The Wordslinger Podcast

Colin Gardiner is a former economics/statistical researcher and the current Chief Product Officer of Outdoorsy, the largest and safest community-driven RV marketplace for renting RVs directly from local RV owners.DID I MENTION?Check out my interview on the Roadtreking Podcast: http://bit.ly/154-roadtrekRent a writer's retreat that can take you places! Check out my RV, now for rent via Outdoorsy, at bit.ly/rvwriter!Cover your nakedness and your shame with a Written World Tee, now with 100% more Kevin words! http://bit.ly/writtenworld-teesNew to Wordslinger Press, pick up Writing a Better Book DescriptionPick up a copy of Kevin Tumlinson's newest Dan Kotler archaeological thriller The Girl in the Mayan Tomb - https://books2read.com/mayan-tombCONNECT ONLINE:Website(s): https://www.outdoorsy.comTwitter handle(s): @colingardinerTHIS WEEK’S INDIE PUBLISHING NEWSBrought to you byDraft2Digital- AAP Estimates US Book Publishing Industry Generated $26 Billion in Revenue Last Year — http://bit.ly/157-billions- Tor Books is Now Windowing Library eBooks — http://bit.ly/157-tor- Amazon Updates KDP Rules to Discourage Book-Stuffing — http://bit.ly/157-amazon--LOOKING FOR SOME COOL T-SHIRTS WITH WHICH TO HIDE YOUR NAKED SHAME? Now you can get T-shirts with stuff I wrote on ‘em. Just hit http://bit.ly/writtenworld-tees to browse and buy!--THIS EPISODE OF THE WORDSLINGER PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY:Written World Writer’s Retreat - Rent a writer’s retreat that goes wherever you want to go. Check out my listing on Outdoorsy for the perfect writer’s retreat—my 38’ luxury motor coach! Go to http://bit.ly/rvwriter for details.Draft2Digital—Convert, publish, and distribute your book worldwide, with support the whole way. https://draft2digital.com/wordslingerWordslinger Press—This is your chance to start your indie author career right. Pick up books and other products to help you build and grow a successful writing career. Start growing at http://wordslingerpodcast.comSupport this show: Subscribe and share!Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/wordslingerpodcastPick something up to read that will be tough to put down—Archeological Thrillers, Science Fiction, YA Fantasy and more, at https://kevintumlinson.com/booksGOT A QUESTION FOR KEVIN AND HIS GUESTS?CALL 281-809-WORD (9673) Get full access to The Writer_ at kevintumlinson.substack.com/subscribe

Mark is a Scotsman now living in Würzburg, Germany. He is a former technology journalist, with past experience working for newspapers, magazines, and websites. In a previous life, he was a Jack-of-all-trades, including being a government civil servant, working in hotels, travelling around Europe and working as a civilian employee on a US Army base here in Würzburg.DID I MENTION?- Check out my interview on the Roadtreking Podcast: http://bit.ly/154-roadtrekRent a writer's retreat that can take you places! Check out my RV, now for rent via Outdoorsy, at bit.ly/rvwriter!Cover your nakedness and your shame with a Written World Tee, now with 100% more Kevin words! http://bit.ly/writtenworld-teesNew to Wordslinger Press, pick up Writing a Better Book DescriptionPick up a copy of Kevin Tumlinson's newest Dan Kotler archaeological thriller The Girl in the Mayan Tomb - https://books2read.com/mayan-tombCONNECT ONLINE:Website(s): markoneill.orgTwitter handle(s): @markoneillFacebook: facebook.com/markoneillonlineAmazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Mark-ONeill/e/B074LCQN1DTHIS WEEK’S INDIE PUBLISHING NEWSBrought to you by Draft2Digital- Walmart and Microsoft team up to fight Amazon - http://bit.ly/156-walmart- Bad Romance - http://bit.ly/156-badromance- Trademark on Cover Design - http://bit.ly/156-trademark--LOOKING FOR SOME COOL T-SHIRTS WITH WHICH TO HIDE YOUR NAKED SHAME? Now you can get T-shirts with stuff I wrote on ‘em. Just hit http://bit.ly/writtenworld-tees to browse and buy!--THIS EPISODE OF THE WORDSLINGER PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY:Written World Writer’s Retreat - Rent a writer’s retreat that goes wherever you want to go. Check out my listing on Outdoorsy for the perfect writer’s retreat—my 38’ luxury motor coach! Go to http://bit.ly/rvwriter for details.Draft2Digital—Convert, publish, and distribute your book worldwide, with support the whole way. https://draft2digital.com/wordslingerWordslinger Press—This is your chance to start your indie author career right. Pick up books and other products to help you build and grow a successful writing career. Start growing at http://wordslingerpodcast.comSupport this show: Subscribe and share!Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/wordslingerpodcastPick something up to read that will be tough to put down—Archeological Thrillers, Science Fiction, YA Fantasy and more, at https://kevintumlinson.com/books___GOT A QUESTION FOR KEVIN AND HIS GUESTS?CALL 281-809-WORD (9673) Get full access to The Writer_ at kevintumlinson.substack.com/subscribe

Author Justin Sloan wrote video games before becoming a full-time author, with credits on such games as Game of Thrones, Tales from the Borderlands, Walking Dead, and Marvel and mobile games. He taught Muay Thai kickboxing and Marine Corps Martial Arts, and can play three songs on the bagpipes. Justin holds advanced degrees in international relations/economics and creative writing. Oh, and he acted in movies for a bit - all small roles though.DID I MENTION?- Check out my interview on the Roadtreking Podcast: http://bit.ly/154-roadtrekRent a writer's retreat that can take you places! Check out my RV, now for rent via Outdoorsy, at bit.ly/rvwriter!Cover your nakedness and your shame with a Written World Tee, now with 100% more Kevin words! http://bit.ly/writtenworld-teesNew to Wordslinger Press, pick up Writing a Better Book DescriptionPick up a copy of Kevin Tumlinson's newest Dan Kotler archaeological thriller The Girl in the Mayan Tomb - https://books2read.com/mayan-tombCONNECT ONLINE:Website(s): www.JustinSloanAuthor.comTwitter handle(s): @justinmsloanFacebook: www.facebook.com/JustinSloanAuthor/Amazon Author page: www.amazon.com/Justin-SloanTHIS WEEK’S INDIE PUBLISHING NEWSBrought to you byDraft2Digital- Bookfunnel announces Print Codes - http://bit.ly/155-bookfunnel- Kobo limits book descriptions to 4,000 characters for Walmart - http://bit.ly/155-kobo- Authors can lease a virtual Mac - http://bit.ly/155-mac--LOOKING FOR SOME COOL T-SHIRTS WITH WHICH TO HIDE YOUR NAKED SHAME? Now you can get T-shirts with stuff I wrote on ‘em. Just hit http://bit.ly/writtenworld-tees to browse and buy!--THIS EPISODE OF THE WORDSLINGER PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY:Written World Writer’s Retreat - Rent a writer’s retreat that goes wherever you want to go. Check out my listing on Outdoorsy for the perfect writer’s retreat—my 38’ luxury motor coach! Go to http://bit.ly/rvwriter for details.Draft2Digital—Convert, publish, and distribute your book worldwide, with support the whole way. https://draft2digital.com/wordslingerWordslinger Press—This is your chance to start your indie author career right. Pick up books and other products to help you build and grow a successful writing career. Start growing at http://wordslingerpodcast.comSupport this show: Subscribe and share!Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/wordslingerpodcastPick something up to read that will be tough to put down—Archeological Thrillers, Science Fiction, YA Fantasy and more, at https://kevintumlinson.com/books___GOT A QUESTION FOR KEVIN AND HIS GUESTS?CALL 281-809-WORD (9673) Get full access to The Writer_ at kevintumlinson.substack.com/subscribe

Scott is a turtle amongst ninjas. At an early age he potty trained himself and has been ahead of the curve ever since. A one time college professor, Scott now makes his living as an indy author and board game photographer.MENTIONS:- Check out my interview on the Roadtreking Podcast: http://bit.ly/154-roadtrekRent a writer's retreat that can take you places! Check out my RV, now for rent via Outdoorsy, at bit.ly/rvwriter!Cover your nakedness and your shame with a Written World Tee, now with 100% more Kevin words! http://bit.ly/writtenworld-teesNew to Wordslinger Press, pick up Writing a Better Book DescriptionPick up a copy of Kevin Tumlinson's newest Dan Kotler archaeological thriller The Girl in the Mayan Tomb - https://books2read.com/mayan-tombCONNECT ONLINE:Website(s): www.scottking.infoTwitter handle(s): @scottkingAmazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Scott-King/e/B002BMAE9C/THIS WEEK’S INDIE PUBLISHING NEWSBrought to you byDraft2DigitalBarnes & Noble fires its newest CEO with no severance pay - http://bit.ly/154-bnEnglish rapper Stormzy launches book publishing imprint, announces book - http://bit.ly/154-stormzyCockygate is over! - http://bit.ly/154-cocky--LOOKING FOR SOME COOL T-SHIRTS WITH WHICH TO HIDE YOUR NAKED SHAME? Now you can get T-shirts with stuff I wrote on ‘em. Just hit http://bit.ly/writtenworld-tees to browse and buy!--THIS EPISODE OF THE WORDSLINGER PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY:Written World Writer’s Retreat - Rent a writer’s retreat that goes wherever you want to go. Check out my listing on Outdoorsy for the perfect writer’s retreat—my 38’ luxury motor coach! Go to http://bit.ly/rvwriter for details.Draft2Digital—Convert, publish, and distribute your book worldwide, with support the whole way. https://draft2digital.com/wordslingerWordslinger Press—This is your chance to start your indie author career right. Pick up books and other products to help you build and grow a successful writing career. Start growing at http://wordslingerpodcast.comSupport this show: Subscribe and share!Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/wordslingerpodcastPick something up to read that will be tough to put down—Archeological Thrillers, Science Fiction, YA Fantasy and more, at https://kevintumlinson.com/books___GOT A QUESTION FOR KEVIN AND HIS GUESTS?CALL 281-809-WORD (9673) Get full access to The Writer_ at kevintumlinson.substack.com/subscribe

Mike is a veteran journalist who, with his wife, Jennifer, travels North America in a Type B motorhome, blogging about the people, places, joys and adventure of RV life on the road. He enjoys camping (obviously), hiking, biking, fitness, photography, kayaking, video editing and all things dealing with technology. See and subscribe to his RV Lifestyle Channel on YouTube, where he has hundreds of RV and travel related videos. His PC Mike TV reports, on personal technology are distributed weekly to all 215 NBC-TV stations.MENTIONS:Rent a writer's retreat that can take you places! Check out my RV, now for rent via Outdoorsy, at bit.ly/rvwriter!Cover your nakedness and your shame with a Written World Tee, now with 100% more Kevin words! http://bit.ly/writtenworld-teesNew to Wordslinger Press, pick up Writing a Better Book DescriptionPick up a copy of Kevin Tumlinson's newest Dan Kotler archaeological thriller The Girl in the Mayan Tomb - https://books2read.com/mayan-tombCONNECT ONLINE:Website(s): roadtreking.comYouTube: rvlifestylechannel.comTwitter handle(s): @roadtrekingFacebook: facebook.com/roadtrekingAmazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B001KIDWWYTHIS WEEK’S INDIE PUBLISHING NEWSBrought to you byDraft2DigitalUS Supreme Court Tax Ruling Means Authors Have to Collect Sales Tax on Direct Sales - http://bit.ly/153-taxesiBooks gets a redesign and new Apple Books branding in iOS 12 - http://bit.ly/153-appleHarlan Ellison, one of science fiction’s most controversial authors, has died - http://bit.ly/153-harlan--LOOKING FOR SOME COOL T-SHIRTS WITH WHICH TO HIDE YOUR NAKED SHAME? Now you can get T-shirts with stuff I wrote on ‘em. Just hit http://bit.ly/writtenworld-tees to browse and buy!--THIS EPISODE OF THE WORDSLINGER PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY:Written World Writer’s Retreat - Rent a writer’s retreat that goes wherever you want to go. Check out my listing on Outdoorsy for the perfect writer’s retreat—my 38’ luxury motor coach! Go to http://bit.ly/rvwriter for details.Draft2Digital—Convert, publish, and distribute your book worldwide, with support the whole way. https://draft2digital.com/wordslingerWordslinger Press—This is your chance to start your indie author career right. Pick up books and other products to help you build and grow a successful writing career. Start growing at http://wordslingerpodcast.comSupport this show: Subscribe and share!Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/wordslingerpodcastPick something up to read that will be tough to put down—Archeological Thrillers, Science Fiction, YA Fantasy and more, at https://kevintumlinson.com/books___GOT A QUESTION FOR KEVIN AND HIS GUESTS?CALL 281-809-WORD (9673) Get full access to The Writer_ at kevintumlinson.substack.com/subscribe

As an avid snowboarder from Utah, Ben grew up with a passion for learning. This thirst for knowledge led him to sports, music, and academic endeavours. He has done volunteer work in Brazil and speaks three languages. With a bachelors from the University of Central Florida, he started publishing in 2012 and has since sold over 200,000 copies. Each of his books have been inspired by his wife and six beautiful children. He currently resides in Missouri while completing his Master's in professional writing.MENTIONS:Rent a writer's retreat that can take you places! Check out my RV, now for rent via Outdoorsy, at bit.ly/rvwriter!Cover your nakedness and your shame with a Written World Tee, now with 100% more Kevin words! http://bit.ly/writtenworld-teesNew to Wordslinger Press, pick up Writing a Better Book DescriptionPick up a copy of Kevin Tumlinson's newest Dan Kotler archaeological thriller The Girl in the Mayan Tomb - https://books2read.com/mayan-tombCONNECT ONLINE:Website(s):www.Lumineia.comwww.27dates.comTwitter handle(s):@27dates@benhale8Facebook: Facebook.com/Elseerian, Facebook.com/27datesAmazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B008L4V466THIS WEEK’S INDIE PUBLISHING NEWSBrought to you byDraft2DigitalVELLUM ADDS EASIER IMPORT FROM SCRIVENERhttp://bit.ly/152-vellumTHE AUTHOR'S GUILD IS TAKING IT'S ANNUAL AUTHOR INCOME SURVEYhttp://bit.ly/152-incomeAMAZON NOW LETS AUTHORS PURCHASE MULTIPLE COPIES OF KINDLE EBOOKShttp://bit.ly/152-amazon--LOOKING FOR SOME COOL T-SHIRTS WITH WHICH TO HIDE YOUR NAKED SHAME? Now you can get T-shirts with stuff I wrote on ‘em. Just hit http://bit.ly/writtenworld-tees to browse and buy!--THIS EPISODE OF THE WORDSLINGER PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY:Written World Writer’s Retreat - Rent a writer’s retreat that goes wherever you want to go. Check out my listing on Outdoorsy for the perfect writer’s retreat—my 38’ luxury motor coach! Go to http://bit.ly/rvwriter for details.Draft2Digital—Convert, publish, and distribute your book worldwide, with support the whole way. https://draft2digital.com/wordslingerWordslinger Press—This is your chance to start your indie author career right. Pick up books and other products to help you build and grow a successful writing career. Start growing at http://wordslingerpodcast.comSupport this show: Subscribe and share!Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/wordslingerpodcastPick something up to read that will be tough to put down—Archeological Thrillers, Science Fiction, YA Fantasy and more, at https://kevintumlinson.com/books___GOT A QUESTION FOR KEVIN AND HIS GUESTS?CALL 281-809-WORD (9673) Get full access to The Writer_ at kevintumlinson.substack.com/subscribe

David Gaughran is an Irish writer, living in Prague, who spends most of his time travelling the world, collecting stories. He runs the publishing blog Let's Get Digital and the South American history site South Americana, and his work has been featured in the Huffington Post, The Sunday Times and the Irish Times.MENTIONS:Rent a writer's retreat that can take you places! Check out my RV, now for rent via Outdoorsy, at bit.ly/rvwriter!Cover your nakedness and your shame with a Written World Tee, now with 100% more Kevin words! http://bit.ly/writtenworld-teesNew to Wordslinger Press, pick up Writing a Better Book DescriptionPick up a copy of Kevin Tumlinson's newest Dan Kotler archaeological thriller The Girl in the Mayan Tomb - https://books2read.com/mayan-tombCONNECT ONLINE:Website(s):Blog: https://davidgaughran.wordpress.com/Site: http://davidgaughran.com/Twitter handle(s): @DavidGaughranFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidGaughranWriter/Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/David-Gaughran/e/B004YWUS6QTHIS WEEK’S INDIE PUBLISHING NEWSBrought to you by Draft2DigitalTraditional ebooks are down, Indies are up — That’s according to a story in GeekWire, which presents the oddly confusing yet comforting statement “Ebook sales are dying. Ebooks are insanely popular.” The story cites PubTrack Digital’s research results, showing a 10 percent decline in ebook sales from 2017 over 2016. The 450 publishers included in the study saw ebook sales from from 170 million units to 162 million in that one-year span. A second study released by the American Association of Publishers seems to jive with those results, showing a 4.7 percent drop in ebook sales in 2017, from more than 1,200 publishers. But all is not lost—because the article points out that those studies are both focused entirely on traditional book publishing. Factor in indie publishing, and you get a revolution of ebook sales. Big numbers are hitting the board, including one from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos: “Over a thousand independent authors surpassed $100,000 in royalties in 2017, through Kindle Direct Publishing.” — http://bit.ly/151-ebooksShould we judge a work by its author? — In the wake of allegations of sexist misconduct, some are asking if we should ignore and invalidate work written by authors such as Junto Díaz, a Pulitzer Prize winner who was accused of forcibly kissing a woman years earlier. A recent editorial in the National Review argues that we shouldn’t dismiss a writer’s (or actor’s or comedian’s or artist’s) work because of that writer’s actions. I agree. Despite allegations, enough readers have resonated with Díaz’s work that it would be horribly dismissive to ban or boycott it. Instead, maybe we should consider that first all humans are capable of producing good work regardless of their past offenses, and second that we humans are not defined by the mistakes of our past. If we’re to grow and evolve, we have to accept that people can change. What do you think? — http://bit.ly/151-badwriterWhat Can Algorithms Tell You About Your Writing? — In a recent Wall Street Journal post, machine learning has come into the spotlight as potentially “your next editor.” Computer algorithms can now be used to determine everything from reading level to mood to the complexity of your ideas. Could this lead to a revolution in automated editing? Maybe. Though the technology gives some pretty handy insights into improving a writing sample, it doesn’t necessarily account for when a writer deliberately wants to break the rules. Imagine Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer run through this thing and you’ll get the idea. On the other hand, for writers who may be just learning to hone their craft, this could be a life (and budget) saver. Check out the story and even test some of your own writing. — http://bit.ly/151-algorithmLOOKING FOR SOME COOL T-SHIRTS WITH WHICH TO HIDE YOUR NAKED SHAME? Now you can get T-shirts with stuff I wrote on ‘em. Just hit http://bit.ly/writtenworld-tees to browse and buy!THIS EPISODE OF THE WORDSLINGER PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY:Written World Writer’s Retreat - Rent a writer’s retreat that goes wherever you want to go. Check out my listing on Outdoorsy for the perfect writer’s retreat—my 38’ luxury motor coach! Go to http://bit.ly/rvwriter for details.Draft2Digital—Convert, publish, and distribute your book worldwide, with support the whole way. https://draft2digital.com/wordslingerWordslinger Press—This is your chance to start your indie author career right. Pick up books and other products to help you build and grow a successful writing career. Start growing at http://wordslingerpodcast.comSupport this show: Subscribe and share!Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/wordslingerpodcastPick something up to read that will be tough to put down—Archeological Thrillers, Science Fiction, YA Fantasy and more, at https://kevintumlinson.com/books___GOT A QUESTION FOR KEVIN AND HIS GUESTS?CALL 281-809-WORD (9673) Get full access to The Writer_ at kevintumlinson.substack.com/subscribe

Rick Pullen is a novelist, award-winning investigative reporter and magazine editor. His 2016 thriller, Naked Ambition, about a reporter investigating a corrupt presidential candidate, became a bestseller. The Apprentice is his latest release. In 2018, newspaper reporter Beck Rikki returns as she sets out to discover the Naked Truth, the sequel to Naked Ambition. Pullen is a member of the Folio 100—the 100 most influential people in magazine publishing—and was a finalist for Editor of the Year.MENTIONS:Rent a writer's retreat that can take you places! Check out my RV, now for rent via Outdoorsy, at bit.ly/rvwriter!New to Wordslinger Press, pick up Writing a Better Book DescriptionPick up a copy of Kevin Tumlinson's newest Dan Kotler archaeological thriller The Girl in the Mayan Tomb - https://books2read.com/mayan-tombCONNECT ONLINE:Website(s): http://rickpullen.com/Twitter handle(s): @RickPullenFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/rickpullenwriter/Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Apprentice-Rick-Pullen-ebook/dp/B075787Y89THIS WEEK’S INDIE PUBLISHING NEWSBrought to you by Draft2DigitalThe Worlds Are Ending! — Amazon has announced that it will be closing its popular Kindle Worlds service in July. KW launched in May 2013 as a way for intellectual property owners to open their worlds for other writers, with both the copyright holder and the contributor splitting royalties from sales. It was a popular option for authors looking to break into writing fiction, with the power of a known brand behind them. There’s been no official word as to what happens next, and that’s proving problematic for contributing authors. Under the Kindle Worlds License Agreement, the contributing authors granted rights to their stories to the property holders. Effectively, then, it’s up to those property holders to make any deals to republish or redistribute that work. As there are few viable options for royalty splitting in the marketplace, the likelihood is that these titles will never be republished. — http://bit.ly/150-worldsRomantic Times Calling it Quits — Romantic Times Magazine, and its associated annual convention, will be shutting down, according to a May 16 announcement. The Romantic Times convention is currently running, but magazine owner Kathryn Falk announced to attendees that this would be the last year. Most attendees were very surprised, and were concerned that the closure would impact readers. Thanks to JoCarol Jones, however, there’s still some spark for readers and convention goers. Jones accounted that she will be creating and running The Booklovers Convention, which will take up the cause. — http://bit.ly/150-romanticMore Cocky — The story behind #cockygate just keeps evolving, now with a feature article in Vox detailing some of the finer points of the IP battle. For those not in the know, author Faleena Hopkins started an avalanche of news and ill feelings when she trademarked the word “cocky” as it applies to ebooks, books, and audiobooks in the romance genre. She started a ruckus when she sent cease and desist letters to a number of romance authors using the word in the titles of their books, following up by issuing takedown notices with Amazon for alleged trademark violation. The story continues to take on mass as authors take issue, file petitions to have the trademark revoked, and even turn to trade organizations like RWA to bring legal muscle to the game. The implications of this story keep unfolding. — http://bit.ly/150-cockyTHIS EPISODE OF THE WORDSLINGER PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY:Written World Writer’s Retreat - Rent a writer’s retreat that goes wherever you want to go. Check out my listing on Outdoorsy for the perfect writer’s retreat—my 38’ luxury motor coach! Go to http://bit.ly/rvwriter for details.Draft2Digital—Convert, publish, and distribute your book worldwide, with support the whole way. https://draft2digital.com/wordslingerWordslinger Press—This is your chance to start your indie author career right. Pick up books and other products to help you build and grow a successful writing career. Start growing at http://wordslingerpodcast.comSupport this show: Subscribe and share!Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/wordslingerpodcastPick something up to read that will be tough to put down—Archeological Thrillers, Science Fiction, YA Fantasy and more, at https://kevintumlinson.com/books___GOT A QUESTION FOR KEVIN AND HIS GUESTS?CALL 281-809-WORD (9673) Get full access to The Writer_ at kevintumlinson.substack.com/subscribe

Michelle Madow is a USA Today bestselling author of fast paced fantasy novels that will leave you turning the pages wanting more! She grew up in Maryland and now lives in Florida. Some of her favorite things are: reading, traveling, pizza, time travel, Broadway musicals, and spending time with friends and family. Someday, she hopes to travel the world for a year on a cruise ship.CONNECT ONLINE:Website(s): www.michellemadow.comTwitter handle(s): @MichelleMadowFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/michellemadow/Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Michelle-Madow/e/B005GA8KA6/THIS WEEK’S INDIE PUBLISHING NEWS:Don’t Get Cocky — Romance author Faleena Hopkins has been the talk of the indie publishing industry of late, thanks to her decision to trademark the word “cocky” as it applies to romance-genre ebooks, books, audiobooks, and allegedly even metadata for all of the above. Hopkins began sending cease and desist notifications to authors using the word in their romance titles, threatening legal action if authors didn’t comply and make a change. Hopkins has trademarked not only the word “cocky,” but a stylized font treatment of the word using a font that is, apparently, not legally allowed for use in a trademark or copyright. The community is up-at-arms over the move, and it has sparked a very heated discussion regarding intellectual property laws as they apply to indie authors. My take: This is an abuse of IP law, and it should never have passed review. Someone in the US Patent and Trademark Office has fallen down on the job, or has been banned for access to a common English language dictionary. This is a story to watch for all its implications to the industry, for sure. — http://bit.ly/149-cockyBooks by women authors are cheaper than books by men? — That, according to CBS Money Watch, reporting on research that books written by women are priced 45 percent lower than books written by men. Researchers analyzed more than 2 million books published between 2002 and 2012 and determined the 45 percent number to apply to both traditional and indie-published books. That number shrinks to just 9 recent once genre and other mitigating factors are included. And the number specific to self-published titles is smaller still: “Self-published titles by women are priced at 4 percent less than for men, the researchers found,” as stated by the CBS article. So what’s driving that price differential? I argue that it’s genre: Women tend to write in genres where various factors have driven the price point lower. Whereas men tend to write in genres where a higher price point is acceptable. The way to look at this and verify it would be to break this down and study price points and ranges within specific genres, to see if the disparity holds up. — http://bit.ly/149-genderAuthor takes on US Education — Ted Dintersmith, author of “What School Could Be,” appeared on CNBC to discuss his book and his take on how the education system in the United States is not only letting students down, but is actually making it more difficult for them to be competitive in the workplace. Dintermsith states that he believes college “definitely is not for everyone,” and points out that only one in five students leave college with a background and resources that can equip them for a successful career. I have to say, I agree 100%. As controversial as this statement may be, I believe college is a worthless endeavor for the majority of our population, and that most people if not all people would benefit far more by investing all of that time, money, and energy into starting a small business—even if that business utterly fails. What do you think? Check out the interview and leave me a comment. — bit.ly/149-schoolTHIS EPISODE OF THE WORDSLINGER PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY:Written World Writer’s Retreat - Rent a writer’s retreat that goes wherever you want to go. Check out my listing on Outdoorsy for the perfect writer’s retreat—my 38’ luxury motor coach! Go to http://bit.ly/rvwriter for details.Draft2Digital—Convert, publish, and distribute your book worldwide, with support the whole way. https://draft2digital.com/wordslingerWordslinger Press—This is your chance to start your indie author career right. Pick up books and other products to help you build and grow a successful writing career. Start growing at http://wordslingerpodcast.comSupport this show: Subscribe and share!Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/wordslingerpodcastPick something up to read that will be tough to put down—Archeological Thrillers, Science Fiction, YA Fantasy and more, at https://kevintumlinson.com/books___GOT A QUESTION FOR KEVIN AND HIS GUESTS?CALL 281-809-WORD (9673) Get full access to The Writer_ at kevintumlinson.substack.com/subscribe

Heather Hildenbrand was born and raised in a small town in northern Virginia where she was homeschooled through high school. (She's only slightly socially awkward as a result.) She writes paranormal and contemporary romance with plenty of abs and angst. Her most frequent hobbies are riding motorcycles and avoiding killer slugs.MENTIONS:New to Wordslinger Press, pick up Writing a Better Book DescriptionPick up a copy of Kevin Tumlinson's newest Dan Kotler archaeological thriller The Girl in the Mayan Tomb - https://books2read.com/mayan-tombCONNECT ONLINE:Website(s): www.heatherhildenbrand.comTwitter handle(s): @HeatherHildenbrFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherHildenbrandAuthor/Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Heather-Hildenbrand/e/B004VH51XE/THIS WEEK’S INDIE PUBLISHING NEWS:Amazon launches Prime Book Box — Coming up later in 2018, Amazon will launch Prime Book Box, a monthly subscription-based service aimed at kids. The subscription will run just under $23 per month, and spending on the age of the child they’ll get either four board books (think Little Golden Books) or two hardcover picture books or novels. The board books go to kids who are two years old or younger, and the picture books and novels go to ages three to 12. This is significant because it’s the first time Amazon has offered a subscription service for physical books. And because you’ll ask, the books are selected by Amazon Books editors, who pick based on the appropriateness for the age ranges, and they’ll avoid duplicates by using the customer’s purchase history. — http://bit.ly/148-amazonThe launch of Publishing Technology Partners — For those looking to launch and build a business in the publishing space, Publishing Technology Partners is a consulting partnership that brings a lot of industry expertise to the table. The five founding partners have an impressive array of combined publishing and technology know-how, and are making it available to startups and businesses in need of development, marketing, strategy and more. It’s an interesting emerging business in large part because it signifies just how legit “new publishing” has become. If you happen to be developing in this space, it’s worth checking these guys out. — http://bit.ly/148-partnersFindaway Voices introduces promotional pricing — Audiobook distribution platform Findaway Voices has announced that they now support promotional retail pricing. Authors distributing through the service can now set up promotional pricing through Google Play, NOOK Audiobooks, eStories, LibroFM, and Instread. Findaway lists some perks to accompany this new resource, and by far my favorite has been “Vendors will typically give titles on promotion more favorable coverage and merchandising support.” If you’d like to save on the $49 admin fee, by the way, you can sign up for Findaway Voices via Draft2Digital. — http://bit.ly/148-findawayTHIS EPISODE OF THE WORDSLINGER PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY:Draft2Digital—Convert, publish, and distribute your book worldwide, with support the whole way. https://draft2digital.com/wordslingerWordslinger Press—This is your chance to start your indie author career right. Pick up books and other products to help you build and grow a successful writing career. Start growing at http://wordslingerpodcast.comSupport this show: Subscribe and share!Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/wordslingerpodcastPick something up to read that will be tough to put down—Archeological Thrillers, Science Fiction, YA Fantasy and more, at https://kevintumlinson.com/books___GOT A QUESTION FOR KEVIN AND HIS GUESTS?CALL 281-809-WORD (9673) Get full access to The Writer_ at kevintumlinson.substack.com/subscribe