Why Are So Many Books So Mediocre? | A People’s Guide to Publishing

A reader asks a very straightforward question— why are so many books so mediocre? Is it a new trend? How do we measure quality?

Jane Friedman of the Hot Sheet joins us again this week to find the answers!

Prefer an audio experience? Listen to the episode on your favorite podcast app.
Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
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Disabled Witchcraft Q&A

A conversation with author Kandi Zeller

What inspired you to write your book?

As a disabled person, I wanted to create a resource that could serve as an accessible, adaptable grimoire for other witchy spoonies, drawing from my own experiences. Disabled Witchcraft is really more about starting the conversation rather than being the end of it. 

What was it like to publish with Microcosm?

It was a great experience. Everyone was communicative and committed to making the book the best it could be, and it’s always been a dream of mine to publish a book. I’m really honored to have had this opportunity to work with the team to create a resource so close to my heart.

What was the submission/query process like for you?

I really appreciated how detailed the submissions guidelines were. That helped me figure out how to create an outline from my idea and set a good foundation for the book. 

What else have you written?

I have a weekly Substack newsletter called All The Threads, which is a place where I write about random, whimsical practices at the intersections of spirituality, creativity, and justice. 

What are you currently reading? 

A lot of graphic novels and zines. My TBR is always ridiculously long. I recently finished Fangs by Sarah Andersen and Kim Reaper: Grim Beginnings by Sarah Graley, and both were adorable. 

What’s the best book you read in the last year?

So hard to choose, but my favorite was probably Batcat by Meggie Ramm. Such a sweet adventure story with queer overtones and just a dash of spooky vibes. 

What’s next for you? 

I’m working on a little horror poetry zine about my experience of growing up in a high-control religious environment, using the lens of monster myth. It’s just the kind of nerdiness I enjoy in my spare time!

Want to keep reading? Check out Disabled Witchcraft: 90 Rituals for Limited-Spoon Practitioners by Kandi Zeller, out now!

How does being an editor make you a better author? w/ Kandi Zeller | A People’s Guide to Publishing

Being a book editor and an author can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, you have unique insight into how a book is developed before you even get started. On the other hand, you can end up getting in your own way trying to make it “perfect”. And if you’re an editor for the publisher of your own book, how do you balance that?

We sat down with Disabled Witchcraft author (and Microcosm editor!) Kandi Zeller to talk writing, disability, witchcraft, cookies, and a really cool bookstore.

Get your copy of Disabled Witchcraft here.

Prefer an audio experience? Listen to the episode on your favorite podcast app.
Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
Want to stay up to date on new podcast episodes and happenings at Microcosm? Subscribe to our newsletter!

This is why we don’t use AI: A Story in Screenshots

This past week one of the platforms we sell on generously offered to “optimize” some of our product listings, unasked, and gave us the examples below of what they would do.

Our text is on the left, theirs is on the right.

It uh, didn’t go well.

Positive changes! Thought-provoking! Terrible SEO buzzwords!

This next one’s my favorite.

Ah yes, the whimsical world of the Eggplant Eating a Hot Dog Sticker!

I gave them my thoughts.

This was after a few rewrites because “what on EARTH” might have been too harsh.

Mailchimp occasionally offers to rewrite the newsletter using AI as well. It is… not great!

THE HOGWARTS OF FALL SEASONS?
This one is just downright offensive.

If any of those images are too small or don’t load, you can head over to this thread on Twitter, where I’ve posted them all.

So rest assured, we don’t use AI. It’s bad for the environment, and it can’t keep up with my wit, charm, and bad grammar.

This blog was taken from our weekly newsletter. Want to see more like this? Subscribe!

Cooking with Magic Mushrooms: The Psilocybin Cookbook

Turn your trip into a culinary treat—head to the kitchen to make your next psilocybin experience unforgettable

Magic mushrooms offer so many marvels, from transformative healing to excitement. One thing they are not known for is flavor. David Connell’s quest to make psilocybin palatable led him to develop recipes that integrate small, measured quantities of shrooms into tasty food and drink.

Stop gnawing on bitter, fibrous stalks and begin your journey with a calming, pleasant snack or sip. These healthy, delicious recipes are lactose-free, with gluten-free substitutions throughout, and have no added sugars. Photographs and illustrations will inspire your explorations of food, fungi, and consciousness.

Read on for an excerpt of Cooking with Magic Mushrooms: the Psilocybin Cookbook  by David Connell, now available from our site or your local bookseller!

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How Should a Publisher Manage Their Brand? | A People’s Guide to Publishing

Branding tells the consumer who you are, what your vibe is, and (probably most importantly) that you publish books. Past wisdom has focused on authors in the branding and marketing, but the market has since shifted to focus even more on publishers and imprints as the communication point.

This week on the podcast, Joe and Elly offer their thoughts and insights on how to get started with your publisher branding.

Prefer an audio experience? Listen to the episode on your favorite podcast app.
Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
Want to stay up to date on new podcast episodes and happenings at Microcosm? Subscribe to our newsletter!

The Practical Witch’s Almanac 2025: Rebel Wisdom

Learn, defy, and evolve on your pagan path

The essential core of witchcraft is wisdom and change. We’ve always been rebellious and defiant, and our own traditions are not exempt from challenge. Delve into iconic witchcraft traditions like the utterance of “blessed be” and the influential Wiccan Rede, exploring their origins and relevance today. This introspective journey isn’t just about history; it’s an empowering quest. It challenges you to assess these traditions’ place in your craft. Embrace, adapt, or boldly defy these customs—this edition empowers you to shape your craft’s evolution on your terms as you travel your unique spiritual path.

This year’s edition includes:

  • Weekly Schedules
  • Monthly Lunar Planners
  • Moon Signs & Phases
  • Sabbat Times & Dates
  • Eclipses & Meteor Showers
  • Spells & Recipes
  • Correspondences & References
  • and much more!

Read on for an excerpt of The Practical Witch’s Almanac: Rebel Wisdom by Friday Gladheart, now available from our site or your local bookseller!

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Where Does the Money Go in Publishing? | A People’s Guide to Publishing

If you hang in certain circles, you’ll frequently hear that “Publishers have all the money,” which is funny because bookstores get the largest percentage of each sale. But everyone has to pay their staff and operating expenses, and often it’s bewildering to watch even the revenues from your bestsellers dwindle into nothingness.

So this week on the pod, we look at that illustrious pie chart and talk about how it all disappears so quickly! Please feel free to eat pie during this episode.

Prefer an audio experience? Listen to the episode on your favorite podcast app.
Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
Want to stay up to date on new podcast episodes and happenings at Microcosm? Subscribe to our newsletter!

How Can Every Book You Publish Be Evergreen? | A People’s Guide to Publishing

The publishing industry invests heavily in the logic that a new book hits hard out of the gate, has a third of its total sales before it’s published, a third of its sales in the following year, and the final third gradually across the lifetime of the book, until it gradually saturates and dead stalls. So this week on the pod, we look at how to make books sell forever.

Prefer an audio experience? Listen to the episode on your favorite podcast app.
Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
Want to stay up to date on new podcast episodes and happenings at Microcosm? Subscribe to our newsletter!

Microcosm’s Election Survival Guide

It’s a jungle out there, folks! The cosmic weather has been uniquely disruptive these past few months and it looks like the universe isn’t taking its foot off the gas til after the votes are cast and tallied. So now’s as good a time as any: take a deep breath, unclench your jaw, lie on the floor if you need to—then dig into this selection of stuff we’ve picked out to help you support your nervous system, feel your feelings, and get through yet another election cycle together. Shop the full list (with more stickers and pins and decks) or read on for a sampling below!

How to Be Wrong by Nicole Gulatz and Jason Ludtke

Being wrong—and realizing it, admitting it, making amends, and learning and moving on—is one of the most difficult life skills out there. Childhood friends Nicole and Jason reunited as adults and teamed up to produce this neatly illustrated, interactive zine that walks you through what it means to be wrong, what to do when you are wrong, and how to help others be wrong too. Got a group of friends, a book club, or a few local politicians you think could use the zine? We have bundles now!

Unfuck Your Anxiety Workbook: Using Science to Rewire Your Anxious Brain by Dr. Faith G. Harper

Anxiety can control your life with a tight grip. Get yourself free with these exercises and worksheets designed to help you identify, manage, and ultimately calm your anxiety, be it stress that ebbs and flows or constant, chronic panic. Work through this book either by itself or as a companion to Dr. Faith G. Harper’s bestselling Unfuck Your Anxiety to learn basic tools for surviving moments of panic as well as longer-term problem solving. 

Sometimes anxiety gets us in the zone of reading about it when we could be being about it, you know? So check out the book-book, but the workbook might be an extra good fit for our needs these days. —DF

Next-Level Ally: How to Support Your Queer and Transgender Friends by Eli Sachse 

If you’ve ever felt like you’re not doing enough to support the queer and trans communities, this zine is a great way to learn how to do more. Be a supportive advocate and speak up, even when it’s hard, learn how not to overstep, and de-gender your day-to-day language.

Get Your Laws Off My Uterus — Superpack featuring various authors

Ever since reproductive choice was legalized in the US in 1973, factions have been trying to strip the right to safe, legal abortions by any means necessary. Fuck that noise. Read up with these zines and books both about organizing and finding abortion access, and learning the medical procedures so we can make informed choices about what to do with our own bodies. And, of course, taking care of ourselves and each other. This wraparound sleeve holds two books and five zines.

Unfuck Your Anger Workbook: Using Science to Manage Frustration, Rage, and Forgiveness by Dr. Faith G. Harper

If you feel irritable all the time, or if your rage is getting the best of you, take a deep breath and open this book. A standalone companion to Unfuck Your Anger by the inimitable Dr. Faith, this workbook is packed with helpful exercises, worksheets, and opportunities for reflection. In these pages, you’ll learn practical skills like meditation, communication, and breathing, and you’ll find a special model for understanding and embracing forgiveness in order to heal old wounds. Let your pent-up frustration go and turn your righteous anger into healthy, helpful fuel for treating yourself and others well, seeking justice, and living the life you want.

Monthly Manifestation Manual: A 31-Day Guided Journal to Create Your Best Life by Kelly Cree and Jessica Mullen (School of Life Design)

Spend a month manifesting your greatest desires and potential. This planner and workbook gives you 31 days’ worth of exercises for rewiring your brain to create new patterns of thoughts and actualizing your intentions and dreams. Perfect for when you’re stuck at work or in love, out of touch with your emotions, angry, anxious, afraid, or depressed, or feel like you’re hurtling down the wrong path in life too fast. Jessica Mullen and Kelly Cree’s dreamy designs and potent exercises are tested and true methods for getting yourself back on the path to living the life you want. 

How Not To Get Arrested At a Demonstration by Bill DiPaola, illustrated by fly

Remember that ‘Oh shit’ moment you had at your first protest? Or maybe you’ve been avoiding the news and your social feed; you want to get out there and be involved but you don’t even know where to start with the shit-show of our current state of affairs. How Not to Get Arrested is a zine full of illustrations, checklists, and thoroughly researched survival tips for the beginner demonstrator and the seasoned activist.

Unfuck Your Stress: Using Science to Cope with Distress and Embrace Excitement by Dr. Faith G. Harper

Stressed? Hell yeah, you are. Dr. Faith is here to help. This book offers strategies for coping with intense feelings and overwhelm in the moment and for shifting distress into helpful motivation, excitement, and action. Dr. Faith also walks us through understanding our physiological stress response (not inherently a bad thing!) and what happens when it turns into chronic stress and adrenal fatigue. Full of practical advice for understanding and managing your own stress response so that you can find solid ground and feel excited and engaged with your life again.