Nonsense-Free Kristin

Every year conservatives complain that Hollywood hates them, point to a handful of companies as proof that right wing art is thriving, then wait for a billionaire to fund the revolution. Every year nothing changes. This episode is the reality check that conversation never gets.We go through what the Daily Wire, Angel Studios, and Taylor Sheridan are actually doing — and why none of them are discovering new talent, funding independent creators, or building anything resembling a conservative artistic infrastructure. We also cover the Oliver Anthony moment, what it revealed about how conservatives actually relate to art they claim to love, and why the Heritage Foundation spent decades actively fighting arts funding before noticing the culture had been captured by the other side.The good news is that the three models that actually work have nothing to do with patronage, billionaires, or permission. Matt Dinniman built Dungeon Crawler Carl at cat shows during his lunch breaks. Seth Ring crossed seven figures without a traditional publishing deal. The Philippou brothers started on YouTube and ended up at A24. The tools are available. The question is whether you are going to use them or keep waiting for someone who is never going to show up.In This Episode* The Clifton Duncan Article: Why an actor’s excoriation of conservative culture warriors cut through the noise, and why the predictable response to it proved his point entirely.* The Daily Wire Film Breakdown: A project by project look at what the Daily Wire has actually produced, who made it, and why there is not a single example of them developing new independent talent.* Angel Studios, Same Pattern: Why every success story in the conservative film space traces back to Hollywood castoffs, nepo babies, and finished films they acquired rather than built.* Taylor Sheridan, Accidental Icon: Why the man carrying Paramount Plus on his shoulders never set out to make conservative art, and what that tells you about what actually works.* The Oliver Anthony Moment: What happened when conservatives found their mascot, what happened when he rejected the label, and what the fallout revealed about whether they actually care about the art.* Conservative Publishing, Where Is It: Why right wing imprints exist almost entirely in nonfiction, who they serve, and why epic fantasy with wholesome values is nowhere on their radar.* The Y Combinator Problem: Why the tech incubator model cannot be transplanted into the arts, and why buying 7% of a novelist is not a viable investment strategy.* The Three Models That Work: The Sheridan model, the Dinniman/Ring model, and the Philippou model — all three have one thing in common.* Nobody Is Coming: Why right wing billionaires have never funded independent artists, why they never will, and why waiting for them is the single most self-defeating thing a creator can do.* What You Can Do Today: The tools available right now, the creators who used them to build something real, and the only question that actually matters.Kristin’s Links* Editing Services: nonsensefreeeditor.com* Newsletter: https://www.fictionalinfluence.com* YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nonsensefreekristinTimestamps00:00 - Super Bowl Culture Wars.01:04 - Clifton Duncan Callout.02:37 - Patronage Reality Check.03:34 - Meet the Host Mission.04:37 - Why Creatives Get Blackballed.05:35 - Defeatism in the Comments.07:20 - Stop Waiting for Billionaires.09:30 - Conservative Media Examples.10:38 - Daily Wire Breakdown.13:19 - No New Talent Pipeline.16:45 - Angel Studios Pattern.18:40 - Taylor Sheridan Exception.20:10 - Conservative Publishing Gap.21:57 - Culture Wars Old News.22:49 - Why Conservatives Ignore Art.24:12 - Oliver Anthony Mascot Fight.28:38 - Indie Authors Build Empires.32:11 - YouTubers Turn Filmmakers.34:27 - Why Art Incubators Fail.35:58 - Three Models To Win.40:01 - Stop Complaining Start Building.42:07 - Art Matters Final Push.About This PodcastNonsense-Free Kristin is where independent authors and creators learn to build their platforms, master their craft, and create on their own terms—without begging for permission from gatekeepers who hate them.New episodes weekly.Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Music. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.fictionalinfluence.com/subscribe

Seth Ring has written 46 books, built a seven figure indie author business without an agent or a traditional publishing deal, and cracked the code on how to move readers from free content to a loyal paying ecosystem. In this episode he breaks down exactly how he did it, and what most indie authors get wrong before they ever get started.We dig into what LitRPG actually is and why it has captured a voracious male readership that traditional publishing abandoned, the funnel Seth built from Royal Road to Patreon to Amazon that generated his first $50K, and why the actions that get you to each income threshold have to completely change to get you to the next one. Seth walks through each inflection point from $50K to $100K to $250K to seven figures, what he changed at each stage, and why community and relationships became the lever that moved him past the ceiling he kept hitting alone.We also get into hybrid publishing, why Seth sublicenses his audio and physical rights while keeping his ebook rights, how to negotiate with traditional publishers when you already know your own numbers, and why the single most repeated mistake he sees from talented authors is having too much attachment to book one.In This Episode* What LitRPG Actually Is: Why LitRPG isn’t a genre but a stylistic choice, how it differs from progression fantasy, and why the game element changes everything about how stories deliver information.* Why Men Only Read LitRPG Now: The real reason male readers are abandoning every other genre for this one, and what it says about what modern men are actually hungry for in fiction.* The Funnel Nobody Talks About: How Seth moved readers from free web serials to Patreon to Amazon and built a loyal paying ecosystem before most authors know what a funnel is.* The $50K Inflection Point: What gets you there, why it’s achievable part-time, and why the exact same strategy will cap you out and stop working.* Books Sell Books: The single phrase that changed Seth’s business, and why most authors are too attached to book one to let it work for them.* The $250K Ceiling: Why marketing levers and Facebook groups stop working at a certain point and why the only thing that moved Seth past it was walking into rooms with people who made more than him.* Why Traditional Publishers Can’t Touch LitRPG: How the indie community built something trad publishing wanted a piece of and why the LitRPG crowd said no thanks.* The Hybrid Model Explained: How Seth sublicenses audio and physical rights while keeping ebook rights, why that math works, and how knowing your own numbers changes every negotiation.* Seven Figures and What Comes Next: Why distribution is the singular problem indies can’t solve alone, and how hybrid publishing fills that gap without surrendering creative control.* The Most Common Mistake Seth Sees: Why talented authors stall out — and it has nothing to do with their writing.Guest Links* Read Iron Tyrant by Seth Ring: https://amzn.to/4qrJmsq* Website: https://sethring.com/* Youtube: @SethRingWritesKristin’s Links* Editing Services: nonsensefreeeditor.com* Newsletter: https://www.fictionalinfluence.com* YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nonsensefreekristinTimestamps00:00 - Welcome and Guest Intro.01:49 - Seth Ring Origin Story.03:52 - Web Serials to Indie Publishing.05:27 - Building the Reader Funnel.08:09 - What LitRPG Really Is.12:51 - Why LitRPG Hooks Readers.15:33 - Best LitRPG Entry Reads.19:05 - Trad Publishing Meets LitRPG.21:33 - Indie Community and Success Metrics.23:20 - Hybrid Without An Agent.25:15 - Sublicensing Audio Rights.26:36 - Ebooks Versus Print Strategy.27:27 - Scaling Reach With Publishers.29:48 - Income Inflection Points.32:57 - From Ads To Networking.37:08 - Hybrid In A Shifting Market.39:50 - Biggest Author Business Mistake.44:34 - New Series Iron Tyrant.45:50 - Where To Find Seth Ring.46:29 - Final Thanks And Wrap.About This PodcastNonsense-Free Kristin is where independent authors and creators learn to build their platforms, master their craft, and create on their own terms—without begging for permission from gatekeepers who hate them.New episodes weekly.Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Music. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.fictionalinfluence.com/subscribe

Traditional publishing isn’t just an American problem anymore. Gatekeepers have gone global, and authors in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand are starting to feel it too.In this episode, I sit down with Nicholas Sheppard, AKA Echo Chamberlain, a traditionally published literary fiction author from New Zealand navigating the painful transition to indie publishing. Nicholas has 80,000 YouTube subscribers, has appeared on The Critical Drinker, and writes the kind of unflinching literary fiction that agents claim to want—but then quietly pass on. We also talk about grief, zeitgeist, male trauma in fiction, and what it actually takes to build an audience that crosses over into book sales.In This Episode* The Liminal Space No One Talks About: What it feels like to be a traditionally published author forced into indie publishing. Not by choice, but by a shifting market.* When Rejection Is Personal: How detailed, thoughtful rejections can actually hurt more than form letters, and what they reveal about the current state of literary agencies.* The “Not My Cup of Tea” Wall: Why male-centered literary fiction keeps hitting the same invisible ceiling, and why it has nothing to do with quality.* Where Is the Zeitgeist?: Why men aren’t reading literary fiction anymore, and why the publishing industry is psychologically incapable of admitting it’s the problem.* Literary Fiction vs. The Algorithm: The unique grief of a “prestige” writer discovering that Amazon doesn’t care about your Booker Prize aspirations.* Audience Mismatch: What happens when you have 80,000 YouTube subscribers and your book video barely moves the needle.* The Review Threshold: Why you should never drive traffic to a new book before you have at least five written reviews, and how to get them without begging.* The Hugh Howey Model: How one indie author kept his ebook rights, signed a print-only deal, and changed the hybrid publishing conversation forever.* Amazon’s 180-Day Assessment Window: Why a slow start doesn’t have to be a death sentence, and how to use that window strategically.* Cream Still Rises: Why good writing still matters in an algorithmic world, and why word of mouth hasn’t actually died.* Variations on a Theme: Nicholas’s Amazon-exclusive novel exploring how cultural attitudes toward abuse shift over a lifetime.Guest Links* Read Variations on a Theme by Nicholas Sheppard: https://amzn.to/4sBE9QO * Youtube: Echo Chamberlain * X: @EchoChamYT* Substack: @echochambaerlainwriterKristin’s Links* Editing Services: nonsensefreeeditor.com* Newsletter: https://www.fictionalinfluence.com* YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nonsensefreekristinTimestamps00:00 - Meet Echo Chamberlain.05:20 - Submission Rejections Explained.07:27 - Grief and Going Indie.09:27 - Ideology and Agent Tastes.12:22 - Male Trauma in Fiction.14:51 - Where Are Young Male Authors.17:24 - Zeitgeist and Men Reading.20:33 - Platform First Marketing.22:11 - Audience Conversion Struggles.24:01 - Open Bar and YouTube Growth.26:30 - Why Media Commentary Not Writing.28:10 - YouTube Pile On Culture.28:45 - Fragmenting Your Audience.29:44 - Star Trek Aesthetics Rant.31:27 - When To Plug Your Book.32:50 - Ads Inside Novels.34:23 - Indie Marketing Reality Check.34:57 - Reviews And Social Proof.36:39 - Getting Early Reviews.37:58 - Amazon Algorithm Fears.40:35 - Hybrid Deals With Publishers.43:19 - What Comes Next Writing.45:44 - Where To Find You.46:22 -Book Pitch And Wrap Up.About This PodcastNonsense-Free Kristin is where independent authors and creators learn to build their platforms, master their craft, and create on their own terms—without begging for permission from gatekeepers who hate them.New episodes weekly.Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Music. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.fictionalinfluence.com/subscribe

The Twitter Crush is available in its entirety on Amazon and wherever books are sold: https://buy.bookfunnel.com/i2x75bx6hv Web novels are not fan fiction. They are not Wattpad cringe. And they are definitely not a niche hobby for teenagers. They are a $34 billion industry growing at 15% year over year—and most traditional authors aren’t even paying attention.In this episode, we tackle the elephant in the room: if you’re unhappy with your author career, it might be because you’re forcing yourself into a publishing model that doesn’t serve you. Amazon is not the only game in town. Men didn’t stop reading. Readers didn’t disappear. They just migrated to platforms built for screens, serial storytelling, and mobile-first consumption.Web novels are exploding, but serial fiction isn’t new at all. If you’ve been feeling stuck, invisible, or boxed in by “the way publishing works,” this episode might shift your entire perspective.In This Episode* The Most Confining Author Is You: Why many writers are miserable because they’re forcing themselves into a model they don’t actually enjoy.* Men Are Still Reading: They’re just not at Barnes & Noble. A look at where male readers have migrated and why.* The $34 Billion Web Novel Market: The explosive growth of platforms like Royal Road, WebNovel, Inkitt, Patreon, and more.* Amazon Saturation Reality Check: When 11,000–20,000 books drop daily, discoverability becomes a structural problem, not a personal failure.* Serial Fiction Isn’t New: Uncle Tom’s Cabin was originally published as a serial. Format shapes storytelling, and it always has.* Mobile-First Storytelling: Why writing for screens requires shorter chapters, tighter pacing, and structural adjustments.* Community vs. The Void: The dopamine and feedback loop of chapter-by-chapter publishing versus throwing a novel into algorithmic obscurity.* Why Web Novels Get Sneered At: The TikTok attention span myth and why it misunderstands how serial readers actually consume.* The Twitter Crush Case Study: Kristin’s own mobile-first serial thriller built specifically for online readers—and for a male audience.Stop * Constricting Yourself: Writing isn’t one thing. Publishing isn’t one path. If traditional novels serve you, great. If not, experiment.Kristin’s Links* Editing Services: nonsensefreeeditor.com* Newsletter: https://www.fictionalinfluence.com* YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nonsensefreekristinTimestamps00:00 - Writers Trap Themselves.00:23 - Men Still Reading.01:14 - Web Novels Beyond Wattpad.01:59 - A Massive Market.02:25 - Amazon Saturation Reality.03:40 - What Web Novels Are.04:12 - Mobile First Formatting.06:12 - Serial Fiction History.07:34 - Why Readers Are Switching.08:30 - Community And Feedback.09:50 - My Substack Web Novel.10:23 - Twitter Crush Premise.12:46 - Read Subscribe And Share.13:14 - Final Takeaways.About This PodcastNonsense-Free Kristin is where independent authors and creators learn to build their platforms, master their craft, and create on their own terms—without begging for permission from gatekeepers who hate them.New episodes weekly.Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Music. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.fictionalinfluence.com/subscribe

Phil Marshall is not your typical tech founder. He’s a former surgeon, a sci-fi author, and the founder/CEO of Spoken, an AI-powered audiobook platform built to break the two biggest gates in audio publishing: cost and complexity. Today Phil joins us to discuss the economics of audiobook creation, why multi-voice and full-cast audio has been inaccessible for almost everyone, and how Spoken’s model (free to use, pay when perfect) changes the risk calculation for indie authors. He also explains Spoken’s ethical approach to voice options (including paid voice-actor libraries and custom character voices), why audio can’t be treated as an afterthought, and why distribution is expanding beyond the usual giants. If you’ve been avoiding your audiobook project for fear of spending tens of thousands of dollars, this conversation is for you!In This Episode* A surgeon turned sci-fi author turned founder: Phil’s path into tech, and why he built Spoken in the first place.* The “audio gate”: why traditional audiobook production costs price most authors out.* Multi-voice without the $25,000 bill: what full-cast audio normally costs, and how that’s changing.* “Free to use, pay when perfect”: Spoken’s pricing model and why fixed cost per word matters.* Audible, Spotify, and the shifting landscape: where AI narration is being accepted, and where friction remains.* Voice ethics and the pitchfork problem: how voice actor libraries, cloning, and custom voices actually work.* Audio-first audiences: which readers demand audio now and why authors can’t ignore it.* Serial fiction and audio: how to publish chapter-by-chapter without re-rendering everything.* Audio-friendly writing: dialogue tags, tables, file lists, and what breaks in audio.* A sobering truth about publishing: “You can do everything right and it still might not sell,” and why your art still matters.Guest LinksPhil Marshall* Sign up for Spoken: https://www.spoken.press/* Web: drphilmarshall.com* Youtube: @philmarshallmdKristin’s Links* Services & Content* Editing Services: nonsensefreeeditor.com* Newsletter: https://www.fictionalinfluence.com* YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nonsensefreekristinTimestamps00:00 - Meet Phil Marshall.04:54 - 9/11 Physics Origin.06:57 - Why Spoken Exists.12:07 - Audible and Distribution.14:37 - Spotify Listening Limits.16:34 - Ethical Voices Explained.20:33 - AI Backlash and Art.24:37 - Audiobook Pricing Shift.28:05 - Pay When Perfect Pricing.29:37 - Genres Where Audio Wins.35:09 - Learning From Indie Authors.37:44 - Serial Fiction Workflow.39:34 - Make Manuscripts Audio Friendly.42:55 - Unspoken Network Sharing.44:18 - Pricing Strategy by Channel.46:27 - Author Entrepreneur Reality Check.49:26 - Where to Find Spoken.51:43 - Final Thanks and Wrap.About This PodcastNonsense-Free Kristin is where independent authors and creators learn to build their platforms, master their craft, and create on their own terms—without begging for permission from gatekeepers who hate them.New episodes weekly.Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Music. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.fictionalinfluence.com/subscribe

E.J. Free is not your typical “Christian author.” He writes young adult fiction for boys, and he does it without sermonizing or softening reality to fit a Hallmark mold. In this (partially rescued) interview, we dive into why so much Christian fiction feels narrow, why excellent writers struggle to get into Christian bookstores if they’re not the “right kind” of Christian, and what modern publishing is missing when it comes to young male readers.We also tackle the big comparison: The Chronicles of Narnia vs. Left Behind. Why does one endure across belief systems while the other gets mocked? EJ breaks down the sectarian theology problem, the dangers of writing “on the nose” contemporary allegory, and why escapism, myth, and craft matter more than heavy-handed messaging. If you care about writing faith-based fiction that is moral without being preachy, this episode is for you.In This Episode* Christian Fiction Doesn’t Have to Be Cringe: Why Kristin’s early viral video on Christian fiction mistakes struck a nerve and what authors keep getting wrong.* The Christian Bookstore Gate: Why talented Christian writers struggle to get stocked if they aren’t megachurch-evangelical adjacent and how that narrows the genre.* Narnia vs. Left Behind: A deep dive into why The Chronicles of Narnia transcends belief systems while Left Behind remains sectarian and controversial.* Dispensationalism Explained (Quickly): E.J. breaks down the theological framework behind Left Behind and why that limits its audience.* Myth vs. Contemporary Allegory: Why setting your story in a mythic world creates distance and accessibility and why “on the nose” end-times fiction alienates readers.* Writing for Young Men: The most underserved audience in modern publishing. Young boys need stories that model virtue, courage, and transformation.* After Moses and the Blueprint for Boys’ Fiction: What makes Michael F. Kane’s series work.* Truth and Verisimilitude: Why authenticity, not propaganda, is the key to writing compelling Christian fiction.* The Princess Bride Checklist: Sword fights, giants, romance, miracles—why timeless storytelling beats trend-chasing every time.* Victory in Five Years: What success actually looks like for an indie author writing for a neglected audience.Guest LinksE.J. Free* Read the Atlas Legacy by E.J. Free: https://amzn.to/452ChXp* X: @EJFreeAuthorKristin’s Links* Services & Content* Editing Services: nonsensefreeeditor.com* Newsletter: https://www.fictionalinfluence.com* YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nonsensefreekristinTimestamps00:00 - The Accidental Viral Video: Swearing, Christian Fiction & Filming in the Car01:28 - Why Christian Bookstores Can Be So Restrictive (and Who Gets Shut Out)04:12 - Narnia vs. Left Behind: Why the Reception Is So Different05:27 - What ‘Dispensationalism’ Means (Quick Theology Detour)07:21 - Why Left Behind Rubs People the Wrong Way: Sectarian + Too On-the-Nose09:48 - What Books Should Big Publishers Read to Understand Young Male Readers?10:51 - The ‘After Moses’ Pitch: Moral Without Sermonizing + Role Models That Land13:46 - The Princess Bride Checklist: What Boys’ Fiction Needs More Of14:32 - Defining Success: What Victory Looks Like in 5 Years as an Author16:09 - Where to Find E.J. Free + Amazon, Metadata Mistakes, and Final ThanksAbout This PodcastNonsense-Free Kristin is where independent authors and creators learn to build their platforms, master their craft, and create on their own terms—without begging for permission from gatekeepers who hate them.New episodes weekly.Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Music. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.fictionalinfluence.com/subscribe

Joshua Lisec, a professional ghostwriter and ghost-publishing entrepreneur who has written over 110 books, explains his commercial-first approach to nonfiction. He breaks down Jobs-to-Be-Done for book ideas. He argues nonfiction must read like fiction to survive AI. He recounts how he left traditional publishing, built end-to-end publishing services, and prioritizes ROI over artistic ego.

Hans Schantz, scientist and inventor turned indie author, blends 19th-century electromagnetism with modern storytelling. He discusses reintroducing lost physics through alternate history. He recounts being de-platformed, replatforming to double funding, and organizing a 300+ author grassroots book sale. He explains moving scientific work to Substack and why traditional publishing now often acts like vanity press.

Is a traditional publishing deal actually the finish line, or is it just the beginning of a different struggle? In this episode, Kristin sits down with thriller author and editor K.T. Carlisle to answer just that.Before becoming a successful indie author, K.T. worked inside a prestigious literary agency, before seeing behind the curtain on what really happens to your query letter, who actually reads your submission, and the shocking financial realities of traditional publishing revealed during the Penguin Random House court case.K.T. shares why, despite having interest from a Big 5 editor, she decided the juice wasn’t worth the squeeze and pivoted to self-publishing. We also dive deep into actionable marketing strategies, specifically how to dominate Twitter (X) without spending a dime on ads, and why you need to stop letting “I can’t” dictate your writing career.In This Episode* Life Inside an Agency: The reality of the “slush pile” and why interns (not agents) are likely the first to read your work.* The Instant Rejection: The most common mistakes authors make that lead to immediate deletion.* The Numbers Don’t Lie: Discussing the Penguin Random House court case revelation that many trad-pub books sell fewer than 12 copies in their first year.* The Big Pivot: Why K.T. walked away from traditional interest to control her own career.* Indie Quality Control: How to ensure your self-published book rivals HarperCollins or Simon & Schuster.* Twitter Marketing Masterclass: Why “link dropping” kills your reach, using “Hobo Code” to beat the algorithm, and building community vs. broadcasting sales.* The Money Mindset: Diversifying income streams (editing, ghostwriting) to fund your art.* No Excuses: K.T.’s inspiring approach to working and writing while managing chronic pain.Guest LinksK.T. Carlisle* Read INTUITION by K.T. Carlisle: https://amzn.to/4i0SLEu* X: @KT_Carlisle * Website: https://ktcarlisle.com* Editing Services: https://ktaeditorial.comKristin’s Links* Services & Content* Editing Services: nonsensefreeeditor.com* Newsletter: https://www.fictionalinfluence.com* YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nonsensefreekristinTimestamps00:00 - Introduction and Purpose of the Interview01:44 - Meet K.T. Carlisle: Literary Agent to Indie Author02:39 - Inside the Literary Agency and the Reality of Querying08:35 - The Harsh Truths of Traditional Publishing18:12 - Why K.T. Chose the Indie Path22:11 - Building an Authentic Platform as an Indie Author25:01 - Crafting the Perfect Social Media Post25:21 - Navigating Social Media Algorithms26:55 - Choosing the Right Platform for You30:18 - Effective Social Media Tools and Strategies33:48 - Balancing Creativity and Commercial Success37:14 - Building a Sustainable Writing Career41:11 - Starting from Scratch: Key Strategies43:20 - The Future of Independent Publishing45:28 - Where to Find More from K.T. CarlisleAbout This PodcastNonsense-Free Kristin is where independent authors and creators learn to build their platforms, master their craft, and create on their own terms—without begging for permission from gatekeepers who hate them.New episodes weekly.Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Music. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.fictionalinfluence.com/subscribe

Most authors dream of finishing one book a year; John Van Stry wrote twenty in two. The bestselling sci-fi author joins Kristin to explain how he transitioned from defense engineering to indie publishing by systematizing his creativity and treating the craft with an analytical mindset.John also explores the specific strategies that turned his backlist into a seven-figure business, including the “guerrilla marketing” tactics that work for new authors, as well as how to build magic systems using real-world physics. John also tackles the industry’s double standards, offering a candid defense of male-targeted “Harem” fiction against the universally accepted “Reverse Harem” romance market.In This Episode* 20 Books in 2 Years: How John utilized his engineering background to analyze successful authors, streamline his process, and produce massive output to launch his career.* Writing for Men: John discusses the “KDP Gold Rush” era and how he found massive success by writing authentic male protagonists when traditional publishers were only interested in female-led stories.* The “Rothfuss Effect”: Why writing trilogies can kill a new author’s career and why readers are terrified of unfinished series.* Harem vs. Reverse Harem: A candid look at the hypocrisy in the industry regarding men’s fantasy vs. women’s romance, and why he uses a pen name (John Stryvant) to separate his explicit work from his standard sci-fi.* Engineering Magic: How a background in defense and physics helps John create grounded, believable hard sci-fi and magic systems.* Guerrilla Marketing: Old school tactics that still work—from business cards at car dealerships to understanding why the adult industry always leads the way in marketing technology.* The $2.99 Strategy: Why volume is the name of the game and why raising your prices might actually be costing you money.Guest LinksJohn Van Stry* READ THE WOLFHOUNDS SERIES BY JOHN VAN STRY https: //amzn.to/3XqIND3* http://vanstry.net/vanstry/* X: @JohnVanStry Kristin’s Links* Services & Content* Editing Services: nonsensefreeeditor.com* Newsletter: https://www.fictionalinfluence.com* YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nonsensefreekristinTimestamps00:00 - Introduction and Author’s Achievement01:53 - Meet John Van Stry: The Prolific Author02:03 - Journey to Full-Time Writing03:25 - Early Publishing Challenges and Successes08:45 - Rapid Release Strategy and Productivity15:48 - World Building and Magic Systems20:16 - Reviving Portal and Harem Fiction26:23 - Marketing and Pen Names29:07 - Amazon Ecosystem Insights29:25 - The Myth of Overnight Success29:54 - Embrace Your First Book’s Flaws30:40 - The Importance of Writing the Next Book31:02 - Learning from Romance Authors31:35 - Taking Responsibility for Your Book’s Performance31:56 - Navigating Reviews and Criticism33:10 - Understanding Grammar and Writing Style37:51 - Effective Book Marketing Strategies45:26 - Advice for Aspiring Male Authors47:04 - Building a Sustainable Writing Career48:29 - Connecting with Readers and Fans52:50 - The Value of Daily AffirmationsAbout This PodcastNonsense-Free Kristin is where independent authors and creators learn to build their platforms, master their craft, and create on their own terms—without begging for permission from gatekeepers who hate them.New episodes weekly.Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Music. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.fictionalinfluence.com/subscribe