In this episode of the Book Deal Podcast, hosts Madeline Cleary and Tina Strachan interview Caitlin Lawless, the publicity manager at New South. Caitlin shares her extensive experience in the publishing industry, offering invaluable advice to aspiring authors. Topics include the difference between marketing and publicity, building a relationship with your publicist, and preparing for a successful book launch. Caitlin also discusses her journey in the industry, the importance of persistence, and tips for leveraging social media and local festivals to enhance book visibility.

00:00 Introduction to the Book Deal Podcast
00:40 Meet Caitlin Lawless: Publicity Manager and Author
02:07 Caitlin's Journey in the Publishing Industry
06:44 Understanding Marketing and Publicity
10:31 Building Relationships with Publicists
20:33 The Role of ARCs in Publicity Campaigns
24:18 High Profile Campaigns and Their Impact
26:43 The Role of Social Media in Publicity
28:26 Optimizing Your Online Presence
30:52 Creating Buzz as an Aspiring Author
32:58 The Importance of Community and Networking
38:27 Effective Pre-Order Strategies
41:14 Navigating Festival Programs
45:02 Final Tips for a Successful Campaign

Links from the episode:
NewSouth Books

Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

You can find out more about Tina and Madeleine and follow their journeys here:
Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author

In this episode, Tina and Madeline discuss a range of topics from managing time on a busy Sunday to attending the HarperCollins Author Day. They delve into the latest trends in the book market, particularly the resurgence of YA fiction. Madeline shares her recent experience of imposing a self-ban from Instagram to improve focus and creativity, and how it has positively impacted her writing. They also talk about their current writing projects - Tina's multiple works in progress and Madeline's focus on character development. The episode provides insights into the creative processes, struggles, and strategies of authors, offering useful tips for aspiring writers on managing character passivity and developing strong storylines.

00:00 Introduction and Sunday Plans
01:27 HarperCollins Author Day Experience
03:11 Instagram Ban and Digital Detox
09:35 Writing Progress and Work in Progress
18:21 Discovering New Writing Techniques
18:58 Visualizing Stories Like Movies
21:25 Character Development Challenges
22:49 Writing Tips for Aspiring Authors
23:30 Exploring Character Questionnaires
25:48 Juggling Multiple Writing Projects
26:56 Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places
30:18 Engaging with the Writing Community
31:00 Conclusion and Future Plans

Links mentioned in this episode:
Curtis Brown Creative Character Development course
Masterclass: Writing Character Development
Brooke Vitale's Character Development Questionnaire

Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

You can find out more about Tina and Madeleine and follow their journeys here:
Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author

In part two of the interview with Samuel Bernard, a literary agent from Zeitgeist Literary Agency, he shares insights on landing an agent, the importance of polished manuscripts, and the role of timing in the publishing process. Samuel discusses his preferences and current interests in genres, accessibility for aspiring writers, and how timing and market trends can impact the chances of getting published. The episode also touches on the advantages and challenges of the agent-author relationship post-book deal, as well as advice on genre identification and emerging market trends, culminating in a rapid-fire segment addressing practical questions from listeners.

00:00 Introduction to the Interview Series
01:29 Samuel Bernard's Role and Preferences
03:19 How Aspiring Writers Can Reach Out
05:35 Rapid Fire Questions
09:20 Trends and Timing in Publishing
13:04 Genre Identification and Crossovers
15:18 Agent-Author Relationship Dynamics
27:23 Final Tips for Aspiring Writers

Links mentioned in this episode:
Zeitgeist Literary Agency
Bad Crime Writers Festival
Sunshine Coast Hinterland Writers Festival
Brisbane Writers Festival

Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

You can find out more about Tina and Madeleine and follow their journeys here:
Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author