From Beach Reads to Bestsellers: Marketing Your Book in Summer

Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast

Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast
From Beach Reads to Bestsellers: Marketing Your Book in Summer
Jul 04, 2025 Season 5 Episode 27
Penny C. Sansevieri and Amy Cornell Author Marketing Experts

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 strategies for positioning any book to capture readers' attention during these warmer months.

The podcast challenges traditional notions of what constitutes summer reading material. While escapist genre fiction remains popular, today's readers are equally drawn to true crime, activity-based children's books, and "maker" titles that inspire summer projects. With rising travel costs leading many to embrace "staycations," books offering at-home experiences or local exploration guides are experiencing unexpected popularity surges. The hosts emphasize that even serious books needn't be shelved until fall—they simply require different positioning to connect with summer readers.

What makes this episode particularly valuable is its focus on low-cost, high-impact marketing pivots. Rather than suggesting expensive cover redesigns or content overhauls, Penny and Amy recommend simple tweaks and easy changes to grab more summer readers! 

Ready to transform your book into this summer's must-read? Update your marketing approach with these practical strategies, engage your fans with seasonal promotions, and watch your conversions grow. Remember—these techniques work for books of all genres and publication dates, and once developed, can be adapted for any season throughout the year.

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Episode Artwork From Beach Reads to Bestsellers: Marketing Your Book in Summer 21:51 Episode Artwork The Author's Identity Crisis: Why Brand Marketing Matters More Than You Think 25:37 Episode Artwork The Pay-to-Play Dilemma: Paying for book reviews & coverage 34:59 Episode Artwork Unlocking ChatGPT’s Creative Power for Authors 31:27 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