🌴138. How I sold 3,500 books in a year (without a launch party) feat. Jessica Mudditt
This weekend rewind is a special one. I'm celebrating the two-year anniversary of my first real book — The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint . (Yes, I did write a netball coaching manual back in the day, 😄).
To mark the occasion, I’m replaying a juicy interview I did with Jessica Mudditt on her podcast. Jessica’s the founder of Hembury Books and an all-round publishing legend — if you're thinking of writing or launching a book, she’s someone to follow on LinkedIn.
In this convo, we go deep behind the scenes of the book’s creation, the 52-day sprint from idea to print, marketing wins (and a couple of misses), the role of Amazon ads, building flywheel momentum, and the unexpected power of low-hanging watermelons 🍉.
Here’s a taste of what we cover:
- The actual timeline from idea to physical book (hint: it’s under 2 months)
- Why speed was more important than strategy (for my first book, anyway)
- How I got to 100+ Amazon reviews without being annoying (hopefully!)
- My unusual street-team approach to validating the title and cover
- Book marketing tricks that worked — and the few that didn’t
- What I’d do differently next time (yes, there will be a next time)
- Why I’d still choose self-publishing in a heartbeat
Whether you're a fellow author, aspiring one, or just curious how a book can become a business asset — I think you’ll find this fun and practical.
🎧 Listen in, and let me know: Have you ever thought about writing a book? What’s stopping you?
*New* You're invited to join Leanne's free community, Work Fame.
Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com
P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are three ways I can help:
- Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel : Let's energise your next event.
- Get My Book : Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint .
- Red Carpet Campout : Inspire, Indulge, Invent. Let’s take your ideas outside in June 2025.
Let's connect on all the channels:
Visit my website: leannehughes.com
Email me: hello@leannehughes.com
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