Building a Reader Community: Because Amazon Alone is an Inbred Village

In this episode, Troy and Stacey dive into building a real reader community—because relying solely on Amazon is basically letting your author career grow up in an algorithmic inbred village. Sure, Amazon can boost sales… but it’s not a community. And if you’re serious about longevity, superfans, and NOT letting one tech giant decide your future, you’ve got to build something bigger, smarter, and more human.

We break down:
Why Amazon’s ecosystem can’t be your only lifeline
Where real communities are actually forming (TikTok, Discord, Substack & more)
How to create superfans who support your whole author career
What platforms are worth your time—and which ones are slowly draining your soul
The power of human connection in an AI-heavy world
How unique offers (Kickstarters, signed editions, behind-the-scenes content) create true loyalty
Why being authentic beats being “algorithm-friendly” every day of the week
Plus the usual chaos: puppy interruptions, rants, Myspace nostalgia, and questionable metaphors

Whether you're indie, hybrid, trad-curious, or just here for the snark, this episode helps you ditch the dependence, diversify your reach, and build a thriving community of real humans who actually care about your work.

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Comment (nicely).
Tell us where YOU are building your community—and what’s working.

Your stories matter. Your readers matter. And your community is the backbone of your author business… not just Amazon’s algorithm.

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