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 earnings
• Email list effectiveness and list size correlation
• Marketing tactics ranked by effectiveness (promo sites, Facebook ads, BookBub, lead magnets, etc.)
• Packaging: covers, editing, blurbs, and why investment matters
• Direct sales: how many authors are doing it and who sees the most benefit
• Retailer breakdown: Amazon dominance, in-person sales surprises, Kobo/Apple performance
• Overall author sentiment: hopeful, tired, motivated, overwhelmed
• Communities and resources authors rely on most

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.
© 2025 Written Word Media, Inc. All rights reserved.