Question of the Week: What do you think is a fair price for a custom book cover? What have you spent on covers in the past?

With one more episode until finishing a full baseball season, Jim and Bryan took on the latest news, tips, and happenings in the indie world. After thanking their patrons The Author’s Guide to Ebook Bundling, More Than Monsters, and What Sells Books, the pair of publishing pundits talked tips on short stories, Amazon Author Central, and writing on planes. News stories included a survey on Chinese readership, 99 Designs moving into book, story rights, breaking the indie rules, and ACX’s crackdown on new international accounts. This week’s Question of the Week: What do you think is a fair price for a custom book cover? What have you spent on covers in the past? Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show on iTunes!

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show via RSS! 

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show via Stitcher!

Direct MP3 Download 

What You’ll Learn: read more

Question of the Week: Do you think Kickstarter’s new feature to let guests contribute without signing up will increase the chances of funding for publishing projects? Why or why not?

Jim stepped in as chief news readers again this week as he and Bryan took on news about Kickstarter’s pledge change, Amazon’s scorched earth policy in Australia, and your new favorite self-publishing metaphor. Bryan’s Selling for Authors course is now open again for a limited time and available at https://www.sellingforauthors.com/invest17 (available through May 2nd). After thanking their patrons Sanyare: The Last Descendant, Plain Talk Book Marketing Blog Tours, and Blogging for Authors, Bryan and Jim tackled tips on Facebook ads, spreading out your KDP Select free days, and KDP Print. Other news stories included Scribl, Amazon Subscribe, and a peach farming mentality to publishing. This week’s Question of the Week: Do you think Kickstarter’s new feature to let guests contribute without signing up will increase the chances of funding for publishing projects? Why or why not? read more

Question of the Week: Do you think Kindle Unlimited will be significantly larger in 3-5 years? If so, how will it impact indie authors going forward?

J. Thorn joined the podcast this week in our latest lab segment as the trio chatted about Audible’s removal of the gifting feature and Written Word Media’s KU survey. After thanking their patrons Wanderer’s Escape, 5 Numbers of Destiny, and Email Lists Made Easy for Writers and Bloggers, J., Jim, and Bryan discussed tips on avoiding mistakes, turning your mistakes around, and taming your dictation dragon. News stories included another word on Amazon Cash, why you shouldn’t fight piracy, the classic future of indie titles, new changes to Kindle Worlds, Audible losing a feature, and an insightful KU feature. This week’s Question of the Week: Do you think Kindle Unlimited will be significantly larger in 3-5 years? If so, how will it impact indie authors going forward?

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show on iTunes!

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show via RSS! 

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show via Stitcher! read more

Question of the Week: Why hasn’t Amazon fixed the Page Flip feature after six months of it being an issue?

Why hasn’t Amazon fixed the Page Flip feature? Bryan and Jim featured this question as the top story in another news-filled week of self-publishing. After thanking their patrons The Final Arrangement, Nightblade, and 31 Days of Wisdom, the self-pub stalwarts discussed connecting with C-list influencers, using Google Analytics to understand your demographics, and the two different types of author newsletters. This week’s news stories included Kobo’s acquisition of Shelfie, the launch of the Windows e-bookstore, Kindle Create, the Prime Reading “advance,” Amazon Cash, and the continued issue of the Page Flip feature on Kindle devices. This week’s Question of the Week: Why hasn’t Amazon fixed the Page Flip feature after six months of it being an issue?

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show on iTunes!

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show via RSS! 

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show via Stitcher! read more

Question of the Week: Do you feel like a slow writer can succeed in the self-publishing world? Why or why not?

Bryan & Jim started their “senior year” off right with stories about Amazon’s acquisition of Souq, the new Amazon Influencer Program, and the debate about slow vs. fast writing. After thanking their patrons Slow Burn: Zero Day, Divorced Dad, and Vanguard, the “big men on campus” tackled tips on souped-up email signatures, back matter, and audiobooks. News stories focused on Kobo’s latest innovations, Hachette’s new content site, slow vs. fast writing, the acquisition of Souq, and Amazon’s new affiliate program. This week’s Question of the Week: Do you feel like a slow writer can succeed in the self-publishing world? Why or why not?

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show on iTunes!

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show via RSS! 

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show via Stitcher! read more

Question of the Week: Who would your dream author collaboration be with and where would you go to write?

Happy third podcast anniversary to Bryan & Jim! With three years under their belt, they were free to take on tips about book descriptions and author mindset after thanking their patrons Somebody’s Darling, Hitler Out of Time, and Guerrilla Tactics Against Passive Aggression in the Work Place. The top stories included Amazon Books in Chicago, Amazon Author Insights, a peek behind Data Guy’s curtain, indie bookstores as small publishers, and four writers on a train. This week’s Question of the Week: Who would your dream author collaboration be with and where would you go to write?

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show on iTunes!

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show via RSS! 

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show via Stitcher! read more

Question of the Week: What do you think is the One Thing you should be focusing on to get more readers and why? Also, which one of us is Toots and which one is Puddle?

Looks like Rocket has some competition. After Jim introduced Willow the Puppy to the Sell More Books Show, he and Bryan tackled the biggest stories of the week. This episode is brought to you by show patrons Twisting Fate, Character Sketch & Color, and The Last Verdict. In their last episode before the show’s three-year anniversary, Bryan and Jim talked tips about using social media to find readers, how to track what your fans are buying, and how to make Amazon Ads work for you. The top five stories included new opportunities for authors to get on TV, a new publishing path for academics, a new trad pub author going indie, Hachette’s two latest partnerships, and Marie Force’s changed stance on the New York Times list. This week’s Question of the Week: What do you think is the One Thing you should be focusing on to get more readers and why? Also, which one of us is Toots and which one is Puddle?

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show on iTunes!

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show via RSS! 

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show via Stitcher! read more

Question of the Week: With word spreading that Amazon can get books to #1 with some major launches and better terms for authors, will more big-time trad pub authors join Amazon imprints? Why or why not?

What do Adam Croft and Patricia Cornwell have in common? They’re now both with Amazon imprints, which is this week’s top story. After thanking their patrons The Tilt, Twins of Prey, and Carnal, Jim and Bryan tackled tips on forwards, bios, and writing contests. News stories included traditionally published teen authors in India, Hachette’s acquisition of Bookouture, Dean Wesley’s Smith’s proposed change for agents, Libro.fm’s new audio subscription, Amazon’s latest review policy change, and Patricia Cornwell’s new deal with Amazon’s Thomas & Mercer imprint. This week’s Question of the Week: With word spreading that Amazon can get books to #1 with some major launches and better terms for authors, will more big-time trad pub authors join Amazon imprints? Why or why not?

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show on iTunes!

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show via RSS! 

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show via Stitcher! read more

Question of the Week: Which upstart group of small publishers do you think Data Guy is referring to in his tease for the next Author Earnings report and why?

After a discussion about entrepreneurial parenting, Jim and Bryan take on the latest Author Earnings report, rejecting traditional publishing, and diehard dedication in Episode 153. Following the Patreon thanks to Shadow Raiders, How to Drive Your Next Card Deal, and Black Shadow Moon, the dedicated duo took on tips about burnout, thinking outside the box, and using your mailing list last on launches. News stories included Wattpad’s new feature Tap, Shatzkin’s “overhead” argument, and Author Earnings international report. This week’s Question of the Week: Which upstart group of small publishers do you think Data Guy is referring to in his tease for the next Author Earnings report and why?

(Republished from AuthorEarnings.com)

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show on iTunes!

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show via RSS!  read more

Question of the Week: Have you used or do you plan to use Pronoun, Street Lib, or Publish Drive? If so, what’s your experience been so far. If not, what’s keeping you away?

A wild week in publishing news means we’ve got TONS to talk about, including two big-time indie launches, several aggregator platforms going head-to-head, and Kobo Plus. After thanking our patrons the Hat Trick Series, Monkey Justice, and The Dragon Rustler, the broad-shouldered broadcasters of self-publishing took on tips about piracy, income, and mailing lists. News stories included Amazon continuing to crack down on affiliates, Qidian, a huge launch by Adam Croft, Kobo Plus, a triple-threat match between self-publishing aggregators, and Mark Dawson’s $29,000 thriller launch. This week’s Question of the Week: Have you used or do you plan to use Pronoun, Street Lib, or Publish Drive? If so, what’s your experience been so far. If not, what’s keeping you away?

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show on iTunes!

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show via RSS! 

Subscribe to The Sell More Books Show via Stitcher! read more