Everything Publishing Podcast

Tune in to Marketing Director Melanie Calahan and her fluffy sidekick, Sage, for a chat about September's theme: "How to be an Amazon Best Seller," geared toward self-published authors.

Join Melanie Calahan as she discusses how writers really navigate the hurdles of carving out time for their practice. In this episode, she is joined by three other SPS team members who are all at various stages in their careers with different approaches to and demands on their schedules that influence their writing routines.

In this episode, join Marketing Director Melanie Calahan as she debunks the three most common myths of the self-publishing process.

Metadata isn’t just about filling out forms—it’s a strategic tool to help your book reach the right readers. In this episode of the Everything Publishing Podcast, Melanie Calahan and Maggie Genevich from Self-Publishing Services go beyond the basics to explore the nuances of choosing categories and keywords that actually work. Drawing from a recent client case study, they unpack how sometimes the “wrong” category is exactly the right choice, why comp titles matter more than you think, and how to avoid the infamous “erotica dungeon” on Amazon. Whether you're DIY-ing your metadata or working with a pro, this episode will help you see metadata as the ongoing strategy it really is.

Poetry: misunderstood, overlooked, and often feared—especially by those of us whose last real exposure to it was a high school unit that left us more confused than inspired. In this episode of the Everything Publishing podcast, Melanie Calahan sits down with colleague Danielle Cooney—SPS media manager, adjunct professor, and poetry educator—to ask the big questions: What even is poetry? Why does it feel intimidating? And how do we know if it’s “good”? From Shakespearean sonnets to Instagram poems, cowboy poetry to spoken word, Melanie and Danielle explore how poetry can be deeply personal, hilariously irreverent, and powerfully expressive. You’ll hear reflections on working with poetry authors, how young writers approach the genre, and why poetry might be the most accessible art form of all—if we’d only give it a chance. Whether you’re a curious reader, a reluctant writer, or someone who still has Dr. Seuss memorized, this episode will open the door to a more approachable, inclusive view of poetry. Featuring real examples, publishing insights, and a healthy amount of laughter. Listen now and share with the poet in your life—secret or otherwise.