​​In this episode, Becky sits down with Kathleen Schmidt—founder of Kathleen Schmidt Public Relations and author of Publishing Confidential on Substack—to pull back the curtain on the New York Times bestseller list. Kathleen explains why bestseller lists are more curated than many authors realize and why hitting the list is far less predictable than most people think. This candid conversation will help authors reset expectations about bestseller lists and focus on more impactful strategies that support long-term success.

During the episode, you’ll learn:

1. About Kathleen, her career, and her company, Kathleen Schmidt Public Relations.
2. The gap Kathleen saw in publishing, which inspired her to create her Substack newsletter.
3. The details of Kathleen’s Substack article that uncovers the truth about various bestseller lists—particularly the New York Times.
4. How the New York Times bestseller list is selected.
5. What surprises Kathleen the most about the issues relating to various bestseller lists.
6. Who benefits from the current bestseller system, and who is disadvantaged by it.
7. The most worthwhile goals authors can set beyond landing on a bestseller list.
8. What Kathleen would most like to change about the bestseller ecosystem.
9. Strategies Kathleen has seen used by some of the most successful authors to sustain consistent book sales over time.
10. What has worked for Kathleen in terms of building her online brand and presence.

Don’t forget to check out our show notes, which include action steps and resources.

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In today’s episode, Becky is joined by Yosi Amram—psychologist, executive coach, and Spiritual Intelligence expert and author—to explore how long-term commitment fuels meaningful book marketing success. Yosi shares how he has sustained momentum for his book, Spiritually Intelligent Leadership, more than 2 years after launch—through purpose-driven PR, thought-leadership columns, community gatherings, and even a TEDx talk. If you’re playing the long game with your book, this episode will inspire you to build credibility step by step and stay aligned with your deeper purpose.

During the episode, you’ll learn:

1. About Yosi and his work in the world.
2. What Yosi hopes people will learn about Spiritual Intelligence after listening to this episode.
3. How Yosi identified where to spend time, energy, and money as it relates to marketing and promoting his book and its messages.
4. Which initiatives have been the most impactful for getting people to engage with Yosi’s message.
5. How Yosi’s approach to marketing Spiritually Intelligent Leadership has evolved as he’s moved further away from launch.
6. How all of the work Yosi did over the years of marketing his book contributed to landing a TEDx opportunity, as well as other major media opportunities.
7. Which book marketing initiatives have not been as impactful as Yosi anticipated, and which ones have helped him stay focused on the long game.
8. How Yosi has sustained the energy and consistency to market his book for more than two years.
9. One piece of advice Yosi would give first-time authors who are preparing to launch and market their books.

Don’t forget to check out our show notes, which include action steps and resources.

Sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter to connect with Becky Robinson and gain access to ongoing learning and conversation.

In the first episode of Season 7, Becky is joined by Sharon Woodhouse—publisher, coach, consultant, business strategist, and award-winning author—to explore what it means to run a profitable, sustainable author business. Sharon shares multiple lessons including how to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset, prioritize consistent outreach, and diversify your income streams. From speaking gigs to partnerships, this episode is filled with practical, repeatable strategies for authors who want to move beyond book sales and achieve lasting success.

During the episode, you’ll learn:

1. About Sharon and her business, Conspire Creative.
2. How Sharon’s consulting and coaching work inspired her book, The Profitable Author.
3. Which lesson from The Profitable Author Sharon has personally relied on the most.
4. What an entrepreneurial mindset actually looks like in practice for authors and the lessons she often repeats.
5. About various income streams for authors and how they are impactful in driving revenue.
6. How Substack has helped Sharon grow the reach of her book and her business.
7. How authors can choose the right business model for them, especially with so many income streams and platforms to choose from.

Don’t forget to check out our show notes, which include action steps and resources.

Sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter to connect with Becky Robinson and gain access to ongoing learning and conversation.