Category: Self-Publishing

How to Design a Book Cover That Sells

If your book cover stinks, your book is not going to sell … period.
We live in a world where first impressions mean everything when it comes to quick browsing/shopping. You’ve got something like a millisecond to get someone interested in your book through your cover.
Are you 100 percent sure your cover is right for your genre? Are you 100 percent sure your cover is using the right imagery and fonts?
If not, you’ll want to listen to this episode of Authorpreneur with master book cover designer Derek Murphy.
In this episode of Authorpreneur, host Jim Kukral and Derek Murphy discuss:

How to design a book cover that sells
The biggest mistakes authors make when designing book covers
How much should you pay for a book cover design?
Are pre-made covers worth it and should you use them?
Illustrations vs. stock photography? Which one is best?
Nonfiction vs. fiction book cover design secrets

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About the authorRainmaker.FMRainmaker.FM is the premier digital marketing and sales podcast network. Get on-demand digital business and marketing advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

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How Telling Great Stories Helped This Author Sell More Than 350,000 Books

With more than 350,000 copies of her self-published book Go for No sold, and more than 793 reviews on Amazon, Andrea Waltz has built a publishing empire that would make most aspiring authorpreneurs jealous.
This successful business parable draws an audience of targeted customers to her audio training programs and assists her in gaining valuable speaking engagements.
If you’re at all interested in learning how to build a lifestyle business around a great book, then this interview on Authorpreneur is one you will not want to miss.
In this episode of Authorpreneur, host Jim Kukral and Andrea Waltz discuss:

How to sell 350,000 copies of your book in mostly bulk sales
How making one simple change in Andrea’s book cover design changed everything
What it takes to build a successful lifestyle business around a book
What an aspiring authorpreneur must do to find success
Why Andrea continues to self-publish instead of signing a traditional deal

Click Here to Listen toAuthorpreneur on iTunes
Click Here to Listen on Rainmaker.FM
About the authorRainmaker.FMRainmaker.FM is the premier digital marketing and sales podcast network. Get on-demand digital business and marketing advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

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How Andy Weir (Bestselling Author of ‘The Martian’) Writes: Part One

The New York Times bestselling author of The Martian dropped by The Writer Files to chat with host Kelton Reid about his writing process and the upcoming movie adaptation of his hit book, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon (release date October 2, 2015).
The author’s journey to #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers list began as a humble series of blog posts that grew enough interest to demand self-publishing to Amazon. When The Martian’s popularity sky-rocketed, traditional publisher Random House called, and the rest is history.
From software engineer to sci-fi phenom, Andy is a down-to-earth writer and self-described “space nerd,” who still answers all of his fan mail.
Join Kelton and Andy for this two-part interview.
In Part One of the file, host Kelton Reid and Andy Weir discuss:

How a science geek became a bestselling author
The power of setting word counts
One great trick for improving your dialogue
Why your writer’s block may just be laziness
How your enthusiasm doesn’t always determine the quality of your writing
The creative power of a walk and a hot shower

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About the authorRainmaker.FMRainmaker.FM is the premier digital marketing and sales podcast network. Get on-demand digital business and marketing advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

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How Bestselling Author Hugh Howey Writes

In this episode of The Writer Files, prolific, bestselling, and multi-genre author Hugh Howey took host Kelton Reid on a walk through the writer’s process.
Mr. Howey is the well-known author of Wool and his self-published dystopian Silo series that has sold more than two-million copies worldwide. His books have been optioned for film and TV by well-known Hollywood director Ridley Scott and Heroes creator Tim Kring, respectively.
He has been a fierce advocate for self-publishing authors and even inked a rare print-only contract with major publishers to retain the electronic rights to his early works. Hugh is a tireless proponent for the pure craft of writing, and he has built an intensely loyal following.
As he prepares to sail around the globe on his catamaran, Hugh took time out from his busy schedule to talk with Kelton on a short walk.
In this file, host Kelton Reid and Hugh Howey discuss:

The importance of starting each day the right way
Why you need to learn to hit publish from anywhere
How to alleviate your natural self-doubts
Why writing is like exercise
How writers can fine-tune their creativity
Where the true magic of writing springs from
Why you should be a tourist in your own town

Click Here to Listen toThe Writer Files on iTunes
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About the authorRainmaker.FMRainmaker.FM is the premier digital commerce and content marketing podcast network. Get on-demand digital business and marketing advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

The post How Bestselling Author Hugh Howey Writes

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How a Life-Long Entrepreneur Transformed into a Full-Time Author

Joanna Penn is a life-long entrepreneur that has also worked for major corporations and has even run her own scuba diving business. But after years of not finding what made her happy, she turned to writing books and found the true success she’d wanted all along.
Fifteen books later, this fiction and nonfiction author is the epitome of success in the self-publishing movement.
Want to know how to leave your day job and become a full-time successful author? This interview is for you …
In this episode of Authorpreneur, host Jim Kukral and Joanna Penn discuss:

How to leave your job and build a writing career
How Joanna makes money in her book business
What it takes to become a full-time authorpreneur and succeed at it over the long-term
Why book covers and pen names matter more than you think
The #1 way to sell books and find new readers
Why we need more women authorpreneurs to step into the spotlight

Click Here to Listen toAuthorpreneur on iTunes
Click Here to Listen on Rainmaker.FM
About the authorRainmaker.FMRainmaker.FM is the premier digital marketing and sales podcast network. Get on-demand business advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

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The ‘Horror’ of Making a Living from Selling eBooks

Look out, Stephen King.
A new generation of Horror authors are using the power of self-publishing to climb the ranks, get new fans, and push the envelope in the genre.
J. Thorn is an up-and-coming Horror author who knows how to write great books … and build an audience and income stream with them.
In this episode of Authorpreneur, host Jim Kukral and J. Thorn discuss:

How J. Thorn went from selling two books a day to 200 books a day
How to build a powerful fan-base and turn them into readers through creative content marketing
The biggest mistakes J. Thorn made when writing and launching his first book
What readers really want and how to give it to them
How much work is involved in becoming an authorpreneur

Click Here to Listen toAuthorpreneur on iTunes
Click Here to Listen on Rainmaker.FM
About the authorRainmaker.FMRainmaker.FM is the premier digital marketing and sales podcast network. Get on-demand business advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

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How Steve Scott Makes $30,000 Per Month Publishing Kindle Books

Most Authorpreneurs earn their living from speaking gigs, consulting businesses, and other indirect sources.
Rarely does one make the vast majority of their income directly from the sale of their books. Steve Scott is different.
Steve earns a great living selling digital books on Amazon’s Kindle platform … to the tune of $30,000 per month.
With more than 58 titles in his catalog, this self-publishing mega-star has rewritten the rules of success for authors who want to earn a living writing books.
In this episode of Authorpreneur, host Jim Kukral and Steve Scott discuss:

How Steve writes so many books
Exactly how he earns money from his books
The lifestyle his independent book business affords him
Why self-publishing is the only choice for him
His ten-year plan to retire on his book income

Click Here to Listen toAuthorpreneur on iTunes
Click Here to Listen on Rainmaker.FM
About the authorRainmaker.FMRainmaker.FM is the premier digital marketing and sales podcast network. Get on-demand business advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

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