How do you write when your heart is broken? How do you go back into the publishing business after years away, knowing it's a very different industry to the one you left? With Jami Albright. In the intro, InAudio is now distributing audiobooks to BookShop.org; The Feedback Loop that Makes Better Writers [ Author Nation Podcast ]; Bones of the Deep on Goodreads . This episode is sponsored by Publisher Rocket , which will help you get your book in front of more Amazon readers so you can spend less ...
Jun 01, 2026•1 hr
How is AI transforming accessibility for indie authors — and why should you care even if you consider yourself able-bodied? What happens when the tools designed to help people with disabilities end up making everyone's creative business better? Jeff Adams, accessibility expert and romance author, explores how AI is opening doors that were previously closed. In the intro, Spotify Audiobook Innovations ; The Economics of Convention Life [ The Indy Author ]; Friction in your Author Business [ Self-...
May 25, 2026•1 hr 3 min
How can you supercharge your creativity in an age when AI is reshaping everything — including how we write, edit, and market our books? What does it look like to use AI as a genuine creative partner rather than a shortcut? And could professional speaking become an income stream that complements your writing career? With James Taylor. In the intro, Audible's new royalty model ; New royalty model details [ ACX ; Kindlepreneur ]; Public Speaking for Authors, Creatives and other Introverts ; Why Ind...
May 18, 2026•1 hr 7 min
How can upgrading your verbs transform flat writing into vivid, page-turning prose? Why do so many writing problems turn out to be verb problems — and how can you fix yours? Sarah Kaufman explores the art of the verb and shares practical tips for making your writing stronger, clearer, and more alive. In the intro, writing as a caregiver and grief [ Stark Reflections ; The Creative Penn episode ]; Beyond Bookshops — Bulk Sales, Gifting and Alternative Distribution [ Self-Publishing Advice ]; list...
May 11, 2026•1 hr 3 min
Is AI really the end of creativity, or the biggest emancipation of creative energy we've ever seen? How can authors thrive in a time of super abundance , when anyone can make anything? What happens when publishers become technology providers, and agents start shopping for books on our behalf? With Nadim Sadek. In the intro, my AI-Assisted Artisan Author webinars . This show is supported by my Patrons. Join my Community and get articles, discounts, and extra audio and video tutorials on writing c...
May 08, 2026•48 min
How is the German market different to English speaking markets, and why might it be worth looking into translation? What are the best ways to translate, self-publish and market your books in German? With Skye MacKinnon. In the intro, thoughts on feeling empty after a book, and the benefits of SubStack for authors [ Stark Reflections ; Wish I'd Known Then ]; AI-Assisted Artisan Author webinars 16 and 23 May . This episode is sponsored by Publisher Rocket , which will help you get your book in fro...
May 04, 2026•1 hr 9 min
How can you navigate uncertainty in a constantly changing market? Why is persistence the key to a sustainable creative career? Plus why distribution is so important, and the four ways to monetise your creative work. All this and more with Adam Leipzig. In the intro, my reflections on running an author-publisher business after a fantastic e-commerce workshop run by Blubolt , and why you will always pay for marketing with either your time or your money; AI-Assisted Artisan Author webinars ; and la...
Apr 27, 2026•1 hr 9 min
Kickstarter has become a key part of the author business for those who want to make more money per book, connect directly with readers, and produce beautiful editions they're proud of. In this episode, I share excerpts from interviews with Oriana Leckert, Head of Publishing at Kickstarter, Russell Nohelty, and Sacha Black, alongside my own hard-won lessons from six campaigns that have now made over $140K combined. Whether you're considering your first campaign or looking to refine your process, ...
Apr 20, 2026•1 hr 34 min
Are you tired of the hustle-harder approach to book marketing? What if a quieter, more creative strategy could work just as well — and feel a whole lot better? How can special editions, physical letters, and library outreach bring readers to your books without the daily grind of ads and social media? Sara Rosett shares her low-key approach to marketing, direct sales, and the creative business of being an indie author. In the intro, dealing with uncertainty, and Becca Syme's Quit books ; The Succ...
Apr 13, 2026•1 hr 4 min
How can you improve your self-editing process? How can you find and work with professional editors and beta readers? How do you know when editing is done and the book is finished? With Joanna Penn In the intro, Poetry craft and business [ The Indy Author Podcast ]; A Mouthful of Air ; How to get your book featured in local media without a publicist [ Written Word Media ]; thoughts on faith and code; Wild Dark Shore – Charlotte McConaghy; Bones of the Deep – J.F. Penn. Today's show is sponsored b...
Apr 06, 2026•1 hr 17 min
What if the source of your best writing isn't something you control — but something you learn to collaborate with? How can ancient ideas about the muse, the daimon, and creative genius transform the way you approach your work? And what might happen if you stopped fighting the silence and let it become your greatest creative ally? With Matt Cardin, author of Writing at the Wellspring . In the intro, thoughts on bookstores and Toppings ; 20 ways authors can signal humanity and build reader trust [...
Mar 30, 2026•1 hr 4 min
What does it take to write strong sentences? How do you keep writing when the world feels dark? How do you push past self-doubt, build a sustainable writing practice, and trust that your voice is enough? Anne Lamott and Neal Allen share decades of hard-won wisdom from their new book, Good Writing . In the intro, Hachette cancels allegedly AI-written book [ The New Publishing Standard ]; How Pangram works ; Publishing industry insights from Macmillan's CEO [ David Perell Podcast ]; Photos from No...
Mar 23, 2026•1 hr 5 min
What makes a character so compelling that readers will forgive almost anything about the plot? How do you move beyond vague flaws and generic descriptions to create people who feel pulled from real life? In this solo episode, I share 15 actionable tips for writing deep characters, curated from past interviews on the podcast. In the intro, thoughts from London Book Fair [ Instagram reel @jfpennauthor ; Publishing Perspectives ; Audible ; Spotify ]; Insights from a 7-figure author business [ BookB...
Mar 16, 2026•1 hr 19 min
How do you capture something as enormous and personal as the feeling of “home” in a book? How can you navigate the chaotic discovery period in writing something new? With Roz Morris. In the intro, KU vs Wide [ Written Word Media ]; Podcasts Overtake Radio, book marketing implications [ The New Publishing Standard ]; Tips for podcast guests ; The Vatican embraces AI for translation , but not for sermons [National Catholic Reporter]; NotebookLM ; Self-Publishing in German ; Bones of the Deep . Thi...
Mar 09, 2026•1 hr 16 min
How do you build a creative life that spans music, writing, film, and spiritual practice? Alicia Jo Rabins talks about weaving multiple creative strands into a sustainable career and why the best advice for any creator might simply be: just make the thing. In the intro, backlist promotion strategy [ Written Word Media ]; Successful author business [ Novel Marketing Podcast ]; Alliance of Independent Authors Indie Author Bookstore ; Bones of the Deep – J.F. Penn This podcast is sponsored by Kobo ...
Mar 02, 2026•56 min
How can trauma become a catalyst for creative transformation? What lessons can indie authors learn from the music industry's turbulent journey through technological disruption? With Jack Williamson. In the intro, Why recipes for publishing success don’t work and what to do instead [ Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast ]; Why your book isn’t selling: metadata [ Novel Marketing Podcast ]; Creating a successful author business [ Fantasy Writers Toolshed Podcast ]; Bones of the Deep – J.F. Penn. Today...
Feb 23, 2026•1 hr 9 min
How do you stay audacious in a world that's noisier and more saturated than ever? How might the idea of creative rhythm change the way you write? Lara Bianca Pilcher gives her tips from a multi-passionate creative career. In the intro, becoming a better writer by being a better reader [ The Indy Author ]; How indie authors can market literary fiction [ Self-Publishing with ALLi ]; Viktor Wynd’s Museum of Curiosities ; Seneca’s On the Shortness of Life ; All Men are Mortal – Simone de Beauvoir ; ...
Feb 16, 2026•1 hr 5 min
How do you juggle multiple book projects, a university teaching role, Kickstarter campaigns, and rock albums—all without burning out? What does it take to build a writing career that spans decades, through industry upheavals and personal setbacks? Kevin J. Anderson shares hard-won lessons from his 40+ year career writing over 190 books. In the intro, Draft2Digital partners with Bookshop.org for ebooks ; Spotify announces PageMatch and print partnership with Bookshop.org ; Eleven Audiobooks; Indi...
Feb 09, 2026•1 hr 3 min
How can indie authors raise their game through academic-style rigour? How might AI tools fit into a thoughtful research process without replacing the joy of discovery? Melissa Addey explores the intersection of scholarly discipline, creative writing, and the practical realities of building an author career. In the intro, mystery and thriller tropes [ Wish I'd Known Then ]; The differences between trad and indie in 2026 [ Productive Indie Fiction Writer ]; Five phases of an author business [ Becc...
Feb 02, 2026•1 hr 2 min
Could live selling be the next big opportunity for indie authors? Adam Beswick shares how organic marketing, live streaming, and direct sales are transforming his author career—and how other writers can do the same. In the intro, book marketing principles [ Self-Publishing with ALLi ]; Interview with Tobi Lutke, the CEO and co-founder of Shopify [ David Senra ]; The Writer's Mind Survey ; Bones of the Deep – J.F. Penn; Alliance of Independent Authors Indie Author Lab . Today's show is sponsored ...
Jan 26, 2026•1 hr 6 min
What if the most transformative thing you can do for your writing craft and author business is to face what you fear? How can you can find gold in your Shadow in the year ahead? In this episode, I share chapters from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words . In the intro, curated book boxes from Bridgerton's Julia Quinn ; Google's agentic shopping , and powering Apple's Siri ; ChatGPT Ads ; and Claude CoWork . Balancing Certainty and Uncertainty [ MoonShots with Tony Robbins ]; a...
Jan 19, 2026•1 hr 34 min
How can you build iconic characters that your readers want to keep coming back to? How can you be the kind of creator that readers trust, even without social media? With Claire Taylor In the intro, Dan Brown talks writing and publishing [ Tetragrammaton ]; Design Rules That Make or Break a Book [ Self-Publishing Advice ]; Amazon’s DRM change [ Kindlepreneur ]; Show me the money [ Rachael Herron ]; AI bible translation [ Wycliffe , Pope Leo tweet ]. Plus, Business for Authors 24 Jan webinar , and...
Jan 12, 2026
What does 2026 hold for indie authors and the publishing industry? I give my thoughts on trends and predictions for the year ahead. In the intro, Quitting the right stuff ; how to edit your author business in 2026 ; Is SubStack Good for Indie Authors? ; Business for Authors webinars . If you'd like to join my community and support the show every month, you'll get access to my growing list of Patron videos and audio on all aspects of the author business — for the price of a black coffee (or two) ...
Jan 05, 2026•1 hr 11 min
Happy New Year 2026! I love January and the opportunity to start afresh. I know it’s arbitrary in some ways, but I measure my life by what I create , and I also measure it in years. At the beginning of each year, I publish an article (and podcast episode) here, which helps keep me accountable. If you’d like to share your goals, please add them in the comments below. 2026 is a transitional year as I will finish my Masters degree and continue the slow pivot t hat I started in December 2023 after 1...
Jan 01, 2026•37 min
Another year ends, and once more, it's time to reflect on our creative goals. I hope you can take the time to review your goals and you're welcome to leave a comment below about how the year went. Did you achieve everything you wanted to? Let me know in the comments. It's always interesting looking back at my goals from a year ago, because I don't even look at them in the months between, so sometimes it's a real surprise how much they've changed! You can read my 2025 goals here and I go through ...
Dec 29, 2025
How can you be more relaxed about your writing process? What are some specific ways to take the pressure off your art and help you enjoy the creative journey? With Joanna Penn and Mark Leslie Lefebvre. In the intro, Spotify 2025 audiobook trends ; Audible + BookTok ; NonFiction Authors Guide to SubStack ; OpenAI and Disney agreement on Sora ; India AI licensing ; Business for Authors January webinars ; Mark and Jo over the years Mark Leslie LeFebvre is the author of horror and paranormal fiction...
Dec 15, 2025
What does it really take to build a multi-six-figure author business with no advertising? Is running your own warehouse really necessary for direct sales success — or is there a simpler path using print-on-demand that works just as well? In this conversation, Sacha Black and I compare our very different approaches to selling direct, from print on demand to pallets of books, and explore why the right model depends entirely on who you are and what your goals are for your author business. In the in...
Dec 08, 2025•1 hr 19 min
Why do some romance authors build decades-long careers while others vanish after one breakout book? What really separates a throwaway pen name and rapid release strategy from a legacy brand and a body of work you’re proud of? How can you diversify with trad, indie, non-fiction, and Kickstarter without burning out—or selling out your creative freedom? With Jennifer Probst. In the intro, digital ebook signing [ BookFunnel ]; how to check terms and conditions; Business for Authors 2026 webinars ; M...
Dec 01, 2025•1 hr 3 min
How can you write science-based fiction without info-dumping your research? How can you use AI tools in a creative way, while still focusing on a human-first approach? Why is adapting to the fast pace of change so difficult and how can we make the most of this time? Jamie Metzl talks about Superconvergence and more. In the intro, How to avoid author scams [ Written Word Media ]; Spotify vs Audible audiobook strategy [ The New Publishing Standard ]; Thoughts on Author Nation and why constraints a...
Nov 24, 2025•1 hr 2 min
In early November 2025, I attended and spoke at Author Nation in Las Vegas. It was a fantastic conference for authors at all levels, and in this episode, I share my lessons learned and tips from reflecting on the event. In the intro, scam emails and what to watch out for; Spotify launches Recaps , and how I currently self-publish audiobooks; Successful Self-Publishing 4th Edition free audiobook ; My audiobooks on YouTube The Creative Penn / Fiction/memoir audiobooks on JFPennAuthor ; 22 ways to ...
Nov 17, 2025•1 hr 20 min
