Best Lapides Podcasts (2025)

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Ep 150: Author & Book Marketing in 2026 with Jenn Hanson-dePaula 1:08:59

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44m ago1:08:59

1:08:59

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Episode 150 provides the reset many authors quietly crave as Jenn Hanson-dePaula returns to help us modify (if not outright rebuild) our expectations, systems, and perspectives when it comes to book sales. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: • How to implement a "2 sales a day" strategy. • Becoming "pro…

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Ep 149: Favorite Reads of 2025 26:14

2d ago26:14

26:14

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! In this episode, I share 8 books that reshaped how I parent, relax, and think about storytelling in 2025. Books: Just Do Nothing (for Parents) by Joanna Hardis The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram What Happened to Lucy Vale by Lauren Oliver Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld Anna Karenin…

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Ep 148: 5 Self-Publishing Mistakes First-Time Authors Make 24:14

9d ago24:14

24:14

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! In this episode, we walk through 5 mistakes that quietly undermine first-time self-publishers and show how to fix each one with practical, doable steps. We start by tightening your audience with a one-sentence framework that keeps every chapter aligned to a clear promise. From there, we …

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Ep 147: 5 Editing Rules that Instantly Improve Any Nonfiction Manuscript 16:38

16d ago16:38

16:38

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! If you’re writing a nonfiction book or memoir and your draft feels messy, scattered, or “not quite ready,” this episode will help you clean it up fast. I’m sharing 5 editing rules that instantly improve any nonfiction manuscript — the same rules I use to help guide the authors whose manu…

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Ep 146: I Wanted To Be Wonderful with Lihi Lapid 31:25

1M ago31:25

31:25

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Wanting life to be wonderful and wanting to be wonderful aren’t the same thing, and that gap is where today’s conversation lives. Israeli journalist and author Lihi Lapid joins me to talk about motherhood’s messy truths, the pressure to be “more” than "good enough," and the writing choic…

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Ep 145: Quick Wins For Self-Publishing Authors 31:06

1M ago31:06

31:06

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Today I'm sharing 5 quick wins that make self-publishing feel simple, not scary, and show how small moves can build sustainable momentum. By the end of these 5 steps, you will have: • locked in a clear (and easy to pronounce over and over again) working title • chosen a credible publishi…

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Ep 144: What I'd Tell You About Book Writing (If I Wasn't Afraid You'd Block Me) 30:38

2M ago30:38

30:38

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Ever felt like everyone else has the secret playbook for publishing while you’re just winging it? Same. In this episode, I spill everything I'd tell you as the author of six books (and having published 50+ for others) if I wasn't afraid you'd unfollow or outright block me. I'll get real …

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Ep 143: From Starbucks Barista to Thriller Novelist with Julie Doar 36:57

2M ago36:57

36:57

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! A single question on a cold Hudson Valley walk: What if there’s a body in that hunter’s tent? sparked the debut thriller The Gallagher Place by Julie Doar. In this episode, we chat about how she wrote the first draft by instinct, then shifted gears into precision: charting dates, timelin…

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Ep 142: Writing, Endings & Publishing Myths with Novelist Turner Gable Kahn 40:45

2M ago40:45

40:45

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! What happens when a traditionally published debut novel suddenly appears on Kindle Unlimited while still showing wide? That unexpected twist opens into a bigger conversation about publishing decisions (and what’s actually within an author’s control). In this episode, Turner Gable Kahn, a…

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165: Sorry, Not Sorry 43:52

2M ago43:52

43:52

A never-aired Yom Kippur episode from before the war that asks what does it mean to be sorry? Our end song is Lu Yehi ("Let It Be") performed by HaGashash HaHiver. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. Se…

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Ep 141: From Fantasy to Memoir with Betsy Cornwell 41:32

3M ago41:32

41:32

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Maid meets Under the Tuscan Sun! Betsy Cornwell built her career writing young adult fantasy, but her newest book tells an entirely different story. In this episode, Betsy opens up about her memoir, Ring of Salt, which chronicles her escape from an abusive marriage and her creation of a …

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Ep 140: Writing Tips from Bestselling Author Jane Hamilton 44:03

3M ago44:03

44:03

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Most authors have as big a stack (if not bigger) of abandoned drafts as they do books that actually make it into the world. Jane Hamilton—bestselling author of The Book of Ruth and A Map of the World and two-time Oprah Book Club pick—is refreshingly open about that reality. Her newest no…

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Ep 139: How Indie Authors Can Shield Their Book from Copyright Infringement 28:56

3M ago28:56

28:56

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Copyright. Piracy. LibGen. AI scraping. If just reading that list makes you want to hide under your desk with a bottle of...something...you’re not alone. Indie authors are being forced to navigate a landscape that feels murkier by the day, and most of us didn’t exactly sign up to become …

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164: Wartime Diaries - Pazit Noyberger and Radwan Abu Arara 22:13

3M ago22:13

22:13

In the messy tension of war, Pazit had to make a life-or-death decision for someone else. The end song is "Hymn to the Soul" by LAOR. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i…

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Ep 138: How to Choose Best Kindle Keywords for Your Book (Guide for Indie Authors) (2025) 32:42

3M ago32:42

32:42

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! There are more than 42 million books on Amazon right now. So how in the world do you help your book stand out? One word: keywords. Think of keywords as Amazon’s GPS. They tell the algorithm exactly where your book belongs and who should see it. However, Amazon only gives you seven keywor…

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Ep 137: Amazon Ads for Authors Made Simple - FAQs 36:53

4M ago36:53

36:53

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Amazon ads don’t have to be complicated (or eat up your entire marketing budget) to actually sell books. In this episode, I’m sharing my approach to making Amazon ads simple(r) without endless spreadsheets, confusing dashboards, or the kind of budget that makes you wonder if you should’v…

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Ep 136: Writing a Novel While Raising Kids with Jill Beissel 31:19

4M ago31:19

31:19

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Writers dream of the day they’ll hold their finished book, but few warn you about how intense the editing phase can be. In this episode, debut novelist Jill Beissel gets real about the messy, magical process of turning a rough draft into a polished novel readers will love. Jill’s upcomin…

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Ep 135: Q&A: Kirkus Reviews, Writing with AI, and Bestseller Status 24:10

4M ago24:10

24:10

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Ever feel like everyone has some secret book marketing hack? Most of those “shortcuts” are just expensive detours. In this episode, I’m calling out three distractions that keep indie authors spinning their wheels. First up: Kirkus Reviews. Are they legit? Yes. Are they worth the price fo…

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Ep 134: Crafting Complex Narratives with Lauren Oliver 30:52

5M ago30:52

30:52

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! If you’re the kind of person who devours psychological thrillers but also wants to be emotionally sucker-punched (in the best way), Lauren Oliver’s What Happened to Lucy Vale needs to be on your radar. In this episode, Lauren takes us behind the scenes of what might be her most structura…

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163: Iran to Israel, Tehran to Tel Aviv 16:17

5M ago16:17

16:17

In the middle of a war, we reached out to the other side. They answered. Note: The content in this episode was written by real people. To protect the anonymity of participants, some audio voices were produced by AI. Episode art credit: Reuters. The end song is Dror Yikra ("Proclaim Freedom") performed by Mike Rauss, Yael Dagon, and Ardavan Hatami. …

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Ep 133: Living Proof with Tiffany Graham Charkosky 36:53

5M ago36:53

36:53

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! In this episode, I sit down with Tiffany Graham Charkosky to talk about her forthcoming memoir, Living Proof (October 21, Little A), a book written and shaped over years of writing and rewriting. At just 11 years old, Tiffany lost her mother. For decades, she believed it was an unexplain…

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Ep 132: What Nobody Tells You About Making Your Book "Take Off" 23:58

5M ago23:58

23:58

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! If you’ve been chasing the magical marketing strategy that will finally make your book “take off,” welcome to the club. In this episode, I’m addressing the question nearly every author eventually asks: What does it actually take to make a book successful? Spoiler: there’s no guaranteed f…

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Ep 131: The Paper Palace and Beyond with Miranda Cowley Heller 56:25

5M ago56:25

56:25

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Miranda Cowley Heller's father was a book editor; her grandfather edited Jack Kerouac and was friends with Hemingway. That legacy, while inspiring, left her frozen when it came to pursuing her own writing. Instead, she built a thriving career in publishing and TV, eventually heading up d…

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Bonus: 90 Seconds 6:05

5M ago6:05

6:05

Just a moment to decide what's most important. The end song is Od Chozer HaNigun ("The Melody Returns") by Chava Alberstein. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio…

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Ep 130: When Fiction Meets AI with Lori Gold 47:01

5M ago47:01

47:01

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Author Lori Gold is pulling back the curtain on publishing, in both this interview and her newest novel, Romantic Friction. INSIDE THE EPISODE • Yet another reason bestseller lists aren’t what you think (I didn't know this until I read her book!) • A great tip for handing reviews without…

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162: Israel to Iran, Tel Aviv to Tehran 11:34

5M ago11:34

11:34

We thought the people of Iran should get the chance to hear the voices of regular Israelis, describing daily life in this war within a war. And we want to hear from Iranians too. What is your daily life like right now? What do you want us to know? Send us your voice notes on social media, Whatsapp (+972-58-540-8822), or Signal (@JayLevi.59). Episod…

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Ep 129: From LinkedIn to Penguin Random House with Gigi Robinson 37:39

6M ago37:39

37:39

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! What started as sharing her story online about living with chronic illness turned into a book deal with Penguin Random House. In this episode, Gigi Robinson shares how she leveraged consistency, relationships, and a clear vision to go from content creator to published author. Here’s what…

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34: The Hasbara Hero 33:35

6M ago33:35

33:35

While all kinds of very unwanted things are flying to Israel from Iran these days, we wanted to remind you of someone wonderful who came here from Iran. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com…

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161: Wartime Diaries - Amir Ofer 17:11

6M ago17:11

17:11

An unlikely intergenerational friendship between two soldiers tasked with freeing civilian hostages. The end song is HaCholmim Achar Hashemesh ("Those Who Dream of the Sun") performed by David Lavi and Tamar Philosof. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head t…

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Ep 128: Book Publicity with Emily Florence 1:03:19

6M ago1:03:19

1:03:19

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! This week, I’m joined by publicist Emily Florence, and we’re talking about how to set publicity goals before you start chasing them, why a Today Show appearance might not sell nearly as many books as you think, and how to make your marketing feel less like shouting into the void and more…

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40: “The Wall” Part I – Operation Hulda 44:44

6M ago44:44

44:44

In honour of the 58th anniversary of soldiers in war running to help, we bring you a story of twisting journeys and changing identities. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor…

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Ep 127: On Writing...Everything, with Melissa de la Cruz 43:36

6M ago43:36

43:36

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz has published nearly 80 books (yes, 80), and in this episode, she shares what it really takes to build and sustain a long-term writing career. From surviving the shifting tides of publishing to protecting what gets you "in the mood" to write, she sha…

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35: Whither Thou Goest 1:08:31

6M ago1:08:31

1:08:31

Ruth the Moabite said she'd follow her mother-in-law, Naomi, anywhere. That blind devotion has since made her an enduring symbol of loyalty, faith and determination. And, just in time for Shavuot, we're playing a favourite episode of ours from the vault. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelst…

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Ep 126: Murder on the Page with N.L. Blandford 44:44

7M ago44:44

44:44

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Thriller author N.L. Blandford isn't afraid to go dark—like, murder scene dark—and she absolutely loves it. In this episode, she talks about writing gritty thrillers with complex villains you’ll root for and recoil from. Natasha never planned to become an author. She just wanted to cross…

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Ep 125: The Business of Being a Writer with Jane Friedman 56:57

7M ago56:57

56:57

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! In this no-fluff episode, publishing powerhouse Jane Friedman speaks to the aspects of writing and publishing that every aspiring author needs to hear about. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT: The myth of the full-time writer dream—and why your day job might be your secret weapon How to build an autho…

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Ep 124: From Attorney to Romance Author with Audrey Ingram 46:46

7M ago46:46

46:46

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! In this episode, author Audrey Ingram spills the tea on what inspired her newest novel, The Summer We Ran (coming June 3, 2025). Think: teenage love, political ambition, and a dual-timeline structure that spans 25 years and manages to hit you right in the gut and makes you think. We also…

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Ep 123: Reality TV and Romance with Neely Tubati-Alexander 45:40

7M ago45:40

45:40

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! She’s back! One of my all-time favorite guests, Neely Tubati-Alexander, returns to talk about her third novel, Courtroom Drama. As always, she brings a refreshing, no-nonsense take on staying creative and productive in the unpredictable world of publishing. INSIDE THE EPISODE 📚 Why Neely…

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Ep 122: From Nanny Diaries to The Best We Could Hope For, A Conversation with Nicola Kraus 51:17

8M ago51:17

51:17

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! What happens when your first novel becomes a global sensation, and your next one takes nearly a decade? In this episode, bestselling author Nicola Kraus (of The Nanny Diaries fame) gets delightfully honest about what it really takes to write, edit, and publish a book in today’s ever-shif…

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Ep 121: Lights, Camera, Book Launch with Noël Stark 48:52

8M ago48:52

48:52

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! This week, I sat down with debut author Noël Stark, who went from wrangling chaos behind the scenes in the TV and film world to wrangling words on the page, often in 15-minute bursts. Her novel, Love Camera Action, flips the script on Hollywood romance by spotlighting the crew, not the s…

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Ep 120: Writing a Novel (While Your House Falls Apart) with A. Morini 50:51

8M ago50:51

50:51

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! What do a flooded house, a nine-month (and still going) renovation, and a debut novel have in common? Angelika Morini. In this episode, Angelika shares what it actually looked like to finish her first novel, Do You See Me Now?—while living in chaos (read: house stripped to the studs). We…

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160: The Hebrew Hobbit - A Passover Special 1:20:54

8M ago1:20:54

1:20:54

There and Back Again: the story of a small group of Israelis who - more than half a century ago - experienced their own exodus from Egypt, and their own journey from captivity to freedom. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Times of Isr…

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Ep 119: Inside Hybrid Publishing with Naren Aryal 50:10

8M ago50:10

50:10

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! You’ve probably heard the phrase “your book is your business card.” While it sounds cute for a Canva graphic, it totally downplays the blood, sweat, and editing tears that go into creating a book that actually matters. We’re not here for books that gather dust—we’re here for books that m…

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Ep 118: Jordan Roter on her Journey From TV Writer to Novelist 1:14:52

8M ago1:14:52

1:14:52

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Have you ever sat through a back-to-school night and thought, Wow, this could be a novel? Jordan Roter did—and then she actually wrote it. Moms Like Us (coming May 2025 from Little A) hilariously unpacks the cutthroat social hierarchy of LA moms, complete with all the messy, cringey, and…

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Ep 117: Unconventional Ways to Promote Your Book (Without Breaking the Bank) 29:16

9M ago29:16

29:16

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Ever walked past one of those cute Little Free Libraries and thought, Wonder if I could sneak my book in there? Spoiler alert: you totally can. And that’s just one of the brilliantly simple, low-cost book marketing strategies I dish out in this episode—ideas so simple many authors never …

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159: Wartime Diaries - Oran Almog 18:59

9M ago18:59

18:59

In the impossible arithmetic of hostage transfers, how does it feel to be told that the terrorist who shattered your world will walk free? The end song is Achshav Tov ("Good Now") by Gilad Segev. Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and by signing up for our newsletter at israelstory.org/newsletter/. For more, head to our site or The Time…

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Ep 116: Beta Readers, Plot Twists, and Audiobook Magic with Nanda Reddy 53:35

9M ago53:35

53:35

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! This week, I had a really fun conversation with Nanda Reddy about her journey from "secret writer" to novelist (her debut novel, A Girl Within a Girl Within a Girl, just hit the USA Today bestseller list!). Inside this Episode: Writing without being "formally trained" (read: no MFA) and …

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Ep 115: The Tortoise Strategy-How Slow and Steady Wins the Publishing Race 28:10

9M ago28:10

28:10

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Publishing a book requires long-term strategy, patience, and flexibility, not magic bullets or gimmicky shortcuts. The long game is the shortcut when it comes to building a sustainable author career. In this episode, I answer some of the questions that have come my way recently via email…

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Ep 114: Getting Amazon Reviews That Sell More Books (The No-Cringe Guide) 38:39

9M ago38:39

38:39

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! If the thought of asking for Amazon reviews makes you break out in hives, you’re not alone. But here’s the truth: reviews are gold for indie authors. They help boost visibility, credibility, and—most importantly—book sales. The good news? You don’t have to beg, bribe, or feel weird about…

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Ep 113: Amazon Book Sales: What’s Working (and What’s Not) with Dave Chesson 1:09:00

10M ago1:09:00

1:09:00

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! Keywords: they either fascinate you or they're the bane of your existence. For me, it's the second. Which is why I'm so excited to bring you this episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast with guest Dave Chesson, founder of Kindlepreneur, where we do an in-depth exploration of t…

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Ep 112: Keyword Tips for Getting More Amazon Book Sales 31:12

10M ago31:12

31:12

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions! One can easily overlook that little piece of the Amazon upload process where you specify 7 keywords related to your title. After all, who wants to filter through the millions of options to find 7 that are most likely to ensure your book is seen by the readers actively looking for it? It …