Do book reviews matter anymore? w/Jane Friedman | People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

March 26, 2026

It’s been said more and more frequently that reviews from trade publications don’t sell books the way they used to. Why is that, and what DOES sell books?

This week on the pod, Jane Friedman of the Bottom Line is back to talk with Joe and Elly about the movement away from book critique to book content, what book reviews are good for, and what, if anything, they can do to help sell books.

For more valuable insights about the book industry from Jane, check out The Bottom Line.

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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What can you do about book bans? (w/Danny Caine) | A People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

March 19, 2026

Danny Caine, author of “How to Resist Amazon and Why“, “How to Protect Bookstores and Why“, and the new “How to Defend Books and Why” is a writer, speaker, and former bookstore owner.

This week on the podcast, join Danny, Elly, and Joe as they talk about the interplay of book bans and freedom movements the world over, how you can defend books, and the work and the conversations and interviews that shaped “How to Defend Books.”

Get Danny’s books on the Microcosm website, or your local indie bookstore!

To find out more about book bans and challenges, click 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!
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A People’s Guide to Publishing: Building a Successful, Sustainable, Meaningful Book Business From the Ground Up

March 09, 2026

Learn what it takes to publish books successfully

Drawing on 30 years of experience operating an independent publishing company, Microcosm founder and CEO Joe Biel has written the most accessible and comprehensive guide to running a successful publishing business. You’ll learn all the skills of the trade, including how to:

Develop your individual books to connect with readers on a practical and emotional level
Choose between offset printed, digitally printed, and ebook formats and work effectively with printers
Build an authentic niche so you can reach your audience and sell books directly
Understand if and when you’re ready to work with a distributor or large online retailer
Create a budget and predict the cost and income of each book so your company stays in the black
Decide what work you need to do yourself and what can be done by others
Plan for sustainable growth

Featuring interviews with other upstart independent publishers and funny anecdotes from publishing’s long history as well as detailed charts and visuals, this book is intended both for beginners looking for a realistic overview of the publishing or self-publishing process and for experienced publishers seeking a deeper understanding of accounting principles, ways to bring their books to new audiences, and how to advance their mission in a changing industry. All readers will come away with the confidence to move forward wisely and a strong sense of why publishing matters today more than ever.

Keep going to read an excerpt of Joe Biel’s A People’s Guide to Publishing! Available now through our site, or via your favorite independent Microcosm peddler 🙂

(more…)

Do Book Awards Matter? | People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

February 26, 2026

Book awards! There are a lot of them out there. Our books have even won a couple! But are they success indicators? Does a book or author winning an award mean anything for the publisher? How can a publisher use an award in their marketing?

Jane Friedman of The Bottom Line is back to chat with Elly and Joe about awards, cash grabs, and the array of experiences out there.

Want more industry insights? Check out The Bottom Line!

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!

Lessons Learned: New Edition of People’s Guide to Publishing | People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

February 19, 2026

In 2018, we released “A People’s Guide to Publishing,” detailing everything Joe and the Microcosm team had learned through the years about starting, running, and sustaining an independent publishing company. For Microcosm’s 30th anniversary, we’ve released a second edition of the book, expanded to include even MORE lessons Joe’s learned over the last few years, and how to apply them to your publishing company. This week on the pod, join Joe and Elly as they talk about what’s new in the second edition of “A People’s Guide to Publishing!

Get the book here: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/books/3663

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!

30 Years of Growing Worlds: It’s Microcosm’s Birthday! | A People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

February 12, 2026

In 1996, Microcosm started in a small closet in a poorly insulated house. It wasn’t intended to be a job or an organization, or even a business. Thirty years later, this has turned out to be one Microcosm’s strengths. We’ve always intended to solve a very real problem, no matter how unrealistic the set of circumstances and challenges.

This week on the podcast, hang out with Joe and Elly as they take you through Microcosm’s origins, how we got here, and what lessons they’ll be taking into the next 30 years.

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!

A People’s Guide to Publishing: Building a Successful, Sustainable, Meaningful Book Business From the Ground Up

February 10, 2026 — by Abby Rice

So, you want to publish books.

Drawing on 30 years of experience operating an independent publishing company, Joe Biel has written the most accessible and comprehensive guide to running a successful publishing business. You’ll learn all the skills of the trade, including how to:

Develop your individual books to connect with readers on a practical and emotional level
Choose between offset printed, digitally printed, and ebook formats and work effectively with printers
Build an authentic niche so you can reach your audience and sell books directly
Understand if and when you’re ready to work with a distributor or large online retailer
Create a budget and predict the cost and income of each book so your company stays in the black
Decide what work you need to do yourself and what can be done by others
Plan for sustainable growth

Featuring interviews with other upstart independent publishers and funny anecdotes from publishing’s long history as well as detailed charts and visuals, this book is intended both for beginners looking for a realistic overview of the publishing or self-publishing process and for experienced publishers seeking a deeper understanding of accounting principles, ways to bring their books to new audiences, and how to advance their mission in a changing industry. All readers will come away with the confidence to move forward wisely and a strong sense of why publishing matters today more than ever.

Organizing Inclusive Events & Conferences w/ Dr. Alex Ketchum | People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

February 06, 2026 — by Abby Rice

A LOT goes into the planning of conferences, signings, and basically every event. How do you make sure it’s accessible to everyone who wants to come? It goes beyond just making sure your space is ADA accessible!

Dr. Alex D. Ketchum’s new book, “How to Organize Inclusive Events & Conferences,” is full of practical tips, templates, and guidance for organizing accessible, inclusivity-oriented events. This week on the pod, Alex joins Joe and Elly to talk about accessibility, favorite feminist restaurants, and, of course, planning inclusive events and conferences.

Get the book!

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!

What is marketing? | A People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

January 29, 2026

Marketing is made up many things. Direct outreach, broad social media posts, newsletters, and so much more all play a part, depending on what you do. But in the constant chase for analytics and making the numbers go up, it’s important to remember that first and foremost, marketing is about building relationships.

Today on the pod, check out a recent staff education session where we put some of our big brains together to learn the ins and outs of marketing, how it works for Microcosm, and more.

Can publishing fewer books mean more sales? | A People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

January 22, 2026

Will publishing fewer books make more money? It feels counterintuitive, but when you look closer, it frees up the ability to market more specifically, edit more thoroughly, and generally give more care in attention to what you’ve got going on.

Find out how Joe & Elly made the decision to find Microcosm’s “optimal number” of titles per season, and how they’ve discovered that more isn’t always better.

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!