Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast
Ready to supercharge your author journey? 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
287 episodes
The Amazon Sledgehammer: How One Author Lost Everything Over Metadata
What would you do if your entire author career disappeared overnight? That's exactly what happened to one unfortunate writer who shared their devastating experience on Reddit—all 30 of their books, representing four years of work and a signific...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 32
•
32:10
Your Book Isn't Enough: How to Develop a Platform Media Responds To
Gone are the days when simply having a book positioned you as a media-worthy expert. Modern journalists, podcasters, and TV producers have become increasingly selective, requiring authors to demonstrate substantiated expertise, professional cre...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 31
•
35:41
Selling Cats to Dog People: Your Amazon Ad Comedy of Errors
Ever felt like you're throwing money into the Amazon advertising abyss with nothing to show for it? You're not alone—and the problem might be simpler than you think.When your Amazon ads aren't performing, it's rarely about bad ad copy o...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 30
•
34:29
Christmas in July: Why Authors Need to Prep Now for Holiday Sales
The holiday season represents a golden opportunity for authors to boost book sales—but only for those who start planning early enough. In this strategic episode, we dig into why "Christmas in July" isn't just a retail concept but a vital timefr...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 29
•
17:36
Beyond Boredom: Your Book Could Be Every Parent's Summer Solution
The summer break scramble is real! Parents everywhere face the same challenge when school lets out: keeping kids entertained without surrendering to endless screen time. For authors of children's and young adult books, this presents a golden op...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 28
•
21:32
From Beach Reads to Bestsellers: Marketing Your Book in Summer
Summer is upon us, and savvy authors know this season presents unique marketing opportunities—but what exactly makes a book beach-worthy? Penny Sansevieri and Amy Cornell dive into the evolving definition of "summer reads" and reveal practical ...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 27
•
21:51
The Author's Identity Crisis: Why Brand Marketing Matters More Than You Think
Ever felt like you're just shoving your book down people's throats? You're not alone. In this illuminating conversation, Penny and Amy tackle the critical difference between book marketing and brand marketing—revealing why the latter might be y...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 26
•
25:37
The Pay-to-Play Dilemma: Paying for book reviews & coverage
With a new book hitting the market every eight seconds, standing out has never been harder—and for many authors, the temptation to pay for visibility is real. But does paying for reviews or influencer features actually work? And more i...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 25
•
34:59
Unlocking ChatGPT’s Creative Power for Authors
AI isn’t a threat to creativity—it’s a secret weapon, and savvy authors are already tapping into its power. In this episode, Penny and Amy explore how ChatGPT can transform the way you write, market, and manage your author business.Disco...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 24
•
31:27
What Most Authors Get Wrong About Debut Success
Unrealistic expectations can destroy an author's career before it truly begins. We've seen it countless times—talented writers who become discouraged, bitter, and ultimately abandon their writing dreams because their first book didn't land them...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 22
•
38:55
Amazon's New Algorithm Changes: What Authors Need to Know
When Amazon quietly shifted from its A9 to A10 algorithm in May, many authors felt panic rising. Would their books suddenly disappear from search results? Would years of keyword optimization become obsolete overnight? The good news is that if y...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 23
•
36:20
The Power of Reddit: Reach Millions Through Ask Me Anything Events
Imagine reaching a million potential readers without spending a dime on advertising or having a massive social media following. This episode unveils one of publishing's best-kept secrets: Reddit AMAs (Ask Me Anything) as a powerful tool for aut...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 21
•
34:26
Creating Memorable Author Book Signing Events That Sell Books
In this game-changing episode, we reveal the secrets that turn ho-hum author book signings into unforgettable experiences.Discover why the classic author signing model is broken—and how to fix it. We dive deep into proven strategies for ...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 20
•
51:22
Too Good to Be True? The Bookstore Scam That's Breaking Hearts
In this eye-opening episode, we pull back the curtain on a heartbreaking scam targeting authors—promising dream book deals that quickly turn into financial nightmares. We explore how scammers craft elaborate schemes that seem too good to be tru...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 19
•
23:00
Dust It Off: The Author's Guide to Book Resurrection
Your older books aren't outdated—they're untapped potential. In this episode, we explore how a strategic refresh can breathe new life into your backlist and help you recapture reader interest. From updating covers and content to rethinking your...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 18
•
38:08
Building Your Author Brand for Media Recognition
The elusive goal of media coverage keeps many authors awake at night, dreaming of that big break on national television or in major publications. But what if everything you thought about securing media attention was based on misconceptions?&nbs...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 17
•
44:26
Book Bundling: How to Turn Your Backlist Into a Marketing Goldmine
Book bundling represents an untapped opportunity for authors seeking to revitalize their backlist, attract new readers, and generate fresh marketing momentum. This strategic approach – combining multiple books into a single e-book package – off...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 16
•
34:17
The Grey Box Syndrome: Why Authors Who Skip the Basics Get Ignored
When authors dream of book marketing success, they often fixate on bestseller campaigns, major media appearances, and viral social media moments. But what if these splashy strategies are actually built on something far less glamorous yet infini...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 15
•
38:54
Naming Your Book: Avoiding Title Mistakes That Kill Sales
Have you ever judged a book by its title? Most readers do. In this eye-opening episode, Penny and Amy tackle the surprisingly overlooked aspect of book marketing that could be silently sabotaging your sales: your book title.Drawing from...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 14
•
28:59
Amazon News: How to Navigate Amazon's Inconsistent Ad Guidelines
Ever feel like you're banging your head against a wall trying to get your Amazon ads approved? You're not alone. When a mystery thriller author's cover featuring a bloody knife was rejected because it looked "too menacing" and appeared to be "p...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 13
•
9:23
The Strategic Author's Guide to Amazon's Kindle Unlimited Program
Demystifying Kindle Unlimited might be one of the most requested topics from our podcast audience—and for good reason. The confusion between Amazon's KDP platform and the Kindle Unlimited subscription service continues to trip up both new and e...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 12
•
26:15
Starting Your Own Publishing Company: Myth vs. Reality
Should you start your own publishing company? Word seems to be getting around in author circles that this may be the key to unlocking greater credibility, bookstore access, or even “jumping the line” beyond the self-published category.
•
Season 5
•
Episode 11
•
17:42
Savvy Book Pricing Strategies That Sell
Pricing your book isn’t just a numbers game—it’s a strategy that can make or break your success on Amazon. In this episode, we’re busting the biggest pricing myths, like whether your eBook really needs to be $0.99 or free to gain tract...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 10
•
23:17
Amazon News: Author Central Changes and Search Result Trends
Amazon Author Central just made a quiet but significant change—no more URLs in author bios. What does this mean for your author platform, and how can you make sure your website still gets traffic? We break down why keeping your bio fresh matter...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 9
•
17:44
The Sneaky Ways Authors Sabotage Their Own Success
Success as an author isn’t just about writing a great book—it’s about making smart marketing and business decisions. But what if you’re unknowingly getting in your own way? In this eye-opening episode, we’re unpacking the sneaky ways authors sa...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 8
•
53:14