Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author Podcast

Fully Booked EP73: Unlocking Creativity: Embracing Improv for Everyday Inspiration

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
 

Fully Booked EP72: Indie Publishing a Tale of Mid-Life Dating and Loss

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

Fully Booked EP71: Unlocking Creative Possibilities: Authors and Kickstarter

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

Fully Booked EP70: Words as Medicine: How Reading and Writing Can Support Mental Health

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
 

Fully Booked EP69: What You’ve Been Listening To: Our Top 5 Episodes of the Year So Far

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
 

Fully Booked EP68: Untangling the Complexities of Short Story Rights

Just as writing short stories is very different to writing novels, there’s a lot more to selling them as well. Generally, a short story is sold for a fixed amount to a publisher, meaning you don't get ongoing royalties - but if you do things properly, you can have the opportunity to sell that same story to other publishers again and again.
The most important thing is to understand all your rights. That way, you can only sell which rights are strictly necessary to each publisher, while ensuring that at some point most of these rights revert back to you. Multi-award-winning author Douglas Smith is an expert in this subject, having written extensively on how authors can maximize the value of their short story rights. Today, he sits down with Craig and Roland to go through everything you need to know on the subject: From understanding the different markets, to the format you're selling in, to the various dimensions of rights that need to be considered like geography, language and occurrence.
By following Douglas' advice, authors can maximize the reach of their stories as well as their earnings, ensuring that each one has the potential to bring in income for years to come.
 
Douglas Smith
http://www.smithwriter.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 EP67: Rising Together: How Writer’s Groups Foster Community and Collaboration

In the digital age, writing has become more collaborative than ever - in part thanks to the plethora of online groups and websites that offer support and resources for authors. From general writing help to finding niche communities, these groups can be a game-changer for writers seeking camaraderie and shared knowledge.
In this episode of Fully Booked, New York Times bestselling author Mimi Barbour shares the story of creating a private author group which has helped many writers build their careers. Mimi discusses how her group got started, the impact it has had on her and other members, and the behind-the-scenes efforts that go into running it. From managing social media and writing blogs, to organizing box sets and maintaining a group mailing list, the collaborative efforts of the group have yielded remarkable results.
While there may be challenges in running and being part of a private author group, Mimi demonstrates that the rewards are worth the effort. The companionship and support among members can lead to great success and open up new opportunities that may not have been possible individually.
 
Mimi Barbour
https://mimibarbour.com/
 
The Author’s Billboard
https://authorsbillboard.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 EP66: How can you calculate the Cost versus Value of your readers?

When it comes to book marketing and sales, understanding the difference between the cost of acquiring a new reader and the value that new reader provides is crucial for authors, and goes beyond just the price they paid for your book.
In today's episode, JD Caron, owner of Weekend Publisher, sits down with Craig and Roland to share the expertise he's gained in helping hundreds of authors understand this fundamental concept and why it’s so essential in marketing and promoting your books effectively. JD breaks down the process of calculating both the cost and the value of a reader, which can be more complex than it seems because there are many factors that influence how much acquiring new readers can cost - and multiple ways authors can increase that reader's value after acquiring them.
Continuing to confuse these two concepts or assuming they’re the same can be a costly mistake. Only by grasping the distinction between cost and value can authors make informed decisions that will improve their marketing and expand the efficiency of their sales strategies.
 
JD Caron is owner of Weekend Publisher
https://www.weekendpublisher.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 EP65: Infostack and the Book Profits Accelerator: Helping Authors Get Ahead

Join us for a conversation with Cary Richards, CEO and co-founder of Infostack, one of the premier bundling sites offering valuable resources to writers at a fraction of their retail prices. Cary and his team regularly put together self-publishing related bundles, including full length courses, books, and other digital material that can help take writers' skills and marketing strategies to the next level.
In this episode, Cary shares details about the upcoming Book Profits Accelerator Live event, a 3-day online writer's conference from April 27th to the 29th, featuring industry coaches, marketing experts, and influencers who will teach attendees how to effectively market their book and connect with their audience. And for Fully Booked listeners paying attention, Cary also offers a special way to take advantage of early bird pricing even if you reserve your seat past the April 13th deadline.
Whether you're interested in attending the event or not, this episode is packed with insights on how Infostack offers affordable ways to learn from experts and achieve success faster than trying to figure it all out on your own. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from a varied group of self-publishing pros.
 
Infostack
https://infostack.io/
Book Profits Accelerator Live event
https://hiddengems--infostack.thrivecart.com/bpalive/
 
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 EP64: What are Sensitivity Readers, and do you need one?

In recent weeks, controversy has erupted as publishers have been taking a red pen to the works of Roald Dahl, Ian Fleming, Ursula K. LeGuin, and others, editing their work to make them more palatable for our more sensitive times. While the debate about censorship rages on, the reality is that handling characters and cultures that you are unfamiliar with can be tricky, and that's where sensitivity readers come in.
This week, Craig and Roland sit down with Patrice Williams Marks, one of the world's leading sensitivity readers. Patrice is the go-to person for many authors and companies seeking to add authenticity and avoid harmful stereotypes in their writing. Don't miss all of the valuable insight Patrice brings as she explains how sensitivity readers can help authors navigate complex issues and create more inclusive stories. When it comes to bringing diversity into your work, Patrice's expertise is invaluable to writers at all stages of their careers.
 
Patrice Williams Marks
https://SensitivityReviews.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