Kevin J. Anderson - 24 Million Books Sold: The Bestseller's Guide to Traditional and Indie Success

Kevin J. Anderson is a New York Times bestselling author and literary powerhouse with over 24 million books in print worldwide. Best known for his groundbreaking work expanding the Dune universe alongside Brian Herbert and his extensive contributions to the Star Wars expanded universe with 54 novels, comics, and young adult series, Kevin has helped shape two of science fiction's most beloved franchises. His unique career spans both traditional publishing giants and innovative indie approaches, making him one of the most versatile and successful authors in the industry today.

In this episode:

• Behind-the-scenes secrets of writing in legendary universes like Dune and Star Wars
• The strategic transition from traditional publishing to indie freedom and control
• Leveraging Kickstarter and Patreon to build direct fan relationships and fund passion projects
• Insider insights into Hollywood: the film and TV adaptation process revealed
• How dictation technology can dramatically boost your writing productivity
• The networking strategies that build lasting industry connections and opportunities
• Platform-building advice for new authors entering today's competitive landscape
• Balancing franchise work with original creative projects
• The evolution of publishing and what authors need to succeed now

Resources mentioned:

• Wordfire Press (Kevin's publishing company)
• Kickstarter for Dan Shamble, Zombie PI series
• Patreon for exclusive content and fan interaction
• Western Colorado University's graduate program in publishing
• Superstars Writing Seminars
• Mac Whisper for AI transcription

Book recommendations:

• "Death Warmed Over" (first book in the Dan Shamble, Zombie PI series)
• "On Being a Dictator" (Kevin's book on dictation for authors)

Connect with Kevin J. Anderson:

• Website: https://wordfire.com/
• Patreon: KevinJAnderson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/75203293463/?fref=nf
• X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/TheKJA
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealkja/

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• @teddyagsmith
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