Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author Podcast

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
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
 
All episode details and links: 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

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
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
 
All episode details and links: 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

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
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
 
All episode details and links: 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

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
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links:
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast
 

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
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links:
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast
 

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
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
 
All episode details and links:
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

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? 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
 
All episode details and links: 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

Fully Booked EP83: Finding Inspiration at a Writing Retreat

In today's episode of Fully Booked, we're diving deep into the world of writing retreats with special guest Lisa Shaughnessy. Over the last few years, Lisa has spent her time building out a live searchable directory of these retreats, interviewing hosts and getting the details on all of the most creative and unique environments available. 
Lisa strongly believes in the transformative benefits of writing retreats, whether it's from the serenity of solo writing time or through the invigorating spark of collective creativity brought about by spending time with other writers. With so many different settings and venues, there is a getaway for every type of author looking to revitalize their writing journey; and Lisa explains to Craig and Roland where a writer can begin their search for the perfect venue. 
 
Lisa Shaughnessy
https://writingretreatdirectory.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

Fully Booked EP82: Seven Steps to Audiobook Success

This week, Fully Booked is diving back into the world of audiobook creation with actress and bestselling author, Jennifer Lieberman.  
Many authors choose to hire others to create or narrate their audiobooks, but it is possible to do everything yourself - which is the path that Jennifer chose to follow. It wasn't easy, however. Jennifer had to throw out her entire first recording attempt due to a variety of mistakes and the steep learning curve involved, but the process wasn't a complete waste of time. 
Eventually, Jennifer's experience provided her with the knowledge to write and publish her bestseller "Make Your Own Break: How To Record & Publish Your Audiobook in Seven Simple Steps". Join us as Jennifer shares her journey and insights, touching on all seven steps outlined in her book and why each one is important. If you've ever thought about what it takes to produce your own audiobook, Jennifer's advice and tips will set you on the path to success.
 
Jennifer Lieberman
https://makeyourownbreak.wordpress.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

Fully Booked EP81: Unraveling Genre Boundaries: Lessons from a Misfit Romance

In today's episode of Fully Booked, bestselling romance author Leah Busboom shares the intriguing results of a recent writing experiment. Last year, Leah took a chance and penned a novel that defied common tropes and deviated drastically from her usual type of romance. Unfortunately, it turned out to be one of her worst-selling books.
Join us as Leah candidly recounts her daring journey, and how she discovered that simply having proven talent and a devoted fan base doesn't necessarily mean you can throw out genre expectations and norms that readers have come to expect. It's a cautionary tale for other authors contemplating trying something new, but it doesn't have to end the same way. Through her experience, Leah gained invaluable insights into the significance of understanding and meeting reader expectations, and time and self-reflection have provided her with ideas on how the book could have been more successful.
 
Leah Busboom
https://authorleahbusboom.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