July 2020 - Writers, Ink: The Business of Writing

Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 36 – Optimizing and Automating Amazon Ads with Dierk Demers of Prestozon

Optimizing and Automating Amazon Ads with Dierk Demers of Prestozon

Dierk Demers knows the secrets to optimizing and automating Amazon ads using Prestozon. By developing a software to automatically schedule and create ads, provide useful analytics, and update keywords in real-time, he has helped authors around the world successfully capture new readers while leaving the stress of manual advertising behind. Dierk has thrived in the e-commerce industry for years, managing information and designing software for various companies. To learn more about Demers and Prestozon, visit prestozon.com.

From LinkedIn.com:

As the Head of Ad Strategy and Partner Support at Prestozon, I help Amazon Advertising Account Managers of all experience levels get the most out of their PPC budgets. I have been designing unique e-commerce strategies across multiple industries for almost a decade and I use that experience to help design curated PPC initiatives using one of the most sophisticated advertising management tools on the market.

Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business – editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.

Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouse, J. Thorn, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Why Amazon ads are so tough to maintain
How Prestozon’s algorithms function
How Prestozon introduces brand-new authors to advertising
The importance of balancing automated ads with manual ads
How authors can help improve Prestozon

Links:

J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/

J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/

Dierk Demers – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dierk-demers-09308b52/

Prestozon free 30-day trial – https://app.prestozon.com/sign-up?via=j

Dten Zoom Device – https://dten.com/

The Career Author Summit 2021 – https://thecareerauthor.com/summit2021/

Music by Nicorus – https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep

Voice Over by Rick Ganley – http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio – http://www.millpondstudio.com

Contact – https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/

“Muggable” quote by Harley Christensen – https://www.mischievousmalamute.com/

*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.

Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 35 – The Science of Pen Names with NY Times bestseller, Riley Sager

The Science of Pen Names with Riley Sager

Riley Sager understands the importance of a good pen name. By using a pseudonym to detach himself from his early writing career, bypass editing bias, and increase reader relatability, he quickly found success as a reborn author. Riley is renowned for his international bestseller, Final Girls, an unsettling thriller that won the attention of Stephen King. His other bestsellers include Lock Every Door and The Last Time I Lied, the latter of which has a film in the works. Sager’s latest publication, Home Before Dark, is available now.

From Amazon.com:

Riley Sager is the pseudonym of a former journalist, editor and graphic designer. Now a full-time author, Riley’s first thriller, FINAL GIRLS, became a national and international bestseller and was called “the first great thriller of 2017” by Stephen King. Translation rights have been sold in more than two dozen countries. His second book, THE LAST TIME I LIED, was a New York Times bestseller. His latest novel, LOCK EVERY DOOR, was an instant New York Times, Publishers Weekly and USA Today bestseller. A television adaptation is being developed by Paramount TV and Anonymous Content. A native of Pennsylvania, Riley now lives in Princeton, New Jersey. When he’s not working on his next novel, he enjoys reading, cooking and going to the movies as much as possible. His favorite film is “Rear Window.” Or maybe “Jaws.” But probably, if he’s being honest, “Mary Poppins.”

Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouse, J. Thorn, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

How Riley chose his pen name
What Stephen King said about Final Girls
Why gender-neutral names can be more marketable
The importance of avoiding editing bias
Tips for outlining a complex story

Links:

J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/

J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/

Riley Sager – https://www.rileysagerbooks.com/

Final Girls by Riley Sager – https://books2read.com/FinalGirls

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager – https://books2read.com/TheLastTimeILied

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager – https://books2read.com/HomeBeforeDark

Music by Nicorus – https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep

Voice Over by Rick Ganley – http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio – http://www.millpondstudio.com

Contact – https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/

“Muggable” quote by Harley Christensen – https://www.mischievousmalamute.com/

*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.

Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 34 – Useful Marketing and Writing Techniques with Mark Dawson

Useful Marketing and Writing Techniques with Mark Dawson

Mark Dawson has developed many useful marketing and writing techniques for aspiring or developed authors. Through keeping his writing time structured and making the effort to understand Amazon’s advertising platform, he quickly found success as a self-published writer. Mark is well-known for his bestselling John Milton series, which follows the chilling encounters of a hired gun, with over a million copies sold. He is also the mastermind behind the esteemed Self Publishing Formula, where he educates authors around the world about writing and marketing through podcast episodes, blog posts, and online courses. His next publication and newest addition to the John Milton series, Killa City, will be available this fall.

From Amazon.com:

Mark Dawson has worked as a lawyer and in the London film industry. His first books, The Art of Falling Apart and Subpoena Colada, have been published in multiple languages. He is currently writing three series. The John Milton series features a disgruntled assassin who aims to help people make amends for the things that he has done. The Beatrix Rose series features the headlong fight for justice of a wronged mother–who happens to be an assassin–against the six names on her Kill List. Soho Noir is set in the West End of London between 1940 and 1970. The first book in the series, The Black Mile, deals with the (real-life but little-known) serial killer who operated in the area during the Blitz. The Imposter traces the journey of a criminal family through the period; it has been compared to The Sopranos in austerity London. Mark lives in Wiltshire with his family.

Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouse, J. Thorn, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

How and where to write effectively
Tips for optimizing a website
How to market to bookstores as a self-published author
The importance of Amazon advertising
Tips for scheduling an author’s work day

Links:

J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/

J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/

Consequences of Rock Podcast – https://consequencesofrock.com/

Mark Dawson – https://markjdawson.com/

Killa City by Mark Dawson – https://books2read.com/Killa-City

The Cleaner (John Milton Book 1) by Mark Dawson – https://books2read.com/The-Cleaner

Mark Dawson’s Self Publishing Formula – https://selfpublishingformula.com/

Music by Nicorus – https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep

Voice Over by Rick Ganley – http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio – http://www.millpondstudio.com

Contact – https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/

“Muggable” quote by Harley Christensen – https://www.mischievousmalamute.com/

*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.

Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 33 – Dreaming and Writing with the President of the H.W.A., John Palisano

Dreaming and Writing with the President of the H.W.A., John Palisano

John Palisano is a master of using dreams to write. Ever since his childhood, he has struggled with frequent and vivid nightmares. However, by preserving his dreams through notes or sketches, John incorporates their wacky contents into his scenes and plot points to create thrilling and unique stories. Palisano is an accomplished horror author and president of the Horror Writers Association. He was awarded the Bram Stoker Award in 2016 and is well known for Nerves and Dust of the Dead, two sci-fi horror novels with unique twists. His latest publication, All That Withers, is available now.

From Amazon.com:

Bram Stoker Award® winner John Palisano’s short fiction has appeared in many places. Check out: Dark Discoveries, Horror Library, Darkness On The Edge, Lovecraft eZine, Phobophobias, Terror Tales, Harvest Hill, Halloween Spirits, Chiral Mad, Midnight Walk, Halloween Tales, and many other publications… John’s had a colorful history. He began writing at an early age, with his first publications in college fanzines and newspapers at Emerson in Boston. He’s worked for over a decade in Hollywood for people like Ridley Scott and Marcus Nispel. He’s recently been working as a ghost-screenwriter and has seen much success with over two dozen short story sales and his novels and short fiction continue gaining critical and reader acclaim.

Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouse, J. Thorn, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.