Episodes

  • How to Make It as a Solopreneur with Eddie Generous
    Dec 14 2020

    Solopreneur Eddie Generous has no problem finding success on his own. Using discipline, self-motivation, and market sense, he has grown substantially as a publisher, podcaster, and author. Eddie is the creator of Unnerving Magazine, which filters through hundreds of open submissions to bring the best spine-chilling horror back to the masses. He also runs a podcast bearing the same name and has published multiple books, including Savage Beasts of the Arctic Circle and Plantation Pan. His latest publication, Dusk, is available below.

    From Amazon.com:

    Eddie Generous is an author of Savage Beasts of the Arctic Circle, RAWR, Trouble at Camp Still Waters, Great Big Teeth, and Radio Run (all from Severed Press), Plantation Pan (from Omnium Gatherum), and several collections. He is the founder/editor/publisher/artist behind Unnerving and Unnerving Magazine, and the host of the Unnerving Podcast. He lives on the Pacific Coast of Canada with his wife and their cat overlords.

    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 Eddie persisted through countless early failures
    • How to start a magazine
    • Why “quiet horror” needs to go
    • Why short stories sell less these days
    • The importance of a story’s first sentence
    Links:

    J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/

    J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/

    Eddie Generous - https://www.jiffypopandhorror.com/

    Unnerving Magazine - https://www.unnervingbooks.com/

    Dusk by Eddie Generous - https://mybook.to/dusk/

    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/contact/

    *Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.

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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Creating Professional Covers and Ads on BookBrush with Kathleen Sweeney
    Dec 7 2020

    Kathleen Sweeney has helped authors create professional covers and ads on BookBrush for the past two years. One of the most innovative new author tools, BookBrush features easy-to-design standard covers, instant mockups, box set covers, 3D covers, and even animated covers. As the Customer Service Manager and Marketing Lead at BookBrush, Kathleen hosts frequent information sessions and works closely with authors to help them create the best cover or ad possible. To learn more about BookBrush or Kathleen, visit bookbrush.com.

    From BookBrush.com:

    Kathleen loves creating images. She brings over 17 years of client service experience, business assurance, strategy and problem solving to Book Brush. She is happy to help!

    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 BookBrush was created
    • Why Kathleen decided to join the team
    • Why BookBrush is so effective and easy-to-use
    • How to animate your cover design
    • The importance of the “20%” advertisement rule
    • Why your ad needs bold colors
    Links:

    J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/

    J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/

    Kathleen Sweeney - kathleensweeney@authorreachmedia.com

    BookBrush - https://bookbrush.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/contact/

    *Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.

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    36 mins
  • The Thinning Line Between Indie and Traditional Publishing
    Nov 30 2020

    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/contact/


    *Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.


    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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    45 mins
  • #audiblegate with Susan May
    Nov 24 2020

    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/contact/


    *Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.


    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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    35 mins
  • Pursuing Multiple Projects with Christopher Rice
    Nov 23 2020

    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 -

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    53 mins
  • Gaining Exposure with Publicist Mickey Mikkelson
    Nov 16 2020

    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/contact/


    “Muggable” quote by Harley Christensen - https:

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    49 mins
  • Designing the Perfect Cover with Books Covered's Stuart Bache
    Nov 9 2020

    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/contact/


    “Muggable” quote by Harley Christensen - https://www.mischievousmalamute.com/

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    49 mins
  • Finding Mindfulness as a Writer with Seth Godin
    Nov 2 2020

    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/contact/


    “Muggable” quote by Harley Christensen - https://www.mischievousmalamute.com/


    *Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.


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    Show more Show less
    54 mins