Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast

The Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast brings a working book publicist's perspective to indie author marketing — a genuine differentiator in a category dominated by authors discussing their own experiences. Penny Sansevieri, CEO of Author Marketing Experts (a book PR firm with two decades in the business), covers the strategies she actively deploys for clients: media outreach, Amazon algorithm optimization, Goodreads giveaways, email list-building, and earned media placement.

Co-host Amy Cornell adds publishing industry operational knowledge, grounding episodes in the commercial realities authors encounter at scale rather than idealized theory.

What You Get#

• Publicist-grade PR strategies: Media pitch construction, podcast guesting tactics, library outreach, and local media placement — explained by someone who bills for this work professionally
• Amazon-specific content: Regular episodes on A10 algorithm updates, Author Central optimization, and Kindle Unlimited strategy; keeps pace with Amazon's frequent changes
• Email and newsletter focus: Dedicated episodes on Substack, email list growth, and newsletter monetization — reflects the current importance of owned audience channels for author businesses
• Timely, weekly releases: 326 episodes as of May 2026 (rated 4.8/5 from 106 Apple Podcasts reviews); the show stays current with platform updates and seasonal marketing windows — recent episodes cover AI scam detection for authors, Amazon retail-page optimization, and podcast pitching

Who It's For#

• Authors preparing a book launch: Media outreach, Amazon launch sequencing, and advance review strategies are frequent episode topics with actionable step-by-step breakdowns
• Platform-building authors: Email list construction, podcast guesting, library outreach, and Goodreads strategy each get standalone episode treatment
• Both fiction and nonfiction: Penny works across both categories; nonfiction authors typically get the most from the PR-heavy episodes, but fiction authors have a substantial body of relevant content

Pricing: Free. Weekly episodes available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, and Podbean.

Strengths#

• Currently working publicist: Penny's advice reflects the current media landscape, not historical campaigns — she's actively pitching books while recording the show
• Actionable depth: Episodes regularly include specific tactics (pitch templates, subject line structures, Amazon keyword placement) rather than motivational framing
• 326+ episode back catalog: Covers virtually every aspect of book marketing; functions as a searchable reference library as well as a weekly listen

Limitations#

• Promotional context: Author Marketing Experts is Penny's business — episodes occasionally angle toward services the firm offers. Listeners should note this implicit promotional framing while evaluating recommendations
• Marketing-only focus: The show addresses book sales strategy almost exclusively; authors seeking writing craft content should look elsewhere
• Some content shows age: With 326+ episodes since 2020, older episodes may reflect platforms or algorithms that have since changed significantly

Alternatives#

Novel Marketing (Thomas Umstattd) covers similar tactical ground. BookBub's blog addresses several of the same Amazon and marketing topics in written format. For craft-plus-marketing balance, Self-Publishing Formula or Reedsy's podcast offer broader scope alongside the business topics.