Nick Thacker is a bestselling author in multiple genres who turned his hobby into a full-time writing career. Having written 45 books, he now helps other authors transition to full-time writing through his Book Career in a Year program.

In this episode:

• The journey from hobby to full-time writing
• Building a sustainable author career
• Creating effective email marketing strategies
• Developing multiple income streams
• Setting realistic author goals
• Marketing strategies for new authors
• Building an author platform from scratch

Resources mentioned:

• Book Career in a Year program: https://www.bookcareerinayear.com/
• Scrivener: https://scrivener.app/
• Email marketing platforms
• Amazon KDP: https://kdp.amazon.com/
• Facebook advertising platform: https://www.facebook.com/business/ads
• The 12 Week Year book: https://www.amazon.com/12-Week-Year-Others-Months/dp/1118509234
• Entrepreneur Operating System (EOS): https://www.eosworldwide.com/

Book recommendations:

• Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight Swain: https://www.amazon.com/Techniques-Selling-Writer-Dwight-Swain/dp/0806111917
• Amazonia by James Rollins: https://www.amazon.com/Amazonia-James-Rollins/dp/0061965839

Connect with Nick:

• Website: https://www.nickthacker.com/
• Book Career in a Year Coaching Program: https://www.bookcareerinayear.com/
• Online courses and training: https://www.bookcareerinayear.com/coaching/
• Books by Nick: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B008A2W6XE

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

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Rebekah Haskell is the owner and lead designer at Vivid Covers, specializing in speculative fiction book covers. With expertise in both illustration and photo manipulation, she helps authors create genre-appropriate covers that connect with their target readers.

In this episode:

• Genre-specific cover design principles
• Differences between traditional and indie publishing covers
• Research methods for effective cover design
• Pre-made vs custom cover options
• Visual tropes and genre expectations
• Working process with authors
• Thumbnail visibility importance

Resources mentioned:

• Vivid Covers: https://www.vividcovers.com/
• Pre-made cover collections: https://www.vividcovers.com/shop/
• "Cover Your Book" by R. Haskell - https://www.amazon.com/Cover-Your-Book-Designer-Maximize/dp/B08Q6NGRSJ/
• Amazon bestseller lists: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Books/zgbs/books

Book recommendations:

• Never Check Email in the Morning by Julie Morgenstern: https://www.amazon.com/Never-Check-Mail-Morning-Unexpected/dp/0743250885
• Mage Errant series by John Bierce: https://www.amazon.com/Mage-Errant-7-book-series/dp/B07PHPLHX5

Connect with Rebekah:

• Website: https://www.vividcovers.com/
• Email: design@vividcovers.com
• Facebook: https://www.rebekahhaskell.com/fb-groups/

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Support the show

Sarah Bullen is a multi-published author, writing coach, and literary agent, leading international writing mentorships. She is the author of Write your Book in 100 Days and works with authors as a book coach and agent. Over the last two decades, she has had over 180 books published by writers she has mentored. She has held editorial roles across books, magazines, and literary agencies. Her expertise in writing and publishing provides invaluable guidance to aspiring authors, helping them develop their craft, structure their stories, and navigate the publishing world.

In this episode:

• The insider secrets of literary agent selection
• Differences between fiction and non-fiction manuscript submissions
• How to create a compelling book proposal
• Understanding the publishing industry's inner workings
• Strategies for becoming a successful published author
• The importance of online presence for writers
• Navigating the traditional publishing landscape

Resources mentioned:

• The Writing Room mentorship: https://www.thewritingroom.co.za/author-mentorship
• International writing retreats: https://www.internationalwritingretreats.com/
• Online author platforms
• Book proposal guidelines
• Genre-specific writing conventions
• Publishing industry networking

Book recommendations:

• The Ghost Ship by Colleen Dolan: https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Ship-Fire-Colleen-Dolan/dp/1637776365
• The Authority Gap by Marianne Seacart: https://www.maryannsieghart.com/the-authority-gap/

Connect with Sarah:

• Website: http://www.thewritingroom.co.za/
• Alternative Website: https://www.internationalwritingretreats.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahbullenwritingroom/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahbullenwritingroom/
• LinkedIn: https://za.linkedin.com/in/sarahbullenwritingcoach

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Support the show