The Book Marketing Action Podcast

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Welcome to Indie Author Chat, the podcast designed to help you explore the ideas and insights behind today’s most thoughtful nonfiction books. Join host Laura Finch for engaging conversations with independent authors as they share the wisdom and inspiration behind their books—each title carefully curated by Weaving Influence Press.

In this introductory episode, Laura sits down with Becky Robinson—host of The Book Marketing Action Podcast—to unveil the vision behind this new podcast dedicated to thoughtful nonfiction books and the independent authors who write them. Together, they explore the evolving world of publishing and how Weaving Influence Press is taking a marketing-first approach to helping authors connect with readers. Tune in as Becky and Laura share a preview of the inspiring lineup of upcoming guests and books featured this season!

During the episode, you’ll learn:

• About the host of Indie Author Chat, Laura Finch.
• About some of the biggest challenges for authors and readers at this time in the publishing industry.
• What it means to launch a book and why it takes so much effort.
• About the longevity of the books that Weaving Influence Press authors are writing.
• About Becky’s experience hosting The Book Marketing Action Podcast and the amazing listeners it continues to attract.
• About Weaving Influence Press and how it inspired the creation of Indie Author Chat.
• The impact of working with a marketing-first hybrid press.
• Who should listen to Indie Author Chat and why.
• What’s in store for the season ahead and the incredible lineup of first guests.

Don’t forget to check out our show notes, which include action steps and resources.

Sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter to connect with Becky Robinson and learn about upcoming book launches.

Consider joining Team Buzz Builder, our book review team that supports most of our client launches. When you sign up for a launch, you’ll receive a complimentary copy (digital or print) in exchange for your commitment to post an early review.

In this final episode of Season 7, Becky sits down with Lara Love Hardin—president and founder of True Literary and bestselling author—to explore the powerful story behind her memoir The Many Lives of Mama Love. Lara shares her journey from addiction and incarceration to rebuilding her life as a ghostwriter, literary agent, and bestselling author. Together, Becky and Lara discuss the courage it takes to tell the truth through writing, the realities of publishing a memoir, and the transformative power of sharing your story. Lara also offers insights into what makes a memoir stand out and what it really takes to bring a book into the world.

During the episode, you’ll learn:

• About Lara’s life journey as she wrote about it in her memoir, The Many Lives of Mama Love.
• About Lara's experience stepping out of the shadows and finding the courage to share her story with the world.
• What it takes to write the kind of memoir that acquires representation and a publisher.
• The biggest factors that contribute to selling non-celebrity memoirs.
• About Lara’s decision to form her own literary agency and the vision she has for being a different kind of literary agent.
• The types of authors and stories Lara is most drawn to representing.
• When an author should decide which publishing path to go down.
• The original title of Lara’s memoir and who she would pick to play her in the TV adaptation.
• Which parts of Lara’s journey have felt the most surreal to her.

Don’t forget to check out our show notes, which include action steps and resources.

Sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter to connect with Becky Robinson and gain access to ongoing learning and conversation.

In this episode, Becky sits down with Jim Murphy—performance coach and author—to explore the extraordinary journey behind his book Inner Excellence. What started as a self-published book that sold 8,000 copies over 16 years transformed into a #1 New York Times bestseller after A.J. Brown was seen reading it on the sidelines of an NFL playoff game. Jim shares the behind-the-scenes story of how his book found its way into the hands of professional athletes, the years he spent refining his message, and why he never gave up on the work.

During the episode, you’ll learn:

• About Jim’s journey as an author.
• The various contributing factors that led to Jim’s book, Inner Excellence, becoming a New York Times bestseller for several weeks in a row.
• About the 16 years between the original publication of Inner Excellence and when it really took off in January of 2025.
• What Jim did to keep Inner Excellence in the conversation throughout the years after publication.
• The story of a life-changing moment for Jim.
• What’s different when it comes to marketing Jim’s new book, The Best Possible Life, and what his greatest hopes are for it.

Don’t forget to check out our show notes, which include action steps and resources.

Sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter to connect with Becky Robinson and gain access to ongoing learning and conversation.

In this episode, Becky is joined by Bree Groff—workplace culture expert and author of Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously)—to explore what it looks like to market a book in a way that feels joyful, authentic, and aligned. From designing a standout book cover and interactive website to creating influencer kits and experimenting with guerrilla marketing tactics, Bree walks through the creative strategies she used to bring her book to life and have fun along the way.

During the episode, you’ll learn:

• About Bree and what inspired her to write her book, Today Was Fun.
• How Bree landed on the title of her book and what she hoped readers would take away from it.
• Why Bree did not conduct a title survey and instead went with the title she felt most connected to.
• The craft behind Bree’s book and how its uniqueness has tied into her marketing and promotional strategies.
• What Bree did to prepare for the launch of her book, and how she made her approach fun.
• About Bree’s experience creating influencer boxes/book kits, what the contents were, and the investment they required.
• More of the ways Bree incorporated fun into her book marketing and launch campaign.
• How Bree’s book marketing tactics have evolved in the first year since launch.
• About Bree’s plans for the one-year anniversary of her book and how she wants to re-energize the message.

Don’t forget to check out our show notes, which include action steps and resources.

Sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter to connect with Becky Robinson and gain access to ongoing learning and conversation.

In this episode, Becky is joined by Jenna Nicholas—investor, entrepreneur, advisor, coach, speaker, and bestselling author of Enlightened Bottom Line—to explore how alignment and community drive powerful book marketing results. From hosting meaningful virtual and in-person launch events to building momentum through Substack, podcasting, and aligned partnerships, Jenna offers a fresh perspective on what it looks like to market a book in a way that feels both strategic and deeply authentic.

During the episode, you’ll learn:

1. About Jenna and her work in the world.
2. Some of the core ideas and inspiration behind Jenna’s new book, Enlightened Bottom Line.
3. Some of the resistance Jenna encountered when bringing the worlds of spirituality and business together, and how she navigated it.
4. The strategy behind Jenna’s book launch and how it has fueled her momentum and success.
5. What was meaningful to Jenna about the virtual and in-person launch celebrations she had for her book.
6. How Substack has been a useful platform for Jenna to spread the messages within Enlightened Bottom Line.
7. How Jenna’s podcast has helped to fuel momentum for her book.
8. The importance of alignment when it comes to forming connections in the industry, and what that says about the power of staying rooted in your core message when building a platform.
9. What has brought Jenna the most joy throughout her author journey.
10. The steps Jenna has taken to ensure she’s making space for the parts of the author journey that feel the most meaningful to her.
11. The legacy Jenna hopes to create.
12. Jenna’s plans for continuing to fuel her message over time.

Don’t forget to check out our show notes, which include action steps and resources.

Sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter to connect with Becky Robinson and gain access to ongoing learning and conversation.

​​In this episode, Becky sits down with Kathleen Schmidt—founder of Kathleen Schmidt Public Relations and author of Publishing Confidential on Substack—to pull back the curtain on the New York Times bestseller list. Kathleen explains why bestseller lists are more curated than many authors realize and why hitting the list is far less predictable than most people think. This candid conversation will help authors reset expectations about bestseller lists and focus on more impactful strategies that support long-term success.

During the episode, you’ll learn:

1. About Kathleen, her career, and her company, Kathleen Schmidt Public Relations.
2. The gap Kathleen saw in publishing, which inspired her to create her Substack newsletter.
3. The details of Kathleen’s Substack article that uncovers the truth about various bestseller lists—particularly the New York Times.
4. How the New York Times bestseller list is selected.
5. What surprises Kathleen the most about the issues relating to various bestseller lists.
6. Who benefits from the current bestseller system, and who is disadvantaged by it.
7. The most worthwhile goals authors can set beyond landing on a bestseller list.
8. What Kathleen would most like to change about the bestseller ecosystem.
9. Strategies Kathleen has seen used by some of the most successful authors to sustain consistent book sales over time.
10. What has worked for Kathleen in terms of building her online brand and presence.

Don’t forget to check out our show notes, which include action steps and resources.

Sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter to connect with Becky Robinson and gain access to ongoing learning and conversation.

In today’s episode, Becky is joined by Yosi Amram—psychologist, executive coach, and Spiritual Intelligence expert and author—to explore how long-term commitment fuels meaningful book marketing success. Yosi shares how he has sustained momentum for his book, Spiritually Intelligent Leadership, more than 2 years after launch—through purpose-driven PR, thought-leadership columns, community gatherings, and even a TEDx talk. If you’re playing the long game with your book, this episode will inspire you to build credibility step by step and stay aligned with your deeper purpose.

During the episode, you’ll learn:

1. About Yosi and his work in the world.
2. What Yosi hopes people will learn about Spiritual Intelligence after listening to this episode.
3. How Yosi identified where to spend time, energy, and money as it relates to marketing and promoting his book and its messages.
4. Which initiatives have been the most impactful for getting people to engage with Yosi’s message.
5. How Yosi’s approach to marketing Spiritually Intelligent Leadership has evolved as he’s moved further away from launch.
6. How all of the work Yosi did over the years of marketing his book contributed to landing a TEDx opportunity, as well as other major media opportunities.
7. Which book marketing initiatives have not been as impactful as Yosi anticipated, and which ones have helped him stay focused on the long game.
8. How Yosi has sustained the energy and consistency to market his book for more than two years.
9. One piece of advice Yosi would give first-time authors who are preparing to launch and market their books.

Don’t forget to check out our show notes, which include action steps and resources.

Sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter to connect with Becky Robinson and gain access to ongoing learning and conversation.

In the first episode of Season 7, Becky is joined by Sharon Woodhouse—publisher, coach, consultant, business strategist, and award-winning author—to explore what it means to run a profitable, sustainable author business. Sharon shares multiple lessons including how to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset, prioritize consistent outreach, and diversify your income streams. From speaking gigs to partnerships, this episode is filled with practical, repeatable strategies for authors who want to move beyond book sales and achieve lasting success.

During the episode, you’ll learn:

1. About Sharon and her business, Conspire Creative.
2. How Sharon’s consulting and coaching work inspired her book, The Profitable Author.
3. Which lesson from The Profitable Author Sharon has personally relied on the most.
4. What an entrepreneurial mindset actually looks like in practice for authors and the lessons she often repeats.
5. About various income streams for authors and how they are impactful in driving revenue.
6. How Substack has helped Sharon grow the reach of her book and her business.
7. How authors can choose the right business model for them, especially with so many income streams and platforms to choose from.

Don’t forget to check out our show notes, which include action steps and resources.

Sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter to connect with Becky Robinson and gain access to ongoing learning and conversation.

What does it take to sell 60,000+ books in a year and keep the momentum going? In this final episode of Season 6, Alison Fragale returns to share the behind-the-scenes journey of writing her debut book, building a strong brand, and leveraging speaking opportunities to drive lasting impact. From navigating PR to engaging authentically on social media, Alison discusses practical, actionable strategies for author success. Stay tuned after the action steps to hear Alison answer some bonus questions from Threads! 

During the episode, you’ll learn:  

• About Alison, her work in the world, and how she started on her author journey. 
• If the final idea for Likeable Badass was the same as the one Alison started with. 
• Some of the feedback Alison has received that helped her realize the difference her book, Likeable Badass, is making in the world.
• What has been the biggest driver of book sales for Likeable Badass, and how Alison has sustained those sales for more than one year after launch.
• About the value of having a strong and supportive PR team. 
• How Alison balances authenticity with visibility when showing up in online spaces. 
• What advice Alison would give to any women leaders or authors who are still trying to find their unique value proposition.
• How Alison adjusted from writing the book to taking on the role of published author, with speaking and media engagements, public events, and many other responsibilities. 
• Some of the best advice Alison has received from her agent.
• About the recent release of Likeable Badass in paperback.
• About Alison’s experience as a speaker and her journey over the years. 
• How Alison honed her storytelling and writing skills before writing her book.
• The biggest contributors to Alison’s highest week in book sales.
• How Alison’s success as an author has impacted her relationship with her author community and network. 
• About Alison’s experience running marathons and if she would ever run another one.

Don’t forget to check out our show notes, which include action steps and resources.

Sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter to connect with Becky Robinson and gain access to ongoing learning and conversation.

In this episode, Becky is joined by Carol Morgan—founder and president of Denim Marketing and author of Social Media Marketing for Your Business, Second Edition—to talk about how she has used her books to establish credibility, grow her business, and show up with intention across multiple platforms. Carol shares how her marketing background helped her launch her books with purpose, how she leverages speaking and podcasting to build momentum, and why social media marketing should always start with strategy.

During the episode, you’ll learn:  

• About Carol and the work of her team at Denim Marketing.
• About Carol’s decision to write books as a means of fueling her thought leadership brand and her business efforts. 
• How focusing on a niche market and providing specific content for that audience has been an impactful strategy for Carol.
• Some of the changes Carol has seen in social media marketing since she released the first edition of Social Media Marketing for Your Business, as well as the major updates she made to the latest edition.
• How Carol’s background as a marketing professional has shaped the way she promotes and launches her books. 
• What has worked best for driving sales of Carol’s books and converting new customers for her company. 
• How Carol measures the success of each book project. 
• The top three things Carol hopes readers will take away when they read Social Media Marketing for Your Business, Second Edition. 
• How Carol decides where to show up with her various brands, and why intentionality plays an important role. 
• Which social media platforms Carol enjoys most.
• How Carol has used her books to support her business and build credibility, as well as how her company helps spotlight her books. 
• The principles and habits that have made the biggest difference for Carol in growing the brand of her books, her personal brand, and her company’s brand. 

Don’t forget to check out our show notes, which include action steps and resources.

Sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter to connect with Becky Robinson and gain access to ongoing learning and conversation.