We’re down to the final stretch. In episode 17 of our 18-part series, Before the Bestseller, we’re diving into two topics that get a lot of attention in the publishing world: traditional PR and what it really means to make a bestseller list. As we near the end of this audiobook journey, this chapter pulls back the curtain on some of the final, more public-facing tools authors often consider.

Some authors found their way into media coverage by paying attention to what was already being talked about and figuring out how their book could genuinely add to the conversation. Others aligned their launch with timely events or simply started local and built from there. We also touch on what it actually takes to make a bestseller list, not just the surface-level criteria but the quiet, behind-the-scenes work that rarely gets discussed.

The hard truth? Being called a bestseller doesn’t mean your book is being read. You can buy the label, but you can’t buy real readers. The value isn’t in hitting the list. It’s in becoming the kind of author who could. And even if you fall short, doing the work leaves you with something far more powerful than a badge: momentum that lasts.

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