The Self Publishing Show

SPS-454: Launching a New Series Jul 2, 2026 49:13 This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca dive into the latest AI developments, including changes to Claude's subscription tiers and what they mean for authors using AI in their daily workflows. They also discuss TikTok marketing, the risks of AI-generated recommendations being manipulated, and why authors need to think critically about discoverability in an AI-driven wor

SPS-453: Three Questions Every Author Should Ask Jun 25, 2026 50:36 This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca reflect on The Self Publishing Show Live 2026 and discuss what happens after the excitement of a conference ends. They explore the importance of reviewing progress at the halfway point of the year, assessing business goals, and deciding what to focus on for the remainder of 2026. The conversation covers productivity, TikTok market

SPS-452: Lessons from London Jun 18, 2026 39:06 This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca reflect on SPS Live 2026 and the Cambridge Retreat, sharing their biggest takeaways from the event and the sessions that made the biggest impact. From direct sales and BookVault strategies to AI workflows, reader engagement, advertising, TikTok marketing, and writing for commercial success, the pair discuss the practical lessons a

SPS-451: Live at The Self Publishing Show Jun 12, 2026 26:34 This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Sissy Mecca record live from SPS Live in London, surrounded by more than 500 authors from around the world. They share the atmosphere from the conference floor, discuss some of the standout sessions, and chat with special guests including volunteer coordinator Adrian Wills, Draft2Digital's Dan Wood, and Doug Pratt and Nick Harvey from the Two

SPS-450: How to Work a Conference (Not Just Attend One) with James Blatch & Cissy Mecca Jun 4, 2026 57:27 This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca share practical advice on how to work a conference rather than simply attend one, ahead of SPS Live in London. They discuss how authors can prepare in advance, choose the right sessions, network confidently, ask useful questions, and turn conference inspiration into real action afterwards. The episode also covers author scams, AI

SPS-449: The New Rules of Book Discovery with James Blatch & Cissy Mecca May 28, 2026 01:02:55 This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca discuss the major changes coming to Audible and ACX, including the new royalty model and updated enrolment requirements for audiobook authors. They explore what these changes could mean for indie publishers, the growing opportunities in wide audio distribution, and why authors may want to think beyond Audible. Alongside the indust

SPS-448: A Glimmer of Hope in the Age of AI with James Blatch & Cissy Mecca May 21, 2026 39:03 Episode Summary James and Cissy tackle a "bits and bobs" episode covering the changing indie publishing landscape, with a focus on Amazon's evolving AI-driven algorithms and what authors need to do to stay discoverable. They discuss why clear genre signalling, strong metadata, covers, blurbs, titles, and reader expectation alignment are becoming more important than ever. The conversation also touc

SPS-447: You Are Your Brand with Isabelle Knight, James Blatch & Cissy Mecca May 14, 2026 49:37 James and Cissy are joined by PR expert Isabelle Knight to discuss why authors are not just selling books, they are also building a brand readers can connect with. Isabelle explains how indie authors can identify their own author story, understand what sets them apart, and use that foundation across websites, newsletters, social media, events, and publicity opportunities. The episode also touches

SPS-446: The Boxset Experiment with James Blatch & Cissy Mecca May 7, 2026 41:34 James and Cissy dive into the growing world of direct sales, Etsy stores, and special edition books, exploring how indie authors are expanding beyond Amazon and turning their books into premium gift products. They also discuss the importance of professional branding photography, why readers increasingly connect with authors personally, and the latest Meta AI lawsuit involving pirated books used fo

SPS-445: Real Cops, Real Stories, Better Fiction with James Blatch & Cissy Mecca Apr 30, 2026 53:47 James and Cissy welcome former Milwaukee police sergeant and author Patrick O'Donnell to discuss his new book, Police Stories: The Rookie Years, and the real-life experiences behind his writing. Patrick shares gripping stories from his early days on patrol, including a near-shooting, a fatal stabbing case, and the realities of policing that often get misrepresented in fiction. The episode also cov

SPS-444: Why Your Matter Matters with James Blatch & Cissy Mecca Apr 23, 2026 01:01:19 James and Cissy break down one of the most overlooked (but powerful) parts of your book: front and back matter. From prologues and epilogues to marketing strategy, they explore what actually works for readers and what might be quietly losing you sales. Expect honest takes (including a strong stance on prologues!), practical tips on optimising your back matter for conversions, and smart ways to tur

SPS-443: Draft2Digital's New Charge! with James Blatch & Cissy Mecca Apr 16, 2026 42:19 James and Cissy dig into Draft2Digital's newly announced fees, including a one-off activation charge for new accounts and a yearly maintenance fee for low-earning accounts, and discuss why the reaction from authors has been so strong. They explore what the change says about the growing pressure of AI-generated low-quality uploads, the real cost of running author-facing distribution platforms, and

SPS-442: Inside the SPS Live Schedule with James Blatch & Cissy Mecca Apr 9, 2026 51:59 James and Cissy continue their exploration of how AI is transforming the business side of self-publishing, focusing on practical workflows that help authors save time and make better decisions. They also discuss planning for Self Publishing Show Live, including shaping the agenda and what attendees can expect from this year's event. Alongside this, the conversation highlights how authors can use A

SPS-441: AI Can Fix Your Ads James Blatch & Cissy Mecca Apr 2, 2026 52:59 James and Cissy explore one of the most practical uses of AI for authors: analysing advertising, sales, and marketing data to make better business decisions. James shares how he used Claude to review Facebook ads, KDP income, and reader engagement data, while Cissy explains how she used AI to assess years of BookBub performance and identify the best strategy for future promotions. Alongside the da

SPS-440: Author Under Attack James Blatch & Cissy Mecca Mar 26, 2026 48:02 James and Cissy unpack two major controversies affecting authors this week: a traditionally published author dropped over AI writing accusations, and a literary agent's viral TikTok telling writers to stay away from the London Book Fair. Together, these stories highlight growing tensions around AI, gatekeeping, and who the publishing industry is really for. Alongside the debate, the episode blends

SPS-439: How Readers Are Made with James Blatch & Cissy Mecca Mar 19, 2026 39:46 James is recording from the Irish Publishing Show on St Patrick's Day, James and Cissy reflect on the changing state of indie publishing, the growing pressure of AI-driven discoverability, and the realities of building a sustainable author career in a more mature market. They revisit the ongoing debate around low-quality AI-generated books on Amazon, discuss why AI detection tools are unlikely to

SPS-438: Bring Back the Mail! with James Blatch & Cissy Mecca Mar 12, 2026 56:57 James and Cissy discuss new marketing insights and mindset strategies for indie authors navigating an increasingly complex publishing landscape. From experimenting with BookBub ads and improving AI-assisted translations to analysing breakout success in romance adaptations, the conversation explores how authors can stay competitive in a crowded market. Cissy also shares a creative direct-to-reader

SPS-437: Author Events - Discoverability in the Age of AI with James Blatch & Cissy Mecca Mar 5, 2026 01:01:11 James and Cissy reflect on conversations from a recent indie author mastermind in Savannah, Georgia, where the biggest topic on everyone's mind was discoverability in the age of AI. With thousands of new titles flooding platforms like Amazon KDP every day, the hosts explore how authors can adapt - from optimising metadata for AI search to expanding audiobook distribution and experimenting with pla

SPS-436: Author Events - Why They're Worth It with James Blatch & Cissy Mecca Feb 27, 2026 41:50 James and Cissy dive into the evolving AI conversation, reacting to viral commentary about whether artificial intelligence will truly replace white-collar jobs and what that means for writers. They explore the difference between superficial and deep AI usage, the economics behind tech industry messaging, and how authors can adapt rather than resist. They also discuss the irreplaceable value of in-

SPS-435: Selling Books On Etsy with Robin Bennett Freebairn Feb 20, 2026 52:34 Episode Summary James and Cissy welcome Robin Bennett Freebairn back to the show to discuss how he's successfully expanded his nonfiction "birth year" book series into the gifting market via Etsy. Robin shares how selling direct through a marketplace platform has rapidly grown into a major revenue stream, now rivalling Amazon income and explains the practical realities of becoming not just an auth

SPS-434: The Big Reveal! with James Blatch & ? Feb 13, 2026 53:51 Episode Summary The Self-Publishing Show enters a new era as James Blatch officially introduces his new co-host, romance author Cecilia "Cissy" Mecca. In this wide-ranging conversation, they explore Cissy's indie journey, from mediaeval romance to paranormal and contemporary pivots, her decision to consolidate pen names, and the realities of building a sustainable author career. The episode also d

SPS- 433: We're Back! with James Blatch Feb 6, 2026 40:18 James Blatch returns after an 18-month hiatus to relaunch the Self Publishing Show and outline its new direction. In this solo episode, he reflects on why the show paused, what changed during that time with the Indie Writers Club, and how the podcast will evolve going forward with a new co-host. James also shares his clear, pragmatic stance on AI in publishing, discusses AI translations for author

SPS- 432: The Final Cut with James Blatch, Joe Solari from Author Nation, and Darren Hardy from Amazon KDP. Jul 26, 2024 01:16:58 James talks to Joe Solari, the man responsible for the world's largest gathering of indie authors and Darren Hardy, from Amazon KDP, who is the most listened to guest we've ever had on the show.

SPS-431: Support for Self Publishing with Draft2Digital Jun 21, 2024 31:10 Nick Thacker VP of Author Success at Draft2Digital joins James to dive into what's new and what D2D can offer the self publishing world.

SPS-430: The New Content Creation Place with Marco Moutinho from Dibbly Jun 14, 2024 35:47 James talks to Marco Moutinho from Dibbly, a content creation platform, which can help you with freelance services. Dibbly also offers an AI tool 'Kip' that has some fantastic features to offer the indie author.

SPS-429: How do you strategise and what is the best way to invest in editing? Jun 7, 2024 43:38 This week James talks to bestseller Suzy K Quinn and editor Adam Strange from Kevin Anderson & Associates, who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience on editing to the show.

SPS-428: The BookBub new release - Rocket boost May 31, 2024 24:20 Join James and Carlyn Robertson from BookBub talking about what's new at BookBub and what BookBub can offer.

SPS-427: Direct Selling FTW with Alex Smith from Bookvault May 24, 2024 25:05 A fast emerging aspect of indie marketing is direct selling. Bookvault have risen quickly to the top of many authors go-to suppliers for print-on-demand, especially for those special editions that can be extremely good for your bottom line. This week's show features a chat with Bookvault's Alex Smith.

SPS-426: Format your book in style with Vellum May 17, 2024 33:20 Vellum is the gold standard for editing your book ready for publication. Listen as James Blatch talks to Brad West about tips for preparing your book

SPS-425: Which Book Promo is Right For Me? with Mike Hourigan May 10, 2024 33:16 Listen as James talks to Mike Hourigan who is the Vice President of Marketing at Written Word Media, where he brings more than 15 years of digital marketing expertise to the table.

SPS-424: What's the big deal about Romantasy? With Alex Newton Apr 26, 2024 41:37 Join James and the numbers man, Alex Newton from K-lytics who digs beneath the Romantasy data and explains current trends

SPS-423: Create a Killer Author Website – with Stuart Grant from Digital Authors Toolkit Apr 19, 2024 34:38 Join James Blatch and Stuart Grant from Digital Authors Toolkit and also the highest rated web designer on Reedsy, as they discuss the future of Author websites, direct selling, and how you can make your website stand out.

SPS-422: The Audio Explosion with James Blatch and Victoria Gerken from Podium Audio. Apr 12, 2024 54:58 Join James and Victoria Gerken from Podium Audio as they discuss how audio is exploding the world of publishing and providing authors with another income stream

SPS-421: Who's coming to SPS LIVE 2024? With James Blatch and Chris Banks from Prowritingaid Mar 22, 2024 46:37 Join James Blatch and Chris Banks as James reveals the speakers and sponsors attending the Self Publishing Show Live in London 2024 and Chris talks about what's new at ProWritingAid and AI, but making sure you add the human touch.

SPS-420: AI: Fear, Loathing and Acceptance Mar 15, 2024 34:15 Join James Blatch as he takes on a hot topic of the moment, AI, and how it impacts authors and creators. Should you be afraid or accepting of this new wave of technology?

SPS-419: Targeting Trad Readers (with Michael R. Miller) Feb 9, 2024 41:32 Tune into this week's episode of the Self Publishing Show to hear more from Michael, including whether selling direct would be preferrable to selling on Amazon, why he chooses to publish his audiobooks exclusively on ACX, and why consistency in magic and worldbuilding rules is key for any kind of Fantasy story.

SPS-418: Setting Goals and Building Habits – with Marc Reklau Feb 2, 2024 36:38 Marc Reklau went from struggling writer to earning seven-figures, all by applying the same self-help advice he writes about in his books.

SPS-417: Automating Amazon Ads with Merch Jar (with Cameron Scott) Jan 26, 2024 26:29 Tired of tweaking your Amazon Ad keywords? Let Merch Jar automate the process for you.

SPS-416: Storytelling on the Tabletop – with Paddy Finn Dec 22, 2023 52:46 From novelist to tabletop game creator, Paddy Finn explains how he created a seven-figure company in an industry where the players come up with the stories.

SPS-415: AI & Aggregation with PublishDrive – with Danica Favorite Dec 15, 2023 33:58 Danica Favorite describes the benefits of releasing wide with PD and how you can have a say on the future of AI in publishing.

SPS-414: Selling Books Direct with Bookvault – with Alex Smith Dec 8, 2023 35:41 Bypass royalty cuts and sell your paperbacks and hardcovers direct to your readers with Bookvault.

SPS-413: Living the Bestseller Life – with Michaelbrent Collings Dec 1, 2023 44:46 Michaelbrent Collins is a bestselling trad- and indie-published author and screenwriter who teaches writers the principles of writing success.

SPS-412: Time Management for Authors - with Mark Dawson Nov 24, 2023 50:31 Mark Dawson embarks on a solo episode exploring how authors can optimise the time available to them to write (and sell) more books.

SPS-411: The Importance of Researching Settings – with Tony Park Nov 17, 2023 57:08 As an Australian living in South Africa, Tony Park explains what he does to make sure he reflects African places, people and practices correctly.

SPS-410: Selling Serials with The Pigeonhole – with Mark Blayney Nov 10, 2023 38:17 Getting reviews and reader feedback can be difficult. The Pigeonhole is a new way to transform your relationship with your readers.

SPS-409: Catering for the Christian Market – with Thomas Umstattd Nov 3, 2023 48:24 Veteran podcaster and SEO expert Thomas Umstattd explains what the Christian market is and what authors need to consider when writing for it.

SPS-408: Essential Tips for New Authors – with Mark Dawson Oct 27, 2023 52:21 As Launchpad prepares to welcome new students, Mark Dawson breaks down his top ten tips for aspiring authors.

SPS-407: How to Choose Your Amazon Categories – with Dave Chesson Oct 20, 2023 53:00 With a quarter of Amazon categories not having their own bestseller rankings, it's important to choose ones that'll help promote your book.

SPS-406: Turn Your Inner Darkness into Words – with Joanna Penn Oct 13, 2023 01:02:57 Self-publishing veteran Joanna Penn talks about her new non-fiction book "Writing the Shadow" and where her writing career will go from here.

SPS-405: Is A.I. a Help or a Hindrance? - with Mark Dawson Oct 6, 2023 38:55

SPS-404: Making Self-Publishing More Affordable - with Dan Wood Sep 29, 2023 51:40 Book covers, translations, audiobooks – these can all cost a lot of money and put off promising writers. Draft2Digital wants to make self-publishing accessible for all.

SPS-403: Fairytale Endings From Ads for Authors - with Laura Burton Sep 22, 2023 58:54 Laura Burton almost gave up on writing after getting a bad review from someone she knew. Then she found the Ads for Authors course, and is now a full-time author.

SPS-402: How to Use A.I. in Your Marketing – with Mark Dawson & James Blatch Sep 15, 2023 50:04 A.I. is a fast-developing field, and it's important for authors to use it both effectively and ethically.

SPS-401: Breathe Life Into Old Books with TikTok – with Lloyd & Marguerite Richards Sep 8, 2023 41:20 Lloyd Richards' novel flopped 11 years ago. A single TikTok video sent it to the top of the US Amazon charts.

SPS-400: 400 Episodes of the Self Publishing Show - with Mark Dawson & James Blatch Sep 1, 2023 36:29 As the Self Publishing Show hits its 400th episode, Mark and James take a look at how the industry has changed and what lies in the podcast's future.

SPS-399: The Dialogue Doctor Will See You Now - with Jeff Elkins Aug 25, 2023 52:12 Dialogue expert Jeff Elkins explains how the way our characters talk influences the way our readers view their personalities.

SPS-398: Sell Audiobooks Direct with BookFunnel - with Damon Courtney Aug 18, 2023 48:11 Damon Courtney's BookFunnel is the perfect way to distribute your audiobooks outside of traditional store systems.

SPS-397: The Self Publishing Show Live! 2023 (Show Recap) - with Mark Dawson & James Blatch Aug 11, 2023 41:57 SPS Live 2023 was our biggest conference yet – Mark and James take a look at the highlights.

SPS-396: Become a Book Rockstar - with Aryn Van Dyke Aug 4, 2023 41:39 It's important to connect with your audience in a way that's meaningful to them – Book Rockstar can show you how.

SPS-395: Dominating the Dark Romance Charts with TikTok - with Rosa Lee Jul 28, 2023 50:06 Rosa Lee only started writing two years ago, but a surprise viral video on Tiktok means she's now a full time Dark Romance author.

SPS-394: Writing Crime for Books, Film & TV - with Tim Sullivan Jul 21, 2023 01:00:56

SPS-393: Reach More Readers with WWM & Hello Books - with Ricci Wolman Jul 14, 2023 47:20 Ricci Wolman explains the various services Written Word Media offers plus the recent partnership with Hello Books.

SPS-392: How to Add Comedy to Your Writing - with Dave Cohen Jul 7, 2023 55:30 Dave Cohen is a stand-up comic who's written for TV shows including Not Going Out and My Family – now he's written a book about how to add comedy to your screenplays and novels.

SPS-391: Germany: the 3rd Biggest Book Market - with A.D. Wilk & Freya von Korff Jun 30, 2023 54:14 Andrea Wilk and Freya von Korff are bestselling authors living in Germany – here's why you should be translating your books for that market.

SPS-390: How to Sharpen Your Story - with Kristina Stanley Jun 23, 2023 40:42 The founder of Fictionary explains how it can assist writers in improving the plots, characters and pacing in their stories.

SPS-389: Forging a Career with Epic Fantasy - with Ryan Cahill Jun 16, 2023 52:23 Ryan Cahill couldn't work after moving to New Zealand, so he built a career from writing Epic Fantasy instead.

SPS-388: Don't Hide Behind Your Book - with Isabelle Knight Jun 9, 2023 42:56 Readers, agents and the press often care more about how you are and why you write than what you write.

SPS-387: Optimise Your Author Website - with Stuart Grant Jun 2, 2023 44:32 Stuart Grant isn't just a key member of the SPS team – he's also the highest rated web designer on Reedsy.

SPS-386: Traditionally Published, Twice - with Georgina Cross May 26, 2023 58:00

SPS-385: Accessibility for Authors - with Jeff Adams & Michele Lucchini May 19, 2023 51:58 As much as 20% of the population has a disability – Jeff Adams and Michele Lucchini discuss how to expand our content to include everyone.

SPS-384: Kickstarters & Collaborations - with Martha Carr May 12, 2023 52:12 Martha Carr explains how to kill it with crowdsourcing and world-building collaborations.

SPS-383: Launchpad: Where Careers Take Off - with Mark Dawson & James Blatch May 5, 2023 49:26 With Launchpad about to open, Mark and James discuss the careers the course has helped build.

SPS-382: You Must Market Your Book - with Honorée Corder Apr 28, 2023 52:05 A book can lend kudos to a subject-matter expert, but only if they know how to get them into the hands of readers.

SPS-381: The Wide Appeal of Sapphic Romance - with Clare Lydon Apr 21, 2023 51:36 Kindle Storyteller finalist Clare Lydon describes the changing landscape of LGBTQ+ romance novels.

SPS-380: SPS Live! 2023: The Final Line-Up - with Mark Dawson & James Blatch Apr 14, 2023 35:18 Mark and James break down the full SPS Live 2023 conference schedule. Tickets available now!

SPS-379: AI Artwork for Authors - with Stuart Bache Apr 7, 2023 01:17:57 Stuart Bache explains the emerging trends in cover design and the potential opportunities – and pitfalls – as a result of using AI artwork for your books.

SPS-378: LitRPG: Telling a Story With Numbers - with Dakota Krout Mar 31, 2023 58:09 Dakota Krout runs a seven-figure publishing house for one of the fastest growing genres: LitRPG.

SPS-377: The French eBook Revolution - with Caroline Lutz Mar 24, 2023 49:50 Caroline Lutz explains how she makes six figures a year selling books to an exclusively French audience.

SPS-376: Reedsy's Amazon Ads for Authors - with Ricardo Fayet Mar 17, 2023 01:00:36 Reedsy co-founder Ricardo Fayet delivers useful tips for running effective Amazon Ad campaigns.

SPS-375: The Popcorn Principles: Screenwriting Tips for Authors - with John Gaspard Mar 10, 2023 48:27 Having interviewed Hollywood filmmakers on the secrets of storytelling, John Gaspard passes those tips onto novelists.

Episodes

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