Question of the Week: What qualities would you want in an organization that protects the interests of authors and why?

In the dog days of summer, only the strong self-publishing newscasters survive. Bryan and Jim talked writing speed and Jim’s latest Authorpreneur interview before diving head first into the tips. The advice included spreading audiobooks with OneBook, selling local with the bookseller’s mindset, and fiction writing lessons from Joanna Penn. The news included stories on picking your ideal reader, the myth of author laziness, trad pub blacklisting blurbs for POD books, Konrath and Eisler’s Authors Guild fisking, and one author’s reminiscences of trad pub days gone by. This week’s Question of the Week: What qualities would you want in an organization that protects the interests of authors and why? read more

Question of the Week: Will book piracy become as huge as music piracy did during the Napster days? Will it impact the average indie author? Why or why not?

With solid nights of sleep behind them, Jim and Bryan tackled the latest topics in self-publishing. After discussing Bryan’s new URL for his service, BookBestPageForward.com, and Jim’s latest interviews on Authorpreneur.fm, the marketing mavens took on the tips and news. Tips included how to average out the stats of the bestsellers of the last decade, aspiring authorpreneur advice, and how to live more simply. News stories focused on picking a new term for indie authors, Mike Shatzkin’s potential about-face, summer reading statistics, a review of indie author library services, and the impact piracy has on indies. The Question of the Week: Will book piracy become as huge as music piracy did during the Napster days? Will it impact the average indie author? Why or why not?

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Question of the Week: Do you think the Kindle Gold Rush post was real or fake? What do you think we should take from it either way?

As Bryan fought back sleepiness and Jim teased a new Author Marketing Club tool, the podcasting pals gave episode #68 their all! They tackled tips on ambition, a new Twitter app, and how to treat book reviewers. Bryan and Jim also covered the latest in self-publishing news, including stories on direct Facebook sales, Douglas Preston’s letter to the Department of Justice, Amazon Follow, the underground world of Kindle ebooks, and the transparency of the publishing business. This week’s Question of the Week: “Do you think the Kindle Gold Rush post was real or fake? What do you think we should take from it either way?”

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Question of the Week: What would you do differently if you were starting self-publishing today?

With Jim using his “Gone Fishin'” sign, Bryan welcomed another British guest co-host to the show this week: Simon Whistler of the Rocking Self Publishing Podcast! Simon and Bryan chatted about last week’s question before moving into tips about free Kindle book covers, online quizzes, and writing 5,000 words per hour. News stories included reports on the closing of Nook’s international store, the spread of ebooks in India, the Ted Cruz bestseller list controversy, Kobo’s eRead Local campaign, Shawn Inmon’s post on starting from scratch, and the Authors Guild’s 50/50 ebook royalty initiative. This week’s Question of the Week is “What would you do differently if you were starting self-publishing today?”

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Question of the Week: Is Amazon’s removal of some indie reviews fair? Why or why not? Should Amazon change its policy? If yes, how so?

Between book launches (Bryan’s new novella) and other podcasts (Jim’s upcoming Authorpreneur interview with Andy Weir), the turbulent twosome brought you one of their most info-packed shows yet! They discussed three tips on hiring a virtual assistant, pitching new readers, and occasionally turning off the computer. The news was even meatier than usual this week with stories on social media, Nook’s new website, the Amazon review removal controversy, the reaction to the KU pages read rate, and Scribd’s culling of romance titles. This week’s Question of the Week: Is Amazon’s removal of some indie reviews fair? Why or why not? Should Amazon change its policy? If yes, how so?

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Question of the Week: Why aren’t millennials buying ebooks? Is it a lack of time, too much technology, have young people always read less, or is it something else entirely?

Bryan and Jim are back in action with another week of the latest tips and news. After Bryan discussed the recent Stanley Cup bet he won with Pete Bauer, the devilishly handsome duo talked about the Alphasmart 3000, valuing your mistakes, and how to use Scrivener to organize your marketing. News stories focused on an update to the German adult ebook law, reading among millennials, why trad pub can’t innovate, how to truly own your books, the true cost of traditional publishing, and why social sharing could be the new author marketing craze. This week’s Question of the Week: Why aren’t millennials buying ebooks? Is it a lack of time, too much technology, have young people always read less, or is it something else entirely?

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Question of the Week: Will you research how to improve your Amazon review rating once the new formula is put in place? If so, how much time will you spend and why?

In one of their best shows yet, Jim and Bryan went deep on the most pressing issues of the week. After Bryan discussed the success of his Best Page Forward service, Jim announced his new Authorpreneur podcast (available at http://authorpreneur.fm). The diabolical duo then took on three tips about assetless pre-orders, daily writing habits, and the CrystalKnows email program. News stories included a check-in on the Tess Gerritsen Gravity case, Taylor Swift’s shaming of Apple Music, Germany’s new erotic ebook law, speculation on the size of self-publishing, the ills of gaming the system, and Amazon’s new review formula. The Question of the Week: Will you research how to improve your Amazon review rating once the new formula is put in place? If so, how much time will you spend and why?

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Question of the Week: Will the new KU payout structure be good or bad for authors and why? How will it impact your own business? (Answer in the comments)

In the beach edition of the Sell More Books Show, Bryan battled sharks and hermit crabs to record the latest episode with Jim. Before they talked tips, Bryan launched his new service, Best Page Forward: A Description Writing and Marketing Service, which you can check out at http://bryancohen.com/bestpage Jim and Bryan discussed three tips this week on marketing services, procrastination, and book piracy. While the news included stories on direct-to-brain book downloads, Amazon’s publishing imprints, the  Oblivion Principle, and authors as customers, the focus was Amazon’s recent announcement about Kindle Unlimited and page reads. This week’s Question of the Week: Will the new KU payout structure be good or bad for authors and why? How will it impact your own business?

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Jim and Bryan topped Babe Ruth and Roger Maris this week by smacking number 62 right out of the park! After Bryan invited listeners to his Ted Head Games contest, the silver sluggers took on tips about profitability, internal defense, and series resurrection. The news included stories on MacGuffin, Nielsen’s ebook statistics, Apple’s possible switch to 85 percent royalties, the $10,000 self-published book design, and attitudes toward younger writers. This Week’s Question of the Week: If you could meet with the author who spent $33,000 self-publishing (Dr. Nancy Saltzman) what would you say and why?

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In a show bursting with info, Jim and Bryan welcomed back Mark Dawson for the conclusion of his Facebook ad experiments. They also touched on a trio of tips related to building your author empire, the latest tools introduced at BEA, and the essentials of any marketing campaign. The top 5 news focused on mobile phone reading, John Scalzi’s 10-year publishing deal, the Authors Guild’s attempt at positive PR, Phoenix Sullivan’s analysis of Author Earnings’ data, and Orna Ross’ editorial on the true worst time to be an author. This Week’s Question of the Week: Would you take a 10-year contract if it meant financial security but that all contact with your readers would go through the publishing company?

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