Your best friend, or maybe a family member, has just completed a book manuscript. The person asks if you'd be willing to edit, proof or review it. Then you begin to read the "masterpiece" just created. All you can think is, "Oh dear God, this stinks!" Here's how to handle this awkward situation with the hope of preserving your relationship.

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/w5K1TPSB_WM

Blog: Editing and Proofreading Tips for Being Critical and Kind When Reviewing Friends' Writing http://hub.me/akzjg

Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view segment on YouTube):

0:14 The ask by friends and family author wannabes

1:03 What your author friends really want from you

2:45 What to do if you're stuck reviewing a real book manuscript stinker

4:50 Preventing bad feelings and bad book review requests

5:26 The SETUP for less UPSET when reviewing friends' work

8:18 How to connect with Heidi

Blog Posts to Share with Your New Author Friends:

Editing versus Proofreading and Why You Need Both http://hub.me/ajA30

What is Editing? http://hub.me/ajYQ1

I've estimated that 1% of your author platform, or fan base, actually buys your self published books. But how can you figure how many fans you actually have? This is a deep dive into social media, YouTube, and email marketing metrics that matter.

Blog: How to Forecast Your Self Published Book Sales http://hub.me/aoT6Y

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/3g5we8t7fXI

Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view segment on YouTube):

0:20 Engagement metrics that matter

3:18 Email & blog subscribers

5:45 YouTube

8:42 Facebook Pages

9:45 Instagram

13:00 Twitter

13:45 LinkedIn

15:09 Podcast followers

16:04 Calculating your book sales forecast

17:02 How to connect with Heidi

Is a book the best way to get your message or story to the world? Do you understand your motivations for wanting to write book? I offer some food for thought on whether writing and self publishing a book is really worthwhile.

Blog: Do You Really Need to Write and Self Publish a Book? http://hub.me/aoRM6

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/kQvOM1sC07Y

Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view segment on YouTube):

0:15 The post-book launch letdown

1:18 Your book won't make you famous

2:04 Your book won't make you money (or lots of money)

3:57 Is a book the best way to reach your target audience?

6:42 How to connect with Heidi

Book: Understanding Your Creativity: Discover the Internal and External Factors that Affect Your Creative Life (Amazon/Audible)

Do you dream of seeing your self published book on the shelves of your local independent (indie) bookstore? I bust some myths about indie bookstores and self publishing, and I share what you need to know about the indie bookstore business.

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/LYF2I1e13ZI

Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view segment on YouTube):

0:59 Myth #1: Indie bookstores are interested in your indie author book

2:25 Myth #2: Indie bookstores will buy inventory of your self published book

5:58 Myth #3: You'll make more money selling your self published book through indie bookstores

7:33 Myth #4: Expanded distribution on KDP will make your book available in bookstores

9:00 Understanding the bookstore business landscape

10:04 What is Bookshop.org?

13:38 Why do you want your self published book in indie bookstores?

15:34 How to connect with Heidi

Owning a media channel (e.g., email marketing, blog, podcast, etc.) gives you some control over your marketing efforts. But can you really own a channel? Is there really an advantage to owning a channel?

Blog: What is Owned Media? http://hub.me/alNZD

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/0mtp5MIUEss

Timestamp show notes (click timestamp to view segment on YouTube):

0:35 The problem of information overload

1:53 Owned versus non-owned media

2:44 What exactly is owned media?

5:15 Diversifying your marketing investment

7:34 Do incentives work to build your email list?

9:29 How to connect with Heidi

Being on a podcast can help you promote your book and your business. I share how to make a pitch to a show to become a podcast guest. As well, I share podcasting's dirty little secret which might change your mind doing this.

Blog: How to Be a Guest on a Podcast http://hub.me/akXwH

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/8w6ehoD_1QI

Timestamp show notes (click timestamp to view segment on YouTube):

0:00 Start

0:42 How to find the right show for podcast guest opportunities

4:28 What podcast hosts really want

6:39 How to approach podcasts with your guest proposal

11:12 How to be a good podcast guest

15:02 How to connect with Heidi

Is your book bad? What is bad book marketing? How can you know whether your book or your marketing is bad? I discuss.

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/Bu3lvlmojZs

Timestamp show notes (click timestamp to view segment on YouTube):

1:01 What is a bad book?

3:01 What is bad book marketing?

5:12 Is it bad book marketing or a bad market?

6:15 How to connect with Heidi

You’ve probably seen stories in the news about the post-pandemic global supply chain woes and how it might impact the availability of print books, especially during the holiday season. Here’s what you need to know about the current supply chain issues and what it means for self publishing.

Blog: What is a Supply Chain? http://hub.me/ag3Va

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/-6qORieOhfE

Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view segment on YouTube):

1:33 What is a supply chain?

1:40 What are supply chain concerns for publishing?

5:36 How do supply chain issues affect self publishing?

7:30 How to connect with Heidi

In 2021, Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) self publishing platform introduced hardcover edition availability. But is it really valuable for self publishing? I share my experience with using KDP's hardcover printing.

Blog: KDP Hardcover Printing Review http://hub.me/aoNhM

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/bGfoI1HOxE8

Timestamp show notes (click timestamp to view segment on YouTube):

0:16 Hardcover printing is now available on KDP

0:49 Reformatting for hardcover editions

2:49 Hardcover finish and construction

4:18 Hardcover interior paper choices

4:38 Do higher priced hardcover editions mean more sales and royalties?

6:55 Are KDP hardcover editions worth doing?

8:26 How to connect with Heidi

Self published authors often want to get on popular news and talk shows to promote their books since they see the big authors doing this. Well, that's just not usually possible. So I discuss other, more realistic, earned media PR opportunities for self publishing.

Blog: What is Earned Media? http://hub.me/alDk5

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/d3NKRxARIKA

Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view segment on YouTube):

0:48 What is earned media?

2:08 Is earned media the same as social media?

3:20 Is earned media free?

5:13 How to earn realistic media coverage

8:15 How to connect with Heidi