How do you make a book’s sales last forever? (A People’s Guide to Publishing)

October 26, 2023

In traditional publishing, sales are thought of as a steep upward curve, a peak, falling action, and a steady plateau, moving slowly downward towards the book’s “resolution” and “conclusion.” Jokes aside, this week Joe and Elly talk about how you can break this cycle and make book sales last forever.

Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
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How to Love Your Queer Kid, an interview with Marc Campbell (A People’s Guide to Publishing)

October 19, 2023

Marc Campbell, a Black, gay therapist, works with queer kids and parents to create loving and accepting homes where people can safely be themselves and parents can understand their children. This week on the pod, we welcome him as a special guest to talk about his brand new book, I Love My Queer Kid!

Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
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Bookstore Solidarity Project: Copper Dog Books of MA

October 12, 2023

Copper Dog Books didn’t set out to be controversial; just a lovable weird bird next door to spooky Salem. However, some of their customers don’t understand the curatorial powers of the bookstore and attempted to overwrite values. This week, in the latest installment of our monthly Bookstore Solidarity Project, we feature another store who carefully selects how to tell their own story.

To see Meg’s other interview for the Bookstore Solidarity Project, click here!

Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
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Bookstore Solidarity Project: The Raven of Lawrence Kansas (A People’s Guide to Publishing)

September 14, 2023

Each month we’re featuring a new indie bookstore that we operate in solidarity with. This month it’s the Raven, a classical bookstore of many reboots, owners, and iterations. The Raven is now worker-owned and specializes in supporting its local community, while providing a safe space for people in risk and a series of local and national marketing initiatives. We talk to co-owner Chris this week on the pod!

Visit The Raven Book Store’s website here!

For more from the Bookstore Solidarity Project, check out our interview about The Raven with co-owner Danny Caine here, and our podcast interview with Danny here! And snag a copy of How to Protect Bookstores and Why while you’re at it.

Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
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How Do You Get A Job in Book Publishing? (A People’s Guide to Publishing)

September 07, 2023

This is the question that just about everyone actually wants the answer to, beneath all of their qualifying questions: where are the jobs in publishing? Where is my job in publishing? So this week on the pod, we unpack the leverage of jobs, how to prepare yourself with job skills, and making yourself attractive in the workforce.

Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
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How Do I Protect Bookstores? (with Danny Caine) (A People’s Guide to Publishing)

August 31, 2023

Every trip out of the house results in sad looks from strangers about how nobody reads anymore or how the bookstores are all gone. It’s not uncommon for us to tell people about thriving indie bookstores in their own towns and how sales at independents are up with more stores since 2007! This week on the pod, we welcome back Danny Caine to talk about his brand new book How to Protect Bookstores (and Why)!

Order your own copy of How to Protect Bookstores and Why here. (And here are Danny’s other book and zine!)

Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
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How Should You Utilize Profit & Loss Statements? (A People’s Guide to Publishing)

August 24, 2023

For most publishers, profit and loss statements are either an afterthought, something they “don’t have time for,” or a ritualistic capitalistic enterprise that they want nothing to do with. This week on the pod, we feature an extra-long episode about how to learn from them, what they can be best utilized for, and how to sort out the information from success or failure to do it better next time.

Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
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Do Smaller Publishers Have Different Economic Models? (A People’s Guide to Publishing)

August 17, 2023

Much ink has been spilt over the illusion that big publishers have different economic models. The reality is that larger publishers benefit from scale but the economic models are the same. What does that mean? More books gets more access and streamlines costs and departments, but when it comes down to each book, well…check out this week’s episode!

Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
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How Can Publishers Expand Adult Reading? (A People’s Guide to Publishing)

August 10, 2023

You can read many academic articles about the need to get more people reading and how wonderful this would be for critical thinking and education. But most publishers focus on fighting over the exact same shelf space at the exact same stores. So this week on the pod, we talk about how to reach new people with your books and turn them into readers!

Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
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How do we solve publishing’s Biggest Problem? (A People’s Guide to Publishing)

July 20, 2023

Last week we presented to you the biggest problem in publishing. So this week, we present the solution. Yes, the industry is very crowded but people are reading more and buying more books than ever and willing to spend more on those books. It’s downright a fantastic time to be a book publisher. This week we look at how to excel!

Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
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