The Thinning Line Between Indie and Traditional Publishing
In this episode, J. and J.D. welcome indie mastermind Zach Bohannon to the show to discuss the growing similarities between indie and traditional publishing.
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 powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- What’s the deal with Audiblegate?
- The benefits of being a “hybrid” author
- Why traditional publishers are starting to value eBooks
- Why indies are becoming more tolerant of traditional deals
- The importance of a mailing list when pursuing a trad deal
- The role of subscription-based services in the future of publishing
Links:
J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/
J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/
Zach Bohannon – https://zachbohannon.com/
Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life – https://kobowritinglife.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/dev/contact/
*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.
Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 54 – #audiblegate with Susan May
SPECIAL EPISODE: J.D. and J. are live with author Susan May to discuss #audiblegate, a breaking news story about the ongoing controversy surrounding Audible’s audio book return policy.
The Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/fairdealwithaudible
Susan May’s blog post – https://www.susanmaywriter.net/single-post/audiblegate-the-incredible-story-of-missing-sales
From the Authors Guild – https://www.authorsguild.org/industry-advocacy/sign-our-letter-and-tell-audible-to-stop-charging-authors-for-returns/
From the Alliance of Independent Authors – https://www.allianceindependentauthors.org/media-releases/
Links:
J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/
J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/
Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life – https://kobowritinglife.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/dev/contact/
*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.
Pursuing Multiple Projects with Christopher Rice
Bestselling author Christopher Rice knows how to pursue multiple projects at once. By working on each project in different physical spaces and balancing the time spent on each, he breaks up the monotony of sticking to one book, makes himself more productive, and increases his writing and time management skills exponentially. Christopher is well-known for writing A Density of Souls, his bestselling debut novel, and Ramses The Damned: The Passion of Cleopatra, which he co-wrote with mother and fellow bestseller Anne Rice. He also runs The Dinner Party Show podcast with award-winning novelist Eric Shaw Quinn. His latest publication, Blood Victory, is available now.
From Amazon.com:
A New York Times bestseller since his first publication at the age of twenty-two, Christopher Rice is the author of BONE MUSIC (an Amazon Charts bestseller and the first novel in the Burning Girl series) and its sequel, BLOOD ECHO, as well as the Bram Stoker finalists THE HEAVENS RISE and THE VINES. BLOOD VICTORY, his third Burning Girl novel releases in August 2020. He is an executive producer on the television adaptation of The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice, and he also collaborated with her on RAMSES THE DAMNED: THE PASSION OF CLEOPATRA, a sequel to her phenomenally popular novel THE MUMMY OR RAMSES THE DAMNED. Together with his best friend and producing partner, New York Times bestselling novelist, Eric Shaw Quinn, he runs the podcast and video network, TDPS, which you can find at www.TheDinnerPartyShow.com. Learn more about Christopher at www.christopherricebooks.com.
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 powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, 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 Christopher learned to multitask when writing
- Why the early stages of the creative process are non-linear
- The importance of podcasting platforms to authors
- Why every author needs a newsletter
- What to know when writing with your mother
To send J.D. an ARC copy of your new book, make sure you have the title available in ebook, paperback, and audio. Then mail him a physical copy at:
J.D. Barker
P.O. Box 177
New Castle, NH 03854
Links:
J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/
J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/
Christopher Rice – http://www.christopherricebooks.com/
A Density of Souls by Christopher Rice – https://mybook.to/densityofsouls
Blood Victory by Christopher Rice – https://mybook.to/bloodvictory
Upstairs Inferno Starring Christopher Rice – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3088882/
The Dinner Party Show – http://thedinnerpartyshow.com/
Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life – https://kobowritinglife.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/dev/contact/
“Muggable” quote by Harley Christensen – https://www.mischievousmalamute.com/
*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.
Gaining Exposure with Publicist Mickey Mikkelson
Publicist Mickey Mikkelson specializes in gaining exposure and brand recognition. Using his independent firm, Creative Edge, he teaches indie authors around the world how to market their books, foster their own reader communities, and build sustainable brands. Mickey has worked in PR for almost five years and has helped bestselling authors like Tosca Lee and Robert J. Sawyer gain publicity. In addition to running Creative Edge, he is a regular collaborator with TopShelf, a popular must-read magazine for booksellers and authors that focuses on promoting and publishing. To contact Mikkelson, follow the link below.
From Creative-Edge.services:
“At Creative Edge, we are a Team and a Community. The entire organization believes strongly in collaboration, the authors, myself, and the key partnerships we have developed. I am passionate about working in conjunction with my clients and finding innovative and creative ways to ensure that each represented client has promotional and marketing success.” -Mickey Mikkelson
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 powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, 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 Mickey started Creative Edge
- When to seek out a publicist
- Why publicity doesn’t always equate to sales
- The importance of having a “vision” for your book
- Differences between short-term and long-term growth
Links:
An Important Letter from The Authors Guild – https://www.authorsguild.org/who-we-are/letter-president/
J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/
J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/
Mickey Mikkelson – https://www.creative-edge.services/contact.html
Creative Edge – https://www.creative-edge.services/
TopShelf – https://topshelfmagazine.net/index.php/magazine
Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life – https://kobowritinglife.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/dev/contact/
“Muggable” quote by Harley Christensen – https://www.mischievousmalamute.com/
*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.
Designing the Perfect Cover with Books Covered’s Stuart Bache
Stuart Bache has some tips for designing the perfect cover. As a professional cover artist, he helps traditional and indie authors around the world create covers that are visually appetizing, clearly represent the book’s genre and message, and market themselves well to potential readers. Stuart has been in the field for over a decade and has worked with Mark Dawson, Stephen King, and other big-name authors. He has a number of online resources, including his Books Covered design service and a mini-course on Self Publishing Formula. His book, The Author’s Guide to Cover Design, is also available below.
From Amazon.com:
With well over a decade of experience in both traditional and independent publishing, Stuart Bache started his career as a Junior Designer for Hodder & Stoughton, worked as Senior Designer for Puffin Books and HarperCollins, and was Art Director of Oneworld Publications. He has worked across every major genre for a whole host of publishers and authors, including Mark Dawson, Stephen King, John le Carré, S. K. Tremayne and the Tolkien Estate. Stuart is now the Art Director and founder of Books Covered, where he continues to create market-leading book covers for authors, agents and publishers.
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 powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, 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 Books Covered was formed
- Why more indie authors are caring about their covers
- How to formulate research into a design
- The importance of strategically marketing your cover
- How to compromise with a cover designer
Links:
J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/
J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/
Stuart Bache – https://stuartbache.co.uk
Books Covered – https://www.bookscovered.co.uk
Cover Design for Authors Course – https://selfpublishingformula.com/design
The Author’s Guide to Cover Design by Stuart Bache – https://mybook.to/coverdesign
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/dev/contact/
“Muggable” quote by Harley Christensen – https://www.mischievousmalamute.com/
*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.
Finding Mindfulness as a Writer with Seth Godin
Bestseller Seth Godin has unlocked the secrets to finding mindfulness as a writer. Through various publications, workshops, and podcasts, he sheds light on mental concepts often overlooked in pursuit of a professional career and preaches the ideas of beating resistance, accepting genre, disregarding authenticity, and choosing passion rather than chasing it. Seth is a renowned author and entrepreneur with nineteen bestselling books and guides, an internationally recognized blog, and a spot in the Marketing Hall of Fame. His latest book, The Practice: Shipping Creative Work, will be available tomorrow.
From Amazon.com:
Seth Godin is the author of nineteen international bestsellers that have been translated into over 35 languages, and have changed the way people think about marketing and work. For a long time, Unleashing the Ideavirus was the most popular ebook ever published, and Purple Cow is the bestselling marketing book of the decade. He’s a recent inductee to the Marketing Hall of Fame, and also a member of the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame and (go figure), the Guerrilla Marketing Hall of Fame.
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 powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, 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 Seth beats resistance
- Why to choose passion rather than chase it
- The importance of defining your genre
- Why authenticity is a lie
- How to push through “the dip”
Links:
J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/
J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/
Seth Godin – https://www.sethgodin.com/
The Practice: Shipping Creative Work by Seth Godin – https://mybook.to/thepractice
Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth Godin – https://mybook.to/purplecow
This Is Marketing: You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn to See by Seth Godin – https://mybook.to/thisismarketing
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/dev/contact/
“Muggable” quote by Harley Christensen – https://www.mischievousmalamute.com/
*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.