Nonfiction Showcase: Authors Reveal Secrets

Join us for the Nonfiction Showcase, a virtual book fair that brings together creators, professionals, and publishing industry experts. Explore books on social media marketing, self-publishing, podcasting, and more. It’s the perfect event for anyone wanting to learn and grow in online business!

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20+ Nonfiction Authors Share Insights at the Inaugural Nonfiction Showcase

The Nonfiction Showcase brought together over 20 authors who shared invaluable advice on what it takes to succeed as a writer today. Dale L. Roberts and I had a blast hosting the four-hour livestream and talking with so many talented creators, professionals, and publishing industry experts.

Whether you’re looking to market your book, collaborate with co-authors, or find new opportunities to promote your work, these insights offer practical guidance from experienced authors. Below are the top takeaways from the event, specifically curated to help fellow authors navigate the world of writing, publishing, and promotion.

Before we get to the takeaways, I want to thank eBookFairs for partnering with us and providing the platform for the virtual book fair portion of the Showcase. You can vote for your favorite author or book through September 24, 2024, by going to eBookFairs. Your vote showcases your support for these talented authors and celebrates the outstanding work presented during the event.

Now, let’s explore some of the most valuable insights shared by our authors.

Sales Strategies & Diversifying Income 

Mark Leslie Lefebvre is a prolific author who has extensive experience with high-profile brands in the self-publishing industry, from heading up Kobo’s self-publishing platform, Kobo Writing Life, to serving as Director of Business Development for Draft2Digital. He emphasized the importance of diversifying book sales beyond traditional retailers. 

Lefebvre said his book, Wide for the Win, “isn’t just about being available on other big retailers besides Amazon; it’s about being open to the possibilities of your books being available everywhere—libraries, subscription services, direct sales through platforms like Shopify or Payhip, and so many other ways to earn money as an author. It’s about building a sustainable model that keeps you connected with your audience.”

Adding to the conversation about unique sales channels, Bee Smith shared her experience of having her book, #BeeInspired, on the reading list for students at a foreign university. “The University of Reykjavik in Iceland actually uses my book in their English department for their students,” Smith said. “The professor told me how they take notes and turn these books in at the end of the semester. It’s been there since 2017, and they’re still using it. Knowing that I’m helping students in other countries turn their lives around, that’s the most rewarding part for me.”

Julie Broad, author of Self-Promote & Succeed, discussed how different promotional efforts work together to boost sales. “There isn’t one thing that works to get book sales or grow your brand; it’s all the things that work in harmony together. That’s why you have to do more than one thing—I don’t believe that one thing is going to build your brand or sell your book,” she said. 

Broad also emphasized the importance of honest feedback in the publishing process: “If I think your book needs a lot of work, I’m going to tell you that too—because what’s the point of saying your book is good if it’s not? Then you start getting terrible reviews, and it’s not going to help you.”

Book Marketing & Visibility

Marketing was a major topic, as many authors discussed the importance of strategic promotion. Stephanie Garcia, co-author of Ultimate Guide to Influencer Marketing and Ultimate Guide to Social Media Marketing, talked about the shift from Facebook groups to more active platforms like Slack or Discord for virtual launch teams. “We moved our virtual launch team to Slack or Discord because people are more willing to be present there. Facebook wasn’t working for us anymore,” she explained.

Angela Yuriko Smith, author of How to Be an Authortunist, emphasized sticking to your strengths when it comes to promotion. She said, “Stick to what you’re good at. Don’t try to be a graphic artist if you’re not one—dabble for fun, but focus on your strengths.”

Katie Brinkley, author of The Social Shift, underscored the importance of focusing on the right platforms. “Social media is a tool, not your entire life. You don’t have to be on every platform every day,” she said. “Focus on one or two that align with your brand and maximize your reach there. It’s about showing up effectively, building community, and then getting off social to live your life.”

Louise McDonnell, author of 2024 Social Media Content Planner & Guide, explained the value of strategic content planning. “The whole idea of the planner is to make showing up on social media easier and more strategic,” said McDonnell. “By planning around special days and relevant events, you can align your content with what people are searching for, gaining more visibility just by being a little smarter about timing and relevance.”

The Power of Storytelling in Nonfiction Writing

Valerie Morris, author of We’re All Ears, highlighted the importance of storytelling in nonfiction, especially for authors aiming to connect deeply with their readers. “Stories are what differentiate you from the competition. They make your content memorable and give it a personal touch,” she said. “Whether you have a unique background or an unusual life experience, sharing those stories helps people connect with you and your book.” 

 

Morris emphasized that storytelling isn’t just about sharing facts; it’s about making your writing relatable and engaging, turning potential readers into loyal fans.

 

Joie Gharrity, author of Being Your Own Superstar, shared her insights on daily habits and building capacity. “Growing your capacity is like building a muscle; it takes consistent daily habits,” Gharrity explained. “The superstars I observed in Hollywood didn’t get what they wanted just because they were talented; it’s because they had built a Grand Canyon-level capacity to receive and allow opportunities.”

 

 

Navigating Co-Authorship

Co-authoring can be rewarding but comes with its challenges. Eric Butow, co-author of Ultimate Guide to Influencer Marketing and Ultimate Guide to Social Media Marketing, described how they manage the writing process. “We assign different chapters and work on them simultaneously, then weave them together. It’s about respecting each other’s strengths,’ he said.

 

Stephanie Garcia, Butow’s co-author on the aforementioned books, added her perspective, highlighting the importance of playing to each other’s strengths. “Eric has the structure and format down, while I bring the creative elements. We play to our strengths to make it cohesive,” she said.

 

Mark Leslie Lefebvre also shared his experiences co-authoring with various writers, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the process. “When an author approaches me with an idea of working together, I always look at it as two heads are better than one. My co-authors always give me structure because I don’t have any myself, which is really good for me because I can learn from them,” he said. 

 

“The collaboration can be really important because the other person can find things that you may have missed, and then you can put the puzzle together independently but collaboratively,” Lefebvre added.

 

Kevin Kolbe, who co-authored Video Podcasting Made Easy with me, revealed our unconventional process. “Instead of just writing drafts back and forth, we recorded our conversations as if we were podcasting, making the whole experience feel more natural and fun. We then transcribed those recordings and refined them into a cohesive book, allowing our true voices and collaboration to shine through,” said Kolbe.

 

 

Opportunities to Promote Your Book

Authors shared various strategies for finding promotional opportunities. Angela Yuriko Smith edits an outstanding monthly Substack newsletter detailing many opportunities for authors. She offered practical advice on how to save time and maximize efforts. “Less time searching, more time submitting. Subscribe to something that curates opportunities for you, so you can focus on connecting and performing.” Authortunities was highly recommeneded by Dale L. Roberts on his Self-Publishing with Dale podcast. 

 

Jason Jones of Jones Literary, author of Landing Local Media, stressed the value of starting small and building relationships with local journalists. He noted, “Start with local media before aiming for big national shows. Build relationships with local journalists—they’re your stepping stone.”

 

 

Expanding Your Reach Through Speaking Engagements

Speaking engagements were another key strategy discussed. Matty Dalrymple, co-author of From Page to Platform, highlighted how speaking can often provide more financial benefit than book sales. “A book gives you credibility, but speaking gets you in front of new audiences and often pays better than book sales,” she said.

 

Jennie Mustafa-Julock, author of Hilda: Tackle Your Inner Naysayer, Get Out of Your Own Way, and Unleash Your Badassery, is a fantastic speaker who emphasized the importance of overcoming your inner critic to take action. “Hilda is the name I give for that irksome inner critic that lives in your brain, constantly trying to keep you stuck and safe,” she said. “It’s not enough to just ignore her; you have to take action to quiet that inner critic. My work is about adding humor and real words to help you face those fears and keep moving forward.”

 

 

Employing AI in Your Writing Process

AI tools are becoming more popular among authors to enhance their writing processes. Nancy Ancowitz, author of Business Writing: Say More with Less, shared how AI helps streamline the editing process while maintaining the human touch. “Using AI tools like ChatGPT helps make the editing process quicker, but it’s up to us to keep the human touch—we’re the storytellers,” she said.

 

Larry Roberts, author of Under the Red Hat: Strategies to Stand Out in a Crowded Marketplace, uses AI to speed up his writing but emphasized maintaining personal input. “I used AI tools to write my book in three weeks, but I still wrote some parts myself because emotional intelligence matters in writing,” he said.

 

 

The Advantages of Self-Publishing

One of the standout themes from the Nonfiction Showcase was the emphasis on the control and flexibility that self-publishing offers to authors. Hall of Fame podcaster Dave Jackson, author of Profit from Your Podcast, declared his preference for self-publishing in the future. “I’m really leaning toward self-publishing next time,” said Jackson. 

 

“I’ve learned so much from working with traditional publishers, but the more I get into it, the more I want control over the process—especially when it comes to marketing and being able to pivot quickly,” he added.

 

Julie Broad, author of Self-Publish & Succeed and founder of Book Launchers, echoed similar sentiments, explaining how self-publishing allows her to make decisions that best align with her vision. “With self-publishing, you can make decisions quickly, test different strategies, and keep your book relevant without having to go through a long approval process,” she said. “You’re the boss, and that means you get to decide what happens with your book.”

 

 

 

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