Episode 162: Strategies to Navigate the Book Publishing Industry

In this episode, Jodi is joined by literary agent and book author Lucinda Halpern. As they discuss Lucinda’s book, Get Signed, Jodi and Lucinda discuss critical elements of book launching, including emphasizing the supremacy of an email list over social media for marketing impact. They also talk about the merits of traditional versus self-publishing, the necessity of providing practical value in business books, and the essential mindset work involved in writing. Lucinda shares her journey from intending to self-publish to securing a traditional book deal, underlining the importance of networking, strategic planning, and evolving one’s career for long-term success.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Transitioned from marketing to successful literary agent.

03:47 Growing company, female CEO diversifies during pandemic.

09:00 Challenges of writing a book and business.

10:29 Shift to higher gear with traditional publishing.

15:18 Don't self-publish if you have potential.

18:34 Evolution of career through empathy and success.

22:15 Email list crucial for successful book launch.

24:01 Immediate incentives key for selling books online.

27:04 Book about getting published, being your own advocate.

31:10 Seek unique, reader-facing content for standing out.

35:25 Recommend "Buy Back Your Time" and time management.

38:43 Explore book publishing with the Author Entrepreneurs Lab.

Keywords:

email list for book launch, book marketing strategies, pre-order incentives, frustrations in publishing industry, eliminating gatekeeping for authors, pitching a book, reader perspective for book writers, practical value in business books, traditional publishing vs self-publishing, importance of book distribution, evolution of book projects, writing mindset, vulnerability in book writing, perennial bestsellers, streamlining business processes, delegation for business owners, time auditing, right amount of people in business, self-promotion challenges, understanding traditional publishing, pivoting in publishing process, personal stories in books, end reader value, standing out in the book market, author website and social media, seeking expert help for authors, timing for writing a book, agent and editor interest, time management for entrepreneurs, entrepreneur book writing benefits, Lucinda Halpern literary agent

Resources Mentioned:

Company of One by Paul Jarvis

Free Time by Jenny Blake
Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell
Ready Set Write Challenge: www.jodibrandoneditorial.com/readysetwrite

About Our Guest:

Lucinda Halpern is a literary agent with over 15 years experience, and the founder of Lucinda Literary, based in New York. Prior to founding her agency, she worked in the Publicity division of HarperCollins, where she assisted on the media campaign for Freakonomics among other New York Times bestsellers. She later worked as a marketing consultant for Gretchen Rubin (The Happiness Project), before launching her career as an agent. She has worked with all major publishers, including Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, Hachette, and Scholastic, and currently represents New York Times and internationally best-selling authors in the categories of business, personal growth, psychology, narrative nonfiction, and upmarket fiction. Her classes and coaching programs have been taught to hundreds of writers worldwide, and became the inspiration for Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author (Hay House/Penguin Random House; February 2024). Learn more at getsignedbook.com or lucindaliterary.com and follow Lucinda Halpern on Instagram and Twitter.