Book Writing & Publishing

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...

One of Jessica's most remarkable accomplishments is as a mom of three amazing kids. When her beautiful daughter Dalia passed away in March 2022 from an ultra-rare mitochondrial disease called MERRF syndrome, she was compelled to transition from how-to format and personal essay to long-form memoir.

Her newest book, Breath Taking, will be released in 2024 (which cannot come soon enough). 

In this episode, we talked about her journey through the writing and acquisition of this newest book. 

 Highlights include: 

• Discovering in what unexpected ways her story was extraordinary WHILE writing. (This marks the difference between “Here’s what happened” and “Here's why it mattered.”)
• How the book kept blossoming into a bigger and bigger story (and how she got her arms around all while not getting overwhelmed by the massive amount of content)
• Going from "This is a tough read" to writing so people will be uplifted and inspired, because that’s what the overall theme/message is
• How she i...

Donna Norman-Carbone's second novel, Of Lies and Honey, just launched (April 24, 2024, Red Adept Publishing), and it was wonderful to have her on as a repeat guest.

Her first novel, All That Is Sacred, came out less than a year ago (June 2023, Red Adept Publishing), and chatting about the differences between book 1 and book 2 proved as fun and insightful as I knew it would! 

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• The biggest differences between the first launch and the second (including the task she full-on forgot to do when launching the first book!)
• How Donna navigates looking at sales numbers and reviews
• Using NetGalley for reviews: the benefit of being with a smaller publisher versus a Big 5 publisher 
• The admission that made me question whether Donna and I could be friends (yes, that’s clickbait.)
• The challenge of writing back cover copy/book jacket summary
• Donna's strategy for ensuring she doesn’t get “stuck” while writing a book

ABOUT DONNA

Donna Norman-Carbone's debut novel, All Th...

The time has come! We're finally able to move on from the days of traditional offset printing to print-on-demand options when it comes to children's books and cookbooks. Whether you're contemplating watercolor illustrations for a children's book or publishing a mouthwatering cookbook, this episode is for you! 

 

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• Managing the balance between print quality, profitability, and the different book distribution methods at your disposal. 
• The nitty-gritty of offset printing vs. the economics of self-publishing 
• The pros and cons of overseas printing 
• The real costs of self-distribution
• Demystifying the printing process to ensure your images pop off the page. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Publish A Profitable Book discount: For a limited time, we're celebrating the updates to the Publish A Profitable Book course with 15% off! Use code PUBLISH15 at checkout (applies to pay-in-full AND payment plan options!). 

>> Which publishing approach is best for you? Click here t...

Key Takeaways:

• It's important to give yourself permission to try different approaches and strategies when writing and publishing a book.

• Don't feel pressured to follow the advice of others if it doesn't align with your goals or preferences.

• Consistency and courage are key to finding success in your writing journey.

Introduction

In this episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, we discuss the importance of giving yourself permission to do what feels right for your book, regardless of the advice and opinions of others. Let's dive in and explore the power of embracing your own path.

Embracing Your Unique Approach

In the world of book writing and publishing, there is no shortage of advice and opinions on the "right" way to do things. From running ads to choosing the perfect marketing strategy, it can be overwhelming to navigate through the sea of recommendations. However, it's crucial to remember that what works for one person may not work for anot...