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📝 Join the Published Creator Skool community (At the time of this recording, it's free)

In this episode, I sit down with Chelsea Bennett, Education & Community Manager from Lulu.com, to explore how authors can think beyond “just a book” and turn their content into a full-fledged brand experience.

Whether you’re a coach, course creator, or speaker, this conversation is packed with strategies for turning your book into a powerful business tool—one that supports memberships, bundles, events, and more.

We cover:

• Why spiral-bound books (not available on Amazon!) are game-changers for workbooks
• How to use Lulu Direct to sell on your own website with full control
• Tactics to bundle your book with courses, coaching, and communities
• Using QR codes to grow your list, drive engagement, and build your ecosystem
• Kickstarter & fulfillment tips using Lulu’s Order Import Tool
• When and why to use ISBNs, and how to avoid common mistakes
• How to sell internationally without managing inventory

🔥 Bonus Insight:
Your book isn’t the final product—it’s the entry point into your brand and your world.

🎁 Mentioned in this episode:

• Lulu Pricing Calculator: https://www.lulu.com/pricing
• Lulu Direct (Shopify/Wix/Woo integration)
• Free interior templates for planners, journals, and notebooks
• Order Import Tool for bulk/kickstarter fulfillment
• Book a Monetization Mapping Call (includes a free Bestseller Impact Assessment)

🎧 Listen + Watch:
→ Watch The Episode on YouTube (includes a comprehensive and detailed list of resources mentioned)

Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text

**Join The Published Creator Skool Community:**
https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767/about

Take my FREE Bestseller Impact Assessment
https://publishedandthriving.com/bestseller-impact-assessment

What if you could turn your book idea into a six-figure Kickstarter campaign?

In this interview, author and marketer Josh Jenne breaks down the exact funnel that helped him raise over $202,000 to launch his fantasy book series, without relying on AI-generated art, and with a razor-sharp marketing strategy.

You’ll learn:

Why concept is king — and how to position yours

How Josh used Reddit, Facebook, and Discord to build momentum

Why he spent over $30K on Facebook ads (and how he knew it was working)

The controversial truth about using AI art for books

How to build a pre-launch email list that converts

The one mindset shift that separates authors who succeed on Kickstarter from those who don’t

📚 This is required watching for any author, artist, or creator thinking about crowdfunding their next book.

👉 Watch Part 1 here: https://youtu.be/7xhJpwMiQAY

**🎯 Resources Mentioned:**

Josh Jenne’s latest Kickstarter:
**(Warning: NSFW - Content may be considered Not Safe For Work)** https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/leopardprintpress/pinup-monster-girls-55e?ref=5ce39o

Lulu Print-on-Demand: https://www.lulu.com
Jellop: https://jellop.com/
BackerKit: https://www.backerkit.com/

Artist Rosa Mendez: https://www.instagram.com/_nubesrosas_

💬 Enjoyed the episode?

Give it a 👍, subscribe for more interviews like this, and drop a comment with your biggest takeaway. Have questions about launching your own Kickstarter campaign? I’d love to hear them!

Got questions, ideas, thoughts on the episode? Send us a Text

Join The Published Creator Skool Community
https://www.skool.com/thepublishedcreator-2767/about

Take my FREE Bestseller Impact Assessment
https://publishedandthriving.com/bestseller-impact-assessment

In this episode of The Published Creator Podcast, I sit down with author and creative entrepreneur Josh Jenne, who successfully raised $202,000 on Kickstarter to fund his beautifully illustrated fantasy book for the Dungeons & Dragons community.

**Note: (this is part 1 of a two-part interview series)**

👉 Watch Part 2 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7DoUIh9M8Y

If you've ever wondered whether crowdfunding your book could actually work, especially without a massive audience, this conversation is for you. Josh shares the exact strategy he used to validate his idea, build momentum before launch, and structure his Kickstarter campaign for maximum conversions.

🔥 What you'll learn in this episode:

How Josh went from zero audience to $202K in book sales

The importance of concept validation before you launch

Why building an email list and community is critical for Kickstarter success

How to use platforms like Lulu for fulfillment and print-on-demand

The role of pricing, bundles, and “whale tiers” in campaign growth

Why your day one launch matters more than you think

The difference between publishing on Amazon vs launching with Kickstarter

Whether you’re writing a novel, creating a graphic novel, or launching a tabletop gaming guide, this is a masterclass in self-publishing and Kickstarter strategy.

🎯 Resources Mentioned:

Josh Jenne’s latest Kickstarter:
**(Warning: NSFW - Content subject may be considered Not Safe For Work)** https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/leopardprintpress/pinup-monster-girls-55e?ref=5ce39o

Lulu Print-on-Demand: https://www.lulu.com
Jellop: https://jellop.com/
BackerKit: https://www.backerkit.com/

Artist Rosa Mendez: https://www.instagram.com/_nubesrosas_

💬 Enjoyed the episode?

Give it a 👍, subscribe for more interviews like this, and drop a comment with your biggest takeaway.

Have questions about launching your own Kickstarter campaign? I’d love to hear them!