Today’s guest is someone whose career spans advertising, Hollywood, and bestselling fiction. Marshall Karp is a #1 New York Times bestselling author known for his work on the NYPD Red series with James Patterson, along with his own novels including Don&apos;t Tell Me How to Die and the Lomax and Biggs Mysteries. Before writing novels, he built a successful career in advertising and later transitioned into screenwriting, where one of his scripts became the film Just Looking, directed by Jason Alexander. The film went on to air on major platforms like HBO and Netflix and was later recognized as a classic independent film, with Marshall and Jason touring and promoting it across the country. He gradually moved toward writing, building toward a long-term goal of becoming a full-time storyteller.In this episode, Marshall breaks down how his stories come together, starting with character and why knowing them inside out changes how the entire story unfolds. He shares how books like Don&apos;t Tell Me How to Die took shape, the risks he took stepping outside his usual genre, and what made it resonate with readers. He also offers practical advice for writers, from building discipline and doing the work consistently to understanding your audience and writing stories that truly hold attention. Along the way, he talks through what he learned from studying consumer behavior in advertising and how those insights carry over into storytelling. We also get a behind-the-scenes look at how working with James Patterson really works, and the storytelling principles that came out of that collaboration.Tune in to hear Marshall Karp unpack how he thinks as a writer, how his characters come to life, and how his books are built behind the scenes.--Want to dive into Marshall’s books? Start here:NYPD Red: <a href='https://a.co/d/09lC3z9I'>https://a.co/d/09lC3z9I</a>Don’t Tell Me How To Die: <a href='https://a.co/d/0gL51BJY'>https://a.co/d/0gL51BJY</a>Amazon: <a href='https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001JPC3FA?ingress=0&amp;visitId=d530e726-cae4-45c8-a85f-1ff330502842&amp;ref_=aufs_ap_ahdr_dsk_ab'>https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001JPC3FA?ingress=0&amp;visitId=d530e726-cae4-45c8-a85f-1ff330502842&amp;ref_=aufs_ap_ahdr_dsk_ab</a>--Want to learn more from Marshall and follow his work? Check him out here:Website: <a href='http://www.karpkills.com'>www.karpkills.com</a>Instagram: @marshallkarpauthor <a href='https://www.instagram.com/marshallkarpauthor/'>https://www.instagram.com/marshallkarpauthor/</a>TikTok: Marshall Karp <a href='https://www.tiktok.com/@marshallkarp'>https://www.tiktok.com/@marshallkarp</a>—Take a second to follow, review, or share this with someone who might find it useful. Your support helps more people discover the show.—Get the popular weekly book marketing 3-2-1 and get access to our $299 Amazon Ads course when you subscribe to our newsletter here:  <a href='https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/'>https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/</a>Head to our new website for more content and updates.: <a href='https://getshelflife.com/'>www.getshelflife.com</a>If you&apos;re interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at <a href='mailto:Alex@getshelflife.com'>Alex@getshelflife.com</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;Today’s guest is someone whose career spans advertising, Hollywood, and bestselling fiction. &lt;b&gt;Marshall Karp&lt;/b&gt; is a &lt;b&gt;#1 New York Times&lt;/b&gt; bestselling author known for his work on the &lt;b&gt;NYPD Red&lt;/b&gt; series with &lt;b&gt;James Patterson&lt;/b&gt;, along with his own novels including &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Don&amp;apos;t Tell Me How to Die&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt; and the &lt;b&gt;Lomax and Biggs Mysteries&lt;/b&gt;. Before writing novels, he built a successful career in advertising and later transitioned into screenwriting, where one of his scripts became the film &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Just Looking&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;, directed by &lt;b&gt;Jason Alexander&lt;/b&gt;. The film went on to air on major platforms like &lt;b&gt;HBO&lt;/b&gt; and &lt;b&gt;Netflix&lt;/b&gt; and was later recognized as a classic independent film, with Marshall and Jason touring and promoting it across the country. He gradually moved toward writing, building toward a long-term goal of becoming a full-time storyteller.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode, Marshall breaks down how his stories come together, starting with character and why knowing them inside out changes how the entire story unfolds. He shares how books like &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Don&amp;apos;t Tell Me How to Die&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt; took shape, the risks he took stepping outside his usual genre, and what made it resonate with readers. He also offers practical advice for writers, from building discipline and doing the work consistently to understanding your audience and writing stories that truly hold attention. Along the way, he talks through what he learned from studying consumer behavior in advertising and how those insights carry over into storytelling. We also get a behind-the-scenes look at how working with &lt;b&gt;James Patterson&lt;/b&gt; really works, and the storytelling principles that came out of that collaboration.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Tune in to hear&lt;b&gt; Marshall Karp&lt;/b&gt; unpack how he thinks as a writer, how his characters come to life, and how his books are built behind the scenes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;--&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Want to dive into Marshall’s books? Start here:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;NYPD Red:&lt;/b&gt; &lt;a href='https://a.co/d/09lC3z9I'&gt;https://a.co/d/09lC3z9I&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Don’t Tell Me How To Die: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://a.co/d/0gL51BJY'&gt;https://a.co/d/0gL51BJY&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Amazon:&lt;/b&gt; &lt;a href='https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001JPC3FA?ingress=0&amp;amp;visitId=d530e726-cae4-45c8-a85f-1ff330502842&amp;amp;ref_=aufs_ap_ahdr_dsk_ab'&gt;https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001JPC3FA?ingress=0&amp;amp;visitId=d530e726-cae4-45c8-a85f-1ff330502842&amp;amp;ref_=aufs_ap_ahdr_dsk_ab&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;--&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Want to learn more from Marshall and follow his work? Check him out here:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Website: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='http://www.karpkills.com'&gt;www.karpkills.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Instagram: @marshallkarpauthor&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.instagram.com/marshallkarpauthor/'&gt;https://www.instagram.com/marshallkarpauthor/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;TikTok: Marshall Karp&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.tiktok.com/@marshallkarp'&gt;https://www.tiktok.com/@marshallkarp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;—&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Take a second to follow, review, or share this with someone who might find it useful. Your support helps more people discover the show.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;—&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Get the popular weekly book marketing 3-2-1 and get access to our $299 Amazon Ads course when you subscribe to our newsletter here:&lt;b&gt;  &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Head to our new website for more content and updates.:&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://getshelflife.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;www.getshelflife.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you&amp;apos;re interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='mailto:Alex@getshelflife.com'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Alex@getshelflife.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Today’s guest is someone whose career spans advertising, Hollywood, and bestselling fiction. Marshall Karp is a #1 New York Times bestselling author known for his work on the NYPD Red series with James Patterson, along with his own novels including Don't Tell Me How to Die and the Lomax and Biggs Mysteries. Before writing novels, he built a successful career in advertising and later transitioned into screenwriting, where one of his scripts became the film Just Looking, directed by Jason Alexa...

BTB178: Inside the Mind of Marshall Karp: Crafting Crime, Humor, and Heart from NYPD Red to Don't Tell Me How to Die

This week, we’re back with Naomi Oreskes, a scientific historian and Harvard professor, and co-author of Merchants of Doubt and The Big Myth, to talk about what it really takes to turn rigorous academic research into a book that reaches hundreds of thousands of readers. With a background that spans geology, climate science, and decades of teaching, Naomi has built her work around making complex scientific ideas understandable without losing their depth. As a result, her books have reached hundreds of thousands of readers and continue to shape how people think about science, truth, and the world around them.In this episode, we unpack how she approaches writing for a broader audience by thinking of it less as writing and more as speaking to a real person. That mindset carries through everything, from how Merchants of Doubt was written to how it was shared. Instead of relying on one big moment, the book gained traction through consistent, deliberate effort by saying yes to every opportunity, traveling to places most authors overlook, and meeting readers where they are. We also get into how that same approach evolved with The Big Myth, where podcasts, op-eds, and timely conversations became a bigger part of the strategy. Along the way, we talk about staying connected to current events, maintaining scientific integrity, and simplifying complex ideas in a way that people can actually follow without losing what makes them true.Tune in to this episode with Naomi Oreskes to see what separates books that come and go from those that continue to matter long after they’re published and why Merchants of Doubt and The Big Myth don’t just stay relevant, but become essential reading for anyone trying to make sense of misinformation, scientific claims, and the world around them. If you want to explore more of Naomi Oreskes’ work, research, and writing, you can check out her platform below or pick up one of her books.Reckoning Science (<a href='https://reckoningscience.org/author/naomi/'>https://reckoningscience.org/author/naomi/</a>) Naomi’s science platform with weekly posts (co-created with Sasha Kirov)You can get a copy Merchants of Doubt, and Naomi’s books on these platforms: Bookshop: <a href='https://bookshop.org/p/books/merchants-of-doubt-how-a-handful-of-scientists-obscured-the-truth-on-issues-from-tobacco-smoke-to-climate-change-erik-m-conway/013961483cb5e746?ean=9781608193943&amp;next=t'>https://bookshop.org/p/books/merchants-of-doubt-how-a-handful-of-scientists-obscured-the-truth-on-issues-from-tobacco-smoke-to-climate-change-erik-m-conway/013961483cb5e746?ean=9781608193943&amp;next=t</a>Amazon: <a href='https://a.co/d/08u9qrz7'>https://a.co/d/08u9qrz7</a>→ Available on Bookshop, Amazon, Barnes &amp; Noble, and other retailersPublications she writes for:The New York TimesThe Washington PostLos Angeles TimesScience MagazineBritish Medical JournalUndark—Take a second to follow, review, or share this with someone who might find it useful. Your support helps more people discover the show.—Get the popular weekly book marketing 3-2-1 and get access to our $299 Amazon Ads course when you subscribe to our newsletter here:  <a href='https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/'>https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/</a>Head to our new website for more content and updates.: <a href='https://getshelflife.com/'>www.getshelflife.com</a>If you&apos;re interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at <a href='mailto:Alex@getshelflife.com'>Alex@getshelflife.com</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;This week, we’re back with &lt;b&gt;Naomi Oreskes&lt;/b&gt;, a scientific historian and Harvard professor, and co-author of &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Merchants of Doubt&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt; and &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Big Myth&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;, to talk about what it really takes to turn rigorous academic research into a book that reaches hundreds of thousands of readers. With a background that spans geology, climate science, and decades of teaching, Naomi has built her work around making complex scientific ideas understandable without losing their depth. As a result, her books have reached hundreds of thousands of readers and continue to shape how people think about science, truth, and the world around them.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode, we unpack how she approaches writing for a broader audience by thinking of it less as writing and more as speaking to a real person. That mindset carries through everything, from how &lt;em&gt;Merchants of Doubt&lt;/em&gt; was written to how it was shared. Instead of relying on one big moment, the book gained traction through consistent, deliberate effort by saying yes to every opportunity, traveling to places most authors overlook, and meeting readers where they are. We also get into how that same approach evolved with &lt;em&gt;The Big Myth&lt;/em&gt;, where podcasts, op-eds, and timely conversations became a bigger part of the strategy. Along the way, we talk about staying connected to current events, maintaining scientific integrity, and simplifying complex ideas in a way that people can actually follow without losing what makes them true.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Tune in to this episode with Naomi Oreskes to see what separates books that come and go from those that continue to matter long after they’re published and why &lt;em&gt;Merchants of Doubt&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;The Big Myth&lt;/em&gt; don’t just stay relevant, but become essential reading for anyone trying to make sense of misinformation, scientific claims, and the world around them.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;If you want to explore more of Naomi Oreskes’ work, research, and writing, you can check out her platform below or pick up one of her books.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Reckoning Science &lt;/b&gt;(&lt;a href='https://reckoningscience.org/author/naomi/'&gt;https://reckoningscience.org/author/naomi/&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;Naomi’s science platform with weekly posts (co-created with Sasha Kirov)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;You can get a copy Merchants of Doubt, and Naomi’s books on these platforms: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Bookshop: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://bookshop.org/p/books/merchants-of-doubt-how-a-handful-of-scientists-obscured-the-truth-on-issues-from-tobacco-smoke-to-climate-change-erik-m-conway/013961483cb5e746?ean=9781608193943&amp;amp;next=t'&gt;https://bookshop.org/p/books/merchants-of-doubt-how-a-handful-of-scientists-obscured-the-truth-on-issues-from-tobacco-smoke-to-climate-change-erik-m-conway/013961483cb5e746?ean=9781608193943&amp;amp;next=t&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Amazon:&lt;/b&gt; &lt;a href='https://a.co/d/08u9qrz7'&gt;https://a.co/d/08u9qrz7&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;→ Available on Bookshop, Amazon, Barnes &amp;amp; Noble, and other retailers&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Publications she writes for:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The New York Times&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Washington Post&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Los Angeles Times&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Science Magazine&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;British Medical Journal&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Undark&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;—&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Take a second to follow, review, or share this with someone who might find it useful. Your support helps more people discover the show.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;—&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Get the popular weekly book marketing 3-2-1 and get access to our $299 Amazon Ads course when you subscribe to our newsletter here:&lt;b&gt;  &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Head to our new website for more content and updates.:&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://getshelflife.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;www.getshelflife.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you&amp;apos;re interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='mailto:Alex@getshelflife.com'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Alex@getshelflife.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

This week, we’re back with Naomi Oreskes, a scientific historian and Harvard professor, and co-author of Merchants of Doubt and The Big Myth, to talk about what it really takes to turn rigorous academic research into a book that reaches hundreds of thousands of readers. With a background that spans geology, climate science, and decades of teaching, Naomi has built her work around making complex scientific ideas understandable without losing their depth. As a result, her books have reached hun...

BTB177: 100,000+ Copies Sold — Nonfiction Book Marketing, Author Platform & Promotion Strategies with Naomi Oreskes

Today we have a very special guest, Naomi Oreskes, a historian of science and professor at Harvard University whose work has fundamentally changed how we understand the relationship between science, truth, and public trust. She is best known as the co-author of Merchants of Doubt, the widely influential book that exposed how a small group of scientists and institutions deliberately obscured scientific truth across issues like tobacco, climate change, and acid rain. With over one hundred thousand copies sold and a documentary adaptation, her work continues to shape conversations among policymakers, journalists, and scientists around the world.In this episode, we unpack how Merchants of Doubt came to life, starting from Naomi’s early research into climate science and the unexpected backlash that followed. She explains how misinformation is constructed, why the same arguments keep appearing across different issues, and how to recognize credible science in a world filled with noise. We also explore the deeper motivations behind these campaigns, including the role of ideology, freedom narratives, and economic interests. The conversation then shifts into how Naomi approaches writing and communication, from simplifying complex ideas to thinking of writing as speaking to a real person. On the marketing side, she shares how saying yes to every opportunity, traveling widely, leveraging podcasts, and writing timely op-eds helped her book grow steadily over time rather than relying on a single launch moment.Tune in to hear how the same misinformation tactics show up across decades, how to recognize credible science in a noisy world, and how Naomi approached writing a book grounded in evidence that continues to stand the test of time.Learn more about Naomi Orekes’ research, background, and academic work here: <a href='https://histsci.fas.harvard.edu/people/naomi-oreskes'>https://histsci.fas.harvard.edu/people/naomi-oreskes</a>You can get a copy Merchants of Doubt, The Big Myth, and all of Naomi’s books on these platforms: Bookshop: <a href='https://bookshop.org/p/books/merchants-of-doubt-how-a-handful-of-scientists-obscured-the-truth-on-issues-from-tobacco-smoke-to-climate-change-erik-m-conway/013961483cb5e746?ean=9781608193943&amp;next=t'>https://bookshop.org/p/books/merchants-of-doubt-how-a-handful-of-scientists-obscured-the-truth-on-issues-from-tobacco-smoke-to-climate-change-erik-m-conway/013961483cb5e746?ean=9781608193943&amp;next=t</a>Amazon: <a href='https://a.co/d/08u9qrz7'>https://a.co/d/08u9qrz7</a>→ Available on Bookshop, Amazon, Barnes &amp; Noble, and other retailers—Take a second to follow, review, or share this with someone who might find it useful. Your support helps more people discover the show.—Get the popular weekly book marketing 3-2-1 and get access to our $299 Amazon Ads course when you subscribe to our newsletter here:  <a href='https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/'>https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/</a>Head to our new website for more content and updates.: <a href='https://getshelflife.com/'>www.getshelflife.com</a>If you&apos;re interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at <a href='mailto:Alex@getshelflife.com'>Alex@getshelflife.com</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;Today we have a very special guest, &lt;b&gt;Naomi Oreskes&lt;/b&gt;, a historian of science and professor at Harvard University whose work has fundamentally changed how we understand the relationship between science, truth, and public trust. She is best known as the co-author of &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Merchants of Doubt&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;, the widely influential book that exposed how a small group of scientists and institutions deliberately obscured scientific truth across issues like tobacco, climate change, and acid rain. With over one hundred thousand copies sold and a documentary adaptation, her work continues to shape conversations among policymakers, journalists, and scientists around the world.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode, we unpack how &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Merchants of Doubt&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt; came to life, starting from Naomi’s early research into climate science and the unexpected backlash that followed. She explains how misinformation is constructed, why the same arguments keep appearing across different issues, and how to recognize credible science in a world filled with noise. We also explore the deeper motivations behind these campaigns, including the role of ideology, freedom narratives, and economic interests. The conversation then shifts into how Naomi approaches writing and communication, from simplifying complex ideas to thinking of writing as speaking to a real person. On the marketing side, she shares how saying yes to every opportunity, traveling widely, leveraging podcasts, and writing timely op-eds helped her book grow steadily over time rather than relying on a single launch moment.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Tune in to hear how the same misinformation tactics show up across decades, how to recognize credible science in a noisy world, and how Naomi approached writing a book grounded in evidence that continues to stand the test of time.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Learn more about Naomi Orekes’ research, background, and academic work here:&lt;/b&gt; &lt;a href='https://histsci.fas.harvard.edu/people/naomi-oreskes'&gt;https://histsci.fas.harvard.edu/people/naomi-oreskes&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;You can get a copy Merchants of Doubt, The Big Myth, and all of Naomi’s books on these platforms: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Bookshop:&lt;/b&gt; &lt;a href='https://bookshop.org/p/books/merchants-of-doubt-how-a-handful-of-scientists-obscured-the-truth-on-issues-from-tobacco-smoke-to-climate-change-erik-m-conway/013961483cb5e746?ean=9781608193943&amp;amp;next=t'&gt;https://bookshop.org/p/books/merchants-of-doubt-how-a-handful-of-scientists-obscured-the-truth-on-issues-from-tobacco-smoke-to-climate-change-erik-m-conway/013961483cb5e746?ean=9781608193943&amp;amp;next=t&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Amazon: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://a.co/d/08u9qrz7'&gt;https://a.co/d/08u9qrz7&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;→ Available on Bookshop, Amazon, Barnes &amp;amp; Noble, and other retailers&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;—&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Take a second to follow, review, or share this with someone who might find it useful. Your support helps more people discover the show.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;—&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Get the popular weekly book marketing 3-2-1 and get access to our $299 Amazon Ads course when you subscribe to our newsletter here:&lt;b&gt;  &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Head to our new website for more content and updates.:&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://getshelflife.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;www.getshelflife.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you&amp;apos;re interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='mailto:Alex@getshelflife.com'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Alex@getshelflife.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Today we have a very special guest, Naomi Oreskes, a historian of science and professor at Harvard University whose work has fundamentally changed how we understand the relationship between science, truth, and public trust. She is best known as the co-author of Merchants of Doubt, the widely influential book that exposed how a small group of scientists and institutions deliberately obscured scientific truth across issues like tobacco, climate change, and acid rain. With over one hundred thous...

BTB176: The $100,000+ Book That Exposed How Truth Gets Twisted - Inside Merchants of Doubt with Author Naomi Oreskes

Today we welcome back Sierra Melcher, a publishing strategist and CEO of Red Thread Books, where she works closely with nonfiction authors to turn their ideas into clear, strategic books that support real business goals. Through her work with a wide range of authors, from niche consultants to experienced professionals, she has developed a reputation for grounding book publishing in practical outcomes rather than abstract visibility.In this episode, we focused on how to approach book marketing with intention rather than guesswork. Sierra broke down why every strategy should start with a clear goal, whether that is landing clients, speaking on stage, or building authority, and how working backwards from that goal changes every marketing decision. We talked through real examples, including using books as high value business cards at conferences, leveraging relationships and communities to unlock opportunities, and using book seeding through events, swag bags, and platforms like Goodreads to reach the right readers. She also shared practical tactics around Amazon ads for positioning, HARO for visibility, and how small, thoughtful actions can compound when done consistently. We spent time on review strategies, including launch teams, reducing friction for reviewers, and reframing reviews as social proof rather than vanity metrics.If you’ve been circling the question of what actually moves a book forward once it’s published, this episode answers it in a grounded way. You’ll hear how the work shifts from big, one-time pushes to small, repeatable actions that put your book in the right rooms, in front of the right people, at the right time.Check out <a href='http://redthreadbooks.com'>redthreadbooks.com</a> and book a call with Sierra to explore your next steps.If you want to learn alongside other authors and see how people are actually doing this in real time, you can check out Sierra’s “Write Your Book 📚” community on <a href='https://www.skool.com/writeyourbook/about'>https://www.skool.com/writeyourbook/about</a>Check out Sierra Melcher’s books here: <a href='https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B085LM5WZR?ingress=0&amp;visitId=f4d1c214-e885-4492-9e95-02549234e12d&amp;ref_=aufs_ap_ahdr_dsk_ab'>https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B085LM5WZR?ingress=0&amp;visitId=f4d1c214-e885-4492-9e95-02549234e12d&amp;ref_=aufs_ap_ahdr_dsk_ab</a> —Take a second to follow, review, or share this with someone who might find it useful. Your support helps more people discover the show.—Get the popular weekly book marketing 3-2-1 and get access to our $299 Amazon Ads course when you subscribe to our newsletter here:  <a href='https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/'>https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/</a>Head to our new website for more content and updates.: <a href='https://getshelflife.com/'>www.getshelflife.com</a>If you&apos;re interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at <a href='mailto:Alex@getshelflife.com'>Alex@getshelflife.com</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;Today we welcome back &lt;b&gt;Sierra Melcher&lt;/b&gt;, a publishing strategist and CEO of &lt;b&gt;Red Thread Books&lt;/b&gt;, where she works closely with nonfiction authors to turn their ideas into clear, strategic books that support real business goals. Through her work with a wide range of authors, from niche consultants to experienced professionals, she has developed a reputation for grounding book publishing in practical outcomes rather than abstract visibility.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode, we focused on how to approach book marketing with intention rather than guesswork. Sierra broke down why every strategy should start with a clear goal, whether that is landing clients, speaking on stage, or building authority, and how working backwards from that goal changes every marketing decision. We talked through real examples, including using books as high value business cards at conferences, leveraging relationships and communities to unlock opportunities, and using book seeding through events, swag bags, and platforms like Goodreads to reach the right readers. She also shared practical tactics around Amazon ads for positioning, HARO for visibility, and how small, thoughtful actions can compound when done consistently. We spent time on review strategies, including launch teams, reducing friction for reviewers, and reframing reviews as social proof rather than vanity metrics.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you’ve been circling the question of what actually moves a book forward once it’s published, this episode answers it in a grounded way. You’ll hear how the work shifts from big, one-time pushes to small, repeatable actions that put your book in the right rooms, in front of the right people, at the right time.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Check out &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='http://redthreadbooks.com'&gt;&lt;b&gt;redthreadbooks.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt; and book a call with Sierra to explore your next steps.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;If you want to learn alongside other authors and see how people are actually doing this in real time, you can check out Sierra’s “Write Your Book 📚” community on &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.skool.com/writeyourbook/about'&gt;https://www.skool.com/writeyourbook/about&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Check out Sierra Melcher’s books here: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B085LM5WZR?ingress=0&amp;amp;visitId=f4d1c214-e885-4492-9e95-02549234e12d&amp;amp;ref_=aufs_ap_ahdr_dsk_ab'&gt;https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B085LM5WZR?ingress=0&amp;amp;visitId=f4d1c214-e885-4492-9e95-02549234e12d&amp;amp;ref_=aufs_ap_ahdr_dsk_ab&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;—&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Take a second to follow, review, or share this with someone who might find it useful. Your support helps more people discover the show.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;—&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Get the popular weekly book marketing 3-2-1 and get access to our $299 Amazon Ads course when you subscribe to our newsletter here:&lt;b&gt;  &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Head to our new website for more content and updates.:&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://getshelflife.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;www.getshelflife.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you&amp;apos;re interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='mailto:Alex@getshelflife.com'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Alex@getshelflife.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Today we welcome back Sierra Melcher, a publishing strategist and CEO of Red Thread Books, where she works closely with nonfiction authors to turn their ideas into clear, strategic books that support real business goals. Through her work with a wide range of authors, from niche consultants to experienced professionals, she has developed a reputation for grounding book publishing in practical outcomes rather than abstract visibility. In this episode, we focused on how to approach book marketin...

BTB175: Sierra Melcher, CEO of Red Thread Books, on Goal-Driven Book Marketing, Conference Strategy, Book Seeding, Goodreads Giveaways, Reviews, and Long-Term Momentum

Our special guest for today is Sierra Melcher, CEO of Red Thread Publishing, who has guided over 350 authors across 28 countries to write and publish meaningful nonfiction that actually serves a purpose beyond just being a book. With deep experience across hybrid publishing and hands-on work with authors at every stage, she has built a reputation for helping writers create books that are intentional, reader-focused, and aligned with real outcomes.In this episode, we explore how publishing is evolving and why most authors are still approaching it the wrong way. Sierra shares how she helps authors clarify what their book is really about, who it is actually for, and why shorter, simpler books often outperform longer ones. We also get into a different way of thinking about your reader, one that goes beyond surface-level targeting, and a practical exercise she uses to help authors reconnect with the people who need their message. On the marketing side, we talk through a few real-world examples that show how small, intentional moves can outperform scattered effort.Tune in to hear how Sierra thinks through choosing the right publishing path, defining your reader beyond surface-level demographics, building a book that actually gets read, and using targeted strategies like events, giveaways, and reviews to get your book into the hands of the right people.Check out <a href='http://redthreadbooks.com'>redthreadbooks.com</a> and book a call with Sierra to explore your next steps.Check out Sierra Melcher’s books here: <a href='https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B085LM5WZR?ingress=0&amp;visitId=f4d1c214-e885-4492-9e95-02549234e12d&amp;ref_=aufs_ap_ahdr_dsk_ab'>https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B085LM5WZR?ingress=0&amp;visitId=f4d1c214-e885-4492-9e95-02549234e12d&amp;ref_=aufs_ap_ahdr_dsk_ab</a>—Take a second to follow, review, or share this with someone who might find it useful. Your support helps more people discover the show.—Get the popular weekly book marketing 3-2-1 and get access to our $299 Amazon Ads course when you subscribe to our newsletter here:  <a href='https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/'>https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/</a>Head to our new website for more content and updates.: <a href='https://getshelflife.com/'>www.getshelflife.com</a>If you&apos;re interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at <a href='mailto:Alex@getshelflife.com'>Alex@getshelflife.com</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;Our special guest for today is &lt;b&gt;Sierra Melcher&lt;/b&gt;, CEO of Red Thread Publishing, who has guided over 350 authors across 28 countries to write and publish meaningful nonfiction that actually serves a purpose beyond just being a book. With deep experience across hybrid publishing and hands-on work with authors at every stage, she has built a reputation for helping writers create books that are intentional, reader-focused, and aligned with real outcomes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode, we explore how publishing is evolving and why most authors are still approaching it the wrong way. Sierra shares how she helps authors clarify what their book is really about, who it is actually for, and why shorter, simpler books often outperform longer ones. We also get into a different way of thinking about your reader, one that goes beyond surface-level targeting, and a practical exercise she uses to help authors reconnect with the people who need their message. On the marketing side, we talk through a few real-world examples that show how small, intentional moves can outperform scattered effort.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Tune in to hear how Sierra thinks through choosing the right publishing path, defining your reader beyond surface-level demographics, building a book that actually gets read, and using targeted strategies like events, giveaways, and reviews to get your book into the hands of the right people.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Check out &lt;a href='http://redthreadbooks.com'&gt;&lt;b&gt;redthreadbooks.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; and book a call with Sierra to explore your next steps.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Check out Sierra Melcher’s books here: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B085LM5WZR?ingress=0&amp;amp;visitId=f4d1c214-e885-4492-9e95-02549234e12d&amp;amp;ref_=aufs_ap_ahdr_dsk_ab'&gt;https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B085LM5WZR?ingress=0&amp;amp;visitId=f4d1c214-e885-4492-9e95-02549234e12d&amp;amp;ref_=aufs_ap_ahdr_dsk_ab&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;—&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Take a second to follow, review, or share this with someone who might find it useful. Your support helps more people discover the show.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;—&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Get the popular weekly book marketing 3-2-1 and get access to our $299 Amazon Ads course when you subscribe to our newsletter here:&lt;b&gt;  &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Head to our new website for more content and updates.:&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://getshelflife.com/'&gt;&lt;b&gt;www.getshelflife.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you&amp;apos;re interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='mailto:Alex@getshelflife.com'&gt;&lt;b&gt;Alex@getshelflife.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Our special guest for today is Sierra Melcher, CEO of Red Thread Publishing, who has guided over 350 authors across 28 countries to write and publish meaningful nonfiction that actually serves a purpose beyond just being a book. With deep experience across hybrid publishing and hands-on work with authors at every stage, she has built a reputation for helping writers create books that are intentional, reader-focused, and aligned with real outcomes. In this episode, we explore how publishing is...

BTB174: Sierra Melcher, Author & CEO, Red Thread Publishing, on Publishing in 2026, Reader Psychology, and Book Marketing Strategy

This show is for book lovers and creators who want to go behind the scenes with their favorite authors to hear about how they were able to not just write a book but create a movement.&nbsp;

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