Authors Talking Bookish

Join us as we interview author J.D .Barker, renowned for his thrilling novels, including Forsaken, The Fourth Monkey, and Dracul (co-authored with Bram Stoker’s family using Bram’s original notes and journals). With a reputation for pushing the boundaries of suspense and supernatural storytelling, his works have appeared on bestseller lists worldwide, and Dracul is currently in development for film by Paramount. J.D. has also collaborated frequently with James Patterson, further cementing his presence in the literary world.

SHOW NOTES:

“Something I Keep Upstairs”

Inspiration & Setting: What inspired you to write Something I Keep Upstairs, and how did the real haunted house influence the story?

Unique Elements: Can you share some unique elements of the book that you think set it apart from your previous works?

Immersive Experience: How do you think the giveaway of an overnight stay in the haunted house adds a new dimension to your readers' experience with the book?

Co-Authoring and Collaboration

Co-Authoring with James Patterson: What have you learned from collaborating with James Patterson, and how has that experience shaped your writing style?

Stephen King Endorsement: What impact did it have on your career?

Collaborating on Dracul using Bram Stoker's original notes What insights did you gain about his writing process?

Publishing and the Industry

Indie vs. Traditional Publishing: What are some key differences you’ve observed between indie publishing and traditional publishing in terms of creative freedom and marketing?

What are some of the things you learned the hard way?

Questions about Writing and Fiction

Book Doctor & Ghost Writer What are some key lessons you learned from this role that you apply to your own writing today?

GIVEAWAY for Something I Keep Upstairs

SOURCES & LINKS

Website: https://www.jdbarker.com

Giveaway: https://woobox.com/vcevs2

Preorder: https://jdbarker.com/books/something-i-keep-upstairs/

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

If you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you

Writers craft thousands of words to create a novel, so why is it so difficult to write a summary and pitch for books? We’ll delve into the difficulty of whittling down a novel into these necessary tasks which could make-or-break selling a novel. In addition, we’ll discuss the functions of a summary and pitch as well as how to write them.

SHOW NOTES:

Summary: a concise overview of a book with the purpose of enticing a reader

Pitch: one sentence that encapsulates story for the purpose of selling it to agents and publishers

Summary: Hook, main character(s), setting and/or theme, conflict/stakes, and a teaser

• voice
• third person (no matter the POV of the book)
• captivate your reader
• flows
• 100-200 words in length

Examples:

Pitch (also called elevator pitch or logline):

• character descriptor
• inciting incident
• conflict/stakes
• goal
• make it memorable & concise
• 1 sentence (approximately 20-30 words)

Examples:

*Note: a tagline is different & often appears on the book

Examples:

“How to Write a Book Pitch No One Can Resist,” Abi Wurdeman

“How to Write an Elevator Pitch for Your Novel,” Harry Bingham

DO NOW: Write a book jacket summary first, using the models provided. Then, whittle it down to a few different pitches; choose the one that is most enticing. Consider running these by your friends or writing partners to get their perspectives.

Next Episode: An interview with author J.D. Barker, author of Something I Keep Upstairs, & you won’t want to miss his amazing GIVEAWAY

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

If you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you

Each year some of the top industry publications predict trends in publishing for the upcoming year. In today’s episode, we’ll share some of these and give you our take on where we think the publishing industry is heading.

SHOW NOTES:

“Top Ten Publishing Trends of 2025,” Emma Boyer, Written Words Media, 2 JAN 2025

“Publishing Leaders Share Nine Bold Predictions for 2025 and Beyond,” Audrey DeRobert, BookBub, 23 JAN 2025

Noteworthy Predictions

Building loyal audiences

Investment in email marketing campaigns and subscribers:

Meta’s domination over the industry

Traditional and Indie publishing converge

Benefits and drawbacks of AI

Hybrid publishing will be on the rise

Publishers will continue the fight against censorship

SOURCES & LINKS

“Top Ten Publishing Trends of 2025,” Emma Boyer, Written Words Media, 2 JAN 2025

“Publishing Leaders Share Nine Bold Predictions for 2025 and Beyond,” Audrey DeRobert, BookBub, 23 JAN 2025

Authors Against Book Bans

Author’s Guild

DO NOW: Target the trend that is most beneficial to where you are in your writing journey and learn all you can about it to make you better informed.

Next Episode: Writing the dreaded book summary and pitch

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

If you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you

Sarahlyn Bruck writes contemporary, book club fiction—slice-of-life stories with heart and humor centered on friendships and family. She is the award-winning author of three novels: Light of the Fire (2024), Daytime Drama (2021), and Designer You (2018). When she’s not writing, Sarahlyn moonlights as a full-time writing and literature professor at a local community college. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, she now lives in Philadelphia with her family.

1. Synopsis and Inspiration
2. Writing Process
3. Previous Works
4. Journey to Publication
5. What have you learned the hard way?
6. Building an Author Brand
7. Balancing Roles
8. Looking Ahead

SOURCES & LINKS:

Website: https://sarahlynbruck.com

FB & IG: @sarahlynbruck

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

If you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you

SUMMARY: In this episode, we dive deep into the world of book reviews and blurbs. These essential elements serve as crucial communication tools for authors, helping them convey the value of their work to potential readers. We explore how impactful reviews and compelling blurbs can significantly influence a book's success, while also sharing insights from notable authors about the key components to include and the common pitfalls to avoid. Additionally, we discuss the benefits for readers who take the time to write reviews—from cultivating a deeper appreciation for the stories they read to developing their voices as reviewers, bloggers, or even Bookstagrammers. Engaging with literature in this way enriches the reading experience and fosters a vibrant community of book lovers.

DO NOW: The next time you read a book, write a review. Post it in as many places as you can (suggestions: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BookBub, Goodreads…on your own social media). Not confident about reviewing books yet? Read reviews that others have written for your favorite books.

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

If you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you

SUMMARY:

To kick off the new year, we’re talking about our top reads of 2024 and what we’re most looking forward to in 2025. What’s on your TBR list?

SHOW NOTES:

Top 2024 Reads:

Donna

James, Percival Everett

Echo of Old Books, Barbara Davis

The Little Liar, Mitch Albom

Mad Honey, Jodi Piccoult

Hope

The Housemaid, Freida McFadden

It’s Hard for Me to Live with Me, Rex Chapman

Of Lies and Honey, Donna Norman Carbone

* The Empress of Cooke County, Elizabeth Bass Parman, Soul Dancing, Gail Priest

Most anticipated Reads of 2025:

Donna

Here One Moment, Liane Moriarty

The Names, Florence Knapp

Tell Me Everything, Elizabeth Strout

From Here to the Great Unknown, Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough

Hope

Beach House Rules, Kristy Woodson Harvey

Reading trackers: Goodreads, Fable, Story Graph, Shepherd

SOURCES & LINKS: **See Do Now

DO NOW: Sign-up for an online book club on FB (Bookish Road Trip…) and/or download a reading app (Goodreads, Fable, Story Graph…) or check out Shepherd

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

If you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you

This episode speaks to marketing techniques to help you make the most of the holidays as a vehicle to sell more books. Learn how to customize your sales pitch and graphics for optimal success whether you are running ads, sharing to social media, appearing at holiday-centric events, or working collaboratively with other authors to get the word out about your books. We’ll teach you how such “holidays” can help you lean into your brand, so you can use this as a marketing strategy throughout the year.

SHOW NOTES:

Holidays:

Seasonal: Fall, Summer…

Religious: Easter, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa…

National “blank” day/month: Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Women’s Fiction Day, Library Month, National Buffet Day, Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month, National Indie Author Day…

Customize your graphics

Alter your pitch

Visual images

Events

Lean into your brand

Collaboration with other authors

SOURCES & LINKS:

https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/

DO NOW:

Research days/months that go with your book/brand.Create a calendar of events & social media. Make a plan (whether it’s monthly or weekly). Brainstorm how you can make the most of the holidays that fits with your brand.

Next Episode: Taking a break until mid-January

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

If you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you

Curious about how to get traction for your book before it’s released or after? Today, we are joined by three bookstagrammers who will talk to us about how they can be helpful with your book launch by getting eyes on your books and reviews to establish or sustain the momentum of your book marketing campaign. Suzanne Leopold, the founder of Suzy Approved Book Tours, helps to match readers to your books through her customized tour program. We are also joined by two bookstagrammers, Caitlyn Aresti and Christy Taylor, who read and review books for the joy of it. We hope you’ll join us today to gain insight on how bookstagrammers can help your author platform.

How did you become a book influencer?

What genres do you enjoy?

Do you read/review genres other than the ones you enjoy personally as a book influencer?

How do you contribute to the book community?

What challenges do you face as a book influencer?

What are the joys of being a book influencer?

What should authors know about you and the ways in which you can help them?

How can they find you?

SOURCES & LINKS:

Suzy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzyapprovedbooktours

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/suzyapprovedbooktours

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzyapproved

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzyapprovedbookreviews

Caitlyn

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plots.pages.puppies

Christy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmtloveswineandbooks/

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

If you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you

In this episode, we'll dive into the fundamentals of advertising on Facebook and Amazon for authors. We’ll explore whether ads are the right choice for you, depending on your goals, budget, and readiness to invest in promotional strategies. You’ll learn about the benefits of each platform, what types of ads work best, and how to get started with your first campaign, including tips for optimizing results over time. This episode will help demystify the process and empower you to make informed advertising decisions.

OVERVIEW: Brief overview of the goals for this episode: helping authors understand if Facebook or Amazon ads could work for their book marketing strategy.

• Facebook Ads:
  • Types of ads (Boosted posts, Sponsored content, Carousel ads).
  • Audience targeting features (demographics, interests, custom audiences).
  • Advantages of Facebook’s powerful targeting capabilities for niche audiences.
• Amazon Ads:
  • Types of ads (Sponsored Product Ads, Sponsored Brand Ads).
  • Reaching readers directly
  • Advantages for visibility in highly competitive categories.

• Budget: Estimating realistic ad spend, starting with a modest budget.
• Marketing Goals: Identifying if you want to increase brand awareness, generate sales, or build your reader base.
• Understanding Ad Metrics: Basics of impressions, CTR (Click Through Rate), CPC (Cost per Click)
• Time Commitment: Emphasis on monitoring ads, testing, and optimizing.

Creating Your AD

Our Experiences

Sources & Links

• David Gaughran – Insights on Facebook Ads, and tips on how to leverage Facebook’’s platform for book sales. YouTube: Facebook Ad Tutorial We highly recommend signing up for his newsletter as well because he gives updated tips and trends of Facebook ads
• Jane Friedman – Facebook advertising strategies for authors, understanding audience targeting, and budget tips. “Amazon Ads for Authors: A Comprehensive Step-by-Step Guide” & “Amazon Ads: A Step-by-Step Walk Through for Beginning Authors”

Do Now:

Evaluate whether Facebook and/or Amazon ads align with your goals & your budget. Start small by setting up a test campaign with a limited budget to get a feel for ad management. Consult the links above for step-by-step instructions.

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

If you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you

Blogs and newsletters are excellent ways for you to connect with readers. Have you ever wondered whether you should do one over the other or both? In this episode, we’ll provide you with the purposes and differences of blogs and newsletters, so you can make an informed decision about how you can best connect with readers. And, we’ll make suggestions for content for both.

SHOW NOTES:

Key differences between blogs and newsletters

Blogs usually focus on one topic and go into some depth about it. They are a great way to connect to readers and let them know something about you, personally and professionally.

Newsletters usually include several short topics, lead magnets, and links. They are a great way to keep your readers updated on your author-life and provide ways for them to take action (writing a review, entering a giveaway, buying your book…)

Hybrids can be a combination of both

Both can be sent on a schedule which you should determine based on your needs

Challenges:

Matching your own skill set & what you are comfortable sharing

Getting readership-relying on social media promotion

Gaining subscribers-sign-up sheets, giveaways that collect email addresses, Many Chat (app for Meta) Linktree

How we use blogs and newsletters

Blog sites: Wix, Wordpress, Squarespace

Mailers: Mailchimp, MailerLite

Substack: for both blogging and newsletters

Blog Topics:

Tell a personal story

Share a hobby

Provide instruction (a How To)

Write a review

Share your writing inspiration

A new project you’re starting

Newsletter Topics:

Quick writing update

News about upcoming events

Links to books, website, etc.

Links to giveaways or special offers

Exclusive offers

Links to appearances

Lists (Top Ten…)

Book recommendations

SOURCES & LINKS:

Blogging Versus Email Newsletter: Which Is Better for Writers?, Jane Friedman

How to Start Blogging: A Definitive Guide for Authors, Jane Friedman

Email Newsletters for Authors: Get Started Guide, Jane Friedman

“Creating Effective Author Newsletter,” Rebecca Rosenberg/ LaunchPad: The Countdown to Marketing Your Book

Episodes mentioned in this one:

Creating a Website: Options and Content, Episode 23

DO NOW: Assess your goals and skills. Research some of the (blog/newsletter) websites to determine the best fit for your needs. Make a list of topics that align with your brand.

Full Show Notes are available on our website as well as free downloads mentioned in the episode.

Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com

Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/

Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com

If you found value in this content, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE. Thank you