Alexa's Book Marketing & Publishing Chat

Episodet

• Red Flags, Real Costs, and the ROI Nobody Wants to Talk About — Joel Pitney of Launch My Book {ep. 226} 01.07.2026 46min

  Joel Pitney, founder of Launch My Book, pulls back the curtain on the self-publishing assist model — what it is, who it's for, and how to tell the good companies from the sharks. He shares red flags to watch for, the real cost of publishing well, and why you probably won't make your money back on Book One.
• How Somatic Practices Set Authors (and Everyone Else) Free with Melanie Smithson {ep. 225} 25.06.2026 41min

  "I'd Rather Be Dancing": How Somatic Practices Set Authors (and Everyone Else) Free. Licensed somatic psychotherapist and award-winning author Melanie Smithson joins Alexa to discuss her book Shake Yourself Free: 81 Somatic Practices to Let Go of Limitation. From unprocessed emotions and the wisdom of the body, to somatic tips for writers and lessons from going on dozens of podcasts — this one moves you.
• Managing Writing Anxiety with Rhonda Douglas {ep. 224} 17.06.2026 34min

  Writer's block isn't a character flaw — it's your nervous system trying to protect you. Book coach Rhonda Douglas of Resilient Writers joins Alexa to unpack creative anxiety, biologic hacks that calm your sympathetic nervous system, why pantsers need just enough outline, and how to train your brain that writing feels good.
• Let Amazon Do Your Marketing: The Four-Book-Per-Year Method with Maria Secoy {ep. 223} 10.06.2026 44min

  Romantic suspense author and All Write Well founder Maria Secoy reveals how indie authors can let Amazon's algorithm do the marketing heavy lifting for their first few books. Learn the four-book-per-year method, why sequencing beats hustle, and how to find your author brand before spending a dime on ads.
• 27 Books, Female Firefighter Heroes & Why Most Writers Quit Right Before They Make It - Constance Phillips {ep. 222} 03.06.2026 36min

  Romance author Constance Phillips has published 27 books in 15 years—including her Sunnydale series and the To Protect and Serve firefighter/police spinoffs. She joins Alexa to talk small-town romance, writing four books a year, bending gender stereotypes, vendor shows, and the mindset that keeps her writing through the slow seasons.
• The Booked Club: How One Author Turned Wanderlust Romance Into a Whole Ecosystem 27.05.2026 50min

  Romance author Cher Terais didn't plan to start a travel agency — her readers practically demanded it. She joins Alexa to share how Wanderlust Romance became The Booked Club, Wanderlust Retreats, and a virtual Night in Morocco, plus the Instagram strategy that's turning her characters into viewers.
• 7 Women Who Gave All - Memorial Day{ep. 220} 25.05.2026 21min

  In this special Memorial Day episode, Alexa Bigwarfe shares the powerful—and too often untold—stories of seven remarkable American women who gave their lives in military service. From the first Native American woman killed in combat to elite combat photographers and Marine officers, this tribute honors their legacy and explores why storytelling matters. Alexa also highlights authors writing about women in the military, shares her thoughts on Ashley’s War by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, and honors the legacy of America’s most daring female spies.
• Author-Forward Marketing Lessons from 8 Authors {ep. 219} 21.05.2026 1h 9min

  Fresh from moderating an author-forward marketing panel at the Piedmont Publishing Symposium, Alexa shares what she learned and replays a Book Launch in a Box panel with five indie authors across five genres — on launch timelines, building social proof from zero, the second-book payoff, and why marketing only feels gross when it isn't real.
• GEO - The Big Change in Author Discoverability {ep. 218} 13.05.2026 21min

  The way readers find books has changed — and most marketing advice hasn't caught up yet. In this episode, Alexa breaks down exactly what shifted in book discovery in 2025–2026, (readers searching on AI and what GEO is), what it means for authors across every genre, and what practical steps you can take this week to become more visible.
• Self-Publishing Demystified: Costs, Timelines, & What Authors Need to Know with Leanne Janzen {ep. 217} 06.05.2026 29min

  Curious about self-publishing? In this episode, Alexa talks with Leanne Janzen of Friesen Press about the full publishing process, costs, timelines, and the role of AI. Get an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to turn your manuscript into a professionally published book.
• Getting beyond the "Icks" of Book Marketing with Alexa Bigwarfe {ep. 216} 30.04.2026 57min

  Book marketing doesn’t have to feel overwhelming or uncomfortable. In this episode, Alexa shares how to shift your mindset, simplify your strategy, and approach marketing through storytelling and connection. Learn how to build your audience, start earlier, and create a marketing plan that actually feels good—and works.
• Lisa Carrington Firmin on Writing, Healing, and Owning Your Story {ep. 215} 22.04.2026 34min

  Lisa Carrington Firmin shares her journey from Air Force commander to author and advocate, revealing how writing helped her heal from trauma and PTSD. This inspiring conversation explores storytelling, resilience, and the power of using your voice to create connection, community, and lasting impact.
• From Rock Bottom to Rock Tours: Reinventing Your Life and Business with Nicole Stocker-Heinrich 15.04.2026 1h 6min

  Nicole shares her powerful journey from forced career beginnings to global success, personal upheaval, and entrepreneurial reinvention. This episode dives into resilience, bold decisions, and building a business that supports your creative dreams—proving it’s never too late to rewrite your story.
• Overthinking Is Blocking You—Here’s How to Let It Go {ep. 213} 08.04.2026 27min

  Writer's block, business blocks, feeling powerless to move forward... overthinking is keeping you stuck—but your intuition already knows the answer. Learn how to trust yourself, use the PAUSE method, and create space for clarity and aligned action. Alexa shares this analysis from some chapters in the book: Don't Believe Everything You Think.
• The Reason Your Marketing Isn't Working {ep. 212} 02.03.2026 33min

  Refreshing your sales page and wondering why no one’s buying? In this episode, Alexa breaks down the real reasons book and service sales stall—and it’s not your talent. Learn how messaging clarity, email strategy, visibility, and collaboration create a clear path from discovery to purchase.
• From Author to Paid Speaker: Building a Profitable Speaking Business with Dr. Kate Watson {ep. 211} 25.02.2026 39min

  Dr. Kate Watson joins Alexa Bigwarfe to share how authors can expand their influence — and income — through public speaking. Learn how to find your first stages, package your expertise, and price your value, not your time. Stop saying “someday” and start saying “I am a speaker.”
• Collaborate to Create: How to Successfully Co-Author a Nonfiction Book {ep. 210) 19.02.2026 42min

  Thinking about co-authoring a nonfiction book? In this episode, Alexa Bigwarfe talks with Matty Dalrymple about how to find the right partner, align expectations, divide responsibilities, split royalties, avoid pitfalls, and turn your book into speaking and consulting opportunities.
• The Assumptions Sabotaging Your Author Business (And What to Do Instead) {ep. 209} 16.02.2026 41min

  In this Momentum Moment, Alexa shares 12 dangerous assumptions authors and publishing professionals make—and how those assumptions quietly sabotage book sales, launches, courses, and collaborations. Inspired by The Four Agreements, this episode is a wake-up call to stop guessing, start asking, and build your business with clarity and intention.
• Finding Joy in Submission: How to Get Your Short Fiction and Essays Published with Dennis James Sweeney {ep. 208} 11.02.2026 29min

  Author and creative writing professor Dennis James Sweeney joins Alexa Bigwarfe to discuss how short fiction, essays, and poetry can jumpstart your publishing journey. Learn to find the right literary magazines, submit with confidence, and rediscover joy in the creative process through community, curiosity, and connection.
• Messaging That Attracts (and Repels): Why Clarity Is the Real Growth Strategy {ep. 207} 09.02.2026 22min

  Clear messaging isn’t about pleasing everyone—it’s about attracting the right people. In this Momentum Monday, Alexa breaks down how unclear messaging hurt event conversions, what she learned from direct audience feedback, and how authors and publishing professionals can refine messaging to drive alignment, sales, and sustainable growth.