Summary of "Writing Action Adventure And Traveling For Book Research With Luke Richardson" The Creative Penn Podcast for Writers | Episode Released: March 3, 2025
Introduction
In Episode 797 of The Creative Penn Podcast for Writers, host Joanna Penn engages in an insightful discussion with bestselling author Luke Richardson. The episode delves into the intricacies of writing action-adventure genres, leveraging travel for book research, author branding, publishing strategies, and effective book marketing. Highlighting their shared passion for prologues and creating characters distinct from themselves, Joanna and Luke provide valuable insights for indie authors aiming to enhance their craft and business acumen.
ProWritingAid Manuscript Analysis Tool
Joanna begins by discussing the newly launched ProWritingAid Manuscript Analysis Tool, a developmental editing report tailored for fiction. She shares her positive experience, stating, “It dives deep into your story structure, plot, pacing, characterization and more, giving you clear prioritized insights to strengthen your novel” (02:15). Joanna emphasizes its cost-effectiveness, especially for newer authors, as it allows for multiple editing passes before engaging a human editor.
Notable Quote:
“Our books are for humans, so I think having a human in the loop is really important.” — Joanna Penn [04:30]
Legal Risks in Memoir (Indie Author Podcast)
Joanna references an episode featuring lawyer Kathryn Goldman discussing the legal risks associated with writing memoirs. Topics include defamation, invasion of privacy, and the importance of factual accuracy. Joanna notes, “These are two Americans talking and the UK has much more stringent libel laws,” highlighting the necessity for UK authors to exercise additional caution (06:00).
Social Media for Authors (BookBub Article Discussion)
The episode shifts to a BookBub article on social media for authors in 2025, where Joanna highlights the evolving landscape of social platforms. Key points include:
- Popularity of Meta Platforms: Over half of authors use Facebook or Instagram weekly.
- Emerging Platforms: Blue Sky is gaining traction, with an anticipated 8% increase in its use.
- Video Content: Despite the surge in video popularity, over half of authors are not yet creating video content.
- Generational Shifts: Authors who debuted after 2020 are more inclined to use TikTok compared to those before 2010 (09:00).
Joanna reflects on her own social media strategy, questioning its effectiveness and encouraging authors to evaluate whether their current approach aligns with their book sales and marketing goals.
Notable Quote:
“If it doesn't sell books, then what are your primary methods for book marketing?” — Joanna Penn [14:00]
AI Developments Relevant to Authors
Joanna touches on recent AI advancements impacting authors:
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Amazon's Alexa Plus: Powered by the Claude model, Alexa Plus offers enhanced conversational abilities and can perform tasks autonomously, including book recommendations and purchases.
Notable Quote:
“It's like voice mode for Claude.” — Joanna Penn [19:00]
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ElevenLabs Scribe: A highly accurate transcription model supporting 99 languages, promising better handling of diverse accents compared to other services.
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ElevenLabs Reader App: Allows authors to create free audiobooks, with future payment integrations. Joanna expresses excitement about customizable voices for audiobooks, enhancing listener experience.
Personal Updates from Joanna Penn
Joanna shares updates on her current projects:
- Ragnarok Rising: The script adaptation of Day of the Vikings, targeting the Scandinavian film market with scenes set in Norway, Iceland, and Scotland.
- Death Valley: Finalizing beta reader edits and preparing for proofreading.
- Kickstarter Campaign: Developing a campaign for her next thriller, along with creating a book trailer using AI tools like MidJourney and Runway.
- Podcast Reboot: Launching a books and travel podcast, focusing on long-form content and email marketing over traditional social media efforts.
Notable Quote:
“I'm mainly in finishing energy.” — Joanna Penn [24:00]
Interview with Luke Richardson
Background and Journey into Writing
Luke Richardson recounts his transformative experience arriving in India in 2011, which ignited his passion for writing. Transitioning from an English teacher to a full-time author, Luke highlights the challenges of self-publishing and building a successful writing career.
Notable Quote:
“I needed to give it space.” — Luke Richardson [28:00]
The Job of an Author
Luke outlines the multifaceted role of an author, encompassing:
- Production: Writing, researching both the content and market trends.
- Business Side: Handling taxes and administrative tasks.
- Marketing: Managing newsletters, social media, and promotions.
He emphasizes the importance of understanding market preferences to create books that stand out without trying to appeal to everyone.
Notable Quote:
“Our readers are human.” — Luke Richardson [32:00]
Book Count and Series
Luke discusses his extensive bibliography, including:
- International Detective Series: 6 books
- Eden Black Series: 6 books
- Novellas and Other Works: Approximately 20 published works, with some earlier collaborations now unpublished pending potential revisions.
Unpublishing Certain Books
Driven by a desire for brand consistency and family-friendly content, Luke has unpublished earlier, darker works co-authored with Stephen Moore. He aims to potentially rewrite these to align with his current series' tone.
Notable Quote:
“I want someone to have my book and put it on their coffee table proudly.” — Luke Richardson [35:00]
Writing Action-Adventure Thrillers
Luke shares insights into crafting action-adventure thrillers, emphasizing:
- Dynamic Settings: Utilizing unique locations like the pyramids of Giza, Atlantis, and the Sahara.
- Race Against Time: Incorporating time-sensitive elements such as impending storms or astrological events.
- Supernatural Elements: Adding subtle supernatural facets to enhance intrigue without overpowering the narrative.
Notable Quote:
“A prologue… adds some context.” — Luke Richardson [39:00]
Use of Prologues
Both Joanna and Luke express a fondness for prologues, viewing them as tools for foreshadowing and providing historical context. Luke advises clearly delineating prologues from main chapters to maintain narrative flow.
Notable Quote:
“It can be foreshadowing.” — Luke Richardson [40:00]
Writing Characters Different from Oneself
Addressing the challenge of creating protagonists unlike themselves, Luke asserts that all characters are extensions of the author’s creativity and emphasizes universal human experiences that transcend gender and background.
Notable Quote:
“We're more similar than we are different.” — Luke Richardson [46:00]
Turning Travels into Stories
Luke illustrates his process of transforming real-life travels into compelling narratives by immersing himself in new environments and seeking inspiration from unique historical and cultural elements.
Notable Quote:
“These seeds are everywhere. You just have to notice them.” — Luke Richardson [49:00]
Publishing Strategies: Kindle Unlimited and Beyond
Luke explains his decision to enroll his ebooks in Kindle Unlimited (KU), leveraging Amazon’s vast distribution network to maximize book accessibility and reviews. While he acknowledges the limitations, he values KU for its efficiency in reaching readers.
He also discusses:
- Print Books: Limited sales due to high delivery costs and customs duties.
- Audiobooks: Significant sales through platforms like IngramSpark.
- Author Stores: Exploring non-book merchandise to diversify income streams.
Notable Quote:
“The best use of my time is to write the best book possible and let Amazon do what they are really good at.” — Luke Richardson [54:00]
Marketing Strategies
Luke shares innovative marketing ideas, including:
- Non-Book Merchandise: Selling unique items like bespoke jewelry and funky textiles to engage fans beyond book sales.
- Podcasts: Launching the Adventure Story Podcast, focusing on the historical inspirations behind his narratives, aiming to build a deeper connection with his audience.
Notable Quote:
“I want people to know me as the person behind the stories.” — Luke Richardson [62:00]
Conclusion
Joanna wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to explore Luke Richardson’s works and his new podcast. She previews the next episode featuring Jacob Nordby and emphasizes the value of community interaction through comments and social media.
Notable Quote:
“Happy writing and I'll see you next time.” — Joanna Penn [65:00]
Key Takeaways
- Developmental Editing: Utilize tools like ProWritingAid’s Manuscript Analysis to refine your novel before engaging human editors.
- Social Media Strategy: Regularly assess the effectiveness of your social platforms in driving book sales and adjust strategies accordingly.
- AI Integration: Stay informed about AI advancements that can aid in writing, marketing, and audiobook creation.
- Author Branding: Maintain a consistent and authentic brand by focusing on content that reflects your values and resonates with your target audience.
- Diversified Marketing: Explore non-traditional marketing avenues such as merchandise and podcasts to enhance reader engagement and income sources.
- Prologues & Plot Structuring: Use prologues effectively for foreshadowing and providing historical context without disrupting the main narrative flow.
Notable Quotes With Timestamps
-
Joanna Penn on ProWritingAid:
“Our books are for humans, so I think having a human in the loop is really important.” — [04:30]
-
Joanna Penn on Social Media Effectiveness:
“If it doesn't sell books, then what are your primary methods for book marketing?” — [14:00]
-
Luke Richardson on Authorial Decisions:
“I need to give it space.” — [28:00]
-
Luke Richardson on Unpublishing Books:
“I want someone to have my book and put it on their coffee table proudly.” — [35:00]
-
Luke Richardson on Characters:
“We're more similar than we are different.” — [46:00]
-
Luke Richardson on Marketing:
“The best use of my time is to write the best book possible and let Amazon do what they are really good at.” — [54:00]
-
Luke Richardson on Podcasting:
“I want people to know me as the person behind the stories.” — [62:00]
-
Joanna Penn Closing Remarks:
“Happy writing and I'll see you next time.” — [65:00]
For a deeper dive into the episode, including specific segments and further discussions, listeners are encouraged to tune into The Creative Penn Podcast for Writers and explore additional resources available on thecreativepenn.com.