In this episode, Julie Satow and Alice Robb welcome five-time author Leigh Stein. From high-school dropout to memoirist, book coach, branding expert and BookTok enthusiast, Stein has experience with virtually every segment of the publishing industry. She talks about how she got hired by the New Yorker without a college degree; what she learned from her first flop; why she decided not to become an agent; and how authors can take control of their book’s trajectory—years after the pub date.

Ashley Alberico is the Sales and Marketing Director for the Crown Publishing Group, a subset of Penguin Random House. In this episode, Ashley discusses what happens behind the scenes in sales and marketing meetings, and how experts boil down your book to pithy marketing jargon that appeals to booksellers and readers.

Having worked with the likes of Michelle Obama and Ina Garten, Ashley explains how Amazon categorizes books, the difference between Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and what you should tell friends when they ask you "Where should I buy your book?" (The answer: it's complicated!) Ashley also dishes about the role of authors in the marketing and sales process, and the calendar for when important decisions are made. Also, learn practical advice like the difference between announced print runs and actual print runs, and what can of ads or publicity actually sell books.

Dive deep into the world of agenting with our guest, Cherise Fisher, who shares her unique insights from a 25-year career in publishing.

In this episode, Cherise delves into the relationship between a writer and editor, from page to bookstore shelf, dispelling common misconceptions, like whether an agent “edits” a book proposal, their role in the business side of writing, and sharing her do’s and don’ts for authors. Plus, find out how she became an agent to New York Times bestsellers, like Sadiqa Johnson and Tia Williams, and what attributes she looks for in clients.

She also talks about her career, from graduating college to her first job in publishing, how she became an acquiring editor at Simon & Schuster, and eventually Editor in Chief of Plume, an imprint of Penguin Random House. And what prompted her to change her career trajectory and leave the editorial side of publishing to become a literary agent.

In addition to sharing personal anecdotes and inside stories, Cherise dispels common misconceptions in the non-fiction market and discusses the economics of publishing. Learn the various strategies publishers utilize to maximize profit amidst slim margins, what are 'comp titles', and the calculated exaggeration of print runs, not to mention what it really means to ‘earn out’ your advance. If you're a seasoned author, an aspiring writer, or even just a curious reader, this episode will enrich your perception of the book publishing world.