Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author Podcast

Fully Booked EP93: Write or Wrong: The ethics of AI-Generated Text and Art for Authors

As generative AI advances at a breakneck pace, it poses pressing questions and concerns for both authors and artists. With a variety of tools and services available that can generate cover images, advertisements, and even entire written works, the legality of their use is being questioned by several lawsuits.
Join us in this episode of Fully Booked, in which Craig, Roland, and Hidden Gems designer Nate Allison attempt to offer a fair and balanced perspective on these critical issues through discussion and debate. While it might be years before the legal landscape around AI-generated content is finally determined, it is essential for current users of these tools to grapple with the moral and ethical dilemmas that affect both creators and creatives. By understanding the concerns raised by artists and authors, you can make informed decisions about the use and potential risks of generative text and image creation within your own work.
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP92: Licence to Thrill: How To Structure Satisfying Thrillers and Mysteries

From the intriguing mysteries of Agatha Christie to the heart-pounding thrills of Lee Child's novels, there's no doubt that readers have an insatiable appetite for well-structured, satisfying page-turners. But have you ever wondered what it takes to craft one? That’s the question Craig and Roland pose to this week's guest, award-winning author of over 40 thriller and mystery novels, Raymond Benson.
While Raymond is most renowned for his officially-licensed James Bond continuation novels, he has also earned a well-deserved reputation for crafting beautifully-crafted stories that are not just satisfying but utterly addictive. In today's episode, Raymond shares his invaluable strategies and techniques for planning and executing writing projects efficiently and effectively, ensuring they consistently meet and exceed reader expectations.
 
For authors who take their writing seriously and want to learn about structure from a respected craftsman, this episode is essential listening.
Raymond Benson
https://raymondbenson.com/
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP91: The Second Life of Your Book: The Dos and Don’ts of Self-Republishing

Traditional and independent publishers are continuing to struggle. As a result, more and more previously-published authors are deciding to try self-publishing when they regain the rights to books that had previously been traditionally published. 
While this offers authors an opportunity to breathe new life into their old books, it’s not necessarily the most straightforward process to self-publish a book that already exists on Amazon. Many authors have concerns about whether or not they can access previous reviews, how multiple editions of the same book might show up on Amazon, and whether issues will arise with copyright.
Fortunately for those authors, award-winning science fiction and fantasy author Edward Willett has navigated the treacherous process of republishing books many times before - both for his own works, and those of the many authors he works with. In this episode of Fully Booked, Edward explains to Craig and Roland how authors should go about republishing their previously-published books, what things they can leverage from their book’s previous editions on Amazon, and issues to be aware of as they breathe new life into their beloved old work.
 
Edward Willett
https://edwardwillett.com/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP90: Script to Page: The Parallel Worlds of Book and Film Production

This week, Fully Booked welcomes Travis Cody, a multi-talented author and screenwriter who has not only written bestselling books but has also contributed to the magic of Hollywood. After years of learning the ins and outs of both industries, Travis realized that producing a movie and publishing a book share remarkable similarities, which led him to create his M.O.V.I.E.S process that takes authors through the steps of writing, publishing and ultimately profiting from their books.
In this episode, Travis uncovers the parallels between these two creative realms, and how the concepts of making blockbuster movies can be successfully translated to the world of bestseller book writing. From pre-production through post-production, marketing and merchandising, Travis has some fascinating insights into the cinematic secrets that create the movies we love to watch, and how you can apply those same processes towards unlocking the full potential of your author career.
 
Travis Cody
https://traviscody.com/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP89: How to Succeed as a Neurodivergent Author

When it comes to life's challenges, there are those that choose to evade them, and those that confront them head on. Today's guest, Andrew McDowell, undoubtedly belongs to the latter category. 
 
Diagnosed at a young age with Asperger's syndrome, Andrew faced significant hurdles in fundamental aspects of writing, from language and reading to deciphering emotional cues. But instead of letting his diagnosis stand in the way of his dream of becoming an author, he turned his focus towards transforming his unique challenges into strengths. With no well-trodden road to follow, Andrew's journey is nothing short of inspirational. 
 
Each step was a lesson learned through trial and error, yet he persisted, refusing to let any obstacle block him for long. Today, Andrew stands as a published author, with his debut YA/Epic Fantasy novel earning fantastic reviews, and the eagerly anticipated second installment nearing publication. 
 
Join us as Andrew takes us through his incredible journey of resilience and triumph, and allow his story to inspire you towards achieving your own goals, no matter how out of reach they may seem.
 
Andrew McDowell
https://andrewmcdowellauthor.com/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP88: Can Busy Authors Still Prioritize Their Writing?

In the whirlwind of our busy lives, finding time to write can be a Herculean task. Take today's guest, for example. Aside from navigating the regular chaos of life, Nzondi (aka Ace Antonio Hall) has penned four books, has an alt-rock single playing on the radio, and he's working on writing and recording a full album. He's living proof that commitment and treating your craft like a job can help you unearth those precious pockets of creative time. 
 
In this episode, Nzondi shares his secrets for maintaining productivity, from his inspired approach to conquering writer's block to his philosophy of immersing yourself in books to breathe life into your own stories. Let him describe how the power of repetition and consistency can transform your writing routine, and inspire you to carve out that much-needed writing time from your bustling schedule to revolutionize the way you approach your craft. 
 
Nzondi
https://www.aantoniohall.com/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP87: Should Authors Sell Direct to Their Readers?

“Are you ready to get off the Amazon Hamster Wheel?” That’s a question posed by USA Today best-selling author Steve Pieper in this week’s episode of Fully Booked. A former US Air Force fighter pilot, Steve now self-publishes thrillers under the pen name Lars Emmerich. After growing frustrated with the limitations of selling his self-published books on Amazon, Steve leveraged his experience in corporate ecommerce to become a pioneer amid the increasing number of authors who are experimenting with selling their eBooks directly to readers through platforms like Shopify.
While Steve warns Craig and Roland that creating your own digital bookstore is by no means an easy feat, he truly believes it could transform the careers of many self-published authors by allowing them to reach a better audience of potential readers, optimize their sales funnel with valuable digital feedback that Amazon doesn’t provide, and access their royalties in days, rather than months after a sale.
So, if you’ve grown frustrated with Amazon and want an honest and upfront overview of what might be involved in selling directly to your readers, don’t miss this episode! It has the potential to be a game-changer for ambitious authors that want to grow their income and have the time to put in the work.
 
Steve Pieper
https://app.stevepieper.com/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP86: Do Writers Need a Podcast?

There are benefits to being a guest on an existing podcast, but many writers find themselves wondering if they should launch and host one themselves. To help answer that question, Craig and Roland invited veteran podcaster Freddy Cruz to share his wisdom on the Fully Booked podcast.
Freddy is not only an author himself, but also a seasoned radio broadcaster with over twenty-five years of experience. As technology developed, Freddy transitioned into the world of podcasting and now runs his own agency dedicated to helping other people produce their own podcasts. Freddy is a staunch advocate for the idea that every writer should have a podcast, and goes through a list of reasons why podcasting is easier and more accessible than many authors might have realized.
So, whether you're on board with launching your own podcast, or still on the fence about it, this episode will give you everything you need to know to help you get started on your journey.
 
Speke Podcasting
https://www.spekepodcasting.com/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP85: How to Write as a Duo (Without Killing Each Other!)

Writing is normally a solitary pursuit, but if you can find the right partner, it's possible to write as a duo. That's exactly what today's guests have done. Kelly Florence and Meg Hafdahl have written 8 books together since meeting over 20 years ago and becoming best friends. Despite living hours apart, they schedule regular planning sessions together, both virtually and in person, but do their writing separately.
Together, Meg and Kelly discuss the challenges and benefits to writing as a duo, and provide tips for other authors that want to try and make something like this work. If you have an author friend that is on the same wavelength as you and want to give something like this a try, then this is an episode you shouldn't miss!
 
Kelly and Meg’s website:
www.horrorrewind.com
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP84: How to Grow Your Social Media Following

Success on social media can be a career-changer for some authors, but many writers don't know where to even begin using platforms like Instagram and Facebook to promote their work. That's why Craig and Roland were excited to welcome Caleb Daniels to this week's episode of Fully Booked.
When not working on his own upcoming non-fiction book about the Guns of James Bond, or managing his 21k followers on Instagram, Caleb works professionally as a digital marketer - and in this episode, he explains how combining your passion and authenticity with the methodical process of "social media management" can totally transform the impact of your social media channels, and help introduce a whole new audience to your work.
 
Caleb Daniels
https://commandobond.com/
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
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All episode details and links: 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast