Let’s Talk About It
Plain-spoken marketing help for indie authors, one topic at a time.
Every month I teach a short, practical session on one piece of the author business: finding readers, websites, newsletters, social media, video, AI, selling direct and more. Each session is recorded with captions and posted here with its free handouts. Watch, download, and use what fits your books.
The 2026 Sessions
Newest first. Click a thumbnail to watch. Videos release on the dates shown.
October 2026 | Video release: October 20, 2026
Holiday Book Sales Without the Burnout: A Q4 Plan for Authors
Black Friday is November 27. You have time to do a few things well, not everything. You get a five-phase holiday calendar, the gift line formula, the Kindle Countdown Deal rules, and permission to do less.
Free handouts:
September 2026 | Video release: October 29, 2026
BookTok, Reels and Shorts: Do Authors Really Have to Make Video?
Short answer: no. Long answer: for some books it is worth a try, and there are ways to do it without ever showing your face. Includes a 15-second shot list you can fill in for your own book.
Free handouts:
August 2026 | Video release: October 27, 2026
AI Tools for Book Marketing: What Actually Helps (and What Hurts)
AI is a tool, not a strategy. Where it saves you real time, where it costs you reader trust, and the one instruction I use every time I paste in my own words.
Free handouts:
July 2026 | Video release: November 3, 2026
Sell Your Books Direct: The Cheapest Way to Keep More of Every Sale
When a reader buys from you, you get their email address. Five low-cost storefronts compared side by side, the free Payhip and BookVault setup, and the honest math on print.
Free handouts:
May 2026 | Video release: October 22, 2026
The 15-Minute-a-Day Social Media Plan for Authors
Plan, create, engage. One monthly batch session, three to four posts a week, and the five minutes of engagement that matter more than any post you schedule.
Free handouts:
April 2026 | Watch now
Email Marketing for Authors: Start a Newsletter in 20 Minutes
Monthly is fine. The three-sentence newsletter, five content formulas, subject lines that get opened, and a simple three-email welcome sequence.
Free handouts:
March 2026 | Video release: November 10, 2026
Do Authors Really Need a Website? Website 101 for Writers
It depends. When a website is a must, when you can skip it for now, the free alternatives that work, and the five pages every author site needs.
Free handouts:
February 2026 | Video release: November 5, 2026
Where Are Your Readers? Find the Right Social Platforms Without Burnout
Stop trying to be everywhere. Build your reader avatar, find where your genre actually gathers online, and learn the community before you promote in it.
Free handouts:
From the Archive: Protecting Your Work
Earlier Let’s Talk About It resources on copyright and planning for your books after you are gone.
Securing Your Literary Legacy
Your copyrights can keep earning for 70 years after you die, but only if you plan for it. This free white paper covers the mistakes that cost heirs their royalties, a six-step plan for your estate, and what to know about rights reversions and digital accounts.
Copyright Registration: Your First Line of Defense
Why registering your copyright matters, how piracy hits indie authors, and what the Copyright Claims Board can do for you.
▶ Watch the talk↓ Copyright Pirating and the CCB↓ Notes, Outline and References
Want help applying it to your books?
Book a private one-hour Author Strategy Session for $50. Bring your questions, links and drafts, and we will work on your plan together.
