Published By Greenleaf Book Group | Book Publishing & Author Branding Podcast

Welcome to Episode 71 of Published. Today we have our consulting team on the podcast to shepherd us through questions related to investing in the production of a book. Different publishing models have different degrees of required investment by the author, and different potentials for ROI. Most authors wind up financing at least some part of the publishing process. Knowing when to look into working with experts and what level of  contribution and return you should anticipate will help you prepare for that well in advance. 

Welcome to Episode 70 of Published. Today we’ll be looking back at our episodes over 2022 and remembering the insight our guests have shared. Our mission on Published is to demystify the publishing industry for authors, and over the past year, we’ve pulled back the veil on becoming a bestseller, getting book reviews, writing a beautiful manuscript, and so much more.

Welcome to episode 69 of Published. Today I’m speaking with two members of the Greenleaf family: Jen Rios, our director of marketing, and Lee Zarnikau, one of our editors. We’ll be discussing rejection in the publishing world from a marketing and editorial perspective to explain why a book might be rejected and what authors searching for a publisher can do after being turned down.

Welcome to Episode 68 of Published. Today, I'm speaking with Madi Mullen, a product manager at Libro.fm, an audiobook company that splits profits with local independent bookstores. Madi will tell us about present trends in audiobooks, what the benefits and drawbacks are for authors making audiobooks available, and how hosting platforms impact authors differently.

Today we’re back with another Q&A episode for you. In this episode we discuss the ins and outs of book distribution and help authors navigate the best ways to share their books with the world. We'll also go over how to connect with wholesalers and distributors, what it takes to get a book into stores, when to acquire an ISBN, how international distribution works, and more. If you’ve ever wondered how books get distributed or had questions about the process, this is the episode for you.  

In this episode, we discuss the Department of Justice’s lawsuit against Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster in response to their proposed merger. Some argue that the billion dollar deal would mean that instead of there being a competition between the two big publishers to acquire titles, there would effectively be a monopoly. This means there’s less incentive for the merged mega-publisher to offer a competitive advance amount to authors, since they’re not in a bidding contest to win the title. Therefore, by driving down advances, this deal could effect the livelihood of authors who depend on those advances, and cause dire effects across the entire industry by making it more competitive than ever.  With all this buzz, we are bringing on industry expert Janet Goldstein to talk about her take and advice for authors who might be feeling concerned. We’ll discuss the importance of the trial, what it means for authors, and how to navigate the changing publishing landscape successfully.

Have you ever wondered how to get your book on an amazon bestseller list? In today's episode, publishing expert and guide Scott James discusses the ins and outs of the amazon bestseller algorithm and how you can hit a bestseller list. From finding the right subcategories, to driving up your presales and getting 5-star book reviews, Scott talks about what does and doesn't factor into moving up in the bestseller rankings, and how being a bestseller can affect the success and sales of your book.  If hitting an amazon bestseller list or raising your bestseller ranking is a goal of yours, this is the episode for you. Scott shares his insider intel in this cant-miss episode for independent authors.

Welcome to Episode 64 of Published. Today we’re talking to Greenleaf’s General Counsel, Guy Muller, about the biggest legal issues he sees authors face and why it’s important to keep an eye out for them when working on your book. Guy explains each of these legal concerns, why they matter, and how you can avoid them in your writing to stay out of trouble.

This episode focuses on finding the time to write your book when you’ve got a demanding schedule, and why it’s worth doing so despite the demand it places on your time. Like any significant undertaking that’s worthwhile, writing a book requires focus and a plan—but the end result can be life changing. Let’s face it: writing a book is hard. If you’re struggling to find the time needed to dedicate to writing your book, this is the perfect time to connect with an editor who can help you navigate the process. Greenleaf’s Executive Editor Erin Brown will share how she supports busy authors as an editor, and what you can expect in terms of timelines and expectations when it comes to the book writing process.

How do I price my book? How do I become a bestseller? How do I know if I can trust a publisher with my work? What do publishers look for when evaluating submissions? If these are questions you've had as an author, this is the episode for you. Today, our in-house publishing consultant, David Endris, has compiled some of the most common questions he gets from authors, and today, he’s interviewing me. We’ll talk about a range of topics in today’s episode and attempt to answer your most burning publishing questions.

Today, I'm speaking with one of Greenleaf’s editors, Lee Reed Zarnikau. Lee will tell us how to piece together a memoir and give us her insights into the dos and don’ts of memoir writing from an editor's perspective. If you’re someone with an interesting life story, you may have been told by friends and family that you should write a book. But many authors struggle to put their experiences on paper in an authentic way that resonates with readers. This is where an editor’s insight comes in handy. In today’s episode, Lee will tell us how authors can make their memoir stand out. A memoir isn’t just a collection of anecdotes. It’s also meant to be a narrative, so it takes some crafting to get it right. Lee explains how she guides authors who are struggling with this by helping them to identify their narrative arc, and what makes their memoir unique. For the full transcription of today's episode, check out our website: www.greenleafbookgroup.com/episode61

Goodreads is well known to many readers as a great place to find book reccommendations and reviews, but today we’re going to talk about how it can also be a great tool for authors. New authors may not realize that Goodreads has a robust Author Program that you can use to run giveaways, interact with your readers, and advertise your books.  In this episode, Mimi tells us all about how to use Goodreads as an author and what it can do to elevate your book promotion strategy. She gives us her tips and tricks to optimize your experience on the platform and explains why authors looking for more book marketing tools should join Goodreads today.

The old saying goes “never judge a book by its cover,” but of course, we all know in the book industry that is exactly what happens. An eye-catching cover is key to attracting a reader and making sure your book is taken seriously. Today, I'll speak with Greenleaf’s Art Director, Neil Gonzalez, about book design elements and why a well-designed cover and interior are vital to your book’s success. 

Welcome back to Published! In this episode we talk to Erin Brown, the executive editor at Greenleaf Book Group. She discusses the key to writing a book outline, what a book outline template might look like for a new author, and how to approach writing an effective book outline for both fiction and nonfiction. If you're embarking on your author journey and looking for a place to start, this episode is full of great writing tips and advice for you.

For our final episode of the year, we have two guests, Corrin Foster, Greenleaf’s Director of Branding and Marketing, and Kesley Smith, Greenleaf’s Director of Business Development and Corporate Communications. Today we’ll talk about top book marketing and author branding tips and trends for the coming year.

Today, I’ll speak with Texas Book Festival’s literary director, Matthew Patin. Matt will tell us all about the Texas Book Festival and how independent authors can get involved.

Today I'll speak with Susan Wittig Albert, the author of the popular China Bayles Mysteries, the Darling Dahlia Mysteries and many other must-read books spanning the mystery, historical fiction, and nonfiction genres. As well, Susan will tell us all about her own writing process while offering advice to new authors who might be considering writing their own book series.

Today, I’ll speak with Greenleaf’s Digital Media Strategist, Sam Ofman, about book publicity and how it has changed in recent years. Sam will tell us about the impact a strong PR campaign can make for an author and their book, and how you can get started on your PR efforts.

Today I’ll speak with Nick Hutchison, the founder of BookThinkers, an online book community focused on highlighting personal development and growth titles. Nick will tell us all about BookThinkers and how he and his team have built a successful book influencer platform.

This is the second part of our two episode special with author and book coach, Jennie Nash. If you haven’t listened to part one yet, go back and check out episode 51. In today’s episode, Jennie picks up where we left off and dives deeper into the topic of book proposals, sharing her insight into what makes a proposal truly standout.