NOVEL MARKETING: A Game-changer for Indie Authors
Not long ago, I came across a post on Threads that felt all too familiar:
“I love writing… but I hate marketing.”
If, like me, that complaint strikes a chord, read on.
One reply suggested listening to the Novel Marketing Podcast, hosted by Thomas Umstattd Jr., available on YouTube and Spotify. I gave it a try—starting from episode one, all the way back in 2013—and now I’m hooked. In just a week, I’ve powered through twenty episodes.
Each one is under 30 minutes, so they’re perfect for listening during commutes, chores, or while walking to the shop. And I’ve learned something valuable from every episode so far.
Podcast Appearances
A few weeks ago, I made my first podcast appearance on The Funky Writer Show. Listening back, I realised I could have done better. (That’s no reflection on the wonderful host, Robert Batista—you can read more about that experience here.)
More recently, I appeared on the CC & JT Amateur Hour, a podcast hosted by Two Moore Books in Nevada. I was determined to improve—and thanks to the Novel Marketing Podcast, I had some great tools in my corner.
Two early episodes from Novel Marketing focus specifically on how to do well on podcast interviews. Here are a few things that stuck:
- Be enthusiastic and entertaining (something I’d already realised after my first appearance)
- Keep water nearby and invest in a decent microphone
- And surprisingly: don’t try to sell your book
That last one sounds counterintuitive, but makes sense when you hear the reasoning. (Episodes 16 and 17 explain why.)
Other tips and take-outs
Other early episodes I’ve found helpful include:
- How to design author business cards
- Social media basics
- Christmas marketing tips
- How to “brag” about your work in a classy, engaging way
I wish I’d found this podcast before publishing my debut novel, Do Not Keep Silent—a Hong Kong-set thriller that blends suspense, loyalty, and betrayal. But I’ve already started retroactively applying some of the advice.
As I prepare for my next release, No Way To Live, a Christmas crime thriller, I’m feeling more confident about how to reach potential readers.
If you’re an independent author, or are just curious about what book marketing involves, I thoroughly recommend Novel Marketing. Give it a listen. It might change how you think about the business side of writing.
links
If you’re curious about the stories behind my writing journey, check out:
- Do Not Keep Silent – a fast-paced international thriller
- Life in Shadows – a short, sweet story about two writers at different stages of their careers
- No Way To Live – for anyone who thinks Die Hard is the best Christmas film ever
My appearance on the CC & JT Amateur Hour drops on August 17th.
Leave a Reply