Publishing Disrupted

Sit down and listen in as I ask David Morris, publisher and literary agent, what really makes great authors great. Beyond the usual list of necessary qualities like being a good writer with a great concept and a reasonably sized platform, what makes an author someone we want to work with long-term? 

And surprise! Our definition of "greatness" is a bit different, but let's get real: every creative person dreams of finding this kind of reciprocal cooperation, don't they? 

• #1 is humility / teachability - receiving openly without defensiveness
• Aiming for authenticity and connection over a quick win
• And seeking professional maturity through long-term relationships

We also discuss being "heart-led" over head-dominant, the types of authors we tend to avoid, and why a true partnership eats transactional relationships for breakfast. From our extensive experience working with authors to help produce both award-winning and bestselling books (though we don't love those nebulous terms), we've hit on some essential qualities any aspiring author should find useful to know...

Publishing Disrupted is at PublishingDisrupted.substack.com

Mick Silva is at MickSilvaEditing.substack.com

David Morris is at dvdmorris.substack.com, LakeDriveBooks.com, and Hyponymous.com.

Join the disruption discussion as we welcome two self-employed publishing colleagues to the show, agent Tom Dean, and ghostwriter/editor Andy Rogers. 

Some highlights of our conversation about why we love what we do: 

• The "platform paradox" - authors with great books choosing to opt out of traditional publishing
• The joy of hand-selling and direct reader connection
• Industry insights about corporate publishing culture
• Practical advice for authors navigating today's landscape
• The human stories that make these industry shifts meaningful

The opportunities for authors have never been broader--or more confusing. But as our guests helped to prove, if you're an author hoping to gain experience and know-how about the industry today, hearing from multiple independent experts adds some insight and clarity that could very well prove essential. Come along!

Tom Dean is at www.ADropofInk.pub

Andy Rogers is at andyrogersbooks.com

Publishing Disrupted is at PublishingDisrupted.substack.com

Mick Silva is at MickSilvaEditing.substack.com

David Morris is at dvdmorris.substack.com, LakeDriveBooks.com, and Hyponymous.com.

In the shifting landscape of book publishing today, how helpful is the "bestselling book" stamp of approval? As authors face increasingly challenging obstacles to recognition (and sales), is bestseller status a shortcut to fame and fortune? Or is that prize even worth it? 

Come along as we discuss:

• New York Times list is not just based on most copies sold.
• USA Today lists 150 titles without discrimination of type or category.
• Amazon's velocity-based algorithm is too easy to game. 
• BookScan sales data tracks legitimate sales but is unavailable for most authors.

Bottom line: bestseller lists often reflect manufactured buzz rather than book quality or even highest sales. And many publishing professionals don't consider bestsellers to be the best books. So what are the alternatives to focusing on bestseller lists for authors?

Publishing Disrupted is at PublishingDisrupted.substack.com

Mick Silva is at MickSilvaEditing.substack.com

David Morris is at dvdmorris.substack.com, LakeDriveBooks.com, and Hyponymous.com.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Mick and David dive into their personal reading habits as men, as book-lovers, and as supporters of great independent publishing. They explore their current reads—from Austrian history and Michigan ghost ships to literary fiction and classics like The Little Prince—discussing how reading can serve as both intellectual pursuit and spiritual practice.

They examine the stereotype that "men don't read" (spoiler: they definitely do), and share their preferences for physical books over screens, not just because it's "sexier" (according to a recent NYT headline), but because it takes us "out of ourselves" in ways that feel deeply meaningful. They also touch on the changing landscape of book publishing through the rise of independent voices on platforms like Substack and Tumblr, answering the challenge of finding thoughtful analysis in our chaotic political moment.

Whether you're looking for reading recommendations, curious about the evolving book industry, or just want to eavesdrop on two literary professionals shooting the sh#t about their favorite escape from daily life, this episode offers plenty of food for thought—and a good reminder that reading is sexier than staring at a phone.

Publishing Disrupted explores how the book world is changing and how writers can adapt to meet new challenges.

Mick Silva is at micksilva.com

David Morris is at DavidRMorris.com

Lake Drive Books is LakeDriveBooks.com

New episodes every other week. 

Publishing Disrupted is at PublishingDisrupted.substack.com

Mick Silva is at MickSilvaEditing.substack.com

David Morris is at dvdmorris.substack.com, LakeDriveBooks.com, and Hyponymous.com.

The publishing industry isn’t just changing—it’s completely fragmenting. In our latest episode, we talked about why two former Christian publishing professionals (Mick Silva and David Morris), have shifted so strongly toward a new model of authors aiming not for everyone, but for the readers that specifically fit them. Based on Kevin Kelly’s “1,000 True Fans“ concept, this episode, as usual, gave us plenty to discuss.

•    Why a massive reach isn't necessary anymore to succeed as an author
•    Why you need to be able to define your specific audience in a sentence
•    How to start finding those "1000 true fans"

Publisher and Literary Agent David Morris is at DavidRMorris.me  

Editor Mick Silva is at MickSilva.com

Subscribe for more, and join the conversation at Substack: publishingdisrupted.substack.com

Publishing Disrupted is at PublishingDisrupted.substack.com

Mick Silva is at MickSilvaEditing.substack.com

David Morris is at dvdmorris.substack.com, LakeDriveBooks.com, and Hyponymous.com.

In this episode of Publishing Disrupted, co-hosts Mick Silva and David Morris sit down with their first-ever guest, author Cara Meredith, for an honest and layered conversation about life as a working writer navigating faith, publishing, and purpose.

Cara is the author of the new book Church Camp: Bad Skits, Cry Night, and How White Evangelicalism Betrayed a Generation, a memoir-meets-cultural-critique that examines how white evangelical institutions shaped—and in many cases harmed—a generation.

Together, we unpack what it really means to pursue writing as vocation, the spiritual and professional toll of publishing in evangelical spaces, and what happens when a flagship evangelical outlet publishes a highly critical review. Cara also shares the practical realities of marketing your own book, building authentic author relationships, and sustaining creativity in the midst of competing demands.

This is a rich, reflective, and inspiring conversation for writers, creatives, and anyone trying to live with integrity in the shifting landscape of faith and publishing.

🧵 What We Talk About in This Episode:

• Cara’s new book: Church Camp: Bad Skits, Cry Night, and How White Evangelicalism Betrayed a Generation
• Her “three-legged stool” approach to life and vocation as a writer
• Navigating the shift from evangelical to progressive publishing
• How to build author relationships and leverage your network
• Dealing with criticism and reviews that misrepresent your work
• Setting boundaries, taking breaks, and staying grounded
• Disrupting the norms of religious publishing—for good

🔗 Episode Links

• Cara Meredith’s website: https://www.carameredith.com
• Buy Cara’s book, Church Camp: Broadleaf Books – Church Camp
• Mick Silva's editing & coaching: https://www.micksilva.com
• David Morris' publishing and agenting: https://davidrmorris.me

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Like what you’re hearing? Don’t miss future episodes.
 Follow us and join the conversation over on Substack:
 👉 https://publishingdisrupted.substack.com/

We explore how publishing is changing—and how writers can stay grounded and grow through the disruption.

Publishing Disrupted is at PublishingDisrupted.substack.com

Mick Silva is at MickSilvaEditing.substack.com

David Morris is at dvdmorris.substack.com, LakeDriveBooks.com, and Hyponymous.com.

In this fifth episode, we get into another fundamental shift in the publishing world: book development. The old playbook of “authority from on high” is dead. Long live the authentic voice!

There's the three elements of book proposals: platform (your ability to reach readers), concept (a current, but time-honored topic), and craft (your “method” and ability to deliver the goods). But the craft must now derive primarily from an authentic voice emerging from your personal process, rather than from presumed or external authority.

Which helps explain why “for the Bible tells me so” doesn’t work so well anymore. Because basically this anti-traditional, anti-establishment culture wants a different kind of authority.

So we then discussed how the three-act story structure can serve even nonfiction authors working to incorporate a more humble, vulnerable approach, and how the ending shouldn’t be neat and tidily resolved, but somewhat ambiguous and inclusive of complexity (i.e. authentic).

Bottom line: readers want to see real life-change in their books these days. So come along and let's get into it!

Publishing Disrupted is at PublishingDisrupted.substack.com

Mick Silva is at MickSilvaEditing.substack.com

David Morris is at dvdmorris.substack.com, LakeDriveBooks.com, and Hyponymous.com.

Everyone knows the worst part about selling books is the selling part. That darned author-marketing! So in this episode, we break down a recent post by popular author-marketing guru, Dan Blank, and discuss the difference between being "intentional" and being *integrative*--replacing the agenda-driven drudgery with some creative fun while generating interest in your books.

You really can find and craft your authentic voice in today's online world!

Also, David has some takeaways from the Independent Booksellers Association conference, and gets a bit personal about my social media posts, as examples of creative marketing that doesn't feel coercive or forced (which was very kind! But I'm not selling books myself yet). 

Dan Blank's post on Substack: 

The Creative Shift by Dan Blank (How One Author Found Her Voice Online)

And you can follow us too while you're at it: Mick Silva Editing and David R. Morris

And even on the Facebooks, if you like: Me and Dr. David

Publishing Disrupted is at PublishingDisrupted.substack.com

Mick Silva is at MickSilvaEditing.substack.com

David Morris is at dvdmorris.substack.com, LakeDriveBooks.com, and Hyponymous.com.

"Do I need an editor?" "Is my book any good?" "Do I need an agent?" These have been the common questions of hopeful writers for generations. But these days, looking to navigate the ever-shifting landscape of publishing is far more complex. In this conversation, we pull back the curtain on what really happens behind the scenes in book publishing, and offer some honest insight and guidance about what authors need to succeed, regardless of whether they're publishing conventionally or going independent.

Whether you're pursuing traditional or independent publishing, in this episode we aimed to help answer the typical questions, and provide some of the education that separates future authors from the rest of the pack.

Publishing Disrupted is at PublishingDisrupted.substack.com

Mick Silva is at MickSilvaEditing.substack.com

David Morris is at dvdmorris.substack.com, LakeDriveBooks.com, and Hyponymous.com.

Even our AI assistant had trouble titling this one! But in this second episode, Mick and David picked up their discussion of the major factors disrupting modern publishing, hitting some highlights: 

• Big mergers and their impact on book acquisitions
• How authors (and small publishers) can deal with truncated selling cycles 
• Why publishing has become so much more dependent on author publicity
• and How personal stories (memoirs & author-centered nonfiction) are making a comeback

We close out with some hope that cultural conversations can take center stage in small grassroots publishing again, as the shifting landscape grows ever more diverse...come along!

Publishing Disrupted is at PublishingDisrupted.substack.com

Mick Silva is at MickSilvaEditing.substack.com

David Morris is at dvdmorris.substack.com, LakeDriveBooks.com, and Hyponymous.com.