S2E6 License to Sell: Book Cover Design, Blurbs & Formatting for Indie Authors

S2E7 Where Should Authors Sell Their Books? A Strategic Briefing on Wide, Exclusive, and Direct Distribution

Did you choose your distribution channels the same way most authors do — by peer pressure? Everyone says Amazon is where you need to be, and “enroll in KU to make more money”. Or “I can’t believe you never even considered selling direct”. But distribution isn't a checkbox. It's one of the most consequential strategic decisions in your author business — and the platforms are changing the rules whether you're paying attention or not. In this episode, we break down the three core distribution paths (wide, exclusive, and direct), walk through the eight questions you need to answer before you commit to any of them, and use Audible's major royalty overhaul as a live case study in why having a contingency plan isn't paranoia — it's just good operational security. By the end, you'll know exactly which strategy fits your books, your readers, and your business right now. Mission briefing starts now.   Links: Conspire Con [https://marturiapub.com/conspire-con/]  Conspire Planner  [https://marturiapub.com/conspire-planner/] Publisher Rocket [https://publisherrocket.cartknox.com/buy-rocket?aff=441] Conspire Planner Video Sneak Peek [https://youtu.be/vaCMkZStpOQ] Worksheet PDF [https://mailchi.mp/a3db35bb2fb9/ttgtac5iip]

S2E6 License to Sell: Book Cover Design, Blurbs & Formatting for Indie Authors

Readers ARE judging your book by its cover. And your blurb. The manuscript is done. Now the real strategy begins. In this episode we cover everything between finished draft and ready-to-distribute — cover design, blurbs, formatting, and editing — and we're not just checking boxes. We're building a packaging system that positions every book you publish as undeniably, unapologetically professional. No more "it looks a little indie." Because the smartest packaging decisions you make today will pay off across your entire backlist.   Links: Conspire Con [https://marturiapub.com/conspire-con/]  Conspire Planner  [https://marturiapub.com/conspire-planner/] Publisher Rocket [https://publisherrocket.cartknox.com/buy-rocket?aff=441] (Keywords and Categories *affiliate*)  Conspire Planner Video Sneak Peek [https://youtu.be/vaCMkZStpOQ] Worksheet PDF [https://mailchi.mp/98ea0468a3e4/v42akqhdq6]   Resources Mentioned: Editing * Reedsy Marketplace (editors & cover designers): https://reedsy.com [https://reedsy.com] * Grammarly: https://grammarly.com [https://grammarly.com] * ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com [https://prowritingaid.com] * S2E4 (outsourcing episode): (your own internal link) Formatting * Vellum (Mac): https://vellum.pub [https://vellum.pub] * Atticus (Mac/PC/cross-platform): https://atticus.io [https://atticus.io] * Abode InDesign https://www.adobe.com/products/indesign.html [https://www.adobe.com/products/indesign.html] Cover Design * Reedsy Marketplace (cover designers): https://reedsy.com/design/book-cover-design [https://reedsy.com/design/book-cover-design] * 99designs: https://99designs.com [https://99designs.com] * Canva: https://canva.com [https://canva.com]

S1E5 Operative Instincts: How to Find Your Writing Process and Protect Your Output

You have a writing routine. But do you have a writing process? There's a difference — and it might be the reason your drafts take longer than they should, your revision passes feel endless, and your manuscript never quite feels done. In this episode we're going deep on operative instincts: figuring out whether you're a plotter, pantser, or plantser, designing a revision system that's actually strategic, and knowing when to call the draft done before perfectionism costs you your readers. This is the episode that turns how you write into a system that works.   Links: Conspire Con [https://marturiapub.com/conspire-con/]  Conspire Planner  [https://marturiapub.com/conspire-planner/] Publisher Rocket [https://publisherrocket.cartknox.com/buy-rocket?aff=441] Conspire Planner Video Sneak Peek [https://youtu.be/vaCMkZStpOQ] Worksheet PDF [https://mailchi.mp/ac82b848904d/vn0q32ifc6]

S2E4 Field Ops: The Indie Author's Guide to Outsourcing, Hiring, and Funding Your Business

Every indie author is doing too much. But knowing what to hand off, when to hand it off, and how to pay for it when your royalties aren't cutting it yet? That's where it gets complicated. In this episode of Conspire, we're running a full field audit of your author business — breaking down exactly what to DIY, what to delegate, and what you should never cheap out on no matter where you are in your journey. Plus, how to fund your outsourcing before your book income can carry it. Because building an author business doesn't have to mean doing it all alone — it just means being strategic about when you ask for backup.   Links: Conspire Con [https://marturiapub.com/conspire-con/]  Conspire Planner  [https://marturiapub.com/conspire-planner/] Publisher Rocket [https://publisherrocket.cartknox.com/buy-rocket?aff=441] Worksheet PDF [https://mailchi.mp/81333ca50d8b/4cohuzz8g0] Reedsy Publishing Services Directory  [https://reedsy.com/hire] Fiverr [https://www.fiverr.com/]   Rover [https://www.rover.com/]

S2E3 Intel Report: What Authors Actually Earn — and Why You're Not as Behind as You Think

Consider this episode classified information — because if you've ever seen another author's income numbers and immediately felt like you were failing, this is your debrief. We're pulling back the curtain on what authors — indie and traditional — actually earn, why the statistics look scarier than they are, and how to find yourself in the real picture. Plus, we're breaking down the revenue streams that serious authors are building right now, from the non-negotiables to the expansion plays that might genuinely surprise you. Consider this your permission slip to stop spiraling and start strategizing. 📚 SOURCES & RESEARCH NOTES Authors Guild 2023 Author Income Survey — 5,699 respondents, the largest U.S. author income study to date. Median book income all authors: $2,000/year. Full-time author median total writing income: $20,000/year. Romance author median: $31,725. Mystery/thriller: $10,000. Literary fiction: $5,000. Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) 2025 Indie Author Income Survey — Median indie income: $13,500 (up 6% YOY). Traditional median: $6,000–$8,000 and declining. Mean vs. median distortion: $82,600 mean vs. $12,749 median due to $11M top earner. Written Word Media 2025 Indie Author Survey — 1,346 respondents. 20x email list income correlation. Amazon as top revenue source declining from 91% (2023) to 83% (2025). 38% fully in KU, 30% fully wide. Audio Publishers Association 2024 / Author's Republic 2026 Report — U.S. audiobook revenue $2.22B in 2024, +13% YOY. Projected $13.3B by 2030. AI narration grew 36% YOY, now 23% of new releases. Note on survey methodology: The ALLi survey skews toward serious, active indie authors — meaning its median likely overrepresents committed career authors compared to the broader population. The Authors Guild survey is broader and includes all publishing types. Both are self-reported. Use in context.   Links: Conspire Con [https://marturiapub.com/conspire-con/]  Conspire Planner  [https://marturiapub.com/conspire-planner/] Publisher Rocket [https://publisherrocket.cartknox.com/buy-rocket?aff=441] Worksheet PDF [https://mailchi.mp/c0ab22e32b9a/gc2x2zjtjb]