The Written Word Podcast

Your book cover is the first thing every reader sees, and according to Ricardo Fayet, co-founder and CMO of Reedsy, most indie authors are getting it wrong. In this episode, Ferol Vernon sits down with Ricardo for a no-nonsense conversation about what actually makes a cover sell, how to work with a professional cover designer, when to consider recovering, and why the text on your cover matters more than the image. Ricardo has helped hundreds of authors land on the Sunday Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists and has literally written the book on book marketing. He brings the same candor and data-backed thinking he's known for at conferences like NINC and AuthorNation to everything in this episode.What you’ll learn:Why your cover isn't just a design decision, but your single most important marketing assetThe three elements every cover needs to get right (and Ricardo's top three pet peeves when authors get them wrong)What the text on your cover is actually doing, and why it matters more than the imageHow AI is changing cover design and the copyright question every author needs to understandWhy cover design requests on Reedsy grew 40% from 2025 to 2026, despite AI image generationThe genre-fit vs. stand-out debate, and Ricardo's answer to the million-dollar questionWhen to recover a book and what to try first before spending the moneyHow to write a cover design brief that prevents 90% of the problems authors run intoWhat to do when you hate the first concepts a designer sends youWhy you should always ask your cover designer for the background image, and what to do with itWant to dive deeper? Ricardo and his team publish free guides on cover design, hiring designers, and more at reedsy.com/blog.Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

This episode is a milestone; the Written Word Media Podcast just hit 10,000 downloads. To celebrate, Ricci Wolman and Ferol Vernon are answering three of the most common questions listeners have sent in: what DRM actually is and whether you need it, when the best time to launch a book really is, and how to get more KENP reads if you're in Kindle Unlimited.What you’ll learn:What DRM (Digital Rights Management) is, the difference between hard DRM, soft DRM, and no DRM, and Amazon's new policy change that lets you update your settings midstreamWhy ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors) recommends against DRM for most indie authors, and the key philosophical question to ask yourself before decidingWhy hard DRM is largely an illusion of protection (and what that means for your decision)What WWM's data from thousands of book launches actually shows about the best day and season to launch, and why the answer is probably not what you're hoping forThe one exception to the "any day works" rule (genre-specific seasonality)Why your marketing plan matters 100x more than your launch dateHow running a promo (including a FreeBooksy free promo) drives KENP reads, not just downloadsWhy there's a lag between a promotion and when you see the KU reads hit your dashboardHow WWM's promo emails call out "free on Kindle Unlimited" to prime KU readers before they hit the Amazon pagePlus: listener questions are how WWM products get built. Subscriber Surge Giveaways exist because authors asked for help building their email lists.Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Getting local press coverage can feel like shouting into a void, but what if you knew exactly what editors were looking for?In this episode, Ricci sits down with Rory Gillis, owner of Triangle Media Partners and publisher of several regional magazines including Chapel Hill Magazine, Durham Magazine, Heart of NC Weddings, and The Triangle Weekender. Rory pulls back the curtain on how local publications actually decide what to cover and gives indie authors a clear, actionable roadmap for getting featured.In this episode, you'll learn:How local editors source stories and what makes a pitch rise to the top of a very full inboxWhy editorial themes and calendars are your secret weapon — and how to find them on any publication's websiteWhat to include in your pitch package to make an editor's job as easy as possibleWhy your book launch isn't the only hook — and how to pitch a book that came out years agoThe power of the byline: how pitching yourself as a columnist can open the door to book coverageWhy "polite persistence" is not annoying — it's expected (and sometimes pays off two years later!)The no-nos that instantly tank your pitch, straight from the editors themselvesWhat one author did to get featured that Rory still remembers years laterRory's step-by-step action item checklist for authors ready to pursue local pressWhether you're in a major metro or a small town, your local media landscape is full of opportunities. This episode will help you find them and pitch them the right way.Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

KU or wide? It's the great debate of indie publishing — and it usually generates more opinions than answers.In this episode, Ricci and Ferol cut through the noise and break down exactly how both paths work, backed by real data from Written Word Media's 2025 author survey. They walk through the mechanics of KDP Select, how Kindle Unlimited page reads and payouts actually work, what the January 2026 global fund number ($62.2 million) means for exclusive authors, and what going wide really looks like in practice — from managing multiple platforms to choosing between distributors. Spoiler: 38% of authors are all-in on Amazon, 30% are fully wide, and 32% are somewhere in between. There's no universal right answer, but there is a smarter way to figure out what works for you.What you'll learn:How KDP and KDP Select actually work — and why it's really just a 90-day commitmentThe real trade-offs of Kindle Unlimited, including page read payouts (KENP), countdown deals, and free promo daysWhy the KDP Select global fund has grown from $2.5M (2014) to $62.2M (January 2026)What "going wide" actually looks like and how to manage multiple platformsDraft2Digital vs. PublishDrive — which distributor model makes sense for your businessWhat our 2025 author survey data says about what authors are actually choosingWant to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

In this data-packed episode, Ricci and Ferol dive into the results of Written Word Media's brand-new reader survey with nearly 3,000 responses from across all five brands. This isn't recycled industry advice or third-party reports - it's fresh, empirical data straight from the voracious readers who matter most to indie authors. Together, they unpack surprising stats about reader volume, discovery channels, and what readers genuinely want from the authors they love. From the shocking percentage of readers consuming 100+ books per year to the personal details readers crave (hint: pets came up a lot!), this episode delivers actionable insights that will transform how you think about book marketing, reader connection, and building your author platform in 2026.You'll Learn:Why 31% of readers consume over 100 books per year - and what this means for your marketing strategyThe 80% loyalty rule that changes everything about free book promotions and first-in-series launchesWhere readers actually discover books in 2026 (Amazon and email newsletters still dominate, but there are surprises)Why social media advertising isn't resonating with readers - and what they're seeking insteadThe truth about AI for book discovery: readers aren't using it and don't want toWhat readers genuinely want to know about you as an author - from pets to vacations (but skip the politics!)How readers track their reading habits, including the surprisingly popular pen-and-paper methodWhether you're launching your first book or optimizing your author platform, these insights will help you connect more authentically with readers and make smarter marketing decisions. The data proves it: books are still magic, and millions of readers are out there actively looking for their next favorite author.Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2026 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

It's December which means it’s also trends season – you’ve probably received your Spotify wrapped as well as a wrapped from almost every other app you have! With that spirit, Ferol and Ricci kick off their annual predictions episode by diving into the first three of five major themes that will shape the publishing landscape in 2026. Drawing from industry insights, customer feedback, and broader cultural trends, they explore how trust, reader experience, and connection will define the coming year for authors. This is Part 1 of a two-part series covering 2026 trends for indie authors and you’ll be sure to walk away with a few things to reflect on while also feeling a bit more confident about what the future holds.You'll learn:Trust is the new currency — Scam complaints are up 100% since 2023, and authors need to focus on building deeper trust with readers beyond email lists and be cautious with new service providersNew legitimate companies will launch quickly — AI makes it easy to spin up author services, but many will disappear just as fast due to limited funding or lack of staying powerBook-themed travel and literary tourism are growing — Readers want to visit settings from their favorite books, stay in book-themed vacation rentals, and attend reading retreatsBook clubs and reader communities are exploding — Silent Book Club grew from 180 chapters (2022) to 500+ chapters today; readers are craving connection in low-lift waysThe bar for creating reader connection is low — Authors can host simple 30-minute Zoom chats, AMAs, or themed discussions to build deep loyalty with minimal effortSpecial editions and collectible books are booming — Sprayed edges, foil covers, and illustrated books function as art pieces that become part of readers' identitiesAuthor swag and collectibles deepen fan connection — Stickers, special editions, and other tangible items help readers express their fandom, similar to sports memorabiliaExperiences are valued over things — The cultural shift toward prioritizing experiences is coming to book world in a major way in 2026Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2025 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ricci and Ferol break down the newest Written Word Media Author Survey, sharing what more than 1,300 authors revealed about income, catalog size, marketing tactics, and where book sales are really coming from in 2025. They discuss the continued importance of email lists, how packaging influences sales, the realities of KDP Select vs. going wide, and why more authors are exploring direct sales. The episode wraps with a look at overall author sentiment heading into the new year and the communities supporting indie writers along the way.You'll learn:Income brackets and what influences author earningsEmail list effectiveness and list size correlationMarketing tactics ranked by effectiveness (promo sites, Facebook ads, BookBub, lead magnets, etc.)Packaging: covers, editing, blurbs, and why investment mattersDirect sales: how many authors are doing it and who sees the most benefitRetailer breakdown: Amazon dominance, in-person sales surprises, Kobo/Apple performanceOverall author sentiment: hopeful, tired, motivated, overwhelmedCommunities and resources authors rely on mostWant to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Heart Centered Podcasting.© 2025 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

In this inspiring episode, Ferol sits down with Jonathan Graham, founder of Daily Courage, to explore how creatives can turn fear into fuel. Jonathan shares his journey from Silicon Valley to launching a mission-driven business dedicated to helping people remove fear as a barrier to their potential.Together, they unpack practical tools like the “fear log,” the F.A.C.T.S. framework for fact-checking fear, and the “soup list” for building confidence. Jonathan’s message is clear and empowering: courage isn’t the absence of fear - it’s the willingness to act in spite of it.You'll Learn:How to identify and label your fears so they lose their powerThe F.A.C.T.S. framework - a simple tool for checking what’s true vs. what’s fearWhy consistency builds courage faster than confidenceHow to turn fear into a creative ally instead of an obstacleWays to strengthen your “courage muscle” through small, daily actionsWhether you’re battling writer’s doubt, creative paralysis, or fear of publishing, this episode will help you reframe your relationship with fear and take your next bold step - scared, but moving forward.Want to learn more ways to reach readers? Visit writtenwordmedia.com for author resources, book promotion tools, and more.The Written Word Podcast is produced by Walk West.© 2025 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.