You think you're ready for Kickstarter success? Here's what authors need to know.

Oriana Leckert is the Head of Publishing at Kickstarter — and she's seen thousands of author campaigns succeed, flop, and everything in between. In this episode, she's breaking down exactly what works, what doesn't, and what most authors get wrong before they even hit launch.

We cover everything from how to set your goal, what rewards actually excite backers, how to build your audience before launch, and why that Brandon Sanderson $40M number doesn't mean what you think it means.

Whether you're Kickstarter-curious or prepping your first campaign — this one's for you.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 — The #1 mistake authors make before they even launch
3:24 — Meet Oriana Leckert, Kickstarter's Head of Publishing
6:18 — "Kickstarter is saturated" — Oriana says think again
9:41 — The 25-backer stat that changes everything
11:24 — The 4 audience types every author needs to know
18:07 — The most creative rewards we've ever seen
21:21 — The $72 stat that will change how you price your rewards
28:53 — How many pre-launch followers do you actually need?
33:26 — How to set your funding goal (and why $500 is a red flag)
42:05 — The #1 thing every successful campaign has in common

📌 Flour & Forge Kickstarter — Exclusive special editions with foil covers, sprayed edges, full color illustrations & bonus drink recipes you can't get anywhere else. Campaign launches April 28th!
Check it out on Kickstarter

🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Kickstarter Learning Lab
Kickstarter Creator Hub
Facebook Group: Kickstarter for Authors

🎙️ Welcome to the Pint & Portal Author Podcast

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.