Writers, Ink: Your backstage pass to the world's most prolific authors

Joe Hart knows how to market himself as an author. Armed with a drive to develop new connections, an acute attention to the importance of book covers and advertisements, and a watchful eye over new trends, he is able to sustain a successful brand while easily adapting to the ever-changing publishing market. Joe is a bestselling author of eleven novels and is well-known for The Last Girl and The River is Dark, two staples of his thrilling writing style. Hart’s latest release, I’ll Bring You Back, is available now.From Amazon.com:Joe Hart is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of eleven novels that include The River Is Dark, Obscura, and The Last Girl. When not writing, he enjoys reading, exercising, exploring the great outdoors, and watching movies with his family. For more information on his upcoming novels and access to his blog, visit www.joehartbooks.com. Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins. Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouse, J. Thorn, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.In this episode, you’ll discover:The process of becoming a new writerHow to develop connections with other authorsHow to find and connect with new readersHow to balance a day job with writingThe importance of noticing trendsLinks:J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/Joe Hart - http://www.joehartbooks.com/The Last Girl by Joe Hart - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011UNEZN8/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0The River is Dark by Joe Hart - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K2EOONS/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i3I’ll Bring You Back by Joe Hart & Richard Brown - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083H3SDQT/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0Music by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.comContact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/ “Muggable” quote by Harley Christensen - https://www.mischievousmalamute.com/*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affi Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Heather Graham lives to immerse herself in her stories. Whether she is speaking to former FBI agents, searching for small town legends, or taking part in a seance, she uses her encounters to intricately build and understand her characters and storylines. Heather is a long-time bestselling author with over 200 books published and over 600 million sales worldwide. She writes anything from historical fiction to romance to paranormal thrillers and is well known for her extensive Krewe of Hunters series and for hosting the yearly Vampire Ball at the RT Convention. Graham’s upcoming release, Dreaming Death, will be available next month.From Amazon.com:New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Heather Graham, majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write. Her first book was with Dell, and since then, she has written over two hundred novels and novellas including category, suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult and Christmas family fare. Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins. Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouse, J. Thorn, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.In this episode, you’ll discover:The history of the Vampire BallThe key differences between writing historical vs. contemporary fictionThe benefits of writing with kidsWhy Heather’s writing is so diverseHeather’s writing scheduleLinks:J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/Heather Graham - https://www.theoriginalheathergraham.com/Dreaming Death by Heather Graham - https://books2read.com/DreamingDeathPhantom Evil (Krewe of Hunters Book 1) by Heather Graham - https://books2read.com/PhantomEvilMusic by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.comContact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/ “Muggable” quote by Harley Christensen - https://www.mischievousmalamute.com/*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links. See Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tess Gerritsen uses the benefits of drafting on paper to her advantage. By handwriting first drafts and only using technology to print out digital versions, she allows her writing to be flawed, catches these mistakes early, and ends up with final drafts that are polished. Tess is an internationally bestselling author who is well known for writing the medical thriller Harvest and the Rizzoli & Isles series, the latter of which inspired a TV series of the same name. She is also the proud co-creator of Magnificent Beast, a documentary that chases the ancient origins of the pork taboo. Gerritsen’s upcoming murder mystery, Choose Me, will be available next year.From Amazon.com:Tess's first medical thriller, Harvest, was released in hardcover in 1996, and it marked her debut on the New York Times bestseller list. Her suspense novels since then have been: Life Support (1997), Bloodstream (1998), Gravity (1999), The Surgeon (2001), The Apprentice (2002), The Sinner (2003), Body Double (2004), Vanish (2005), The Mephisto Club (2006), The Bone Garden (2007), The Keepsake (2008; UK title: Keeping the Dead), Ice Cold (2010; UK title: The Killing Place), The Silent Girl (2011), Last To Die (2012), Die Again (2014), Playing With Fire (2015), and I Know A Secret (2017). Her books have been published in forty countries, and more than 30 million copies have been sold around the world. Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins. Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouse, J. Thorn, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.In this episode, you’ll discover:Why handwriting a first draft works so wellWhy you should still print out later draftsWhen to write for yourself vs. your audienceThe pros and cons of writing scripts vs. booksThe unsure future of the publishing industryLinks:J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/Dumpster Tears - https://writersinkpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/dumpster.jpg KENP Read for KU Royalty Calculator - https://publishwide.com/kenp-royalty-calculator/ Tess Gerritsen - https://www.tessgerritsen.com/Harvest by Tess Gerritsen - https://books2read.com/HarvestBookThe Surgeon (Rizzoli & Isles Book 1) by Tess Gerritsen - https://books2read.com/TheSurgeonMagnificent Beast - https://www.magnificentbeastmovie.com/Music by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep < Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

International thriller author KJ Howe has mastered the art of writing fresh and believable fiction. Armed with an extensive knowledge of her subject matter and a commitment to shedding light on underrepresented character traits, she is able to write novels that feel impressively accurate and relatable. KJ is well known for her Freedom Broker series, which follows the elite hostage negotiator Thea Paris as she takes on the world’s most dangerous kidnapping cases. She is also the Interim Executive Director of the International Thriller Writers organization and has previously been the Executive Director of ThrillerFest. Howe’s most recent publication, Skyjack, is available now.From KJHowe.com:While honing her fiction skills, KJ worked as a medical, health, and fitness writer. She then became involved with the International Thriller Writers as the Executive Director of ThrillerFest, the organization’s annual conference held every July in New York City. In preparation for writing THE FREEDOM BROKER series, which focuses on elite kidnap negotiator Thea Paris, KJ spent extensive time researching the dark world of kidnapping. She has interviewed former hostages, negotiators, hostage reintegration experts, special forces operatives, and K&R insurance executives. Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins. Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouse, J. Thorn, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.In this episode, you’ll discover:How to write something fresh and novelThe importance of accuracy and believabilityWhy you need to learn from authors in other genresHow to work out plot issuesHow to craft relatable charactersWhy non-fiction elements are still important in when writing fictionLinks:J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/The Career Author Summit 2021 - https://thecareerauthor.com/summit2021/ KJ Howe - http://www.kjhowe.com/The Freedom Broker by KJ Howe - https://books2read.com/TheFreedomBrokerSkyjack by KJ Howe - https://books2read.com/SkyjackMusic by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.comContact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/ “Muggable” quote by Harley Christensen - Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jim Kukral is no stranger to the authorpreneurial mindset. For decades, he repeatedly struggled to create a stand-out book or brand, and the pressure to become a self-sustaining writer only increased when children and a mortgage were thrown into the mix. Regardless, through his unerring drive and determination for success, he eventually found the foothold he deserved. Jim is a non-fiction author, entrepreneur, and online marketing expert. He is well-known for his inspirational life guide, Your Journey To Becoming Unskippable, and for his talent as a keynote speaker. Kukral’s latest publication, The Unskippable Handbook For Dealing with Jerks, Idiots, and Terrible People, is available now.From Amazon.com:Jim Kukral delivers insightful and entertaining content to growth-oriented organizations on attention-getting marketing, creative branding and understanding how customers think, react and most importantly, buy. With a passion for speaking and teaching, Jim travels around the world to teach brands and business owners on how they can apply his UNSKIPPABLE method to their marketing and brand mission to generate positive ROI-based outcomes and purposely attract lifetime customers. Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins. Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouse, J. Thorn, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.In this episode, you’ll discover:What sparks a mindset shiftHow to get out of a dark periodHow to take the first step into self-employementThe importance of creating a brandHow to write to marketLinks:J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/The Career Author Summit 2021 - https://thecareerauthor.com/summit2021/ Jim Kukral - https://www.jimkukral.com/Your Journey to Becoming Unskippable by Jim Kukral - https://books2read.com/BecomingUnskippableThe Unskippable Handbook For Dealing with Jerks, Idiots, and Terrible People by Jim Kukral - https://books2read.com/UnskippableHandbookMusic by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.comContact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/ “Muggable” quote by Harley Christensen - https://www.mischievousmal Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dierk Demers knows the secrets to optimizing and automating Amazon ads using Prestozon. By developing a software to automatically schedule and create ads, provide useful analytics, and update keywords in real-time, he has helped authors around the world successfully capture new readers while leaving the stress of manual advertising behind. Dierk has thrived in the e-commerce industry for years, managing information and designing software for various companies. To learn more about Demers and Prestozon, visit prestozon.com.From LinkedIn.com:As the Head of Ad Strategy and Partner Support at Prestozon, I help Amazon Advertising Account Managers of all experience levels get the most out of their PPC budgets. I have been designing unique e-commerce strategies across multiple industries for almost a decade and I use that experience to help design curated PPC initiatives using one of the most sophisticated advertising management tools on the market. Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins. Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouse, J. Thorn, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.In this episode, you’ll discover:Why Amazon ads are so tough to maintainHow Prestozon’s algorithms functionHow Prestozon introduces brand-new authors to advertisingThe importance of balancing automated ads with manual adsHow authors can help improve PrestozonLinks:J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/Dierk Demers - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dierk-demers-09308b52/Prestozon free 30-day trial - https://app.prestozon.com/sign-up?via=j Dten Zoom Device - https://dten.com/ The Career Author Summit 2021 - https://thecareerauthor.com/summit2021/ Music by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.comContact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/ “Muggable” quote by Harley Christensen - https://www.mischievousmalamute.com/*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out informat Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Riley Sager understands the importance of a good pen name. By using a pseudonym to detach himself from his early writing career, bypass editing bias, and increase reader relatability, he quickly found success as a reborn author. Riley is renowned for his international bestseller, Final Girls, an unsettling thriller that won the attention of Stephen King. His other bestsellers include Lock Every Door and The Last Time I Lied, the latter of which has a film in the works. Sager’s latest publication, Home Before Dark, is available now.From Amazon.com:Riley Sager is the pseudonym of a former journalist, editor and graphic designer. Now a full-time author, Riley's first thriller, FINAL GIRLS, became a national and international bestseller and was called "the first great thriller of 2017" by Stephen King. Translation rights have been sold in more than two dozen countries. His second book, THE LAST TIME I LIED, was a New York Times bestseller. His latest novel, LOCK EVERY DOOR, was an instant New York Times, Publishers Weekly and USA Today bestseller. A television adaptation is being developed by Paramount TV and Anonymous Content. A native of Pennsylvania, Riley now lives in Princeton, New Jersey. When he's not working on his next novel, he enjoys reading, cooking and going to the movies as much as possible. His favorite film is "Rear Window." Or maybe "Jaws." But probably, if he's being honest, "Mary Poppins." Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins. Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouse, J. Thorn, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.In this episode, you’ll discover:How Riley chose his pen nameWhat Stephen King said about Final GirlsWhy gender-neutral names can be more marketableThe importance of avoiding editing biasTips for outlining a complex storyLinks:J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/Riley Sager - https://www.rileysagerbooks.com/Final Girls by Riley Sager - https://books2read.com/FinalGirlsThe Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager - https://books2read.com/TheLastTimeILiedHome Before Dark by Riley Sager - https://books2read.com/HomeBeforeDarkMusic by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.comContact - https://writersink Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark Dawson has developed many useful marketing and writing techniques for aspiring or developed authors. Through keeping his writing time structured and making the effort to understand Amazon’s advertising platform, he quickly found success as a self-published writer. Mark is well-known for his bestselling John Milton series, which follows the chilling encounters of a hired gun, with over a million copies sold. He is also the mastermind behind the esteemed Self Publishing Formula, where he educates authors around the world about writing and marketing through podcast episodes, blog posts, and online courses. His next publication and newest addition to the John Milton series, Killa City, will be available this fall.From Amazon.com:Mark Dawson has worked as a lawyer and in the London film industry. His first books, The Art of Falling Apart and Subpoena Colada, have been published in multiple languages. He is currently writing three series. The John Milton series features a disgruntled assassin who aims to help people make amends for the things that he has done. The Beatrix Rose series features the headlong fight for justice of a wronged mother--who happens to be an assassin--against the six names on her Kill List. Soho Noir is set in the West End of London between 1940 and 1970. The first book in the series, The Black Mile, deals with the (real-life but little-known) serial killer who operated in the area during the Blitz. The Imposter traces the journey of a criminal family through the period; it has been compared to The Sopranos in austerity London. Mark lives in Wiltshire with his family. Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins. Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouse, J. Thorn, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.In this episode, you’ll discover:How and where to write effectivelyTips for optimizing a websiteHow to market to bookstores as a self-published authorThe importance of Amazon advertisingTips for scheduling an author’s work dayLinks:J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/Consequences of Rock Podcast - https://consequencesofrock.com/ Mark Dawson - https://markjdawson.com/Killa City by Mark Dawson - https://books2read.com/Killa-CityThe Cleaner (John Milton Book 1) by Mark Dawson - https://books2read.com/The-CleanerMark Dawson’s Self Publishing Formula - https://selfpublishingformula.com/Music by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep Voice Over by Rick Ganley - Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

John Palisano is a master of using dreams to write. Ever since his childhood, he has struggled with frequent and vivid nightmares. However, by preserving his dreams through notes or sketches, John incorporates their wacky contents into his scenes and plot points to create thrilling and unique stories. Palisano is an accomplished horror author and president of the Horror Writers Association. He was awarded the Bram Stoker Award in 2016 and is well known for Nerves and Dust of the Dead, two sci-fi horror novels with unique twists. His latest publication, All That Withers, is available now.From Amazon.com:Bram Stoker Award® winner John Palisano's short fiction has appeared in many places. Check out: Dark Discoveries, Horror Library, Darkness On The Edge, Lovecraft eZine, Phobophobias, Terror Tales, Harvest Hill, Halloween Spirits, Chiral Mad, Midnight Walk, Halloween Tales, and many other publications.John's had a colorful history. He began writing at an early age, with his first publications in college fanzines and newspapers at Emerson in Boston. He's worked for over a decade in Hollywood for people like Ridley Scott and Marcus Nispel. He's recently been working as a ghost-screenwriter and has seen much success with over two dozen short story sales and his novels and short fiction continue gaining critical and reader acclaim. Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins. Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouse, J. Thorn, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.In this episode, you’ll discover:How to effectively record dreamsHow to employ dreams in your writingHow to write while on-the-goThe importance of knowing your charactersThe rise of elevated horrorLinks:J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/John Palisano - https://johnpalisano.wordpress.com/All That Withers by John Palisano - https://books2read.com/AllThatWithersNerves by John Palisano - https://books2read.com/NervesDust of the Dead by John Palisano - https://books2read.com/DustoftheDeadMusic by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.comContact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/ “Muggable” quote by Harley Christensen - Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Through dissecting the website's algorithms, understanding the relationship between keywords and sales, and applying an entrepreneurial mindset, master coder Dave Chesson has gained a solid understanding of how to market a book on Amazon. Chesson is the mastermind behind Kindlepreneur, an online blog and podcast that shares his extensive marketing knowledge with authors around the world. He is also the creator of Rocket, a self-publishing software that provides authors with useful analytics and keyword suggestions for their books. Links to Kindlepreneur and Rocket can be found below.From Kindlepreneur.com:When I’m not lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, or sipping tea with princesses, I’m testing new book marketing tactics, and helping authors improve their book sales. I'm also the creator of Publisher Rocket, a software that helps authors see what's really going on in the Kindle marketing, and thus pick better keywords and categories to help them sell more books. I’ve worked with multiple New York Times bestselling authors like Ted Dekker and the marketing team behind L.Ron Hubbard, as well as top writers like Pat Flynn and Jeff Goins. To help all writers learn the art of book marketing, I created Kindlepreneur as a free source for authors with the sole goal of giving you everything you need to take action, and see results. Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins. Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouse, J. Thorn, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.In this episode, you’ll discover:Why Amazon ads require effort to maintainWhy keywords matterWhen to use a subtitleHow to understand the buyer’s processThe importance of making consistent sales over timeLinks:J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/Dave Chesson - https://kindlepreneur.com/who-is-dave-chesson/Kindlepreneur - https://kindlepreneur.com/Rocket - https://publisherrocket.com/Save Indie Bookstores - https://www.saveindiebookstores.comMusic by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.comContact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/ “Muggable” quote by Harley Christensen - https://www.mischievousmalamute.com/*Full Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.