In today's episode of the Business Book Bites podcast, Karen Williams and Sheryl Andrews dive into a topic that is crucial for every nonfiction author: standing out in a crowded marketplace while staying relevant to today's readers.
They explore how emerging trends can shape nonfiction publishing and how authors can leverage these trends to better connect with their audience. Inspired by a recent conversation in a women's WhatsApp group on menopause and sleep, they illustrate the importance of understanding trends to inspire ideas, boost visibility, and position expertise.
So what are the current trends? Karen is seeing more people writing about topics like AI, sustainability, personal development, neurodivergence and more. So grab a coffee, sit back, and get ready to uncover the secrets of leveraging trends in nonfiction publishing.
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Key insights
Aligning Passion with Trends: Balancing your passion and expertise with what's trending is crucial for success. Research trends early, but remain adaptable to deepen your themes if trends shift.
Leverage Multimedia Research: Utilize tools like ChatGPT, Answer the Public, and Amazon categories to compare your book ideas, ensuring you tap into current hot topics that resonate with readers.
Validation and Reader-Centric Focus: Validate your ideas with diverse sources, including primary research and client interactions, ensuring your book speaks directly to the needs and language of your intended audience.
Bio – Karen Williams Karen Williams is The Book Mentor at Librotas®, a leading authority in helping experts, entrepreneurs, and leaders write and market non-fiction books. Having started out in business in 2006, and writing her first book in 2009, she knows the difference that writing a book can make to your business when done well. With a focus on sharing significant stories and memorable messages, Karen guides her clients through the entire process of planning, writing, marketing, and launching a book that boosts credibility, attracts new clients, and creates exciting opportunities. Karen is the bestselling author of 10 books and a TEDx speaker.
Website: https://librotas.com
Socials: https://www.facebook.com/librotas https://twitter.com/librotas https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenwilliamslibrotas/ https://www.instagram.com/karenwilliamslibrotas https://www.youtube.com/@librotas
Bio – Sheryl Andrews Sheryl Andrews is The Listening Detective and is known for helping you do more of what you love and ditch the critic that says you can’t. Sheryl spends her time supporting individuals to work, learn and live at their best, both independently and in groups, and her first book, Manage Your Critic, was published in 2016 and she is currently writing her second.
Website: https://stepbysteplistening.com
Time-stamped overview: 00:00 Defining Your Unique Angle 05:13 Finding Your Unique Angle 07:09 Balancing Personal Insight with Audience Needs 10:38 Della Judd: Post-Pandemic Career Insights 15:21 "Share Your Story, Raise Awareness" 16:37 Personalize Trends: Stand Out, Align 19:54 "Confidence Through Diverse Feedback" 24:08 Evaluating Research Bias in Results 28:06 Book Writing & Networking Insights
Keywords: nonfiction author, book marketplace, trends shape nonfiction publishing, leverage trends, inspiring book ideas, book boosting visibility, finding your sweet spot, unexpected benefits of writing, book-related trends, book angle, your book is the hook, book research, smart author system, Amazon categories, booktok, LinkedIn, answer the public, chat GPT, ai for writing, menopause and sleep, writing a business book, book trends, book research, book trends 2025
