Claim OwnershipBook Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast
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© 2026 Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast
Description
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.
314 Episodes
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A brand that doesn’t line up is a silent sales killer. We dig into why readers make snap judgments in under a second, how confusion and inconsistency create friction, and the small, practical moves that turn browsers into buyers. Think of branding as a trust filter: the clearer your patterns, the faster the “yes.” We start with the highest leverage fix—your bio. Using a simple four-line framework, we show how to match voice to genre, humanize your profile, and direct readers to a next step. ...
Feeling like every promo is uphill? We unpack why marketing stalls when a book is presented to the wrong readers — and how smart positioning turns traffic into sales. Penny and Amy break down the signals that shape buying decisions in under five seconds: category choices, keywords that actually guide Amazon, cover conventions that telegraph sub-genre, and hooks that speak to what readers want right now. We share real-world shifts that changed outcomes fast, including a romance that soared af...
Want a simple, concrete way to sell more books on Amazon? We’re taking you inside A+ Content—the image modules beneath your description—and showing how smart visuals, tight copy, and brand consistency can raise conversions, reduce returns, and make your page feel like a pro built it. Together we map the shopper’s journey down the page: how the cover earns the scroll, how A+ tiles anchor expectations, and how crisp visuals plus one-line hooks close the gap between browsing and buying. W...
You can run ads, post daily, and grind all week—and still watch your book stall. The missing piece isn’t more hustle. It’s positioning. We pull back the curtain on the quiet issues that throttle sales! We start with the most common and costly mistake: treating categories like identity badges rather than traffic lanes. Amazon’s ecosystem pattern-matches behavior, so a miscategorized book gets shown to the wrong readers, earns letdown reviews, and falls into a negative feedback loop. From cozy...
Six years in, we’re starting the year by cutting through the noise and zeroing in on what truly predicts book sales. We unpack a practical framework that helps you diagnose why a launch spikes and stalls, why great reviews don’t always translate to revenue, and how small, targeted changes deliver outsized gains. If you’ve ever felt busy but not better off, this conversation will give you focus, language, and a step-by-step path to momentum. We walk through five core signals: reader response,...
We are so excited to share our new podcast format! In this short episode we break down what to expect in the new year! Based on your feedback and input, we're changing up our podcast to serve YOU even better! Ready to stop guessing your next marketing move and start stacking real wins? We’re sharing a flexible monthly roadmap that pairs structure with freedom, so you can either follow along from January to December or drop into the exact topics you need right now. Each theme stands on its own...
Last week, we counted down your favorite episodes based on downloads. This week? It’s our turn. In this end-of-year episode, Penny and Amy each revisit one standout episode they couldn’t stop thinking about — not just because listeners loved them, but because they perfectly captured what authors struggled with (and grew through) all year. This isn’t a nostalgia episode. It’s a clarity episode. Both picks reflect the themes we’ve seen again and again in consultations, campaigns, and real auth...
As we wrap up the year, we’re celebrating you — the listeners who made this podcast such a powerful space for honest, practical conversations about author success. In this episode, we’re counting down the top 3 most-downloaded episodes of the year — and more importantly, unpacking what your listening choices reveal about what authors really care about right now. Spoiler alert: it’s not hacks, hype, or shortcuts. These three episodes all point to the same deeper truth: authors are cravin...
Tired of shouting into the void with a book you believe in? We unpack a simple, proven path to clarity that makes every marketing move easier and cheaper: find your shelf, define your reader, and deliver the payoff your genre promises. Penny Sansevieri and Amy Cornell pull back the curtain on what actually drives sales velocity for authors—clear positioning, focused targeting, and small, high-impact pivots that align your book with how readers shop. We start by grounding your work with “shel...
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 been feeling stretched thin by ads, social media, newsletters, and endless promotion tasks, this episode is your reset. In this week’s Book Marketing Tips & Author Success Podcast, Penny and Amy break down what sustainable book marketing really looks...
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 how to create your own opportunities, refine your message, and show up with the kind of presence that builds trust with readers, influencers, and journalists. We start with the most powerful tool you can own: a reader sound bite. We break down what to ...
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 that compounds. From launch-day myths to social comparison traps, we unpack the subtle ways authors derail progress and offer a practical reset rooted in consistency, curiosity, and clear execution. We start by challenging the instant gratification mi...
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 off-site links, and a living brand that shows up beyond the buy button. We start with the quick wins you can tackle today. Then we raise the ceiling with strategies that compound over time. You’ll hear why external links matter more than ever, and crea...
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 but burns time and cash. From there, we pull back the curtain on werewolf branding. We also drive a stake through the vampire vanity press. Predatory packages can lock you out of key levers and lock you into a bad publisher. Then we unwrap the ...
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: podcast bookings, media hits, website traffic spikes, newsletter clicks, and the kind of social engagement that signals real interest. Along the way, we share how to build a simple marketing journal that captures what you did, when you did it, and what...
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 readers toward a confident yes on release day. We start by reframing pre-orders for small platforms: you’re not shouting into the void, you’re leading with value. That means sharing content readers already search for—true-crime sparks for thrillers, trope t...
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 accessible than you might think—and they pack a powerful promotional punch. When your book displays an award seal or mention, readers take notice. Our research shows that award recognition can boost Amazon click-through rates by up to 25%, with an avera...
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 really happening behind the scenes. Penny and Amy explore the multifaceted reasons behind fluctuating page read counts, from seasonal shifts and algorithm changes to subscription saturation and increased competition from AI-generated content. They chal...
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 writers' conference by crafting a compelling elevator pitch – going from zero interest to landing both an agent and a publishing deal for the exact same book. The hosts break down exactly what makes an effective elevator pitch, walking you through the esse...
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 content, the journey from page to screen involves far more strategy than most authors realize. This candid conversation unpacks what truly makes a book "film-ready" and why so many aspiring authors miss the mark. We dive deep into the elements producers actu...
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