Marketing Yourself as an Author Is Exhausting (4 Authors, No Filter)
February 3, 2026
Featured Guest:
Jo Bentley
Jo Bentley is a writer and creative professional with a background in marketing and media production, currently navigating the querying process with her debut novel. Her work blends historical inspiration with character-driven storytelling, often exploring darker, more complex themes within stylized settings.
With a strong understanding of branding and audience-building, Jo brings a strategic yet refreshingly honest perspective to what it takes to grow a platform as a writer. She is known for her engaging, personality-driven content and her willingness to pull back the curtain on the realities of building a writing career in today’s digital landscape.
📸 Instagram: _jobentley_
Featured Guest:
Nicole Yvette
Nicole Yvette is an emerging YA romantasy author currently preparing to publish her debut novel. With a passion for storytelling and a growing online presence, she has built a community by sharing her journey as a writer—from drafting to ARC readers to navigating the realities of self-publishing.
Her work centers on immersive, emotionally driven stories for younger readers, and she brings a relatable, candid perspective to the writing process—balancing creativity with the very real challenges of marketing, visibility, and putting herself out there as an author.
📸 Instagram: @author.nicoleyvette
In this episode, we’re joined by Nicole Yvette and Jo Bentley for a no-filter conversation about what it actually takes to market yourself as an author today. From posting anxiety to content burnout, we dive into the pressure of showing up online while balancing writing, work, and real life. We talk about the things no one really prepares you for—like putting your face on the internet, deciding what’s worth sharing, and figuring out how to build a presence without feeling like a full-time influencer.
We also explore how different backgrounds shape the way authors approach social media, why authenticity matters more than strategy, and how to find your audience beyond the typical “bookish” space. From ARC readers to building hype before your book even exists, this episode is a candid look at the messy, overwhelming, and sometimes hilarious reality of promoting yourself as a writer—while still trying to actually write.
In This Episode
The reality of marketing yourself as an author (on top of writing, working, and life)
Social media pressure and the expectation to “show up” every day
Posting anxiety: what to share, what to keep in drafts, and what might backfire
The debate around authors reviewing other authors’ books
Finding your voice on social media (without feeling like a full-time influencer)
Talking vs. trending audio: different approaches to content creation
Why authenticity outperforms perfection (even without a marketing background)
Batch content, burnout, and setting boundaries with posting frequency
Comparing yourself to other authors online—and how to stop spiraling
Marketing beyond Bookstagram: finding your actual audience
Building hype before your book is even published
The challenge of “selling” something that doesn’t exist yet
Community vs. competition in the writing space
Creating content that connects—not just performs
About the Book
Beautiful and Deadly
Born into piracy, Estella Croft has spent her life proving she’s more than her father’s legacy. When she’s sent on her first mission—to deliver a simple message to the charming but reckless Prince Killian—she expects a night of deception, not destiny. However the mission turns out to be a trap, and Estella finds herself bound by a bargain she never agreed to.
When she defies her father and flees, taking the prince with her, Estella sets off a chain of events that will test every truth she’s ever known. Hunted by pirates, pursued by kings, and haunted by her own choices, she must decide whether freedom is worth the cost of her heart.
Because in a world ruled by blood and loyalty, love might be the most dangerous rebellion of all.
