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.

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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.

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In this special episode, Becky Robinson and Amy Driehorst share the exciting news about Weaving Influence Press—Weaving Influence’s new publishing hybrid. Learn about the types of books Weaving Influence Press will publish, how the model differs from other hybrid publishers, and why marketing support is built into the foundation of this innovative new imprint. 

During the episode, you’ll learn:  

• Why Weaving Influence decided to explore hybrid publishing. 
• The types of books Weaving Influence Press will publish. 
• How many books Weaving Influence Press hopes to publish in 2026.
• The timeline authors can expect when working with Weaving Influence Press. 
• About the planned partnerships with Porchlight Books and Twin Flames Studios. 
• What makes Weaving Influence Press unique. 
• How authors can get started working with Weaving Influence Press.
• About the excitement surrounding Weaving Influence Press.

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

Explore our publishing support services and learn more about Weaving Influence Press. 

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In this episode, Becky interviews debut fantasy author Ang T. Dalton, who shares how her lowest moments became the foundation and inspiration for her first book, The Scars Within. From 80+ rejections to landing a Big Five audiobook deal with Simon Maverick, Ang opens up about mental health, resilience, and redefining success on her own terms. This conversation shines a light on what’s possible when you bet on yourself as a writer.

During the episode, you’ll learn:  

• About Ang and her book, The Scars Within. 
• Where Ang is on the journey of writing the other two books in her Twisted Thorn trilogy. 
• How Ang balances the priorities of writing a new book, marketing the first one, working a full-time job, and making time for her family.
• Some of the hardships Ang faced as a debut author.
• Ang’s timeline from writing The Scars Within to securing an audiobook deal. 
• About the various book cover designs Ang created and the intention behind them. 
• How it felt for Ang to be rejected by literary agents, make the pivot to self-publishing, and then finally get the Big Five audiobook deal she dreamed of.
• How Ang’s own personal experiences and mental health struggles were transformed into the emotional core of her novel. 
• How writing The Scars Within created a powerful space for Ang’s healing. 
• About BookTok and Ang’s complicated relationship with the platform. 
• How Ang’s best friends have supported her dream of sharing her books with the world. 
• How being embedded in BookTok culture shaped Ang’s view of what makes a book marketable.
• The activity surrounding Ang’s book that caught the attention of a traditional publisher.
• Ang’s plans for the launch of book two, The Darkness Within. 
• What “popping off” as an author means to Ang.

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

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In this episode, Becky welcomes another return guest, Todd Sattersten—publisher at Bard Press and author of the new book, 100 Best Books for Work and Life, which launched today. Todd shares what makes Bard Press’s “one book per year” publishing model unique and discusses his highly intentional, experiment-driven marketing strategy for launching his own book. From activating author networks to crafting a sales plan, this conversation is packed with insights for any author looking to publish with purpose.

During the episode, you’ll learn:  

• About Todd, his initial connection with Becky, and the work of Bard Press. 
• About Todd’s new book, 100 Best Books for Work and Life, and what inspired him to write it. 
• How this project is different from Todd’s other book, The 100 Best Business Books of All Time, which was released in 2009. 
• If there is any overlap between The 100 Best Business Books of All Time and 100 Best Books for Work and Life.
• How many books in 100 Best Books for Work and Life were published by Bard Press. 
• How Todd began thinking about the marketing strategies for his own book and the assets he created for the authors who are featured in 100 Best Books for Work and Life. 
• Whether or not encouraging conversations about the books that are not featured in 100 Best Books for Work and Life is part of Todd’s marketing strategy this time around. 
• How Todd prioritizes book marketing strategies for himself and the authors he works with.
• How Todd plans to evaluate the results of his various experiments for marketing his new book. 
• How many copies of 100 Best Books for Work and Life were included in the initial print run. 
• Why making a national bestseller list is not a significant part of Todd’s marketing strategy. 
• Two major factors and approaches that every author should consider when marketing 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 welcomes back Stephanie Chandler—founder and CEO of the Nonfiction Authors Association and Nonfiction Writers Conference—for a deep dive into publishing paths for nonfiction authors. Stephanie shares candid advice on navigating traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing, including how to vet hybrid publishers, how to protect your creative work, and what platform-building really looks like today. If you're trying to decide how to publish your next nonfiction book, this episode is a must-listen.

During the episode, you’ll learn:  

• About Stephanie and her work in the world. 
• What Stephanie has learned about selecting the ideal book publishing path. 
• What Stephanie asks authors and listens for when helping them select the right path for their book.
• About the timeline of hybrid publishing and what can slow it down. 
• What an author should look for when they’re selecting a partner to publish their book.
• How Stephanie’s organization vets manuscripts and what they look for in the manuscripts that are selected for publication.
• Guidance for nonfiction authors who want to set their work apart from the noise of all the books that are currently being published.
• About the various projects, initiatives, and opportunities that the Nonfiction Authors Association has to offer. 

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

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The Book Marketing Action Podcast is featured as one of the 20 best podcasts for authors on writing, publishing, and book marketing in this article from BookBub Partners.

In today’s episode, Becky is joined by Larissa Banting—accredited publicist, CEO of El Bee PR, and author—for a powerhouse conversation on personal branding, earned media, and strategic PR for authors. Larissa shares actionable insights on how to define your niche, pitch your personal stories, and build media momentum long before your book launches. If you’ve ever wondered how to get your story featured or how to find the right audience for your message, this episode is filled with tips you can implement right away.

During the episode, you’ll learn:  

• About Larissa, her work in the world, and her company, El Bee PR.
• Some of the key elements of a personal brand that actually move the needle when an author is trying to promote their book.
• The branding strategies Larissa believes solo entrepreneurs and authors should borrow from more high-profile clients and brands. 
• Practical ways that authors can begin to show up as the expert on their topic before they launch their books.
• Finding media gold in a personal story, what it means, and why it is so powerful. 
• How an author can figure out which of their personal stories are worth pitching to media outlets.
• Six ideas to get you started on finding media gold in your personal story.
• One thing Larissa wishes more authors knew about the power of PR and building a strong personal brand. 

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

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In today’s episode, Becky is joined by Dawn Mann Sanders—author, Bible teacher, and associate minister—to discuss the power of relationships on the author journey. Dawn shares the unexpected turns in her publishing and audiobook experience, how strategic and authentic connections helped her launch her book, and what she’s learned along the way about marketing, podcasting, and trusting the process. If you’re navigating your own book launch, this conversation will leave you inspired to take action and build community around your message.

During the episode, you’ll learn:  

• About Dawn, her work in the world, and her book, When Your World Ends: God's Creative Process for Rebuilding a Life.
• About the upcoming audiobook for When Your World Ends. 
• What surprised Dawn about the journey of being a first-time author.
• What went better than Dawn expected while marketing her book. 
• Some of the challenges Dawn faced while marketing her book. 
• What it was like for Dawn to narrate her own audiobook. 
• How Dawn has continued to engage her audience after launching her book. 
• What inspired Dawn to start her own podcast. 
• Dawn’s favorite part of the author journey so far. 
• Dawn’s advice for first-time authors. 
• Some of Dawn’s best tips for relationship building. 
• About the power of strategic connections. 

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

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In today’s episode, Becky is joined by Michelle Garrett—public relations consultant, writer, author, and speaker. Michelle shares the candid truth about her self-publishing journey—from unmet expectations to the determination it took to launch her book. If you're navigating the ups and downs of self-publishing, Michelle’s experience offers invaluable insights into what to ask, how to find the right partner, and why strategy—and resilience—matter.

During the episode, you’ll learn:  

• About Michelle and her work in the world. 
• Michelle’s expectations going into the self-publishing process and how they compared to the reality she experienced.
• Michelle’s process for selecting her support team when self-publishing her book. 
• Some of the challenges and disappointments Michelle faced while working with her support team and where she felt she needed more guidance. 
• The questions Michelle didn’t ask when she was selecting a support team, and what she would ask now. 
• The frustration Michelle experienced when she did not receive a timeline or deadlines from her support team. 
• The importance of adhering to goals and milestones.
• The most important qualities and characteristics that authors should look for when they’re hiring an individual or an agency to assist them on the self-publishing journey. 
• How Michelle’s experience affected her confidence and momentum for bringing her book into the world, and how she moved forward from the disappointments she faced.
• Michelle's guidance on what to consider when selecting the right partner for your project.
• Some of the unique challenges self-published authors face when it comes to gaining publicity. 
• PR strategies and tactics that work well for self-published authors. 
• The importance of being the “Chief Marketing Officer” for your book. 

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

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In today’s episode, Becky interviews Kourtney Jason—president and co-founder of Pacific & Court—who delves into the intricacies of book PR campaigns. Kourtney highlights successful client stories, emphasizing strategies like targeted outreach, beginning PR efforts early, and managing expectations realistically within the book marketing landscape. She underscores the importance of identifying a specific audience and building a strong author brand to achieve effective book publicity.

During the episode, you’ll learn:  

• About Kourtney, her background as the leader of Pacific & Court, and her experience as an author. 
• How authoring five books influenced Kourtney’s passion for the work she does and how she supports other authors. 
• Kourtney’s approach for facing rejection and how she’s handled it on her own journey as well. 
• How Kourtney helps authors define and reach the audience that will be most receptive to their unique books. 
• Why quantity can be more important than quality when it comes to acquiring media for first-time authors.
• How soon an author should start thinking about how they want to establish their brand and thought leadership.
• The long-term impact Kourtney has seen for clients who start building their brand early on. 
• Some of the common mistakes and assumptions authors make when setting goals for publicity, as well as guidance on how to reframe those goals. 
• What Kourtney considers to be the biggest trends in book publicity right now and how authors can adapt. 
• What Kourtney’s favorite social media platform is. 

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

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