
Self Publishing Insiders
Brought to you from the indie author experts at Draft2Digital! Each week, Self Publishing Insiders features an interview with a new guest, covering self-publishing topics from writing and craft to marketing and promoting your books, and anything that can help you build and grow your author career.
Learn about new tools, new software, new markets—and of course, all the inside information that D2D can provide!
This show features interviews taken from our live D2D Spotlight, available on YouTube and Facebook. Join us, and get your questions answered during the live broadcast, when you visit D2DLive.com!
Latest episodes

Apr 17, 2025 • 52min
Making the Most of Reader Events
Tawdra Kandle is a USA Today bestselling romance author who loves to plan and run conferences when she's not spinning love stories! Tawdra is joining us to share her insights from her latest column, Smart Marketing for Savvy Authors, where she talks about making the most of your opportunities at events and conferences. //Draft2Digital is where you start your Indie Author Career// Looking for your path to self-publishing success? Draft2Digital is the leading ebook publisher and distributor worldwide. We’ll convert your manuscript, distribute it online, and support you the whole way—and we won’t charge you a dime. We take a small percentage of the royalties for each sale you make through us, so we only make money when you make money. That's the best kind of business plan. • Get started now: https://draft2digital.com/• Learn the ins, the outs, and the all-arounds of indie publishing from the industry experts on the D2D Blog: https://Draft2Digital.com/blog • Promote your books with our Universal Book Links from Books2Read: https://books2read.com Make sure you bookmark https://D2DLive.com for links to live events, and to catch back episodes of the Self Publishing Insiders Podcast.

7 snips
Apr 10, 2025 • 54min
Three Years of Smashwords and Draft2Digital
Kris Austin, CEO of Draft2Digital, and Mark Coker, former CEO of Smashwords, dive into the merger that transformed indie publishing. They explore lessons learned over three years and share future goals that empower authors. The discussion highlights exciting new features like pre-orders and thematic sales at the Smashwords store. They also talk about simplifying royalty splits for collaborative authors and their plans to integrate print books, enhancing the indie author experience while supporting local bookstores.

10 snips
Apr 3, 2025 • 56min
Aristotle for Novelists
Douglas Vigliotti, an author of four books and host of 'Books for Men,' shares insights from his book 'Aristotle for Novelists.' He discusses how Aristotle's timeless storytelling principles can enhance modern novel writing. Discover how character flaws shape narratives, the delicate balance between structure and creativity, and the significance of causality in storytelling. Vigliotti introduces a unique 15th principle highlighting the emotional challenges of publishing, emphasizing the need to conquer fear on the self-publishing journey.

Mar 27, 2025 • 52min
Inside Draft2Digital's Tools and Services
Draft2Digital has grown a lot over the years, expanding with new tools and services for authors to take advantage of. The D2D team is here to talk through some of our popular and lesser known tools, and answer questions you might have about the services D2D provides.//Draft2Digital is where you start your Indie Author Career// Looking for your path to self-publishing success? Draft2Digital is the leading ebook publisher and distributor worldwide. We’ll convert your manuscript, distribute it online, and support you the whole way—and we won’t charge you a dime. We take a small percentage of the royalties for each sale you make through us, so we only make money when you make money. That's the best kind of business plan. • Get started now: https://draft2digital.com/• Learn the ins, the outs, and the all-arounds of indie publishing from the industry experts on the D2D Blog: https://Draft2Digital.com/blog • Promote your books with our Universal Book Links from Books2Read: https://books2read.com Make sure you bookmark https://D2DLive.com for links to live events, and to catch back episodes of the Self Publishing Insiders Podcast.

Mar 20, 2025 • 59min
Writing Better, Faster with Becca Syme
Becca Syme, a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and author of the Quitbooks for Writers series, shares her insights on writing better and faster. She dives into the importance of recognizing individual strengths and how tailored coaching can support authors at any stage of their journey. Becca discusses managing fear and distractions, exploring the nuances of imposter syndrome and overwhelm. Emphasizing brain diversity, she encourages writers to embrace their unique approaches, debunking the myth of a one-size-fits-all formula for success.

Mar 13, 2025 • 50min
Utilizing Your Time & Talent to Stand Out
O'Cyrus is the Founder of Ocyrus Ink Publishing and Host of The Author Lounge podcast. He joins us to talk about how writers can be using their time and talents to build a better author career. //Draft2Digital is where you start your Indie Author Career// Looking for your path to self-publishing success? Draft2Digital is the leading ebook publisher and distributor worldwide. We’ll convert your manuscript, distribute it online, and support you the whole way—and we won’t charge you a dime. We take a small percentage of the royalties for each sale you make through us, so we only make money when you make money. That's the best kind of business plan. • Get started now: https://draft2digital.com/• Learn the ins, the outs, and the all-arounds of indie publishing from the industry experts on the D2D Blog: https://Draft2Digital.com/blog • Promote your books with our Universal Book Links from Books2Read: https://books2read.com Make sure you bookmark https://D2DLive.com for links to live events, and to catch back episodes of the Self Publishing Insiders Podcast.

11 snips
Mar 6, 2025 • 49min
Page Turner Pacing Strategy
Ines Johnson, a lover of fairytales and folklore, shares her journey from TV writing to crafting engaging novels. She discusses her innovative Page Turner Pacing strategy, which helps authors create binge-worthy stories. Johnson highlights the significance of narrative structure and closure in series writing, and shares insights from her successful Kickstarter project for author resources. She emphasizes the importance of understanding audience preferences and fostering community within the self-publishing realm.

Feb 27, 2025 • 52min
Industry Trends with Jane Friedman
Jane Friedman has spent 25 years working in the publishing industry, with a focus on business reporting and author education. Her book, The Business of Being a Writer, received a starred review from Library Journal and is used as a classroom text by many writing and publishing degree programs. Jane joins us to share her insights on the latest industry trends with her understanding of writing as a business.//Draft2Digital is where you start your Indie Author Career// Looking for your path to self-publishing success? Draft2Digital is the leading ebook publisher and distributor worldwide. We’ll convert your manuscript, distribute it online, and support you the whole way—and we won’t charge you a dime. We take a small percentage of the royalties for each sale you make through us, so we only make money when you make money. That's the best kind of business plan. • Get started now: https://draft2digital.com/• Learn the ins, the outs, and the all-arounds of indie publishing from the industry experts on the D2D Blog: https://Draft2Digital.com/blog • Promote your books with our Universal Book Links from Books2Read: https://books2read.com Make sure you bookmark https://D2DLive.com for links to live events, and to catch back episodes of the Self Publishing Insiders Podcast.

Feb 20, 2025 • 46min
Influencer Marketing and Book Promotions with Fable
We always get one big question from our indie authors: what do I do with book promotion? As the Director of Sales at Fable, Margaux Weisman partners with publishers, indie authors and other consumer brands to reach readers on the platform. Fable has also been a premier platform for authors to work with creators to take advantage of influencer marketing to get their book in front of new readers. //Draft2Digital is where you start your Indie Author Career// Looking for your path to self-publishing success? Draft2Digital is the leading ebook publisher and distributor worldwide. We’ll convert your manuscript, distribute it online, and support you the whole way—and we won’t charge you a dime. We take a small percentage of the royalties for each sale you make through us, so we only make money when you make money. That's the best kind of business plan. • Get started now: https://draft2digital.com/• Learn the ins, the outs, and the all-arounds of indie publishing from the industry experts on the D2D Blog: https://Draft2Digital.com/blog • Promote your books with our Universal Book Links from Books2Read: https://books2read.com Make sure you bookmark https://D2DLive.com for links to live events, and to catch back episodes of the Self Publishing Insiders Podcast.

Feb 13, 2025 • 47min
Sapphic Fiction & Community Building
Dive into the world of sapphic fiction, where community and representation play pivotal roles. Discover the journey of authors transitioning from stable careers to full-time writing, while navigating the challenges of genre consistency in indie publishing. Explore unique marketing strategies that enhance visibility and foster connections. Delve into the impact of fan fiction on storytelling and author identity, and witness how historical experiences shape the contemporary landscape for queer voices. It's a celebration of resilience and creativity!
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