$5,000 in 24 Hours: Nat's Initial Success with Book Preorders

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Mar 25, 2025

Dive into the world of book pre-orders as Nat reveals his unique strategies for launching his sci-fi thriller. He shares the benefits of using Shopify over Amazon, highlighting the importance of direct customer relationships. Listen to his candid insights about managing challenges in fulfilling diverse formats and the nuances of book marketing in 2024. Discover how engaging an audience through social media can enhance visibility and impact sales while exploring innovative tactics to make pre-orders profitable.

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ANECDOTE

Crypto Confidential Launch

Nat reflects on his previous nonfiction book launch, Crypto Confidential, which had a long eight-month preorder period.
Preorders were lower than anticipated, possibly due to the nature of nonfiction and his established audience.

insights

INSIGHT

Fiction vs. Nonfiction Preorders

Readers often preorder fiction books later in a series, after establishing familiarity with the author and characters.
Nonfiction preorders may be more common due to established author credibility and existing content.

insights

INSIGHT

Selling on Personal Site vs. Amazon

Selling books on a personal website is less common than using established platforms like Amazon, which offers ease of purchase.
Authors like Ryan Holiday (nonfiction) and Brandon Sanderson (fiction special editions) are exceptions to this norm.

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Navigating Book Pre-orders: Challenges and Strategies

02:58 • 19min

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Strategic Insights on Book Pre-Orders

22:06 • 11min

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Navigating Book Fulfillment and Profitability in Self-Publishing

32:53 • 4min

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Navigating Book Formats and Global Trends

36:50 • 3min

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Building an Engaged Sci-Fi Audience

40:05 • 9min

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Leveraging E-commerce Data for Targeted Marketing

The Martian tells the story of astronaut Mark Watney, who is presumed dead and left stranded on Mars after a fierce storm. With limited supplies, Watney must draw upon his ingenuity, wit, and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Meanwhile, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring 'the Martian' home, while Watney faces numerous challenges in his quest for survival. The novel is praised for its blend of science, humor, and suspense.

Antifragile

Things That Gain from Disorder

Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Albino Santos Mosquera

Genís Sánchez Barberán

In 'Antifragile', Nassim Nicholas Taleb delves into the concept of antifragility, arguing that some systems not only withstand stress and disorder but actually benefit from them. The book builds on ideas from his previous works, such as 'Fooled by Randomness' and 'The Black Swan', and is part of his five-volume philosophical treatise on uncertainty, 'Incerto'. Taleb provides examples from various fields, including science, economics, and history, to illustrate how antifragility can be achieved and how it contrasts with fragility and robustness. He also discusses strategies like the barbell strategy and optionality, and critiques modern society's attempts to eliminate volatility, which he believes are harmful. The book is praised for its revolutionary ideas and multidisciplinary approach, though it has also received criticism for its style and some of the author's views on mental health and other topics.

The Will of the Many

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James Islington

This book is the first in the Hierarchy series by James Islington. It follows the journey of Viz, a young man who finds himself embroiled in a complex political conspiracy. The story is set in a world with a unique magic system and blends elements of fantasy and science fiction. Viz's journey is filled with challenges, friendships, and betrayals as he navigates the treacherous world around him. The book explores themes of identity, loyalty, and the consequences of power.

A Gentleman in Moscow

Amor Towles

The book follows Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov, who narrowly escapes execution during the Russian Revolution due to a revolutionary poem he wrote. Instead, he is sentenced to house arrest at the Hotel Metropol in Moscow. Over the next thirty-two years, the Count adjusts to his new life, forming friendships with the hotel's staff and guests, and navigating the changing political landscape of the Soviet Union. The novel explores themes of parental duty, friendship, romance, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Winning and Losing Millions in the New Frontier of Finance

Nathaniel Eliason

Crypto Confidential is Nathaniel Eliason's unfiltered account of his experiences in the hyperactive and highly speculative world of cryptocurrency. The book chronicles his journey from learning to code to becoming a key developer in a token valued at billions of dollars. It exposes the behind-the-scenes workings of the crypto market, including bull runs, breakdowns, scams, and the intense emotions and high stakes involved. Eliason's anecdotes are both entertaining and instructive, providing valuable insights into the warning signs of disaster in the crypto market and how to be a more educated participant.

L'Almanac

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Naval Ravikant

L'Almanac de Naval Ravikant est une compilation de ses pensées et réflexions sur la vie, la richesse et le succès. Il explore des concepts clés tels que la création de valeur, l'importance du travail acharné et la nécessité de développer des compétences rares. Ravikant encourage une approche non conventionnelle de la richesse, en mettant l'accent sur la création de valeur à long terme plutôt que sur la recherche de gains rapides. Il aborde des thèmes tels que l'apprentissage continu, l'importance des relations et la nécessité de trouver un équilibre entre travail et vie personnelle. L'Almanac est une source d'inspiration pour ceux qui cherchent à construire une vie significative et prospère.

Husk

Frederic L'Homme

Arnaud Boudoiron

Preorder Nat's Sci-fi thriller, Husk!

Nat takes us behind the scenes of launching preorders for his sci-fi novel "Husk." Nat shares his unconventional approach to book pre-orders, choosing to sell directly through Shopify rather than Amazon - a decision that's already yielding fascinating results.

Get an insider's look at the realities of book marketing in 2024, including the challenges of building anticipation for a debut novel, the complexities of managing different formats and platforms, and how previous experience in tech and marketing shapes Nat's approach. The episode offers rare insights into pre-order numbers, profit margins, and the various trade-offs between different distribution channels - details that are usually kept under wraps in the publishing world.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Nat's debut novel Husk
[01:16] Launch expectations
[03:06] Preorder challenges for debut fiction authors
[04:04] Selling through a personal site vs Amazon
[07:56] First 24 hours sales numbers and revenue breakdown
[09:18] Strategy behind Amazon Kindle listing and rankings
[11:17] Shopify vs Amazon fulfillment decisions
[14:02] Benefits of bundle offering and direct customer relationships
[27:17] Plans for custom packaging and early reader reviews
[34:42] Production costs and profit margins
[40:05] Building an audience for fiction writing
[43:42] Book marketing plan and promotion strategy
[44:56] Instagram book marketing strategy
[50:07] Advanced book marketing tactics with customer data and retargeting

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