Breaking into book publishing can be rally hard. Traditionally, not being in the right city, having the right education (or work experience), or knowing the right people made it 100 times more difficult to get started. We know, we've been there. In this episode, we're sharing our personal insights, tips, and inspiration to help you overcome the challenges and uncertainties that come with entering this industry. We want to make sure that you're equipped with the knowledge and guidance needed t...

Ready to take your non-fiction book to the next level but don't know where to start? In this episode of the Pub Date Podcast, Dr. Jen Dorsey and Vanessa Campos discuss new editions, content updates, and ancillary materials you should consider. Top it all off with a powerful content ecosystem that attracts readers and boosts your brand recognition. Listen in as they discuss: How a content ecosystem boosts the appeal and longevity of your non-fiction books. Utilizing spin-off content to create ...

In this episode of the Pub Date Podcast, Vanessa and Jen discuss the importance of protecting independent authors' rights and understanding agreements with publishers. But what happens when a publisher shuts down overnight? Tune in to find out how to navigate this stressful situation. In this episode, you will be able to: Discover how to navigate publisher shutdowns and protect your work. Uncover the crucial aspects of author's rights in publishing partnerships. Grasp essential contract detai...

We have always been firm believers in diversifying your content and creating as many revenue streams as you can with your book. In this episode, your hosts Dr. Jen Dorsey and Vanessa Campos dive in to the world of subsidiary rights -- also known as getting your book translated and sold in other countries. Some key things to keep in mind as you listen to us geek out about the London Book Fair, foreign rights, subsidiary rights, and expanding your reach are: Should you hire a foreign rights or ...

In this episode of the Pub Date podcast, book broads Jen Dorsey and Vanessa Campos dive into crucial topics such as cover design, book landing pages, competitive titles, and Amazon ads. We emphasize the importance of an eye-catching back cover, as it helps draw in potential readers. We also discuss creating a web page or landing page for your book to enhance discoverability, along with claiming your Amazon Author page and signing up for an Amazon Ads account. Our conversation highlights the n...

In this episode of the Pub Date Podcast, we are joined by the Job Doctor herself Tessa White. Tessa is an HR leader and author of “The Unspoken Truth for Career Success: Navigating Pay, Promotions, and Power at Work.” In her book, Tessa shares her knowledge and experience to help others navigate their career journey and create balance between the workplace and their lives. In her journey to becoming a published author she became an unlikely influencer on TikTok by sharing her advi...

Are you considering self-publishing your book? You may be surprised to know that the traditional book publishing process is more complex than ever before. Self-publishing can seem like an attractive option, but it can be a costly mistake if you don’t do it correctly. In this episode of the Pub Date Podcast, hosts Vanessa Campos and Jen Dorsey share insights into self-publishing and how you can avoid the pitfalls of costly mistakes. They discuss the differences between self publishing and trad...

Are book covers important when it comes to online sales? Is it possible to stand out among thousands of other books with just a cover? On this episode of the Pub Date podcast, hosts Vanessa Campos and Dr. Jen Dorsey are joined by producer Paul Roberts to discuss their recent award-winning book cover and the importance of book covers in the realm of online sales. This year the Broad Book Group team won the bronze design award from PubWest for Street Pricing: A Pricing Playlist for Hip Leaders ...

Our guest is Lisa McFadden, Founder and Coach of The Writer's Mindset. She helps writers overcome self-doubt and design their lives to support their writing goals and aspirations. In a world of competitive writers and relentless inner critics, Lisa McFadden pursues her dream of helping writers to overcome their blocks, find their process and get their writing goals done.You will learn: How to Overcome Writing Blocks and Reach Writing Goals: Learn how to identify and overcome writing bloc...

Smith Publicity president, Marissa Eigenbrood joins the Pub Date podcast to talk about books, marketing, and author goals. We've worked on several projects across a few publishers and indie clients and everyone has been delighted with the work that the team at Smith has done. But the ones that are most appreciative are the indie authors who understand that their book can bring credibility to their business. So if you're an entrepreneur, be sure to tune in and take notes! About Our Gues...

Where can you sell books? The answer is ANYWHERE! On this episode of Pub Date, we share non-traditional places where you can sell your book and how to get your book into those nontraditional retailers. Knowing where to sell your book means that you have to really know your audience. Unpack how to know them better (market research, comps, etc.). Some non-book places you can sell books include: Specialty stores related to your topic (REI, quilt stores, running stores, you name it)Ass...

How do you sell your book around the world as a traditional author or a trailblazing self-publishing author? In this episode, Jen Dorsey and Vanessa Campos discuss the process of book distribution and how it's not as magical as it seems. What's the spooky process behind getting books from the publisher to the bookstore? "The book business is fully returnable at any time, anytime. At anytime you can get books back that you sold ten years ago." We are book lovers, so naturally, when we travel, ...

Is turning a speech into a book a good idea?"Content remains king and everyone's making all the things and doing all the speeches and giving all the talks and teaching all the courses, but they still love the idea of it being a book because that provides some ethos building and some validity because I have a book."We are book nerds, so we are really interested in the recent trial to block Penguin Random House's acquisition of Simon and Schuster. So much so, that we purchased the ebook version...

When it comes to launching your book we are big fans of taking inspiration from new product launches. If you're a business owner, entrepreneur, or CEO you're probably thinking "I've got this." But the truth is that you really need to sit, think about it the product, and plan for a book launch months before your book is complete. In this episode of the Pub Date Podcast we're joined by Terry Rice, a business development consultant, staff writer at Entrepreneur magazine, and host of the Launch...

On this episode of the Pub Date podcast we discuss the big question in book publishing: Should you release the hardcover before the paperback? We've seen it all when it comes to this conversation. Authors like the prestige of having that hardcover with dust jacket at a book signing, but as a self-published author does that matter? When it comes to formats we're agnostic. There are pros and cons to everything in book publishing. And if you're self publishing your next book, you can do what mak...

On this episode of the Pub Date podcast we talk about the difference between indie and small press publishing. The wonderful thing about becoming a published author is that there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to going from idea to final book. If you're thinking about becoming an author, make sure you do your homework and that the math makes sense. At the end of the day, your book is another product that you deliver to your audience. Have an idea and want to see if it's a book? Download o...

On this episode of the Pub Date podcast the book broads are reunited with literary agent, book industry veteran, and all around book broad Wendy Keller. Listen in as we discuss the importance of having a solid platform, what authors should be doing before reaching out to an agent, and the things you should be mindful of as you grow your audience. Wendy's decades of experience has lead to her creating value beyond being an agent for her authors. She's also the author of 30+ books including Ent...

We are often asked about social media and which platform authors should be on. Lately, there have been a lot of questions about TikTok and our answer is usually along the lines of "it depends." Is your ideal audience on TikTok, Twitter, or LinkedIn? Is there a conversation already happening about your topic on Twitter? Have you engaged with and provided value to that community? On this episode of the Pub Date Podcast we have editor, writer, and author Ray E. Boomhower share how he found his n...

Did you know that less than 7% of children's books are written by Black, Latino, and Native authors combined? Our guest on the Pub Date podcast is on a mission to change that. Leah Hernandez is the Founder and CEO of Young Authors Publishing. In 2021, Leah was named one of Publisher's Weekly "Star Watch Nominees." Leah sits on the board of Pub West, an association of small to mid sized publishers, as well as Portland State University's Masters Publishing Program to create more opportuni...