Don’t be afraid to rebel—just do it wisely.

Too often, writers stick to the “safe” path when it comes to marketing—social posts, newsletter swaps, maybe a hopeful BookTok attempt, and then wonder why no one’s noticing. The truth? In an overcrowded market, sometimes you need to step a little outside the lines to get seen.

This livestream of the Author Culture Podcast with special guest J.J. Johnson is all about low-risk, high-creativity marketing moves that help authors stand out without burning out—or breaking the bank.

Think: experimental fiction drops on nontraditional platforms, story-first marketing on Substack, Royal Road, small-scale stunts that get people talking, and ways to build a reputation that doesn’t rely on chasing algorithms.

Author Culture is a reader-supported podcast that I create to help scifi and fantasy authors just like you. Consider becoming a free or paid subscriber (paid subscribers get bonus current event episodes, live chat, and can request topics).

This one’s personal: what I’m reading, what I’m writing, and how I’m navigating the creative chaos.

In this episode, I share a peek inside my current author life—including how community, covers, and conferences are playing a big part in my process right now.

You’ll hear:

-My upcoming release – The Veracin Blade (aka, “the book that just. WOUDN’T. END”)-My TBR stack and reading habits – including fave book features-Why I’m building journals to pair with my books-The joy of showing up and connecting at events

If you love bookish chaos and creative process talk—this one’s for you.

Sign up for my newsletter and get a free book! https://jiauthor.com/

You are not behind.

You are not too late.

You are not a failure because another author just hit 100K in sales.

🎙️ In this episode of Author Culture, I get raw about mindset, marketing, and the hard-but-true fact that your worth isn’t measured by someone else’s metrics.

Takeaways

* A healthy mindset is key to effective book marketing.

* Jealousy and envy can disrupt an author's journey.

* Success is subjective and varies for each author.

* One author's success does not diminish another's potential.

* Focus on what you can control in your author journey.

* Celebrate others' successes without feeling inadequate.

* Navigating disappointment is part of the author experience.

* Adjusting goals can lead to a healthier mindset.

Author Culture is a reader-supported podcast that I create to help scifi and fantasy authors just like you. Consider becoming a free or paid subscriber (paid subscribers get bonus current event episodes, live chat, and can request topics).