The Indy Author's Guide to Podcasting for Authors: Creating Connections, Community, and Income

by Matty Dalrymple

If you are an author who is thinking of launching a podcast … if you are an author who has started a podcast and is struggling to keep it afloat … if you are an author on the brink of “podfading” and losing the hard-won benefits you can gain from this popular and intimate format -- then this book is for you. Matty Dalrymple, The Indy Author, shares her learnings from her years hosting and producing The Indy Author Podcast. Tapping nautical metaphors to explore the stages of creating a podcast, THE INDY AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO PODCASTING FOR AUTHORS will guide you through determining your destination, preparing for your voyage, and setting sail. Matty discusses the benefits podcasting offers to authors specifically, and the specific challenges authors might need to overcome to succeed in this medium. Questions posed at the end of each chapter prompt insights to be captured in your own Captain's Log, enabling you to note progress, acknowledge mistakes, and celebrate successes on your voyage.  This is not merely a manual of technical requirements, although those are covered at a high level in the book and in more detail at The Indy Author website. This is a foundational resource you can pick up again and again, one that will serve as your guide as you steer your podcast through its voyage and, when a course correction is needed, will provide the strategies and tactics you need to adjust your bearing. THE INDY AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO PODCASTING FOR AUTHORS The Podcasting Voyage •    Why Podcasting ... and Why for Authors? Determining Your Destination •    Determining Your Destination - Introduction
•    Establishing Connections with Guests
•    Building Community with Listeners
•    Creating Direct Income with Your Podcast
•    Creating Indirect Income with Your Podcast Preparing for Your Voyage •    Preparing for the Voyage - Introduction
•    Choosing Your Topic
•    Choosing Your Format
•    Choosing Your Mode, Medium, and Venue
•    Choosing Your Deliverables
•    Choosing Your Schedule
•    Choosing Your Episode Structure
•    Choosing Your Persona
•    Choosing Your Livery (a.k.a. Branding)
•    Choosing the Tech Setting Sail •    Setting Sail - Introduction
•    Lining up Guests
•    Preparing for the Episode
•    Creating the Environment
•    Refining Your Audio and Video Presence
•    Creating the Episode
•    Making the Most of Your Content
•    Making It Interactive
•    Reducing Friction (Improving Your Production Process)
•    Being a Podcast Guest Embarking on the Voyage •    Embarking of the Voyage - Last Thoughts
•    Resources

178 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 30, 2020

About the author

Matty Dalrymple is the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers ROCK PAPER SCISSORS, SNAKES AND LADDERS, and THE IRON RING; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels THE SENSE OF DEATH, THE SENSE OF RECKONING, THE FALCON AND THE OWL, and A FURNACE FOR YOUR FOE; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including CLOSE THESE EYES and WRITE IN WATER. Matty lives with her husband and three dogs in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and enjoys vacationing on Mount Desert Island, Maine, and Sedona, Arizona, and these locations provide the settings for her work. Matty is a member of Sisters in Crime and the Brandywine Valley Writers Group.

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a listener of the Indy Author Podcast for quite a few years now—it’s made many a traffic-laden commutes both more enjoyable and more useful. When I saw that Ms. Dalrymple had written a book about podcasting, I had to pick it up. To be honest, I am not yet a published author, so setting up an author podcast is not yet at the top of my to do list. But as a regular consumer of podcasts I have long held a curiosity about podcasting (maybe even harbored a dream of having my own one day), and this book shows you what it’s like from the producer’s side of the microphone. From guiding the planning of what subjects you want to talk about, to the show format, to the actual equipment needed and so much more, this book is packed with nuts and bolt information.

The book is very readable, and I found the nautical theme to be fun and engaging. The Captain’s Log sections provide thought-provoking questions to help guide you in your own podcasting journey. I am still not ready to pursue my own podcast, but when I decide to go for it, this will be the first book I revisit.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ethan Rowland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guide delivers a clear, structured breakdown of what it actually takes to operate as a serious independent author. Instead of vague encouragement, it focuses on positioning, production standards, distribution strategy, and long term sustainability.

One of its strongest aspects is how it reframes independent publishing as a business discipline rather than a hobby. The discussion around branding, audience clarity, and professional presentation is especially grounded. It makes the reader think about consistency across covers, metadata, marketing tone, and catalog strategy rather than chasing shortcuts.

The sections dealing with visibility and platform building are particularly useful. The emphasis on controlled growth, understanding retailer ecosystems, and avoiding common beginner mistakes gives the book practical value beyond motivation. It reads less like theory and more like a field manual for building an author career intentionally.

Overall, this is a focused and realistic guide for writers who want to treat indie publishing as a long term professional path rather than a one book experiment.

[Subramanyam Gunda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matty Dalrymple’s The Indy Author’s Guide to Podcasting for Authors is an invaluable resource for authors who want to harness the power of podcasting to connect with their audience, build a community, and create new revenue streams. Whether you're a complete beginner or already have some podcasting experience, this book provides step-by-step guidance on launching and sustaining a successful podcast as an author.

Notable Pages:
Page 3: Introduces the powerful idea of podcasting as an author’s tool for marketing and community building.

Page 22: Explains how to create direct income through sponsorships, Patreon, and affiliate marketing.

Page 72: Highlights the importance of branding and persona-building for long-term success.

Page 143: Provides final insights on maintaining consistency and avoiding "podfade" (when a podcast fizzles out).

[Cait's Reading Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a helpful, practical guide for authors as they establish their podcasts. This book shows how podcasts offer another avenue for authors to connect with readers and build additional income. This guide is thorough offering helpful recommendations for direct and indirect income streams with all the new platforms for content creators that authors can leverage with their podcast.

As a new podcaster as well, I found all the technical and marketing guidance helpful!

This is the second book that I have reviewed from Matty Dalrymple and would recommend this book as well to authors and creatives building a podcast.

I received a free copy of this book via BookSprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Betsy Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to understand and well organized, this book is full of good, realistic advice about podcasting.

[Stanley B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good overview of how to be a podcaster and what to do when a person is on a podcast.