Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author Podcast

For self-published authors, marketing and advertising expenses can be overwhelming, but not all book promotion options have to blow your budget. In this episode of Fully Booked, USA Today bestselling author Kyoko M shares her knowledge on the various ways of launching your book without spending a fortune. Over the years of launching her own books, Kyoko has tried a variety of techniques and learned not only which ones work and which don't, but also whether they're budget friendly or will break the bank. Today she is sharing this knowledge on how to generate exposure for your work through promotional methods like blog tours, cover reveals, Goodreads giveaways, book trailers, guest posting, and a lot more. Once you know what your options are, it's simply a matter of trying them out to determine which ones are most effective for you. Once you have that figured out, you can focus on the ones that work, bringing you to higher levels of success with each new release.   Kyoko M https://shewhowritesmonsters.com/   Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book? https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/ All episode details and links: https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

Authors tend to focus most of their marketing efforts on their newest releases, but just because a book is on your backlist doesn't mean it's lost any value. It may be older, but it's still brand new to millions of potential readers that have yet to discover it, and so it should be put to work for you just as hard as your latest novel. That's exactly what USA Today bestselling author Golden Angel joins Fully Booked to discuss in today's episode. Golden Angel has been effectively promoting her older titles for years, and she's full of all sorts of tips and advice on how to keep your own backlist fresh and make sure those books continue to generate sales and find new fans. From leveraging social media, tracking readthrough, rebranding and even book clubs, there are plenty of ideas here that can be used on older books that cost little or no money. So it's time to stop ignoring the words you wrote in the past, and optimize your marketing to monetize your entire catalog.   Golden Angel https://www.goldenangelromance.com/   Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book? https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/ All episode details and links: https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

When ChatGPT emerged, the world was introduced to AI beyond anything we'd seen before. However, despite its potential to disrupt and revolutionize our lives, many still fail to realize the benefits it can bring. While the media often focuses on the ominous uses of AI for cheating or replacing human writers completely, the reality is that this technology is far more suited at improving or enhancing the writing experience. In this episode, Craig and Roland speak with Nathan Cole, an author and teacher who has been at the forefront of writing technology for years. Nathan breaks down how GPT AI works and shares his insights on the best writing services and techniques he's discovered so far. These tools not only make writing novels faster and easier, but they can also assist with brainstorming and plotting. The key is learning how to craft the right prompts to achieve the desired results, and Nathan offers specific examples on how to do so. This episode is essential for writers to understand because GPT-based writing tools are here to stay. AI technology is going to advance very quickly, and authors who fail to get on board soon are in danger of being left behind completely.   Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book? https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/   All episode details and links: https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

When it comes to writing and self-publishing, most authors are probably not very preoccupied with the idea of risk, or how it pertains to them. The fact is, though, that being a self-published author is essentially a business, and it's important that it be treated as such. That's why the concepts such as risk tolerance and risk capacity are so important, even if many of us don't even know what they mean! Fortunately, today's guest, author and accountant D.F. Hart, is here to give us a deep dive on the concepts, and how they can impact your writing business. As she explains (with some great examples) most of your key writing and publishing decisions should be looked at from a risk tolerance and capacity perspective. In doing so, you'll find it much easier to make smart and informed decisions that maximize your profits and help you achieve your goals.   D.F. Hart https://www.amazon.com/stores/D.F.-Hart/author/B004VBG4I6   Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book? https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/ All episode details and links: https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

In this episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland sit down with Gothic Suspense author London Clarke to talk about the world of multi-genre fiction writing. Clarke, who has made a name for herself by seamlessly blending elements of horror, romance, and suspense in her work, shares her insights on the challenges and opportunities that come with this unique approach to storytelling. She discusses how she manages to keep the different genres cohesive and how she balances the demands of each one in her writing. London also talks about the upsides and downsides of this approach, and how she built a following and connected with readers by remaining true to her storytelling vision. The conversation takes a deep dive into the creative process and the inspirations behind Clarke's work, as well as the hurdles she has faced along the way and how she overcame them.   London Clarke https://www.londonclarke.com/   Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book?  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/ All episode details and links:  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

In this week's episode, Craig and Roland dive into the world of narrative perspective and explore the differences between first and third person writing. Joined by a very special guest, YA fiction author Courtney Brandt, the Fully Booked team examines the impact of point of view on the reader's experience and how it shapes the way a story is told. From the intimacy of first person to the omniscience of third person, Courtney guides the discussion through the strengths and weaknesses of each perspective and how authors can use each of them to enhance their writing.   Courtney Brandt https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B002BLOXRM   Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book? https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/ All episode details and links: https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

For authors, there are typically two schools of thought around writing a novel. Plotters are authors who prefer to carefully plan out every aspect of the story before putting pen to paper. Pantsers, on the other hand, prefer to let the story unfold organically as they write. The two approaches are essentially opposite ends of a spectrum, and while there are probably times when most authors are a little bit of both, there are many who identify very strongly as being on one side or the other. But which side is right for you? That’s the question we attempt to answer in our Pantster vs Plotter Throwdown! On the Pantser side, we have Danielle Stewart, a USA Today bestselling author who has written over 50 books without having plotted a single scene. On the plotter side, author Bethany Maines is almost as prolific, but uses butcher paper and spreadsheets to detail out her award-winning novels. Watch as the two authors verbally duke it out until one side cries mercy and changes their writing style forever… Just kidding, of course!  The fact is, there is no right or wrong in this debate - just two different styles that fit two different types of writing personality. So, if you haven’t yet settled on which approach works best for you, Danielle and Bethany lay out all the arguments to help you figure it out.   Danielle Stewart https://authordaniellestewart.com/   Bethany Maines https://bethanymaines.com/ Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book?  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/ All episode details and links:  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

In this episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland dive into the world of short story writing. This week’s guest is KC Grifant, who writes internationally published horror, fantasy, science fiction and weird western short stories. She shares her insights and expertise on the ins and outs of the short story genre, tells us about the various outlets for publishing short stories, including literary magazines, anthologies, and online platforms, and also shares tips on how to increase your chances of getting your short stories accepted and published. KC also talks about the financial side of short story writing, delves into the structure and technique of short story writing, and tells us how we can create a strong plot and well-developed characters even with  a limited word count. This episode is a must-listen for any aspiring short story writer looking to take their craft to the next level.   KC Grifant https://scifiwri.com/   Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book?  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/   All episode details and links:  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

Mailing lists and newsletters are a great way to keep in touch with readers and even spark some helpful sales bumps whenever new releases are announced. However, some authors have taken things a step further in their quest to build out a more stable income stream. Subscription services, like those made popular by sites like Patreon, can provide a reliable monthly income that supplements books sales while also providing value and excitement to your dedicated fans. Author K Webster has been running a membership club like this for over a year and has built up a healthy side income from her most loyal readers, all while keeping them happy with monthly exclusive extras like special signed hardcover editions of her books, character naming rights, and all sorts of branded swag. By offering diferent levels of rewards at a variety of pricing tiers, she's able to offer options to a variety of readers and keep everyone happy. Today, she's talking to Fully Booked about what goes into running a membership club like this, the work involved, the lessons she's learned, and a whole bunch of ideas for what sorts of things readers enjoy. There's a lot of work involved in running a service like this - but for authors who are interested in doing it, the rewards can make it worthwhile for both them and their fans!   K Webster https://authorkwebster.com/   Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book? https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/ All episode details and links: https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

With Episode 52, Fully Booked marks an entire year of podcasting - and we have no plans on slowing down any time soon! To recognize the anniversary, Craig and Roland look back over the year and highlight a few of the episodes that were most memorable to each of them, as well as talk about some of the big things currently shaking up the industry, or that seem likely to have an impact on self-publishing in the near future. Topics include: Amazon attribution tagsAmazon not allowing book sales from their mobile app (and why)How AI (like ChatGPT) can be used as a tool for authors now and in the future   Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book?  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/   All episode details and links:  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

To write deep and engaging characters that readers can connect with, we must first create empathy. This is commonly done by giving those characters detailed backstories, sometimes filled with the same sort of difficult histories and traumas that we've faced within our own lives. To do so, however, authors have to tread carefully - ensuring that they’re handling these complex and potentially triggering issues as sensitively as possible, and that they understand them enough to write about them accurately, even if they lack personal experience in the specific issue relating to their character. To understand the best ways to handle these types of topics, we've invited two subject-matter experts to the podcast. After writing A Soldier's Guide to PTSD, veteran and licensed professional counselor Virginia Cruse turned to USA Today bestselling author Katie Salidas for help on expanding her work to a wider audience. Through their partnership, the women were able to translate the more clinical or technical jargon into language that was easier to understand, eventually leading to the publication of Acknowledge and Heal: A Women-Focused Guide to Understanding PTSD. In today's episode, Virginia and Katie help explain how understanding the "why behind the what" of our behavior (that is, how our past trauma and experience guide how we act) is the key to writing believable and engaging characters that connect with readers without scaring them away.   Virginia Cruse https://militarycounselingsa.com/   Katie Salidas https://www.katiesalidas.com/       Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book? https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/ All episode details and links: https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

If you haven't tried it recently - or ever! - you might be surprised at how useful and effective dictation can be toward increasing your word count and productivity as an author. The AI that drives voice recognition systems has come a long way over the years and, as a result, most of today's technology comes pre-loaded with some sort of speech recognition without even having to pay for it. This means authors no longer need to even sit at a computer to create their stories. USA Today bestselling author and longtime dictation software-user Kayla Perrin has a lot of experience using speech-to-text software to write her novels - and, as she explains to Craig and Roland, it isn't all about simply saving your wrists from carpal tunnel or to compensate for a slow typing speed. Kayla often uses the software to write on-the-go, while waiting for an appointment, or even while out walking the dog. Plus, the benefits extend beyond simple convenience, especially for authors who have a tendency to get bogged down by self-editing as they go. The nature of dictation software forces you to break that habit, allowing you to get through your all-important first draft much sooner. So even if you aren't interested in committing to using dictation software as your primary writing method, the versatility of the software and ubiquitousness of the devices that support it mean that some sort of hybrid approach could easily be incorporated into your routine and make you a more productive author.   Kayla Perrin https://www.authorkaylaperrin.com/   Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book? https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/ All episode details and links: https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

Almost since the very day it was founded a decade ago, BookBub Featured Deals have been known as the Holy Grail of promotional newsletters for authors. Despite the high cost and difficulty of getting selected for inclusion, those that do get a spot generally see thousands of sales or downloads. This can be a massive boost to an author's career, which explains why the demand for these limited spots is so high and writer forums everywhere are littered with more tales of rejected applications than news of success.  Yet authors DO get selected, some multiple times, as is the case with today's guest. Juliette N. Banks has been publishing her romance novels for a couple of years now, and along with her experience and knowledge gained from spending three decades as a senior marketer, she's already had six BookBub Featured Deals. They, along with other marketing strategies, changed everything in her business, taking her from three figure earning months to five. And she's learned a lot along the way.  Juliette sat down with Fully Booked to talk about her experiences and share her insight with our listeners. She has some great tips on ways that authors can improve their chances of being selected in the first place, and then once they do, how best to maximize their ability to profit from the huge exposure to their featured book and overall catalog.    Juliette N. Banks https://www.juliettebanks.com/   Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book?  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/   All episode details and links:  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

Traditional publishers were once the gatekeepers - deciding exclusively which stories were worthy of publishing, and often only because they fit the mold of what they “thought” would sell. The beauty of self-publishing is that it transferred that power back where it belonged - to the readers themselves,  who now had a chance to decide for themselves what they wanted to read. By allowing anyone to publish their stories, the marketplace gained a diversity of voices and flourished as previously unserved markets were finally offered content that interested them.  Just as the types of books that may interest people are varied, so are the paths to finding your audience and attaining success as an independent author. That's why we like to talk to different authors at various levels of success and points in their careers to hear how they did it. What are the steps they took? What are the lessons they learned along the way? What can we learn from them?   Today, fantasy author Rosalind Tate sits down to tell us her story. With 3 books under her belt, she admits to making some mistakes on her journey to self-publishing success, but also learned that the key to success is the time she took to figure out where she went wrong and come up with a plan to correct those mistakes. What worked for Rosalind may or may not work for everyone, but by learning about the variety of routes that others have followed toward their goals, more authors might find the confidence to try new things and discover their own paths to success.   Rosalind Tate https://www.rosalindtate.com/ Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book?  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/   All episode details and links:  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

In previous episodes, we've discussed the benefits authors earn by staying organized - a complicated enough task for the independent author, who needs to do so much more than simply write their books, and one that becomes even more complex with each new novel published.  Everybody has their preferences on how to keep track of everything, with ingenious authors creating systems that range from using handwritten notes to creating complex spreadsheets. However, there is one piece of software that today's guest believes is ideally suited for the task, and one she's become somewhat of an expert in using.  Microsoft's OneNote is part of the Office suite, which means that many of us probably already have the software installed, but have likely never even opened it. Yet author Abigail Owen makes a solid case for how it's the best option available for organizing and keeping track of not only your entire catalog of novels, but even your personal life! Today, Abigail sits down with Fully Booked to go through the different features of the software that she thinks are key to keeping your writing and publishing career organized, and even how to apply that organization to other aspects of your life.   Abigail Owen https://abigailowen.com/2014/07/30/onenote-for-authors-getting-started/   Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book?  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/   All episode details and links:  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

The dream of most authors is to one day have their book adapted into a movie or television show, but very few of us are fortunate enough to ever have that happen. Many people believe you need a mega-series that’s sold millions of copies before any production companies will consider optioning your work for the screen, but today’s guest proves this isn’t necessarily the case.    Long time independent romance author Alana Albertson already had a lot of success with her novels, but was never able to get a producer to even consider her work for film. Rather than continuing to wait to be ‘discovered’, Alana took matters into her own hands and figured out what she needed to do to make her dreams a reality. It wasn’t easy, though. The whole process spanned a couple of years, with many steps involved, and she found herself second-guessing many of her choices along the way. But it was all worth it in the end, as she eventually signed a deal to turn her new book into a multi-part series on a major streaming service, with options on future sequels.    Now that she can finally talk publicly about the whole process, Hidden Gems was Alana’s first stop. Today, she’s sitting with Craig and Roland to discuss everything that went into getting this deal done, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and even the elevator pitch that helped spark a bidding war amongst producers – all in the hopes that others can learn from what she went through and make their own dreams come true.    Alana Quintana Albertson https://www.authoralanaalbertson.com/ Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book?  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/   All episode details and links:  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

A lot of writers struggle with organizational skills, which can be a problem since keeping yourself organized and motivated is often the key to a successful career as a self-published author. That’s why learning tactics and strategies to help manage your time and focus your attention can be incredibly powerful. So powerful, in fact, that author and public speaker Felice Cohen has become a ‘professional organizer’ and helps other authors conquer the organizational challenges she faced when starting out as a writer. Today, she joins Craig and Roland to discuss what she teaches struggling authors, and provide some actionable tips you can take advantage of right away.    Felice Cohen https://www.felicecohen.com/   Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book?  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/   All episode details and links:  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

Whether you’re writing epic fantasy like George R. R. Martin or a 12-book Small Town Romance series, it’s often challenging keeping up with a large cast of recurring characters - and avid readers are often all too eager to point out inconsistencies! That’s why it’s important to keep track of important biographical details for your characters, and remember all the events and relationships they have going on. This is a challenge that romance author Anna J. Stewart is all too familiar with, and on today’s episode of Fully Booked she joins Craig and Roland to discuss how she manages to keep on top of all the characters in her multi-book series, and offer tips and suggestions on using tools like OneNote to make the whole process more manageable.    Anna J. Stewart www.AuthorAnnaStewart.com   Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book?  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/ All episode details and links:  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

Unless you’re already a subject matter expert, most books require some level of research. That may seem more obvious with non-fiction, but even many fiction novels require some level of knowledge that you may not already have. Maybe the book takes place in an unfamiliar setting or time period, or perhaps the characters have jobs or belong to organizations you aren’t completely familiar with. Whatever the case, details matter and while you may think that you can fudge some things, there are readers out there that will notice.  Collin Glavac spent a lot of time researching details for his thriller trilogy that was set in Latin America, and today he speaks with us about all of the different ways he went about that. Despite the fact that Collin’s father spent a lot of time traveling the area, there were still many aspects of the books that needed further study. Making sure he got things like local customs, language nuances, and other regional details right meant that he could really immerse his readers in the story instead of tripping them up when they noticed something that didn’t quite fit.   Collin Glavac https://www.amazon.com/Collin-Glavac/e/B081YDNB9N Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book?  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/ All episode details and links:  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

Tastes and trends among readers change, but learning to pivot and adapt to an evolving marketplace doesn’t necessarily mean selling out. Paying attention to the market and what people are looking for is smart business, and a savvy self-publisher can find ways to appeal to what readers want while still remaining true to themselves as writers. That’s exactly what contemporary romance author Leah Busboom discovered when her first books initially failed to find the success she felt they deserved.  Today, Leah joins Craig and Roland to discuss how she used this experience as a tool to better understand her genre and subgenres. She explains how, after careful research, she came to realize the mistakes she’d made with her cover choices and the categories in which she’d marketed her books and was then able to not just write a new series of books that performed much better, but also republish her previous books in a format that appealed much more strongly to her target audience.   Leah Busboom https://authorleahbusboom.com/ Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book?  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/ All episode details and links:  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast