If I'm Being Honest: Straight Talk About Book Publishing & Promotion

How to Use AI to Beat Writers Block and Write More with Plot Drive

Thu, 28 May 2026 09:00:00 -0700

The hardest part of writing a book is rarely “coming up with ideas.” It’s the thousand tiny moments that break your focus: hunting for a detail you wrote weeks ago, second-guessing whether you already told that story, losing track of character threads, or getting pulled into email while you search across messy folders. That’s where my conversation with Jay Rosencrantz, founder of Plotdrive, gets interesting fast.

We talk about Plotdrive as a clean writing studio that blends the simplicity of a word processor with the organization writers expect from serious book writing software. Your draft stays front and center, while a simple sidebar holds folders and documents for foundations, character notes, locations, drafts, and edits. The AI layer is optional and controlled: you can toggle context on or off per document, so the model only sees what you want it to see. Jay also explains how Plotdrive connects to multiple large language models, including GPT, Claude, and Gemini, so you can choose the best tool for brainstorming, structure, or revision.

The big takeaway isn’t “let AI write your book.” It’s using AI for writers as a block-breaking partner that reduces friction and keeps you in flow. We dig into Co-Writer as a coach and developmental editor, how LLMs can help with structure and tropes for fiction, and how nonfiction authors can use natural language to check redundancy and consistency without derailing a writing session. We also get real about the fear and ethics around AI, and why the healthiest frame might be support over replacement.

If you’re curious about a Scrivener alternative, a Google Docs alternative, or just a better way to finish the draft you keep restarting, listen now and tell us what part of the process blocks you most. Subscribe, share this with a writer friend, and leave a review so more authors can find the show.

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Own Your Book Marketing

Fri, 22 May 2026 09:00:00 -0700

You can hire help for book promotion, but you cannot outsource the one thing that actually sells books: an author who shows up, believes in the work, and leads the marketing. We see the same trap over and over, across self-publishing and traditional publishing. Writers assume a publisher, a PR firm, or a marketing company will take it from here, and then they feel stuck when nothing moves. We break that myth down and replace it with a simple, realistic approach you can run yourself.

We start with the most overlooked lever in book marketing: your existing network. Friends, family, coworkers, and community connections are not “beneath” a serious launch, they are how serious launches begin. We talk about building early traction, asking for reviews, and using one opportunity to create the next by ending conversations with a powerful question: “Who else should I talk to?” That grassroots momentum is often what makes later media, partnerships, and bigger visibility possible.

From there, we dig into author platform building in a way that does not require you to become someone you are not. “Platform” can be a newsletter, Substack, blog, podcast, or video, as long as it is consistent content for a clear target audience and it is something you can sustain. We also cover why you should start slow, stop comparing your first posts to someone else’s fifth year, and avoid giving up before the compounding effect has time to kick in.

Finally, we get honest about spending money on marketing. Ads and promotions work best after you have soil, not before: a basic platform, some proof like reviews, and a next step for readers. That might be a second book, a series, a course, consulting, or a clear way to stay connected. If you want a smarter book launch strategy and a long-term plan for book sales, hit play, then subscribe, share this with an author friend, and leave us a review.

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How AutoCrit Helps You Plan and Finish Your Book with Bekah Brinkmeier

Fri, 08 May 2026 10:00:00 -0700

You don’t need a robot to write your book. You need clear feedback, a smarter revision process, and a way to see what your draft is really doing on the page. We’re joined by Becca Brinkmeier, partnerships and project manager at AutoCrit, plus a full-time author and ghostwriter with dozens of books behind her, to talk about how AI-assisted editing can support real writers without generating content or stealing your voice.

We dig into what AutoCrit is built for: planning, writing, editing, analyzing, and formatting manuscripts for publication. Becca breaks down the Story Analyzer and how it delivers developmental-style feedback on plot threads, foreshadowing, POV, pacing, and worldbuilding. We also talk line editing reports that surface patterns like tense consistency issues and other habits that quietly weaken prose, plus how comparing your style to genre bestsellers can help you meet reader expectations while staying authentically you.

For planners and discovery writers alike, we explore tools like Story Builder and reverse outlining with Backwards Blueprint, including how those features can help nonfiction authors fix structure, cut redundancy, and reorganize chapters without rewriting from scratch. We also cover Market Fuel for market analysis, keywords, and positioning, and why that matters for self-publishing and even for a traditional book proposal.

Privacy comes up for ghostwriters and anyone working with sensitive drafts. Becca shares how the platform approaches secure access and consent, and we end with practical workflow wins like collaboration, offline mode, and high-velocity dictation for getting more words without living at your desk. If this helps, subscribe, share it with a writer friend, and leave a review so more authors can find the conversation.

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Changes in Self Publishing Trends with Alexa Bigwarfe

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0700

Your inbox says someone “discovered” your book and wants to make you a bestseller. The flattery feels good, the promise feels big, and the risk is real. We sit down with publishing consultant and community builder Alexa Bigwarfe, founder of Write|Publish|Sell and the Women in Publishing Summit, to talk straight about what authors actually face right now in self-publishing, hybrid publishing, and book marketing.

We start where most people skip ahead: defining your why. Whether you are writing for healing, impact, credibility, income, or pure joy, your goal determines the publishing path, the timeline, and how much you should invest. From there we unpack the gray areas that trip writers up, including the difference between legitimate hybrid presses, boutique partners, and vanity press traps, plus the wave of AI-generated DMs and emails that target authors with generic praise and expensive offers. The throughline is simple: education beats hype, and community makes it easier to spot what is real.

Then we get practical about what is working: authentic connection with readers, email lists, word of mouth, strategic review-building, and the power of a backlist for authors who want to earn a living. We also get blunt about quality, because you cannot market a book that is not professionally edited, properly designed, and aligned with reader expectations.

If this helped, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a writer friend. What is the sketchiest “promotion” pitch you have received lately?

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How To Grow Your Reader Base With BookFunnel

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:00:00 -0700

Your best marketing idea can still fail for one boring reason: readers can’t easily get the book onto their device. That’s where BookFunnel shines, and that’s why I sat down with Jack Shilkaitis, BookFunnel’s lead author support specialist and a prolific sci-fi author, to talk straight about what actually works when you’re trying to grow as a writer.

We break down the core BookFunnel tools authors use to build a real reader funnel: fast landing pages, email list integrations, universal book links, ARC delivery for review teams, and the behind-the-scenes reader support that helps people through Send to Kindle and other common tech snags. Then we get into the part most authors struggle with: traffic. Jack explains how BookFunnel group promotions create genre-targeted discovery by tapping into other authors’ newsletters, so you’re reaching engaged readers rather than shouting into the void.

From there, we zoom out into strategy. We talk Kindle Unlimited versus wide publishing, why bonus chapters can act like “mini reader magnets” inside your books, and how direct sales with Shopify changes the math because you finally own the customer relationship. Jack also shares an honest take on priorities: writing the next book often fuels better marketing momentum, and the obsession with a flawless launch can lead to unrealistic expectations when what you really need is a system you can repeat and improve over time.

If you want practical author marketing advice, email list growth tactics, and a clearer path to direct-to-reader selling, hit play. Subscribe, share this with an author friend, and leave a review so more writers can find the show.

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Why You Should be Selling Books Directly to Your Readers with Dave Sheets

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0700

Print-on-demand made self-publishing feel instant, but “instant” is not the same as “best.” We sit down with Dave Sheets, a 30-year book industry pro and the founder of Indie Author Book Services, to get honest about what actually changes when an author moves from print on demand to short-run or offset printing. We dig into the real-world differences that matter: unit cost, profit margin, and the kind of print quality problems that can quietly wreck a reader’s trust.

Then we zoom out to the bigger play: distribution and ownership. If every sale runs through Amazon, you may gain reach, but you lose something priceless, your customer data. We talk through why direct-to-consumer book sales on your own website are the lifeblood of an indie author in 2025, plus a simple crawl-walk-run plan to handle fulfillment without getting overwhelmed. We also cover smart ways to incentivize buyers to purchase direct, from downloads to bonus formats, so you can build an email list you can actually use for book two, three, and beyond.

We also tackle AI in publishing, including where tools like ChatGPT help with ideas and short-form writing, and why AI still falls short on long-form books that need voice, empathy, and lived detail. And we bust a few stubborn publishing myths, like “traditional publishing is always better” and “bookstores are the holy grail,” while exploring special markets opportunities where bulk orders and partnerships can dwarf retail results.

If you care about self-publishing, book printing, offset vs POD, direct sales strategy, and building a real author business, hit play, subscribe, share this with a writer friend, and leave a review.

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Stop Chasing the Perfect Book Launch

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:00:00 -0700

If you’ve been told your book must explode on day one or Amazon will bury it forever, we’re here to take that weight off your shoulders. Joel Pitney and Sayde Walker dig into the launch myths we hear constantly from first-time authors and why they create so much anxiety: the belief that you only get one shot, that perfect keywords and categories will “hack” the Amazon algorithm, and that Amazon will somehow promote your book if you do everything just right.

We get practical about how discovery actually works on Amazon KDP, including why new titles sometimes don’t even appear in search at first, what “Sponsored” placements really mean, and why customer reviews and sales momentum matter more as a steady pattern than as a single spike. We also talk about launch timing obsessions like Tuesdays, January releases, and holiday windows, and why those factors usually matter far less than your readiness, your audience, and the realities of self-publishing systems.

From there, we shift to what to do instead: treat book marketing like a marathon, not a sprint. We explain why a soft launch can save you from glitches, why you should test tactics before going all-in, and how to build a long-term plan through outreach campaigns, authentic author platform building (TikTok, Substack, newsletters, offline community, whatever fits you), and the underrated power move of writing more books. We wrap it all in our Swiss cheese approach: no single tactic is perfect, but stacked over time, they become solid.

Subscribe for more straight talk on book publishing and promotion, share this with an author who needs it, and leave a rating and review so more writers can find the show.

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Thought Leadership That Works: Turning Your Book Into Opportunity with Laurinda Calongne

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0700

Most authors think the book is the goal. In reality, it’s the starting point.

In this episode, healthcare executive and clinician Laurinda Calongne shares how she turned her book Still Standing: Leading Well-Being in Crisis into a platform for real influence—opening doors to speaking, consulting, and leadership conversations.

Grounded in her experience leading through Hurricane Katrina, a decade of major storms, and the COVID-19 pandemic, Laurinda brings hard-earned credibility to the idea of thought leadership. But what makes this conversation different is the practical path she lays out for turning expertise into opportunity.

We get into the mechanics of nonfiction book marketing that actually reaches decision-makers: how to build a small group of champions who amplify your message, why LinkedIn is often the highest-leverage platform for thought leaders, how to tap into alumni networks and local press, and how to land podcast interviews that expand your reach.

Most importantly, Laurinda breaks down how a book evolves into something much bigger—keynotes, workshops, consulting engagements, and executive coaching—so your ideas don’t just live on the page, but in the rooms where decisions are made.

If you’re writing (or have written) a nonfiction book and want it to create real opportunities—not just sales—this episode gives you a clear, practical roadmap.

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How to Get Lasting Sales with Martin Leitner

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0700

A great launch can’t rescue a weak book. In this week's episode we go straight at the hard truth: lasting sales come from a book that’s either a joy to read or a precise solution to a real problem—and often both. With guest Martin Leitner of Cavalesso, we map a clear path from concept to momentum, showing how to validate your idea, write with purpose, and seed word of mouth so the book sells itself.

We start by separating pleasure reads from problem-solvers. If you’re writing memoir or fiction, craft is the product: voice, pacing, and emotional payoff. If you’re writing practical nonfiction, usefulness is king. Martin shares how he click tests pain statements and promises on Meta to confirm there’s demand and to capture early leads. Those leads become true beta readers—the exact people who feel the problem—who guide chapter-by-chapter improvements until the book earns a simple verdict: “This solved it.”

Then we dig into promotion that actually compounds. Martin explains “book seeding,” a focused giveaway strategy that puts your book into the right hands at scale. The goal is a viral factor above one: each reader reliably creates more readers through recommendations. Targeted video ads, free ebooks plus optional paperbacks, and events where your audience gathers can spark the initial surge that organic growth needs. We also explore when Amazon ads make sense, especially if your book leads to higher-value services, courses, or speaking.

Along the way, we tackle common myths: editors are vital but not a stand-in for your market; constraints amplify creativity; and giving books away can be the smartest path to revenue. If you’re a founder, executive, or first-time author chasing impact, you’ll leave with a playbook: define the reader, test the message, recruit beta readers, and seed deeply. Subscribe, share with an author who needs clear direction, and leave a review telling us which tactic you’ll try first.

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How Authors Misuse AI and What To Do Instead

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:00:00 -0800

If you’ve ever typed “Should I run a preorder?” into an AI tool and felt ready to act five seconds later, this conversation is for you. We unpack the most common ways authors misuse AI—and how to turn the same tools into real advantages without losing your voice or wasting your launch.

We start with the seduction of certainty. AI delivers answers with confidence, even when the question hinges on taste, budget, or platform size. That tone can nudge you into over-trusting opinions on covers, categories, and ISBNs. We share why opinions from AI are often lateral, not better—and how to use them as sparks rather than verdicts. From there, we dig into context. Preorders are a great case study: they work for big lists and traditional timelines, but can backfire for debut self-publishers who only get one shot at attention. We show how to prompt for pros and cons, add your constraints, and pressure-test advice before you spend time or money.

Visuals get their own spotlight. AI mockups can anchor your taste the moment you see your title on a shiny image, making it hard to evaluate stronger, more market-savvy designs. We explain why human cover designers still win on genre signaling, typography, and thumbnail clarity, and how to use AI safely as a moodboard. The throughline is simple: trust‑ish, then verify. We tell a real story of a “perfect” AI-sourced quote that turned out to be a paraphrase from a Goodreads review, plus the quick checks that would have saved the embarrassment.

By the end, you’ll have a playbook: ask for trade-offs, seek counterexamples, tailor prompts to your platform and goals, and validate anything that affects money, credibility, or brand. Use AI for research, outlines, and options; rely on human expertise for taste, nuance, and strategy. If this helped, subscribe, share the episode with a writer friend, and leave a review with your biggest AI win—or fail—we’ll feature our favorites next time.

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From Self-Publishing To Bookstore Shelves with Heather Hendrie

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:00:00 -0800

Honest stories move readers—and they also build careers. We sit down with author and clinical counselor Heather Hendrie to explore how her debut novel Awfully Hilarious grew from a late‑night idea into an award‑winning series that leapt from self‑publishing to trade distribution. Heather opens up about the moment a bad date sparked a bigger mission, how a trauma‑informed editorial lens turned raw confessions into meaningful connection, and why giving books away can be the smartest marketing move when you’re starting from zero.

We get practical about the business of books: what grassroots tactics actually work, how to pair authenticity with strategy, and why reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and StoryGraph still matter. Heather explains the real differences between print‑on‑demand access and true distribution, the role sales reps play in getting onto bookstore shelves, and the harsh truth of returns that every author needs to understand. She also shares the surprises of working with a small press—from collaborative cover design to choosing a trim size that fits Canada’s cheapest mailing tier—plus the continued need for author‑driven marketing even after you land a deal.

If you’re weighing self‑publishing against traditional paths, this conversation clears the fog. You’ll hear how to protect your voice, embrace professional editing, and build a reader community that sustains momentum long after launch day. We also spotlight the project’s unique audiobooks, funded by the Canada Council for the Arts and narrated by the original contributors, bringing each story to life in its true voice. Subscribe for more straight talk on writing, publishing, and promotion—and tell us your biggest question so we can tackle it next.

Connect with Heather Hendrie at Awfully Hilarious

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How to Lose Money on Amazon Ads and Still Win Big with Steve Sarner

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:00:00 -0800

What if the real win from Amazon ads isn’t profit on the first sale, but everything that happens after? We sit down with Steve Starner, Director of Author Success at Shelf Life and a former Amazon Books and Goodreads insider, to map the strategy behind ads that actually move an author’s career forward. Steve explains how Sponsored Products work, why intent-based targeting beats demographics for books, and how dynamic auctions determine your cost per click. Then he gets frank about the numbers: only a minority of campaigns break even on royalties, and yet the majority can still drive meaningful growth.

For nonfiction authors, the path runs through backend revenue. We talk through practical ways to turn a single purchase into a relationship—QR codes and bonus resources, email capture, and offers for speaking, consulting, or courses. Steve details “event reader seeding,” a targeted play that puts books directly into the hands of decision-makers at conferences, trading per-unit cost for high-value leads that can convert into five-figure engagements. We also discuss the brand lift of hitting top ranks in specific Amazon subcategories and how that positioning supports proposals and credibility.

Fiction requires a different engine. Steve outlines the proven formula: build a compelling series, enroll in Kindle Unlimited, advertise book one, and track read-through to measure lifetime value. Even if you lose money on the first click, strong continuation rates across five, seven, or nine titles can flip the economics. We cover how to use Amazon keywords and comparable authors to find genre readers and when to bring Meta into the mix.

Along the way, we decode the dashboard. Retail revenue is not royalties; your real margin depends on 60% of list minus print costs, so set budgets with eyes wide open. And do not miss the quiet shift making Goodreads newly powerful: deeper Amazon and Audible integrations and the role Goodreads data plays in AI book recommendations. More ratings, reviews, and shelf activity can now influence both human shoppers and algorithms.

If you’re ready to trade hype for honest strategy—measurable ads, stronger funnels, and smarter positioning—this conversation is your blueprint. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with an author who needs a clear-eyed plan for turning clicks into readers and readers into lasting value.

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