The Written Word Podcast

The holiday season isn't just one big shopping rush; it's three distinct marketing windows, and indie authors can win all three. In this episode, Ricci and Ferol break down the full holiday timeline, from Black Friday through mid-January, and give you a concrete plan for each phase so you can sell more books and start the new year strong. What you’ll learn: The "Turkey 10" (Nov 21–30): why this is...

Your book cover is the first thing every reader sees, and according to Ricardo Fayet, co-founder and CMO of Reedsy, most indie authors are getting it wrong. In this episode, Ferol Vernon sits down with Ricardo for a no-nonsense conversation about what actually makes a cover sell, how to work with a professional cover designer, when to consider recovering, and why the text on your cover matters mor...

What does it actually take to go from two people at your convention booth to 14 million copies sold and a TV deal with the creator of Family Guy? In this episode, Ricci Wolman and Ferol Vernon do a deep dive into the rise of Matt Dinniman , the indie author behind the Dungeon Crawler Carl series , a litRPG book that no traditional publisher would have signed and that is now hitting the Amazon and...

This episode is a milestone; the Written Word Media Podcast just hit 10,000 downloads. To celebrate, Ricci Wolman and Ferol Vernon are answering three of the most common questions listeners have sent in: what DRM actually is and whether you need it, when the best time to launch a book really is, and how to get more KENP reads if you're in Kindle Unlimited. What you’ll learn: What DRM (Digital Righ...

Your email list is your most valuable asset as an author, but how do you actually grow it beyond people who already know you? The answer is a lead magnet: free content you offer in exchange for an email address. In this episode, Ricci Wolman and Ferol Vernon break down the full system: what to give away, where to host it, how to deliver it, and how to drive traffic. What you’ll learn: The differen...

Amazon A+ content is free, it's available to every KDP author regardless of exclusivity, and it can increase your conversion rate by up to 20%. Most bestselling books on Amazon already have it. If yours doesn't, this episode will change that. Ricci Wolman and Ferol Vernon walk through exactly what A+ content is, why it matters, and how to set it up, step by step, in under 30 minutes. Also: Ricci's...

Nearly every author thinks their book would make a great movie. But how does a book actually get from the page to the screen, and what do you need to know before you sign anything? In this episode, Ferol sits down with Maggie Marr, entertainment attorney, former ICM motion picture literary agent, and author of over 20 books, for a frank inside look at how Hollywood works and how indie authors can...

Spotify has over 600 million users, and most of them don't yet know they have access to audiobooks. In this episode, Ferol sits down with Will Dages, Head of Product at Spotify, to break down everything indie authors need to know about getting their audiobook discovered, promoted, and created on Spotify's platform. In this episode, you’ll learn: How Spotify's audiobook model works: the 15-hour mon...

Every indie author eventually needs help: a cover designer, an editor, a website builder, a marketing assistant. But hiring the wrong freelancer (or being a difficult client yourself) can cost you time, money, and a cover you hate. In this episode, Ricci Wolman sits down with Maari Casey, CEO of Uncompany, to break down exactly how to find, hire, brief, and manage freelancers, from the first Googl...

Is the indie author market actually as tough as the forums make it sound? Written Word Media surveyed nearly 600 authors at the midpoint of 2026, and the data tells a more nuanced story than the doom-and-gloom. In this episode, Ricci and Ferol break down the survey findings and identify the five things that optimistic, growing authors are doing differently. What you’ll learn: The headline sentimen...

What does a CEO who's run social media campaigns for Nike, IKEA, Samsung, and Crocs think authors should be doing on social right now? In this episode, Ferol sits down with Jim Tobin, CEO of Ignite Social Media, founder of influencer marketing agency Carusele, and a two-time published author, for a frank, tactical conversation about what's actually working in social media today and how indie autho...

Podcasts build the kind of trust with listeners that almost no other marketing channel can match, and authors are uniquely positioned to leverage that. In this episode, Ricci Wolman and Ferol Vernon draw on nearly a year of hosting the Written Word Media Podcast to break down how authors can use podcasting as a genuine reader-building tool, whether that means guesting on other shows or launching t...

YouTube isn't just for cooking tutorials and gaming walkthroughs; it might be one of the most powerful book marketing tools authors aren't using. In this episode, Ferol sits down with Dale Roberts, host of Self-Publishing with Dale and one of the most-watched voices in the indie author space, to break down exactly how authors can build a YouTube presence that actually connects with readers and sel...

Readers are increasingly using AI to find their next book, and if your title isn't showing up in ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude, you're missing a growing discovery channel. In this episode, Ricci and Ferol break down exactly how the three major AI engines find and recommend books, why most indie authors are invisible to them right now, and what you can do about it. What you’ll learn: The difference be...

Most authors never consider the speaking stage, but according to Jess Ekstrom, it might be the most powerful income stream they're missing. In this episode, Ricci sits down with Jess Ekstrom, Forbes Top Motivational Speaker, founder of Headbands of Hope, and creator of Mic Drop Workshop, to break down exactly how authors (yes, even fiction authors!) can turn their stories and expertise into paid k...

Getting local press coverage can feel like shouting into a void, but what if you knew exactly what editors were looking for? In this episode, Ricci sits down with Rory Gillis, owner of Triangle Media Partners and publisher of several regional magazines including Chapel Hill Magazine, Durham Magazine, Heart of NC Weddings, and The Triangle Weekender. Rory pulls back the curtain on how local publica...

Amazon just changed the rules — again. The A10 algorithm update is here, and if you've been running your book marketing the same way you were a year ago, it's time to take a second look. In this episode, Ricci and Ferol break down exactly what changed with the Amazon A10 update — drawing on an actual academic paper about the technology powering it — and translate it into three clear, actionable th...

KU or wide? It's the great debate of indie publishing — and it usually generates more opinions than answers. In this episode, Ricci and Ferol cut through the noise and break down exactly how both paths work, backed by real data from Written Word Media's 2025 author survey. They walk through the mechanics of KDP Select, how Kindle Unlimited page reads and payouts actually work, what the January 202...

Your first book didn't become a bestseller overnight? You're actually right on track.  In this episode, Ricci and Ferol break down one of the most important patterns we see year after year in our reader surveys: authors with bigger catalogs earn significantly more money. But it's not just about writing more books—it's about understanding how your backlist creates sustainable income. Whether you're...

In this data-packed episode, Ricci and Ferol dive into the results of Written Word Media's brand-new reader survey with nearly 3,000 responses from across all five brands. This isn't recycled industry advice or third-party reports - it's fresh, empirical data straight from the voracious readers who matter most to indie authors. Together, they unpack surprising stats about reader volume, discovery...

Ricci and Ferol wrap up their 2026 book industry trends analysis by diving into the final two themes: discovery and sovereignty. They explore how book discovery is shifting from algorithm-driven feeds to trusted channels—think celebrity book clubs (Reese Witherspoon, Oprah), BookTok influencers, indie bookstores, and curated newsletters. The conversation highlights how word-of-mouth remains the #1...

It's December which means it’s also trends season – you’ve probably received your Spotify wrapped as well as a wrapped from almost every other app you have! With that spirit, Ferol and Ricci kick off their annual predictions episode by diving into the first three of five major themes that will shape the publishing landscape in 2026. Drawing from industry insights, customer feedback, and broader cu...

In this essential PSA-style episode, Ricci and Ferol break down the growing wave of scams targeting authors — and how to protect yourself. From “too good to be true” book club invitations to fake Amazon warnings designed to spark panic, today’s scammers are using AI to craft convincing, personalized outreach. The hosts walk through the psychology behind these tactics, why even savvy authors can ge...

Ricci and Ferol break down the newest Written Word Media Author Survey, sharing what more than 1,300 authors revealed about income, catalog size, marketing tactics, and where book sales are really coming from in 2025. They discuss the continued importance of email lists, how packaging influences sales, the realities of KDP Select vs. going wide, and why more authors are exploring direct sales. The...

In the newest episode of The Written Word Media Podcast, Scribd co-founder Tripp Adler joins Ricci Wolman to explore how his newest venture, Created by Humans, is helping authors navigate the rise of artificial intelligence. When you listen in, you will learn what AI rights are, how they fit into existing publishing contracts, and why this new model could open powerful revenue streams for writers...