Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast
Book marketing podcast for authors covering how to market a book, self-publishing, Amazon for authors, proven strategies to sell more books, and how to survive in this industry.
Join bestselling author and book marketing maven Penny Sansevieri and savvy publishing insider Amy Cornell for lively, no-nonsense conversations filled with smart strategies, creative inspiration, and publishing know-how you can actually use.
Whether you’re self-published, traditionally published, or somewhere in between, this podcast delivers real-world advice to help you sell more books, build your platform, and thrive in the ever-evolving publishing landscape. From clever promo hacks to critical industry insights, each episode is designed to move the needle on your success.
Fresh ideas. Actionable tips. Unfiltered talk.
If you’re serious about your author career, hit subscribe and tune in—your next big breakthrough could be one episode away.
Episodes
334 episodes
Get Your Book Into Libraries—and Build the Local Buzz That Travels
As Penny's new book, Think Local, Sell Global, heads into pre-order, this replay felt especially timely.One of the biggest mistakes authors make is assuming that local book marketing is somehow “small.” In reality, the relations...
Christmas in July: Your Holiday Book Sales Plan Starts Here
Holiday book sales do not start when shoppers begin panic-buying gifts in December. They start months earlier, when smart authors begin positioning their books for the gift guides, media mentions, newsletters, local segments, creator roundups, ...
Think Local, Sell Everywhere: Book Marketing That Actually Sells Books
Most authors overlook one of the most powerful marketing opportunities they already have: their local market. While everyone else fights for attention online, smart authors are building visibility, reader loyalty, and consistent book sales righ...
Publishing Horror Stories: The Expensive Mistakes Authors Never See Coming
You hired help so publishing would feel easier. Instead, your Amazon listing disappears, your book ends up connected to the wrong author page, and suddenly nobody can figure out who actually owns the account. Sound dramatic? We wish it were rar...
The Relaunch Blueprint: Four Ways to Revive Book Sales
Most authors treat launch day like a verdict: the book goes live, sales come in (or don’t), and suddenly it feels like the market has spoken. Quiet numbers can trigger a brutal spiral — exhaustion, disappointment, and the sinking feeling that m...
Amazon’s AI Translation Shortcut: Smart Strategy or Costly Mistake?
Amazon just removed one of the biggest barriers to international publishing, and authors are going to be tempted to move fast. With Amazon quietly rolling out an AI-powered translation tool inside KDP, turning your book into Spanish, German, an...
The Dangerous Myth About Book Sales That’s Holding You Back
If your book sales have you questioning everything, the problem might not be your book—it might be the benchmark you’re using.In this episode, we’re dismantling one of the biggest misconceptions in publishing: what “normal” book sales ac...
Readers Don’t Buy Books—Consumers Do. Here’s Why That Matters
Most authors think they’re selling to readers. That’s the first mistake.Because readers and book consumers are not the same—and confusing the two is one of the biggest reasons books don’t sell.In this episode, we break down the cr...
AI Is Scamming Authors: How to Spot Fake Book Marketing Before You Lose Money
Scam emails used to be obvious. Bad grammar, generic messaging, easy to ignore. That version is gone.Today’s scams sound like a real professional—someone who’s “read your book,” understands your audience, and has a polished, confident pl...
Your Amazon Retail Page Has a Problem and You Probably Can't See It
Your Amazon book page might be costing you sales—and the worst part is, you probably can’t see it.Most authors assume that once their book is uploaded, the hard part is done. But in reality, your Amazon page is a live sales environment, ...
Publicity Doesn’t Sell Books: What Authors Get Wrong (and What Works Instead)
Publicity feels like the breakthrough moment every author is chasing—but most big interviews, features, and media hits don’t translate into book sales the way you expect. In many cases, they don’t move the needle at all.In this episode, ...
The Word-of-Mouth Engine: How to Turn Readers Into Your Best Marketing Team
95% of books are sold through word of mouth—but most authors are still chasing reach instead of building relationships. That’s a problem, especially in a market where social media visibility is unpredictable and ad costs continue to climb.<...
Podcast Pitching Secrets For Authors: What Podcast Hosts Actually Say Yes To (Part 2)
“I’d love to come on your show and talk about my new book” is one of the fastest ways to get ignored.In Part 2 of this series, we move from mindset to execution—breaking down exactly how to pitch podcasts in a way that gets attention, ea...
Podcast Pitching Secrets for Authors: How to Get Booked on Podcasts (Part 1)
Most authors want podcast interviews to sell books—and that’s exactly why so many pitches get ignored.In this first episode of a two-part series, we break down the simple shift that changes everything: pitch value first. Your book...
Borrowed Buzz: The Smarter Way to Stay Visible Year-Round
Books aren’t “news” on their own anymore—and repeating “buy my book” is one of the fastest ways to burn out (and lose your audience’s attention).In this episode, we break down a smarter, more sustainable approach: borrowed bu...
Latest Goodreads Changes and Why They Matter for Authors
Goodreads recently rolled out changes that have authors and readers debating everything from review bombing to pre-publication ratings. In this episode, we break down what actually changed, what it means for authors, and how to respond without ...
How to Hire a Book Marketing Team Without Getting Burned
“Make you a bestseller.” It’s the loudest promise in book marketing—and often the least meaningful.In this episode, we break down how to distinguish real strategy from fear-based selling, AI-polished outreach, and high-pressure tactics d...
How To Get And Keep Amazon Book Reviews Without Getting Banned
Amazon reviews are the currency of credibility—and one misstep can cost you both visibility and account standing. In this episode, we break down exactly how to earn more reviews, keep the ones you get, and build a system that works long term—wi...
The Blueprint that Sells Books
The market doesn’t reward originality alone. It rewards clarity.Readers make buying decisions in seconds—and those seconds depend on signals: cover cues, category alignment, keyword precision, and a description that instantly communicate...
The 7-Day Amazon Ads Reset: What to Fix, What to Ignore, When to Scale
Most authors don’t have an ad problem.They have a patience problem.If you’ve ever stared at your Amazon dashboard 48 hours after launch and declared your campaign a disaster, this episode is for you.We’re breaking down the 7-D...
How to Land Book Reviews Without Burnout, Begging, or Bribes
Getting book reviews shouldn’t feel exhausting, awkward, or ethically murky. Yet many authors are stuck chasing influencers, sending endless cold emails, or quietly wondering why all that effort isn’t translating into real momentum.In th...
Why Readers Break Up With Books (and How to Make Yours a Long-Term Relationship)
Want more readers who buy, finish, and recommend your books? It starts with one thing most authors underestimate: keeping the promise your brand makes.In this episode, we break down the real driver of sustainable author gro...
Consistency That Sells: How Clear Branding Converts Browsers Into Buyers
A brand that doesn’t line up is a silent sales killer. We dig into why readers make snap judgments in under a second, how confusion and inconsistency create friction, and the small, practical moves that turn browsers into buyers. Think of brand...
Finding the Right Book Positioning And Why It Changes Everything
Feeling like every promo is uphill? We unpack why marketing stalls when a book is presented to the wrong readers — and how smart positioning turns traffic into sales. Penny and Amy break down the signals that shape buying decisions in under fiv...
Turning Amazon Pages Into Conversion Engines With A+ Content
Want a simple, concrete way to sell more books on Amazon? We’re taking you inside A+ Content—the image modules beneath your description—and showing how smart visuals, tight copy, and brand consistency can raise conversions, reduce returns, and ...