The Publishing Performance Show

Robert A. Lane is an audiobook producer, coach, and author with over 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry, including 14 years at 20th Century Fox. After his entertainment career ended when Disney acquired Fox, Robert founded Robert Lane Coaching and created the "Your Book, Your Voice" program, which helps nonfiction authors narrate and produce their own audiobooks in just six weeks. With his extensive audio background starting in radio, Robert specializes in helping authors overcome their voice insecurities and create compelling audiobook narrations while handling all the technical editing and publishing aspects.In this episode:Robert's transition from 30+ years in entertainment to audiobook coachingWhy nonfiction authors should narrate their own audiobooks for authenticityThe "Your Book, Your Voice" six-week DIY audiobook programEssential equipment needed for professional-quality home recordingOvercoming voice insecurities and building narration confidenceRecording process: timing, preparation, and best practicesDistribution strategies for ACX, Audible, Amazon, Apple, and other platformsCommon recording mistakes and how to avoid themStep-by-step process from consultation to published audiobookAudiobook launch strategies and marketing approachesResources mentioned:Shure MV7 microphone (recommended equipment)ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) for Audible/Amazon distributionAuthors Republic for wider distribution to 40+ platformsSound-accurate headphones for monitoringRobert's "Your Book, Your Voice" coaching program: https://calendly.com/yourbookyourvoice/audiobook-onboardingBook Recommendations:"Purgatory to Paradise" by Malwish Syed: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BFTMJJK3?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl"Lights Action You" by Robert A. Lane: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGKX6BD2?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tlConnect with Robert A. Lane:Website: https://www.robertlanecoaching.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertlanecoaching/Youtube: https://bit.ly/RobertLaneCoachingYouTubeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertlanecoaching/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-a-lane/Connect with Teddy Smith:@teddyagsmithWebsite: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtcFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinstaYoutube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSwLinkedin - Support the showDiscover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

Daniel Hurst is a bestselling author with over 75 published books, primarily in the psychological thriller genre. Known for his rapid writing pace and prolific output, Daniel successfully transitioned from a procurement officer to a full-time author within just a few years. His breakthrough book "Till Death Do Us Part" allowed him to quit his day job, and he later achieved UK number one bestseller status with "The Doctor's Wife" through his publisher Bookouture. As a hybrid author, Daniel balances both self-publishing and traditional publishing, consistently delivering psychological thrillers that keep readers hooked with unexpected twists and compelling characters.In this episode:Journey from childhood writing dreams to becoming a full-time authorTransitioning from office work as a procurement officer to writingWriting process: from "pantsing" to structured outliningAchieving rapid writing speeds of 5,000-10,000 words per dayThe breakthrough success of "Till Death Do Us Part" that replaced his salaryMarketing strategies that worked: Facebook ads and consistent newslettersBalancing self-publishing with traditional publishing as a hybrid authorTime management and discipline required to build a writing careerCommon mistakes new authors make and how to avoid themBuilding a consistent reader base through regular book releasesResources mentioned:20 Books to 50K Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/20Booksto50k/Craig Martell's writing communityFacebook advertising platformKDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) dashboard: Bookouture:https://bookouture.com/Book Recommendations:Before and Laughter by Jimmy CarrConnect with Daniel Hurst:Website: http://www.danielhurstbooks.comFree book download and newsletter signup available on websiteLatest book: "The Baby Swap" available on AmazonWeekly newsletter every Sunday with book updates and personal lifeConnect with Teddy Smith:@teddyagsmithWebsite: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtcFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinstaYoutube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSwLinkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/ Support the showDiscover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

Damon Courtney is the creator of BookFunnel, a platform that helps authors deliver digital books to readers and build marketing funnels. A former self-published fantasy author who published a trilogy in 2011, Damon created BookFunnel to solve the problem of easily delivering free books to readers' devices. What started as a simple solution for getting ebooks onto Kindles has evolved into a comprehensive platform that now delivers approximately 150,000 books per day and offers tools for author collaboration, group promotions, and building reader relationships.In this episode:What a book funnel is and how it differs from traditional marketingThe reader journey from discovery to becoming a superfanHow to create effective reader magnets and lead capture systemsUsing group promotions to collaborate with other authorsAuthor swaps for cross-promotion opportunitiesDifferent strategies for fiction vs. nonfiction funnelsThe lifetime value of readers and how to calculate itCreating bonus content to capture readers at the end of booksWhy giving away multiple books can be more effective than oneBuilding organic vs. inorganic traffic through book funnelsResources mentioned:BookFunnel.com - https://bookfunnel.com/Scrivener - https://scrivener.app/Vellum - https://vellum.pub/Atticus - https://www.atticus.io/Group promotions Author swapsConnect with Damon Courtney:Website: https://bookfunnel.com/Connect with Teddy Smith:@teddyagsmithWebsite: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtcFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinstaYoutube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSwLinkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/ Support the showDiscover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

Nat Eliason is a writer, entrepreneur, and founder of multiple successful online businesses who is now pivoting to science fiction writing. After securing a $275,000 advance for his traditionally published non-fiction book "Crypto Confidential" with Penguin Random House, Nat has chosen to self-publish his debut science fiction novel "Husk." His entrepreneurial approach to book publishing includes a strong focus on professional production quality, direct sales through his own website, and leveraging his existing audience while building new channels specifically for his fiction work.In this episode:Nat's transition from traditional publishing to self-publishingCreating a high-quality self-published book that doesn't look self-publishedThe importance of investing in professional cover design and formattingUsing Ingram Spark vs. Amazon KDP for print-on-demandLeveraging an existing audience for a genre pivotBuilding a marketing strategy focused on BookTube and BookstagramThe value of preselling books through your own websiteNat's process for plotting and writing his novel in just four weeksHow Nat's background in philosophy informed his sci-fi worldbuildingThe challenge of keeping track of complex worldbuilding detailsStrategies for launching without a fiction-specific audienceResources mentioned:Ingram Spark - For high-quality print-on-demand paperbacks and hardcoversShopify - For selling signed book copies directly to readersStory Origin - Newsletter swap platform (mentioned by Teddy)Book Funnel - Reader magnet platform (mentioned by Teddy)Google Notebook LM - AI tool for organizing book details (mentioned by Teddy)Book Recommendations:"Husk" - Nat's sci-fi debut novel about digital immortality"Neuromancer" by William Gibson - Classic cyberpunk that inspired Nat"Dune" by Frank Herbert - Example of long-lasting fiction impactConnect with Nat Eliason:Website: nateliason.comSubstack: blog.nateliason.comBook website: huskbook.comConnect with Teddy Smith:@teddyagsmithWebsite: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtcFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinstaYoutube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSwLinkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/ Support the showDiscover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

Joanna Penn is an award-winning author, New York Times and USA Today bestseller, and host of The Creative Penn podcast. With experience spanning both fiction (under J.F. Penn) and non-fiction, Joanna has built a sustainable writing business over nearly two decades. After leaving her IT consultant career in 2011, she's created multiple income streams from her writing and writing-adjacent activities while publishing over 50 books. Her latest fiction release is "Death Valley," and she's currently working on the 4th edition of "Successful Self-Publishing."In this episode:Joanna's journey from IT consultant to full-time authorHow her definition of success evolved over timeMultiple income streams for both fiction and non-fiction authorsStrategies for making a living with writing beyond just book salesThe importance of building an email list from day oneHer "50 books by 50" milestone and creating a body of workDiscovery writing vs. plotting approachesUsing AI tools to enhance creativity and productivityThe "great splintering" of indie publishing business modelsCreating premium products like special editions for higher incomeResources mentioned:The Creative Penn PodcastBooks and Travel PodcastScrivener: https://scrivener.app/ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com/Google Notebook LM: https://notebooklm.google/Midjourney: https://www.midjourney.com/ElevenLabs: https://elevenlabs.io/PickFu - https://www.pickfu.com/Patreon  https://www.patreon.com/Book Recommendations:"Successful Self-Publishing" (4th Edition coming soon): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F66QLTL9?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl"Death Valley" - Her latest thriller: https://jfpenn.com/deathvalley"How to Write a Novel" : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1915425093?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tlConnect with Joanna Penn:Fiction website: https://jfpenn.com/Non-fiction website: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/The Creative Penn Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-creative-penn-podcast-for-writers/id309426367Books and Travel Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/books-and-travel/id1454367912Connect with Teddy Smith:@teddyagsmithWebsite: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtcFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinstaYoutube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSwLinkedin - Support the showDiscover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

Aurora Winter is the founder of SamePage Publishing and author of "Turn Words into Wealth." With a background as a film and television executive producer and award-winning screenwriter, Aurora now helps entrepreneurs, experts, and business leaders leverage books to grow their businesses. Her "Spoken Author Method" helps clients create high-quality books faster by speaking their content, which is then polished by her team. Aurora focuses on strategic book creation that can generate a 10X return on investment through backend products, speaking opportunities, and premium client acquisition.In this episode:Seven blueprints for creating seven-figure income from your bookUsing short books as lead magnets to test market demandBuilding a business beyond just book salesDeveloping a speaking career through strategic book positioningCreating premium client funnels through targeted booksImportance of proper book testing before publicationEffective book launch strategies for maximum impactTips for becoming more charismatic as a speakerThe importance of ongoing business improvementBenefits of independent publishing vs. traditional publishingResources mentioned:Turn Words into Wealth - Aurora's comprehensive book - https://turnwordsintowealth.com/Marketing Fast Track Publisher Rocket - https://publisherrocket.com/Klytics - https://k-lytics.com/PickFu.com - https://www.pickfu.com/BookCall.biz - https://bookcall.biz/Book Recommendations:The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle - https://www.amazon.com/dp/055380684X?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tlConnect with Aurora Winter:Website: https://aurorawinter.com/Publishing company: https://samepagepublishing.com/Free ebooks: https://turnwordsintowealth.com/Book a call: https://bookcall.biz/Connect with Teddy Smith:@teddyagsmithWebsite: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtcFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinstaYoutube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSwLinkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/ Support the showDiscover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

I had the pleasure of hosting this special panel edition of The Publishing Performance Show, bringing together four brilliant publishing industry experts to discuss book launch strategies. The conversation covered everything from hard vs. soft launches to advertising strategies, review acquisition, and genre-specific approaches. Our incredible panel featured:Craig Martelle - A publishing veteran with over 200 books published who runs some of the largest indie conferences in the world. Craig shared his unique approach of soft-launching a 10-book series in just 9 months, selling a quarter million dollars worth of books with minimal marketing.Dale L. Roberts - YouTube expert and author who specializes in Amazon ads and book marketing strategies.Alexa Bigwarfe - USA Today bestselling author and founder of Write. Publish. Sell, who offered insights into both children's books and romance marketing.Julie Broad - Amazon bestselling author and founder of Book Launchers, who specializes in non-fiction book marketing.In this panel:Hard launches vs. soft launches and when to use each approachPre-order strategies and series launch considerationsBuilding and managing ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) teamsGenerating book reviews without giving away free copiesGenre-specific launch strategies for fiction, non-fiction, and children's booksAmazon ads vs. Facebook ads for different book typesThe importance of email lists over social media followersTraditional vs. indie publishing distribution considerationsCommon launch advice myths and misconceptionsCurrent and upcoming book projects from each panelistResources Mentioned:Book Funnel: https://bookfunnel.comStory Origin: https://storyoriginapp.comBook Sprout: https://booksprout.coNetGalley: https://www.netgalley.comAmerican Library Association: https://www.ala.orgWritten Word Media: https://www.writtenwordmedia.comKirkus Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.comGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.comAmazon KDP: https://kdp.amazon.comIngramSpark: https://www.ingramspark.comConnect with our panelists:Craig Martelle: https://craigmartelle.comDale L. Roberts: https://selfpublishingwithdale.comAlexa Bigwarfe: https://writepublishsell.coJulie Broad: https://booklaunchers.comConnect with Teddy Smith:@teddyagsmithWebsite: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtcFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinstaYoutube Support the showDiscover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

H.H. Rune is the author of the "Find Me" series, a unique "fiction-ish" or autofiction work that blends real-life experiences with fictional storytelling. After conceiving the idea at age 30 while a stay-at-home mom, H.H. spent 25 years developing this five-book series before finally committing to publication during the pandemic. The series follows a creative social experiment where the author writes five books containing personal memories about people from her life, then sends them to random individuals across the country in hopes that someone she wrote about will recognize themselves and return a book to her.In this episode:The concept of "autofiction" and blending real memories with fictional narrativeCreating multiple storylines - the author's journal entries, memories of people, and the books' travelsCharacter development across multiple locations and perspectivesWriting process over a 25-year period before final publicationThe pandemic as a catalyst for finally completing the projectInteractive elements including trackable books with QR codesCreating an interactive reader experience with sign-in pages at the backWorking with a publicist to refine marketing messagingTikTok as a primary marketing platform for indie authorsBreaking conventional writing rules about perspective and formatResources mentioned:Find Me Book One: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZCFG8R4?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tlFind Me Book Two: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DB8J1G3P?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tlFind Me Book Three (coming soon) : https://www.amazon.com/Find-Me-Book-Three-Different-ebook/dp/B0F73BK11T?ref_=ast_author_dpLimited edition trackable versions with QR codesInteractive map on author's website (coming soon)Instagram page for the Find Me series: https://www.instagram.com/h.h.rune/BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Lauren Hathaway - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-hathaway-39a3588Book Recommendations:"The Anti-Rule: Navigating the Lies about Fiction Writing" by Christian Francis: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1916582052?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tlConnect with H.H. Rune:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hhruneWebsite: https://hhrune.com/Connect with Teddy Smith:@teddyagsmithWebsite: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtcFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinstaYoutube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSwLinkedin - http Support the showDiscover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

Emily Crookston is the owner and "decider of all things" at Pocket PhD, where she specializes in ghostwriting and developmental editing for business books. With a PhD in philosophy and background as a professor, Emily transitioned to content writing, starting with blog posts before moving to longer formats like business books. Her focus is helping thought leaders and business owners create books that serve as effective tools for lead generation, authority building, and speaking opportunities. Emily recently published her own book, "Unwritten: The Thought Leaders Guide to Not Overthinking Your Business Book," which guides business owners through the process of writing and publishing their books without getting stuck in overthinking.In this episode:Building a compelling business case for writing a bookFinding your unique point of view among similar booksMaintaining author authenticity when working with a ghostwriterUsing AI effectively as a brainstorming partnerAvoiding common overthinking traps in book writingSetting realistic word count goals for busy entrepreneursSelf-publishing advantages for business booksCreating reader-centric content even in business memoirsPositioning your book strategically in the marketplaceFinding time to write while running a businessResources mentioned:Unwritten: The Thought Leaders Guide to Not Overthinking Your Business Book - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D94YDCP5?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tlWebsite - https://www.thepocketphd.com/AI tools for book brainstorming and outliningStandard operating procedures (SOPs) as book content foundationBook Recommendations:"Better Than Before" by Gretchen Rubin -  https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385348630?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tConnect with Emily Crookston:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilycrookstonWebsite - https://www.thepocketphd.com/Connect with Teddy Smith:@teddyagsmithWebsite: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtcFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinstaYoutube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSwLinkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/ Support the showDiscover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

Sheryl Bass is a children's author and book PR expert with a master's degree in social work and journalism. Her Baby Dragon series focuses on social emotional learning for children, teaching important life lessons through engaging stories. Starting from a flash of inspiration during a sneeze 15 years ago, Sheryl brought her first book "Baby Dragon's Big Sneeze" to life through self-publishing after traditional publishing routes proved unsuccessful. She runs Be Kind Publishing, emphasizing kindness and social emotional development in children's literature.In this episode:Origins of "Baby Dragon's Big Sneeze" from a sneeze inspirationImportance of social emotional learning in children's booksWorking with developmental editors to strengthen storylinesFinding illustrators through self-publishing resourcesUnderstanding work-for-hire contracts with illustratorsSelf-publishing vs traditional publishing in children's literatureUsing pubby.co for obtaining book reviewsPR strategies for children's book authorsMarketing through podcasts and in-person eventsBuilding a children's book seriesResources mentioned:Self Publishing Made Simple - April Cox's mentoring service - https://www.selfpubmadesimple.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoodOm97WpZCXhBvTukZyUleNWbf4QPvbmp0DJGvSO4-EyZ5SJr8Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators: https://www.scbwi.org/Pubby.co - https://pubby.co/IngramSpark - https://www.ingramspark.com/Amazon KDP - https://kdp.amazon.com/Book Recommendations:"Hunger for Words" by Christina Hunger - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092DYHW2K?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tlConnect with Sheryl Bass:Website - https://www.be-kindpublishing.com/Baby Dragon Finds His Family: A Picture Book About Belonging - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLRX6WKG?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tlBaby Dragon's Big Sneeze: A Picture Book About Empathy and Trust - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJTFPQ55?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tlAvailable on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, TargetConnect with Teddy Smith:@teddyagsmithWebsite: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtcFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinstaYoutube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSwLinkedin - Support the showDiscover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/