The Publishing Performance Show

Lucy McCarraher is the Founder of Rethink Press, BookMagic AI, the book-writing app, and the Business Book Awards. She also hosts the ABOO – A Book of One's Own – women writers' network. She is the author of 13 books including three novels, four self-help books and six books on writing books. Lucy mentors non-fiction and fiction authors through planning and writing their books and is the UK's most experienced business book mentor. She recently won a Stevie Award for Women Helping Women in Business; and the Great British Businesswomen's Award for Creative Industries Businesswoman of the Year for her work supporting more women to write and publish their business books.In this episode:The journey from idea to published business bookUsing AI tools to support (not replace) writingCreating authentic business booksHybrid publishing vs self-publishingBook positioning strategiesWriting habits and routinesDistribution and marketing approachesResources mentioned:Book Magic AI: https://bookmagic.ai/Rethink Press: http://www.rethinkpress.com/KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing): https://kdp.amazon.com/Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/Key Person of Influence: https://www.keypersonofinfluence.com/Book recommendations:The Authority Gap by Mary Ann Sieghart: https://www.amazon.com/Authority-Gap-women-still-seriously/dp/0857527568Connect with Lucy:Get your Free Trial for Book Magic AI: https://bookmagic.ai/Rethink Press: http://www.rethinkpress.com/Personal Website: https://www.lucymccarraher.com/Linkedin: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/lucymccarraherConnect 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/

Ellen Erikson is a publisher of over 30 books, combining self-authored works and public domain publications. Her expertise lies in identifying, updating, and successfully marketing classic works for modern audiences.In this episode:Understanding public domain books and copyright lawsGuidelines for publishing on Amazon KDPStrategies for standing out in the marketFinding and selecting profitable titlesFormatting and production considerationsMarketing and advertising approachesCommon pitfalls and how to avoid themResources mentioned:Project GutenbergMany BooksWikipedia copyright tablesKDP publishing guidelinesConnect with Ellen:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenerikson/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/

Tom Wilde is the Head of Partnerships at ProWritingAid, a comprehensive toolkit for storytellers that helps authors improve their writing through advanced analysis and AI-powered features. With a background in English teaching, he brings deep insight into how writers can elevate their craft through technology.In this episode:Evolution of ProWritingAid from grammar checker to complete writing toolkitUnderstanding passive vs active voiceKey reports and features for writersAI-powered tools for story developmentIntegration with popular writing platformsPrivacy and security considerationsResources mentioned:ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com/Writers Week events: https://prowritingaid.com/art/1163/learn-with-prowritingaid-this-month.aspxIntegration with Scrivener, Word, Google Docs: https://prowritingaid.com/integrationsYouTube channel tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClh8Sjuq-j17zxjfvvxmcIgBook recommendations:Go As A River by Shelley Reed: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Go-River/Shelley-Read/9781954118232Fingersmith by Sarah Waters: https://www.amazon.com/Fingersmith-Sarah-Waters/dp/1573229725Connect with Tom:Website: https://prowritingaid.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prowritingaidX.com: https://twitter.com/prowritingaidInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/prowritingaid.insta/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/prowritingaidYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClh8Sjuq-j17zxjfvvxmcIgConnect 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/

Audrey Hughey is a planner and workbook creator, and a multi-genre fiction author. She uses her B.A. in English and M.A. in Ancient and Classical History to research and craft riveting horror and thriller stories brimming with cultural nuance and rich with lore. She lives in the hills of Appalachia with her family and sweet-but-bossy felines.In this episode:The importance of holistic life planning for authorsBreaking down yearly writing goalsCreating effective daily routinesManaging productivity with family commitmentsSetting authentic and meaningful goalsUsing time-blocking techniquesMonthly review and progress trackingResources mentioned:The Author's Planner seriesVirtual writing retreatsMonthly Writing Focus PlannersGrowth Day appFemale Entrepreneurship AssociationPomodoro TechniqueBook recommendations:The Ritualist by Dakota CroweSix Habits of Growth by Brendon BurchardAtomic Habits by James ClearConnect with Audrey:Website: www.audreyhughey.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/thewriteservicesInstagram: www.instagram.com/thewriteservicesSign Up to Audrey’s Newsletter: https://bit.ly/authorweeklyGet your tickets for the 2025 Virtual Spring Writing Retreat: Purchase discounted tickets while preordering their 2025 Author's Planner HERE:  https://audreyhughey.com/2025preordersJoin Audrey’s newsletter waitlist HERE: https://bit.ly/2025vswrwaitConnect 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/

Evan Gow is the founder of StoryOrigin, a platform designed to help authors grow their readership through newsletter marketing, review management, and cross-promotions. With a background in tech entrepreneurship and creative writing, he created StoryOrigin to streamline the essential tools authors need for success.In this episode:Benefits of author newslettersCreating effective reader magnetsNewsletter content strategiesCross-promotion techniquesBuilding subscriber listsNewsletter monetization optionsPlatform features and integrationsResources mentioned:StoryOrigin: https://storyoriginapp.com/MailerLite recommendationNewsletter swap directoryGroup promotionsUniversal book linksReview copy landing pagesBook recommendations:He Who Fights With Monsters by Shirtaloon (Travis Deverell): https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/26294/he-who-fights-with-monstersConnect with Evan:Website: https://storyoriginapp.com/Tutorials: https://storyoriginapp.com/tutorialsContact Evan: evan@storyoriginapp.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/

Oriana Leckert is the Head of Publishing at Kickstarter, where she helps creators bring a marvelous array of literary projects to life. She's written and edited for Vice, MTV News, Slate, Hyperallergic, Gothamist, Atlas Obscura, and many more. Her first book, Brooklyn Spaces: 50 Hubs of Culture and Creativity (Monacelli, 2015), grew out of a multi-year project chronicling the rise and fall of under-the-radar creative places across New York City.In this episode:Understanding Kickstarter's role in publishingCreating successful crowdfunding campaignsSetting realistic funding goalsDesigning compelling rewardsBuilding community before launchingCase studies of successful book campaignsCommon mistakes to avoidResources mentioned:Kickstarter.com/publishingKickstarter for Authors Facebook group (6,000+ members)Russell Notle's book on KickstarterAnthea Sharp's guide for authorsWriter MBA with Monica LionelFeatured Kickstarter Campaigns:The Obsidian Spindle SagaFeyland TalesThe Gilded Rose AuctionCradle Books 7-9 by Will WightSaphira StatueNightlight Daily Horoscopes 2024Book recommendations:Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Diniman - https://www.amazon.com/Dungeon-Crawler-Carl-7-book-series/dp/B08BX5D4LCConnect with Oriana:Website: https://www.kickstarter.com/Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kickstarterInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/kickstarterYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/user/kickstarterKickstarter Publishing newsletter: https://www.kickstarter.com/newslettersKickstarter Publishing Category: https://www.kickstarter.com/discover/categories/publishingConnect 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/p Support the showDiscover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

Hey everyone! What a wild ride 2024 has been. From welcoming a new baby (and realizing two kids is WAY more than double the work) to watching this show grow beyond my wildest dreams, I want to share the highs, lows, and everything in between of this incredible year.In this episode, I'm diving into:Life as a publishing dad The amazing guests who've joined us - from Susie Quinn to Kevin J AndersonMy Vegas adventure at Author Nation (what happens in Vegas... gets recorded!)Growing my own book empire to 22 titlesHow Publishing Performance's AI is changing the ad gameWhat's coming in 2025 (spoiler: it's gonna be big)Resources mentioned:Publishing Performance - Our AI advertising wizardAuthor Nation Videos in YoutubeConnect with Teddy Smith:@teddyagsmithWebsite - https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtcFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/teddyagsmithPinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/teddyagsmith/Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg7qwkY_Tih2UlB82b3ysTgLinkedin - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/teddyagsmithSupport the showDiscover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

Michele DeFilippo is the owner of 1106 Design, providing comprehensive book publishing services for indie authors since 2001. With over 52 years in the publishing industry, she brings extensive expertise in book design, typesetting, and project management.In this episode:Journey from Crown Publishers to founding 1106 DesignEvolution of book formatting from manual typesetting to digitalCommon mistakes authors make in self-publishingImportance of professional book design and formattingWorking with print-on-demand platformsProject management essentials for authorsResources mentioned:KDP (Amazon): https://kdp.amazon.com/IngramSpark: https://www.ingramspark.com/1106 Design services: https://1106design.com/services/Book Recommendations:Publish Like the Pros by Michele DeFilippo: https://www.amazon.com/Publish-Like-Pros-Self-Publishing-Misunderstood/dp/0985489901Connect with Michele:Website: https://1106design.com/Free resource: https://1106design.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Publish-Like-the-Pros_Prf15_COLOR_with_covers_PDFx-1a.pdfNewsletter subscriptionProject management consultation: https://1106design.com/contact-us/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/Join our Facebook Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/publishingperformance/ Support the showDiscover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

Cathy Lewis is president of CS Lewis Publicity, a boutique PR firm specializing in non-fiction authors. With over 26 years of experience, she helps authors build their platforms through strategic media outreach.In this episode:Evolution from publishing to boutique publicityEssential author platform elementsMedia outreach strategiesSocial media tactics for authorsImportance of core messagingChanges in book marketing landscapeLocal bookstore resurgenceResources mentioned:Website essentialsSocial media platformsMedia contactsPress materialsLocal bookstore eventsVirtual seminarsBook recommendations:Media Darlings by Joanne McCall: https://www.amazon.com/Media-Darling-Shine-Through-Interview/dp/1736095005Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins: https://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Economic-Hit-John-Perkins/dp/0452287081The Genius of Empathy by Judith Orloff: https://www.amazon.com/Genius-Empathy-Practical-Sensitive-Relationships/dp/1683649710Connect with Cathy:Website: https://www.cslewispublicity.com/DIY Publicity blog: https://www.cslewispublicity.com/blog/Contact: https://www.cslewispublicity.com/contact-us/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/Join our Facebook Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/publishingperformance/ Support the showDiscover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

Dakota Krout is a successful LitRPG author and founder of Mountandale Press, specializing in LitRPG, GameLit, and cultivation fiction. With a background in computer science and military communications, he brings systematic thinking to his writing and publishing ventures.In this episode:Explanation of LitRPG and GameLit genresBuilding systematic magic and progression systemsProcess of founding and running Mountandale PressPublishing success metrics and author requirementsMarketing strategies in niche genresImportance of community engagementResources mentioned:Dragon Con - https://www.dragoncon.org/LitRPG and GameLit online communitiesMountandale Press publishing criteria: https://www.mountaindalepress.store/Book recommendations:How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie: https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034Outlived: The Science and Art of Longevity: https://www.amazon.com/Outlive-Longevity-Peter-Attia-MD/dp/0593236599Something, Anything, and Everything series by Dakota Krout: https://www.amazon.com/Anything-Full-Murderhobo-Dakota-Krout/dp/163766074XConnect with Dakota Krout:Website: https://www.mountaindalepress.store/Dakota’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DakotaKrout/Mountandale Press’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MountaindalePress/Discord: Mountandale Press communityConnect 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/Join our Facebook Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/publishingperformance/ Support the showDiscover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/