Chris Wallace is a professional poker player, author, and co-founder of WrittenWell.com. With a background in guitar building before developing an allergy to exotic hardwoods, Chris transitioned to professional poker, which led to writing opportunities during the poker boom. He began writing for poker magazines and blogs, eventually publishing several poker books including a strategy guide and "Short Stacked Ninja." After helping famous poker players increase their book sales through his understanding of Amazon's algorithms, Chris expanded into consulting with authors across all genres before co-founding WrittenWell.com with Adam Stempel and other publishing experts.

In this episode:

• Journey from poker player to poker writer to author consultant
• How analyzing Amazon's search algorithm led to book marketing success
• Comprehensive self-publishing resources on WrittenWell.com
• Genre-specific guides with tropes, clichés, and market trends
• Keyword optimization strategies beyond basic search terms
• Importance of avoiding keywords that hurt conversion rates
• Audiobook trends and AI narration developments
• WrittenWell.com's critique groups and writing sprints
• The future of self-publishing vs. traditional publishing

Resources mentioned:

• WrittenWell.com - https://writtenwell.com/
• Publisher Rocket - https://publisherrocket.com/
• Kindle Trends - https://kindletrends.com/
• ProWritingAid - https://prowritingaid.com/
• AutoCrit - https://www.autocrit.com
• Spoken.press - https://www.spoken.press/
• ElevenLabs - https://elevenlabs.io/

Book Recommendations:

• Thomas Harris novels (including "Dragon" and "Silence of the Lambs") - https://www.amazon.com/stores/Thomas-Harris/author/B000AQ28TK?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
• Cormac McCarthy's works
• "Characters and Viewpoint" - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1599632128?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Connect with Chris Wallace:

• WrittenWell.com - Use code "publishingperformance" for a discount

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

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Mitch Carson is a bestselling author, TV host for NBC in Las Vegas, and international speaker who specializes in helping people build their personal brands and increase their media exposure. With decades of experience in television and media, Mitch has mastered the art of getting authors and entrepreneurs featured on major platforms. He shares his expertise on creating compelling pitches, building credibility through strategic media appearances, and leveraging visibility to achieve greater success in business.

In this episode:

• The importance of continuous marketing and "omnipresence"
• Creating a professional one-sheet to secure media appearances
• How to customize your pitch for different media outlets
• Strategies for approaching major networks like BBC
• Understanding editorial calendars and timely hooks
• The value of matching testimonials to your target market
• Case studies of successful clients who used media to grow their businesses
• First steps for authors with no existing media presence
• The crucial role of credibility in media bookings

Resources mentioned:

• Get Interviewed Guaranteed program
• Author Speaker Summit (February event)
• LinkedIn as a primary platform for author visibility

Book Recommendations:

• "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill
• "Atomic Habits" by James Clear

Connect with Mitch Carson:

• Website: getinterviewedguaranteed.com/meet-with-mitch

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

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Andrew Wallner and Phil Marshall are co-founders of Spoken, an innovative platform that combines AI narration technology with a streaming network for audio content. Coming from backgrounds in healthcare technology where they developed conversational AI systems, they sold their company in 2021 before turning their attention to the audiobook market. Phil, as a sci-fi writer and audio-only reader, recognized the need for better tools to create, publish, stream, and monetize audio content, which became the genesis of Spoken.

In this episode:

• Origins of Spoken from healthcare technology to audiobook innovation
• How Spoken combines AI narration with streaming capabilities
• Multi-character and multi-voice narration options
• Creating custom AI voices designed exclusively for specific characters
• Using the "Speak It" feature for precise pronunciation and inflection
• Automatic analysis of characters to suggest appropriate voices
• The Unified Streaming Network monetization model
• Free options for authors just getting started
• How authors retain their rights on the platform
• DIY audiobook creation in a single sitting
• Upcoming "Take It With You" feature for exporting audio

Resources mentioned:

• Spoken.press - https://www.spoken.press/
• ElevenLabs - https://elevenlabs.io/
• Worldcon - https://www.worldcon.org/
• Author Nation - Author conference where Spoken was presented

Book Recommendations:

• "Kill Your Darlings" - https://ihave.spoken.press/p/3SatPI7Y1iE
• "Welcome to the Audioverse" - https://drphilmarshall.com/spoken

Connect with Andrew and Phil:

• Spoken.press - https://www.spoken.press/
• drphilmarshall.com - https://drphilmarshall.com/

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Support the show