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Novel Marketing

Thomas Umstattd Jr.
Novel Marketing
Latest episode

513 episodes

  • Novel Marketing

    How to Relaunch Your Book

    30/09/2026 | 1h 4 mins.
    Your book may not be dead. As Miracle Max would say, it might only be mostly dead. A book that flopped three years ago could sell better today than it did on launch day, but only if you fix what actually broke.
    This week, I talked with Julie Broad, founder of Book Launchers and host of BookLaunchers.TV. Julie is a #1 Amazon bestselling author, and her team has helped more than 400 authors write, publish, and market their books. When her clients publish second editions, her team moves their reviews over all the time.
    In this episode, you'll discover
    Whether a book that sold well at launch is a candidate for relaunch.
    The review pattern that tells you if a relaunch will waste your money.
    The one change that makes it impossible to keep your reviews when you relaunch.
    Listen in or read the blog version before you spend a dime on a new cover, so your relaunch doesn't repeat the mistakes that stalled your book the first time.
    Blog link: https://www.authormedia.com/how-to-relaunch-your-book/
    Authormedia.social link
    YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/0CjW9JmGAxI
    Support the show
  • Novel Marketing

    How to Write Short Stories with Joanna Penn

    23/09/2026 | 50 mins.
    The slowest way to write a novel is to start writing a novel.
    It sounds backward, but it’s not.
    In this week’s episode, you’ll hear from Joanna Penn of The Creative Penn. She’s spent years exploring short fiction as both craft practice and creative outlet, and she pushed back a bit on my claim about the slowest way to write a novel.
    You’ll learn
    What Joanna considers the main benefit of short stories
    Where and how she comes up with ideas for short stories (and novels)
    An unconventional way to start analyzing your favorite short stories (and where to find good ones!)
    Listen in or read the blog version so you don’t make rookie mistakes that end up baked into your 300-page novel.
    Blog link: https://www.authormedia.com/how-to-write-short-stories-with-joanna-penn/
    Social link: 
    YT Link: https://youtu.be/uufSPHkketQ

    YT Collab Link: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCdug0jLfpkayiiRyU4WqPPQ/collaboration/UCT-0HmBAtZpaLX2liUNebiQ

    Support the show
  • Novel Marketing

    Should You Leave Kindle Unlimited in 2026? The Math May Surprise You

    16/09/2026 | 45 mins.
    Authors on KDP Select get access to $700 million a year in the Kindle Unlimited fund. One login, one dashboard, one algorithm, one company to deal with.
    But that same company won't let you talk to a human with authority when something goes wrong, and it runs an algorithm that can end your career without telling you why.
    So which is it? More money, or more freedom?
    In this week's episode, you’ll hear from Kris Austin, CEO and co-founder of Draft2Digital, to figure out the real answer, and it isn't the same for every author.
    Here's what you'll learn:
    Why the "safe" choice on Amazon can turn into the riskiest 
    How Draft2Digital can simplify every aspect of going wide
    A little-known change that lets KU authors do something that was off-limits until recently
    Listen in or read the blog version to find out which path is best for you and your book.
    YT Link: https://youtu.be/cPyv2iIztwo
    Support the show
  • Novel Marketing

    Get More Time to Write by Using a Grok Bot

    03/09/2026 | 25 mins.
    Authors have historically lamented all the administrative, technological, and marketing tasks that go along with being a writer. How many times have you sighed and said, “But I just want to write!”
     We have just gone through a massive transition in how authors use AI. You can now have AI agents do tasks for you, which means you can delegate all your non-writing tasks to a bot. You tell the bot what to do, and it does it! 
    It might sound like magic, but in today’s episode, I’m going to show you it is real. You’ll learn the step-by-step process of creating your own Grok Bot AI agent, and you’ll be shocked to find out how easy it is.
    This is a shorter episode and a bit different from our regular format. You’ll likely get the most out of this episode by watching the video on YouTube. You’ll see exactly what the screen looks like and how I prompt GrokBot. You’ll also be able to find the exact wording for each of my prompts in the blog version of this episode. 
    Let me know what you think of this episode in the comments of this post’s thread on AuthorMedia.social. If there is interest, I will make more tutorials to help you leverage AI agents to give you more time to write.
    Blog link: https://www.authormedia.com/get-more-time-to-write-by-using-a-grok-bot/
    Authormedia social link: https://authormedia.social/c/novel-marketing/get-more-time-to-write-by-using-a-grok-bot/
    Support the show
  • Novel Marketing

    Will Your Back Matter Get Your Book Banned on Amazon?

    26/08/2026 | 1h
    It's 1:30 in the morning, and a woman in Cleveland has just finished your book. She meant to go to bed hours ago, but she just couldn't put it down, and now she's at the end, feeling that particular ache that comes from finishing a book you loved. She turns the page to see what you have for her next.
    What does she find?
    Your book’s last pages might be quietly costing you thousands in sales, subscribers, or readers. They might even be getting your ebook banned on Amazon. But they should be thrilling your readers and propelling your sales.
    In this week’s episode, you’ll hear Laurie Christine talk about making the most of those pages at the very end of your book.
    You’ll learn
    The one call-to-action you should choose for your first book, which seems to contradict the Novel Marketing method
    What kinds of links are prohibited in Kindle books (and what to use instead)
    The easiest way to thrill your readers while increasing your page reads and profitability by 10%
    Listen in or read the blog version to make sure your back matter is working for you instead of putting your book at risk.

    Blog link: https://www.authormedia.com/will-your-back-matter-get-your-book-banned-on-amazon/
    AuthorMedia.social link: 
    YT Link: https://youtu.be/EIANWV02sTM
    Support the show
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About Novel Marketing
The longest-running book marketing podcast in the world. This is the show for writers who want to build their platform, sell more books, and change the world with writing worth talking about. Whether you self publish or are with a traditional house, this podcast will make book promotion fun and easy. Thomas Umstattd Jr. interviews publishers, indie authors, and bestselling traditional authors about how to get published and sell more books.
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