With Bryan back from his walkabout, he and Jim discussed the latest in the self-publishing sphere. After giving a hat tip to their patron Jonathan Small and his book Ascent ( http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013TH3N7M ), the death-defying duo covered tips on autoresponders, forging relationships, and what to ask a publicist. News stories included Amazon falling down on the job, the Authors Guild’s fight against the “discount double-cross,” Alan Moore’s pro-self-publishing rant, Dean Wesley Smith’s business advice, and the five-year anniversary of Marie Force’s first self-published book. This week’s Question of the Week: What’s the deal with Amazon? Are they dropping the ball or are we just expecting too much and why?

• An interesting tip and bringing new perspective to your email list
• How nine months of planning can birth some effective marketing
• What you should aspect prospective publicists
• How Amazon has come up short for indies
• Why the Authors Guild is asking for trad pub contract changes
• What Alan Moore said that set the indie world ablaze
• How to treat your author career like a business
• The story of Marie Force and her eight-figure success

• Bryan’s New Description, Ad, and Landing Page Offer
• Jonathan Small’s Ascent
• Automarketing
• 9 Months Later
• Going Publicist
• It’s Complicated (1)
• It’s Complicated (2)
• Discount Double-Cross
• Moore is More
• Follow the Money
• The Last Five Years

Question of the Week: What’s the deal with Amazon? Are they dropping the ball or are we just expecting too much and why?