Cindy Gunderson has seen massive success as an author in recent years and audiobooks have been one of the biggest drivers of that success. At one point, audio made up 60% of her annual income. The wildest part? All of her audiobooks are available for free on YouTube. And instead of hurting her sales, it's actually boosted them.

In this conversation, Cindy breaks down exactly how she built her audiobook business from scratch — starting with a $45 setup in her living room — and shares why she believes there's never been a better time for authors to get into audio.

Whether you're thinking about narrating your own books, exploring narration, or just looking for a new revenue stream, this episode is packed with actionable advice.

🔗 LINKS
Cindy's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CindyGunderson
Cindy's Website: https://cindygundersonaudio.com/

📚 MY BOOKS & KICKSTARTER
Flour and Forge Kickstarter Pre-Launch: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hermansteuernagel/flour-and-forge-a-cozy-fantasy-special-edition-book
My Website & Newsletter: https://www.hermansteuernagel.com

Check out https://www.pintandportal.com/deals for all of our show's sponsors

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 — Audio income
1:03 — Episode introduction
3:35 — Sponsor: Flour and Forge Kickstarter
6:05 — Barriers to getting started with audiobooks
14:15 — Narration Options
25:15 — Recording Equipment & Budget
33:25 — Why going wide tripled her income
39:30 — Posting full audiobooks on YouTube for free
51:00 — Cindy's #1 tip for authors

Learn how to grow your author career with hybrid publishing — the perfect blend of traditional and self‑publishing that gives writers more freedom, control, and opportunity.

In this episode, host Herman Steuernagel sits down with Australian sci‑fi author Jeremy Szal, who sold his first book at just 23 to Gollancz (Hachette UK) and has since built an international career mixing both trad and indie projects.

Jeremy shares hard‑won lessons about writing, rejection, and building a sustainable career across both sides of the industry. You’ll learn how to know when your book is ready, what pitfalls to avoid when publishing too soon, and how to make hybrid publishing work for you.

Perfect for writers who want success on their own terms — whether you’re querying your first novel or scaling your indie business.

⏱️ Timestamps

• 00:00 – Jeremy’s core advice: “The best weapon is knowledge.”
• 00:41 – Introduction & what hybrid publishing really means
• 05:30 – Why hybrid publishing is a “force multiplier” for authors
• 10:50 – Jeremy’s journey from early failures to a Gollancz book deal
• 16:45 – Why your first book shouldn’t be your best — and how to grow
• 24:00 – How to decide between self‑publishing and traditional routes
• 37:00 – The realities and frustrations of trad publishing
• 47:30 – Why relationships and reputation matter more than marketing
• 54:30 – The advantages of self‑publishing and creative control
• 01:05:30 – Final advice: hybrid success starts with one thing — “Write a damn good book.”

📚 What You’ll Learn

• Real pros and cons of self‑publishing vs. traditional publishing
• How to avoid publishing before your manuscript is ready
• How to protect your rights and negotiate better contracts
• Why hybrid authors have more freedom and long‑term growth
• How community and networking help books succeed

🧭 About Jeremy Szal

Jeremy Szal is the author of the Common Saga — including Stormblood, Blindspace, and the upcoming Wolfskin. Published by Gollancz, his work has been translated worldwide. Jeremy also self‑publishes short fiction and speaks openly about the practical, human side of publishing.

🔍 Keywords

self publishing, traditional publishing, hybrid publishing, how to publish a book, writing tips, book publishing, author advice, indie author, publishing industry, writing career, author success, how to self publish

Resources Mentioned🔗 Publisher Rocket (sponsor) – Optimize your Amazon keywords & categories -- visit https://publisherrocket.cartknox.com/buy-rocket?aff=442🔗 Jeremy Szal’s website: https://jeremyszal.com/🔗 Wolfskin & The Common Saga: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KYGTDBN--- 🎧 Join the ConversationIf you found value in this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with fellow authors.Every share helps other writers learn what it truly takes to build a sustainable hybrid career.

What would you do if you got laid off tomorrow? Self-published author JP Rindfleisch turned that exact moment into a full-time writing career, powered by TikTok Shop. In this episode, JP breaks down how to market your book and exactly how he uses TikTok Shop to sell books direct to readers, builds real community, and posts content that actually moves copies.

Whether you're just starting out or looking for a new way to reach readers, this conversation is packed with practical, no-fluff advice you can use today.

🔥 In this episode, we cover:

• How JP went from biochemistry labs to full-time indie author
• Why serialized fiction on Kindle Vella helped him actually finish books
• The real logistics of running TikTok Shop as a self-published author
• Posting 3x a day without burning out (and why most posts take under 5 minutes)
• Faceless content strategies for authors who hate being on camera
• How to use TikTok to grow your newsletter and build a direct sales funnel
• Tools like Repurpose.io, Fourth Wall, Klaviyo, and BookTokGuide.com
• Why community is the one thing that has driven every stage of his career

📚 JP's Books: Mandrake Manor, Mosswood, Maul, Sword & Apothecary
🌐 Find JP: https://shop.jprindfleischix.com

Timestamps:
00:00 — Intro
06:00 — From Biochemistry to Writing
15:08 — Serialized Fiction & Kindle Vella
18:01 — Going Full-Time After Getting Laid Off
20:13 — How TikTok Shop Works for Authors
37:13 — Posting 3x a Day Without Burning Out
43:05 — Faceless Content for Camera-Shy Authors
50:32 — Building a TikTok Audience From Scratch
55:37 — Is TikTok Still Worth It in 2026?
58:14 — The Reader Funnel

💬 Are you using TikTok to sell books? Drop a comment and let us know what's working for you.

👉 Subscribe for weekly interviews with indie authors who are making it work.

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Grab my latest cozy fantasy book: Flour & Forge - https://www.hermansteuernagel.com/pages/flour-forge

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Publisher Rocket has a vast array of tools including:

• ✅ Keyword Search — Uncover hidden gems and profitable keywords to maximize your book's visibility
• ✅ Category Search — Dive deep into Amazon's 19,000+ categories and find the perfect fit for your book
• ✅ Competition Analyzer — Peek behind the curtain and discover your rivals' sales, rankings, and strategies
• ✅ Amazon Keywords Generator — Save hours of tedious research with thousands of auto-generated keywords

Get Started Today at publisherrocket.cartknox.com

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Media Credits
Theme Song: Commercial Rock by StudioKolomna (Envato License)
Background Music: Soft Chill Background by sonicscope (Envato License)
Stock Video: Licensed via Envato

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Affiliate Disclosure: Some links may be affiliate links. Using them costs you nothing extra and helps support the show.

© Herman Steuernagel The Pint & Portal Podcast

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