In the final episode of Season 5, Becky is joined by Jenny Lisk—founder of the Widowed Parent Institute and award-winning author—who talks about her purposeful approach to sharing her story and insights with a broader audience, underscoring her commitment to filling the resource gaps she encountered as a widowed parent. She describes the challenge of determining which personal experiences to share publicly and the fine line between sharing her own story as a grieving parent while also respecting the stories of her grieving children. Additionally, the episode highlights Jenny's strategic use of podcasting to build community, illustrating how her podcast has become a significant platform for dialogue on grief and parenting.

During the episode, you’ll learn:  

• About Jenny and her work in the world. 
• What it was like for Jenny to write in real time about the heart-wrenching journey of having a terminally ill husband.
• How and when Jenny decided to share her experiences and her story more widely. 
• The resource that was most useful for Jenny as she crafted her memoir.
• Why it has been so important for Jenny to open up about her journey as a widowed parent.
• What Jenny has seen and experienced as a result of making the intentional choice to share her journey in online spaces. 
• How Jenny decides which experiences or stories to share in real-time vs. which ones to share later or keep private. 
• Jenny’s experience interviewing her daughter on her podcast. 
• Jenny’s decision to start a podcast and what inspired it.
• How long Jenny did her podcast before she launched her first book. 
• How starting a podcast helped Jenny find her voice and navigate being a widowed parent.
• Some of the most impactful ways Jenny repurposes her content. 

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

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In today’s episode, Becky delves into the world of digital book ownership with Joshua Stone, CEO of Book.io—a platform that allows readers to buy ebooks and audiobooks and sell them on a global secondary market, with publishers and authors earning royalties on the sales. The conversation centers around the limitations of current ebook licensing models, championed by platforms like Amazon, which prevent true ownership of digital content. Joshua sheds light on how Book.io is disrupting this monopoly, offering a solution that restores the rights of authors and the autonomy of readers.

During the episode, you’ll learn:  

• About Joshua and his work in the world.
• Why digital book ownership is such a messy endeavor for authors.
• What the current ebook and audiobook market is like for both readers and authors.
• What Book.io is and how authors and publishers are using it as a new way to experience digital book ownership.
• How Book.io is non-exclusive, allowing authors to publish their digital books in traditional formats as well. 
• The digital exchange of ebooks and audiobooks on Book.io and the benefits of passing digital books from owner to owner. 
• How Book.io works for first-time authors who might be struggling to find an audience for their work.
• The value of borderless knowledge sharing.
• Whether or not Joshua thinks it’s possible to truly break up the digital book monopoly.
• How new technology options within Book.io can help authors combat the worries they have about AI. 

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

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In the final part of this two-part series, Becky is again interviewed by Franchesca Conner—a PR specialist at Weaving Influence. They take a deep dive into the nuances of marketing print-on-demand (POD) books, highlighting benefits, challenges, and strategies surrounding pre-order campaigns. 

With the rise of self-publishing and hybrid-publishing models, many authors face unique hurdles in timing and planning their book launches. Becky emphasizes the importance of pre-orders in establishing a book’s credibility, building anticipation for launch, securing retailer links, and facilitating planned marketing efforts. Becky also reveals some of the key reasons why an author of a POD book might choose not to make it available for pre-order, focusing primarily on first-week book sales and post-launch marketing efforts. 

During the episode, you’ll learn:  

• What is different about marketing POD books. 
• About IngramSpark—a book distribution platform where authors can set up their POD books for pre-order.
• How setting up a POD book for pre-order can benefit book awareness, sales, and marketing initiatives. 
• Why an author would want to focus more on the first week of sales for a POD book vs. pre-orders. 
• Whether or not it’s a good idea for an author with no pre-order period for their book to switch up their categories on Amazon. 
• How hybrid publishers typically approach pre-order campaigns for POD books and the limitations authors might face in that scenario. 

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

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In part one of this two-part series, host Becky Robinson is interviewed by Franchesca Conner—a PR specialist at Weaving Influence. They explore the vital topic of pre-order campaigns for traditionally published authors, discussing when and how authors should start engaging their audience, the significance of one-to-one outreach efforts, and strategies for creating pre-order incentives. 

Stay tuned for part two of this series, which will focus on pre-order campaigns for self-published and hybrid-published authors!

During the episode, you’ll learn:  

• About Franchesca and her role at Weaving Influence.
• Some of the key differences between pre-order campaigns for traditionally published authors and pre-order campaigns for self-published authors. 
• The recommended timeframe for setting up pre-orders for traditionally published authors. 
• Why it’s important for authors to drive sales for their book in order to honor the investment of their traditional publisher. 
• Which platforms are typically favored for setting up print books for pre-order and what challenges authors might encounter when using those platforms. 
• If a publisher will usually recommend retailers for an author.
• How authors can enhance their pre-order campaigns through one-to-one outreach efforts.
• Some of the key strategies for authors to promote pre-orders of their books. 
• Ways that authors can create pre-order incentives and if some strategies are more successful than others. 

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

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Have you always dreamed of seeing your book translated and distributed around the world? In this episode, Becky talks to Margaux Weisman, Director of New Business Development at DropCap Marketplace, a groundbreaking platform designed to help authors expand their books globally through rights licensing. 

Margaux explores how DropCap Marketplace simplifies the international licensing process for authors by connecting them with vetted foreign publishers. She provides an insightful overview of the user-friendly platform and its matchmaking algorithm and outlines the new partnership between DropCap Marketplace and Weaving Influence.

During the episode, you’ll learn:  

• About Margaux and her role at DropCap Marketplace.
• Some of the basics of DropCap Marketplace and how to get started on the platform. 
• Common challenges that authors might face when they are trying to expand their book’s reach to international markets.
• How the matchmaking algorithm on DropCap Marketplace helps to connect authors’ books with the best foreign rights buyers on the platform.
• Some of the success stories of authors who have listed their books on the DropCap Marketplace and accessed foreign rights sales as a result.
• How the pricing of DropCap Marketplace works. 
• What happens for an author when there is a buyer who’s interested in purchasing the rights to their book.
• Margaux’s advice for authors who want to see their books expanded throughout the world. 
• About the partnership between DropCap Marketplace and Weaving Influence, and the benefits of signing up through the co-branded landing page. 
• About the future of DropCap Marketplace in terms of growth and new features for authors. 

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

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In this episode, Becky talks to Julee Balko—Freelance Writer and Author of The Things We Keep and The Me List. Throughout the episode, Julee offers valuable book marketing tips, emphasizing the importance of a positive attitude towards social media and how it can serve as an empowering tool for authors. She also delves into the mindset shift she made from marketing her first book to marketing her second book, highlighting the significance of finding joy and creativity in the book marketing process. 

During the episode, you’ll learn:  

• About Julee, her work in the world, and her two fiction books. 
• When Julee started to build an online presence and how that contributed to her author journey. 
• Julee’s journey of writing her first novel, The Things We Keep, and how it helped her navigate the grief and loss she was experiencing at the time. 
• How long it took Julee to write her second novel compared to the first one. 
• About Julee’s second and most recent novel, The Me List. 
• Julee’s experience marketing both of her books and which aspects became easier the second time around. 
• Information about editorial reviews. 
• Julee’s mindset shift and her new approaches when marketing her second book. 
• How Becky’s book, Reach, helped Julee think about book marketing in a new way. 
• The progress Julee is making on her third book.
• Some of Julee’s best book marketing tips for fiction authors and her experience publishing her novels through the small press. 
• What a Me List is and how you can get started writing your own.

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

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In this episode, Becky talks to Ginelle Testa—Author of Make a Home Out of You: A Memoir, which is launching next week. Ginelle shares the inspiration behind writing a deeply personal book and her journey of overcoming addiction and finding self-love. She also talks about how showing up authentically in online spaces helped her grow her social media presence and reach new audiences with her important message. 

During the episode, you’ll learn:  

• About Ginelle and her work in the world.
• The meaning behind Ginelle’s new memoir, Make a Home Out of You, and her publishing path. 
• What inspired Ginelle to write her memoir, especially one that digs into challenging emotional times in her life. 
• What inspired her to translate that level of authenticity to her social media channels. 
• Some of the challenges Ginelle had to overcome as she wrote her memoir and shared intense experiences in her life. 
• How and why “edginess” helped Ginelle go viral. 
• How she approaches sharing about her vulnerable experiences—in real time vs. letting some time pass.
• What she has enjoyed most about showcasing her author journey, even the emotional moments, and how it has helped build momentum for her book.
• How Ginelle stays consistent and intentional with her posting.
• How creating short-form videos has been a major part of her growth and finding new audiences, as well as her strategies for creating videos.
• How long Ginelle has been showing up in online spaces.
• How she prioritizes the initiatives she has energy for. 
• What she hopes people will take away from the experience of reading her memoir and engaging with her social content. 

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

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In this episode, Becky talks to Mary O’Donohue—Media Coach for Women Nonfiction Authors, a #1 Bestselling Parenting Author, and a former Post Producer for The Oprah Winfrey Show. Listen as Mary shares valuable insights from her extensive career in television and her expertise in media coaching for authors. She emphasizes how important it is for authors to understand the media landscape and showcase the value they have to offer the audiences of major media outlets. Through real-life stories and practical advice, Mary provides guidance on how to overcome fear and anxiety when trying to get your message in front of the media.

During the episode, you’ll learn:  

• About Mary, the work she has done throughout her career, and her book, When You Say 'Thank You,' Mean It.
• How Mary’s career in television contributed to the work she is doing now as a media coach for authors.
• How Mary helps set authors’ expectations about the reality of what it takes to get on a major broadcast media show. 
• What makes a guest “bookable.”
• Advice for women nonfiction authors who want to get their message or book in front of the media to grow their impact. 
• Why podcasts are such a crucial part of marketing and book promotion today.
• Tips for how authors can tackle the fear and anxiety they may experience as they approach the world of media. 

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

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In this episode, Becky talks to Caroline J. Sumlin—writer, speaker, and educator with a passion for helping all people reclaim their self-worth and their humanity. Listen as Caroline shares insights into her book's powerful message and the challenges she faced while marketing as a first-time author. The discussion delves into the journey of marketing a book as a marginalized author, the struggles of balancing personal beliefs with marketing expectations, and how important it is for authors to connect authentically with their audience.

During the episode, you’ll learn:  

• About Caroline, her book We’ll All Be Free, and her work in the world. 
• How some of the beliefs Caroline is trying to counteract in her book have negatively impacted her book marketing journey.
• The realities of marketing a book as someone with a marginalized identity. 
• What Caroline’s expectations were going into the launch of her book and how those have shifted since its release. 
• Caroline’s approach to sharing her personal stories and experiences in online spaces to connect with potential readers.
• Which book marketing strategies have been the most effective for Caroline, and which ones weren’t as effective as she hoped. 
• How using the anniversary of her book’s release as a milestone for continued marketing has helped Caroline stay energized and passionate about her work. 
• About Caroline’s struggle of balancing her responsibilities as a full-time homeschooling parent with her career ambitions and book marketing efforts.
• Caroline’s advice for first-time authors who are preparing to market their books.  

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

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In this episode, Becky talks to Hesha Abrams—master mediator, keynote speaker, and author of Holding the Calm: The Secret to Resolving Conflict and Defusing Tension. Listen as Hesha talks about her author journey, the impact of her book marketing efforts, and how she has adapted over the years since her book launch to reach new audiences, define new goals, and find lasting success. 

During the episode, you’ll learn:  

• About Hesha, her work in the world, and what inspired her to write her book. 
• What Hesha was hoping to achieve when she wrote Holding the Calm.
• How completing the book and bringing it to life helped Hesha reach her goals.
• The impact Holding the Calm had on Hesha’s credibility and the perception of her expertise. 
• What Hesha did to market her book and which parts were worthwhile in getting her message out to more readers.
• Some of the surprises Hesha encountered on her journey as an author. 
• How Hesha’s book continues to serve her and the audiences she wants to reach more than two years after launch. 
• One of Hesha’s tips for resolving conflict from Holding the Calm. 

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

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