Spotlight On The Business Of Being An Author

Being an author IS business and should be approached with a professional mindset to achieve more than just hobby-level success. The Authors Show aims to offer valuable insights to authors by featuring interviews with publishing industry professionals who share their expertise.  New interviews are added regularly and archived for 24/7 access.

 

Topic: Publishing Contracts

Guest : Dr. Nick Courtright
Interviewed by Danielle Hampson

As an author, do you know your rights and obligations?  Have you considered copyrights and how they may be used? Are you clear on what type of advance and royalties you may receive?   How will your book be distributed?  Who is responsible for the marketing efforts needed to bring your book to the market place?  

Today's episode features Dr. Nick Courtright, Founder & CEO of Atmosphere Press,  who sheds lights on publishing contracts, a topic too often overlooked by authors, yet so crucial.

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Topic: Book Cover Design

Guest : Abdullah Bukhari
Interviewed by Danielle Hampson

We know we should not judge a book by its cover...in life in general, that is.

But when you are a reader looking for a book,  you do take that cover into much consideration!  So pay attention to your book covers authors, and this Spotlight episode addresses the various aspects of book cover design you need to know about.

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Topic: The Int'l Dublin Writers Festival, 2024

Guest : Laurence O'Bryan
Interviewed by Danielle Hampson

Dublin is a World Heritage City and home to some of the most famous writers. The International Dublin Writers Festival offers the opportunity for all expiring and experienced writers to connect with the literary culture of Dublin and to learn from experts and peers. The festival provides practical support, valuable training and an opportunity to get to know fellow writers and industry professionals through our online communities.  In this interview, festival founder Laurence O'Bryan describes the event in more detail.

 

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Topic: The Many Influences of Your Writing

Interviewed by Danielle Hampson

Milford-Haven, the series: a prime example of how your roots, connections and research will influence your writing.  Follow author Mara Purl's journey of developing a successful written and audio drama series. 

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Topic: How to Increase & Engage Your LinkedIn Audience

Guest : Sue Canfield
Interviewed by Danielle Hampson

LinkedIn is a social media platform overlooked by many authors. Sue Canfield, a social media marketing consultant who works primarily with nonfiction authors, teaches them how to get their book noticed using social media marketing done the right way. Her philosophy in using social media is to create value, engagement, and relationships. Today she discusses specifically LinkedIn and explains why it should be incorporated in authors' marketing strategies.

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Topic: The Stockholm Writers Festival (SWF) 2022

Guest : Catherine Petterson
Interviewed by Danielle Hampson

What was once a handful of authors, poets, copywriters, and academics hunkered around a dining-room table dreaming up an English-language writers’ conference in Sweden, developed into a nonprofit organization with an annual festival focused on developing the skills and business knowhow essential to navigate the world of publishing, while fostering an ever-expanding community of international writers.

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Topic: The State of the Ukrainian Book Publishing Industry

Guest : Iryna Baturevych
Interviewed by Danielle Hampson

Authors: do you wonder how your Ukrainian counterparts are doing right now?

Readers: do  you wonder what will happen to Ukrainian literature, some of which you may have read translated in your own language?

This episode brings information on the state of the Ukrainian publishing industry before the current events, and news on what it is doing to survive them and bounce back better than never in the future.  

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Topic: Florida Authors and Publishers Association

Guest : Pat Stanford
Interviewed by Danielle Hampson

Being an author can be lonely.  Joining an authors association offers multiple benefits that can help authors in their journeys.  This segment focuses on a very proactive association with its current President as our guest.

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Topic: The Page Turner Awards

Guest : Paula Sheridan
Interviewed by Danielle Hampson

The "Page Turner Awards" gives unpublished writers the chance to enter unpublished fiction and non-fiction books, to be read by a carefully curated judging panel made up of influential players in the publishing industry. And published authors, whether mainstream published or independently published, the chance to get their fiction story or non-fiction book recognized by successful authors, high-caliber industry professionals and film producers.

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Topic: Developing Strong Women Characters

Guest : Patricia E. Gitt
Interviewed by Danielle Hampson

As a former executive in public relation, Patricia Gitt worked with many strong and outstanding women in finance, healthcare, fashion and pharmaceutical industries. Upon retirement she transitioned to writing novels featuring the strength and qualities that made these women successful, and how they balanced dynamic careers with their private lives.  She shares in this interview how to develop strong female characters in a novel.

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Topic: InDtale Magazine, for Indie Authors & Readers

Guest : TJ Mackay
Interviewed by Danielle Hampson

InD’tale magazine is the publishing industry’s most trusted publication for independent and small published authors and readers world-wide.  InD’tale’s premier status was built on the high quality and professional yet personal interest Ms. Mackay is known and famous for that focuses on reading, books, writing and publishing. It was conceived and developed to help all the many gifted, creative people in this industry who struggle to find a voice in a world where "traditional" just isn't working. Those who have the talent and the ambition but just need the platform to succeed. Each month, InD’tale brings its readers cutting edge information, honest, professional book reviews, interesting, and entertaining articles and educational columns to answer any questions and provide the very best in books.

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Topic: Amazon Editors 2020 Best Books List

Guest : Sarah Gelman
Interviewed by Danielle Hampson

If you love a top ten list, especially one that’s about books to read, well you’re in for a treat!

Listen to the who, what and how the 2020 Best Books List came together in this interview with Amazon’s books editorial director Sarah Gelman.

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Topic: Social Media for Authors

Interviewed by Danielle Hampson

The topic: How to Increase & Engage Your LinkedIn Audience.

Social media marketing consultant, Sue Canfield, explains how to work effectively with social media. Although the focus today is on LinkedIn, an often overlooked platform by authors, her tips apply to other social media platforms as well. 

Sue teaches authors how to get their book noticed using social media marketing the right way, by creating value, engagement, and relationships.

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