Book Writing & Publishing

What if you could transform a lived experience into a compelling narrative that reads like fiction?

In this episode, I chat with the talented Sarah Gormley, author of The Order of Things. In a candid discussion about "memoir plus," we explore how memoir can deliver powerful messages while engaging readers with its storytelling.

The conversation also turned to the intricacies of publishing. We explored the merits of hybrid publishing versus publishing services, with insights into marketing strategies that can elevate an author's reach. 

ABOUT SARAH

Sarah Gormley is a writer and art gallery owner living in Columbus, Ohio. Her undergraduate degree from DePauw University reinforced an early love for literature and writing, while the heavy sprinkling of liberal-arts fairy dust taught her how to analyze and articulate a clear point of view. She rounded out this foundation with concentrations in marketing and operations from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.

Her marke...

Ann Garvin writes books for "women to do too much in a world that asks too much." Enough said; take all my money already!

She published her first book in her late forties, even though one of her professors/mentors used to say to her on a regular basis, “You’re the worst writer I’ve ever met.” (He wasn’t being funny.)

During this episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, Ann and I had so much fun discussing the novel-writing journey, from writing to publishing to marketing (and a whole lot in between!).

INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

• Ann's journey from being a nurse (with a PhD) to being a full-time writer and how she thinks about her future in this space. 
• A fascinating look into what’s moving the levers in the publishing space right now. It’s extremely eye-opening, and allows YOU, as the author, to make much more well-informed decisions when it comes to publishing and marketing.
• Going from 102 to 21K reviews (and whether she reads those reviews!)
• How her process has evolve
...

From writing the first chapter of The Undercurrent (Zibby Books, Oct 2024) as a standalone piece to fleshing out a full literary suspense novel I can’t put down, Sarah Sawyer has quickly become one of my new favorite authors. 

In this episode of Write the Damn Book Already, we discussed: 

• What has most surprised her about the publishing process
• Sarah's view of the editing process (which is one to adopt immediately, if not sooner!)
• The formidable task of securing blurbs (which even traditionally published authors often have to do themselves)
• How writing this book has caused her to look at other books and authors differently

CONNECT WITH SARAH

Sarah's debut novel, The Undercurrent
Sarah’s website: www.sarahsawyerauthor.com
Sarah’s Instagram: @SarahSawyerAuthor

WHAT SARAH’S READING

James by Percival Everett
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell
Swift River by Essie Chambers

Amazon ads are one of my favorite tools for indie authors to boost book sales and visibility, but they can feel so complicated that it's easy to avoid using them.

I'm sharing key insights from my 12-week "experiment" with a new campaign for my book, Write the Damn Book Already, including targeting relevant keywords and categories, setting appropriate budgets, and monitoring ad performance to optimize results.

 

MENTIONED RESOURCES:

Original IG post about ads experiment

Link to blog post detailing setup of this ads campaign

Link to Publisher Rocket software

Link to audiobook of Enough: The Simple Path to Everything You Want ($4.99)

Megan Tady's second novel, Bluebird Day, launches on Dec. 3, 2024 (pre-order now!) In her second appearance on the podcast, we had the most wonderful chat about: 

• How book launching is like a salmon run (it's such a great analogy). 
• Strategies for best working with an editor while writing 
• Meg's writing process, from first to final draft, and how it evolved from the first to the second book
• The best part of Meg's publishing journey
• Meg's strategies for navigating the “wacky and wild” publishing industry and What she wasn’t at all prepared for when it comes to being an author

CONNECT WITH MEGAN

Order your copy of Bluebird Day
Meg's Instagram: @megtady
Meg's website: MeganTady.com
Meg's writing, editing & strategy services: Word Lift
Meg's first WTDBA podcast interview: Episode 36  

WHAT MEG'S READING NOW

All Fours by Miranda
Big in Sweden by Sally Franson
The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston

BOOKS MENTIONED

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George...

In my experience, all success stories begin with some version of the words "Let's try something."

As an author, I ran my first Amazon Ads campaign in 2018. I haven't run them for my own books in quite some time (I've been busy helping other authors write and publish their books!). 

However, I've continued to read up on best practices and study different approaches when it comes to Amazon Ads. After another client recently asked me to help her with hers, I recognized how much I know about running a successful ads campaign (while also remembering how incredibly overwhelming the process was when I ran my first one!). 

So let's run a 12-week ad experiment for my latest book, Write the Damn Book Already, so you can see that this process doesn't have to be complicated to be successful. 

WEEK 1 OVERVIEW

I'll cover the importance of transparency in advertising, showing you exactly how my ads have performed historically and what my budget has been. Also important to clarify is the diffe...

Emma Grey is the Australian author of the international bestseller, THE LAST LOVE NOTE, which was both a Book of the Month and Target Book Club pick, and was praised in Oprah Daily as “relatable, hilarious and charming".

She’s back this November with her new novel, PICTURES OF YOU — a suspense-filled romance about love and control that explores the way a sparkling relationship can morph into darkness and what might happen with a second chance at first love.

In her second appearance on the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, we chatted about Emma's experiences with prologues, her collaborative work with editors (from different countries, no less), and the evolution of her book-writing process. She also reflects on the challenges of writing a second novel after the success of her first, emphasizing the importance of pushing through the "messy first draft."

CONNECT WITH EMMA

Emma's website: www.emmagrey.com.au
Emma's Instagram: instagram.com/emmagreyauthor
Click here to order The Last L...

This episode explores the critical decision of whether to distribute your ebook "wide"—across multiple platforms—or stay exclusive to Amazon through their KDP Select program. 

Going wide means your ebook is available on platforms beyond Amazon, such as Kobo or Google Play, giving you access to a broader audience globally. This approach can increase visibility, particularly in countries where Kindle isn't the dominant e-reading platform.

On the other hand, exclusivity with Amazon through KDP Select offers perks like participation in Kindle Unlimited, higher royalties in certain regions, and access to exclusive promotional tools. However, this exclusivity comes with restrictions, including a 90-day lock-in period and the inability to sell your ebook elsewhere, even on your own website.

The right choice depends on your genre, goals, and audience. Romance, mystery, sci-fi, and fantasy often perform well on KDP Select due to the voracious reading habits of their audiences. However, if y...

Until somewhat recently, streamlined pre-orders were only possible for traditionally published authors. Now, indie authors can also benefit from pre-orders as well, helping them with:

Building Excitement and Engagement: Pre-orders allow authors to generate buzz and excitement around their upcoming book, encouraging readers to take action before the release date.

Community Building: Offering pre-orders helps authors build and nurture a community by gathering email addresses and establishing a direct connection with readers, which can lead to quicker reviews and word-of-mouth promotion.

Data Collection: Through pre-orders, authors can collect valuable reader data (like email addresses) that is otherwise inaccessible when books are sold through platforms like Amazon. This data allows authors to maintain a relationship with their readers post-purchase and make future marketing efforts more effective.

This episode of Write the Damn Book Already discusses not only the benefits and consi...

Many indie authors find the idea of creating a publishing house overwhelming. But with the right steps, it becomes both manageable and highly beneficial. Here’s why setting up a publishing house is essential and how to do it.

First, it’s crucial to understand that forming a publishing house is not about creating a giant company like Amazon. Instead, it's about legally separating your personal and professional assets. This separation is vital as an author, because it protects your personal finances from any potential legal issues that may arise. 

While many creatives shy away from the business aspects of publishing, treating your book as a business can help you reach a broader audience. This means embracing some business tasks (even those you might not enjoy, like accounting. Just me?). 

Setting up a publishing house may seem daunting, but it’s simpler than it appears. The key is to create a legal entity, like an LLC, to protect your assets, which isn't nearly as complicated or ex...