How to Save the Christian Publishing Show
Big changes are ahead for The Christian Publishing show. Find out how you can join us to get your publishing questions answered.
Big News!
I have a couple of big announcements. If you have been wondering why there hasn’t been a new episode in a few weeks I have a good reason. Announcement #1: New Baby! We just had a baby! Jack Umstattd was born on December 23rd weighing 9 pounds 10 ounces. Both he...How to Write Deep Point of View with Karen Witemeyer
If you want your readers to connect with your writing, you need to immerse them deeply into the mind of your characters. Your readers need to hear, see, and experience everything that your character experiences. But how do you do this? The answer is deep point of...How to Create Compelling Secondary Characters for Your Novel with Angela Hunt
We have had episodes about protagonists, the characters who want something that drives the plot forward, and antagonists who get in their way. But stories do not live on protagonists alone. Side characters, or supporting characters, play a vital role in your novel....How to Keep Fear from Blocking Your Creativity with David Lee Martin
You have a creative idea. You feel inspired to pursue it. But your head is filled with doubt. “What if I can’t make it work? What if I can’t provide for my family? What if my work isn’t good enough? What if people think my creation is stupid?” We have a guest on the...How to Become a Professional Freelancer with Sharon Norris Elliott
The saying goes, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” While some authors are able to support a full-time writing career with only their books, the reality is most authors need additional income, at least at the beginning. But does that mean you need to...How to Fight Cancel Culture As a Christian Author with Laura Lynn Hughes
It’s no question that we live in a “cancel” culture. It may be tempting to bury our heads in the sand and be sure we never do anything to offend anyone. But that’s not how the Bible calls us to live. Countless times throughout the Bible, men and women of God...Where Christian Publishing Came From with Leslie Stobbe
Have you ever wondered where Christian publishing came from? I sure have. In the olden days, there were only publishers. But then Christian publishers started to emerge. Why did that happen? What caused it? To find out, we have a special guest who has worked in...Why You Need a Writing Retreat with Kathy Ide
Do you feel discouraged or burnt out by your writing journey? Do you want to connect with other writers who understand your goals and pain? Do you need some time to get away from life, refocus on your goals, and connect with God? Perhaps what you need is a writing...How to Write a Book in 90 Days with Kristen Clark
Writing a book doesn’t need to be hard for many writers. All you need to do to write faster is learn how to get out of your own way. Our guest today is co-founder of Girl Defined Ministries and author of several books for young girls, including Girl Defined and Love...The Four Essential Pillars of Novel Construction with C.S. Lakin
How do I write a novel? This is one of the most common questions writers ask. They ask it as they get started, they ask it after they finish their first book, and sometimes they ask it after writing half a dozen books. When writing a novel, there are four...How to Edit and Proofread Your Own Manuscript with Denise Loock
There are two ways to get better at writing. One is to practice writing, so your first drafts are better. The second is to learn how to edit your first drafts into better second drafts. It is common for some beginning authors to feel like the second draft is...How to Use Books to Complement Your Ministry & Increase Revenue with Crystal Daye
Many times Christian writers think that once their book is published, then they can minister to people. But they have it all backwards. You can and should start ministering to and blessing people right now, and your book will be an overflow of that ministry. We have...A New Social Network for Authors
Are you tired of getting distracted every time you log in to one of your Facebook author groups? Are you sick of feeling discouraged by the spammers and trolls who lurk in the depths of the group? Are you hesitant to trust the information shared in Facebook groups...How to Write the Last 50 Pages of Your Book with James Scott Bell
“The first page of a book sells that book. The last page sells your next book.” –– American crime novelist Mickey Spillane When you write a novel, you want your readers to be so thrilled by the ending of your story that they immediately buy your next book. And...How to Write a Bible Study with Mindy Kiker
Perhaps you’ve considered writing Bible studies for your local church, or maybe you’re interested in writing Bible studies for publication. How do you write Bible studies that people want to read? We have a special guest with us today who is going to share her...How to Write a Query Letter with Mary DeMuth
If you want to be traditionally published in today’s book market, you are going to need a literary agent. But you don’t just “hire” a literary agent like you would a plumber. Agents have a vetting process in which they decide if you and your book are a good fit for...How to Develop Patience and Endurance in Publishing with Chase Replogle
Many first-time authors think that all they need to do is write a book, upload it to Amazon, and voilà Readers will come flocking. This is not the case. The reality is that the journey of writing and publishing a book is a long and arduous one. For most authors it...How to Navigate the Fragmenting of Social Media As a Christian Author with Scott Minor
This episode comes with a trigger warning. We are going to talk about social media, politics, culture, and what to do as a Christian author in a world that is growing more hostile to Christian authors. If you don’t want to hear about that today, I can recommend a...How to Find a Good Critique Group with Eva Marie Everson
It is hard to read the label when you are standing inside the bottle. This is why almost all successful authors are in a writers group. Whether it was J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis sitting in an English pub talking about fantasy stories or a socially distant...Book Launch Secrets Webinar Replay
A couple of weeks ago, Thomas Umstattd Jr. and Steve Laube hosted a Book Launch Secrets webinar. More than 500 authors registered for the webinar from five different continents. This episode of the Christian Publishing Show is the audio of that webinar. If you prefer...100th Episode Celebration with Jerry B. Jenkins
This is the 100th episode of the Christian Publishing Show. Over the last two years, we have had downloads from 92 different countries. I want to thank all of you who have shared the show with a friend or left us a review at Apple Podcasts. To celebrate 100 episodes,...Writing App Roundup with Dave Chesson, Kindlepreneur
Sometimes using the right tool for the job makes all the difference. If you are still using Microsoft Word to write your book, I have some good news: Much better tools exist. The challenge with writing is that each writer is different. This means different writers...How to Write for Children with Jennifer Grant
Children’s books are a hot genre right now. With libraries closed, more parents are purchasing children’s books; and more authors are trying their hand at writing a children’s book. These books are so short, how hard could they be to write?...How to Create Companion Products for your Book with D’vorah Lansky
It’s very common these days for books, especially nonfiction, to come with additional workbooks, study guides, and video courses. These extra materials are also a great way to connect with your readers on a deeper level, while at the same time creating additional...How to Write Devotionals with David Sluka
Devotionals are almost unique to Christian publishing. While some non-Christian publishers dabble with devotionals of different kinds, Christians have been writing and reading devotionals for centuries. So how do you write a devotional? Well, that is what we are...How to Write a Biblically Accurate Book with Catherine DeVries
One of the big differences between Christian and non-Christian books is that Christian books have an absolute standard of truth they are compared to. Or, put another way, Christian books are all a derivative of the Bible in one way or another. We are a people of the...How to Write Better & Faster With Plottr and the Snowflake Method
As a kid, peanut butter was always paired with only one thing: jelly. The big discussion between the other kids was if your mom used grape or strawberry jelly. Then one day, one of my friends told me about a new candy that combined peanut butter with chocolate. How...Simon & Schuster Bought by Penguin Random House Discussion With Steve Laube
For everything, there is a season. A time to gather stones and a time to scatter stones. A time to merge companies and a time to spin off new companies. Right now, it is a time for merging companies. The “Big Five” are now the “Big Four.” You may have...How to Write for Children with Linda Howard
Children’s books are the fastest-growing segment of publishing in 2020. There was a time a few months ago when The Very Hungry Caterpillar was in the top 10 of all products on Amazon–not only books but all products in the everything store. The pandemic has...Behind the Publishing Curtain: Fulfillment & Distribution with Tracy Higley
How do trees turn into books and get into people’s hands? At first glance, you may think they appear on bookshelves and in the mail as if by magic. But it is not magic. Behind the scenes thousands of people are working hard to make sure books get from the printer and...How to Write Split-Time Fiction with Melanie Dobson
One popular genre in Christian publishing right now is split-time fiction. Split-time fiction is when you tell two stories separated by time that are connected in some way, sometimes by a theme or an item. Some popular split-time books include The Wedding Dress by...How to Get Out of the Slush Pile – With Deborah Raney
You would like to think that as soon as you are done with your proposal and send it off to an agent that he or she is sitting there by the inbox ready to read it as soon as it comes in. If only. Before email became the submission method, agents and acquisitions...How to Write with Joy in Hard Times with Mary DeMuth
Writing is hard. Writing during difficult times is even harder. And yet, it is persistence through adversity that separates successful writers from those that don’t make it. So, how do you write when the going gets tough? How do you do it with joy? We have a special...The 10 Commandments of Book Marketing
Recently, I heard a publishing “guru” talk about his approach to writing and marketing books. He publishes dozens of books each year with nothing more than quick proofread, which he does himself. He then promotes them using various Amazon hacks. This guy...How to Write YA with Jill Williamson
In the general market, young-adult books are one of the most popular genres. While these books are written for readers ages 12-18, readers of all ages enjoy series books like Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Divergent. At the same time, in Christian publishing,...How to Use Scrivener with David Martin
Writing is hard. But using the right tools can make it easier. One popular tool many authors rely on is Scrivener. But others find it impenetrable. This is why I am excited to introduce our guest today. He is an ordained pastor, church planter, author, and creative...How to Craft Unforgettable Characters with James Scott Bell
If readers don’t care about your characters, they won’t care about your book. If your characters are wooden, generic, or forgettable, readers won’t buy, read, finish, or recommend your book. If you want to write a book people not only finish but recommend to friends,...How to Survive Cancel Culture As a Writer
The Christian Author’s Guide to Cancel Culture This post first appeared here and is shared with permission. Last month tens of thousands of Twitter accounts attacked J. K. Rowling. They tried to get her books pulled from publication. Her books were burned, and...Audiobook Production and Promotion with Brennan McPherson
Episode Notes Audiobooks are one of the fastest-growing segments of the book business. So how do you turn your book into an audiobook? Our guest today is an indie author of the popular Fall of Man Series. He writes epic, imaginative, biblical fiction with...How to Overcome Writer’s Block With Robin Lee Hatcher
A lot of writers think, If I could just have more time, I could do more writing. Well, 2020 gave most writers a lot more time; and, yet, most of them are writing about the same as they were before. What keeps us from being more productive as writers? Is it writer’s...Everything You Need to Know About the 2021 Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference
In this episode, Steve Laube and Thomas Umstattd Jr. talk about the 2021 Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference Kickstarter Campaign. If you have any questions about the conference or about the Kickstarter campaign, this is not an episode you will want to miss. You...Writing for a Canadian Market
Readers in other countries read American books. American readers also read books by authors from other countries. For American authors, the most important country to think about and write for is Canada. Our guest today is the author of multiple books, including The...Show, Don’t Tell With Tim Shoemaker
If there is one guiding light in excellent writing, the one thing almost everyone agrees on, is “show, don’t tell.” Telling is one of the most-common mistakes new authors make and one of the biggest reasons their manuscripts get rejected. It is also one of the biggest...Character vs. Plot With DiAnn Mills
Some novelists see themselves as character-first writers. Others start with the plot. Which is better? Does it depend on the genre? Could you be making a mistake that is crippling your writing? Our guest today will help us answer these questions and more. She is a...How to Overcome Book Marketing & Money Challenges With Chautona Havig
It is possible to make a full-time living as a writer. One way to do so is to write one book that sells like crazy. Another way is to write a bunch of books. Our guest today makes a full-time living with her writing. She has written over 70 books. Whether offering a...How to Overcome Fear and Comparison
Fear can be crippling. If we let it, it will become our master and sit on the throne in our hearts. And here is the crazy thing: We can’t make fear go away. And we wouldn’t want to even if we could. Sometimes fear is helpful to keep us from doing something stupid. But...How to Write Compelling Villains with Brian Godawa
Our guest today is an award-winning screenwriter; his first feature film was To End All Wars. He is also the best-selling author of the Chronicles of the Nephilim series and a new series, Chronicles of the Watchers. Links: https://godawa.com/ Sponsor: Book...How to Crowdfund a Novel on Kickstarter
Crowdfunding is a powerful and underused tool in the author’s tool kit. Crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo allow you to see if there is an audience for your book while simultaneously raising funds to help make it happen. How they work: You set a goal of...Writing Fiction With a Powerful Christian Message Without Getting Preachy
One goal of Christian books is to convey a powerful Christian message through literature. But readers won’t get that message if they are turned off by the writing. One thing that turns potential readers away is heavy-handed preachiness. So how can Christian writers...How Beth Vogt Went from Unpublished to Award-Winning Author
Our guest today won the 2019 AWSA Award for Contemporary Novel of the Year; she has also won a Christy Award and a Carol Award. Beth Vogt, welcome to the Christian Publishing Show! Links:...Author Branding & Book Launching with Randy Ingermanson
Book Launch Branding and How to Launch a Book With a Small Email List with Randy Ingermanson
How to Start an Author Podcast
This episode originally aired on the Novel Marketing Podcast. This is effectively a short audiobook on how to start a podcast. If you have ever thought about starting your own podcast, this is not an episode you will want to miss. You can find a blog version here....How to Write Split Time With Rachel Hauck
Our guest today is a New York Times bestselling author whose novel Once Upon a Prince (affiliate link), was made into an original Hallmark movie. She writes from a quarantined location in sunny, central Florida. Links: Website: RachelHauck.comInstagram:...How to Write Fiction with a Christian Worldview with Brian Godawa
Our guest today is an award-winning screenwriter, his first feature film was To End All Wars. He is also the best-selling author of the Chronicles of the Nephilim and his new series, Chronicles of the Watchers.
How to Write Faster with Tricia Goyer
To walk us through this process, we have a special guest. She is a USA Today bestselling author, has published seventy-five books in both fiction and nonfiction, and is a two-time Carol Award winner. And if that wasn’t enough, she’s also a wife and mother of 10...How to Prepare Your Next Writers Conference
Writers’ conferences are a key step in your publishing journey. Especially if you hope to be traditionally published. They are also very expensive and time-consuming. The key to getting the most out of your next writers conference is preparation. And a key tool to prepare ahead of time is a one-sheet.
How to Write Cinematically with Deborah Raney
How to Write Cinematic with Deborah Raney
How to Write a Memoir with Susy Flory
Every year, millions of people set out to write a memoir; and every year, most of them fail. Memoirs are hard to write and even harder to sell to publishers and readers. And yet, every year, millions of readers buy and read memoirs. So how do you write a memoir worth...Ebook Publishing Tips, Tricks, and Traps
Learn about Ebook Publishing with Mark Coker.
What Authors Must Know About Homeschoolers Before Trying to Sell Them Books
Back in Episode 51 I gave an overview of the Homeschool Market. This episode is the next in that series, where I go into some of the mistakes authors make when trying to sell to homeschoolers. I also cover how to avoid those mistakes. If you are curious why...What does success look like for Christian authors?
We join guest James L. Rubart as we discuss what success looks like for Christian authors.
How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome
Do you feel like a charlatan and that everyone might find out you have no idea what you are talking about? Here is the crazy thing: There is a chance it’s true. You may be an impostor. It may also be a lie. Dunning–Kruger Effect This effect is often...058 How to Write Believable Fight Scenes with Carla Hoch
Learn how to write a believable fight scene with guest Carla Hoch
057 Why Platform is Not Important Like You Think
The following is the outline I used to record this episode. It is not the episode itself! I encourage you to listen to the episode if you can. Why Publishers Care About Platform: Michael Hyatt popularized the term when he started blogging about it about 10 years ago....056 How to Find Your Hustle
For the next few weeks, we will be releasing some “best of” episodes while I spend time with our new baby Thomas Gregory Umstattd, III. Episode Notes This episode originally aired in 2018. We live in a world that is cursed. Because of our sin, God cursed...055 How to Find Your Courage as an Author
For the next few weeks, we will be releasing some “best of” episodes while I spend time with our new baby Thomas Gregory Umstattd, III. “Tommy” was born weighing 8 pounds, 14 ounces and he and my wife are both home and doing well. Why we are...054 – How to Find an Agent With The Christian Writers Market Guide 2020 Edition
Finding an Agent using the Christian Writers Market Guide 2020 Edition
053 Where to Find Mentorship for Your Publishing Career
Do you ever feel alone in the writing journey? Or perhaps you are not sure what to do next. You don’t need to! In this episode, Thomas talks about 10 different places to find mentorship and the pros and cons of each.
052 The Joyfully Organized Writer with Susan May Warren
Learn how to become an organized writer featuring Susan May Warren
051 A Christian Author’s Guide to the Homeschool Market
Learn how to market to homeschoolers
050 Between Contract and Launch – What it is like to have a book under contract
Between Contract and Launch – What it is like to have a book under contract
049 Business Mistakes Authors Make (and how to avoid them) with Steve Laube
Business Mistakes Authors Make (and how to avoid them) With Steve Lubae
048 The Pros & Cons of Small Publishing Houses
The Pros & Cons of Small Publishing Houses
047 How to Start Your Own Podcast
How to Start Your Own Podcast
046 A Christian Author’s Guide to Getting an Agent with Bob Hostetler
A Christian Author’s Guide to Getting an Agent with Bob Hostetler
045 How to Avoid the #1 Cause of Bad Book Covers: Design by Committee
How to Avoid the #1 Cause of Bad Book Covers: Design by Committee
044 How to Become a Better Writer with Jeff Goins
How to Become a Better Writer with Jeff Goins
043 How to Use Public Speaking to Change Lives and Build Your Platform With Aurora Gregory
How to Use Public Speaking to Change Lives and Build Your Platform With Aurora Gregory
042 Why Podcast Tours are Replacing Blog Tours and What to do About it
Today we are going to talk about promotional tours for your book and which works better, a blog tour or a podcast tour. We’ll also talk about why podcast tours are replacing blog tours and what to do about it. What is a blog tour? A blog tour is when you (or...041 How to Sell Christian Books in a Mainstream World
How to Sell Christian Books in a Mainstream World
040 What Authors Need to Know About Book Metadata
Sometimes in publishing it’s not what you don’t know that gets you into trouble, it’s what you don’t know you don’t know. One thing a lot of authors don’t know to even ask about is metadata. Hold on to your horses, ladies and gentlemen, because today we...039 – Book Proposals Tips & Tricks With Chad Allen
Book Proposals Tips & Tricks With Chad Allen
038 – What Queen Esther Can Teach Authors About Platform Building
Note: This outline was used to record the episode. Its included here to help search engines categorize the audio. Esther’s Story: Esther Had a Tough Marketing PositionNot in favor with the King. He hadn’t asked for her in 30 days. Had a big ask. His law could not...037 From Drained to Energetic How to Maximize Your Energy as an Author With Susan Stewart
From Drained to Energetic How to Maximize Your Energy as an Author With Susan Stewart
036 How to Protect Your Author Platform from Big Tech Censorship
Is your platform at risk of being destroyed by big tech companies? In this episode, find out what is happening and what to do about it. What is happening Big tech companies are censoring, shadow banning, and suspending accounts of Christian authors. There...035 How Renae Brumbaugh Green Went from Unpublished to Bestselling Author
How Renae Brumbaugh Green Went from Unpublished to Bestselling Author
034 Screen Writing 101 with Hollywood Screenwriter Bob Saenz
Screen Writing 101 with Hollywood Screenwriter Bob Saenz
033 International Publishing with Tyndale House Publishers Jim Elwell
International Publishing with Tyndale House Publishers Jim Elwell
032 How to Craft Compelling Characters with Zena Dell Lowe
How to Craft Compelling Characters with Zena Dell Lowe
031 How to Pitch Your Book at a Writers’ Conference with Bob Hostetler
How to Pitch Your Book at a Writers Conference with Bob Hostetler
030 Pros and Cons of Indie Publishing
Pros and Cons of Indie Publishing
029 Pros and Cons of Traditional Publishing
Pros and Cons of Traditional Publishing
028 2019 Trends in Christian Publishing With Michial Miller of the NPD BookScan
2019 Trends in Christian Publishing With Michial Miller of the NPD BookScan
027 Advertising for Authors Who Don’t Like Math– with Chris Fox
Advertising for Authors Who Don’t Like Math with Chris Fox
026 What Makes a Book a Christian Book
What Makes a Book a Christian Book?
025 How to Write & Narrate Better Audiobooks with Tom Parks
How to Write & Narrate Better Audiobooks with Tom Parks
024 How to Transform Your Sermons into a Book
How to Transform Your Sermons into a Book
023 – The Future of Audiobooks and Podcasting
In this episode of the Christian Publishing Show, Thomas Umstattd shares a special podcast version of the talk he gave at the 2019 ECPA Leadership Summit, an industry event where the leaders of Christian publishing houses gather to talk about trends and the future of...022 How to Transition from Author to Author Entrepreneur
How to Transition from Author to Author Entrepreneur