Devon Eriksen didn’t wait for permission from traditional publishing. He wrote Theft of Fire, a hard sci-fi thriller that male readers were starving for, and sold tens of thousands of copies on his own terms. In this conversation, we talk about why men stopped reading, how indie authors can fill that gap, and why getting canceled was actually the best thing that happened to his career.

If you’ve been told the market for male-focused fiction doesn’t exist, Devon’s success proves otherwise.

In This Episode

* Why traditional publishing abandoned male readers

* How Devon built an audience before launching his book

* The difference between writing to market vs. writing what you want

* Why “books don’t rot” - your work can take off at any time

* The real reason Devon chose not to use Audible

* How to market yourself as an author without being a “content creator”

* What actually matters more than your first week sales numbers

Guest Links

Devon Eriksen

* Website: devoneriksen.com

* Twitter/X: @Devon_Eriksen_

Theft of Fire (Orbital Space #1)

* Ebook/Paperback: Amazon

* Audiobook: Devon’s Website

Kristin’s Links

Services & Content

* Editing Services: nonsensefreeeditor.com

* Newsletter: Fictional Influence on Substack

* YouTube: Nonsense-Free Kristin

* Books by Kristin: https://amzn.to/3Jt5FOP

Sponsors

ManyChat - Turn social media comments into subscribers automatically. Get 30% off at manychat.partnerlinks.io/nonsensefree

About This Podcast

Nonsense-Free Kristin is for independent authors and creators who are building their platforms, mastering their craft, and creating their own signal. New episodes weekly.

Timestamps

[00:00] - Getting canceled was the best thing for my career[03:15] - Why men stopped reading (and it’s not what you think)[07:30] - The publishing industry’s “diversity” problem actually hurts diversity[12:45] - How I built an audience before my book even launched[18:20] - Why “books don’t rot” - your timeline is longer than you think[22:10] - The Audible scam: Why I refused to use it[28:40] - Marketing is about relationships, not advertising[35:15] - Stop trying to appeal to people who hate you[42:00] - Why most indie authors fail (and how to avoid it)[48:30] - The real competition isn’t other authors[52:45] - Advice for men who want to write but feel shut out

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.fictionalinfluence.com/subscribe

Devon Eriksen on Writing for Male Readers (and Getting Canceled for It)