Where publishing, ecommerce, and marketing collide. Brought to you by Lulu.com.
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Welcome to the Wish I'd Known Then podcast. Join authors Jami Albright and Sara Rosett as they interview authors about lessons they've learned about writing and publishing.
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The Level Up Creators podcast is for digital creators ready to take their business to the next level. You'll learn valuable strategies and hear engaging stories from industry pros and digital creators who have walked the path of scaling up. Whether you're tired of tap dancing for the algorithm or seeking to build real wealth - without the burnout - this podcast offers proven methods and practical advice to help you elevate your business, on your terms. Join us!
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Creators Interview: Tim Grahl; The level of resistance is to the level of how important it is.
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In this episode of the Level Up Creators podcast, Amanda Northcutt interviews Tim Grahl, CEO of @StoryGrid , discussing his journey in building a successful business and the challenges faced along the way. Tim shares insights on the importance of understanding customer needs, the iterative process of learning and experimentation, and the significan…
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Ask Matt (and Lauren) Anything: Answering Your Questions
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It’s officially been one year of Publish & Prosper! Join Lauren & Matt for a special Ask Us Anything episode, where we take listener questions about publishing, marketing, Lulu products, and - of course - Disney. We answer questions like: Do you start building your audience first and then write your book, or do you start writing your book first and…
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Turning Military and Tech Backgrounds into Gripping Crime Fiction with Nick Stevens
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Episode 243 / We are thrilled (pun intended!) to chat with contemporary crime and conspiracy thriller author Nick Stevens. We talk about anti-heroes, setups and payoffs, Tremors, and why sometimes you just have to publish the book. 10:58 Why emotional connection is better than perfect structure in storytelling 14:00 Using multiple formats to divers…
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How to Repurpose Your Book (and Other Content) for Social Media
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In this episode, Matt & Lauren review the best ways to repurpose content for social media. They talk through reusing your existing social content, reposting other people’s social content, and repurposing your book material as social content. Jump in to hear about Matt’s recent appearance at Momentum and upcoming plans for Author Nation - or skip ah…
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Writing Conference Recap and Our Writing Process Q&A
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Episode 242 / We're diving deep into listener questions about everything from drafting and editing techniques, tackling imposter syndrome, and decoding our strengths. 🥤☕️ So grab your favorite beverage—be it Diet Coke or a cup of comforting coffee–and join us for a Wednesday chat about writing. 💙 Become a supporter of the podcast https://wishidknow…
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Creator Interviews: Stephanie Schwab; LinkedIn is the best vehicle to get that personal brand out
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In this episode of the Level Up Creators podcast, Amanda Northcutt speaks with Stephanie Schwab, founder and CEO of Crackerjack Marketing, about the significance of personal branding on LinkedIn. They explore Stephanie's journey in marketing, the importance of having a 💪strong personal brand, and how to effectively 🪜 build a following on LinkedIn. …
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Make Your Self-Published Books Stand Out with Custom Details
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Custom and special edition books are more popular than ever - and more accessible than ever. In this episode, Lauren & Matt explore how indie authors can create custom editions of their self-published books. We look at popular customizations like sprayed edges, embellished covers, specialty bindings, and more! Love watching your podcasts? Publish &…
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Matty Dalrymple & Michael LaRonn on Platform Building for Your Personality
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Episode 241 / Whether you're an introvert or extrovert you can develop a platform to grow your author brand. Learn how with authors of From Page to Platform: How to Succeed as an Author Speaker, suspense and thriller author Matty Dalrymple and science fiction & fantasy author M.L. Ronn (Michael La Ronn). Topics: How to match your platform to your p…
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Should Self-Published Authors Use Beta Readers and Sensitivity Readers?
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In this episode, Matt & Lauren help you maximize your book’s potential with early readers like beta readers, sensitivity readers, and industry reviewers. We take a look at how and when to engage with them, how they can help your book, and what to offer them in return. Love watching your podcasts? Publish & Prosper is now on video! Check us out on Y…
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Capitalizing on Trends While Staying True to Genre Expectations with Lynn Morrison and Anne Radcliffe
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Episode 240 / In 2024, Lynn Morrison and Anne Radcliffe paired their love of regency romances like Bridgerton with their bad habit of killing people in their books to create a new series that they rapid-released, the Crown Jewels Regency Mystery Series. Topics: Why brutal honesty is critical for collaboration How to spot trends Tips on how to incor…
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Creator Interviews: Bruno De Figueredo; AI will be everywhere in the future
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In this episode of the Level Up Creators podcast, Amanda Northcutt and Bruno De Figueredo discuss the essential components of a tech stack for creators. They explore the importance of understanding the customer journey, selecting the right tools, and avoiding common pitfalls. Bruno shares insights on the role of AI in enhancing tech stacks and emph…
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How to Drive Book Sales Without Offering Discounts
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In this episode, Lauren & Matt explore creative ways to boost book sales! Learn how limited editions, bundles, personalized products, and more can incentivize new and returning shoppers to buy directly from you - without resorting to discounts. Love watching your podcasts? Publish & Prosper is now on video! Check us out on YouTube. Join us at Autho…
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Making Your Book Launch Last Beyond the Launch with Melanie Herschorn
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Episode 239 / Want to make a big impact with your book? Publicist, award-winning journalist, entrepreneur, and author of Make a Big Impact with Your Book, Melanie Herschorn, has tips to help you stand out. Topics: Beyond the Launch: keep promoting—your book is new to someone who hasn’t read it yet Misconceptions around marketing: engage beyond book…
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Episode 238 / Want some ideas on how to get readers on your newsletter list? On this Ask Us Anything episode, we have SO MANY ideas for you! Topics: Expectations for earnings Building a List Preview Promos Reader magnets Difference between pre- and post-novel reader magnets Creative reader magnets 💙 Become a supporter of the podcast https://wishidk…
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Creator Interviews: Tony & Alisa DiLorenzo; You have to have an offer from the start
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In this episode of the Level Up Creators podcast, Amanda Northcutt interviews marriage influencers and experts, Elisa and Tony DiLorenzo, who share their journey of building a successful creator business over the past 15 years. They discuss the evolution of their podcast, the importance of community building, and the lessons learned from early even…
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Moving from KU to Direct Sales with Luke Mitchell
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Episode 237/Guest: Luke Mitchel, science fiction and fantasy author Topics: Luke’s transition from KU to wide and direct sales Self-editing and revisions and accepting your writing style Writing short stories to refresh the creative process Moving away from social media and focusing on email marketing and direct sales 💙 Become a supporter of the po…
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Jessica Firpi on Writing Compelling Save the Cat Moments
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Episode 236 / Ever wondered why certain characters steal your heart? This week we chat with Jessica Firpi, a TV and movie reviewer as well as a K-drama enthusiast and podcast host. We explore everything from effective "save the cat" moments to why a sunshine character can make a dark character shine. If you've ever wondered how to make your charact…
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Creator Interviews: Gina Bianchini; I was going to bring a team together and we were going to create a way for people to have their own network effect
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In this conversation, Amanda Northcutt interviews Gina Bianchini, the CEO and founder of Mighty Networks, about the future of AI and membership communities. They discuss the definition of community and how it differs from social media, the power of network effects in building engaged communities, and the importance of focusing on the people you ser…
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Creator Interviews: Amanda Goetz; I've spent the last 15 years building my career, not followers.
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Amanda Goetz, a two-time founder and four-time CMO, shares her career journey and why she decided to niche down into productivity. She discusses the importance of having a growth mindset and determination, which she learned from her experience as an athlete. Amanda also talks about the impact she wants to make in helping ambitious working parents a…
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Penn Cole on Writing to Market and Prepping for Publication
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Episode 235 / Fantasy romance author Penn Cole shares tips on writing to market in a way that goes beyond the usual analysis of trends and tropes, patience in the writing and publishing process, and translations using an agent. Topics: Penn’s tips on prepping for publication and ARC teams How to research and write to market in a deep way, focusing …
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Getting Your Bookstore Ready for the Holidays
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In this episode, Matt & Lauren tackle the upcoming holiday season. They’ll discuss best practices for getting your books ready, optimizing your site or bookstore, speaking to gift givers instead of your target audience, and reviewing your social media for book promo opportunities. Dive Deeper 💡 Check These Resources Make Books Make Bank PDF Downloa…
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Tik Tok Success and Being a Digital Nomad with Liz Shipton
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Episode 234 / Liz Shipton is a freelance writer, hybrid author, and full-time, off-grid, liveaboard sailor. She shares how changing her lifestyle to become a digital nomad created more time for writing and how she uses Tik Tok to market her books. 💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! Get access to the backlist of exclusive supporter episodes, the…
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Creator Interviews: Kathryn McGarvey; If this was your business, what would you do differently?
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In this conversation, Amanda Northcutt interviews Catherine McGarvey, a marketing expert with over 25 years of experience. They discuss the importance of talking to customers and using their insights in marketing. Catherine explains that understanding customers helps businesses grow and sell more effectively. She emphasizes the limitations of surve…
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Pain Point Solutions for Your Ecommerce Store
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In this episode, Lauren & Matt tackle some common pain points entrepreneurs and ecommerce store owners struggle with. We’ll talk through solutions and tips for collecting sales tax, setting up shipping and managing shipping issues, and providing proactive customer service for your shoppers. Dive Deeper 💡 Sales Tax Lulu Knowledge Base | How Do I Con…
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Writing Hacks with Author and Developmental Editor Barbara Emodi
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Episode 233 / Ever wished you had some writing hacks to make your drafting and editing go more smoothly? (And who hasn’t?) Then this episode with cozy author Barbara Emodi is for you! Barbara is a developmental editor for emerging writers and has great insights. 💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast and get access to the backlist of exclusive suppo…
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From Manuscript to Market: 5+ Tools to Help You Draft, Publish, and Sell Your Book
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Self-publishing might be a DIY publishing model, but there are plenty of tools and resources to help you get your book from manuscript to market. In this episode, Matt & Lauren discuss a debatable number of tools to help you draft, edit, format, design, market, and ship your book. Dive Deeper 💡 Learn More About Fictionary Vellum Atticus Bublish Lul…
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Jessie Kwak on Finding Joy in Your Writing Process and Cross-Genre Marketing Tips
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Episode 232 / Jessie Kwak writes supernatural thrillers and sci-fi crime as well as nonfiction productivity books including, From Chaos to Creativity and From Big Idea to Book. Topics: Trusting your own process, reassessing expectations, and enjoying the writing process How Jessie blends sci-fi and crime genres and found her second series easier to…
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How to Get Your Book Into Indie Bookstores
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In this episode, Lauren & Matt review strategies for getting your self-published book into indie bookstores, including participating in consignment programs, pitching yourself for author events, and making your book available through retail distribution. Dive Deeper 💡 Read These Blog Posts Selling Your Book on Consignment With Indie Bookstores 5 Vi…
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Publishing Options with Nick Courtright of Atmosphere Press
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Episode 231 / Dr. Nick Courtright of Atmosphere Press, a literary hybrid publisher dedicated to author rights, joins us to discuss different publishing options, letting go of the mindset that you must have an agent, and the importance of a personal brand. 💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! Get access to the backlist of exclusive supporter episo…
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🔒 Supporter Episode: Enemies to Lovers Trope 🔪→♥️
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Subscriber-only episode In this supporter-exclusive chat, we broke down the Enemies to Lovers trope–and it’s not just for romance novels! From Pride and Prejudice to You've Got Mail, we've got tons of insights and examples that show how friction and chemistry can turn rivalry into romance. Why readers love this trope The need to maintain the core c…
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The Indie Author’s Guide to Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing
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In this episode, Matt and Lauren take listeners on a journey through self-publishing and traditional publishing. We’ll look at where those paths overlap, where they diverge, and what to expect on your publishing adventure. Dive Deeper 💡 Jane Friedman’s The Key Book Publishing Paths 💡 Listen to These Episodes: Episode #2 → Is Self-Publishing the Bes…
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Finding your Community and Navigating Dyslexia with A.B. Herron
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Episode 230 / A.B. Herron blends elements of fantasy and romance in her fiction. She shares about balancing a full-time job while diving headfirst into the world of writing, the joy of connecting with readers at book fairs, and the critical role a supportive community plays in overcoming challenges, especially for authors with dyslexia. 💙 🎙 Become …
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Creator Interviews: Yasin Mammeri; Know thyself, I think is like a huge lesson for business and for life.
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Yasin Mamary, a successful content creator and entrepreneur, shares his journey from musician to homeless to building a thriving creator business. He emphasizes the importance of understanding oneself and finding an environment where strengths are maximized and weaknesses are minimized. Yasin discusses the challenges of monetization, including the …
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Designing the Right Go-to-Market Strategy for Your Book
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In this episode, Lauren & Matt dive into what makes a successful go-to-market strategy for your book. Learn how to pick the right launch date and products, choose the best sales and distribution platforms, and craft effective pre-launch and post-launch sales strategies. Have a question about self-publishing, selling direct, Lulu, or any of the weir…
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🎭 Relationship Arcs with September C. Fawkes
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Episode 229 / Learn about the four basic types of relationship arcs from freelance developmental editor and writing writing instructor, September C. Fawkes. Discover how mapping arcs can define the direction and evolution of your characters' relationships and create a dynamic, zigzag narrative. 💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! Get access to t…
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Hooking New Readers With a Compelling Book Description
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In this episode, Lauren attempts to convince Matt (and the listeners) of the power of a well-written book description. Listen in to learn how to craft a compelling book description that will help you hook new readers. Have a question about self-publishing, selling direct, Lulu, or any of the weird tangents Matt & Lauren like to meander through? Ema…
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🎧 Kemper Donovan on Building An Audience Through Podcasting
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Episode 228 / Kemper Donovan is the host of the All About Agatha podcast and author of The Busy Body, a USA Today bestseller on launch earlier this year. Kemper shares tips for querying and how podcasting about Agatha Christie helped him connect with mystery authors and also provided a built-in audience for his book. 💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the p…
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Creator Interviews: Sam Vander Wielen; Be interested in things to be interesting
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In this episode, Amanda interviews Sam VanderWielen, an attorney turned entrepreneur and legal educator, about legally protecting and growing businesses. Sam shares her journey from being a corporate lawyer to starting her own legal templates business. She emphasizes the importance of setting up legal paperwork correctly from the beginning and high…
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Books You Can Create Using Your Existing Content
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In this episode, Lauren & Matt share ideas for repurposing your existing content. Hint: it's by turning that content into a book. We share ideas for both nonfiction and fiction book projects, including options that require little to no new writing. Have a question about self-publishing, selling direct, Lulu, or any of the weird tangents Matt & Laur…
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🌦️Writing with ADHD and Surviving Life’s Storms with Liz Long
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Episode 227 / Liz Long shares her journey of embracing her own uniqueness, particularly in relation to ADHD and finding peace and growth after personal loss. Quick note: the language in this episode isn’t as family-friendly as our usual G/PG episodes, so just be aware of that. 💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! Get access to the backlist of exc…
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5 Things to Know Before You Start Publishing
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In this episode, Matt & Lauren review five things you’ll need to know before you start on your publishing journey! We share insights about knowing your content, knowing your goals, knowing your limits, knowing your audience, and knowing your publisher. Also featuring a meandering detour into graphic novels and an ongoing discussion about crying (no…
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📶 Using Excel to Write a Book with Paul Indigo
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Episode 226 / Author, musician, and marketer, Paul Indigo shares insights on seeking validation, embracing our voice, and the unconventional use of an Excel spreadsheet for writing and marketing. If you’ve tried all the writing software and haven’t found one that works for you, perhaps your answer is a spreadsheet! 💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the pod…
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Creator Interviews: Matt Briel; A book is one of the best lead magnets on the planet
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Amanda and Matt discuss the importance of publishing a book for creators and thought leaders. They debunk the myth that self-publishing is less legitimate than traditional publishing and highlight the benefits of self-publishing, such as ownership and flexibility. They also explore how a book can help creators expand their reach, establish authorit…
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Your 7-Step Guide to Building an Online Bookstore
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In this episode Lauren & Matt talk through the 7 essential steps to building your own online bookstore. From choosing the right platform to launching your site, we’ll cover everything you need to know to sell your self-published books directly to your readers. Dive Deeper 💡 Step 1: Shopify Learn More About Selling Your Book With Shopify and Lulu Di…
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✨ Magan Vernon on Navigating Self-Doubt, Criticism, and Creative Renewal
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Episode 225 / Megan Vernon, author of over 40 romance novels, joins us to talk about starting over after a difficult experience of being publicly criticized. We talk about the need to give ourselves grace and the importance of a supportive community for navigating the ups and downs of a writing career. Megan shares about her creation of the Mojo Do…
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Finding Your Place in Author & Reader Communities
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In this episode, Matt & Lauren debate the distinctions between author and reader communities, discuss the value of participating in either, and share some suggestions for how to bridge the gap between them. Dive Deeper 💡 Check Out These Online Communities Enter the Luluniverse Meet the Nonfiction Authors Association Learn More About Novelists, Inc.…
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Episode 224 / Kate Johnson is the co-founder of Zory, an interactive reading app that merges the depth found in fiction with the choose-your-path-style plotlines of narrative video games. Kate shares details about Zory and craft tips about GMC as well as the All Is Lost moment. Plus we talk about trends in genre blending, and what Kate sees coming …
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S1:EP26 Creator Interviews: Loni Brown; Society is failing mothers right now
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Loni Brown, founder and CEO of Wholesome Nest, helps modern career-oriented moms reduce overwhelm in motherhood by detoxing and decluttering their lives using simple systems and habits. She is passionate about guilt-free motherhood and believes that moms can pursue their goals and interests while being good mothers. Loni's 5D method includes discov…
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3 Steps to Prep for an Author Event (and What to Do When You’re There)
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In this episode, Lauren & Matt share their insights from attending dozens of author events to set you up for success. Hear tips for preparing sales strategies and inventory, promoting the event to your fans, and maximizing your presence at the event. Dive Deeper 💡 Learn More About These Events CEX Author Nation NINC 💡 Read These Blog Posts How to P…
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🩻 Steffanie Holmes on Skeleton Drafting, Rebanding, and Kickstarter
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Episode 223 / Do you like to discover the plot as you write? Do you get bored if you know where the story is going? Then a skeleton draft might be what you need. Paranormal and gothic romance author Steffanie Holmes joins us to talk about how discovery writers can use a skeleton draft to get their ideas down on paper and avoid writer’s block. We al…
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