Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author Podcast

Knowing your subject inside out can be an advantage when writing nonfiction, but it can also make it harder to recognize what beginners need explained. How much background should you include for the novice while still keeping more experienced readers interested? This week, teacher and author Daniel Bullen joins us to discuss how he tackled those challenges when writing his computer science book, which he designed to build from the fundamentals into more advanced topics so that both novices and more experienced readers could benefit from it. Through our discussion of Daniel’s book, we explore how the order of information shapes a reader’s understanding, why foundational ideas sometimes need their own explanation, and how different names for the same concept can create unnecessary confusion. By bringing his teaching materials together into a manuscript and including practice exercises, Daniel hoped to engage readers with the content more directly. For authors writing educational nonfiction, his approach offers a starting point for thinking beyond the information they want to share to what readers need to understand and put it into practice. Daniel Bullen https://danielbullentutor.my.canva.site/daniel-bullen-s-website Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book? https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/ All episode details and links: https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

You might expect someone with a lot of digital marketing experience to have an easy time selling their first book, but as this week’s guest Luke Aulin has discovered, finding readers becomes even harder when your subject doesn’t fall neatly into an established genre. Unlike many business owners who write books to help attract new clients, Luke’s memoir, Finding the Beauty Way, has nothing to do with his marketing agency. That’s left him starting from scratch when it comes to promoting it, and despite enthusiastic reviews from readers, identifying his core audience remains a challenge. But his ongoing experiments have shown promise, and his experience so far offers a useful guide for other authors trying to figure out who their book is for and how to reach them. From the struggle to turn newsletter signups into sales to organizing events that introduce readers to his book through a shared experience, Luke walks us through what he’s trying, what he’s learning, and what he’s still working to solve. We discuss the different reasons readers might connect with a book, why reaching those readers may require more than one marketing approach, and how to build direct relationships with an audience. If you’ve ever wondered why your marketing generates interest without purchases, or how to promote a book with a subject that’s hard to categorize, today’s conversation offers a candid look at the gap between believing in your work and convincing strangers to give it a chance. Luke Aulin https://lukeaulin.com/ Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book? https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/ All episode details and links: https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

For many authors, book marketing comes with an unofficial expiration date. Once the launch is over and those first few weeks of promotion have passed, attention shifts to the next book. But Jane Tabachnick, a four-time bestselling author and founder of Simply Good Press, believes that way of thinking leaves a tremendous amount of opportunity on the table. With nearly two decades of experience helping authors build visibility and credibility through their books, Jane joins us this week to explain why a book should be treated as a lifetime asset rather than a product with a short promotional window. As Jane explains, just because you’re tired of talking about your book doesn’t mean readers are tired of hearing about it. Changing the way you think about promotion can make continued marketing feel less repetitive and more effective. With that in mind, today’s discussion explores strategies for reaching entirely new audiences, leveraging the trust and influence other people have already built, finding opportunities that many authors overlook, and recognizing when conventional publishing and marketing wisdom may not apply to your book. Just because your book launch is over doesn’t mean its most valuable marketing opportunities are behind you. Jane Tabachnick https://authoralchemy.substack.com/ Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book? https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/ All episode details and links: https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

For many authors, landing a six-figure traditional publishing deal sounds like the ultimate career breakthrough. But as this week’s guest, Elise Chidley, discovered, getting the deal is only the beginning. A two-year wait for publication meant the market had already begun shifting by the time her first novel was released, while decisions by major booksellers further complicated its sales and soured what had once seemed like a dream start to her career. After years of working with agents and pursuing more traditional deals, Elise eventually decided it was time to try a different path. Elise’s eventual move from traditional to hybrid publishing offers a fascinating example of the tradeoffs authors face when deciding how to bring their books to market. Speed and control, upfront costs and royalties, distribution, professional expertise, and the value of having an experienced team behind you can all factor into that decision. Elise’s experience is just one author’s journey, but the priorities that shaped her choices highlight why there is no universally right way to publish. The best path may ultimately depend less on which model looks best on paper and more on understanding what you want from your publishing career. Elise Chidley https://elisechidley.com/ Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book? https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/ All episode details and links: https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

After running into roadblocks trying to organize traditional bookstore appearances for two memoirs published by an independent press, author and creative writing instructor Jennifer Lang took matters into her own hands. Over a two-year period, she organized four extensive book tours and discovered that some of the best opportunities could be found in less conventional places. In this week's episode, Jennifer shares what she learned from taking a DIY approach to book tours, and how tapping into personal networks and seeking out unique venues gave her the freedom to create events that gave readers a reason to show up. As Jennifer explains, today's authors need to think beyond bookstores, with libraries, community organizations, private gatherings, and other spaces connected to the themes of their work often providing opportunities for more creative and engaging events. Simply asking can open unexpected doors, but that doesn't mean authors should be unprepared. Reaching out early, tailoring pitches to individual venues, requesting honorariums, and capturing reader contact information can all help authors make the most of those opportunities and build genuine connections that last beyond the event itself. Jennifer Lang https://israelwriterstudio.com/ Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book? https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/ All episode details and links: https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast