
Christian Publishing Show
Thomas Umstattd Jr.
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Top 10 Christian Publishing Show Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Christian Publishing Show episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Christian Publishing Show for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Christian Publishing Show episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

How to Launch Your Book on a Budget
Christian Publishing Show
03/01/22 • 41 min
Is your book launch budget filled with expenses or investments? Learn how and where to spend your time and money to get the greatest return.
You can listen to this episode How to Launch Your Book on a Budget on Christian Publishing Show.

Crafting a Career: How to Become a Professional Author with Angela Hunt
Christian Publishing Show
06/11/24 • 42 min
Some authors just want to get their book "out there." They don't plan on writing additional books or becoming professionals. But others want to make writing a career and maybe pay the bills with income earned from their writing.
If you want to have a career as a professional writer, you have to do at least two things.
First, you must become an amazing writer. Second, you need to start acting like a business owner. Regardless of whether you're independently or traditionally published, you'll need to keep track of finances, payments, taxes, marketing, and a lot more.
You must be willing to wear their business hats to be considered professionals.
If that sounds overwhelming, this week's episode will provide some relief and direction. In my interview with Angela Hunt, you'll learn:
- What upfront and ongoing costs an author should plan for
- A bare-bones method for tracking your business income and expenses
- A Thomas-approved method for getting free feedback
- And much more
If you want to make a career out of your writing and pay bills with the income you earn, listen in or check out the blog post version of this episode to learn how.

How to Write Powerful Christian Stories
Christian Publishing Show
08/13/24 • 48 min
Stories communicate truth in ways that facts and statistics cannot. They touch places in our souls that sermons cannot reach. When you open your Bible, the very first thing you find is not the Ten Commandments but a story. Even biblical instruction is often couched in a story because a story is a powerful tool for communicating truth.
God knows that. He created in us a desire for story.
Christian authors can leverage story to communicate truth, but sometimes, whether by mistake or on purpose, we communicate lies.
In this month’s episode, author and podcaster Zackary Russell and I discuss the four laws of Christian storytelling. You’ll discover:
- What makes a story glorifying to God
- How we may inadvertently communicate lies in our stories
- Whether Christian storytelling is evangelism or not
The gift of storytelling must be stewarded and taken seriously. Listen in or check out the blog version of this episode to discover four laws to govern your Christian storytelling that will ensure you glorify God and communicate truth and love to your readers.

How to be a Successful Author Entrepreneur
Christian Publishing Show
11/12/24 • 41 min
In college, I took a class on entrepreneurship, where our big project was to write a business plan. That same semester, I was also working on a book proposal, and I realized that book proposals are business plans.
Fundamentally, they serve the same purpose. A business plan helps you convince investors to invest in your business, and a book proposal helps you convince publishing companies to invest in your book.
To be traditionally published, you need to think like an entrepreneur and to be independently published, you need to be an entrepreneur.
In this week's episode, we'll hear from Kara Swanson. She's a successful fantasy author, entrepreneur, and the co-founder of The Author Conservatory, an online college alternative for aspiring writers.
You'll learn how to
· Build a financially sustainable writing career
· Build your skillset for marketing your book
· Build a schedule that balances creativity and business
Listen in or check out the blog and learn how to become an author entrepreneur by leveraging transferrable business skills to build a sustainable writing career.

How to Write Your First Novel
Christian Publishing Show
01/20/25 • 46 min
Have you ever dreamed of writing a novel but don’t know where to start? Maybe you've tried before, but the story just didn’t come together—or you’re staring at a blank page, unsure of what to do next.
In our latest episode, we’re talking to Steve Laube, seasoned literary agent and co-author of Write Your First Novel. Steve shares actionable advice on:
- Creating characters your readers will love.
- Crafting a plot that keeps readers hooked.
- Overcoming fear and embracing the writing process.
You’ll also learn the key to writing boldly and how to avoid common pitfalls that hold writers back.
If you’re ready to finally start your novel (and finish it!), listen in or read the blog version.

Beginnings and Endings of Novels with Angela Hunt
Christian Publishing Show
02/11/25 • 51 min
Have you ever started a book but struggled to get past the first few chapters? Or maybe you finished one, only to feel let down by the ending? The truth is, beginnings and endings can make or break a novel.
In this week’s episode, I sit down with Christy Award-winning author Angela Hunt to unpack what makes a strong opening that hooks readers and a satisfying ending that keeps them talking.
We’ll cover:
How to craft an opening that keeps readers turning pages
The secret to endings that spark word-of-mouth recommendations
Common mistakes that weaken your novel’s impact
If you want to grab your reader’s attention from page one and leave them with an unforgettable conclusion, listen in or read the blog version.

Discovery Writing 101: How to Craft Gripping Stories Without an Outline
Christian Publishing Show
03/11/25 • 47 min
The term "pantser" has been used to describe writing a book without an outline. At writers conferences, outlining and "pantsing" (also known as discovery writing) are often framed as rivals. However, most writers fall between the two extremes.
I've seen successful authors across that spectrum. What truly matters is finding the method that works best for you.
While there are countless books on outlining, there are very few on discovery writing. So how do you learn to "write by the seat of your pants"?
In this month's episode, I interviewed bestselling author Steven James, who shared his secrets for discovery writing—the art of writing "by the seat of your pants" while creating gripping stories.
He shared
✔️ Four questions that can solve any plot problem
✔️ What truly drives a great story to a satisfying ending
✔️ How to use pivots to surprise and satisfy your readers
If you've ever struggled with outlining or wondered if "pantsing" could work for you, this episode will give you the guidance and courage to give it a try. Listen in or read the blog version to learn more.

How to Write Your Novel from the Middle
Christian Publishing Show
05/10/25 • 47 min
Most authors start writing from the beginning. But what if the beginning is the wrong place to start?
In our most recent episode, I talk with bestselling author and writing teacher James Scott Bell about one of his most powerful ideas: the mirror moment.
You’ll learn
✅ Why the midpoint is more than just the halfway mark
✅ How to turn a sagging middle into your novel’s strongest moment
✅ What Casablanca, Goodnight Moon, and The Cat in the Hat have in common
✅ How one scene can help you fix your beginning, your ending, and everything in between
Whether you’re a plotter or a pantser, listen in or read the blog version of this episode. It will change how you approach your next novel.

How to Write Deep Point of View with Karen Witemeyer
Christian Publishing Show
12/07/21 • 47 min
If you want your readers to connect with your writing, you need to immerse them deeply into the mind of your characters. Your readers need to hear, see, and experience everything that your character experiences. But how do you do this? The answer is deep point of view. We have a guest on the show [...]
You can listen to this episode How to Write Deep Point of View with Karen Witemeyer on Christian Publishing Show.

The Secret to Becoming a Successful Christian Author: Church
Christian Publishing Show
06/13/23 • 52 min
As you’ve heard me say many times before, the key to writing books people want to read is writing books that people already want to read.
It’s easier to write a book that people want than to change someone into the kind of person who wants to read the book you wrote.
It’s hard to change yourself and your own desires, but it’s nearly impossible to change someone else. You’ve probably learned from your marriage and relationships that changing other people is impossible. It’s even harder for authors to change their readers into people who like to read what they’ve written.
In fact, you can’t change your readers, but you can change your book.
The key to success is to know your readers, but many Christian authors find that challenging.
They wonder:
- Where do I find my readers?
- How do I make friends with my readers?
- What if I have no place to connect with my readers?
If only there were a place where Christian readers gathered for regular meetings, perhaps even several times each week.
Well, guess what? There is! It’s called church.
This photo shows the interior of a small country church.For the last 2,000 years, Christians have gathered in meetings where they pray, sing, read the Bible, and fellowship. And if you are writing for Christians or even churchgoers, your readers gather at church.
That is until recently.
There’s been a decline in church attendance that started before the pandemic. I went to a pre-COVID writers conference and was stunned that nearly half of the faculty at the Christian writers conference, who were teaching about Christian writing, were not churchgoers.
In many Christian publishing companies, only a small fraction of the team attends church, and the trend holds steady among authors.
Over the years, I’ve noticed that Christian authors who stop attending church experience decreased sales. The decrease isn’t due to supernatural forces, as some might want you to believe.
As a marketer, the cause for decreased sales seems obvious to me. Christian authors who don’t regularly attend Christian churches lose touch with Christian readers. It’s just that simple. They lose touch with what their readers want.
- How do you know what questions Christians ask if you don’t attend church and interact with them?
- How can you write a novel in tune with the music and someone’s soul if you can’t hear the music?
Books written by non-church-going Christian authors often feel tone-deaf to readers because the authors are out of touch with the music.
In this article, we’ll talk about church and how your church attendance can help you write a better, more popular book that will help more people.
Who better to consult than a pastor and writer like Chase Replogle? He is the pastor of Bent Oak Church in Springfield, Missouri, and the author of The Five Masculine Instincts. I previously interviewed Chase about his book; and since its publication, he’s been featured on many popular platforms, including Good Morning America, Christianity Today, and The Gospel Coalition.
He also hosts the popular Pastor Writer podcast, where he interviews Christian authors on topics of faith and writing.
Thomas Umstattd, Jr.: We talked a lot about patience in our first interview. What have you learned about it since?
Chase Replogle: I remember talking a lot about patience. I would like to say that once your book’s in hand, you’re done with the lesson of patience. But I’m in the process of publishing book two right now, and I’m learning more patience. Patience is the name of the game in writing and publishing.
From your perspective as a pastor and writer, why is attending church important for Christian authors?
Chase: If you call yourself a Christian, you’re partly under obligation to Christ to not neglect the gathering together of believers. That’s part of what we’re called to do as Christ’s body. The ...
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FAQ
How many episodes does Christian Publishing Show have?
Christian Publishing Show currently has 168 episodes available.
What topics does Christian Publishing Show cover?
The podcast is about Christianity, Religion & Spirituality, Podcasts, Books and Arts.
What is the most popular episode on Christian Publishing Show?
The episode title 'Writing for a Canadian Market' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Christian Publishing Show?
The average episode length on Christian Publishing Show is 38 minutes.
How often are episodes of Christian Publishing Show released?
Episodes of Christian Publishing Show are typically released every 7 days, 11 hours.
When was the first episode of Christian Publishing Show?
The first episode of Christian Publishing Show was released on Oct 2, 2018.
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