Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast
Ready to supercharge your author journey? Join bestselling author and book marketing maven Penny Sansevieri and savvy publishing insider Amy Cornell for lively, no-nonsense conversations filled with smart strategies, creative inspiration, and publishing know-how you can actually use.
Whether you’re self-published, traditionally published, or somewhere in between, this podcast delivers real-world advice to help you sell more books, build your platform, and thrive in the ever-evolving publishing landscape. From clever promo hacks to critical industry insights, each episode is designed to move the needle on your success.
Fresh ideas. Actionable tips. Unfiltered talk.
If you’re serious about your author career, hit subscribe and tune in—your next big breakthrough could be one episode away.
Episodes
303 episodes
Book Marketing Without Burnout: Do Less, Reach More Readers
Feeling like you’re doing everything and getting nowhere? We’ve been there, and we’re pulling the brakes on burnout to rebuild your book marketing on a foundation that actually moves books. Because book marketing burnout is real—and if you’ve b...
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Season 5
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Episode 47
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46:06
The New Media Strategy Every Author Needs Now
Want a media strategy that actually fits how authors work today? We’re flipping old-school media training on its head and showing how every post, interview, and Zoom window shapes your story. Instead of waiting for a big break, we walk through ...
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Season 5
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Episode 46
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25:20
The Marketing Shift You Can't Afford to Ignore
What if the biggest thing holding your book back isn’t the algorithm or your ad budget—but your attachment to a specific outcome? We dig into the hidden cost of expectation-driven marketing and show how to swap emotional gambling for a strategy...
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Season 5
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Episode 45
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1:08:19
Amazon’s A10 Shift: The Real Reasons Your Book Isn’t Selling (and How to Fix It Fast)
The algorithm finally caught up with reality: readers want real authors, not content mills. We unpack Amazon’s A10 shift and share a clear plan to stand out with signals that only humans can create—engaging pages, authentic reviews, meaningful ...
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Season 5
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Episode 44
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37:18
How To Slay Book Marketing Nightmares Before They Scare Off Readers
A haunted house of marketing mistakes can scare off readers faster than any bad blurb—so we flipped on the lights and started slaying. We kick things off with Frankenstein’s platform, that stitched‑together mess of tactics that feels productive...
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Season 5
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Episode 43
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31:13
Make Your Book Unforgettable: Creative Ways to Wow Reviewers
A reviewer gets thousands of books a month—so why did one plain-looking title jump to the top of the pile? The packaging signaled a story worth opening. We break down the art and strategy of creative mailers and author swag that make reviewers,...
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Season 4
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Episode 44
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40:04
The Data-Driven Author: The Real Secret Behind Author Success
Hate refreshing your Amazon rank only to feel stuck? We walk through a saner, smarter way to measure progress—one that puts you back in control of your author career. Instead of chasing daily sales blips, we focus on the data you can influence:...
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Season 5
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Episode 42
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39:19
Smart Pre-Order Strategies for Authors Who Have Little or No Following
In this episode we dig into a practical, 30-day pre-order plan built for writers with small followings (or no following), limited time, and a whole lot of heart. No fluff, no clickbait—just smart moves that create real curiosity and guide reade...
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Season 5
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Episode 41
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42:36
Trophy Hunting for Authors: The World of Book Awards
Book awards can transform your author platform, yet they remain one of the most overlooked marketing opportunities for writers at every stage of their journey. Whether you're traditionally published or self-published, these accolades are more a...
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Season 5
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Episode 40
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17:29
Navigating Kindle Unlimited's Page Read Decline
The growing chorus of authors reporting mysterious declines in their Kindle Unlimited page reads has sparked anxiety throughout the indie publishing community. But before you panic about your own KU numbers, this episode dives deep into what's ...
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Season 5
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Episode 39
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30:06
Hook, Line, and Bestseller: The Art of the Elevator Pitch
Ever wondered why some books get noticed while others gather dust? The secret might be simpler than you think: a powerful elevator pitch.In this eye-opening episode, Penny and Amy reveal how one author transformed her fortunes at a writ...
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Season 5
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Episode 38
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33:41
The Hollywood Blueprint: Creating a Film-Ready Book
Could your book be the next big streaming hit? Before you start dreaming of red carpets and Hollywood premieres, there's a reality check you need to hear.While Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other platforms are constantly hunting for fresh ...
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Season 5
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Episode 37
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33:05
The Great Author Central Lockout: Amazon's Latest Frustration
Navigating Amazon's constantly shifting landscape is challenging enough for authors, but now there's a new frustration to contend with. In this eye-opening episode, Penny and Amy tackle the latest Amazon Author Central crisis that's preventing ...
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Season 5
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Episode 36
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24:09
Your Newsletter Is Worth More Than Your Social Media Followers
Have you been neglecting the most powerful marketing tool at your disposal? Your email newsletter provides something social media simply cannot—a direct line to readers without algorithm interference.Many authors resist starting newslet...
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Season 5
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Episode 35
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48:16
Goodreads Evolution: Amazon's Game-Changing Integration
Amazon has finally unleashed the full potential of its Goodreads acquisition, and savvy authors should be paying close attention. After years of minimal integration, Amazon has introduced a game-changing feature that transforms the Goodreads "W...
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Season 5
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Episode 34
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38:53
Broke the Marketing Bank But No Sales? Here's Why!
Ever wonder why your marketing efforts aren't translating to book sales? The answer might be simpler than you think. Marketing and sales are often used interchangeably in the publishing world, but they're fundamentally different be...
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Season 5
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Episode 33
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5:53
The Amazon Sledgehammer: How One Author Lost Everything Over Metadata
What would you do if your entire author career disappeared overnight? That's exactly what happened to one unfortunate writer who shared their devastating experience on Reddit—all 30 of their books, representing four years of work and a signific...
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Season 5
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Episode 32
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32:10
Your Book Isn't Enough: How to Develop a Platform Media Responds To
Gone are the days when simply having a book positioned you as a media-worthy expert. Modern journalists, podcasters, and TV producers have become increasingly selective, requiring authors to demonstrate substantiated expertise, professional cre...
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Season 5
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Episode 31
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35:41
Selling Cats to Dog People: Your Amazon Ad Comedy of Errors
Ever felt like you're throwing money into the Amazon advertising abyss with nothing to show for it? You're not alone—and the problem might be simpler than you think.When your Amazon ads aren't performing, it's rarely about bad ad copy o...
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Season 5
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Episode 30
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34:29
Christmas in July: Why Authors Need to Prep Now for Holiday Sales
The holiday season represents a golden opportunity for authors to boost book sales—but only for those who start planning early enough. In this strategic episode, we dig into why "Christmas in July" isn't just a retail concept but a vital timefr...
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Season 5
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Episode 29
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17:36
Beyond Boredom: Your Book Could Be Every Parent's Summer Solution
The summer break scramble is real! Parents everywhere face the same challenge when school lets out: keeping kids entertained without surrendering to endless screen time. For authors of children's and young adult books, this presents a golden op...
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Season 5
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Episode 28
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21:32
From Beach Reads to Bestsellers: Marketing Your Book in Summer
Summer is upon us, and savvy authors know this season presents unique marketing opportunities—but what exactly makes a book beach-worthy? Penny Sansevieri and Amy Cornell dive into the evolving definition of "summer reads" and reveal practical ...
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Season 5
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Episode 27
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21:51
The Author's Identity Crisis: Why Brand Marketing Matters More Than You Think
Ever felt like you're just shoving your book down people's throats? You're not alone. In this illuminating conversation, Penny and Amy tackle the critical difference between book marketing and brand marketing—revealing why the latter might be y...
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Season 5
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Episode 26
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25:37
The Pay-to-Play Dilemma: Paying for book reviews & coverage
With a new book hitting the market every eight seconds, standing out has never been harder—and for many authors, the temptation to pay for visibility is real. But does paying for reviews or influencer features actually work? And more i...
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Season 5
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Episode 25
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34:59
Unlocking ChatGPT’s Creative Power for Authors
AI isn’t a threat to creativity—it’s a secret weapon, and savvy authors are already tapping into its power. In this episode, Penny and Amy explore how ChatGPT can transform the way you write, market, and manage your author business.Disco...
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Season 5
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Episode 24
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31:27