What Most Authors Get Wrong About Debut Success

Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast

Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast
What Most Authors Get Wrong About Debut Success
Jun 06, 2025 Season 5 Episode 22
Penny C. Sansevieri & Amy Cornell Author Marketing Experts

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 on bestseller lists or bring financial freedom.

In this deeply practical conversation, Penny and Amy challenge authors to rethink what success looks like for a debut book. Rather than viewing your first publication as the finish line, consider it the foundation of your author career—a launch pad for building reader relationships, growing your email list, and establishing your author brand. These elements, while less glamorous than overnight fame, create sustainable momentum that carries forward to future books.

Success in publishing rarely follows the exceptional stories we've all heard about overnight sensations. For most authors, the path involves patient, deliberate growth and learning. As Penny shares from her own 25-book journey, each publication offers valuable lessons that inform and improve the next. If you can identify five things you'll do differently with your next book, you've gained priceless knowledge that no shortcut could provide.

The podcast explores the concept of "choosing your hard"—acknowledging that publishing is challenging regardless of your approach, but productive difficulty leads to growth while discouragement leads nowhere. By focusing on reader connection, professional presentation, and consistent improvement, authors position themselves for long-term success rather than fleeting luck.

Whether you're completing your first manuscript or reflecting on why your published book hasn't met expectations, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on measuring success through sustainable metrics rather than exceptional circumstances. Reframe your goals, focus on building relationships with readers, and approach each book as another opportunity to refine your craft and platform.

Send us your feedback!

Check out our new Publishing Consulting service that will definitely change your life:

https://amarketingexpert.com/publishing-consulting/

Buy Penny's new book, The Amazon Author Formula

FREE BONUS

Leave a review to support the show and we'll give you our Book Launch Checklist!

Be sure you're following or subscribed to the show first. That's required on most platforms in order to leave a review. Then email us for your checklist.

Can't leave one on your preferred podcast platform? Email us your review and we'll put it on our website: info@amarketingexpert.com.

Episode Artwork What Most Authors Get Wrong About Debut Success 38:55 Episode Artwork Amazon's New Algorithm Changes: What Authors Need to Know 36:20 Episode Artwork The Power of Reddit: Reach Millions Through Ask Me Anything Events 34:26 Episode Artwork Creating Memorable Author Book Signing Events That Sell Books 51:22 Episode Artwork Too Good to Be True? The Bookstore Scam That's Breaking Hearts 23:00 Episode Artwork Dust It Off: The Author's Guide to Book Resurrection 38:08 Episode Artwork Building Your Author Brand for Media Recognition 44:26 Episode Artwork Book Bundling: How to Turn Your Backlist Into a Marketing Goldmine 34:17 Episode Artwork The Grey Box Syndrome: Why Authors Who Skip the Basics Get Ignored 38:54 Episode Artwork Naming Your Book: Avoiding Title Mistakes That Kill Sales 28:59 Episode Artwork Amazon News: How to Navigate Amazon's Inconsistent Ad Guidelines 9:23 Episode Artwork The Strategic Author's Guide to Amazon's Kindle Unlimited Program 26:15 Episode Artwork Starting Your Own Publishing Company: Myth vs. Reality 17:42 Episode Artwork Savvy Book Pricing Strategies That Sell 23:17 Episode Artwork Amazon News: Author Central Changes and Search Result Trends 17:44 Episode Artwork The Sneaky Ways Authors Sabotage Their Own Success 53:14 Episode Artwork Don't Give Up on Your Book: When to Push and How to Pivot 31:46 Episode Artwork Book Marketing Costs: Solid Investment or Waste of Money? 31:13 Episode Artwork How to Get Your Author Website to Rank on Google 38:56 Episode Artwork Why Your Book Isn’t Showing Up in Amazon Searches and How to Fix It 37:25 Episode Artwork How to Resurrect a Book That's Dead in the Water 31:04 Episode Artwork Cracking the Library Code: Get on Shelves and in Front of Readers 18:29 Episode Artwork Mastering the Mic: Tips for Becoming an Irresistible Podcast Guest 14:15 Episode Artwork Substack Success: Should Authors Add This Platform to Their Toolkit? 23:28 Episode Artwork Your New Year Checklist: A Roadmap to Success 39:45