Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author Podcast

Advertising is one of the biggest expenses for many independent authors, but figuring out whether that money is well spent can be surprisingly difficult. In this week's episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland introduce Author Ad Engine (AAE), a new platform built specifically to help authors make sense of their advertising and promotional efforts. AAE automatically brings together advertising da...

Whether you're a fan of AI or not, the reality is that it's changing the online landscape, including how readers discover your books. As AI powered search engines increasingly offer answers instead of simply pointing to websites, authors have another reason to consider what information is available about their work. Does AI know enough about your book to include it in a response? This week, intern...

Knowing your subject inside out can be an advantage when writing nonfiction, but it can also make it harder to recognize what beginners need explained. How much background should you include for the novice while still keeping more experienced readers interested? This week, teacher and author Daniel Bullen joins us to discuss how he tackled those challenges when writing his computer science book, w...

You might expect someone with a lot of digital marketing experience to have an easy time selling their first book, but as this week’s guest Luke Aulin has discovered, finding readers becomes even harder when your subject doesn’t fall neatly into an established genre. Unlike many business owners who write books to help attract new clients, Luke’s memoir, Finding the Beauty Way, has nothing to do wi...

For many authors, book marketing comes with an unofficial expiration date. Once the launch is over and those first few weeks of promotion have passed, attention shifts to the next book. But Jane Tabachnick, a four-time bestselling author and founder of Simply Good Press, believes that way of thinking leaves a tremendous amount of opportunity on the table. With nearly two decades of experience help...

For many authors, landing a six-figure traditional publishing deal sounds like the ultimate career breakthrough. But as this week’s guest, Elise Chidley, discovered, getting the deal is only the beginning. A two-year wait for publication meant the market had already begun shifting by the time her first novel was released, while decisions by major booksellers further complicated its sales and soure...

After running into roadblocks trying to organize traditional bookstore appearances for two memoirs published by an independent press, author and creative writing instructor Jennifer Lang took matters into her own hands. Over a two-year period, she organized four extensive book tours and discovered that some of the best opportunities could be found in less conventional places. In this week's episod...

A healthy dose of skepticism is always recommended when doing business online, but with today's AI-powered scams becoming increasingly sophisticated, it's getting more difficult to spot them. Authors are frequent targets, especially those new to self-publishing and looking for ways to bring attention to their books. That's exactly what happened to this week's guest, author Slade Myers, when an uns...

In this episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland welcome back returning guest Lauren Carter Riley (known online as Glamour Possum) to explore her unconventional path in self-publishing. Lauren shares updates on her decision to bypass Amazon entirely, opting instead for direct sales via her own storefront. With over 150 pre-orders across eight countries for her upcoming book, All We Have Is Money,...

For many authors, hitting publish feels like crossing the finish line. But according to media and marketing expert Kristen White, it may actually be just the beginning. With a background in television news and more than two decades of experience helping authors, speakers, and coaches expand their platforms, Kristen has seen how writers can use their books as the foundation for something much bigge...

For authors curious about screenwriting, knowing how to write for the screen is only part of the equation. Writing for the screen is entirely different from putting a novel together, and there is an entire industry surrounding the process that brings its own opportunities, challenges, and often unpredictable paths to success. This week, Craig and Roland explore that world with writer and Emmy-winn...

Marketing a book is one thing, but building an author career is something else entirely. This week on Fully Booked, Craig and Roland sit down with publishing professional and author brand strategist Jessica Sorentino to explore why the most successful authors focus on building and maintaining relationships with their readers that start long before launch and continue between every release. Today's...

Children's books may look simple on the surface, but creating one that resonates with young readers takes far more than a good idea. This week on Fully Booked, educator and children's author Bridget Gengler explains why writing for children requires purpose, empathy, and a deep understanding of what young readers truly need. She argues that writing for young minds is about more than entertaining o...

Social media can feel like one more thing on an author's endless to do list, but what if it could become one of your most effective marketing tools? This week, social media strategist Karlyn Ankrom joins us to explain how authors can stop chasing algorithms and start building genuine connections that turn casual followers into loyal readers. From choosing the right platform to creating content tha...

In this episode of Fully Booked, Roland and Craig are joined by Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke, a 28 year U.S. Army veteran, West Point graduate, former Defense Attaché to France, and author of the Major Jake Forina thriller series. Rick shares how a career spent commanding troops, working with NATO, leading counterterrorism efforts, and building international partnerships has shaped the stories he write...

Blending genres is one thing, but making readers believe they belong together is something else entirely. And when you're combining supernatural elements with crime fiction, there are even more considerations. This week's guest, Caryn McCann, explains how mythology can deepen a mystery by raising the stakes, shaping character motivations, and driving the narrative, but if the supernatural becomes...

Every author is looking for the next marketing strategy that will help their book break through the noise. This week's guest, JD Barker, believes that instead of copying what successful authors are already doing, the real opportunity lies in finding the ideas nobody else has thought of yet. That unconventional mindset has helped him build an international bestselling career, launching books in une...

What makes a memoir different from an autobiography, and why do some personal stories resonate so deeply with readers? This week on Fully Booked, Craig and Roland sit down with memoir coach Ally Berthiaume to explore the power of personal storytelling. From uncovering the deeper meaning behind life's defining moments to understanding why memoirs so often focus on resilience, adversity, and growth,...

When writing historical fiction, research can be challenging enough. But what happens when some of the most important details simply don't exist? In this week's episode of Fully Booked, bestselling author Randy Overbeck returns to discuss the unique process of filling in the gaps, as he did while writing his latest novel, which centers on a Revolutionary War spy whose true identity remains one of...

How do you turn real life into fiction when the truth is actually harder to believe than anything you could invent? This week we explore exactly that question with guest Sandy Malone, whose Caribbean wedding planning business provided an endless stream of unforgettable stories that eventually became both a reality television show and the inspiration for her novels. From real life bridezillas and w...

Where is the line between true crime and crime fiction? What can fiction reveal that the facts alone cannot? This week on Fully Booked, Craig and Roland speak with crime novelist and former barrister Simon Michael about drawing inspiration from real criminal cases and why the most compelling stories often emerge not from what happened, but from understanding the people behind the events. Drawing o...

This week on Fully Booked, we speak with author Su Chang about the personal and political risks of telling stories that challenge official history. Writing under a pen name and appearing masked to protect both herself and her family, Su discusses how fiction can preserve truths that institutions often try to reshape or erase entirely. Our discussion explores the realities of publishing politically...

This week on Fully Booked, Craig and Roland sit down with debut novelist Marc S. Perlman to explore how setting can become far more than a backdrop. Inspired by a real journey through an ancient forest on the border of Poland and Belarus, Marc discusses how the eerie landscape at the center of his thriller evolved into a living presence within the story itself. From hidden dangers in the woods to...

This week on Fully Booked, returning guest Jennifer Lieberman joins us for a fascinating conversation about playwriting, theater production, and what authors can learn from writing for the stage. From the differences between novels, screenplays, and plays to the realities of development readings, audience feedback, and workshop productions, Jennifer breaks down why theater remains one of the most...

In this week’s episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland are joined by author, speaker, and radio host Grace Sammon to discuss the emotional responsibility that comes with writing stories rooted in difficult truths. Drawing from her experience writing both fiction and non-fiction, Grace shares how she approaches themes like trauma, abuse, and identity in a way that keeps readers engaged and suppor...