Marshall Karp, #1 New York Times bestselling author, TV and screenwriter, documentarian, and playwright, returns to Before the Bestseller alongside Danny Corcoran, a former NYPD detective whose 24 years on the job now inform the realism behind Karp’s fiction. Working with James Patterson, Karp cocreated and cowrote the NYPD Red series before continuing it on his own starting with NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority. He’s also the author of Snowstorm in August and the critically acclaimed Lomax and Biggs series, along with his latest novel Don't Tell Me How to Die.

They talk through how real police work translates into fiction, from the small details that make scenes believable to the psychological layers behind both victims and criminals. The conversation moves into how they’ve built a direct relationship with readers through social media, focusing on authenticity over promotion, why showing the person behind the book works better than selling the book itself, and how long-term engagement, reader feedback, and word of mouth shaped the launch of Don’t Tell Me How to Die.

Tune in for a grounded look at turning real-world experience into story, building genuine reader relationships, and why authentic connection consistently outperforms traditional marketing.

Want to dive into Marshall’s books? Start here:

NYPD Red: https://a.co/d/09lC3z9I

Don’t Tell Me How To Die: https://a.co/d/0gL51BJY

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001JPC3FA?ingress=0&visitId=d530e726-cae4-45c8-a85f-1ff330502842&ref_=aufs_ap_ahdr_dsk_ab

Want to learn more from Marshall and follow his work? Check him out here:

Website: www.karpkills.com

Instagram: @marshallkarpauthor
https://www.instagram.com/marshallkarpauthor/

TikTok: Marshall Karp
https://www.tiktok.com/@marshallkarp

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshall-karp-041251108/

For great writing advice

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Today’s guest is someone whose career spans advertising, Hollywood, and bestselling fiction. Marshall Karp is a #1 New York Times bestselling author known for his work on the NYPD Red series with James Patterson, along with his own novels including Don't Tell Me How to Die and the Lomax and Biggs Mysteries. Before writing novels, he built a successful career in advertising and later transitioned into screenwriting, where one of his scripts became the film Just Looking, directed by Jason Alexander. The film went on to air on major platforms like HBO and Netflix and was later recognized as a classic independent film, with Marshall and Jason touring and promoting it across the country. He gradually moved toward writing, building toward a long-term goal of becoming a full-time storyteller.

In this episode, Marshall breaks down how his stories come together, starting with character and why knowing them inside out changes how the entire story unfolds. He shares how books like Don't Tell Me How to Die took shape, the risks he took stepping outside his usual genre, and what made it resonate with readers. He also offers practical advice for writers, from building discipline and doing the work consistently to understanding your audience and writing stories that truly hold attention. Along the way, he talks through what he learned from studying consumer behavior in advertising and how those insights carry over into storytelling. We also get a behind-the-scenes look at how working with James Patterson really works, and the storytelling principles that came out of that collaboration.

Tune in to hear Marshall Karp unpack how he thinks as a writer, how his characters come to life, and how his books are built behind the scenes.

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Want to dive into Marshall’s books? Start here:

NYPD Red: https://a.co/d/09lC3z9I

Don’t Tell Me How To Die: https://a.co/d/0gL51BJY

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001JPC3FA?ingress=0&visitId=d530e726-cae4-45c8-a85f-1ff330502842&ref_=aufs_ap_ahdr_dsk_ab

--

Want to learn more from Marshall and follow his work? Check him out here:

Website: www.karpkills.com

Instagram: @marshallkarpauthor
https://www.instagram.com/marshallkarpauthor/

TikTok: Marshall Karp
https://www.tiktok.com/@marshallkarp

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If you're interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected]

This week, we’re back with Naomi Oreskes, a scientific historian and Harvard professor, and co-author of Merchants of Doubt and The Big Myth, to talk about what it really takes to turn rigorous academic research into a book that reaches hundreds of thousands of readers. With a background that spans geology, climate science, and decades of teaching, Naomi has built her work around making complex scientific ideas understandable without losing their depth. As a result, her books have reached hundreds of thousands of readers and continue to shape how people think about science, truth, and the world around them.

In this episode, we unpack how she approaches writing for a broader audience by thinking of it less as writing and more as speaking to a real person. That mindset carries through everything, from how Merchants of Doubt was written to how it was shared. Instead of relying on one big moment, the book gained traction through consistent, deliberate effort by saying yes to every opportunity, traveling to places most authors overlook, and meeting readers where they are. We also get into how that same approach evolved with The Big Myth, where podcasts, op-eds, and timely conversations became a bigger part of the strategy. Along the way, we talk about staying connected to current events, maintaining scientific integrity, and simplifying complex ideas in a way that people can actually follow without losing what makes them true.

Tune in to this episode with Naomi Oreskes to see what separates books that come and go from those that continue to matter long after they’re published and why Merchants of Doubt and The Big Myth don’t just stay relevant, but become essential reading for anyone trying to make sense of misinformation, scientific claims, and the world around them.

If you want to explore more of Naomi Oreskes’ work, research, and writing, you can check out her platform below or pick up one of her books.

Reckoning Science (https://reckoningscience.org/author/naomi/) Naomi’s science platform with weekly posts (co-created with Sasha Kirov)

You can get a copy Merchants of Doubt, and Naomi’s books on these platforms: 

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/merchants-of-doubt-how-a-handful-of-scientists-obscured-the-truth-on-issues-from-tobacco-smoke-to-climate-change-erik-m-conway/013961483cb5e746?ean=9781608193943&next=t

Amazon: https://a.co/d/08u9qrz7

→ Available on Bookshop, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers

Publications she writes for:

The New York Times

The Washington Post

Los Angeles Times

Science Magazine

British Medical Journal

Undark

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If you're interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected]

Today we have a very special guest, Naomi Oreskes, a historian of science and professor at Harvard University whose work has fundamentally changed how we understand the relationship between science, truth, and public trust. She is best known as the co-author of Merchants of Doubt, the widely influential book that exposed how a small group of scientists and institutions deliberately obscured scientific truth across issues like tobacco, climate change, and acid rain. With over one hundred thousand copies sold and a documentary adaptation, her work continues to shape conversations among policymakers, journalists, and scientists around the world.

In this episode, we unpack how Merchants of Doubt came to life, starting from Naomi’s early research into climate science and the unexpected backlash that followed. She explains how misinformation is constructed, why the same arguments keep appearing across different issues, and how to recognize credible science in a world filled with noise. We also explore the deeper motivations behind these campaigns, including the role of ideology, freedom narratives, and economic interests. The conversation then shifts into how Naomi approaches writing and communication, from simplifying complex ideas to thinking of writing as speaking to a real person. On the marketing side, she shares how saying yes to every opportunity, traveling widely, leveraging podcasts, and writing timely op-eds helped her book grow steadily over time rather than relying on a single launch moment.

Tune in to hear how the same misinformation tactics show up across decades, how to recognize credible science in a noisy world, and how Naomi approached writing a book grounded in evidence that continues to stand the test of time.

Learn more about Naomi Orekes’ research, background, and academic work here: https://histsci.fas.harvard.edu/people/naomi-oreskes

You can get a copy Merchants of Doubt, The Big Myth, and all of Naomi’s books on these platforms: 

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/merchants-of-doubt-how-a-handful-of-scientists-obscured-the-truth-on-issues-from-tobacco-smoke-to-climate-change-erik-m-conway/013961483cb5e746?ean=9781608193943&next=t

Amazon: https://a.co/d/08u9qrz7

→ Available on Bookshop, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers

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Head to our new website for more content and updates.: www.getshelflife.com

If you're interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected]

Today we welcome back Sierra Melcher, a publishing strategist and CEO of Red Thread Books, where she works closely with nonfiction authors to turn their ideas into clear, strategic books that support real business goals. Through her work with a wide range of authors, from niche consultants to experienced professionals, she has developed a reputation for grounding book publishing in practical outcomes rather than abstract visibility.

In this episode, we focused on how to approach book marketing with intention rather than guesswork. Sierra broke down why every strategy should start with a clear goal, whether that is landing clients, speaking on stage, or building authority, and how working backwards from that goal changes every marketing decision. We talked through real examples, including using books as high value business cards at conferences, leveraging relationships and communities to unlock opportunities, and using book seeding through events, swag bags, and platforms like Goodreads to reach the right readers. She also shared practical tactics around Amazon ads for positioning, HARO for visibility, and how small, thoughtful actions can compound when done consistently. We spent time on review strategies, including launch teams, reducing friction for reviewers, and reframing reviews as social proof rather than vanity metrics.

If you’ve been circling the question of what actually moves a book forward once it’s published, this episode answers it in a grounded way. You’ll hear how the work shifts from big, one-time pushes to small, repeatable actions that put your book in the right rooms, in front of the right people, at the right time.

Check out redthreadbooks.com and book a call with Sierra to explore your next steps.

If you want to learn alongside other authors and see how people are actually doing this in real time, you can check out Sierra’s “Write Your Book 📚” community on https://www.skool.com/writeyourbook/about

Check out Sierra Melcher’s books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B085LM5WZR?ingress=0&visitId=f4d1c214-e885-4492-9e95-02549234e12d&ref_=aufs_ap_ahdr_dsk_ab

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If you're interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected]

Our special guest for today is Sierra Melcher, CEO of Red Thread Publishing, who has guided over 350 authors across 28 countries to write and publish meaningful nonfiction that actually serves a purpose beyond just being a book. With deep experience across hybrid publishing and hands-on work with authors at every stage, she has built a reputation for helping writers create books that are intentional, reader-focused, and aligned with real outcomes.

In this episode, we explore how publishing is evolving and why most authors are still approaching it the wrong way. Sierra shares how she helps authors clarify what their book is really about, who it is actually for, and why shorter, simpler books often outperform longer ones. We also get into a different way of thinking about your reader, one that goes beyond surface-level targeting, and a practical exercise she uses to help authors reconnect with the people who need their message. On the marketing side, we talk through a few real-world examples that show how small, intentional moves can outperform scattered effort.

Tune in to hear how Sierra thinks through choosing the right publishing path, defining your reader beyond surface-level demographics, building a book that actually gets read, and using targeted strategies like events, giveaways, and reviews to get your book into the hands of the right people.

Check out redthreadbooks.com and book a call with Sierra to explore your next steps.

Check out Sierra Melcher’s books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B085LM5WZR?ingress=0&visitId=f4d1c214-e885-4492-9e95-02549234e12d&ref_=aufs_ap_ahdr_dsk_ab

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Get the popular weekly book marketing 3-2-1 and get access to our $299 Amazon Ads course when you subscribe to our newsletter here:  https://getshelflife.com/category/newsletter/

Head to our new website for more content and updates.: www.getshelflife.com

If you're interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected]

Nir Eyal is back on Before the Bestseller, the bestselling author behind Hooked, Indistractable, and his newest book Beyond Belief. Known for his work on behavioral design and habit forming technology, Nir has spent years studying how habits, attention, and human psychology influence the way people interact with products and ideas. His books have sold more than a million copies worldwide, and his journey from originally self publishing Hooked to later working with traditional publishers has given him a rare perspective on both writing and marketing books.

In this episode, we focus on how Nir is launching Beyond Belief and what he has learned from publishing three very different books. He explains why he chose to work with a traditional publisher again and reflects on how Hooked was first self published before being picked up by a major publisher after it began gaining traction. That experience leads into a broader discussion about one of the biggest misconceptions in publishing, which is the belief that signing with a publisher means the marketing work is finished. Nir explains why he believes the author is responsible for selling the first wave of copies and why the real marketing effort begins once the manuscript is done. From there, he walks through the specific tactics he and his team are focusing on for this launch, including newsletter outreach, podcast appearances, email list strategy, preorder incentives such as a reader book club, and new experiments with Amazon ads. He also shares what he is doing less of this time around, particularly relying on social media, and why building an email list and genuine relationships with other authors continues to matter far more than chasing follower counts.

Tune in to hear how Nir approaches the realities of launching a book today and what it actually takes to get a thoughtful book into the hands of readers.

Grab your copy of Beyond Belief here: https://a.co/d/00HkuNro

Download the 30-Day Belief Transformation Journal here: https://www.nirandfar.com

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If you're interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected]

Today’s guest is someone many of you already know. If you’ve read Hooked or Indistractable, you already know his work has shaped how millions of people think about habits, technology, and behavior. Nir Eyal is a globally recognized authority on behavior change and human potential. His books have sold over a million copies, been translated into more than thirty languages, and his work on behavior design has influenced teams and organizations around the world. He is also a former lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. In this episode of Before the Bestseller, I’m excited to welcome Nir back to the show to talk about his latest book, Beyond Belief.

In our conversation, we dig into the moment that sparked the book and why so many people understand advice but still struggle to act on it. Nir walks through the idea of the motivation triangle, the difference between facts, faith, and beliefs, and why he believes beliefs should be treated as tools rather than truths. We also talk about the rat experiment that reshaped his thinking about persistence, the hidden power of limiting beliefs, how expectations influence our experiences as customers and readers, and the surprising psychological benefits of practices like prayer. Along the way, we explore how beliefs shape relationships, perception, decision making, and even the way we interpret everyday situations.

Tune in to hear how Nir thinks about belief, persistence, and the hidden assumptions that quietly shape our decisions, because sometimes the most important shift is not learning something new, but realizing the story you have been telling yourself might not be the only one available.

Grab your copy of Beyond Belief here: https://a.co/d/00HkuNro

Download the 30-Day Belief Transformation Journal here: https://www.nirandfar.com

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Head to our new website for more content and updates.: www.getshelflife.com

If you're interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected]

We’re back with Patrick Taylor, also known as the Texas Yeti, adventurer and author of a five book series that includes Lost on Purpose and its bestselling prequel in solo and adventure travel categories. To date, he has sold more than 30,000 books and earned over 4,000 ratings, building a loyal readership that continues to support every release. He may not call himself a bestseller, but his numbers and engagement tell a deeper story about sustainable growth.

In this episode, Patrick breaks down what it actually looked like to build that audience from the ground up. From traveling to art festivals and gun shows to personally seeding hundreds of copies, he explains how early hustle translated into long term readers. We talk about the turning point in 2019 when Amazon ads shifted his sales curve, how he tracks royalties, ad performance, and net profit through detailed spreadsheets, and why understanding the halo effect changed the way he views advertising results. We also get into reader magnets, his monthly newsletter called The Occasional, limited ROI from social media, rising ad costs, using ChatGPT to analyze reviews, and why authenticity may be the most valuable advantage in a crowded market.

Tune in to hear how Patrick approaches growth, advertising, and audience building without relying on shortcuts.

Check out Lost on Purpose here: https://a.co/d/02qRffUu

Discover more on Patrick’s website at texasyetibooks.com

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If you're interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected]

Our guest for today is Patrick Taylor, known to many readers as the Texas Yeti. A former technology executive who built and sold a successful hardware company and later served as president of Intel’s board of advisors, Patrick reinvented himself in his late fifties as an adventurer and author. His memoir Lost on Purpose, part of the Real Life Adventures of the Texas Yeti series, draws from his personal journals and chronicles his solo winter trek retracing the Lewis and Clark trail.

In this episode, we unpack how Patrick transitioned from corporate leadership to spending nearly two months alone in the wilderness. He shares why he chose to sell almost everything before leaving, what it meant to fully close a chapter of his life, and how solitude in extreme conditions helped him rebuild confidence after divorce and professional setbacks. We discuss how the book began as a journal meant for his children, how early criticism improved his writing, and how steady Amazon sales gradually turned into a growing catalog. Patrick also explains his philosophy of treating life as a series of experiments rather than labeling experiences as success or failure, and why stacking small adventures can reshape how you experience everyday life.

Tune in for a grounded conversation about reinvention, solitude, risk, and what it really looks like to experiment with your life after success, loss, and uncertainty.

Check out Lost on Purpose here: https://a.co/d/02qRffUu

Discover more on Patrick’s website at texasyetibooks.com

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If you're interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected]

We welcome back Michael Bungay Stanier, author of the million copy bestseller The Coaching Habit. Beyond that landmark book, Michael is the founder of Box of Crayons, a training company that helps organizations build practical coaching skills rooted in curiosity, serving clients such as Microsoft, Salesforce, and TELUS. He has written eight books that have collectively sold more than two million copies worldwide, and his influence in the coaching profession has been recognized with the Thinkers50 Coaching Award in 2023 and induction into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame in 2025. A Rhodes Scholar with a global perspective on leadership and learning, Michael brings intellectual rigor and practical insight to the world of modern coaching.

In this episode, we go deeper into what really happened before The Coaching Habit became a global success. Michael shares why book marketing is far more unpredictable than most authors want to admit, and why selling ten thousand copies is already an extraordinary outcome. We talk about designing a book to feel readable and unintimidating, writing the shortest useful manuscript possible, building thoughtful calls to action inside the book, defining what makes a book a classic, and measuring success based on long term business impact rather than units sold. We also explore hybrid publishing, relationship equity, launch strategy, and the importance of putting yourself in a position to get lucky.

Tune in to an episode about redefining what book success really means, why ten thousand copies is rarer than most people think, and how the right readers can matter more than the biggest numbers with Michael Bungay Stanier.

Visit mbsworks.shop to access the special Coaching Habit 10-year anniversary experience, including a free entry level and bonus resources.

Visit mbs.works to learn more about Michael and his books. 

Check out Michael's books here: https://a.co/d/0iYLB60v

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If you're interested in connecting further or have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected]