Kathleen Sweeney is the CEO of Book Brush, a comprehensive design platform specifically created for authors since 2018. Book Brush specializes in helping authors create professional marketing graphics, book covers, 3D book mockups, video trailers, and social media content without requiring design expertise. The platform offers over 300 3D book versions, hundreds of cover templates, and access to 4.4 million stock images and videos through Pixabay integration. Kathleen leads the company's mission to make book marketing accessible and stress-free for indie authors, providing tools that help authors create professional-looking promotional materials that align with genre expectations and build author branding across all social media platforms.

In this episode:

• Why some indie books look like bestsellers and others don't
• The importance of professional cover design for genre alignment
• Book Brush's author-specific design platform and tools
• Creating 3D book mockups from flat covers with simple clicks
• Using templates and graphics designed specifically for different genres
• Font pairing and color psychology for book marketing
• Author branding strategies and maintaining consistent visual identity
• Video creation tools including vertical format for mobile viewing
• Trope graphics and their effectiveness in reaching target readers
• Common cover design mistakes authors make
• The process of creating covers and marketing materials
• Hidden features and creative ways to use Book Brush tools
• Getting started with Book Brush: tutorials, support, and community

Resources mentioned:

• Book Brush
• Pixabay

Connect with Kathleen Sweeney:

• Website: https://bookbrush.com/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/BookBrush
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookBrush/

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Support the show

Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

Dan Miller is the founder of The Copy Detectives, a specialized service that helps authors navigate copyright permissions and AI content disclosure requirements. With extensive experience in copyright law and clearance processes, Dan assists authors in understanding when they need permission to use quotes, images, and other content in their books. His expertise has become increasingly important as AI-generated content creates new challenges for copyright registration and protection. Dan works with authors to assess manuscripts for copyright issues, secure necessary permissions, and ensure compliance with both U.S. Copyright Office and Amazon KDP disclosure requirements for AI-generated content.

In this episode:

• How AI content affects copyright ownership and registration
• The new requirement for copyright certificates before filing lawsuits
• Why authors need to register copyrights within 90 days of publication
• The difference between copyrightable and non-copyrightable AI content
• Amazon KDP's AI disclosure requirements and potential consequences
• When quotes require permission versus fair use considerations
• The five different U.S. copyright laws currently in effect
• Public domain content and Creative Commons licensing
• Why song lyrics and poetry quotes are particularly expensive
• The importance of keeping detailed records of all source materials
• International copyright considerations under the Berne Convention
• How to work with copyright clearance services

Resources mentioned:

• U.S. Copyright Office: https://www.copyright.gov/
• Amazon KDP: https://kdp.amazon.com/
• Creative Commons: https://creativecommons.org/
• Berne Convention: https://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/ip/berne/
• Fair use doctrine
• Public domain databases
• Copyright registration certificates

Connect with Dan Miller:

• Website: https://thecopyrightdetective.com/

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Support the show

Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

Kevin Tumlinson is a bestselling author and Chief Brand Officer for Author Anchor, a service that connects authors with trained virtual assistants from the Philippines. With extensive experience managing multiple business ventures while maintaining his writing career, Kevin understands the challenges authors face in balancing creative work with business operations. Author Anchor specializes in providing budget-friendly VAs at $7.50/hour who are specifically trained in author-related tasks including social media management, Facebook advertising, Amazon ads, graphic design, and platforms like BookBrush, Vellum, and Kickstarter. Kevin advocates for strategic delegation that increases revenue potential rather than just removing unwanted tasks from an author's plate.

In this episode:

• Why authors need VAs and what tasks to delegate first
• The Author Anchor model: $7.50/hour trained VAs from the Philippines
• How to structure your first VA projects for maximum success
• The importance of clear communication and process documentation
• Marketing tasks VAs excel at: social media and Facebook advertising
• Building trust and working relationships across time zones
• When to hire additional VAs and scale your author business
• The economics of VA hiring: only when it increases revenue potential
• Ethical considerations and win-win economics of international hiring
• Setting up systems, software access, and payment structures

Resources mentioned:

• Author Anchor: https://authoranchor.com/
• BookBrush: https://bookbrush.com/
• Vellum: https://vellum.pub/
• Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/
• Shopify: https://www.shopify.com/
• Slack: https://slack.com/
• Discord
• LastPass
• BookFunnel
• StoryOrigin

Book Recommendations:

• Various Kevin Tumlinson titles mentioned: https://www.kevintumlinson.com/books

Connect with Kevin Tumlinson:

• Website: https://authoranchor.com/
• Promo link: https://authoranchor.com/promo

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Support the show

Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/