What to Do about Author Platforming When You’re Burned Out

What to Do about Author Platforming When You’re Burned Out

Everyone is burned out these days. But authors tend to be especially busy people, even in non-crisis times. But now, we’ve had two years of pandemic on top of everything else.  Are you burned out? I’m burned out.  And yet. The platforming machine demands to be fed.  The Pressure to Platform Let’s be honest: For… Read more »

How to Engage Book Clubs

How to Engage Book Clubs

As an author, it’s a wonderful feeling to connect with readers who love our work. Book clubs are one of the most engaging ways to create deep meaningful relationships with readers. Today, we’ll cover ideas to create fun and memorable experiences as you engage book clubs!  Why Engage Book Clubs? First, think of a book… Read more »

My Top Tips for Self-Publishing Authors in 2022

My Top Tips for Self-Publishing Authors in 2022

Self-publishing might be a grand undertaking for most authors, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a struggle. Though trial and error will always be part of the process, a bit of preparation goes a long way—and if you know your stuff going in, you might even enjoy the ride! On that note, if… Read more »

writing contests

Why You Should Enter Writing Contests

Welcome to the Author Marketing Toolkit, where you can learn from 20+ years of time-tested marketing and insights expertise, translated for authors. I’m Carol Van Den Hende, an MBA and strategist who’s known for bringing chocolate when I speak at conferences (surely, we’ll get back to in-person events one day!). I’m thrilled to be joining… Read more »

rethink your marketing mindset

#5onFri: Five Steps to Rethink Your Marketing Mindset

As a professional book launch coach and an author myself, I’ve discovered the biggest obstacle to having a successful career is…drumroll…your writer’s brain and its propensity to think dramatic thoughts. Yes, the same brain that creates a brilliant and complicated plot for your novel will also try to sink your career before it even leaves the… Read more »

Catherine Baab-Muguira

Episode 383: The Mashup as a Model: Lessons for Your Writing Career from Edgar Allan Poe – Interview with Catherine Baab-Muguira

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Catherine Baab-Muguira. Catherine is a writer and journalist who has contributed to many media outlets, including Slate, Quartz, CNBC and NBC News. She is a frequent podcast and radio guest, with appearances on NPR and Lifehacker’s Upgrade. Catherine currently lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and baby… Read more »

sales-killing cover design mistakes

Sales-Killing Cover Design Mistakes to Avoid

They say the eyes are the window to the soul… but hardly anyone talks about how a book’s cover is the window to its contents. The common maxim, of course, is “don’t judge a book by its cover”—but there are some sales-killing cover design mistakes that indie authors can’t afford to make. Readers will judge… Read more »