In this episode, AJ and Mike discuss one of the most important aspects of authorship: forming partnerships with other authors! Book bundles, speaking engagements, webinars and more, our duo share real life examples of authors working together to have a greater impact.

In this episode, Mike and AJ discuss the to-dos and not-to-dos with working with you developmental and copy editors. They also share some cautionary tales and ways for authors to communicate more effectively with their editors and publishers during the production process of their must-reads.

In this 100th episode, AJ and Mike first take a walk down memory lane with a gag they came up with to get big name endorsements for Mike’s book and laugh so hard they can’t catch their breath. They also address a listener’s question about how two authors can write a book together. Our duo holds nothing back and give it to listeners straight. If you’re going to have a partnership like theirs, you have to have clear lines of communication. They even share what to avoid and how to structure royalties.

In this episode, Mike and AJ discuss the numbers of women in publishing today, and the answer might surprise you! They’ll also share their experiences in publishing with respect to their gender, with AJ offering a mindset shift she’d like to see in more women who publish. Mike also gives an update on some cool marketing coming for their next book, The Money Habit.

In this episode, AJ and Mike address some important dos and don’ts for back cover copy. If you didn’t know back covers were so important, now you do! They’ll walk through some cautionary tales, offer ways to increase your visibility and connection with your reader, and even explain what authors should consider when publishing a paperback versus a hardback with a dust jacket. See? There’s a lot to talk about!

In this episode, Mike and AJ answer a listener’s email about their fears of doing all the things with respect to marketing their book. Our duo offers sage advice on how to get in front of those fears, and one of the biggest ways to keep moving forward is to send in the troops! They’ll offer organic ways to connect with other authors, how to shift your mindset to go from fear to fearless, and when to bring folks in to help with the big asks.

In this episode, AJ and Mike answer a listener’s question about author collaboration. Not only can authors work together, but the whole process is a team sport! From interviews and co-authors, to working with publicists, agents and more, our duo breakdown the process of working on a book as a team.

In this episode, Mike and AJ have a frank conversation about an aspect of publishing many authors forget: the life of a good book is long! They’ll detail ways they’ve seen authors go wrong and more importantly, offer ways for authors to go right. If you want to write a book that’s a must-read, this is a must listen!

In this episode, AJ and Mike discuss AJ’s philosophy on a core message for a book, what it is, and most importantly, how to craft one. They’ll talk about ways to determine if you’ve got yours nailed or if you have to go back to the drawing board, and give listeners tips on how to refine their book’s core message.

In this episode, AJ and Mike discuss the newest findings of cognitive decline with heavy reliance on LLMs, language learning models, like ChatGPT and others. They’ll dive into ways authors can “ethically” use AI and what they miss when they lean too heavily on AI in developing their must-read books and beyond.

In this episode, Mike and AJ break down the strategy for parlaying writing books into a successful speaking career. Mike gets granular with pay structure, expectations from audiences, and where he believes speakers go wrong in their career. They also have a mini debate on whether organizers should bulk buy your book or if speakers should compel the audience to make a purchase live, and why.

In this episode, Mike and AJ catch listeners up on the state of production for their forthcoming book, The Money Habit, including working with Page Two’s graphics design team, efficient ways to power through proofreading, and Mike’s current state of getting an “in” with the MacMillan Publishing’s sales team for marketing purposes. We’re keeping hope alive!

In this episode, AJ and Mike give listeners sage advice should they encounter a book on the topic the listener is currently writing. Spoiler alert: keep writing! Our duo will explain why it’s not as dire as the author may believe, and how they can leverage the other book into proof to nab a publishing deal. It’s another episode of keep calm and keep writing!

In this episode, Mike and AJ do some much needed navel gazing about the books they’d love to write if time and current commitments weren’t a factor. Their answers might surprise you! Plus, they’ll offer ways for authors to capture those ideas so they can have new ideas at the ready for that moment when life opens up for a new book.

In this episode, what if we not only ignored the 800-pound gorilla in the room, but paid attention to a smaller gorilla? Mike and AJ remind listeners of all the many ways to get around relying on Amazon for book sales and even include direct links in the show and in the show notes. Thanks for the listener email from author Josh Spodek that inspired this episode! (And be sure to check out his book, Sustainability Simplified.)

In this episode, Mike and AJ continue to shine their bright light into some of the icky corners of publishing all with the intent to make you, the listener, forewarned about some of the scams out there. They’ll give you ways to discern if an offer is legit and how to spot a fake!

In this episode, AJ and Mike deliver some much needed realism with respect to how long it really takes to write and publish a must-read book. They don’t hold back about those ‘write a book in 30 days’ programs, either. Listeners will get straight-talk about how long each step in the process takes, why it takes that long, and even what to plan for regardless of the chosen publishing path, be it self or traditional.

In this episode, Mike and AJ discuss using graphics, conceptual models and more in a manuscript. You’ll hear when they’re needed, how they’re formatted for the reader’s benefit, and why your publisher might push back or even tell you no. Newbie make costly mistakes but our duo is here, as always, to arm you with publishing knowledge!

In this episode, our duo is back to talk straight about taking a break from it all. Well, not all of it, but perhaps pausing on the writing, what that means, and what that can do for an author. Spoiler alert, they’re not talking about giving up on writing altogether! Just the importance of taking a pause in writing to allow for other areas to get some much-needed attention.

In this episode, Mike shares his intensive marketing plan for their latest book, The Money Habit. He’s been hard at work thinking outside the box with a few ideas that blew AJ away, so if you’re looking for cool new marketing ideas for your next book, this is one to save and listen to again and again!