Stephen R. Campbell's Blog: Stephen R. Campbell

Listen to Episode 117

In this we, week’s episode, we consider the process of finding the right editor for the right stage of your writing process.  Our guest is Alida Winternheimer from WordEssential.com.  She’s an author herself, but her role in this episode focuses on her work as a developmental editor and writing coach.

Alida understands the work involved in turning idea into a novel, and the  even greater commitment it takes work with other professionals to improve your craft.

She’s a t...

Cover design whiz and graphics designer Elizabeth Mackey joins us on this episode of The Author Biz podcast.

Listen to Episode 85

You can’t judge a book by its cover. Right? The old saying may be true, but unfortunately for authors, a great many readers won’t have the opportunity to judge your book unless your cover appeals to them.

Today’s guest is cover designer Elizabeth Mackey. She’s a military wife, mom, and freelance graphic designer. She graduated with honors from the Art Institute of...

Do you use pre-orders as a part of your launch process?

It’s an interesting and much-debated topic in the indie publishing world right now. In April, we covered the subject with Elizabeth Craig, who had a disappointing experience using pre-orders and doesn’t plan on using them again.

That episode generated some interesting conversation inside The Author Biz Facebook Group from a number of authors, including two with much different, much more positive results when using them.

Carol Newsome

Th...

Swim upstream. Go the other way. Ignore the conventional wisdom.
—- Sam Walton

One of the concerns every business must handle is dealing with incoming information flow. There is a torrent of information coming at us from all directions, seemingly at all times.

One shortcut to dealing with information overload is to simplify it into easily understood bits and then ignore what doesn’t fit our expectations. When enough of us see and discuss a pattern, conventional wisdom is formed, allowing...

A little over a year ago, an author friend, Logan Keys, asked me how my book was coming. At that point, I’d been working on the same thing for nearly a year and making no progress. I shared my frustration, and she suggested that I write something completely different.

Logan’s suggestion launched a flurryof creative energy which allowed me to write a pretty good story over the course of a few months. The problem was my protagonist, Reno Hart. She evolved so much during the writing process that...

Elizabeth Spann Craig joins us to talk pre-orders in this episode of The Author Biz.

Will readers respond if you offer your latest book for sale as a pre-order before the release date? If they do is that a good thing, or a bad thing?

As is so often the case the in the author business, the answer is frustratingly unclear.

The prevailing wisdom seems to be that we should all offer pre-orders for our books, either through every digital outlet selling those books or at the very least, at some of...

Author and Entrepreneur Fauzia Burke is the guest on this episode of The Author Biz

Today’s topic is online marketing for busy authors. How’s that for a hook to a post and a show, right?

Well, that’s actually the title of a new book by Fauzia Burke. After spending 20 years helping authors promote their work online, Fauzia has finally written a book, which she calls a Step-by-Step guide to help us navigate the dizzying range of online marketing options available to us today as authors.

In add...

I had the great pleasure of chatting with a very select group of author podcasters on the Self Publishing Roundtable last week. Hosts (and podcasters)Erica ConroyandRobert Chazz ChuteinvitedHank Garnerhost of theAuthor Stories Podcast,Patrick Stemp, who hosts theTo Be Read Podcast,and me to discuss hows and whys of our podcast lives.

Despite a few technical problems on my end with Google Hangouts, I’m happy to report that I learned some things from the hosts and guests that I’ll be putting i...

Author Michael Anderleis this guest on this first every audio and video episode (see below) of The Author Biz.

Have you seen those year-end articles by indie authors who share sales numbers on their websites? In some cases those numbers are staggering, and it’s easy to read them and ask yourself, how the heck is it even possible to sell that many books.

If so, you’re not alone. It’s hard not to be impressed and happy for those authors. But it WOULD be nice to hear exactly how things started...

Imagine sitting around a comfortable table chatting about books with people who really know and love the subject. I spent a very pleasant hour last night doing a digital version of that very thing on theTBR Podcast, a weekly show that’s all about books. We talked a lot about mysteries and thrillers last night, but the show is not focused on any particular genre.

I’ve been a fan of the TBR (to be read) Podcast since I first learned of it from an author friend, John L. Monk, who has since becom...