Indie Author Truth Bombs - The Podcast

Your Ads Are Broken. Here's Why.

Someone Steve respects said Amazon ads make more money for Amazon than for authors. The room laughed. Steve hasn't stopped thinking about it. This episode is about why most author ad campaigns fail, and it's not the platform. Wrong book, wrong platform, or no real understanding of what you're doing. Ads are an amplifier. If your book converts, they multiply your sales. If it doesn't, they multiply your losses. Steve breaks down what actually works, what the first campaigns really look like, and why you should learn before you spend.

Wide vs KU. The Truth Nobody Wants to Hear

I got locked out of MY KDP account for six weeks. MY books were still selling. I couldn't touch them. MY ebooks are still in Kindle Unlimited. This episode is about why, and why it doesn't contradict the rented land argument i've been making all series. KU versus wide depends on where you are in your career and what each channel actually does for you. I break down my real thinking, and why make hay while the sun shines isn't the same as a long-term strategy.

Your Book Isn't Selling. Here's Why (And What To Fix First)

If your book isn't selling, it almost always comes down to one of two things. Your cover is sending the wrong signal, or you're not doing the work to put the book in front of people. Usually one. Sometimes both. Everything else is noise until those two are fixed. Steve Kelly breaks down why the algorithm isn't your problem, what he looks at when he knows in ten seconds a book won't sell, and the real story of a series that only started moving after a retitle and recover. Plus a two-part action step you can do this week. The algorithm doesn't owe you readers. You have to go and get them. Rule 1: Write the damn book. Rule 2: Stay in the game.

TikTok Shop for Authors. The Complete Guide

Last episode was about owning your readers. This one is about finding them. TikTok Shop puts a buy button inside the scroll, and for authors with physical books, the discovery potential is real. Steve Kelly covers the full setup, the fees nobody warns you about, the two-account trick that protects your BookTok reach, and one postcard tactic that moves a TikTok buyer onto your email list. Plus the honest answer on why this is still rented land. Rule 1: Write the damn book. Rule 2: Stay in the game.

Direct Selling for Authors. Why It's the Smartest Move You're Not Making Yet

Amazon keeps your readers. You get a royalty payment and a dashboard. That's the deal, and most indie authors have never questioned it. Steve Kelly breaks down the maths, the platforms, and the honest pros and cons of selling books direct. Plus why ChatGPT's Instant Checkout and Shopify's Agentic Storefronts mean the authors with their own stores are about to have a serious edge. Rule 1: Write the damn book. Rule 2: Stay in the game.