Podcast · 142 episodes

The Writer's
Authority Podcast

Long, candid conversations with the people who actually write, edit, design, and market the books you're reading. We don't do 12-minute interview snippets. Sit down, put your headphones on, stay for an hour.

  • 142 episodes
  • Bi-weekly
  • 45–70 min each
  • Free · all platforms
Latest episodes

Recent
conversations.

  • Ep 142
    Jan 2026 · 62 min

    "I ghosted my own name" — a top NYT bestseller on what it's like to write as someone else

    The pseudonymous author behind 4 NYT bestsellers breaks silence on the craft, the contracts, and the strange emotional toll of writing in voices that aren't yours.

  • Ep 141
    Jan 2026 · 55 min

    Designing for the thumbnail — a cover designer's actual workflow

    Chip Kidd's protégé walks through 4 covers from blank canvas to Amazon-ready, including the rejected directions. The thumbnail test will change how you think about book design.

  • Ep 140
    Dec 2025 · 71 min

    The economics of a bestseller — where the money actually comes from

    An open-book conversation with a finance author whose #1 launch earned $2.1M in 90 days — and only 18% of it was Amazon royalties.

  • Ep 139
    Dec 2025 · 48 min

    "I almost quit after chapter 2" — mental health while writing a book

    A candid conversation with three founders about the parts of book authorship nobody talks about publicly.

  • Ep 138
    Dec 2025 · 58 min

    Why narration now matters more than ever

    Audiobook revenue hit $2B in 2025. We talk to a top Audible narrator about the craft, the contracts, and why the right voice can make or break a launch.

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Sponsor the show

We take 2–3 sponsors per quarter. Integrated, host-read, 60-second mid-roll. 30k+ downloads per episode, 60%+ completion rate. Email podcast@pookybooks.com for the media kit.