Your Breakout Book

Welcome to our first bonus episode of Your Breakout Book! These bonus episodes are previously recorded and will hopefully tide you over until the season two premiere in January.First up, is an interview I did with Joanna Penn. She is an Award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers under J.F.Penn and also writes non-fiction for authors. She’s an award-winning entrepreneur, podcaster, and YouTuber. Her site, TheCreativePenn.com has been voted in the Top 100 sites for writers by Writer's Digest.In this interview, Joanna shares how she created brands for both her thrillers and her non-fiction titles, and why she’s launching a new podcast for books and travel. She shares what she’s learned from years of podcasting, and what she’s doing differently this time around. She also shares how she monetizes through “soft marketing” and how her content marketing serves a dual purpose.If you enjoyed this interview, you have to join us in Your Breakout Book, where conversations like these are happening every day. As a member of Your Breakout Book, you’ll gain access to live trainings, roundtable discussions, plus plenty of templates and tutorials to help you launch your breakout book. You also have the opportunity to be paired with an accountability partner to ensure you stay on track. Visit kayepublicity.com/yourbreakoutbook for more info.

\This is our second bonus episode of Your Breakout Book, where I’m revisiting interviews with some of the most knowledgeable and encouraging publishing pros. Today, I’m thrilled to re-introduce Jane Friedman. If you were to ask Jane to introduce herself, she’d tell you, “She’s just someone who knows WAY too much about publishing.” Which is true! But Jane is also the author of THE BUSINESS OF BEING A WRITER*, now available form University of Chicago press, the co-creator of The Hot Sheet, a publishing newsletter aimed at professional authors, and a longtime blogger at JaneFriedman.com.This interview was conducted a couple years ago, so some of the stats may no longer be accurate, but many of the trends Jane describes are ones we’re still seeing today.If you enjoyed this interview, you have to join us in Your Breakout Book, where conversations like these are happening every day. As a member of Your Breakout Book, you’ll gain access to live trainings, roundtable discussions, plus plenty of templates and tutorials to help you launch your breakout book. You also have the opportunity to be paired with an accountability partner to ensure you stay on track. Visit http://kayepublicity.com/yourbreakoutbook for more info.

This is our final bonus episode of Your Breakout Book, where I’m revisiting interviews with some of the most knowledgeable and encouraging publishing pros. Here to round out our replays is none other than Kaye Publicity’s marketing and events coordinator, Hailey Dezort.Hailey received her B.A. in English and a minor in Anthropology from Loyola University of Chicago. Before joining Kaye Publicity, she was a digital content creator for two interior design companies, as well as a marketing intern with Chicago Humanities Festival and Open Letter Books. When she’s not helping our clients grow their online following or pitching social influeners, she posts on her own bookstagram account @hayhails.Earlier this year, Hailey delivered a workshop to Your Breakout Book members to help them improve (or just get started on) their influencer outreach. After the workshop, several members successfully secured #bookstragram and book-tube features for their books.If you’re ready to take action with the help of a trusted guide and savvy community of authors, I encourage you to join us in Your Breakout Book. Book promotion can feel frustrating, confusing, and overwhelming. As a book publicist, I know first-hand how challenging it can be to keep up with industry trends, the latest social media platform, not to mention carving out time to create content. That’s why I created Your Breakout Book; to provide a one-stop-shop for everything you need to successfully launch your book. Your membership includes a library of trainings, tutorials, and templates, monthly live trainings and roundtable discussions, the opportunity to be paired with an accountability, and most importantly, a community of savvy authors ready to share their knowledge and experience.Visit kayepublicity.com/yourbreakoutbook to get started.

This month’s theme is Writing for Readers. So many authors complain and lament about all the promotional responsibilities falling on their shoulders, throwing up their hands and saying, “But I’m not a marketer! I’m just a writer!”What many authors don’t realize is their skills as a writer can be their greatest asset as a marketer.Any type of promotion begins with storytelling. For books, you tell the story of how your book came to exist, what inspired you to write it, and why it’s important. You share your author journey, your path to publication, your research process, and sometimes insight into your personal life. You may do this through blog posts, newsletters, or social media content. You may apply these skills to your media pitches, op-eds, or written interviews. Writing skills are necessary for so many aspects of promotion that I’d argue you, as an author, have an advantage over many of the so-called professionals.You have the skills, but how can you apply them to launch Your Breakout Book? That’s exactly the question I’m posing to this month’s guests. I’ll speak with content strategist Eman Ismail who will share the power and principles behind email marketing. We’ll hear from award-winning author and Your Breakout Book member, Ellen Byron, about the impact guest blogging has had on growing her audience. And tomorrow, I’ll share my personal journey of applying my writing skills to marketing and publicity.Hit subscribe wherever you’re listening to this podcast and ensure you never miss an episode. I’ll be back in your earbuds tomorrow.

Welcome to Your Breakout Book, the podcast that helps authors like you write, publish and prosper. I’m Dana Kaye, the founder of Kaye Publicity, and I’ve dedicated the majority of my life to helping authors establish their brands and reach more readers. I believe that every author, regardless of genre and publishing path, has the ability to cultivate an engaged community of readers, increase their sales, and have a thriving writing career. But let me be clear, my methods are not one-size-fits-all, nor do they rely on quick-and-easy marketing tactics. If you’re looking to throw money at your problem and become an instant overnight success, then stop listening now. But if you’re looking to implement long-term, sustainable strategies that ensure your readers will come back for every book you write, then you, my friend, are in the right place. If you're ready to launch your own book with the help of a veteran publicist and community of savvy authors, then I encourage you to become a member of Your Breakout Book. Click here to join!

Is it better to reach a new reader or cultivate a relationship with an existing one? A variation of this question is, is it more expensive to sign a new client or re-up with an existing one?Too often, authors are only focused on reaching new readers, when in fact, nurturing their relationship with their existing readers can lead to a myriad of opportunities. A single sale can lead to:·       More books purchased·       Reviews posted to Goodreads and Amazon·       Word of mouth·       More first-week sales of the next bookIn this week's episode, we dive into how authors can nurture a loyal community of fans, leading to more sales with less effort.Ready to launch your own breakout book with the help of a veteran publicist and community of savvy authors? Visit https://kayepublicity.com/yourbreakoutbook  to become a member.

Readers are risk averse. They don’t want to invest time and money on something unless they know it’s good. According to Nielsen, 60% of readers buy books from authors they like or because they’ve enjoyed other books in that series. Statistically speaking, this means that 60% of the reading public won’t take a chance on an author they’ve never heard of. By establishing a clear author brand, you will convey to readers what your book is like and provide reassurance that they will enjoy it.In today's episode, you will learn how to identify, create, and establish your unique author brand. I created a free worksheet to help you through this process. Visit https://kayepublicity.com/brandworksheet/ to download and use it as you listen to the episode.Ready to launch your own breakout book with the help of a veteran publicist and community of savvy authors? Visit https://kayepublicity.com/yourbreakoutbook  to become a member.

As a publicist, I am constantly hearing from people that they “want to get their name out there” or that they “need more media coverage.” But in my 10 years working in PR, I find that most people really don’t understand the different types of media coverage and they role they play in their promotion campaign. Today, I'm clarifying the difference between publicity (earned media) and marketing (placed media), and the different roles they play in your media campaign.If you're looking to launch your own book PR campaign without the guesswork, I encourage you to check out Your Breakout Book. Your monthly membership will give you access to trainings and templates that provide a step-by-step process to securing media coverage and executing a marketing campaign. Plus, you'll have access to a veteran publicist (that's me!) and a community of savvy authors. Visit http://kayepublicity.com/yourbreakoutbook for more info!

In the last episode, we discussed two crucial pillars in a successful PR campaign: publicity and marketing. Today’s focus is on the third pillar: community outreach. When it comes to generating word of mouth sales, community outreach is your most powerful tool. Today, we’re exploring different ways you can reach a wider audience with the help of community partners, and how to best incorporate this outreach into your greater PR plan.Because I’m recording this episode in the middle of a pandemic, I will be focusing on initiatives that can be done safely; meaning, online or with social distancing guidelines in place. Hopefully, I will need to re-record this in the near future to incorporate in-person events, but right now, we’re working with what we’ve got.Ready to launch your own breakout book with the help of a veteran publicist and community of savvy authors? Visit https://kayepublicity.com/yourbreakoutbook  to become a member.

If you've listened to all six episodes, congratulations! You now have an understanding of what it takes to launch your breakout book. But knowledge is meaningless without action. So this week, I’m sharing techniques to help you take quick and consistent action. You’ll also hear from a couple Your Breakout Book members on how they’re implementing what they’ve learned in the program.If you're looking to launch your own book PR campaign without the guesswork, I encourage you to check out Your Breakout Book. Your monthly membership will give you access to trainings and templates that provide a step-by-step process to securing media coverage and executing a marketing campaign. Plus, you'll have access to a veteran publicist (that's me!) and a community of savvy authors. Visit http://kayepublicity.com/yourbreakoutbook for more info!

Welcome to Season 2 of Your Breakout Book, the podcast that helps authors like you write, publish and prosper. I’m Dana Kaye, the founder of Kaye Publicity, and I’ve dedicated the majority of my life to helping authors establish their brands and reach more readers. I believe that every author, regardless of genre and publishing path, has the ability to cultivate an engaged community of readers, increase their sales, and have a thriving writing career.This month, we’re focusing on what it takes to become a full-time author. Here’s a hint; it takes more than writing one, even two books a year. The authors I interviewed have figured out creative ways to create larger and more consistent revenue streams so they can leave their day jobs and write full time.If you enjoy these conversations, I encourage you to join my membership community. As a member of Your Breakout Book, you’ll gain access to live trainings, roundtable discussions, plus plenty of templates and tutorials to help you launch your breakout book. You also have the opportunity to be paired with an accountability partner to ensure you stay on track. Visit http://kayepublicity.com/yourbreakoutbook for more info.

This month, we’re focusing on what it takes to quit your day job and become a full-time author. For most, the transition to full time means writing more and finding new and creative ways to monetize your writing.When Rachael Herron was ready to leave her day job as a 911 dispatcher, she turned to Patreon. Patreon helps creatives receive monthly recurring revenue from their top fans, and Rachael has used this platform to grow a readership for her essays and other nonfiction writing. It’s because of this monthly recurring revenue that she was able to leave her day job and write full time.About Rachael:Rachael Herron is the internationally bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including thriller (under R.H. Herron), mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir, and nonfiction about writing. She received her MFA in writing from Mills College, Oakland, and she teaches writing extension workshops at both UC Berkeley and Stanford. She is a proud member of the NaNoWriMo Writer’s Board.More about Rachael's booksMore about Rachael's Patreon

When you think about life as a full-time writer, it might seem like a solitary practice. But for today’s guest, it was actually his extensive network of publishing people that helped him smoothly transition out of the 9-5.Keir Graff writes thrillers, mysteries, and contemporary fiction for adults, and adventure novels for younger readers. Recent works include THE THREE MRS WRIGHTS and DROWNING WITH OTHERS, both of which were coauthored with Linda Joffe Hull under the name Linda Keir. He is also the author of middle-grade novels including THE TINY MANSION, THE PHANTOM TOWER (a Chicago Tribune Best Children’s Book) and THE MATCHSTICK CASTLE (an Illinois Reads official selection). The former executive editor of Booklist, he lives in Chicago, where he is the cofounder and cohost of the much-loved literary gathering Publishing Cocktails.But his novels aren’t the only thing under contract; he supplements his income through ghost writing. In today’s interview, Keir shares how he balances his creative writing with his contract writing, how he navigated the transition to full-time authorship, and how he worked his way up the publishing ladder.If you’d like to continue the conversation around what it takes to write full time, I encourage you to become a member of Your Breakout Book. All month, we’re trading ideas, answering questions, and sharing experiences to help you launch your own breakout book and move closer to the full-time writer dream. Visit KayePublicity.com/yourbreakoutbook for more information. Connect with Keir:WebsiteThe Graff PaperOther Resources Mentioned:ReedsyPublishing Cocktails

This month, we’re focusing on what it takes to quit your day job and become a full-time author. We learned how Rachael Herron used Patreon to fill in the financial gap left by her day job. We heard how Keir Graff write both his own books, as well as the books of others by ghostwriting.It’s clear, there’s no wrong way to be a full-time writer. But it’s also that having a successful author career doesn’t mean you have to do it full time.Today, I’m speaking with bestselling author, Gigi Pandian, who had the opportunity to take a sabbatical from her day job and fulfill a dream of being a full-time author. But, as you’ll here in this interview, Gigi learned that she actually missed her day job, and decided to return to her 9-5.Gigi Pandian is a USA Today bestselling and Anthony, Agatha, Derringer, and Lefty Award-winning mystery author. The child of cultural anthropologists from New Mexico and the southern tip of India, she spent her childhood traveling around the world on their research trips, and now lives in Northern California. Gigi writes lighthearted traditional mysteries including the Accidental Alchemist mysteries, Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt mysteries, and locked-room mystery stories. She has served on the national board of Sisters in Crime, currently sits on the board of her local Mystery Writers of America chapter, and is one of the co-founders of Crime Writers of Color.If you’d like to continue the conversation around what it takes to write full time, I encourage you to become a member of Your Breakout Book. All month, we’re trading ideas, answering questions, and sharing experiences to help you launch your own breakout book and move closer to the full-time writer dream. Visit KayePublicity.com/yourbreakoutbook for more information. 

All month, we’ve been learning about what it takes to become a full-time author. Here are the two big takeaways: there’s no one way to do it and success does not equate to writing full time. You can be successful and still work a 9-5, as long as that 9-5 supports the growth you want to see in your writing career.A couple weeks ago, we took a deep dive into this topic during our bi-annual Your Breakout Book virtual conference. We heard from authors and publishing pros about what it takes to become a full time author. In this episode, I'm sharing my favorite clips from the conference.If you understand the importance of securing book reviews and interviews, but unsure of how to get started, or just need a little nudge, I am giving you a challenge. Specifically, the 28-Day PR challenge.The 28-Day PR Challenge is the guidance and accountability you need to finally launch your own PR campaign. In just one month, you’ll create your media list, craft your pitch email, and secure important media coverage for you and your book. The challenge will include weekly trainings to guide you through each step of the process, as well as accountability emails to ensure you stay on track.

Today is February 1st, which means it’s time to announce this month’s theme: In the Media. All month long, we’re exploring what it takes to secure book reviews, features and interviews in and on a variety of media outlets. I speak with S. Zainab Williams of Book Riot about how she considers what books and authors to feature on the popular website. I speak with Angie Trueblood about how authors can grow their readership through podcast interviews. I also talk with Ashley Hasty of the Hasty Book List about working with book influeners. And finally, I chat with Ed Aymar about how he was able to secure a slew of media coverage for his recent book.If you’re ready to learn the ins and outs of launching your own publicity campaign, hit subscribe wherever you’re currently listening so you never miss an episode.But that’s not all.In addition to media-centric podcast interviews, today marks the first day of our 28-Day PR Challenge.  Participants are learning how to create media lists, pitch themselves to journalists, and successfully secure media coverage for their book. You’ll receive training videos delivered straight to your inbox as well as weekly check-ins to ensure you stay on track. You’ll also gain FREE access to the Your Breakout Book community for the entire month of February. That’s one free month of  Your Breakout Book included in your registration fee.Are you ready to hear the challenge part? Any participant who secures a placement will have their registration fee refunded. That’s right. I know this process works, but I also know doing the work can be intimidating. So what better incentive than a full refundIt’s not too late to get in on the 28-Day PR Challenge. Click here to sign up!

Having a breakout book requires reaching people outside of your circle, and one of the best ways to do that is through media coverage. When you or your book are featured on podcasts, websites, or TV shows, you’re introduced to a whole new audience of potential readers.But how do you start? Do you rely on your publisher to handle media outreach? Do you have to hire a publicity or marketing company to get the word out?Not necessarily.I know from my decade plus experience in book publicity that authors have the power to secure media coverage for themselves. In fact, editors and journalists like today’s guest say that often, authors doing  a better job of pitching themselves than most publicists!That’s why this month, we’re focusing entirely on securing media coverage for your book, starting today with S. Zainab Williams, Book Riot's managing editor and co-host of the SFF Yeah! podcast. She shares her insight into making your pitch stand out, how to work with editors, and what authors should consider when pitching themselves to media.If you’re new listener, you are just in time to join our 28-Day PR Challenge. Participants are learning how to create media lists, pitch themselves to journalists, and successfully secure media coverage for their book. You’ll receive training videos delivered straight to your inbox as well as weekly check-ins to ensure you stay on track. You’ll also gain FREE access to the Your Breakout Book community for the entire month of February. That’s one free month of Your Breakout Book included in your registration fee.Are you ready to hear the challenge part? Any participant who secures a placement will have their registration fee refunded. That’s right. I know this process works, but I also know doing the work can be intimidating. So what better incentive than a full refund?Click here to get started!Resources mentioned:Book RiotSFF Yeah! PodcastFollow Book Riot on Instagram

Over the past few years, podcasting has exploded. According to a study by Infinite Dial, in 2019, 169 million people in the US alone, reported to have listened to a podcast in the past week. And those US podcast listeners are listening to an average of 7 podcasts per week. Since the pandemic, podcast downloads have increased by 40%. It’s clear that podcasts have officially entered the mainstream.But that’s not all. 50% of listeners say they listen to the entire episode. How often do you watch an entire YouTube video or read an entire article? I bet, not very often. But when it comes to podcasts, most people are staying engaged for the entire episode.At Kaye Publicity, we pitch our clients to podcasts regularly, and we see the impact it can have. Podcast interviews build trust between listeners and hosts or interviewers in a way that other types of media don’t. If you’re looking to reach a new audience and quickly build trust with that audience, podcasts are the way to go.That’s why I’m so excited to introduce today’s guest, Angie Trueblood.As a podcast visibility expert and host of the Go Pitch Yourself podcast, Angie Trueblood knows that the only 'perfect pitch' is the one that leads with value and focuses on building a genuine connection. Whether she is teaching entrepreneurs how to pitch themselves or working behind the scenes to secure opportunities for others, Angie leverages her super-connector powers to grow businesses and build long-lasting relationships.In this episode, she shares how authors can find which shows to pitch, secure interviews, and make the most out of each podcast appearance. Connect with Angie:Podcast RoadmapWebsitePodcastInstagramResources mentionedRacheal CookEveryday Style School

Around 2009, book bloggers emerged as the next big thing in books coverage. Today, blogs may be taking a back seat to #bookstagram #booktwitter and #booktok, but the concept is the same: any fan has the potential to cultivate an online audience and make an impact with their platform.And that’s just what today’s guest, Ashley Hasty, did.Ashley is the book blogger behind HastyBookList.com, a site for reviews, features, and interviews with authors, audiobook narrators, and book jacket designers. She has a Ph.D. in fashion history so it’ll come as no surprise that her favorite genre is historical fiction, but she also enjoys mysteries, rom coms, and non-fiction. When not reading or blogging, she teaches college courses in marketing, merchandising, and fashion history.Today, she shares how she started writing about books as a passion project and a way to escape her day job. She shares how she works with authors and publicists to amplify the voices of new authors and connect readers with great books. Resources Mentioned:https://www.instagram.com/ashleyhasty/ https://www.hastybooklist.com/subscribe-hasty-book-list https://www.facebook.com/hastybooklist https://www.pinterest.com/hastybooklist/ https://twitter.com/AHastyLifeConversations like these are happening every day in Your Breakout Book. As a member, you'll gain access to trainings, tutorials, monthly roundtable discussions, and a community of savvy authors. If you're ready to take your writing career to the next level by increasing your sales and expanding your name recognition, then you're ready for Your Breakout Book. Click here to get started!

All month, we’ve heard from the experts about how to secure media coverage for your book. You’ve learned how to craft a pitch, find the right podcasts, work with editors and build relationships.Today’s guest, E. A. Aymar, is not a media expert. He’s an author like you. He shares his windy path to publishing and how it was the connections that helped him establish his name in the crime fiction community and secure national media coverage for his books.Ed didn’t have a PR background or a huge budget to execute his promotion campaign. Instead, he focused on nurturing relationships and cultivating a community.Resources Mentioned:https://eaymarwrites.comhttps://eaymarwrites.com/noirbarhttps://thrillerwriters.org