#180. Student Spotlight: How Her Debut Novel Became An Amazon Bestseller With Margaret Mantor

Discover how a debut author turned her first novel into an Amazon #1 bestseller using strategic marketing tactics instead of relying on social media.

Meet Margaret Mantor, a science-fantasy romance author from Denver whose novel Air And Ashes hit Amazon's bestseller list one month after launch. Tune in to hear us talk about why giving away books for free can lead to more sales, how to use BookBub promotions and newsletter features to skyrocket your Amazon rankings, and why using social media to promote your book doesn’t always work.

Episode Highlights 

[03:45] Meet Margaret, a science-fantasy romance author from Denver

[05:03] Celebrating becoming an Amazon bestseller one month after launch

[05:51] How Margaret's high school story idea became an Amazon bestseller

[07:24] Working with a developmental editor and handling feedback

[13:35] The revision process: Beta readers, line editors, and proofreaders

[18:26] Why Margaret chose self-publishing vs. traditional publishing

[20:33] Book marketing strategies that actually worked without social media

[26:55] Key lessons learned and best advice for aspiring authors

[34:35] Looking ahead to book 2 and how it’s already better

If you’re an aspiring fiction author who wants to successfully self-publish your book (without using social media to market it), this episode is for you!

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Visit Margaret Mantor’s website
• Margaret Mantor on Instagram & TikTok
• Buy Air And Ashes by Margaret Mantor

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