three vital roles and how to determine who goes where.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
What happens when multiple agents all want to work with the same author? Listen in as the Gatecrashers dish on what this phenomenon is like from an agent's perspective.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
What if my publisher wakes up one day and realizes he made a mistake? Many authors are afraid that their publisher will cancel the deal at the first sign of trouble. But that's simply not the case. Contract cancellations are rare, and when they do happen, they happen for a reason.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
You think no one cares what you say on your private social media? Think again. What you say online can make or break your author career.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Listen in as the Gatecrashers rapid-fire the best tips to ensure self-publishing success.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
For some, self-publishing is the best decision they ever made. For others, it feels like giving up on their dreams. But there are key indicators that self-publishing may be the best option for you. You just have to learn how to spot them.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
If you're an author, you need a website. Even if you're a beginner. Even if you don't have any books to your name. You need a website. The Gatecrashers discuss why.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Tips and tricks to get a book agent to like you ... and maybe even sign you on as a client.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Sometimes agents don't respond to queries at all. And other times, they'll respond only to go silent soon after. Why does this happen? The Gatecrashers talk about why agents go dark.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Will Wight is a bestselling self-published author who focuses on craft over marketing strategies. Listen in as the Gatecrashers unpack his unique success story.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Bestselling fiction author Wesley Chu shares his journey from answering an open submission callout from a small press to landing a major deal with Del Rey.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Author Heather Thompson Day shares how she went from 5000 followers to 150,000 followers in less than two years.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Former Tor Executive Editor Diana Gill talks about what causes a publisher to choose one debut novelist over another.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Writer's block is the worst! And it's a REAL issue. Whether you can't find the motivation to write or are stuck on a scene that just isn't working, the Gatecrashers offer some ideas to help you forge ahead and delete writer's block from your life.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
It seems that everyone has an idea for a children's book, but does that mean that everyone should pursue children's publishing? The Gatecrashers weigh in on the complexly unique world of kids literature.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
If your spouse is unsupportive of your creative endeavors, it's probably because they're fearful or don't have all of the information. The Gatecrashers discuss how to have an effective discussion that will help guide your spouse from unsupportive to supportive.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
"My spouse doesn't support my writing career!" This is a common complaint among writers—and it needs to be addressed. The Gatecrashers discuss how to tell if your spouse is acting from a place of fear, lack of information, or control.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
How do you become a literary agent? Amanda shares her own journey to this unique profession.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
You're on social media, but are you using it to inform your writing? Your author business? Your future? The Gatecrashers discuss how knowing your social media audience can equip you to "give the people what they want."
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers give an update on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting book publishing.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Every writer has doubts about his or her manuscript. But when is it time to listen to those doubts and trash your work in progress? The Gatecrashers weigh in.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
You can't judge a book by its cover ... or can you? The Gatecrashers discuss the book cover art process for both traditional and self publishing.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
You dream of the day your book is made into a movie. But what does that process look like and how feasible is it? The Gatecrashers give a brief overview of book publishing and Hollywood.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers offer another update on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting book publishing.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Who is Charis Crowe and why can't you find her books on Amazon? The Gatecrashers discuss Charis' publishing journey.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Crowdsourcing can be a great way to fund your book idea. But if you don't approach it as a business venture, you're sure to waste time, money, and bring on a bunch of stress.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers follow-up on the predictions they made in episode 031. Listen in to find out how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting book publishing.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Writing books doesn't always pay the bills. So how can an author diversify his or her revenue streams and bring in additional income while working from home? The Gatecrashers have a few ideas.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke, where she has agented since 2009.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers discuss how the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic might affect book publishing.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke. She brings 10+ years of experience as an agent.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
The Gatecrashers sit down with industry veteran Jonathan Merkh to discuss how authors and agents should approach book rights from a publisher's perspective.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke. She brings 10+ years of experience as an agent.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Why don't book offers come with marketing plans? How much can you expect your publisher to spend on promotions? Publishing veteran Jonathan Merkh answers our most pressing marketing questions.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke. She brings 10+ years of experience as an agent.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.
Rejection stings. Yet in the book publishing business, it's inevitable. Listen in as the Gatecrashers share their best tips for handling rejection like a pro.
Amanda Luedeke is literary agent and Vice President at MacGregor & Luedeke. She brings 10+ years of experience as an agent.
Charis Crowe is a marketer and freelancer who spent nearly ten years at the gates of publishing before deciding to launch her own self-publishing career.