Many authors assume book formatting is complicated, expensive, or something only professionals can handle.

In ​this week’s episode​, I talk with Bryan Canter about why that assumption is outdated, and how tools like Vellum have changed what authors can do. If you’ve ever wondered whether you need to pay a pro or learn to format your book’s interior yourself, this conversation will give you clarity.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• When you should format the book or reader magnet and when you should hire a pro
• How Vellum can prevent common design mistakes
• How you can update back matter, fix typos, add reader magnets as needed

​Listen to the episode​ or ​read the blog version​ to see how Vellum can save you money, time, and headache when formatting your next book or reader magnet.

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American Taxes, pay too little and you go to jail. Pay too much and you lose the money you need to reach more readers with advertising and promotion. If your records feel like a mess of Amazon deposits, Ingram payments, Kickstarter funds, affiliate income, coaching fees and dozens of random expenses you’re not alone.

In this week’s episode, you’ll hear from a CPA who works specifically with authors, about how to handle bookkeeping and taxes with confidence. Seth Norris welcome to the Novel Marketing Podcast!

• You’ll learn:
  A simple bookkeeping rhythm that prevents tax-time chaos.
  How the IRS decides if your writing is a business or a hobby.
  The most common mistake that costs authors the most money.

Discover how to simplify your approach and how to avoid paying more taxes than you actually owe.

If you want to keep more money for advertising, marketing, or feeding your family, stop treating taxes like a deadline of doom. Instead, listen in or read the blog version.

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Do you ever feel like your book is taking forever to write?

Maybe you’ve been working on the same manuscript for years, and then you look up and see other authors publishing a book a year, or more. How do they do it?

In this week’s episode, I ask Jerry B. Jenkins that very question. He has sold more than 73 million books, including his mega-bestselling Left Behind series, and he breaks down the habits and mindset that helped him produce quality work on deadline for decades.

You’ll discover:

• A practical way to establish a writing schedule
• The counterintuitive way to combat procrastination
• One way to silence your inner editor without eliminating it completely

If you’re ready to get out of your own way, build a sustainable writing rhythm, and finish what you start, you’ll want to hear this one.

Listen in or read the blog version to discover how you can finish your book and write better books for the rest of your writing career.

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Most authors begin writing as a solitary pursuit and soon realize they don’t know other writers or industry professionals who can help them grow. So how do you go from a solitary outsider to a connected insider who knows designers, editors, marketers, and more?

In this week’s episode, we talk with Dale L. Roberts, an award-winning indie author and host of Self-Publishing with Dale, about how genuine networking can strengthen your career and relationships.

In this interview, you’ll discover:

• How to reframe your mindset about networking (it shouldn’t feel sleazy)
• How to follow up after conferences and events without feeling awkward
• Simple habits for remembering names and details so people feel seen and valued
• When (and how) to make introductions inside your network

If you’ve ever wondered how successful authors seem to know so many industry experts, this conversation will give you practical, real-world networking tips to help you build and facilitate mutually beneficial publishing connections.

Listen in or read the blog version to discover 12 tips to help you connect generously, authentically, and for the long haul.

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If you ask a bestselling novelist how long it took to go from aspiring writer to published success, the answer is usually about ten years. One reason it takes so long is that most authors learn about writing in a haphazard way. They read a blog post here, listen to a podcast there, attend a conference where they receive a firehose of information, and then watch YouTube videos hoping to fill in the gaps.

It is an overwhelming way to learn. If you have ever felt overwhelmed by everything you need to know about publishing, you know exactly what this feels like.

But what if you could cut that ten-year learning curve in half?

In our latest podcast episode, I talk with Christy Award Hall of Fame author James L. Rubart about the Five-Year Plan for Becoming a Professional Author. It’s a step-by-step training approach designed to help fiction writers build skills in the right order (without the overwhelm).

This isn’t a “shortcut” or gimmick course. It’s a craft-first path that helps writers avoid wasted years, bad habits, and out-of-order learning.

In this week’s episode, you’ll discover:

• Why most authors stall out
• How to accelerate the mastery of storytelling
• What separates “good” writers from professional-level authors in the current publishing landscape

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re developing your craft in the smartest way possible, or where you should start, listen in or read the blog version.

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ChatGPT used to be the go-to AI for authors, but it's no longer the best choice for every task. New models like Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and Grok are outperforming it in specific areas, from creative writing to research to automation.

In this week’s episode, you’ll hear from The Nerdy Novelist, Jason Hamilton. We discuss which AI tools work best for your writing, your budget, and your genre.

You’ll learn

• Which tools can help expedite your research
• Which AI models help you write the best dialogue
• How open-source models can spur fresh fiction ideas and structures

To stay up to date on which models can help you with various parts of your writing and marketing (and which can’t), listen in or read the blog version to feel confident experimenting with new platforms.

• What does ChatGPT Actually Know About Your Book?
• AI Optimization for Authors
• Book Promotion in 2025: How AI Gives Authors More Time to Write
• TikTok, Iran, and AI: What Authors Need to Know Now
• The Author’s Guide to AI with Joanna Penn

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I am not a big fan of Substack for novelists. Most novelists are better off using the free version of Kit and WordPress. However, Substack is a completely different story for nonfiction authors.

If you’re a nonfiction author who wants to grow your platform without juggling five different tech tools, this week’s Novel Marketing episode is for you.

In this week’s episode, I talk with screenwriter and Substack superuser James Cary about how nonfiction authors can use Substack to attract readers, deepen engagement, and earn recurring income.

You’ll learn

• When Substack is (and isn’t) a good fit for authors
  
  
• How to get your first 100+ subscribers
  
  
• When and whether to monetize your Substack

If you’ve been wondering whether you should start a Substack or what to do with the one you already have, listen in or read the blog version to get help on your decision and guidance on your plan.

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Hardcover books are back. Beautiful, premium, collector-quality editions are gaining momentum with readers who want books that look and feel special. But how do you know if you should create a premium hardcover edition of your book?

In this week’s episode, you’ll hear from author Paul Millerd, who created a luxury edition of his bestselling book. We dig into the strategy, psychology, risks, and rewards behind premium hardbacks and whether they make financial sense.

You’ll learn:

• How to know if your book is a good candidate for a premium edition
• What it costs to produce a premium hardcover (and what you can charge for it)
• How different readers view different price points

If you’ve ever wondered whether a premium edition could elevate your brand, thrill your readers, or create a new revenue stream, listen in or read the blog version to find out.

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