Your Breakout Book
34 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsWelcome to Your Breakout Book, the podcast that helps authors like you write, publish and prosper. Hosted by Dana Kaye, founder of Kaye Publicity, Your Breakout Book is a combination of live audio trainings and expert interviews, providing everything you need to launch your own breakout book. If you’re looking to implement long-term, sustainable strategies that ensure your readers will come back for every book you write, then you, my friend, are in the right place.
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Episodes
Systems and Tools for Creativity
May 28, 2021 11:00 - 12 minutes - 8.54 MBAs an author, you’ve probably heard people tell you, “Wow, you’ve written a book? I could never do that.” The idea of creating something so big out of nothing, writing and revising for months, and eventually putting it out in the world, feels overwhelming to most. Some may say it seems incomprehensible. So how do you do it? Chances are, you have a system. It may not be a formal system. You may not utilize all the fancy tools like Scrivener or Plottr to craft your novels. In fact, you may ...
Systems and Tools for Financial Success
May 21, 2021 11:00 - 33 minutes - 23.2 MBHistorically, the intersection of art and money was infrequent and in poor taste. If you were an artist, you were expected to solely focus on your craft and not worry about compensation or financial security. Hence the stereotype of the starving artist. Today’s world is different. There is far less stigma around artists discussing money or expecting compensation for their work. In fact, there are entire communities of working artists and creative entrepreneurs, where the sole purpose is to ...
Systems and Tools for Marketing Your Book
May 14, 2021 11:00 - 39 minutes - 27.3 MBYou’ve written a book, that’s step one. Step two? Get that book into the hands of thousands of readers. That means, you have to promote. But you didn’t become an author because you love marketing and publicity. You became an author because you love to tell stories. And now the thought of having to promote your book feels confusing and overwhelming. Perhaps that’s why you’re listening to this podcast? In my experience, it isn’t always the actual promotion that overwhelms people; it’s all th...
Systems and Tools: Project Management
May 07, 2021 11:00 - 21 minutes - 14.5 MBAlbert Einstein famously said, “Everything must be made as simple as possible. But not simpler.” When I think about that quote, I visualize stripping away aspects of my life and business until everything is clear and straightforward, stopping before I strip away the things that make my life and business great. This, is systematizing. Much of what we do in our daily lives, whether it’s responding to emails, creating content, or meal-prepping, can be simplified and streamlined using systems...
Writing for Readers: Live Training Sneak Peek
April 30, 2021 11:00 - 22 minutes - 15.4 MBToday is the last day of our April theme: Writing for readers. All month long, we’ve been exploring how authors like you can leverage their writing skills to secure more readers for their books. But this podcast isn’t the only place we’ve been exploring writing for readers, this has also been an ongoing discussion in the Your Breakout Book community. All month, members have been re-purposing old blog posts for new newsletters, pitching book excerpts to websites, and placing guest articles wi...
From Articles to Book Deals with Tori Telfer
April 23, 2021 11:00 - 40 minutes - 27.9 MBAll month long, we’ve been exploring how authors like you can leverage their writing skills to secure more readers for their books. Today’s we’re looking at a different aspect of writing for readers: freelancing and podcasting. Now, you may not think of podcasting as writing, but for many of us, our episodes are scripted and outlined, and we spend just as much time writing the content as we do reading it into a mic. You also heard in the first episode of the month how my freelance writing...
A New Approach to Shameless Shilling with Mystery Author Ellen Byron
April 16, 2021 11:00 - 45 minutes - 31.2 MBFor today’s guest, Ellen Byron, writing frequently and on a deadline is not a challenge. She began her career as a playwright before moving to LA and transitioning to sitcom writing. As she says in this interview, there was no time to be precious with words or to not be inspired. If you weren’t contributing to the team, there was a line of writers waiting to take your seat. Now, as a multi-published author of three cozy mystery series, Ellen is putting her writing skills to use to reach new...
Elevate Your Emails with Eman Ismail of InkHouse
April 09, 2021 11:00 - 52 minutes - 36.1 MBFor most authors, email marketing is a four letter word. They cringe at the idea of growing an email list and writing a newsletter, thinking they’d be treated as spam and wondering who would be interested in what they would have to say. Perhaps I’m describing you? But the fact is, email marketing is the most powerful tool in your book promotion toolbox. Unlike social media, you own your newsletter list and aren’t reliant on algorithms to deliver your content. Plus, email marketing utilizes...
How I Used My Writing Skills to Launch a Literary PR Agency
April 02, 2021 11:00 - 27 minutes - 18.9 MBDid you know that when I started Kaye Publicity in 2009, I had zero PR experience? If’ I’m being honest, I don’t think I fully grasped the difference between publicity and marketing, or what the broader public relations umbrella looked like. So how did I launch a successful book PR agency with zero experience? I relied on my writing skills. All month long, we’re exploring how authors can put their writing skills to use in their book promotion, and why storytelling is the most powerful tool...
April Theme: Writing for Readers
April 01, 2021 11:00 - 2 minutes - 1.46 MBThis month’s theme is Writing for Readers. So many authors complain and lament about all the promotional responsibilities falling on their shoulders, throwing up their hands and saying, “But I’m not a marketer! I’m just a writer!” What many authors don’t realize is their skills as a writer can be their greatest asset as a marketer. Any type of promotion begins with storytelling. For books, you tell the story of how your book came to exist, what inspired you to write it, and why it’s import...
The Village That Launched a Book with Lainey Cameron
March 26, 2021 11:00 - 48 minutes - 33 MBDig the well before you’re thirsty. That is something that has been told to me several times over the years and is the perfect philosophy when it comes to creating a community. We’ve all been in situations where someone from high school or a distant relative randomly reaches out under the pretense of re-connecting only to ask for a favor or try to sell us something. We’ve been in Facebook groups where people who never post or provide feedback suddenly surface around book launch to continuo...
Online Communities That Serve Both You and Your Audience
March 19, 2021 11:00 - 48 minutes - 33.3 MBWhen I speak with authors about the importance of creating a community, I’m often met with this reaction: "Oh great, one more thing I have to do!" You’re already creating social media content, writing newsletters, pitching yourself to review, and oh yeah, you have to write books too! But what if your online community didn’t just serve your audience, it served YOU as well. Today’s guest, Tasha Harrison, grew her community out of a person need: to get out of a writing rut with the help of fe...
All About Facebook Groups with book designer Melinda Martin
March 12, 2021 12:00 - 41 minutes - 28.7 MBThis month, we’re focusing on communities: why we need them and what it takes to cultivate them. Last week, I shared a few different ways authors like you to can cultivate a community of superfans that will not only buy your books, but tell their friends about them. This week, we’re taking a deeper dive into Facebook groups with publishing consultant and full-service book designer, Melinda Martin. Melinda loves to work with authors who are process-minded, relationship-centric, and quality-...
Let's Talk Online Communities
March 05, 2021 12:00 - 36 minutes - 25.3 MBAll month long on Your Breakout Book, we’re focusing on cultivating community: why we want to, how to do it, and what pitfalls to avoid. Today, I’m taking you on a deeper dive into online communities. First, I’ll address why online communities are so powerful and how they can impact your author career. Next we’ll explore the different types of communities you can create. And lastly, I’ll cover best practices for growing and engaging in your online community. Resources Mentioned Your Breako...
March Theme: Cultivating Community
March 01, 2021 12:00 - 2 minutes - 1.66 MBIt’s March 1st, which means it’s time to introduce this month’s theme: Cultivating Community. As humans, we all want to feel seen and understood. Whether it’s your monthly book club, moms group, professional organization, or religious community, commiserating with likeminded individuals around a common interest is important. 2020 truly punctuated the need for human connection. Even introverts like me, once sent to lock down, really missed visiting with friends and family. And that led to ...
How E.A. Aymar Networked His Way to Media Coverage
February 26, 2021 12:00 - 48 minutes - 33.5 MBAll month, we’ve heard from the experts about how to secure media coverage for your book. You’ve learned how to craft a pitch, find the right podcasts, work with editors and build relationships. Today’s guest, E. A. Aymar, is not a media expert. He’s an author like you. He shares his windy path to publishing and how it was the connections that helped him establish his name in the crime fiction community and secure national media coverage for his books. Ed didn’t have a PR background or a h...
Book Influencers with Ashley Hasty of The Hasty Book List
February 19, 2021 12:00 - 42 minutes - 29 MBAround 2009, book bloggers emerged as the next big thing in books coverage. Today, blogs may be taking a back seat to #bookstagram #booktwitter and #booktok, but the concept is the same: any fan has the potential to cultivate an online audience and make an impact with their platform. And that’s just what today’s guest, Ashley Hasty, did. Ashley is the book blogger behind HastyBookList.com, a site for reviews, features, and interviews with authors, audiobook narrators, and book jacket desig...
Go Pitch Yourself to Podcasts with Angie Trueblood
February 12, 2021 12:00 - 49 minutes - 34 MBOver the past few years, podcasting has exploded. According to a study by Infinite Dial, in 2019, 169 million people in the US alone, reported to have listened to a podcast in the past week. And those US podcast listeners are listening to an average of 7 podcasts per week. Since the pandemic, podcast downloads have increased by 40%. It’s clear that podcasts have officially entered the mainstream. But that’s not all. 50% of listeners say they listen to the entire episode. How often do you ...
How to Work with Online Editors and Reviewers with Sharifah Williams
February 05, 2021 12:00 - 49 minutes - 33.7 MBHaving a breakout book requires reaching people outside of your circle, and one of the best ways to do that is through media coverage. When you or your book are featured on podcasts, websites, or TV shows, you’re introduced to a whole new audience of potential readers. But how do you start? Do you rely on your publisher to handle media outreach? Do you have to hire a publicity or marketing company to get the word out? Not necessarily. I know from my decade plus experience in book publicit...
February Theme: In The Media
February 01, 2021 12:00 - 2 minutes - 2.04 MBToday is February 1st, which means it’s time to announce this month’s theme: In the Media. All month long, we’re exploring what it takes to secure book reviews, features and interviews in and on a variety of media outlets. I speak with S. Zainab Williams of Book Riot about how she considers what books and authors to feature on the popular website. I speak with Angie Trueblood about how authors can grow their readership through podcast interviews. I also talk with Ashley Hasty of the Hasty Bo...
The Full Time Author: Lessons from the Your Breakout Book Conference
January 29, 2021 12:00 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MBAll month, we’ve been learning about what it takes to become a full-time author. Here are the two big takeaways: there’s no one way to do it and success does not equate to writing full time. You can be successful and still work a 9-5, as long as that 9-5 supports the growth you want to see in your writing career. A couple weeks ago, we took a deep dive into this topic during our bi-annual Your Breakout Book virtual conference. We heard from authors and publishing pros about what it takes to...
Choosing Not to Be a Full-Time Author with Gigi Pandian
January 22, 2021 12:00 - 45 minutes - 31.3 MBThis month, we’re focusing on what it takes to quit your day job and become a full-time author. We learned how Rachael Herron used Patreon to fill in the financial gap left by her day job. We heard how Keir Graff write both his own books, as well as the books of others by ghostwriting. It’s clear, there’s no wrong way to be a full-time writer. But it’s also that having a successful author career doesn’t mean you have to do it full time. Today, I’m speaking with bestselling author, Gigi Pan...
How Ghostwriting Helped Keir Graff Write Full-Time
January 15, 2021 12:00 - 48 minutes - 33.1 MBWhen you think about life as a full-time writer, it might seem like a solitary practice. But for today’s guest, it was actually his extensive network of publishing people that helped him smoothly transition out of the 9-5. Keir Graff writes thrillers, mysteries, and contemporary fiction for adults, and adventure novels for younger readers. Recent works include THE THREE MRS WRIGHTS and DROWNING WITH OTHERS, both of which were coauthored with Linda Joffe Hull under the name Linda Keir. He is...
How Patreon Helped Rachael Herron Write Full-Time
January 08, 2021 12:00 - 56 minutes - 39.1 MBThis month, we’re focusing on what it takes to quit your day job and become a full-time author. For most, the transition to full time means writing more and finding new and creative ways to monetize your writing. When Rachael Herron was ready to leave her day job as a 911 dispatcher, she turned to Patreon. Patreon helps creatives receive monthly recurring revenue from their top fans, and Rachael has used this platform to grow a readership for her essays and other nonfiction writing. It’s be...
Welcome to Season 2 + January Theme
January 01, 2021 12:00 - 3 minutes - 2.39 MBWelcome to Season 2 of Your Breakout Book, the podcast that helps authors like you write, publish and prosper. I’m Dana Kaye, the founder of Kaye Publicity, and I’ve dedicated the majority of my life to helping authors establish their brands and reach more readers. I believe that every author, regardless of genre and publishing path, has the ability to cultivate an engaged community of readers, increase their sales, and have a thriving writing career. This month, we’re focusing on what it t...
[BONUS] Interview with Kaye Publicity Marketing Coordinator, Hailey Dezort
November 27, 2020 13:00 - 46 minutes - 32 MBThis is our final bonus episode of Your Breakout Book, where I’m revisiting interviews with some of the most knowledgeable and encouraging publishing pros. Here to round out our replays is none other than Kaye Publicity’s marketing and events coordinator, Hailey Dezort. Hailey received her B.A. in English and a minor in Anthropology from Loyola University of Chicago. Before joining Kaye Publicity, she was a digital content creator for two interior design companies, as well as a marketing in...
[BONUS] Interview with Jane Friedman of The Hot Sheet
November 06, 2020 12:00 - 51 minutes - 35.7 MB\This is our second bonus episode of Your Breakout Book, where I’m revisiting interviews with some of the most knowledgeable and encouraging publishing pros. Today, I’m thrilled to re-introduce Jane Friedman. If you were to ask Jane to introduce herself, she’d tell you, “She’s just someone who knows WAY too much about publishing.” Which is true! But Jane is also the author of THE BUSINESS OF BEING A WRITER*, now available form University of Chicago press, the co-creator of The Hot Sheet, a p...
[BONUS] Interview with Joanna Penn of The Creative Penn
October 16, 2020 11:00 - 55 minutes - 38 MBWelcome to our first bonus episode of Your Breakout Book! These bonus episodes are previously recorded and will hopefully tide you over until the season two premiere in January. First up, is an interview I did with Joanna Penn. She is an Award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers under J.F.Penn and also writes non-fiction for authors. She’s an award-winning entrepreneur, podcaster, and YouTuber. Her site, TheCreativePenn.com has been voted in the Top 100 s...
Taking Action as an Author
September 25, 2020 11:00 - 11 minutes - 7.75 MBIf you've listened to all six episodes, congratulations! You now have an understanding of what it takes to launch your breakout book. But knowledge is meaningless without action. So this week, I’m sharing techniques to help you take quick and consistent action. You’ll also hear from a couple Your Breakout Book members on how they’re implementing what they’ve learned in the program. If you're looking to launch your own book PR campaign without the guesswork, I encourage you to check out Your...
Community Outreach: The 3rd Pillar of Successful Book PR
September 18, 2020 11:00 - 10 minutes - 7.24 MBIn the last episode, we discussed two crucial pillars in a successful PR campaign: publicity and marketing. Today’s focus is on the third pillar: community outreach. When it comes to generating word of mouth sales, community outreach is your most powerful tool. Today, we’re exploring different ways you can reach a wider audience with the help of community partners, and how to best incorporate this outreach into your greater PR plan. Because I’m recording this episode in the middle of a pand...
Publicity vs. Marketing (and Why You Need Both!)
September 11, 2020 12:00 - 12 minutes - 8.43 MBAs a publicist, I am constantly hearing from people that they “want to get their name out there” or that they “need more media coverage.” But in my 10 years working in PR, I find that most people really don’t understand the different types of media coverage and they role they play in their promotion campaign. Today, I'm clarifying the difference between publicity (earned media) and marketing (placed media), and the different roles they play in your media campaign. If you're looking to launc...
How to Identify and Establish Your Author Brand
September 04, 2020 11:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MBReaders are risk averse. They don’t want to invest time and money on something unless they know it’s good. According to Nielsen, 60% of readers buy books from authors they like or because they’ve enjoyed other books in that series. Statistically speaking, this means that 60% of the reading public won’t take a chance on an author they’ve never heard of. By establishing a clear author brand, you will convey to readers what your book is like and provide reassurance that they will enjoy it. In ...
Focus on the Fans (Not the Numbers)
September 04, 2020 11:00 - 10 minutes - 7.51 MBIs it better to reach a new reader or cultivate a relationship with an existing one? A variation of this question is, is it more expensive to sign a new client or re-up with an existing one? Too often, authors are only focused on reaching new readers, when in fact, nurturing their relationship with their existing readers can lead to a myriad of opportunities. A single sale can lead to: · More books purchased · Reviews posted to Goodreads and Amazon · Word of mouth · ...
Welcome to Your Breakout Book!
September 03, 2020 11:00 - 5 minutes - 4.13 MBWelcome to Your Breakout Book, the podcast that helps authors like you write, publish and prosper. I’m Dana Kaye, the founder of Kaye Publicity, and I’ve dedicated the majority of my life to helping authors establish their brands and reach more readers. I believe that every author, regardless of genre and publishing path, has the ability to cultivate an engaged community of readers, increase their sales, and have a thriving writing career. But let me be clear, my methods are not one-size...