Episode 282 – Law of Attraction, No Math, and the Power of Rejection

If you could rebuild Goodreads and Goodreads Ads from the ground up, how would you do it and why?

How would you improve Goodreads ads if you had limitless power? Bryan and Jim are counting down to show #300! Jim announces his fiction writing team project will be an amazing sci-fi adventure novel written with Tom Sully Sullivant—sign up for previews in the Show Notes. Bryan . This week’s Happy Books Review Winner is Lori L. Robinett. Thank you to our featured Patrons: The Secret Blush – A Jennifer Morgan Novel, Wanderer’s Escape, and A Curse upon the Saints. The Top Tips of the week include why controlling your brand is so important, how the right reader magnets can attract your ideal reader, and when ritual is needed to accomplish your writing goals. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how Abacus can make royalty sharing a breeze, what the Big 5 are doing to stop Amazon’s copyright infringement, How author Jim Heskett made the leap to full-time, how Beatrix Potter’s own tale surpasses that of her rabbit, and when Goodreads will stop running their self-serve ads and why. Question of the Week: If you could rebuild Goodreads and Goodreads Ads from the ground up, how would you do it and why? read more

Episode 281 – Clean Links, Author Support, and No Market No Sales

Have you ever set goals for a book launch or promotion? What’s your goal with your next book?

Is your book launch strategy built on a foundation of goals or floating in a sea of fate? Bryan and Jim are looking forward to show #300! Jim will announce his new project in next week’s episode. Bryan will be sending excerpts of Hook, Line, Bestseller to his ARC team. This week’s Happy Books Review Winner is Zach Guido. Thank you to our featured Patrons – Twins of Prey, The Final Arrangement, and Wanderer’s Escape. The Top Tips of the week include why reviews disappear, 14 great marketing tips, how bigger ad spend can benefit your data. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how Google started renting books, why authors supporting one another is critical to success, why writing to market works, how the YA community came together to support one of their own, and how author Alana Terry made 1k on a standalone in less than 30 days. Question of the Week: Have you ever set goals for a book launch or promotion? What’s your goal with your next book? read more

Episode 280 – Gaming Netflix, Kobo Marketing, and Gardening

With James Daunt from Waterstones taking over the B&N CEO job, what are some ways he could make the U.S. bookstore as British as possible?

Are you ready for a “British” bookstore invasion? Bryan is on vacation this week. Bryan is back and the team is at full strength this week! This week’s Happy Books Review Winner is David Avoura King. Thank you to our featured Patrons – Cubicle Jail to Laptop Lifestyle, The Dragon Rustler (Cowboys and Dragons Book 1), and Star Flame: A Story From the Meclauks Kingdom. The Top Tips of the week include how to get the most from your ACX coupons, the true value of an accountability partner and where to find one, why the great outdoors is your creative partner. This week’s Honorable Mention covers the addition of more big names to the Amazon author stable. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how the Norsemen pillaged Netflix, how author Mike Chen used ad stacking to soar up in the rankings, why Rachel Morgan Goetsch set he sights on Kobo sales, how the new CEO will steer the Barnes and Noble ship, and how the Vines managed to double the sales and KU reads of Chris’s debut after only two weeks. Question of the Week: With James Daunt from Waterstones taking over the B&N CEO job, what are some ways he could make the U.S. bookstore as British as possible? read more

Episode 279 – Keywords, Pirates, and Getting Over Yourself

What would you need from a traditional publisher to sign a contract with a morality clause in it?

To sign or not to sign? What would it take to convince you to subject yourself to a morality clause in a publishing contract? Bryan is on vacation this week. Jim welcomes his special guest host, Chrishaun Keller-Hanna! This week’s Happy Books Review Winner is Randy Green. Thank you to our featured Patrons – Guild of Tokens: Initiate, Mayhem & Murder, and How to Self-Publish A Children’s Book: Everything You Need To Know To Write, Illustrate, Publish, And Market Your Paperback And Ebook. The Top Tips of the week include why the right keywords are so important, what you can learn from the top authors in your field, and what the pros and cons are of Bookbub’s various advertising opportunities. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what you should know about pirates, how traditional publishers an AB-using morality clauses, how author Jeffrey Munn used niche marketing to nearly triple his sales, what happened to the Washington Post bestseller list, and how author RE Vance hit his first 5-figure month. Question of the Week: What would you need from a traditional publisher to sign a contract with a morality clause in it? read more