Michael La Ronn is a bestselling author who has published over 100 books while maintaining a full-time corporate job and family life. After a near-death experience in 2012, he transformed from aspiring writer to prolific author, developing systematic approaches to productivity that he shares in his non-fiction books and YouTube channel. Michael writes primarily science fiction and fantasy featuring bold underdogs, and has built a substantial following through his Author Level Up YouTube channel with nearly 50,000 subscribers. His expertise lies in time management, dictation techniques, and maintaining consistent writing output through innovative productivity methods including mobile writing, visualization techniques, and strategic project switching.

In this episode:

• How a near-death experience in 2012 sparked his writing calling
• Managing 100+ books while working full-time and raising a family
• The three ways to manage time: add, edit, and delete
• Writing on mobile devices using Scrivener and Microsoft Word
• The power of switching between projects to avoid writer's block
• Visualization techniques for solving story problems
• Documentation-based outlining for pantsers who write by discovery
• Dictation workflows using voice recorders and AI transcription
• Using "Pikachu" as a dictation safe word for error correction
• Capturing story ideas religiously for 15 years in digital notebooks
• Building sustainable writing habits without burnout
• The Author Level Up YouTube channel and writing app tutorials

Resources mentioned:

• Scrivener app
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft OneNote
• Apple Notes
• Evernote
• ChatGPT and Claude
• Grammarly
• ProWritingAid
• ProsWrite (AI transcription software)
• Google Notebook
• Microsoft Excel
• Plotter

Book Recommendations:

• Be A Writing Machine by Michael La Ronn: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1985174480?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
• Be A Writing Machine 2.0 by Michael La Ronn: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMYYJ182?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
• How to Dictate a Book by Michael La Ronn: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HG55P5Q?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Connect with Michael La Ronn:

• Website: https://authorlevelup.com/
• Fiction website: https://www.michaellaronn.com/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/authorlevelup

Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest -

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Chris Benetti is the founder of Smart Author Media and a book funnel marketing expert who has sold over 55,000 books for his clients. Specializing in self-liquidating book funnels and Facebook advertising, Chris helps authors turn their books into profitable lead generation tools that feed into higher-ticket offers and services. His agency focuses exclusively on the Meta suite (Facebook and Instagram) and has generated over $750,000 in revenue for clients while spending $250,000 on ads. Chris's systematic approach combines detailed funnel strategy, conversion rate optimization, and creative testing to help authors build sustainable book-based businesses rather than just selling individual books.

In this episode:

• Understanding self-liquidating book funnels and how they pay for themselves
• Why books rarely make profit on their own and need strategic backend offers
• Building effective book sales pages with headlines, social proof, and bonuses
• Order bump strategies that convert 40-50% of book buyers
• Two-step order forms for lead capture and remarketing opportunities
• Upsell sequences that solve problems created by the book content
• Facebook advertising strategies focused on creative testing over targeting
• The ASCET framework for systematic ad testing and optimization
• Case study: Nigel Moore's 10X ROI with free book funnel strategy
• Why books should serve business purposes, not just generate book sales
• Conversion rate benchmarks and key metrics for funnel optimization
• The importance of having backup offers and multiple ad creatives ready

Resources mentioned:

• Smart Author Media free resource page: https://smartauthormedia.com/resources
• Meta advertising suite
• Two-step order form systems
• ChatGPT: https://openai.com/index/chatgpt/
• GoHighLevel: https://www.gohighlevel.com/
• Kartra: https://kartra.com/
• Kajabi: https://kajabi.com/
• ClickFunnels: https://www.clickfunnels.com/
• Book funnel templates
• Ad copy swipe files

Book Recommendations:

• Strategic business and systems books
• System distillation books

Connect with Chris Benetti:

• Website: https://smartauthormedia.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsbenetti/

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.c

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Michael Stockham is a trial attorney and bestselling author who has successfully built a self-publishing business around his legal thriller series. Starting with a creative writing background before becoming what he calls an "accidental lawyer," Michael brings authentic courtroom detail to his novels through his 25+ years of trial experience. His debut novel "Confessions of an Accidental Lawyer" has garnered over 3,500 reviews and multiple awards, leading to his Jake Fox legal thriller series. Michael approaches his writing career as a business venture, developing systematic processes for planning, writing, and marketing his books while maintaining his full-time legal practice. He's also actively pursuing media adaptation opportunities, pitching his nine-book series concept at film festivals.

In this episode:

• How his background as a trial attorney informs his legal thriller writing
• The journey from creative writing degrees to accidental lawyer to novelist
• Building a systematic approach to writing with detailed chapter outlines
• Using story structure principles from Save the Cat and Hero's Journey
• The importance of authentic detail in courtroom and technical scenes
• Marketing strategies including BookBub feature deals and award submissions
• Working with book coach Aurora Winter for creative collaboration
• Planning a nine-book series as three interconnected trilogies
• Self-publishing through Whistling Pigs Press with freelance contractors
• Pitching book-to-TV adaptations at the Banff World Media Festival
• Building author business systems for long-term sustainability
• Balancing full-time legal career with consistent writing schedule

Resources mentioned:

• BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/
• Authors AI: https://authors.ai/
• Save the Cat writing methodology: https://savethecat.com/
• Story Grid: https://storygrid.com/
• Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing: https://kdp.amazon.com/
• Whistling Pigs Press: https://whistlepigpress.com/

Book Recommendations:

• Save the Cat Writes a Novel: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0399579745?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Connect with Michael Stockham:

• Publisher: https://whistlepigpress.com/
• Series: Jake Fox legal thrillers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQQFZVJJ?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl
• Standalone: Confessions of an Accidental Lawyer: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5YDHHCC?&linkCode=ll1&tag=pubperf-20&linkId=400c65572fa1761b41f901ed6233057c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram -

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show