Diabolical Lies BONUS: Olivia Nuzzi, Trump/Mamdani, & Where Caro and Katie Disagree
11 snips
Nov 27, 2025 This conversation dives into the challenges writers face with Amazon's overwhelming influence on book sales. Insightful advice reveals how to better support authors through pre-orders and hardcover purchases. The hosts grapple with the persistent dominance of big platforms and their implications for indie bookstores. They passionately discuss the trade-offs writers navigate in retail while sharing practical tips for book buyers. The session ends on a lighter note, showcasing the hosts' humor and personal rapport.
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Live AMA Chaos And Spills
- The episode opens with casual chaos: spills and laughter during a live AMA setup.
- Katie Herzog and Caroline Cake joke about spilling an Ollipop and skipping 'foreplay' before questions.
Amazon Is The Default Book Channel
- Amazon dominates book distribution and is effectively unavoidable for most authors and publishers.
- Caroline Cake explains that even indie presses and leftist authors rely on Amazon for fulfillment and reach.
Self-Publishing Increases Amazon Dependence
- Self-published authors are especially beholden to Amazon's ecosystem for sales and fulfillment.
- Caroline Cake notes institutional publishing can sometimes grant more leverage with independent bookstores.
