Beyond the Book
Beyond the Book
Podcast Description
I help authors make money beyond selling books and turn their stories into empires.
I have a big dream. The first billionaire indie author will rise this decade. And there will be 100+ making 8-figures a year and more. But it won't come from selling books alone... it's going to come from building a "mini-Disney" for your readers.
Now, I have to be honest with you. Not every author who listens is going to build a media empire Beyond the Book. BUT my promise to every one of you listening is that you will grow your readership & income as an author by learning the power of Readers First Publishing.
This means...
1. Readers First Growth: Treating your marketing as a "product" and approaching all reader discovery from a creator-first mindset so that you can leverage social platforms to grow faster than ever
2. Readers First Storytelling: Immersing fans into your stories across media formats (including but not limited to story letters, interactive stories, ebooks, audiobooks, serial podcasts, web movies, and more)
3. Readers First Products: Creating physical and digital products connected to your stories that serve your readers (merch, games, drinks, food, candles, community, and more)
Each episode, I'll be sharing with you how you can grow, create stories, and make products that rewrite the rules of publishing using the principles of Readers First. I'll feature guests that range from academic experts on specific topics to multi-seven-figure authors who have innovated and gone beyond the book in unique ways.
This podcast is perfect for both fiction and nonfiction authors, but it has a bent toward fiction authors.
After writing and publishing 12 science fiction novels, helping thousands of authors make millions beyond the books by creating a community of their superfans, and then working for the largest creator in the world, I'm ready to help YOU go beyond the book and build the storytelling empire of your dreams. authorsidekick.com
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores a range of topics centered around the theme of 'Readers First Publishing', focusing on creative ways authors can monetize their works beyond traditional book sales. Examples include building community experiences, product development related to stories, and innovative marketing strategies. Episodes often feature discussions on immersive storytelling across various media, case studies of successful independent authors, and innovative publishing methods.
I help authors make money beyond selling books and turn their stories into empires.
I have a big dream. The first billionaire indie author will rise this decade. And there will be 100+ making 8-figures a year and more. But it won’t come from selling books alone… it’s going to come from building a “mini-Disney” for your readers.
Now, I have to be honest with you. Not every author who listens is going to build a media empire Beyond the Book. BUT my promise to every one of you listening is that you will grow your readership & income as an author by learning the power of Readers First Publishing.
This means…
1. Readers First Growth: Treating your marketing as a “product” and approaching all reader discovery from a creator-first mindset so that you can leverage social platforms to grow faster than ever
2. Readers First Storytelling: Immersing fans into your stories across media formats (including but not limited to story letters, interactive stories, ebooks, audiobooks, serial podcasts, web movies, and more)
3. Readers First Products: Creating physical and digital products connected to your stories that serve your readers (merch, games, drinks, food, candles, community, and more)
Each episode, I’ll be sharing with you how you can grow, create stories, and make products that rewrite the rules of publishing using the principles of Readers First. I’ll feature guests that range from academic experts on specific topics to multi-seven-figure authors who have innovated and gone beyond the book in unique ways.
This podcast is perfect for both fiction and nonfiction authors, but it has a bent toward fiction authors.
After writing and publishing 12 science fiction novels, helping thousands of authors make millions beyond the books by creating a community of their superfans, and then working for the largest creator in the world, I’m ready to help YOU go beyond the book and build the storytelling empire of your dreams.
Roberta Townes, author of Shelf Talk, joins us to discuss how authors can successfully navigate the retail world. From pitching to buyers to building relationships with bookstores and retailers, she shares practical strategies and hard-earned insights for getting your book on shelves—and keeping it there.
Join Author Sidekick, the newsletter to help you grow your readership and revenue as an author: https://authorsidekick.com/subscribe
Read Creatorwood, the free book helping writers turn their stories into movies using AI: https://www.makeyourownmovies.tv/subscribe
Get Author Decks, a beautifully illustrated card deck of 50 superpowers to help you sell more books: https://authordecks.com/
Join the Beyond the Book Membership, where we step-by-step help you turn your stories into an empire: https://beyondthebookacademy.com/
Join the Reader Meter waitlist to see where readers stop turning the page in your book 👀: https://readermeter.io/
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN EPISODE:
Roberta Townes’ website: https://shelftalks.com/
Apple Podcast: Shelf Talks by Roberta Townes Shelf Talk
Amazon link: https://amzn.to/447iGFw
EPISODE CHAPTERS:
00:03:02 The Importance of Retail in E-Commerce
00:05:31 Understanding Retailer Needs and Product Fit
00:08:29 Challenges and Opportunities for Indie Authors
00:11:06 Crafting Effective Pitches to Retailers
00:14:07 Pricing and Packaging Strategies
00:14:58 Exploring Bundling Opportunities
00:17:44 Building Strong Retail Partnerships
00:20:15 Driving Sales and Marketing Strategies
00:22:54 Creating Unique Retail Experiences
00:25:23 Final Insights and Resources for Authors
Thank you so much for listening! You can always reach out to [email protected] if you have any guest/episode recommendations or questions about going Beyond the Book!
I’d also super appreciate it if you rated Beyond the Book wherever you listen to podcasts. It helps us grow and get bigger & better guests to share their insights with you in going Beyond the Book 💙.
I’m on a mission to bring Power to Storytellers. Here’s my story 👇
ABOUT THE HOST: MICHAEL EVANS I’m the co-founder of Creatorwood (helping writers turn their stories into movies with AI) and Author Sidekick (media company helping authors succeed in the future of publishing).
In high school, I wrote and self-published 12 sci-fi novels (aka I didn’t have many friends).
ABOUT THE HOST: MICHAEL EVANS
I’m the co-founder of Creatorwood (helping writers turn their stories into movies with AI) and Author Sidekick (media company helping authors succeed in the future of publishing).
In high school, I wrote and self-published 12 sci-fi novels (aka I didn’t have many friends).
I then attended college at Harvard, where I road-tripped the country filming YouTube videos during COVID (school was online🫣), live-streamed myself playing scavenger hunt with my roommate for ~1,000 hours, and eventually co-founded a software company that was named Publishing’s Start-up of the Year in 2023 by Jane Friedman.
After graduation, I worked on the data & analytics team at MrBeast and am now back in publishing, dedicating my life to bringing power to authors. I’m really grateful to be living my dream, and am hopeful I can help you get one (or a few!) steps closer to doing the same for yourself 😊.
ABOUT BEYOND THE BOOK: Beyond the Book exists to help authors expand their revenue and readership beyond books. We are rewriting the rules of publishing by helping authors build “mini-Disneys” from their stories through physical products, community experiences, games, other media formats, and more.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dispatch.authorsidekick.com/subscribe
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