Aurora Winter is the founder of SamePage Publishing and author of "Turn Words into Wealth." With a background as a film and television executive producer and award-winning screenwriter, Aurora now helps entrepreneurs, experts, and business leaders leverage books to grow their businesses. Her "Spoken Author Method" helps clients create high-quality books faster by speaking their content, which is then polished by her team. Aurora focuses on strategic book creation that can generate a 10X return on investment through backend products, speaking opportunities, and premium client acquisition.

In this episode:

• Seven blueprints for creating seven-figure income from your book
• Using short books as lead magnets to test market demand
• Building a business beyond just book sales
• Developing a speaking career through strategic book positioning
• Creating premium client funnels through targeted books
• Importance of proper book testing before publication
• Effective book launch strategies for maximum impact
• Tips for becoming more charismatic as a speaker
• The importance of ongoing business improvement
• Benefits of independent publishing vs. traditional publishing

Resources mentioned:

• Turn Words into Wealth - Aurora's comprehensive book - https://turnwordsintowealth.com/
• Marketing Fast Track
• Publisher Rocket - https://publisherrocket.com/
• Klytics - https://k-lytics.com/
• PickFu.com - https://www.pickfu.com/
• BookCall.biz - https://bookcall.biz/

Book Recommendations:

• The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle - https://www.amazon.com/dp/055380684X?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Connect with Aurora Winter:

• Website: https://aurorawinter.com/
• Publishing company: https://samepagepublishing.com/
• Free ebooks: https://turnwordsintowealth.com/
• Book a call: https://bookcall.biz/

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/

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I had the pleasure of hosting this special panel edition of The Publishing Performance Show, bringing together four brilliant publishing industry experts to discuss book launch strategies. The conversation covered everything from hard vs. soft launches to advertising strategies, review acquisition, and genre-specific approaches.

Our incredible panel featured:

Craig Martelle - A publishing veteran with over 200 books published who runs some of the largest indie conferences in the world. Craig shared his unique approach of soft-launching a 10-book series in just 9 months, selling a quarter million dollars worth of books with minimal marketing.

Dale L. Roberts - YouTube expert and author who specializes in Amazon ads and book marketing strategies.

Alexa Bigwarfe - USA Today bestselling author and founder of Write. Publish. Sell, who offered insights into both children's books and romance marketing.

Julie Broad - Amazon bestselling author and founder of Book Launchers, who specializes in non-fiction book marketing.

In this panel:

• Hard launches vs. soft launches and when to use each approach
• Pre-order strategies and series launch considerations
• Building and managing ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) teams
• Generating book reviews without giving away free copies
• Genre-specific launch strategies for fiction, non-fiction, and children's books
• Amazon ads vs. Facebook ads for different book types
• The importance of email lists over social media followers
• Traditional vs. indie publishing distribution considerations
• Common launch advice myths and misconceptions
• Current and upcoming book projects from each panelist

Resources Mentioned:

• Book Funnel: https://bookfunnel.com
• Story Origin: https://storyoriginapp.com
• Book Sprout: https://booksprout.co
• NetGalley: https://www.netgalley.com
• American Library Association: https://www.ala.org
• Written Word Media: https://www.writtenwordmedia.com
• Kirkus Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com
• Amazon KDP: https://kdp.amazon.com
• IngramSpark: https://www.ingramspark.com

Connect with our panelists:

• Craig Martelle: https://craigmartelle.com
• Dale L. Roberts: https://selfpublishingwithdale.com
• Alexa Bigwarfe: https://writepublishsell.co
• Julie Broad: https://booklaunchers.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/

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H.H. Rune is the author of the "Find Me" series, a unique "fiction-ish" or autofiction work that blends real-life experiences with fictional storytelling. After conceiving the idea at age 30 while a stay-at-home mom, H.H. spent 25 years developing this five-book series before finally committing to publication during the pandemic. The series follows a creative social experiment where the author writes five books containing personal memories about people from her life, then sends them to random individuals across the country in hopes that someone she wrote about will recognize themselves and return a book to her.

In this episode:

• The concept of "autofiction" and blending real memories with fictional narrative
• Creating multiple storylines - the author's journal entries, memories of people, and the books' travels
• Character development across multiple locations and perspectives
• Writing process over a 25-year period before final publication
• The pandemic as a catalyst for finally completing the project
• Interactive elements including trackable books with QR codes
• Creating an interactive reader experience with sign-in pages at the back
• Working with a publicist to refine marketing messaging
• TikTok as a primary marketing platform for indie authors
• Breaking conventional writing rules about perspective and format

Resources mentioned:

• Find Me Book One: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZCFG8R4?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
• Find Me Book Two: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DB8J1G3P?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
• Find Me Book Three (coming soon) : https://www.amazon.com/Find-Me-Book-Three-Different-ebook/dp/B0F73BK11T?ref_=ast_author_dp
• Limited edition trackable versions with QR codes
• Interactive map on author's website (coming soon)
• Instagram page for the Find Me series: https://www.instagram.com/h.h.rune/
• BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/
• Lauren Hathaway - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-hathaway-39a3588

Book Recommendations:

• "The Anti-Rule: Navigating the Lies about Fiction Writing" by Christian Francis: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1916582052?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Connect with H.H. Rune:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hhrune
• Website: https://hhrune.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/

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Emily Crookston is the owner and "decider of all things" at Pocket PhD, where she specializes in ghostwriting and developmental editing for business books. With a PhD in philosophy and background as a professor, Emily transitioned to content writing, starting with blog posts before moving to longer formats like business books. Her focus is helping thought leaders and business owners create books that serve as effective tools for lead generation, authority building, and speaking opportunities. Emily recently published her own book, "Unwritten: The Thought Leaders Guide to Not Overthinking Your Business Book," which guides business owners through the process of writing and publishing their books without getting stuck in overthinking.

In this episode:

• Building a compelling business case for writing a book
• Finding your unique point of view among similar books
• Maintaining author authenticity when working with a ghostwriter
• Using AI effectively as a brainstorming partner
• Avoiding common overthinking traps in book writing
• Setting realistic word count goals for busy entrepreneurs
• Self-publishing advantages for business books
• Creating reader-centric content even in business memoirs
• Positioning your book strategically in the marketplace
• Finding time to write while running a business

Resources mentioned:

• Unwritten: The Thought Leaders Guide to Not Overthinking Your Business Book - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D94YDCP5?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
• Website - https://www.thepocketphd.com/
• AI tools for book brainstorming and outlining
• Standard operating procedures (SOPs) as book content foundation

Book Recommendations:

• "Better Than Before" by Gretchen Rubin - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385348630?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_t

Connect with Emily Crookston:

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilycrookston
• Website - https://www.thepocketphd.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

Sheryl Bass is a children's author and book PR expert with a master's degree in social work and journalism. Her Baby Dragon series focuses on social emotional learning for children, teaching important life lessons through engaging stories. Starting from a flash of inspiration during a sneeze 15 years ago, Sheryl brought her first book "Baby Dragon's Big Sneeze" to life through self-publishing after traditional publishing routes proved unsuccessful. She runs Be Kind Publishing, emphasizing kindness and social emotional development in children's literature.

In this episode:

• Origins of "Baby Dragon's Big Sneeze" from a sneeze inspiration
• Importance of social emotional learning in children's books
• Working with developmental editors to strengthen storylines
• Finding illustrators through self-publishing resources
• Understanding work-for-hire contracts with illustrators
• Self-publishing vs traditional publishing in children's literature
• Using pubby.co for obtaining book reviews
• PR strategies for children's book authors
• Marketing through podcasts and in-person events
• Building a children's book series

Resources mentioned:

• Self Publishing Made Simple - April Cox's mentoring service - https://www.selfpubmadesimple.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoodOm97WpZCXhBvTukZyUleNWbf4QPvbmp0DJGvSO4-EyZ5SJr8
• Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators: https://www.scbwi.org/
• Pubby.co - https://pubby.co/
• IngramSpark - https://www.ingramspark.com/
• Amazon KDP - https://kdp.amazon.com/

Book Recommendations:

• "Hunger for Words" by Christina Hunger - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092DYHW2K?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Connect with Sheryl Bass:

• Website - https://www.be-kindpublishing.com/
• Baby Dragon Finds His Family: A Picture Book About Belonging - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLRX6WKG?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
• Baby Dragon's Big Sneeze: A Picture Book About Empathy and Trust - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJTFPQ55?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
• Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Target

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

Chris Wallace is a professional poker player, author, and co-founder of WrittenWell.com. With a background in guitar building before developing an allergy to exotic hardwoods, Chris transitioned to professional poker, which led to writing opportunities during the poker boom. He began writing for poker magazines and blogs, eventually publishing several poker books including a strategy guide and "Short Stacked Ninja." After helping famous poker players increase their book sales through his understanding of Amazon's algorithms, Chris expanded into consulting with authors across all genres before co-founding WrittenWell.com with Adam Stempel and other publishing experts.

In this episode:

• Journey from poker player to poker writer to author consultant
• How analyzing Amazon's search algorithm led to book marketing success
• Comprehensive self-publishing resources on WrittenWell.com
• Genre-specific guides with tropes, clichés, and market trends
• Keyword optimization strategies beyond basic search terms
• Importance of avoiding keywords that hurt conversion rates
• Audiobook trends and AI narration developments
• WrittenWell.com's critique groups and writing sprints
• The future of self-publishing vs. traditional publishing

Resources mentioned:

• WrittenWell.com - https://writtenwell.com/
• Publisher Rocket - https://publisherrocket.com/
• Kindle Trends - https://kindletrends.com/
• ProWritingAid - https://prowritingaid.com/
• AutoCrit - https://www.autocrit.com
• Spoken.press - https://www.spoken.press/
• ElevenLabs - https://elevenlabs.io/

Book Recommendations:

• Thomas Harris novels (including "Dragon" and "Silence of the Lambs") - https://www.amazon.com/stores/Thomas-Harris/author/B000AQ28TK?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
• Cormac McCarthy's works
• "Characters and Viewpoint" - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1599632128?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Connect with Chris Wallace:

• WrittenWell.com - Use code "publishingperformance" for a discount

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

Mitch Carson is a bestselling author, TV host for NBC in Las Vegas, and international speaker who specializes in helping people build their personal brands and increase their media exposure. With decades of experience in television and media, Mitch has mastered the art of getting authors and entrepreneurs featured on major platforms. He shares his expertise on creating compelling pitches, building credibility through strategic media appearances, and leveraging visibility to achieve greater success in business.

In this episode:

• The importance of continuous marketing and "omnipresence"
• Creating a professional one-sheet to secure media appearances
• How to customize your pitch for different media outlets
• Strategies for approaching major networks like BBC
• Understanding editorial calendars and timely hooks
• The value of matching testimonials to your target market
• Case studies of successful clients who used media to grow their businesses
• First steps for authors with no existing media presence
• The crucial role of credibility in media bookings

Resources mentioned:

• Get Interviewed Guaranteed program
• Author Speaker Summit (February event)
• LinkedIn as a primary platform for author visibility

Book Recommendations:

• "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill
• "Atomic Habits" by James Clear

Connect with Mitch Carson:

• Website: getinterviewedguaranteed.com/meet-with-mitch

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

Andrew Wallner and Phil Marshall are co-founders of Spoken, an innovative platform that combines AI narration technology with a streaming network for audio content. Coming from backgrounds in healthcare technology where they developed conversational AI systems, they sold their company in 2021 before turning their attention to the audiobook market. Phil, as a sci-fi writer and audio-only reader, recognized the need for better tools to create, publish, stream, and monetize audio content, which became the genesis of Spoken.

In this episode:

• Origins of Spoken from healthcare technology to audiobook innovation
• How Spoken combines AI narration with streaming capabilities
• Multi-character and multi-voice narration options
• Creating custom AI voices designed exclusively for specific characters
• Using the "Speak It" feature for precise pronunciation and inflection
• Automatic analysis of characters to suggest appropriate voices
• The Unified Streaming Network monetization model
• Free options for authors just getting started
• How authors retain their rights on the platform
• DIY audiobook creation in a single sitting
• Upcoming "Take It With You" feature for exporting audio

Resources mentioned:

• Spoken.press - https://www.spoken.press/
• ElevenLabs - https://elevenlabs.io/
• Worldcon - https://www.worldcon.org/
• Author Nation - Author conference where Spoken was presented

Book Recommendations:

• "Kill Your Darlings" - https://ihave.spoken.press/p/3SatPI7Y1iE
• "Welcome to the Audioverse" - https://drphilmarshall.com/spoken

Connect with Andrew and Phil:

• Spoken.press - https://www.spoken.press/
• drphilmarshall.com - https://drphilmarshall.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