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Ever on top of things, we FINALLY got to talking about the Breaking Bad finale. Find out what we thought.

First, though, because nothing says Christmas like Dave, our resident goth in a tree regaled us with a reading of his son’s Christmas list.

The guys then talked about some other Christmas-related stuff.

Then we talked Breaking Bad, so if you’ve not yet seen the finale, you’ll want to avoid the last bit of the show.

Until next week…

Check out the video below:

If you would like join in the discussion and leave a comment go to www.BetterOffUndeadShow.com

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As of the day this episode goes live, we’re officially just one week away from the launch of our comprehensive self-publishing bible Write. Publish. Repeat: The No-Luck Guide to Building a Self-Publishing Career. In this episode, appropriately, we talk about how we’re launching this book and how that launch compares to the last proper “launch” Sean and Dave did — the Yesterday’s Gone Season One launch two years ago.

We talk about how we don’t normally “launch” our books, how we may in 2014, and how fiction launches differ from nonfiction launches. We also talk a lot about networking, and how you can do it very wrong and look like a shitbag, versus doing it right and just being a cool person.

You can check out the video version here:

If you would like join in the discussion and leave a comment go to www.selfpublishingpodcast.com

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Today we opened with a brief conversation about our TV viewing habits.

Dave then updated us on how he helped a friend moved. Yes, Dave went outside. And helped someone!

Dave talked weight loss, with Sean saying he was going to try and GAIN weight to catch up to Dave just so he can help Dave lose weight. Johnny didn’t want to lose his beautiful abs, though.

Then the guys responded to recent comments on the podcasts from YouTube from listeners saying Dave is good looking. Clearly, we’re big with blind listeners!

If you can’t get enough of Dave’s sexiness, watch the video below:

If you would like join in the discussion and leave a comment go to www.BetterOffUndeadShow.com

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This week, we talked about an article we read about censorship by major booksellers and the corresponding self-censorship that some authors are doing to keep their books visible. We also talked about the “chilling effect” that occurs when authors start to watch what they say.

We also had two requests this week, for those of you who are awesome enough to be our listeners and want to support us:

1. We need to get the first in our co-authored series The Future of Sex with Lexi Maxxwell price-matched as free, and we need your help to do it. Please go here to see it on Amazon, then scroll down to the “product details” (below the row of “customers also bought” images), and click the final text link in that section, just above the reviews… the one that says “tell us about a lower price.” Then fill it out and give Amazon this link, which is the same product for free on B&N.

2. If you have a website, a podcast, or access to a group of writers on social media and would be willing to help us spread the word about our “how to build a career in self publishing” book Write. Publish. Repeat. when it launches on December 5-6, we’d love to send you a beta copy for review. If writing such a review (or generally getting the word out) would be appropriate with your audience, please just contact us and let us know!

And THANKS!

You can view the video version here:

If you would like join in the discussion and leave a comment go to www.selfpublishingpodcast.com

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This week, Dave digs deep into his butt to figure out what the hell is wrong with himself?

The answer: everything. But the problem isn’t really Dave so much as almost EVERY ONE else.

Find out why going out with Dave is a pure “joy.”

You can check out the video version here:

If you would like join in the discussion and leave a comment go to www.BetterOffUndeadShow.com

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Our main topic this week was growth hacking, but before we got down to it we hit a few updates:

• We announced the winners of the Kobo Aura HD drawings: Adam Haviaras and Carolyn Jewel. Mark from Kobo will contact you directly, so look for an email. Congrats, Adam and Carolyn, and thanks, Kobo!

• We answered three voicemails: about redrafting, our bios and catalogs, getting permission for repurposing stories, and dealing with bad reviews.

• I (Johnny) was contacted by a big-name person about film and TV rights for Fat Vampire. I’m not allowed to get excited and we all kind of doubt anything will come from it, but it’s awesome for ALL of us (including you out there listening) because it means Hollywood is paying attention to indies.

The rest of the show was dedicated to the idea of “growth hacking,” which is the kind of marketing that all of us should be employing to build our businesses. Growth hacking focuses on creating an ideal product-to-market “fit” (creating the best product for your people), marketing in small-budget ways that are innovative and outside the box to those ideal people, and always tweaking to get more out of less.

This is a topic you should be paying attention to, so listen in!

Here’s the video version of the show:

If you would like join in the discussion and leave a comment go to www.selfpublishingpodcast.com

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This week, we had a very interesting guest, Ari, whose last name we’re not using in the blog post to avoid anyone from her past finding her (as if anyone watches this show).

We talked about sexy accents and Ari’s past growing up in a cult, and escaping in order to pursue her dream of writing.

Ari then asked us questions about our greatest fears and the worst movies we’ve ever seen.

We also got into yet another argument on genres.

You can watch the video here:

If you would like join in the discussion and leave a comment go to www.BetterOffUndeadShow.com

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This week, we talked about theme. I’m totally phoning it in on these show notes because my head about exploded writing our forthcoming self-publishing bible, Write. Publish. Repeat, so basically all you’re getting in this one is that we talked about theme. So, you know, listen and stuff.

Here’s the video version of the show:

If you would like join in the discussion and leave a comment go to www.selfpublishingpodcast.com

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Our guest today was Leonard Kinsey, whose niche might just be the most awesome I’ve ever seen: edgy, gritty Disney-based books. For instance, his book The Dark Side of Disney is all about how to have a very “adult” time at Disney. Adult. Ahem. If you know what we mean.

But the main reason he was in to talk to us was about hacking Lightning Source to do cooler print books than Createspace can do — hardbacks with dust jackets, superior color, etc.

This discussion was very involved, so just listen to the show for more.

We also talked about a few other things:

• I (Johnny) gave a report of the creative launch of Fat Vampire 6, via promoting the 4-book Fat Vampire Value Meal for 99 cents. Short version: it’s going well, and I’ll report more later.

• Sean and I announced our “secret Beam project,” a Malcolm Gladwell-type quasi-nonfiction book written by a fictional author named Sterling Gibson writing from the year 2097. The title is Plugged: How The Beam and Hyperconnectivity Changed the Way We Think and it’ll blow your mind if you’re a fan of The Beam. We actually consider Plugged to be The Beam’s season 1.5.

• Lastly, we gave an update on the so-called “SPP book,” which now has a name thanks to listener Shannon Morgan: Write. Publish. Repeat. There will be a tagline to come, and we’re planning to release it on December 5th. The short version is that this book is going to be the most comprehensive guide we can write about the business of becoming a successful self-publisher, from A to Z.

Here’s the video version of the show:

If you would like join in the discussion and leave a comment go to www.selfpublishingpodcast.com

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This week’s show started off with Sean sticking something phallic in his mouth, which pretty much set the tone for another off the rails show.

We then had a return of:

What’s Up Dave’s Butt?

Dave went on a rant about voicemail.

Sean then pointed out Dave’s hypocrisy. Sean and Johnny then both had some stuff up their butts, too.

Then the guys talked about a recent story where Kobo yanked a bunch of books following some publicity involving offensive porn titles, and talked a bit about censorship.

Catch the video below, if you must:

If you would like join in the discussion and leave a comment go to www.BetterOffUndeadShow.com