Libsyn Directory

#Authoring Episode 11: Publishing In A Pandemic: A Special Report

Release Date: 03/24/2020

#Authoring Episode 26: She Wrote the Book on Jeopardy!

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Answers in the Form of Questions: A Definitive History and Insider's Guide to Jeopardy! For $1000, Alex, what is a fantastic new book from author Claire McNear? Culture and sports journalist McNear has written a delightful history not only of the game show itself, but she also chronicles the fascinating history of the impressive efforts of would-be contestants to get a spot on the ultimate trivia show. Aspiring competitors have built elaborate systems and spent years in some cases for the chance to show off their deep knowledge of everything from sports and history to literature and pop...

#Authoring Episode 25: How to Be a Sports Fan in 2020 (or “Searching Constantly for That Middle Space That Allows You to Quiet Your Conscience and Indulge Your Fandom”)

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That parenthetical quote above comes directly from the fantastic new book Loving Sports When They Don’t Love You Back: Dilemmas of the Modern Fan, and we are very excited to have that book’s authors, Jessica Luther and Kavitha A. Davidson, on #Authoring this week. The sports journalists have written a deeply insightful and thoughtful examination of the many issues that today’s thinking sports fan faces when considering their fandom. From the life-altering brain injuries plaguing NFL players and insensitive mascots rampant throughout sports at all levels to the legal problems some of our...

#Authoring Episode 24: How and Why You Should Build an Author Platform, with Brielle Cotterman

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The concept of “building an author platform” provokes fear in many writers: Why do we need to be media stars in addition to writing great books? The simple answers: so you can get paid more for your work, get your books into more readers’ hands, and go on to write and sell more books. But building a platform might not be as hard as you think—and it doesn’t necessarily require Today show appearances or millions of social media followers. Luckily we have publicity expert Brielle Cotterman—who helps clients raise their profiles through books, media, and public speaking—on...

#Authoring Episode 23: How Does a Book Become a TV Show or Movie?

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You’re writing your book, dreaming of the Hollywood stars who will play the leads in the TV or movie version. But what are the chances you’ll really see your book on the small screen? How might that happen? And what are the chances of that happening right now, given the pandemic? We get all the answers from Chris Ceccotti, head of development and content strategy at Gidden Media. He walks us through the process of a book getting a producer’s attention, finding its stars and writers, and becoming Netflix’s next big thing. And he’s got (tempered) good news about the state of book...

#Authoring Episode 22: She Wrote the Book on How to Write the Book

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You want to write a nonfiction book. Maybe you’ve already written a book proposal. Maybe you’ve already sold the book. Now you have to actually write it, which has you wondering: HOW DO I ACTUALLY WRITE A BOOK?! They don’t give you a handbook with the book contract (no matter how much you may wish for one), and no bookstore shelf has yet contained that magic tome that will guide you step-by-step through the writing of 300 glorious pages of prose (trust us, we’ve looked for such a treasure). So what’s an author to do when she can’t find the book she and her fellow...

#Authoring Episode 21: Switching Genres, with Leah Konen

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Just because you started your career in one genre doesn’t mean you have to stick with it for the rest of your life—just ask Judy Blume and J.K. Rowling! But it’s not as easy as it might seem (especially when you’re not Judy Blume or J.K. Rowling). It may involve starting all over with a new agent, a new publisher, and new readers. We talk this week with Leah Konen, the author of five Young Adult novels, who recently published her first adult thriller, All the Broken People, about how she did it—with two more adult thrillers and a TV adaptation on the way. She offers great tips...

#Authoring Episode 20: How to Get a Fiction Agent, with Kate McKean

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Why do you have to finish your novel before getting an agent? What should you look for when choosing agents to send it to? What does an effective fiction query letter include? We walk through exactly how to get from having a cool novel idea to having a cool agent representing it with the help of Kate McKean, VP and agent at Howard Morhaim Literary Agency and author of the indispensable Agents & Books newsletter. Resources:

#Authoring Episode 19: Reader Questions! On Developing Expertise, Building a Social Media Platform, and Promoting Your Book Online in Our Pandemic Reality

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We answer questions from listeners Beth Schap, Kirthana Ramisetti, and Curtis Honeycutt! From Beth: Can you become enough of an expert on a passion topic to be a credible author of articles or books if you're not in that industry? And if so how? (Spoiler: yes, and we tell you how!) From Kirthana: Right now I'm back on Twitter and am trying to re-establish my presence and organically increase my followers. I like what I've seen of the book community on Twitter, and would love to connect with other debut writers and novelists, but not quite sure how to do that. Also, I know Goodreads is...

#Authoring Episode 18: A Career Memoir About Gossip and Smart Pop Culture, From Ben Widdicombe

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Ben Widdicombe is the only writer to have worked for the New York Post’s Page Six, TMZ, and The New York Times, “an unusual Triple Crown,” to say the least. It also helped him build a resume of interviewees that includes bold-faced names from Hollywood, high society, New York hotspots, and the White House. He recalls his most memorable experiences with all of them in his fun, insightful new book, Gatecrasher: How I Helped the Rich Become Famous and Ruin the World, which he talks to us about on this week’s #Authoring. Run in with a red-faced Donald Trump? Ben had one. Breaking the story...

#Authoring Episode 17: Should I Consider Self-Publishing My Next Book?

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Curious about self-publishing? Considered trying it, but found the whole process complicated and more than a little intimidating? Ditto, which is why we sought out expert advice from Miral Sattar, founder and CEO of self-publishing go-to sites Bibliocrunch and LearnSelfPublishingFast.com. Miral chats with us about why now is the perfect time to try self-publishing, who makes a good candidate to be a successful self-publisher, and what the keys are to selling a self-published book. Hint: marketing, marketing, marketing. That’s the name of the game for every author, self-published and...

More Episodes

Publishing a book is stressful enough, as we have noted many times on this podcast, even in the most normal of times. But books are continuing to come out, even as much of the world takes to quarantining itself in the coronavirus pandemic. That means many authors are left with cancelled book tours and are now scrambling to refocus their efforts toward online promotion—and hope at least some readers can tear themselves away from the news, tune in, and buy some books online.

This week, we’re attempting to remain calm while talking through the options with our guests: Author Andrea Bartz, whose (great!) book The Herd (PLEASE BUY NOW!) is out this week, shares how she’s shifting her promotion and joins us in recommending some other upcoming releases for your quarantine reading list; and media strategist Lauren Passell of Tink Media gives us a complete playbook for getting your book onto podcasts, a perfect alternative right now.

Resources:

Andrea Bartz
The Herd
A Mighty Blaze
Christina McDonald
Bookshop.org
Libro.fm (USE CODE: AUTHORING)
All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban
Take Me Apart by Sara Sligar
The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s by Andy Greene
Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby
By the Book: What We Learned from Living by the Rules of 50 Self-Help Books by Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer
Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife by Bart D. Ehrman
Pop Star Goddesses: And How to Tap Into Their Energies to Invoke Your Best Self by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong
Tink Media
Lauren Passell’s favorite book podcasts to pitch to:

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