Why Physical Books Are Thriving — and What Most Authors Get Wrong About Selling Them

In this episode of Amazing Authorities, Mitch Carson sits down with Kern Carter to unpack what it really takes to build a sustainable writing career in today’s publishing landscape. Kern shares his journey from self-publishing to landing deals with major publishers like Penguin and Scholastic, explaining why persistence, patience, and mindset matter more than shortcuts. He challenges the assumption that ebooks and audiobooks have replaced print, revealing why physical books continue to dominate sales — especially among Gen Z and Gen Alpha readers. The conversation dives deep into cultural identity, the hidden realities of traditional publishing, and the creative grassroots marketing strategies Kern used to generate real momentum, including a student-led cover design contest and two years of intentional pre-launch promotion. This episode is a masterclass for writers, creators, and anyone building authority through long-term thinking. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: • Why 782 million physical books sold in 2024 — and why print isn’t going anywhere • How Kern transitioned from self-publishing to major publishing houses • Why 75% of writing success comes down to mindset, not talent • How cultural identity shapes voice, language, and nonfiction storytelling • Why authors must commit fully to avoid burnout and frustration • How involving 50 local students in a cover contest created organic word-of-mouth • Why community-based marketing outperforms online-only promotion • How publishers handle distribution — but not book sales • Why most book sales still come from personal recommendation • How a two-year marketing runway led to 100+ sales on launch day

Guest Links — Kern Carter Website and author information: https://kerncarter.com Follow Kern on social platforms for updates on upcoming releases and events.

Mitch Carson Links Schedule a strategy call with Mitch: https://www.getinterviewedguaranteed.com/meetwithmitch Become a podcast guest: https://www.getinterviewedguaranteed.com/podcastguest Find Mitch here: https://www.mitchcarson.com/ https://www.facebook.com/MitchCarsonOfficial/ https://www.instagram.com/mitchcarsonofficial/ https://www.twitter.com/MCarsonOfficial/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchcarsoninstantcelebrity/ https://www.youtube.com/@MitchCarsonOfficial Books by Mitch Carson: The Amazing Authors of Singapore: https://a.co/d/cp9KjC1 The Silent Salesmen: https://a.co/d/b4eqa2D