Alexa's Book Marketing & Publishing Chat

Ruth Schwartz has spent 14 years turning finished manuscripts into well-published books, and decades in publishing before that. She breaks down why so many self-published books look broken, what to check before you hire anyone, and how to get a print and ebook edition you are actually proud of.

On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Alexa honors two authors who transformed loss into purpose. Ann Van Hine's husband, an FDNY firefighter, never came home that day. Holly Little lost her brother. Both have written memoirs that honor the dead and help others heal. Their stories remind us why we write, and why we must be seen.

Speaking is half talent and half business. Sasha Simmons, founder of Speak Life LLC and author of 20 Major Keys to Establish Your Own Greatness, breaks down her SLAB framework for crafting a speech that lands, then shares the unglamorous work of actually getting booked: cold calls, persistent follow-up, and building the reel that sells you.

Bootstrap, investors, or crowdfunding? Hannah Jacobson built Book Award Pro from a spreadsheet into the world's largest database of legitimate book awards. She and Alexa break down how to fund an author or publishing business, price your work so you stop losing money, and own the platform you build on.

Forty-four percent of indie authors earn one hundred dollars a month or less. Usually the gap is not craft, it is structure. Alexa breaks down the four business skills separating authors who plateau from authors who compound: money systems, legal foundations, a profitable model, and new markets. Bootcamp is August 21 to 22.

Heather Davis coaches speculative fiction writers and runs Worldshift, the conference built for the authors sci-fi and fantasy spaces keep overlooking. She and Alexa unpack why your reader is your co-writer, how genre-specific community protects a career, and what to do when your genre's sales cycle drops. For writers who want craft and business.

Patricia Marshall, CEO of Luminare Press and Lucent Book Group, reveals why publishing scams are proliferating, how authors can protect themselves, and why AI is a tool—not a shortcut. We dig into GEO, the changing landscape of book discoverability, and what indie authors truly need in their corner.

Audiobooks have eclipsed ebooks and are racing toward a $30 billion U.S. market by 2030. Award-winning producer Mary Catherine Jones returns to break down when to invest, what it really costs, why narration makes or breaks a book, the truth about AI voices, and how to use audio to grow your list.

In this raw, unscripted episode, Alexa gets real about the state of the world in 2026 and why women's voices — in books, on stages, and in every medium — matter more than ever. A deeply personal call to action for authors, speakers, and publishing professionals who are here to make a difference.

Joel Pitney, founder of Launch My Book, pulls back the curtain on the self-publishing assist model — what it is, who it's for, and how to tell the good companies from the sharks. He shares red flags to watch for, the real cost of publishing well, and why you probably won't make your money back on Book One.

"I'd Rather Be Dancing": How Somatic Practices Set Authors (and Everyone Else) Free. Licensed somatic psychotherapist and award-winning author Melanie Smithson joins Alexa to discuss her book Shake Yourself Free: 81 Somatic Practices to Let Go of Limitation. From unprocessed emotions and the wisdom of the body, to somatic tips for writers and lessons from going on dozens of podcasts — this one moves you.

Writer's block isn't a character flaw — it's your nervous system trying to protect you. Book coach Rhonda Douglas of Resilient Writers joins Alexa to unpack creative anxiety, biologic hacks that calm your sympathetic nervous system, why pantsers need just enough outline, and how to train your brain that writing feels good.

Romantic suspense author and All Write Well founder Maria Secoy reveals how indie authors can let Amazon's algorithm do the marketing heavy lifting for their first few books. Learn the four-book-per-year method, why sequencing beats hustle, and how to find your author brand before spending a dime on ads.

Romance author Constance Phillips has published 27 books in 15 years—including her Sunnydale series and the To Protect and Serve firefighter/police spinoffs. She joins Alexa to talk small-town romance, writing four books a year, bending gender stereotypes, vendor shows, and the mindset that keeps her writing through the slow seasons.

Romance author Cher Terais didn't plan to start a travel agency — her readers practically demanded it. She joins Alexa to share how Wanderlust Romance became The Booked Club, Wanderlust Retreats, and a virtual Night in Morocco, plus the Instagram strategy that's turning her characters into viewers.

In this special Memorial Day episode, Alexa Bigwarfe shares the powerful—and too often untold—stories of seven remarkable American women who gave their lives in military service. From the first Native American woman killed in combat to elite combat photographers and Marine officers, this tribute honors their legacy and explores why storytelling matters. Alexa also highlights authors writing about women in the military, shares her thoughts on Ashley’s War by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, and honors the legacy of America’s most daring female spies.

Fresh from moderating an author-forward marketing panel at the Piedmont Publishing Symposium, Alexa shares what she learned and replays a Book Launch in a Box panel with five indie authors across five genres — on launch timelines, building social proof from zero, the second-book payoff, and why marketing only feels gross when it isn't real.

The way readers find books has changed — and most marketing advice hasn't caught up yet. In this episode, Alexa breaks down exactly what shifted in book discovery in 2025–2026, (readers searching on AI and what GEO is), what it means for authors across every genre, and what practical steps you can take this week to become more visible.

Curious about self-publishing? In this episode, Alexa talks with Leanne Janzen of Friesen Press about the full publishing process, costs, timelines, and the role of AI. Get an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to turn your manuscript into a professionally published book.

Book marketing doesn’t have to feel overwhelming or uncomfortable. In this episode, Alexa shares how to shift your mindset, simplify your strategy, and approach marketing through storytelling and connection. Learn how to build your audience, start earlier, and create a marketing plan that actually feels good—and works.