Write the Damn Book Already

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! In this no-fluff episode, publishing powerhouse Jane Friedman speaks to the aspects of writing and publishing that every aspiring author needs to hear about.  WE'RE TALKING ABOUT:  The myth of the full-time writer dream—and why your day job might be your secret weapon How to build an author platform without selling your soul  The h...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! In this episode, author Audrey Ingram spills the tea on what inspired her newest novel, The Summer We Ran (coming June 3, 2025). Think: teenage love, political ambition, and a dual-timeline structure that spans 25 years and manages to hit you right in the gut and makes you think. We also dig into how Audrey traded in her life as a pract...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! She’s back! One of my all-time favorite guests, Neely Tubati-Alexander, returns to talk about her third novel, Courtroom Drama. As always, she brings a refreshing, no-nonsense take on staying creative and productive in the unpredictable world of publishing. INSIDE THE EPISODE 📚 Why Neely sprints through her first drafts instead of obse...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! What happens when your first novel becomes a global sensation, and your next one takes nearly a decade? In this episode, bestselling author Nicola Kraus (of The Nanny Diaries fame) gets delightfully honest about what it really takes to write, edit, and publish a book in today’s ever-shifting landscape. From the high highs to the humblin...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! This week, I sat down with debut author Noël Stark, who went from wrangling chaos behind the scenes in the TV and film world to wrangling words on the page, often in 15-minute bursts. Her novel, Love Camera Action, flips the script on Hollywood romance by spotlighting the crew, not the stars (and the 3 peppers on the spice scale are sur...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! What do a flooded house, a nine-month (and still going) renovation, and a debut novel have in common? Angelika Morini. In this episode, Angelika shares what it actually looked like to finish her first novel, Do You See Me Now? —while living in chaos (read: house stripped to the studs). We talk about why character development can feel a...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! You’ve probably heard the phrase “your book is your business card.” While it sounds cute for a Canva graphic, it totally downplays the blood, sweat, and editing tears that go into creating a book that actually matters. We’re not here for books that gather dust—we’re here for books that make an impact (and, at the very least, pay for lun...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Have you ever sat through a back-to-school night and thought, Wow, this could be a novel ? Jordan Roter did—and then she actually wrote it. Moms Like Us (coming May 2025 from Little A) hilariously unpacks the cutthroat social hierarchy of LA moms, complete with all the messy, cringey, and oh-so-relatable moments of motherhood and friend...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Ever walked past one of those cute Little Free Libraries and thought, Wonder if I could sneak my book in there? Spoiler alert: you totally can. And that’s just one of the brilliantly simple, low-cost book marketing strategies I dish out in this episode—ideas so simple many authors never even think about them! Here’s the thing: no matter...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! This week, I had a really fun conversation with Nanda Reddy about her journey from "secret writer" to novelist (her debut novel, A Girl Within a Girl Within a Girl, just hit the USA Today bestseller list!).  Inside this Episode:  Writing without being "formally trained" (read: no MFA) and navigating the industry thro...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Publishing a book requires long-term strategy, patience, and flexibility, not magic bullets or gimmicky shortcuts. The long game is the shortcut when it comes to building a sustainable author career. In this episode, I answer some of the questions that have come my way recently via email and Instagram DMs, including:  ✅ Why does one&ap...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! If the thought of asking for Amazon reviews makes you break out in hives, you’re not alone. But here’s the truth: reviews are gold for indie authors. They help boost visibility, credibility, and—most importantly—book sales. The good news? You don’t have to beg, bribe, or feel weird about it. In this episode, we’re breaking down how indi...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Keywords: they either fascinate you or they're the bane of your existence.  For me, it's the second.  Which is why I'm so excited to bring you this episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast with guest Dave Chesson, founder of Kindlepreneur, where we do an in-depth exploration of the significance of keywords and c...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! One can easily overlook that little piece of the Amazon upload process where you specify 7 keywords related to your title. After all, who wants to filter through the millions of options to find 7 that are most likely to ensure your book is seen by the readers actively looking for it?  It might not sound fun, but it's a step you don...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Navigating hybrid publishing can feel overwhelming, but understanding the unique way it helps indie authors grow their author career helps authors make informed decisions. This episode covers fundamentals of hybrid publishing, identifies potential red flags, and highlights critical questions to ask publishers before signing any agreemen...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! This episode explores the critical role ISBNs play in the self-publishing journey. It's not the most glamorous part of publishing, but understanding the role of the ISBN is critical when it comes to managing book sales and metadata ownership. Topics covered: • The importance of ISBNs for indie and self-published authors • Differenc...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! What happens when a seasoned television writer known for his work on irreverent comedies such as Beavis & Butthead, Just Shoot Me, and King of the Hill takes a leap into the author world? In this episode, Michael Jamin reveals the more personal and vulnerable side of his writing through his release of A Paper Orchestra . From naviga...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Have you ever imagined trading a stable career for the unpredictability of writing and publishing? That's exactly what Patti Hall did, transitioning from urban design to becoming a full-time writer and publishing strategist.  Patti and I dive deep into the kind of personal transformation that makes most people's comfort zones...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! In this episode, I speak with the legendary Jenn Hanson-dePaula about strategies authors are using today to promote their books.  Learn how to create content that resonates with your target readers and get greater clarity on the vital role of empathy in crafting messages that engage readers across genres—from fiction to nonfiction to po...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! An episode that celebrates the joys of writing and never-ending search for inspiration, this laughter-filled chat with the incredibly witty Jane Costello, bestselling author of romantic comedies and women's fiction, also features the prep for the release of her upcoming novel (her fifteenth), It's Getting Hot In Here (Zibby Bo...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Want the insider secrets to creating book events that actually sell books and build superfans? This episode is your masterclass! I'm joined by the absolutely magnetic Traci Thomas, host of The Stacks podcast and literary event connoisseur, for a conversation that's packed with actionable insights for authors at every stage. If...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Amy Wilson, the brilliant co-host of the "What Fresh Hell" podcast and author of Happy to Help: Adventures of a People Pleaser (Jan 2025, Zibby Books), joined me for a fabulous conversation about owning your story through writing. We dive right into the real stuff—like what it’s actually like to share personal essays (and how...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! What if you could transform a lived experience into a compelling narrative that reads like fiction? In this episode, I chat with the talented Sarah Gormley, author of The Order of Things. In a candid discussion about "memoir plus," we explore how memoir can deliver powerful messages while engaging readers with its storytelling...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! From writing the first chapter of The Undercurrent (Zibby Books, Oct 2024) as a standalone piece to fleshing out a full literary suspense novel I can’t put down, Sarah Sawyer has quickly become one of my new favorite authors.  In this episode of Write the Damn Book Already, we discussed:  What has most suprised her about the publishing...

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Amazon ads are one of my favorite tools for indie authors to boost book sales and visibility, but they can feel so complicated that it's easy to avoid using them. I'm sharing key insights from my 12-week "experiment" with a new campaign for my book, Write the Damn Book Already, including targeting relevant keywords a...