The Self Publishing Show: Recent Episodes
Mark Dawson
Mark Dawson is a best selling self-published author on multiple platforms including Amazon and Kobo. He is the author of the John Milton thriller series and its spin-off Beatrix Rose. In addition, he’s written several ‘Soho Noir' novels. Mark’s breakthrough came when he developed a marketing strategy for promoting and selling his books. His swift success enabled him to quit his 9 to 5 job and he has generated gross revenues of more than a million dollars in less than five years.
Mark has become a leading voice in the self publishing industry and he advocates and teaches a strategy based around offering books for free, mailing list development and social media advertising. In 2015, he published the first version of what is now his acclaimed online course ‘Advertising for Authors’. He has also developed a course for writers at the start of their careers – Self Publishing 101.
James Blatch co-hosts the podcast and he represents the first time, wannabe author. James is a former BBC News journalist who is currently writing his first novel.
Between them James and Mark explore the world of self publishing with a focus on actionable tips for new and experienced indie authors.
James talks to Joe Solari, the man responsible for the world’s largest gathering of indie authors and Darren Hardy, from Amazon KDP, who is the most listened to guest we’ve ever had on the show.
Nick Thacker VP of Author Success at Draft2Digital joins James to dive into what's new and what D2D can offer the self publishing world.
James talks to Marco Moutinho from Dibbly, a content creation platform, which can help you with freelance services. Dibbly also offers an AI tool ‘Kip’ that has some fantastic features to offer the indie author.
This week James talks to bestseller Suzy K Quinn and editor Adam Strange from Kevin Anderson & Associates, who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience on editing to the show.
Join James and Carlyn Robertson from BookBub talking about what's new at BookBub and what BookBub can offer.
A fast emerging aspect of indie marketing is direct selling. Bookvault have risen quickly to the top of many authors go-to suppliers for print-on-demand, especially for those special editions that can be extremely good for your bottom line. This week’s show features a chat with Bookvault’s Alex Smith.
Vellum is the gold standard for editing your book ready for publication.
Listen as James Blatch talks to Brad West about tips for preparing your book
Listen as James talks to Mike Hourigan who is the Vice President of Marketing at Written Word Media, where he brings more than 15 years of digital marketing expertise to the table.
Join James and the numbers man, Alex Newton from K-lytics who digs beneath the Romantasy data and explains current trends
Join James Blatch and Stuart Grant from Digital Authors Toolkit and also the highest rated web designer on Reedsy, as they discuss the future of Author websites, direct selling, and how you can make your website stand out.
Join James and Victoria Gerken from Podium Audio as they discuss how audio is exploding the world of publishing and providing authors with another income stream
Join James Blatch and Chris Banks as James reveals the speakers and sponsors attending the Self Publishing Show Live in London 2024 and Chris talks about what's new at ProWritingAid and AI, but making sure you add the human touch.
Join James Blatch as he takes on a hot topic of the moment, AI, and how it impacts authors and creators. Should you be afraid or accepting of this new wave of technology?
Tune into this week’s episode of the Self Publishing Show to hear more from Michael, including whether selling direct would be preferrable to selling on Amazon, why he chooses to publish his audiobooks exclusively on ACX, and why consistency in magic and worldbuilding rules is key for any kind of Fantasy story.
Marc Reklau went from struggling writer to earning seven-figures, all by applying the same self-help advice he writes about in his books.
From novelist to tabletop game creator, Paddy Finn explains how he created a seven-figure company in an industry where the players come up with the stories.
Danica Favorite describes the benefits of releasing wide with PD and how you can have a say on the future of AI in publishing.
Bypass royalty cuts and sell your paperbacks and hardcovers direct to your readers with Bookvault.
Michaelbrent Collins is a bestselling trad- and indie-published author and screenwriter who teaches writers the principles of writing success.
Mark Dawson embarks on a solo episode exploring how authors can optimise the time available to them to write (and sell) more books.
As an Australian living in South Africa, Tony Park explains what he does to make sure he reflects African places, people and practices correctly.
Getting reviews and reader feedback can be difficult. The Pigeonhole is a new way to transform your relationship with your readers.
Veteran podcaster and SEO expert Thomas Umstattd explains what the Christian market is and what authors need to consider when writing for it.
As Launchpad prepares to welcome new students, Mark Dawson breaks down his top ten tips for aspiring authors.
With a quarter of Amazon categories not having their own bestseller rankings, it’s important to choose ones that’ll help promote your book.
Self-publishing veteran Joanna Penn talks about her new non-fiction book “Writing the Shadow” and where her writing career will go from here.
Book covers, translations, audiobooks – these can all cost a lot of money and put off promising writers. Draft2Digital wants to make self-publishing accessible for all.
Laura Burton almost gave up on writing after getting a bad review from someone she knew. Then she found the Ads for Authors course, and is now a full-time author.
A.I. is a fast-developing field, and it’s important for authors to use it both effectively and ethically.
Lloyd Richards’ novel flopped 11 years ago. A single TikTok video sent it to the top of the US Amazon charts.
As the Self Publishing Show hits its 400th episode, Mark and James take a look at how the industry has changed and what lies in the podcast’s future.
Dialogue expert Jeff Elkins explains how the way our characters talk influences the way our readers view their personalities.
Damon Courtney’s BookFunnel is the perfect way to distribute your audiobooks outside of traditional store systems.
SPS Live 2023 was our biggest conference yet – Mark and James take a look at the highlights.
It’s important to connect with your audience in a way that’s meaningful to them – Book Rockstar can show you how.
Rosa Lee only started writing two years ago, but a surprise viral video on Tiktok means she’s now a full time Dark Romance author.
Ricci Wolman explains the various services Written Word Media offers plus the recent partnership with Hello Books.
Dave Cohen is a stand-up comic who’s written for TV shows including Not Going Out and My Family – now he’s written a book about how to add comedy to your screenplays and novels.
Andrea Kuhn and Freya von Korff are bestselling authors living in Germany – here’s why you should be translating your books for that market.
The founder of Fictionary explains how it can assist writers in improving the plots, characters and pacing in their stories.
Ryan Cahill couldn’t work after moving to New Zealand, so he built a career from writing Epic Fantasy instead.
Readers, agents and the press often care more about how you are and why you write than what you write.
Stuart Grant isn’t just a key member of the SPS team – he’s also the highest rated web designer on Reedsy.
As much as 20% of the population has a disability – Jeff Adams and Michele Lucchini discuss how to expand our content to include everyone.
Martha Carr explains how to kill it with crowdsourcing and world-building collaborations.
With Launchpad about to open, Mark and James discuss the careers the course has helped build.
A book can lend kudos to a subject-matter expert, but only if they know how to get them into the hands of readers.
Kindle Storyteller finalist Clare Lydon describes the changing landscape of LGBTQ+ romance novels.
Mark and James break down the full SPS Live 2023 conference schedule. Tickets available now!
Stuart Bache explains the emerging trends in cover design and the potential opportunities – and pitfalls – as a result of using AI artwork for your books.
Dakota Krout runs a seven-figure publishing house for one of the fastest growing genres: LitRPG.
Caroline Lutz explains how she makes six figures a year selling books to an exclusively French audience.
Reedsy co-founder Ricardo Fayet delivers useful tips for running effective Amazon Ad campaigns.
Having interviewed Hollywood filmmakers on the secrets of storytelling, John Gaspard passes those tips onto novelists.
Normally a historical fiction author, Margaret Skea describes the process of switching genre to write the biography of Ruth Hadley.
Elizabeth Ann West explains why both stories from the past and technology of the future can be lucrative for authors.
Kate Pickford has written for films, for other authors, and on mass collaborations for charity. Now she’s a six-figure author writing books for herself.
SPF Foundation winner Halima Khatun explains how she combines her experience in PR with her new writing career.
SPF tutor and Author Accelerator founder Jennie Nash explains what a book coach is and how authors benefit from editing throughout the writing process.
Dominika Best is a screenwriter, director and VFX artist – how does she apply these skills to writing novels?
Peter Gibbons won the 2022 Kindle Storyteller award only a year after self-publishing his first book, and is now a full-time author.
Having written separately for over a decade, Kerrie and Chuck decided to pool their talents and supercharge two careers at once.
Avery Maxwell was a stay at home mother home-schooling four kids. How did she make the jump to full-time indie author?
Mark Dawson reflects on ten years as an indie author and, after five million books sold, what lies ahead.
Alex Foster describes what it was like working as John McAfee’s ghostwriter and what others can expect from working in the business.
Sometimes authors are so focussed on being productive now, they fail to plan for the future.
Ex-cop and non-fiction author Patrick O’Donnell explains how he’s moving across to writing crime fiction.
Prolific author John Logsdon explains how the Author Helper Suite can help writers calculate their success.
Bestselling crime author JM Dalgliesh divulges how he balances realism with telling a page-turning story.
Bestselling author Nick Thacker explains the benefits of Author.Email and how to make the most of your mailing list.
In a bonus episode of the Self Publishing Show, Mark and James celebrate the grand opening of the Self Publishing Launchpad course and discuss how SPF is tackling NaNoWriMo this year.
The grand opening of Self Publishing Launchpad
What has been updated/added/removed in the course
What each module of Launchpad teaches students
How to maximise your NaNoWriMo word count
Krissi Dallas explains how she went full-time publishing episodic YA Kindle Vella chapters.
Join SPF team members and some celebrity writing guests for webinars, writing sprints, and more encouragement to keep you writing toward your goals during NaNoWriMo 2022.
Cara Thurlbourn has ghostwritten books for some big name authors… and even some where there’s been no author at all!
Michael Webb describes how a brutal editing experience taught him to write better stories.
Written Word Media (Freebooksy, Bargain Booksy) explain how they help authors reach new readers and drive downloads of their books.
Recorded in front of a live audience at the NINC 2022 conference, grab some insight on the latest self-publishing tech and top tips to help improve your writing craft with special guests Dave Chesson and Julia Spencer-Fleming.
Adam Beswick is using daily TikTok videos to quickly kickstart his indie author career.
Learn how Olivia Hayle brought in seven figures of annual revenue simply by writing more books.
Two ex-Pixar employees created the gold standard for book formatting. Will Vellum come to PC?
Two years after getting laid off from her hospital job, Britt Andrew’s books have made over half a million dollars.
Emilia Rose discusses the challenges and rewards of writing directly for her readers and generating income that doesn’t come via a retailer.
Audiobooks are one of publishing’s biggest growth markets – here’s what W.F. Howes can do to get your books out there.
Stephanie Chandler quit a Silicon Valley job to open a bookstore. Now she helps non-fiction authors find their audience!
Cara Alwill always wished she had a mentor, so now she writes self-help books to encourage other women to pursue their dreams.
Mary Lee Prescott is happily busy working on her second career. Writing used to be a hobby but now that she’d ‘retired’ she’s working full steam ahead in both the mystery and romance genres.
After a 2-year enforced hiatus, the Self Publishing Show Live! returned to London in 2022 - this time for a two-day run. This episode recaps the wide variety of speakers and presentations on offer ahead of the launch of the show's recorded sessions.
How writer and illustrator Daniel Jude Miller makes a living entirely through school visits.
As a member of the Choctaw tribe, Sarah explains the importance of writing characters sensitively and authentically.
Lilian Sue is a PR coach and publicist helping authors develop healthy mindsets and strategies.
Currently teaching a writing course at Cambridge University, Sophie Hannah discusses the publishing routes available to new authors.
Chrissy Metge isn’t just an author of children’s books – she also works on the special effects for some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters.
Julia had to flee Ukraine due to the war, yet MiblArt’s work as a book cover design company continues.
Ace author website designer, Stuart Grant, explains why every author needs a site and how to go about securing one that's going to help you sell more books.
Two years on and it's back! Mark and James talk you through the exciting schedule for this year's upcoming two-day SPS event in London.
So how do you get started as an indie author? Let multi-million selling indie superstar Mark Dawson and newbie author James Blatch be your guides!
Indie author superstar, Marie Force, on what it takes to keep your readers coming back for more.
Benedict Brown had almost given up on writing until he attended the Self Publishing Show Live. Now he’s a full-time author!
Nora Phoenix jumped straight into full-time writing with a six-figure salary… without running paid advertising.
Johnny B. Truant discusses Sterling & Stone, writing over 100 books, and his upcoming TV adaptation.
In a special episode of the Self Publishing Show, Anton Eine calls in from Ukraine to discuss the ongoing war and how it has affected his writing and publishing process.
Following a near-death experience, Michael La Ronn juggles writing with family life and a full-time job.
When Meghan Quinn got fired while planning to adopt, she knew she had to make a full-time career out of writing.
With 88 books under her belt, Sarah Noffke explains how authors can avoid the dreaded burnout.
Writing a successful book and marketing a successful book should be one and the same thing.
There are countless sub-genres in Romance – you need to understand the reader expectations for each
Rachel McLean won this year’s Kindle Storyteller award. How did she go from selling a few books a day to a few thousand?
The Self Publishing Formula Podcast: How to Succeed as an Indie Author with Tips, Tools, Stories and Interviews from a Best-Seller.
The pandemic shook up readers’ buying habits. But how did it change the way we publish books around the world?
Short stories are usually harder to sell, yet many authors are writing together in anthologies. Why?
Writing books can be quite a static job. Here’s how (and why) you should keep physically active.
Stories are what the human mind uses to understand the world – both the good and the bad. David Chrissinger explains.
Every manuscript needs to go through editing. The question is, what kind does yours need?
For a special 300th episode of the Self Publishing Show, Mark and James take a look back at some of the highlights and industry changes of the past six years.
Ricardo Fayet co-founded Reedsy, an online marketplace offering every service an indie author could ever need. But did you know they also support the SPF Foundation?
Fed up of using half a dozen different tools to produce a book? Atticus might be the answer.
What authors want and what readers want aren’t always the same – the importance of balancing art with commerce.
Suzy has written multiple bestselling novels and even presented an SPF course about maximising a book's chance of success. Now she’s turning her hand to children’s books.
It’s one of the most popular social media platforms on the planet. So how can authors use it to their advantage?
Addiction almost led to Kathrin Hutson giving up her dream of becoming an author; now she’s a ghostwriting powerhouse penning books for the biggest publishers.
Mikey Campling loves writing whodunnits, but it’s no mystery as to which courses contributed to his success..
Plenty of us struggle to get in the flow as often as we'd like – Brain.fm might just be the answer.
Eric Maikranz took an unusual approach to getting his book turned into a movie – little did he know Mark Wahlberg would take the starring role.
She was a New York Times bestseller with successful trad deals. So why did Gail Carriger make to switch to full-indie?
Suffering from a case of dry and stodgy characters? It's time to meet the Dialogue Doctor.
BookLab is back! Three industry experts give Machelle Hanleigh advice on how to improve sales of her Paranormal Romance novel.
Book Brush is known for its easy-to-use artwork templates. Now authors can build their own book trailers, too.
With the industry in flux, Jane Freidman discusses what trad publishing is doing to keep up with the changes.
James Russell goes one step further than writing a children’s book series that flows into a middle-grade trilogy – he makes each book an interactive experience.
Carlyn from BookBub explains how authors can utilise their ads platform, plus tips on how to snag one of their powerful and elusive promotions.
Lucy explains how taking Mark's courses has led to her becoming one of the biggest romance writers in the business.
He co-presents the Writers, Ink podcast and is the man behind the Mastermind author group. J. Thorn’s new challenge: writing one short story every week for a year.
Two editors, one book. James interviews those responsible for helping his book finally cross the finish line.
When two (or four, or eighteen) minds are better than one – how to collaborate as an author.
Qualified flying instructor Nathan Van Coops explains why he loves to write time-travel novels part-time.
Prolific sci-fi author Lindsay Buroker explains how uploading her books to YouTube brought in a four-figure monthly income.
From rejection letters to making $300,000 a month – meet the indie publishing power-couple.
Miles Hudson explains how he blends teaching physics with writing self-published dystopian sci-fi novels.
SPF Foundation Winner, Jeffrey P. Frye recounts his unorthodox - and compelling - route into self-publishing.
Author John Gaspard on the trick to successfully switching from trad to indie with his magic-themed thrillers.
An ex-fire fighter turned novelist provides proof that there must be something to the adage, "Write what you know".
Bestselling author Boo Walker on writing upmarket fiction and being published by Amazon imprint, Lake Union Publishing.
Bestselling indie paranormal and fantasy author, Steff Green, explains how she hopes to inspire new readers through her style of discovery writing and the importance of appealing to market niches for self-published writers.
The founders of smart plotting app, Plottr, on the evolution of their service and how it can boost author productivity.
PublishDrive's Kinga Jentetics discusses the impact of the 2020 pandemic on the worlds of writing and publishing and reveals her company's planned innovations for the new year.
Ex-attorney Barbara Hinske on how she came to writing for a living and the process of seeing her book transformed into a movie.
Mark and James take a look back at a year that presented the self-publishing community with some unique challenges.
After finding that stories he was reading to his disabled daughter weren't uplifting enough, Jason Miletsky opted to write and self-publish his own children's books, thus triggering a career that combines writing and providing book printing and distribution services.
It's the turn of science fiction author, Peter F. Smith, to get the famed BookLab treatment with expert feedback on his writing, blurb and cover.
This year's Kindle Storyteller Award winner is the truly inspirational adventurer and author, Anna McNuff. We consider ourselves extremely lucky to have pinned her down for a chat between escapades!
Children's author, Allan Boroughs, on successful - and profitable - collaborative writing for children.
Hot tips on how to launch a children's book on a budget from bestselling indie author Matthew Ralph.
Bestselling indie author, Kristina Adams, is on a mission to help other writers looking to navigate the murky waters of self-publishing.
How do you get your crime writing to come across as authentic? The devil is in the details.
Sci-fi author Nicholas Erik is here to share his crack tips on book ads with indies looking to deliver some oomph to their marketing mix
Find out how indie author Carly Kade used the power of the self-publishing community to market her books to a niche audience.
Find out how self-published books can play a key role in building your business and brand.
Find out how a former BBC script editor and teacher went on to hit the big time as a self-published crime author.
Multi-genre bestselling indie author Dani René on her career and the state of self-publishing in the country where she resides - South Africa.
An astronomical 10 million books sold. Indie author Marie Force reveals the secrets of her success.
The self-publishing story behind an iconic game - with much to glean for indie authors.
This week's guest, Ian W. Sainsbury, explains how writing to market can secure significant book sales - and the odd award or two.
This podcast has featured wives retiring their husbands to assist with their indie author business and even a couple of writing brothers. But this week on the Self Publishing Show, we’ve got two self-publishing sisters: Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti.
The bestselling dark fiction author and podcaster on effective and profitable author collaboration.
Prestozon's Dierk Demer on how the automation platform can help authors effectively manage their Amazon ad campaigns.
Nick Thacker on figuring out your "author level" and the application of strategies to help further grow your author brand.
Author Vicky Fraser explains how a smart approach to writing non-fiction books can transform your business.
Non-fiction author Marc Reklau on how he used Amazon ads to take his earnings from three to five figures a month inside two years.
Eileen Coleman on how Amazon ads have helped take her husband’s horror writing to a whole new level of success.
The Haitian-American author, publisher and entrepreneur explains how he managed to secure bestseller status for his poetry books.
Pro Writing Aid's Chris Banks explains how the acclaimed app can make you a better writer.
Serial bestseller Michael Anderle's take on his prolific output as a self-published author, his plans for an indie imprint and trad publishing.
Fantasy writer Nicholas Kotar on how he kick-started his indie author career - with pointers on how you can do the same.
Evan Gow talks about Story Origin, his online indie author community that comes packed with useful self-publishing tools and services.
James P. Sumner talks about the mental challenges facing writers and how he dealt with his own emotional struggles as a bestselling indie author.
Most of us are in lockdown; but that doesn't mean you can't look after business and connect with readers.
Dan Wood from supreme indie author support service, Draft2Digital, explains how self-published writers can expand their distribution by working with libraries.
Bestselling indie author and self-publishing expert, Joanna Penn, explains how authors can tap into the potentially lucrative fields of audiobooks and podcast production.
An author of historical fiction, mystery, suspense and fantasy gets the famed BookLab treatment with expert feedback on her writing, blurb and cover.
In this episode: everything you need to know about Europe's biggest indie author event, the inaugural Self Publishing Show LIVE that took place in London on 9th March 2020.
Knowing she'd likely have less time and energy during and after her pregnancy, established indie Emma Prince crafted a series of smart strategies to keep her author business profitable - an approach that would benefit all writers looking to keep their career on an upward trajectory.
Mal Cooper discusses how she’s crafted a unique fictional sci-fi universe that offers up endless writing opportunities.
Indie author and SPF Foundation winner Elle Thorpe explains how becoming an SPF 101 student has impacted her book sales and family's income.
Prolific sci-fi author Kevin J. Anderson explains how dictation can smarten up your writing process.
Valerie J. Lewis Coleman explains how high-quality self-published books can help experts and professional speakers monetise their area of expertise.
Romance author Jami Albright explains how to make a comfortable living as an indie author without being prolific.
SPF's very own Mark Dawson details the key elements of his career as a bestselling self-published author in 2019.
The author of several successful military thrillers, James Rosone, explains how other self-published writers can learn from his mistakes as they progress their indie author careers.
How can you be sure you're writing books that are going to sell? You need a formula! Cue, Sterling & Stone's Johnny Truant, co-author of a new book on that very topic.
Bestselling multi-genre author and leadership coach, Becca Syme, explains how indies can streamline and smarten their writing process.
Medieval romance writer, Kathryn Le Veque, has not only self-published 30 of her own books but publishes books for some 30 other authors. We talk to her about the practicality of running an imprint, what she personally works on in regard to editing and branding, and how she identifies which trends to write in.
What Kindlepreneur's creator, Dave Chesson, doesn't know about book data and Amazon is probably not worth knowing. Categories, keywords and tags are his world - and he's here to help indie authors everywhere get to grips with them!
Patrick O'Donnell's life experience as a cop has allowed him to help crime writers looking to add an authentic edge to their writing. It's started a whole new career for him.
US-based author Lindsay Buroker explains how she started her self-publishing career way back in 2010, keeps her fans happy and manages to write ten books a year for them.
Find out what happened when FOUR bestselling authors - and friends - put their heads together to create a romance series featuring female billionaires as lead characters.
Romance writer Lucy Score and marketer Tim Hoot describe how their partnered approach to self-publishing has seen Lucy's indie author career go from strength to strength.
Oscar-nominated screenwriter Terri Tatchell talks about crafting movie screenplays and books and provides her take on self-publishing.
In this special 200th edition, Mark and James revisit the top 10 downloaded episodes of the show and discuss Mark's new landmark print deal.
Hybrid author Sarah Painter shares the importance of taking gentle care of ourselves as creative people, and also the value of taking writing and publishing step-by-step to avoid overwhelm. She also discusses how brain science can help writers to get past their blocks about writing.
Fantasy author Jeff Wheeler provides an insightful look into what it was like in the trenches of self-publishing in the pre-Kindle era.
Amanda Lee sheds light on her prolific output as a writer with tips and insight for all indie authors looking to boost productivity whilst maintaining professional standards for their finished books.
Author, media contributor and reluctant entrepreneur, Hilary Jastram, discusses the impact of chronic illness on her writing and business life.
Any author considering writing in different genres would do well to tune in to this week's episode featuring writer Barry Hutchison. A popular and well-established name in sci-fi, find out what happened when he made the switch to writing crime fiction.
Back in Florida to present at this year's NINC writers' conference, the SPF team recorded an edition of the Self Publishing Show in front of a live audience - a first - made up of indie authors and experts, including self publishing guru David Gaughran and Reedsy's Ricardo Fayet. It turned out to be a lively and informative affair!
If you’re writing books that involve the workings of the FBI, you’re going to want ensure authenticity. Cue, retired FBI Special Agent and fiction author Jerri Williams.
This week, Stuart Grant, Instagram expert and co-author of one of SPF's most popular indie author marketing guides, explains how to build your readership with the social media platform.
Mark and James catch up with KDP's Darren Hardy at Amazon's UK HQ to discuss the impact of the company's past, present and future innovations on indie authors the world over.
It might sound niche, but colouring books are in demand - and not just from children! This week's guest, Selina Fenech, explains how sales of her self-published colouring books are keeping her very much in the pink.
Screenwriter-turned-author Damon Suede explains how to find super-success in the hot romance genre.
Draft2Digital's Mark Lefebvre explains the key individual requirements for publishing success as an author. And yes, they all begin with the letter 'P'!
In the final part of our Thrillerfest 2019 series, four major league bestsellers unleash some of the secrets behind their enduring success as thriller writers.
In the second of three special episodes from this year's Thrillerfest event, five bestsellers let rip on various topics - from how to get to grips with writing a novel, finding success in Hollywood with your writing, writing for TV and securing legal authenticity in your books.
In the first of three special episodes from this year's Thrillerfest event in New York City, get ready to learn key tips from bestsellers on plot twists and pacing and how to successfully approach moral challenges and psychology in your writing.
It's a crucial question that all authors need to consider at some point: should I go for a traditional deal or consider self-publishing instead? This week's guest, author Libbie Hawker, is here to help you come to the right decision.
Setting yourself up as a self-published author requires you to be business-minded. In this episode, expert accountants from both sides of the pond provide practical advice on how to go about getting it right from the off.
After occupying key positions at two of the world's biggest corporations, David Risher launched Worldreader, a charity that champions digital reading in underserved communities around the world. He explains how his love of reading inspired him to create the organisation and details its achievements and ambitions for the future.
Rosalind James started her indie author career by writing a romance with a twist - it starred hunky New Zealand rugby players! She talks to us about the importance of not being pigeonholed into one's genre, and why, particularly in romance, rapid release is key to success.
Non-fiction indie author Marc Reklau explains how fine-tuning his Amazon ad campaigns helped him to significantly boost his book sales.
US fiction writer and SPF Ads for Author student, Ryan Schow, explains how he finally got to live the dream of writing full-time as an indie author.
In the final part of our mini-series on ads, our very own Mark Dawson drills down into the Amazon ads platform, explaining how it can help form a key part of your marketing mix.
Part 2 of our mini-series on ad platforms, has bestselling author and self-publishing guru, David Gaughran, turning the spotlight on BookBub ads. Are they worth investing time, effort and money in?
In the first of three ad platform-focused episodes, bestselling urban fantasy author and SPF student, Shayne Silvers, explains how mastering Facebook ads helped put his career into overdrive.
Author Kevin J. Anderson has seen it all. He's written books based on films, written in the Star Wars and X Files universes, seen the ups and downs, gold rushes and bookstore bankruptcies. Through it all, his defining characteristic has been to keep writing. His consistency over time has created a catalog of over 160 books. Tune in for some major league inspiration and advice for both newbie and established authors alike.
Former detective and USA Today bestselling author Holly S. Roberts explains how to avoid common mistakes writing police procedurals and the importance of getting the police mindset right.
He's an ex-Marine, the 20 Books conference series show runner and a prolific writer to boot. It's not surprising that Craig Martelle knows a thing or two about author productivity.
Historical romance author Suzan Tisdale explains how to craft scenarios that readers love to lose themselves in.
Thriller author Michael Parker submits his title The Boy From Berlin to the BookLab experts for input on his writing, cover design and book description.
Indie romance bestseller Alessandra Torre sheds light on some of her rookie mistakes in the hope that others will learn from them.
Turning to crime and making it pay. M.J. Arlidge on the switch from TV screenwriter to bestselling thriller author.
Dan Blank explains how to use relationship strategies to build your self-publishing business.
Could you write and publish a Bestseller in one year? That's what Mark Stay and Mark Oliver of the Bestseller Experiment Podcast set out to achieve. We interview one of them to find out the hows and whys behind their challenge - and what happened.
Author Barry J. Hutchison discusses his early career as a trad author of books, screenplays and comics and why the switch to planet indie has proved to be such a game changer for him.
We catch up with the creator of the 20 Books to 50K author movement at LBF '19 who explains how he smashed his original goal as an indie author and the implications of his own personal journey for other writers looking to self-publish.
Indie author and SPF student Sacha Black explains how to make sure the villain in your next book steals the show.
K-Lytics' Alex Newton explains how purposefully crunching numbers and analysing data can help indie authors find the most profitable reader niche for their books.
Indie author Steff Green explains what inspired her to write in the new romantic sub-genre of 'reverse harem' and how her readers have responded to the change.
Romance writer Elin Peer discusses how her background in life coaching has infused her career as an indie author.
Hybrid author J.D. Barker on his journey from ghost writer to best selling author and how he got to breathe new life into the goth-horror classic 'Dracula'.
Adam Cushman explains how professionally produced trailers can add significant impact to any book marketing campaign.
The CEO of PublishDrive explains how the ebook aggregation service can help indie authors sell more books.
Erica Ridley explains how to make sure your mailing list and newsletter pack a punch as part of your marketing mix.
Bestselling author Danielle Norman explains how to make dictation a successful part of your writing workflow.
Author Audrey Hughey explains how smart planning can help you achieve your writing and publishing goals quicker and more efficiently.
Author Hannah Lynn talks about the impact on her writing career after winning the Kindle Storyteller award for 2018.
Mystery author Niki Danforth submits her title 'Searching for Gatsby' to the BookLab experts for input on her writing, cover design and book description.
In the week that the Self Publishing Formula Podcast gets rebranded as The Self Publishing Show, Mark reflects on a major achievement as an indie author in 2018.
Getting advance reviews from a team of readers should be a key part of your book marketing strategy. Craig Tuch of Hidden Gems explains why and how ARC teams are great news for authors and readers.
Don’t think you can make a living writing non-fiction? Take a look at Joseph Alexander. He amassed a huge amount of tablature material whilst teaching his guitar students, and wanted a way to share it. Now, thanks to self-publishing, he’s running a seven-figure publishing house.
Within months of completing the Ads for Authors course, fantasy author Shayne Silvers realised a life-long dream of becoming a full-time author. Hear how it all came together for him and how the same approach could work for other indie authors.
In this special masterclass edition, Mark provides key advice and insight on the latest tips and tricks that are currently working in the Amazon ads space.
Indie author Octavia Randolph explains how the smart use of Facebook ads helped build readership (and sales) of her historical Norse fiction books.
Find out how teacher Jean Grainger turned student in order to become a bestselling indie author.
Instagram is the hottest multi-generational social media platform out there. Bex Gorsuch explains how writers can exploit it to boost their author business.
Million selling author L.J. Ross sits down to talk about taking a leap out of her first career and into writing. Spoiler: it worked out pretty well for her.
Video is another way authors can reach out to their audiences and build relationships with new readers. James chats with two authors who are doing just that via YouTube and live streaming service Twitch.
Best selling sweet romance author Anne-Marie Meyer talks about learning the ropes of writing, the importance of nailing your genre, and balancing writing with parenthood and marriage.
In this third edition of the SPF Book Lab, SPF friends Stuart Bache, Bryan Cohen and Jennie Nash put on their white coats and safety glasses to help paranormal romance author Gretchen S.B. improve her cover, book description and narrative structure.
Husband and wife team, James and Jeanette Hunter, talk to James about getting started as an indie author, learning about book marketing, and then transitioning to publishing others’ books.
Tina Dietz explains how audiobooks of your novels can be used to increase income for your author brand - and not just through direct sales.
The SPF team look at three key services for hosting and designing an author website that'll help you sell more books.
SPF’s very own Mark Dawson provides a rundown of the key tools needed to help make your indie author career a successful one.
Indie author Adam Croft returns to the podcast to share his thoughts on the importance of mindset for authors, and how the right approach in this department can have a hugely positive effect on a writer’s career and business.
Book coach Jennie Nash talks to James about how writers who are stuck or frustrated can finish their books with the aid of an accountability partner in the form of a book coach.
It's the final part of our Thrillerfest 2018 special with a slew of successful authors - including Jack Reacher creator Lee Child -
discussing their craft and the implications of publishing in the digital age.
In the second part of our series of interviews from ThrillerFest 2018, James talks to legendary television producer and writer Lynda La Plante (Prime Suspect and Widows), author of the next iteration of the Murder, She Wrote series Jon Land, and former combat pilot turned thriller author Michael Byars Lewis.
In the first of a 3-part series devoted to this year's Thrillerfest in NYC, we catch up with some stellar names who attended the event including bestselling thriller authors Karin Slaughter & Peter James as well as horror writer J.D. Barker.
In the second and final part of our series on self publishing children’s books, author Karen Inglis explains how her experiences have allowed her to help other writers in the same space market their books.
Author Laurie Wright on how she overcame the challenges of self publishing and marketing her children’s books.
In this second BookLab edition, author of Nordic fiction, Helena Halme, receives the professional feedback treatment from industry pros.
Collaborative authors Rhett Bruno and Steve Beaulieau discuss their unique way of co-authoring books, both science fiction and non-fiction.
Non-fiction author Kam Knight shares his experiences being a self-published author writing from the road while he travelled the world.
Writer, film producer and script consultant, Paul FitzSimons explains how to go about adapting your novel for life on the screen.
In this special edition of the podcast, tune in to a Marketing Q & A with Mark on all things self publishing. Find out how to deal with ad platform changes, find new readers and gen up on fresh marketing tactics with one of the world's most successful indie authors.
Retiree David Penny talks about his return to writing after a thirty-five year hiatus and shares his strategy for making a mid-five-figures per year income from his very niche historical mysteries.
Author Pip Reid explains how she used Pinterest to significantly increase her book sales.
In this special Masterclass edition of the podcast, Mark explain how authors can deal with recent changes to the Facebook platform.
The first three recipients of Self Publishing Formula's Foundation scholarships about their writing, book marketing, and future career hopes.
Non-fiction author Molly McCord shares her breakdown of the types of bad reviews authors can receive and how to deal with them.
GDPR is heading our way soon and it's going to have implications for every indie author business. Find out exactly what you need to know - and do - from SPF's expert legal eagles.
Independent author and publisher Jasper Joffe talks about the success his publishing house has had using a model very different to the traditional one.
Self published author John P. Logsdon introduces the ReaderLinks service, a unique new tool to help indie authors track and fine tune the marketing of their books.
Ian Sutherland returns to the podcast to share what's working and what isn't for authors on Twitter, and how to maximize your reach on the social media platform.
Web designer to bands like Nine Inch Nails, Pink Floyd and David Gilmour, and authors like Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling) and Mark Dawson, Dave Stansbie discusses the important elements of an author site, and how to work with a designer.
James talks to fellow aviation fan, and pilot, Owen Zupp about how and why he's turning his father's aeronautic exploits into popular non-fiction books.
In this first episode of the BookLab, author David Berens gets professional feedback on his cover, book blurb and Look Inside content from industry experts (and SPF friends) cover designer Stuart Bache, copywriter Bryan Cohen, and editor Jenny Parrott.
Thriller author Ernest Dempsey shares his road to indie author success, including some of the bumps along the way.
James talks to NOLA romance writer Maria Luis who quit her marketing job and now makes three times her previous salary via her books, thanks in part to the Self Publishing Formula courses. This week’s highlights include: The details on Maria’s strategic plan to leave her day job and make a living writing The […]
Returning guest, Cecelia Mecca, talks to James about using Facebook Live broadcasts, with both groups and pages, to increase engagement with readers. This week’s highlights include: Mark discusses his move into KU and the experience he’s had An announcement about the next enrollment period for the SPF 101 course Dealing with technological jitters re: […]
James talks to serial entrepreneur Chris Ducker about the Rise of the Youpreneur and why self-published authors fit this business model perfectly. This week’s highlights include: Building a business around yourself Why Chris chose to self-publish Rise of the Youpreneur The economic longevity of being a Youpreneur Why self-published authors are the ideal Youpreneurs […]
Mark and James discuss how even beginning authors can gather reviews for their books, and why this matters. This week’s highlights include: The chicken and egg problem for new writers trying to get book reviews How to avoid Amazon removing your reviews The benefits of an Advanced Reader team Getting your readers enrolled in your […]
Kobo’s Senior Manager for Author performance, Christine Munroe, talks to James about the advantages of reaching world markets with Kobo that other retailers do not reach. This week’s highlights include: On Kobo’s background and beginnings The idea of buying ebooks in a brick and mortar bookstore The reality that we’re still in a growth phase […]
Book cover designer to the stars (John Le Carre, Stephen King and more) Stuart Bache talks to James about the new course he has put together to help authors design their own professional looking book covers. This week’s highlights include: Why book covers matter so much Considering genre when designing a book cover Mistakes authors […]
Indie author community superstar Joanna Penn talks to James about putting a focus on improving her health and creating a sustainable long-term career as a writer. This week’s highlights include: Joanna’s collaborations and full production schedule in 2017 Making changes to prevent author-entrepreneur burnout Joanna’s break-up letter to sugar Being truthful and vulnerable about health […]
Demon coder and indie author Damon Courtney talks to James from the NINC conference about starting and running BookFunnel, an ever-evolving service that continues to support self published authors to get their books into customers’ hands. This week’s highlights include: How Damon came up with the idea for BookFunnel How BookFunnnel solves several problems for […]
As Kitty Bucholtz followed her husband around the globe, and dealt with increasing interruptions to her writing life as a result, she had to learn effective and easy-to-implement time management skills in order to get her books written. Today she shares with James her top tips for making the most of whatever time you have […]
Champion of indie author justice, David Gaughran joins James at the NINC conference to discuss his start in self-publishing, and what he’s observing lately in the industry. This week’s highlights include: How the fundamentals of indie publishing have not changed since 2011 The importance of different marketing strategies depending on whether an author is in […]
No doubt you’ve heard of Johnny, Sean and Dave, the self-publishing pioneers from the Self-Publishing Podcast, one of the original podcasts focused on indie authors. Today James talks to Sean and Johnny about their two brand new offerings for authors, how things have changed in recent years, and how they will continue to change. This […]
Hope Clark always knew she wanted to write. So by her mid-40s she had retired from her day job and was running a writing business full-time. She talks to James about how she supports other writers to do the same. This week’s highlights include: An announcement about the newest course coming from SPF Hope Clark […]
British-Australian author John Birmingham was forced into a crash course on self-publishing when, through no fault of his own, his trad deals disappeared. Luckily for readers, John turned those lemons into a new, lucrative self-publishing career. This week’s highlights include: John’s success as a freelance writer, and his unplanned, rapid switch from trad publishing to […]
Author, mother, and nap-time entrepreneur Katie Cross offers an explanation for why it’s normal for indie authors to struggle with Imposter Syndrome, and also specific strategies for how to deal with it. This week’s highlights include: Katie’s success as a YA author and her move into chick lit via Wattpad What’s working for Katie now […]
James Blatch and Lucy Dawson introduce the Self Publishing Formula Foundation, a partnership with Reedsy, that will help four authors each year to fulfill their dream of publishing and marketing their books. This week’s highlights include: The origins of the SPF Foundation How the foundation works and how to apply What SPF are looking for […]
Medieval romance author Cecelia Mecca started out thinking she’d traditionally publish her books. A chat with an indie author at an RWA conference changed Cedelia’s mind and a year later she’s a full-time author, working at home and in full command of her author career. This week’s highlights include: Picking up a manuscript after 20 […]
This week’s highlights include: Doing the math and making the transition from traditionally published author to indie Focusing on the genre you love to read Do blog tours work any longer? Outlining in order to write faster Using LeadGen ads to grow Michelle’s mailing list and business Classic marketing copy that still works Resources mentioned […]
This week’s highlights include: Hugh’s beginnings as a writer The search for a publisher … and then a change of heart Re-acquiring rights The increasing empowerment of creative people Negotiating a print-only deal The beginnings of Hugh’s relationship with Data Guy and the Author Earnings reports Resources mentioned in this episode: Selfpublishingformula.com/ads17 Get on the […]
This week’s highlights include: The basics on how BookBub ads work and how to split targeting Getting on the wait list to use BookBub ads Differences from the Facebook and AMS ads platforms The superior reporting of BookBub ads Using BookBub ads for picking up sales at vendors other than Amazon Resources mentioned in this […]
This week’s highlights include: • Using Facebook Messenger to boost launch sales • On the excellent response rate of Messenger • Calculating ROI for ads based on sell-through rates, rather than just sales of one book • Different ways to calculate read-through • Why it makes sense to run ad campaigns at a loss because […]
This week’s highlights include: The misconception that the first draft is the finished book The overwhelm that can occur when revising a novel, and how to tackle that Breaking the revision process into smaller chunks to deal with overwhelm On Joan’s online courses about revision and their flexibility for different types of writers Tips for […]
The SPF Income Report is a unique look behind the scenes of a best-selling indie author’s advertising spends and revenue. Check out the stories behind the spreadsheets, graphs and stats from September 2017. Leave a Review
This week’s highlights include: The challenges Chris faced when sending ARCs to his readers How Booksprout addresses those challenges Why having advanced readers matters Price points for new authors and also those with larger review teams How Booksprout reduces follow-up time for authors Discoverability for readers on Booksprout The leap in ARC review response Chris […]
Kevin Tumlinson from Draft2Digital reveals the company’s exciting new plans for indie authors wanting to make the most of the audiobook market. This week’s highlights include: Changes to the tools available for indie authors at Draft2Digital The new partnership between Findaway Voices and D2D Details on the expanding world of audiobooks available to authors Removing […]
Felicia Yap talks at length about how she achieved global success with her first novel – and how she’s dealt with the repercussions. Highlights of this week’s episode: Felicia’s unique and intriguing premise for her new thriller, Yesterday Working out story ideas on the dance floor Felicia’s very flexible approach to her writing routine Applying […]
How do you go about ensuring that ALL of your books are out there earning for you? Cue, self publishing wiz, Chris Fox, on how to get the most out of your previously released books. This week’s key highlights: Chris’s beginnings as a writer and his background in Silicon Valley About Chris’s books and videos […]
One of Mark and James' editors, Jenny Parrott, discusses the role of the professional editor in an author's life. Clearly as devoted to storytelling as any writer, Jenny explains some strategies authors can use to improve their stories, and why editing is such a crucial part of successful book creation.
The SPF Income Report, a unique look behind the scenes of a best-selling indie author’s advertising spends and revenue is back! Check out the stories behind the spreadsheets, graphs and stats from August 2017.
The paradigm shifts in publishing have opened doors for authors. And sometimes caused challenges for those authors who have lost rights to a trad publisher and now want them back. Orna Ross, Founder and Director of the Alliance of Independent Authors, talks to James about these issues, how authors can approach getting lost rights back, what it takes to sell rights in foreign territories, and what to be aware of when doing so.
Nick Stephenson talks to James about the value in author collaboration and how even introverted authors can go about building relationships with the aim of growing their audience and widening the reach of their books.
If you're an author that wants to write across genres but worry about the impact that approach might have on financial returns, you'll want to listen to this week's guest, bestselling author Mel Sherratt, who's achieved in excess of one million sales with a cross-genre back catalogue.
Prolific science-fiction and romance author Tracey Cooper Posey discusses how she manages her impressive creative output and the life and living to be made as an indie author.
Clinical psychologist and sleep expert, Anne Bartolucci, explains why sleep matters for creatives (including writers), how to improve our sleep to boost productivity and how to work around the procrastination and resistance that plagues so many writers.
Serial artist, graphic designer and author Derek Murphy chats to James about his creative lifestyle, including how he finally managed to develop a more productive - and profitable - mindset for his career.
Thriller author Brett Battles has seen the inside of both traditional and independent publishing. Today he chats with James about making the transition from trad to indie, the tough times and his eventual triumph as a hybrid author.
Developer Stuart Grant talks to James about the marketing power of apps for authors and how they can help deepen the connection between author and readers - and help attract new fans.
UK author Chloe Esposito's debut novel, Mad, was recently released to much acclaim and has already had its movie rights snapped up by Hollywood. Today James talks to her about the Faber Academy's writing program, leaving behind her management consulting career and ensuring the tone of the film being made from Mad stays true to the book.
What happens when you combine one train, four authors and a 19 hour trip from Chicago to New Orleans? Writer J. Thorn talks about the highs, the lows and results of his own experiences of effective author collaboration.
Author Suzy K. Quinn has travelled a similar road to Mark Dawson's - going from being a traditionally published writer to becoming an independent author with more control over her books and marketing. Not to mention a larger slice of the financial pie.
Lawyer and traditionally published author, Steve Cavanagh, talks to SPF about the joy of creating US-based legal thrillers and his own route to getting published and achieving bestseller status.
What happens after an indie author types THE END? Mark and James talk to several self-published authors about the journey from finished manuscript to published book, covering topics such as the importance of a durable author platform, solid launch strategies and the self publishing community.
How much money should you reasonably expect to invest when self-publishing a book? Mark Dawson and James Blatch share the all-important financial details that indie authors need to know about.
Best-selling indie author Mark Dawson discusses 'The One Thing' he wished he'd known when starting out on his indie author career.
Software engineer, Brian Spangler, talks to SPF about his data gathering app that helps authors understand the Amazon marketplace and reveal which categories offer the highest profit potential.
Legendary comic book author, Pat Mills, creator of 2000 AD, featuring Judge Dredd, talks to SPF about the state of the nation in the comic book industry, his move to writing text novels, and what he's learned from his experiences dealing with Hollywood.
Science fiction author Michael Anderle talks to James about writing fast, finding voracious readers and building a publishing empire, one book at a time.
Sci-fi and paranormal author TS Paul shares with James how he's flouted every indie author 'rule' for writing, publishing and platform building, and has subsequently had huge success selling his short fiction.
In this week's episode, Kindlepreneur's Dave Chesson explains how to validate your book idea before you start the long-term and time-consuming process of writing your novel.
Dictating your first draft, as opposed to typing it, can exponentially increase a writer's daily word count. James talks to Dragon Trainer Scott Baker about tips, tricks, and equipment to get you dictating like a pro.
Book launch expert Tim Grahl talks to James about the importance of an email list, successful book launches and his own experience of writing a novel for public consumption.
Fighter pilot and commercial airline captain, Susan Grant, talks to James about making the leap from traditionally published writer to successful indie author.
If you're looking to make sense of all the stats and figures out there relating to the world of digital book publishing, who you gonna call? Thankfully, the pseudonymous Data Guy has got it covered.
In this week's podcast episode Mark Dawson hosts a masterclass on Amazon Ads, explaining how indie authors can use them to sell books and boost their visibility and platform.
This week’s interview is with romance author HM Ward, one of the great success stories of self publishing. Tune in to hear her story and how it could, with the right approach, be emulated by other indie authors.
Personal branding. If you spend any time with online entrepreneurs (and you should if you’re an author) you hear that phrase all the time. But what EXACTLY does it mean, and how can it increase book sales and advance your career as an author? There’s nobody better to explain it than our guest today, Chris […]
The SPF team has been very impressed with the platform and service of the team at Draft2Digital. Their service has a two-pronged approach to help self-published authors with some of the most important aspects of self-publishing – and the service ensures that no financial investment is required until a book actually sells. On this episode, […]
One of the best things about self-publishing is that anyone can publish a book. One of the worst things about self-publishing is that anyone can publish a book. The marketplace is getting more and more crowded with new authors appearing on Amazon and other online book outlets every day. How do you stand out from […]
What you’ll hear on this episode of the Self Publishing Formula is nothing short of empowering. Tony Garrett is a new and very successful author, (writing as ‘T.J.Garrett’), pulling in over $30K per month in book sales. But in order to get to that point he’s had to overcome a degenerative disease that makes it […]
Working with your spouse may not be your idea of a perfect work environment, but many authors are discovering it’s a natural next step once success comes knocking on their door. If you’ve listened to the Self Publishing Formula you know that Mark and James often speak of the real work it is to become […]
As an author, it’s a given that you’re going to have get used to dealing with all kinds of feedback on your work. But don’t get downhearted by the negative words. For a start, new authors should quickly get used to the fact that you simply can’t please all of the people all of the […]
If you haven’t gotten far enough in your self-publishing career to worry about formatting your ebook, you’ve got some learning ahead. It’s not easy. In fact, it’s quite complicated. Instead of there being one format that all of the ebook platforms use, each of them has their own file type that they use. But before […]
Many of the publishing tools indie authors need to access are hard to find – at least with the quality and trustworthiness you need in order to make your book of the highest quality. That’s why Ricardo Fayet and the folks at Reedsy developed their online platform. It’s a site that brings together editors, graphic […]
Self publishing success stories are becoming more and more common. The opportunity to write and benefit from your books is now very real. During their recent trip to the United States for the NINC conference, Mark and James were able to meet a number of SPF students, one of whom was Elicia Hyder. She is […]
There are many book cover creators and designers out there but none with the expertise and experience of today’s guest on the podcast. Stuart Bache has not only designed books for Mark Dawson but also for many other bestselling authors such as John le Carre and Stephen King. On this episode we chat with Stuart […]
It’s every author’s dream to have their books made into movies and today’s guest, A.G. Riddle might be about to realize that dream. His best-selling series of books has already had the movie rights purchased and he waits to hear from the studio as to what the next steps will be. But Gerry is amazingly […]
Like more and more traditionally published authors these days, Orna Ross took her rights back from a large traditional publisher to re-publish her books herself. Because she was the one in charge she was able to do it in the manner she’d always wanted. That was in 2011. At The London Book Fair in 2012, […]
Best-selling thriller author, Rachel Abbott is quick to point out that her success is just as surprising to her as it is to anyone. Her skill and her savvy for marketing and sales have combined to make her the best-selling author in the UK on Amazon’s KDP platform. On this episode, you’ll get to hear […]
Writing a novel is one thing. Writing a novel specifically to fulfill a demand is another. On this episode of the Self Publishing Formula podcast, James has a very intriguing conversation with Gabriel Mercer, a marketing and technical expert who was approached by a would-be author about marketing her books – before they were written. […]
ConvertKit is an example of a niche focused business. And the focus is authors and bloggers. Nathan Barry was (and still is) running a very successful self publishing business of his own and found that the majority of his sales came through promotions he made to his mailing list. But he began to have problems. […]
Self-Publishing is what we’re all about here at SPF. And that’s because it often makes more sense than traditional publishing. In fact, self-publishing is very much a response to the limitations of traditional publishing. Today’s guest, Barbara Freethy, was already an established traditionally published author when she dipped her toe into the self publishing waters […]
You can’t approach an advertising campaign haphazardly. That’s one of the main lessons learned in this conversation with Depesh Mandalia. Depesh is a successful social media marketer and advertiser and has boosted the popularity of a children’s book project through his use of Facebook Ads and other social marketing. In this episode, Depesh shares some […]
Daily word count is one of the metrics many authors track to ensure they are moving toward completion of their projects. One of the struggles is increasing that word count to get more work done, but doing so in a way that doesn’t sacrifice quality for quantity. Today’s guest has discovered a way to do […]
Social Media Ads are a big focus of our work here at the Self Publishing Formula simply because the days when you could organically drive traffic to your website and book sales pages through normal social media interaction are gone. That’s not only because social media is becoming more and more crowded but also because […]
Indie authors have long taken pride in their ability to use the tools at their disposal to create works of fiction and nonfiction that easily rival the quality and appeal of those published through the traditional channels. But using the traditional PR (public relations) channels has been a bit of an enigma to this point […]
When you’re able to get your non-fiction book or area of knowledge put into an online course you’ll have plenty of options when it comes to organizing that course for online consumption. And when you do, it’s important that you find a platform that serves you as a partner, not just in a business relationship. […]
This episode of The Self Publishing Formula is part two of a three part series about using non-fiction writing to establish revenue through online courses. Give some time to this episode and you’ll see the common sense and not-so-difficult way you can turn your knowledge and expertise into an online course that generates income for […]
Much of the Self Publishing Formula audience is engaged in writing fiction. But there are distinct advantages to learning how to write and distribute non-fiction works. To investigate and expose these opportunities we’re starting off today with the first of a 3-part series that focuses on how to write and leverage non-fiction for the purpose […]
It’s an amazing thing when you realize that you might be able to write a stellar novel, full of excellent scenes and powerful characters, but when it comes to writing a blurb to put on Amazon and other online retailers, it feels like pulling teeth to do it well. It requires a different set of […]
In this episode we’ve included a great conversation with the author of smash hit crime thrillers, Clare Mackintosh. Clare is traditionally published but the lessons she’s learned about rewriting, editing, and Facebook fan interaction have a lot to each Indie and Self Published authors, so we thought it would be a valuable conversation to bring […]
Can you imagine the day that all your efforts at self publishing – the hard work writing, promoting, and planning your books – finally pays off? Today’s episode is one author’s story about how that has finally come about. After writing for just over 5 years and self publishing a number of books, Adam Croft […]
It’s difficult to talk about marketing for self publishing and indie authors without the name of Bookbub coming into the conversation. That’s because Bookbub is a very effective and powerful platform for getting indie authors notices in the very niches their readers love. On this episode of the Self Publishing Formula James and Mark host […]
There are many, many things that go into a successful book launch. For a self-published author it can be enough to make your head spin. That’s why it’s such a great thing to have an experienced and successful self published author like Mark to walk you through his own best practices and mistakes. That’s exactly […]
It’s always beneficial and encouraging to hear from someone who started from nothing and built a successful writing career from the ground up. Even more so, it’s encouraging to hear the story from a person who is following the exact same procedures and school of thought that you’ve adopted. That’s what you’ll hear in this […]
Why would a successfully self published author like Mark Dawson openly share his income and expenses for his self publishing business? It’s not to brag and not to put himself a peg or two above others. It’s to show you what’s possible. Really, Mark’s a regular guy just like you who is learning how to make Indie publishing work for himself. He wants you to come along for the ride and learn how to do it for yourself.
You can do it. You need to believe that. On this episode you’ll hear what “it’s possible” looks like - and this particular report covers one of Mark’s lower income months. Still, the figures are quite impressive for a guy who didn’t know anything about the business side of self publishing before he started.
But there’s more than just the figures. Mark’s eager to share some of the advertising he’s doing to promote his books and the mindset and reasoning behind the particular promotional channels he’s using to get his books into the public eye a bit more. You’ll get some insight into the lessons he’s learned in his self publishing journey and are encouraged to apply them to your situation to make your book sales soar as well.
And it’s not just about book sales. As you listen to Mark’s report keep in mind that the money he spends on advertising and promotions is not just to sell books. He realizes that some promotional channels are showing a net loss on paper, but that’s only when you look at sales that resulted from the promotion. His goal is not always immediate sales. It’s just as important in many cases to spend money to get email subscribers, because those people turn into book buying fans later on and often work their way through Mark’s entire catalogue, showing the profit on the “back end” so to speak.
So enjoy this month’s earnings report and feel free to shoot us an email if you have any questions about what we share.
Outline of this great episode * [0:23] James’ introduction to this episode and why he and Mark do it. * [1:24] The U.S. figures. * [2:32] Why book commissions are what push things into a profitable place this month. * [3:57] UK campaigns and figures. * [7:36] Tracking advertising purchases. * [8:30] Mark doesn’t need to advertise to get sales, so why is he doing it? * [9:53] Mailing list efforts for the month.
When Mark Dawson first started seeing success as a self published author he was a bit late to the game when it came to interacting with those who were showing interest in his books. The best they could do was to buy his book, read it, then search Amazon for any other books he might […]
Today’s guest is one of the most prolific and hardworking Indie authors out there. All it takes is a glance at Bella Andre’s catalogue to realize that this woman knows how to do what it takes to get books written! Success has come with over 50 bestsellers to her credit, and, during this chat, you’re […]
The book promotion piece is one of the most vital but neglected aspects of being a self published author. Today’s guest, Ricci Wolman, is not an author herself but IS a marketing specialist who has made a career (and a business) out of helping authors successfully promote their books. She is founder and CEO of […]
In the second part of our London Book Fair special, Mark and James get to talk to key providers in the digital publishing space such as Draft2Digital, Reedsy and Byte the Book as well as indie publishing guru and author Joanna Penn. And in additional interviews you can hear how four young authors are progressing […]
The SPF Team hit the London Book Fair earlier this week and managed to catch up with a wide variety of Self Pub folk – from bestsellers Mel Sherratt and Rachel Abbott, exciting up and coming authors, (including a Hollywood screenwriter), as well as indie publishers, bloggers and key figures in the digital publishing world. […]
Russell Blake is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of some 30 – count ‘em! – much loved books and has been featured in the likes of the Wall Street Journal and The Chicago Tribune. He’s become a hugely respected figure in indie publishing circles and together with Mark and James, happily discusses, amongst other things, why marketing a […]
This week’s guest, Sean Platt, has turned a love of writing into an indie publishing phenomenon in the shape of story studio Sterling & Stone. But that’s only half his story. In Podcast 5, Sean talks with the guys about what’s next for Sterling & Stone, author productivity, dreaming big, making the right choices and […]
If you’re thinking of kicking off a career as an indie author, or have already started down that road, listening to Podcast number 4 might save you a lot of time, money and effort as you move forward. Mark and James focus on key elements that are worth getting right at the start of your […]
In podcast number 3, Mark and James are joined by the sensational Marie Force. Marie has developed a seven figure publishing operation with a mix of both self publishing and traditional publishing deals. They discuss her marketing tips as well as Marie’s advice to authors setting out to build a platform for better sales. They […]
From redundancy to a pioneer in the online business sphere, Pat’s blog, ‘Smart Passive Income’ that details his story has become a go-to resource for budding online entrepreneurs everywhere. Mark and James hunker down with Pat to talk, amongst other things, about his new book, relationship strategies including the power of transparency and whether podcasting […]
It’s the first full edition of the Self Publishing Formula Podcast! In this episode, bestselling indie author Joanna Penn of The Creative Penn fame talks mistakes, mishaps and triumphs in Self Publishing. She also reflects on the immense changes that have taken place in the industry since her first book was published and provides tips […]
The Self Publishing Formula Podcast is very nearly here! In this preview, its hosts, bestselling indie author Mark Dawson and rookie novelist James Blatch, talk about what they hope to achieve with the show for the legions of authors and would-be authors who dream of making a living out of their passion. Show Notes On […]