It's Launch Day! After a year of podcasting and writing our book, Back to Reality is finally available to buy on Kindle for a special launch day price. Buy your copy at bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
In the seventh of our daily mini-episodes in the run-up to publication we thought you might like a little taster of an early scene from our novel Back to Reality, out Monday 16th October 2017! Check out bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
In the sixth of our daily mini-episodes in the run-up to publication of Back to Reality, The Two Marks look back at some of their favourite moments over the last year of the podcast. Check out bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
How do you harness the power of social media in your book launch? Find out in the fifth mini-episode, as we prepare for the launch of our novel Back to Reality ( bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality )
In the fourth of our daily mini-episodes in the run-up to publication we look at the importance of reviews and how you get readers to spread the word. Check out bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
In the third of our daily mini-episodes in the run-up to publication we look at Beta readers and reviews and how to cope with feedback. Check out bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
How do you get pull quotes from other authors for your book? Find out in the second of our daily mini-episodes in the run-up to the release of Back to Reality - bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Holy cow, there’s only seven days left until we publish our book! This is the first of eight daily mini-episodes looking at different aspects of the book, the podcast and the long road to publication. Today: we read out our blurb. Check out bestsellerexperiment.com/backtoreality
Only two weeks to go till the publication of our book Back To Reality, and we seek the advice of the amazing Joanna Penn, NY Times bestselling author, public speaker and podcaster… In this episode you will discover: - The value of content marketing and how to make it work for you - When is it the right time to promote your book? - And why you should never just sign a contract! - The power of social proof and why there has never been a better time to be an author Get your free ebook with advice a...
Only three weeks to go till publication, but we somehow found time to talk to the wonderful folk from Gollancz about GollanczFest and we find our show gatecrashed by an old friend. In this episode you will discover: - Why you should be going to writers’ festivals and what to expect - Some tips on writing novellas and keeping track of an expanding universe - How to host an online launch party for your book - And we delve into the world of YouTube, BookTube and Readathons Get your free ebook with ...
Holy cow! Only four weeks till publication? Already?? What do we do? What do we do? How did it come round so soon? Yes, the two Marks discuss their impending deadline and their pre-publication marketing strategy with their usual calm, professional manner… and they finally reveal the title of their novel! In this episode you will discover: - Strategies for choosing a title - The process of choosing and working with a cover designer - How to create a publication plan - And how you can get quotes a...
Samantha King is a bestselling debut novelist, and her book The Choice taps into parental fears. Sam has also worked in publishing and has a unique perspective on the process of writing, editing, publishing and promoting a bestseller… In this episode you will discover: - How you can discover your story’s true intent through rewrites - The subject you should study to become a better writer (and it isn’t creative writing!) - How to cope with those first reader reviews. - How you can build compelli...
A very special episode with an amazing opportunity for writers. Find out more here: https://gingerbread.org.uk/content/2454/One-in-four-new-writer-competition In this episode you will discover: - How sharing your story can change social stigma - Tips on finding time to write - How to find the courage to tell your own story - And tips from editor Sam Eades on writing second drafts Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.bestsellerexperiment.com...
As the two Marks gear-up for publication, it’s suddenly dawned on them that they will have to market and sell their novel! Who better to turn to for advice than the folk at Bookbub, whose newsletter can boost a book up the bestseller charts? And we also bust a few myths and misconceptions about this game-changing mailing list… In this episode you will discover: - How a book’s metadata will affect its visibility online - Tips on how to master the dark art of online marketing - And where to find h...
The two Marks have met with their editor. Sit in on one of their story sessions as they go through their notes, and discover the huge change that they will have to make to improve their chances of marketing a bestseller with less than two months to go! In this episode you will discover: - How you can make the most of an editor’s notes and feedback - How a synopsis, blurb and shout line can help your edit - How your opening can make or break your novel - How an editor can help hone your style Get...
In the second part of this conversation between the two Marks before their book goes to their editor, they wonder if it will survive the edit, or does the experiment end here? In this episode you will discover: - Why you should try and make scenes work harder before discarding them - Why giving ideas time to marinade is so important - Some tips on how to generate a title for your book - The importance of an author’s name and should you use a pseudonym? - And why it can be good to be forced to ma...
The two Marks are recording in the same room! Will universes collide? Will they reveal any more about their damn book? They talk about research, reconnoitring locations, and more in the first of a two-parter... In this episode you will discover: - Tips for speaking to experts for research - The importance of a critical path and the consequences of missing deadlines - The benefits of actually going to a place for research, over just looking on Google Earth - The importance of keeping the tone eve...
Katherine May is an award-winning writer, blogger and the programme director of creative writing at Canterbury, Christ Church University. She is an extraordinary talent, makes a mean gin cocktail, and has an incredible series of books coming in the next year… In this episode you will discover: - The pros and cons of writing under a pseudonym - The importance of celebrating milestones - Top tips for tackling procrastination - And how a nice, long walk can not only improve your writing, but change...
Martina Cole is the undisputed queen of British crime fiction. She’s sold over 14 million books and her novels regularly top the Sunday Times bestsellers. She’s come a long way from being told ‘Women don’t write these kinds of books.’ We were delighted to speak on the eve of publication of her new paperback Betrayal. In this episode you will discover: - How writing for yourself and not an audience can help you break out - Why you should think twice about burning your old manuscripts - Why it’s o...
Jennifer Niven is a phenomenally successful YA novelist. All The Bright Places was a Goodreads Choice Award winner and is now being adapted for film starring Elle Fanning. We spoke to Jennifer not long after her tour of Australia and New Zealand… In this episode you will discover: - How bravery and honesty can only improve your writing - How your characters can teach you about the story - How to storyboard your book with a music mood board - And a great solution for parents trying to write with ...
We’ve done it, we’ve finished our first draft! After months of writing — and that outline — we discuss what it means to reach this milestone, and what we can expect from the next draft, and we reveal more about our novel… including its working title! In this episode you will discover: - Why it’s okay for your first draft to be imperfect - The importance of a deadline - Rewrite techniques - And we have a special request for our listeners Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selli...
Deon is a bestselling thriller writer from South Africa whose books have been translated into 20 languages, but with his latest book Fever. he has written a post-apocalyptic epic with a big heart.. In this episode you will discover: - Why struggle is a positive not a negative - Why genre shouldn’t matter when you’re writing - Why finishing your first draft is so important - And why your brother telling you you’re rubbish should not hold you back from success! Get your free ebook with advice and ...
Laura Barnett’s 2015 debut The Versions Of Us was a smash hit, a number one bestseller, and translated into 23 languages. Now she faces that difficult second album syndrome, but Laura has come up with an ingenious solution and a unique piece of fiction. In this episode you will discover: - How music can inspire your writing - The balance between respecting the reader and writing for yourself - How the first fifteen minutes of your day can be the most creative - How collaboration with an artist i...
A children’s fiction special. We talk with Karen Ball who has published some of the bestselling children’s series of the last twenty years, including the Beast Quest which has sold over 11m copies. Recently featured as a 2017 Rising Star in the Bookseller, Karen is the former Little, Brown for Young Readers publisher. She is now a consultant at Speckled Pen (working with OUP, Hachette Children's and Parragon) as well as an expert in intellectual property. In this episode you will discover: - How...
How do you touch the heart of your readers? We get emotional over tea and cake with bestselling author Erica James. Erica has sold over 5 million copies of over twenty books, is winner of the Romantic Novel of the Year Award, and she never fails to break her readers’ hearts. We discover how she does it… In this episode you will discover: - Why it’s so important to write from the heart - How talking to strangers can make you characters more interesting - The importance of trusting your instincts ...
In the second part of our interview with Susan Kaye Quinn, we talk about how to launch your book, pre-orders, fan-service, promoting your books, the dark art of blurbs, the power of tropes and mythology. In this episode you will discover: -The ideal model for debut pre-orders. - How long you should promote your book for. - How to make your blurbs work harder. - And how to use tropes to satisfy your readers. Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-selling authors at: http://www.best...
Susan Kaye Quinn is not only a genuine rocket scientist, but she’s also a bestselling indie author in fiction and non-fiction. She runs the incredible For Love Or Money Facebook group, a resource for indie authors to get help with all those questions you might otherwise be afraid to ask. This is Part One of a special two-parter. In this episode you will discover… Why you should be clear what your goals are Why you should formulate a five year plan to achieve those goals How you can make your adv...
Mark Edwards is the bestselling author of over two million psychological thrillers such as The Magpies. Mark is an author who has been self-published, traditionally-published, and is now one of Amazon’s 'Thomas & Mercer' imprint’s bestselling authors with five number one bestsellers. His extraordinary story will be an inspiration to any writer who’s ever faced rejection, bad publishing, bad agents, and financial ruin! In this episode you will discover: - Why tenacity may be one of the best t...
John Yorke is one of the world's leading lights in the art of storytelling. As former head of Channel Four Drama, Controller of BBC Drama Production and head of Company Pictures, he has worked on shows like Shameless, Life On Mars, and the UK’s most popular soap opera EastEnders. He is also the author of Into The Woods, one of our favourite books on the craft of storytelling. In this episode you will discover… The most effective ways to use structure in your story How to create compelling charac...
The two Marks discuss the progress of their novel so far, and Mr. Stay recalls a piece of advice he received from Julie Cohen after he finished recording his interview with her… In this episode you will discover: - The best strategy for when you get stuck with your writing - Why stepping out of your comfort zone will improve your story - If you should ever give up on a project - Why bad reviews hurt and why you shouldn’t worry about them Get your free ebook with advice and tips from million-sell...
