How to Crowdfund Your First Novel on Kickstarter
Find out what authors need to run a successful Kickstarter campaign for a book and how you can begin preparing for your Kickstarter.
Writing Fiction With a Powerful Christian Message Without Getting Preachy
Learn how to avoid the three pitfalls of Christian fiction and write a book readers will love.
How Beth Vogt Went from Unpublished to Award-Winning Author
Some authors seem to appear fully formed, but Beth Vogt’s path to publication began long before her first novel hit the shelves. A lifelong reader who once dreamed of writing for The Washington Post, Beth built a rich background in journalism, editing, and nonfiction...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
Learn tips and tricks to writing split time stories that make an impact on readers and give them hope.
How to Write Fiction with a Christian Worldview with Brian Godawa
Discover how understanding your Christian worldview and secular worldviews impacts storytelling, character development, and message.
How to Write Faster with Tricia Goyer
Discover how to organize your day to maximize your writing time and make the most of the time you have to write so you can write faster.
How to Prepare for Your Next Writers Conference
A seasoned literary agent offers tips for preparing for your first (or next) writers conference and what mistakes to avoid.
How to Write Cinematically with Deborah Raney
Discover how filmmaking techniques can improve your novel, thrill your readers, and keep them reading late into the night.
How to Write a Memoir with Susy Flory
Learn about five different types of memoir and how to avoid the mistakes authors often make when writing a Christian memoir.
Ebook Publishing Tips, Tricks, and Traps
Learn about the state of ebooks and how Smashwords can help you publish your ebook with best practices in a matter of hours.
What Authors Must Know About Homeschoolers Before Trying to Sell Them Books
Ten tips for authors who want to sell books to the homeschool market.
What Does Success Look Like for Christian Authors?
How do you define success as a Christian author? Discover the importance of aiming for the right goal and using the right metrics.
How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome
Questions to help you discover whether you are an imposter (or not) and how to become more confident in your expertise.
How to Write Believable Fight Scenes with Carla Hoch
Learn how to write a believable fight scene with guest Carla Hoch
Why Platform is Not Important Like You Think
Find out what an author platform is, why it’s not as important as you’ve heard, and what you can do instead.
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...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. Episode Notes...How to Find an Agent With The Christian Writers Market Guide
Learn how the Christian Writers Market Guide can help you find agents, editors, paid writing gigs, and educational opportunities.
Where to Find Mentorship for Your Publishing Career
Discover 10 places where you can find a writing mentor, from inexpensive avenues to more costly one-on-one options for authors.
The Joyfully Organized Writer with Susan May Warren
Learn how to plan your days, weeks, and year to become a more fruitful and effective Christian writer and make a bigger impact for Christ.
A Christian Author’s Guide to the Homeschool Market
Learn how to market to homeschoolers
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
Business Mistakes Authors Make (and how to avoid them) with Steve Laube
Business Mistakes Authors Make (and how to avoid them) With Steve Lubae
The Pros & Cons of Small Publishing Houses
Before you choose to publish with a small publishing house, learn what they do and don’t bring to the table.
How to Start Your Own Podcast
How to Start Your Own Podcast
A Christian Author’s Guide to Getting an Agent with Bob Hostetler
Author and literary agent Bob Hostetler shares what an agent does, who needs one, where to meet agents, and how to get one to represent you.
How to Avoid the #1 Cause of Bad Book Covers: Design by Committee
Learn what makes a book cover design “good” and how to work with a professional designer to get an effective book cover design
How to Become a Better Writer with Jeff Goins
Discover practical tips for becoming a better and more productive writer, including a three stage plan for bringing ideas to publication.
How to Use Public Speaking to Change Lives and Build Your Platform With Aurora Gregory
Learn how Christian authors and speakers can pitch and secure public speaking engagements around their book and topic.
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...How to Sell Christian Books in a Mainstream World
Tips to help your Christian book appeal and sell to the widest audience, including those in the mainstream market.
What Authors Need to Know About Book Metadata
Discover what metadata is and why it’s so important for helping readers find your Christian book online.
Book Proposals Tips & Tricks With Chad Allen
Book Proposals Tips & Tricks With Chad Allen
What Queen Esther Can Teach Authors About Platform Building
What can modern-day authors learn about marketing from an ancient queen? More than you might think.
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
How to Protect Your Author Platform from Big Tech Censorship
Your platform may be at risk of being destroyed or censored by big tech companies. In this episode, you’ll find out why and what to do about it. Some of the latest developments have happened in the last few weeks. Big tech companies have started censoring,...How Renae Brumbaugh Green Went from Unpublished to Bestselling Author
Renae Brumbaugh Green shares her journey of going from unpublished homeschool mom to bestselling author of 30 books.
Screen Writing 101 with Hollywood Screenwriter Bob Saenz
Screen Writing 101 with Hollywood Screenwriter Bob Saenz
International Publishing with Tyndale House Publishers Jim Elwell
Discover how books make it to international markets. Learn how to navigate cultural and theological challenges in translation in international publishing.
How to Craft Compelling Characters with Zena Dell Lowe
Discover how to create good characters that will captivate your readers, engage their hearts, and keep them turning pages.
How to Pitch Your Book at a Writers’ Conference with Bob Hostetler
Discover how to maximize your 15 minute writers conference appointments. Learn what mistakes to avoid and how to present yourself as a pro.
Pros and Cons of Indie Publishing
Discover whether indie publishing is right for you. Learn the benefits, common challenges, and how it compares to traditional publishing.
Pros and Cons of Traditional Publishing
Discover 7 pros and 7 cons of traditional publishing, several of which overlap, and find out if traditional publishing is right for you.
2019 Trends in Christian Publishing With Michial Miller of the NPD BookScan
2019 Trends in Christian Publishing With Michial Miller of the NPD BookScan
Advertising for Authors Who Don’t Like Math– with Chris Fox
Learn which ad platforms are most effective and how you can make the most of your advertising dollars.
What Makes a Book a Christian Book
What factors determine whether publishers, readers, and authors call a book a Christian book.
How to Write & Narrate Better Audiobooks with Tom Parks
Find out what makes a good (or bad) audiobook and how you can make yours sound great.
How to Transform Your Sermons into a Book
Discover how to turn sermons or speeches into chapters that can become an enjoyable and well-structured book.
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...How to Transition from Author to Author Entrepreneur
Discover how Christian writers can engage in the business of writing for the glory of God and the good of others.
How To Podcast Your Way to Publishing Success
Discover how host ing an author podcast can connect you with readers, fellow writers, and people who encourage you to enjoy the writing process.
How to Get Unstuck With Your Writing Career
Practical, faith-centered steps to get unstuck with your writing career, overcome creative blocks, renew your mind, and thrive as an author.
How to Build a Tribe
What’s a tribe, why does an author need one, and how do you build one? In this episode, you’ll learn how to gather and serve your fans.
Tribe Building and Trends in Publishing
Christian editor Alice Crider shares publishing trends as seen from inside the industry and discusses important factors that are shaping the publishing landscape.
How to Find Agents and Editors with the Christian Writers Market Guide
Discover all the resources for to Christian writers, from editors and agents to a myriad of paid publishing and writing opportunities.
Time Management & How to Become More Creative as an Author
Time Management & How to Become More Creative as an Author
Behind the Publishing Curtain: Director of Operations
Learn about the publishing process, from vendor decisions to pub board meetings, and the implications of having multiple imprints.
How to Overcome Burnout and Discouragement with Erin Young and Karen Ball
Learn how to navigate challenges of vulnerability in writing, handle criticism, and maintain creative energy to avoid author burnout.
13 How to Grow Your Email List with Evan Gow
Discover how and when to build an email list when your book is not yet published.
Is Book Promotion a Sin? with Shelly Hitz
Is book promotion a sin? How should Christian authors handle success? An interview with Shelly Hitz
How to Get Started Writing Young a Conversation with Brett Harris Interview
Discover how young writers can start pursuing a career in writing and what educational options will serve them best.
What Christian Editors Look for in Book Proposals
Discover which types of books Christian editors want to acquire and which types they always avoid.
How to Launch a Book (an overview)
In this episode of the Christian Publishing Show, we talk about how to launch a book.
Resonance and 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. Introduction This is the third and final episode in a series about What I am Looking for as an Agent. Previously we talked...The State of The Christian Fiction Kindle Market with Alex Newton
Today we are going to talk about one of my favorite topics, data! Alex Newton, the CEO and Founder of K-Lytics.com a leading market research resource for authors and publishers or put in terms we care about his company and expertise helps authors sell more books,...Why Facebook is Overrated for Book Promotion
Facebook is overrated for building an author platform the following 8 reasons.
How James L. Rubart Went From Rejected and Unpublished to Bestselling Author
How James L. Rubart Went From Rejected and Unpublished to Bestselling Author
The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association and Publishing Trends with Stan Jantz
The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association and Publishing Trends with Stan Jantz
How to Find Your Hustle
We live in a world cursed. Because of our sin, God cursed the soil to have thorns and weeds. That curse is pervasive and continues to this day. If you want to have success in farming, you have to put in the work to remove the weeds. If you want to see success in...How to Find Your Courage as an Author
Discover how to overcome fear in all its forms and find our courage as a writer so that your story and message can change lives.
Book Proposals 101 with Steve Laube
A book proposal is one of the first tools you’ll need to pursue a traditional publisher. Most beginning authors don’t realize they need one and don’t know how to write one. Some have never heard the term. I asked Steve Laube to help us understand...000 – Teaser & What is a Podcast?
Welcome to the first episode of the Christian Publishing Show brought to you by the Steve Laube Agency! I’m your host, Thomas Umstattd Jr. This episode is a teaser for the show to come.