For authors and publishing professionals - we're talking all routes to publishing, book launches, book marketing, tips, tools, and resources to write, publish, and sell your book. Self-publishing, hybrid publishing, and traditional publishing. Author interviews and industry experts. Hosted by Alexa Bigwarfe of the Women in Publishing Summit. Formerly known as the PublishHer podcast.
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Welcome to The Publishing Performance Show, the quintessential podcast for both budding and veteran self-published authors! Join your host, Teddy, as he sits down with with successful indie authors and top experts in the publishing world, who generously share their unique journeys, creative inspirations, and future aspirations in their writing careers and the wider industry. Immerse yourself in a trove of valuable insights and actionable advice on writing, essential tools, and practical tips ...
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Ready, Set, Launch: A Live Panel on Taking Your Book to the World with Craig Martelle, Dale L Roberts, Julie Broad and Alexa Bigwarfe
1:08:31
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1:08:31I had the pleasure of hosting this special panel edition of The Publishing Performance Show, bringing together four brilliant publishing industry experts to discuss book launch strategies. The conversation covered everything from hard vs. soft launches to advertising strategies, review acquisition, and genre-specific approaches. Our incredible pane…
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Writing Soulful Nonfiction with Danielle Anderson of InkWorthy Books {ep. 165}
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40:10In this inspiring episode, Alexa sits down with Danielle Anderson, founder of InkWorthy Books and the Soulful Nonfiction School. Danielle is a certified nonfiction book coach and editor with more than 14 years of experience helping writers bring mission-driven, healing-centered books into the world. They discuss what it means to write "soulful nonf…
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H.H. Rune - Sending Books Across America: The 25-Year Journey of an Interactive Literary Experiment
27:45
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27:45H.H. Rune is the author of the "Find Me" series, a unique "fiction-ish" or autofiction work that blends real-life experiences with fictional storytelling. After conceiving the idea at age 30 while a stay-at-home mom, H.H. spent 25 years developing this five-book series before finally committing to publication during the pandemic. The series follows…
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From Ghostwriting to Global Bestsellers: JD Barker’s Savvy Moves that Grew His Author Business {ep. 164}
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39:52In this episode of Alexa’s Publishing Chat, bestselling author JD Barker joins Alexa to share the bold, strategic decisions that helped him build a powerhouse fiction career. From ghostwriting and indie publishing to launching his own imprint with Simon & Schuster, JD has built a career grounded in talent, creative risk-taking, and entrepreneurial …
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Emily Crookston of Pocket PhD - The Business Case for Your Book: Strategic Publishing for Thought Leaders
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27:42Emily Crookston is the owner and "decider of all things" at Pocket PhD, where she specializes in ghostwriting and developmental editing for business books. With a PhD in philosophy and background as a professor, Emily transitioned to content writing, starting with blog posts before moving to longer formats like business books. Her focus is helping …
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Sheryl Bass of Be Kind Publishing - Self-Publishing Success: How PR Skills Transformed a Children's Book Launch
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25:38Sheryl Bass is a children's author and book PR expert with a master's degree in social work and journalism. Her Baby Dragon series focuses on social emotional learning for children, teaching important life lessons through engaging stories. Starting from a flash of inspiration during a sneeze 15 years ago, Sheryl brought her first book "Baby Dragon'…
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Luminare Press - Hybrid vs. Self-Publishing with Patricia Marshall {ep. 163}
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48:57As hybrid presses become a more popular option, we're often asked about the difference between hybrid presses and self-publishing. Here's a breakdown of the differences at Luminare Press 📚 Self-Publishing Assist vs. Hybrid Publishing Self-Publishing Assist (Luminare Press) Offers fee-for-service publishing help: editing, cover and interior design, …
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Chris Wallace of WrittenWell - Cracking Amazon's Algorithm: From Poker Player to Self-Publishing Expert
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44:56Chris Wallace is a professional poker player, author, and co-founder of WrittenWell.com. With a background in guitar building before developing an allergy to exotic hardwoods, Chris transitioned to professional poker, which led to writing opportunities during the poker boom. He began writing for poker magazines and blogs, eventually publishing seve…
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Mitch Carson - Media Mastery: Crafting a One Sheet Media Pitch That Gets You Booked
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45:30Mitch Carson is a bestselling author, TV host for NBC in Las Vegas, and international speaker who specializes in helping people build their personal brands and increase their media exposure. With decades of experience in television and media, Mitch has mastered the art of getting authors and entrepreneurs featured on major platforms. He shares his …
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Make Marketing Fun Again: How to Promote Your Book Without Losing Your Mind {ep. 162}
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35:17📚 In this episode of Alexa’s Publishing Chat, Alexa shares: The terrifying moment every author faces—wondering if people will hate your book—and how to overcome it. Why marketing doesn’t have to feel icky or overwhelming—and how to make it fun. The power of early feedback: how to build and use an advance reader team. What to do if talking about you…
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Andrew Wallner & Phil Marshall of Spoken - Revolutionizing Audiobooks: How Spoken Combines AI Narration with Author Monetization
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38:10Andrew Wallner and Phil Marshall are co-founders of Spoken, an innovative platform that combines AI narration technology with a streaming network for audio content. Coming from backgrounds in healthcare technology where they developed conversational AI systems, they sold their company in 2021 before turning their attention to the audiobook market. …
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Johnathan McClain - Narrating 200+ Audiobooks: Secrets from an Award Winning Multi-Genre Voice Actor
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52:30Johnathan McClain is a multi-talented creative professional working as a screenwriter, narrator, actor, and novelist. With a background in theater and television, Johnathan transitioned to audiobook narration in 2012, coinciding with Amazon's acquisition of Audible when the demand for narrators exploded. His first major audiobook projects included …
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Is Substack Right for You? with Claire Tak {ep. 161}
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39:16If you’ve been hearing the buzz about Substack but aren’t sure what it is—or how it could actually help you as a writer—you’re going to love today’s conversation. I’m joined by Claire Tak, a tech writer turned aspiring memoirist, who shares how Substack became her go-to platform for building an authentic writing community, sharing her journey, and …
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JD Barker - Co-Writing Thrillers with James Patterson and Indie vs Traditional Publishing
43:34
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43:34JD Barker is a New York Times bestselling author who has experienced various publishing paths including traditional, indie, and hybrid publishing. With a background as a book doctor and ghostwriter for over 20 years, JD transitioned to writing his own novels and has since collaborated with James Patterson among other notable authors. His unique pub…
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Aryn Van Dyke - LinkedIn for Authors: Unexpected Strategies to Grow Your Readership
29:21
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29:21Aryn Van Dyke is a book marketing expert and the founder of Book Rockstar, specializing in LinkedIn marketing strategies for authors. With extensive experience helping both fiction and nonfiction writers leverage LinkedIn as a powerful platform for book promotion, Aryn has developed proven methods for building professional networks, crafting engagi…
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Building Author Community & Confidence with Brooke Black {ep. 160}
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23:46📝 Show Notes: In this episode, Alexa Bigwarfe chats with Brooke Black of Black Bear Communications about the power of author community, the journey from editing to full-service support, and how The Hive Collective helps authors thrive. From self-publishing to traditional routes, Brooke shares wisdom, encouragement, and practical strategies. 💡 Key T…
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Nicola Kinloch - Balancing Art and Education: The Craft of Children's Book Illustration
24:29
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24:29Nicola Kinloch is an artist and illustrator with a background in fine art photography and textile design who recently ventured into children's book illustration. Her first illustrated book, written by her mother Patricia Lang, is about bees and beekeeping, combining adventure storytelling with educational content. The book uniquely presents the wor…
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Leah Paulos - The Pitch Perfect Formula: How to Get Media Coverage for Your Book
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44:41Leah Paulos is the founder and director of publicity for Press Shop PR and Book Publicity School. With a background in journalism as a writer and magazine editor at Condé Nast, Leah brings a unique perspective to book publicity, having been on the receiving end of pitches. After transitioning from journalism, she founded Press Shop PR to help autho…
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Self-Publishing Secrets for Children's Book Authors with Karen Ferreira {ep. 159}
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30:37🎙️ Show Notes In this episode, Alexa and Karen discuss: How Karen’s journey as an illustrator led her to launch Get Your Book Illustrations and Children’s Book Mastery Common struggles children's book authors face and how Karen helps solve them Why writing a short children's book is actually harder than people think The essential elements every chi…
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Flora Qian - Breaking Censorship Through Language: One Writer's Journey from Shanghai to New York
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32:36Flora Qian is a writer born and raised in Shanghai who later lived in Hong Kong for over a decade before relocating to New York City. Her novel "South of the Yangtze" won the Proverse Prize, an international award for unpublished works in fiction and poetry. Drawing on her experiences growing up in 1980s China and living across multiple cultures, F…
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Marco Moutinho of Dibbly - From Idea to Book in 24 Hours: How Dibbly's AI Tools Streamline Book Creation
29:15
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29:15Marco Moutinho is the founder and CEO of Dibbly (formerly The Urban Writers), a comprehensive content creation platform that combines AI tools with freelance writing services. The rebranding from The Urban Writers to Dibbly reflects their expansion beyond just writing services to include a suite of AI-powered content creation tools. With Dibbly Cre…
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Books Born from Grief: Writing to Heal and Help with Nathalie Himmelrich {ep. 158}
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42:34In this episode, Alexa and Nathalie discussed: 💡 How it all began: Nathalie reflects on her first book, Grieving Parents: Surviving Loss as a Couple, which grew from sharing her own story online and realizing it could help others. ✍️ The unexpected journey to six books: She never set out to be an author, but over time felt called—intuitively and em…
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John DeMato - The Book Boudoir: Professional Photography that Sells More Books
27:05
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27:05John DeMato is a visual storytelling expert and professional photographer who specializes in creating compelling visual content for entrepreneurs, authors, speakers, and consultants. After transitioning from a career as a television field producer, John found his niche in branding photography, which eventually led him to develop Book Boudoir - a sp…
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Carol Kabaale - Facebook Ads Made Simple: Cost-Effective Marketing Strategies for New Authors
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28:51Carol Kabaale is a Facebook ads expert based in South Africa who transitioned from a corporate hospitality career to digital marketing after seeking more freedom and fulfillment in her work. With eight years of experience specializing in Facebook and Instagram advertising, Carol helps clients develop strategic marketing campaigns that build communi…
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Hannah Parry - The Hero's Journey: Building Historical Fiction with Classic Story Structure
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34:29Hannah Parry is an author of both adult and young adult fiction who came to writing later in life after initially training as a nurse. With a family background in writing (her parents were copywriters in advertising), Hannah discovered her passion for storytelling in her late twenties. After experiencing several personal losses, she found herself w…
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Alexa Nazzaro - Launch Like a Pro: Customized Marketing Strategies for Fiction, Nonfiction, and Children's Books
34:17
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34:17Alexa Nazzaro is the founder of Axel Author Group, a publishing services company with the memorable tagline "we won't let you publish crap." With a background in writing and business communications, Alexa transitioned into author services after helping a client with an ebook project. Her passion for the creative process led her to support authors a…
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Hot Sh*t & High Standards: Women Redefining Publishing {ep. 157}
1:11:17
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1:11:17Panelists: Karen Strauss (Hybrid Global Publishing) Pam Sheppard (Sheppard Edits) Alesha Brown (Fruition Publishing) E. Danielle Butler (EvyDani Books) Linda Ruggieri (Editor, The Insightful Editor) Panel Discussion Highlights: Karen Strauss shared her experience leaving corporate publishing due to gender bias and lack of upward mobility. She found…
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Barbara Boyd - The Book Coach Approach: Finding Your Idea, Audience, and Objective
36:08
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36:08Barbara Boyd is a book coach and author who has guided over 100 authors through the publishing process. With a specialty in nonfiction writing, Barbara helps experts transform their knowledge into well-structured, reader-focused books. As a certified book coach through Author Accelerator, she uses proven frameworks like the Blueprint for a Non-Fict…
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International Women's Day: Amplifying Your Voice with Karen Strauss {ep. 156}
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36:09In this podcast episode, Alexa and Karen discuss: Karen’s Publishing Journey Started in publishing by accident while working at Macy’s, where she managed book events. Moved into traditional publishing, working at Bantam, Random House, McMillan, and Crown in sales, marketing, and publicity. Noticed that her voice was being muted in the corporate wor…
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Ray Hartjen - Writing Your Truth: How Personal Memoirs Create Connection and Healing
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48:10Ray Hartjen is an author, musician, and cancer patient advocate who has written several books including "Me, Myself and My Multiple Myeloma" - a memoir about his journey with blood cancer. After being diagnosed in 2019, Ray transformed his experience into a platform to help others, with all proceeds from his book benefiting the Multiple Myeloma Res…
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Gene Mollica and Sasha Almazan - Beyond Basic Covers: How Professional Design Drives Book Success
51:04
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51:04Gene Mollica and Sasha Almazan are the creative duo behind GNS Cover Design Studio, a premium book cover design company specializing in photo-based, high-impact covers for authors. With over 15 years of experience working with both traditional publishers and indie authors, they bring their backgrounds in photography, digital art, and styling to cre…
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The Truth About Ghostwriting: How to Bring Your Nonfiction Book to Life with Roxanne McCarty-O’Kane {ep. 155}
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35:58If you've ever dreamed of writing a book but felt overwhelmed by the process, you’re not alone. Many aspiring authors struggle to put their ideas into words, whether due to lack of time, writing challenges, or uncertainty about structure and flow. That’s where ghostwriting comes in. Alexa Bigwarfe and award-winning ghostwriter Roxanne McCarty-O’Kan…
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Dale L. Roberts - Beyond Amazon: The Strategic Approach to Publishing Wide
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41:11Dale L. Roberts is an award-winning writer and the author of "Publishing Wide," a comprehensive guide for authors looking to expand their book distribution beyond Amazon. With over a decade of experience in self-publishing, Dale shares valuable insights on how authors can maximize their reach and revenue by strategically publishing across multiple …
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Mike Capuzzi - The Magic of Short Books: Turning Expertise into Effective Marketing
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34:51Mike Capuzzi is the founder of Byte Size Books and creator of the "shook" concept – short, helpful books designed as powerful marketing tools for business owners. With almost 30 years in the marketing industry, Mike has developed a specialized approach to help entrepreneurs, professionals, and local business owners establish authority and generate …
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Jay Styles - The Book Funnel System: How Authors Can Generate Consistent Business
31:19
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31:19Jay Styles is an Amazon bestselling author, coach, and former radio personality who helps entrepreneurs and business owners leverage books as powerful marketing tools. After pivoting his career during COVID-19 by transforming his documentary "Become Inspired" into a book, Jay discovered the untapped potential of using books for lead generation and …
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The Inside Scoop on Offset Printing & Board Books with MCRL {ep. 154}
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35:37In this episode, you will learn all about offset printing and MCRL! Topics covered includeL Offset Printing vs. Print-on-Demand (POD) What is offset printing, and how does it differ from POD? Pros and cons of each method depending on your book’s goals. Why offset printing is a better choice for high-quality, bulk book production. Why Bulk Printing …
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Rodney Miles - The Three Pillars of Self-Publishing Success: Product, Platform, and Publicity
34:19
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34:19Rodney Miles is the author of "The Book Dude's Guide to Self-Publishing" series and a self-publishing consultant with over 14 years of experience in the industry. Having worked on more than 300 book projects, Rodney has developed systematic approaches to help authors navigate their publishing journey. His background as a writer, ghostwriter, and ed…
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Rami Jandali - The Art of Children's Storytelling: Writing and Illustrating with Purpose
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29:35Rami Jandali is a children's book author and illustrator who combines his love of storytelling with artistic talent to create engaging books that spread messages of kindness and acceptance. Through his brand "Rami Stories," he has published books including "An Almond All Alone" and "Blueberry Fairy," which blend colorful illustrations with meaningf…
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Martyn Ellington & Steven Stiefel - From Novel to Screen: Mastering Multi-Format Storytelling
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57:33Martyn Ellington and Steven Stiefel are trans-Atlantic writing partners who blend British and American sensibilities in their collaborative works. Through their production company MESS Productions, they create multi-format content spanning novels, TV scripts, and podcasts, with their international bestseller "Tomorrow's Flight" showcasing their abi…
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Protecting Your Creative Legacy: Estate Planning for Authors & Publishers with Kelley Way {ep. 153}
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41:20In this episode, Alexa and Kelley discuss: The importance of estate planning for authors and publishers Alexa’s personal experience with a medical crisis that made her rethink the future of her business and books Why copyrights are considered part of your estate and what happens to them when you pass away How copyright transfers work and why it’s c…
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Nicky Billou - Beyond Book Sales: How Podcast Guesting Can Transform Your Author Business
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39:08Nicky Billou is a business coach and author who specializes in helping entrepreneurs and authors maximize their impact through podcast guesting. As the author of "Get Booked and Get Paid" and "Finish Line Thinking," he has appeared on over 1,500 podcast episodes and helps clients generate significant revenue through strategic podcast appearances. C…
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Russell Nohelty - Why Your First Book Launch Should Be on Kickstarter
1:05:04
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1:05:04Russell Nohelty is a USA Today bestselling author who has successfully navigated both fiction and non-fiction publishing. Starting his career with aspirations in filmmaking, he transitioned to comics and eventually found his way to self-publishing. As the co-founder of Writer MBA, he helps authors build sustainable careers through innovative market…
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Dr. Nicole Janz - Breaking Through Writer's Block: A Coach's Guide to Productive Writing
40:12
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40:12Dr. Nicole Janz is a social scientist and a book coach with over 20 years of experience as a journalist, academic, and writer. After leaving academia four years ago, she transitioned into creative writing and book coaching. She created The Write Habit Planner, a specialized tool designed to help writers maintain consistency and productivity in thei…
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Be Contagious, Not Viral: Smart Marketing Strategies with Markeyla Henton {ep. 152}
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32:39In this podcast episode, Alexa and Markeyla discuss: 🎉 From Summit to Collaboration – How a standout presentation at the 2024 Women in Publishing Summit led to an exciting partnership between Alexa and Markeyla. 📝 Markeyla’s Journey in Media & Publishing – From a book-loving kid to running Against the Stream Magazine and building a thriving busines…
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Louise Harris - The Complete Guide to Book Editing and Development
34:48
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34:48Louise Harris is the founder and president of LAST Research and Editing, specializing in comprehensive editing services for authors. With over 30 years of experience in editing and journalism, she has edited numerous manuscripts, authored four novels, and ghost-written multiple books including cookbooks and a book on addiction. Her expertise spans …
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Nick Thacker - How to Become a Full-Time Author in One Year
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49:03Nick Thacker is a bestselling author in multiple genres who turned his hobby into a full-time writing career. Having written 45 books, he now helps other authors transition to full-time writing through his Book Career in a Year program. In this episode: The journey from hobby to full-time writing Building a sustainable author career Creating effect…
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Rebekah Haskell - The Art and Science of Book Cover Design (+ How to Find Amazing Done-For-You Covers)
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45:05Rebekah Haskell is the owner and lead designer at Vivid Covers, specializing in speculative fiction book covers. With expertise in both illustration and photo manipulation, she helps authors create genre-appropriate covers that connect with their target readers. In this episode: Genre-specific cover design principles Differences between traditional…
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AI Tools for Authors and PublishDrive with Danica Favorite {ep. 151}
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57:04Alexa Bigwarfe chats with Danica Favorite, Community Manager at PublishDrive and a multi-published hybrid author, about how authors can leverage AI and PublishDrive’s powerful tools to streamline their publishing journey. They discuss how metadata impacts book sales, how AI can help optimize book descriptions, keywords, and pricing, and why Publish…
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Sarah Bullen of The Writing Room - Literary Matchmaking: How Books Find Their Perfect Publisher with a Book Agent
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52:38Sarah Bullen is a multi-published author, writing coach, and literary agent, leading international writing mentorships. She is the author of Write your Book in 100 Days and works with authors as a book coach and agent. Over the last two decades, she has had over 180 books published by writers she has mentored. She has held editorial roles across bo…
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The Essentials of Story Craft: Plotting Act 1 with Alida Winternheimer {ep. 150}
1:09:14
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1:09:14In this podcast episode, Alexa and Alida discuss: The importance of honing your writing craft, regardless of genre or experience. Understanding the fundamentals of story structure, including the three-act structure. Breaking down the key elements of Act 1: hooks, setup, inciting incidents, and points of no return. How story craft applies across gen…
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