Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author Podcast
Author Craig Tuch has written a large number of books under a variety of pseudonyms, which have collectively sold hundreds of thousands of copies and had close to 100 million page reads. In 2016, he started HiddenGemsBooks.com as a way to help new and established self-published authors navigate the complex and often-changing world of self-publishing. Since then, Hidden Gems has become well known and respected for helping thousands of authors market their books more effectively and sell more copies through a variety of services, free tools, and a weekly blog. Roland Hulme’s 15+ years as an advertising executive in New York and London gave him an advantage when he turned his hand to writing, because no matter how good your stories are, you can’t sell any copies of a book that no one knows about. His targeted ads have led to his novels being bought and enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of readers. If you’re interested in ways to improve as a writer, or in learning about new or better ways to market, advertise and sell your books, then join Craig and Roland every Thursday as they talk with each other and their guests about a wide range of topics relevant to self-publishing and writing.
Listen on:
Episodes
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Crowdfunding isn't a one-size-fits-all solution for authors, but it does offer immense potential for writers looking to provide their readers with special editions, anthologies, and other publishing ventures that require an upfront investment. In this episode of Fully Booked, we dive into how to leverage these aspects of Kickstarter with award-winning author Edward Willett, who successfully funded four story anthologies by using the platform.
With Edward's experience to guide us, we explore the challenges and potential rewards crowdfunding offers authors. It's an insightful discussion that covers a variety of topics including strategies for setting up milestones, guidelines for crafting engaging reward levels, and how to surpass your funding goals. By the end of this episode, you'll be ready to launch a Kickstarter campaign of your own to help bring your next book project to life!
Edward Willett
https://edwardwillett.com/
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links:
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast
Thursday Jul 06, 2023
Thursday Jul 06, 2023
Ernest Hemingway warned: “Writing, at its best, is a lonely life,” but it doesn’t need to be that way. In this week’s episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland talk to USA Today bestselling author DC Gomez, who has amplified the impact of her writing career by making a personal connection with her readers - mostly via social media and by making live appearances at conventions and events across the United States.
While that might sound intimidating to a lot of authors, DC Gomez outlines not just the positive effect this has on her book sales, but also how rewarding it is to make real connections with real readers - often in real life. For those of us struggling with imposter syndrome and the desire to feel like a “real” writer, this episode will be deeply inspiring - and might even lead to you considering making a few live appearances yourself.
DC Gomez
https://dcgomez-author.com/
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links:
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
In this episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland dive into the world of comedy writing with veteran British comedy writer and author Myron Edwards. With his vast experience and sharp wit, Myron shares invaluable insights on how to craft humor that leaves readers in stitches and elevates the quality and value of any written work.
Throughout today's discussion, Myron reveals the secrets behind effective comedy writing, offering a treasure trove of practical advice. From sitcoms to stand-up routines, he discusses the nuances of different comedic mediums, exploring how the principles of comedy can be applied to enhance any genre of writing, as well as how comedy affects and resonates with people.
Myron Edwards
https://www.myronedwardsbooks.com/
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links:
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast
Thursday Jun 22, 2023
Thursday Jun 22, 2023
They often say, "Write what you know," but what happens when our stories demand characters who are vastly different from ourselves? In today's episode of Fully Booked, author Katie Marie joins us to help discuss the challenges of creating diverse characters that push the boundaries of our own experiences.
Katie is the perfect guest for this topic, after defying expectations by crafting a novella featuring an elderly gentleman with dementia, despite being in her 30s when she wrote it. Through that experience she learned about the complexities of writing characters so distinct from ourselves, and she is careful to highlight the crucial role of research, empathy, and humility that should be used in capturing their essence.
Katie offers valuable advice on how authors can authentically portray characters outside their own lived experiences, emphasizing the significance of stepping outside our comfort zones to create rich, diverse narratives. The important thing is to avoid stereotypes, conduct thorough research, and seek input from knowledgeable sources. By doing these things, authors can expand their creative horizons and craft characters that resonate with readers from all walks of life.
Katie Marie
https://katiemariewriter.com/
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links:
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast
Thursday Jun 15, 2023
Thursday Jun 15, 2023
In previous episodes of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland have spoken with a number of authors about what inspired them to choose one particular path toward publication over another. In today’s episode, they’re joined by Dr. Roger Leslie in taking that discussion further - providing a deep dive into the three main options available: Traditional publishing, self-publishing, and hybrid publishing.
An author himself, and now head of his own hybrid publishing company, Dr. Leslie uses his professional insight to explore the crucial factors that authors should consider when making the decision of who to trust with the publication of their book - such as the apparent credibility and wide reach of traditional publishing, the intimacy and personalized attention offered by smaller presses, or the creative autonomy and professional guidance found in the hybrid approach.
If you’re looking to reach a wider audience with your book, this episode will provide a lot of value - giving you all the insights you need to choose the publishing path that aligns best with your personal goals and aspirations.
Roger Leslie
https://rogerleslie.com/
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links:
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast
Thursday Jun 08, 2023
Thursday Jun 08, 2023
As an author, improv specialist, and founder of Improv-LA, Keith Saltojanes has learned a variety of ways that improv skills can be used to enhance everyday interactions and strengthen your creativity overall. In fact, he even wrote "The Improv Mindset", a book about how improvisation can be used to improve a variety of aspects of your personal and professional life.
Today, Keith sits down with Fully Booked to go through how to incorporate the main principles of improv into your daily life, and how they can be used to stimulate your imagination, ignite the writing process, and even help conquer creative blocks. Prepare to be inspired as we embark on a journey to unlock your creative potential using the dynamic world of improv.
Keith Saltojanes
http://keithsaltojanes.com/
Improv-LA
https://www.improv-la.com/
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links:
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast
Thursday Jun 01, 2023
Thursday Jun 01, 2023
While the Fully Booked podcast tends to focus on self-publishing, it's far from the only option for writers looking to get their work published. In today's episode, Craig and Roland talk to Michelle Paris, whose debut novel, New Normal, launched last month. Loosely based on Michelle's personal experiences about loss and mid-life dating, New Normal is published by a small, independent publisher. Michelle chose that route after seriously considering self-publishing.
Tune in to discover the journey Michelle went on as she wrote her book and the process that led her to select a small press not only for that first book, but her second novel as well. There's lots of valuable insight into difficult questions authors might not consider before they finish writing their book - like how to target the right audience, get the book polished and ready for publication, and how much responsibility to take on in regards to marketing and publicity. If you've ever considered working with an independent publisher, this episode will deliver a lot of value and help you in your decision-making process.
Michelle Paris
https://michelleparisauthor.com/
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links:
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast
Thursday May 25, 2023
Thursday May 25, 2023
Most of us are familiar with Kickstarter, having seen (or helped fund) a variety of cool gadgets and ideas. But what isn't as well-known is the immense potential it holds for authors. That's why we were excited to sit down to chat with Oriana Leckert, Head of Publishing for Kickstarter, to discuss those possibilities.
Oriana joined us to share her valuable insights into how authors can utilize Kickstarter to bring their creative projects to life - including how authors can use it to secure upfront funding for their writing projects, mitigate risk, and embark on innovative endeavors beyond the usual process of a book release.
With over 88,000 publishing projects and $500 million in pledges from nearly 5 million backers, Kickstarter's potential audience is vast and proven. So whether you're a seasoned author or just starting out, we'll take you through the essential information you need to know before you decide if Kickstarter is the right avenue for your next project.
Kickstarter for Authors
https://www.kickstarter.com/publishing
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links:
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast
Thursday May 18, 2023
Thursday May 18, 2023
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which means there's no better time to discuss the crucial role that reading and writing play in promoting good mental hygiene. Writing benefits us authors in a variety of ways, such as providing a mental workout for the brain, or serving as a cathartic outlet for dealing with personal traumas or toxic personalities in our lives. Meanwhile, well-written fiction can allow readers to more easily identify with our stories, allowing them to take inspiration in the struggles and triumphs of our characters and use them as inspiration in finding a path forward in their own lives.
Today, romance author Amey Zeigler shares her personal experiences of using reading and writing to cope with mental health challenges. As a reader, Amey found that her connection to a novel she read helped her cope with the post-partum depression she was battling, and as an author, she discovered how her writing connected with and lifted the spirits of readers facing their own struggles. As Amey explains, authors that use their life experiences to create more powerful characters and stories can find deeper and more transformative connections to their readers.
Not only could this be therapeutic for both, but often a strong and meaningful connection is all it takes for readers to start recommending your book to everyone they know, which can do far more for sales than any expensive ad campaign you might run.
Amey Zeigler
http://www.ameyzeigler.com/
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links:
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast
Thursday May 11, 2023
Thursday May 11, 2023
On this special episode of Fully Booked, hosts Craig and Roland have some exciting news to share: we're thrilled to announce that we'll be talking about crowd-funding for authors with one of the team members from Kickstarter in the coming weeks! But before we do, we want to hear from you! Do you have any burning questions about how authors can leverage crowdfunding, or Kickstarter specifically? Send them our way and we'll do our best to include them in the interview.
Plus, we'll be taking a look back at the top 5 most-listened-to episodes of Fully Booked so far this year. From the roadmap for a powerful book launch, to the importance and value of writer’s groups, and AI, we'll discuss what we think made these episodes so popular and why you won't want to miss them!
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links:
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast