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Fictional InfluenceCreating stories that change the world Author: Kristin McTiernan
Nonsense-Free Kristin is where independent authors and creators learn to build their platforms, master their craft, and create on their own termswithout begging for permission from gatekeepers who hate them. www.fictionalinfluence.com Language: en Genres: Film Reviews, Society & Culture, TV & Film Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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John Van Stry - Harnessing Harem to Sell 1,000,000+ Copies
Wednesday, 21 January, 2026
Most authors dream of finishing one book a year; John Van Stry wrote twenty in two. The bestselling sci-fi author joins Kristin to explain how he transitioned from defense engineering to indie publishing by systematizing his creativity and treating the craft with an analytical mindset.John also explores the specific strategies that turned his backlist into a seven-figure business, including the “guerrilla marketing” tactics that work for new authors, as well as how to build magic systems using real-world physics. John also tackles the industry’s double standards, offering a candid defense of male-targeted “Harem” fiction against the universally accepted “Reverse Harem” romance market.In This Episode* 20 Books in 2 Years: How John utilized his engineering background to analyze successful authors, streamline his process, and produce massive output to launch his career.* Writing for Men: John discusses the “KDP Gold Rush” era and how he found massive success by writing authentic male protagonists when traditional publishers were only interested in female-led stories.* The “Rothfuss Effect”: Why writing trilogies can kill a new author’s career and why readers are terrified of unfinished series.* Harem vs. Reverse Harem: A candid look at the hypocrisy in the industry regarding men’s fantasy vs. women’s romance, and why he uses a pen name (John Stryvant) to separate his explicit work from his standard sci-fi.* Engineering Magic: How a background in defense and physics helps John create grounded, believable hard sci-fi and magic systems.* Guerrilla Marketing: Old school tactics that still work—from business cards at car dealerships to understanding why the adult industry always leads the way in marketing technology.* The $2.99 Strategy: Why volume is the name of the game and why raising your prices might actually be costing you money.Guest LinksJohn Van Stry* READ THE WOLFHOUNDS SERIES BY JOHN VAN STRY https: //amzn.to/3XqIND3* http://vanstry.net/vanstry/* X: @JohnVanStry Kristin’s Links* Services & Content* Editing Services: nonsensefreeeditor.com* Newsletter: https://www.fictionalinfluence.com* YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nonsensefreekristinTimestamps00:00 - Introduction and Author’s Achievement01:53 - Meet John Van Stry: The Prolific Author02:03 - Journey to Full-Time Writing03:25 - Early Publishing Challenges and Successes08:45 - Rapid Release Strategy and Productivity15:48 - World Building and Magic Systems20:16 - Reviving Portal and Harem Fiction26:23 - Marketing and Pen Names29:07 - Amazon Ecosystem Insights29:25 - The Myth of Overnight Success29:54 - Embrace Your First Book’s Flaws30:40 - The Importance of Writing the Next Book31:02 - Learning from Romance Authors31:35 - Taking Responsibility for Your Book’s Performance31:56 - Navigating Reviews and Criticism33:10 - Understanding Grammar and Writing Style37:51 - Effective Book Marketing Strategies45:26 - Advice for Aspiring Male Authors47:04 - Building a Sustainable Writing Career48:29 - Connecting with Readers and Fans52:50 - The Value of Daily AffirmationsAbout This PodcastNonsense-Free Kristin is where independent authors and creators learn to build their platforms, master their craft, and create on their own terms—without begging for permission from gatekeepers who hate them.New episodes weekly.Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Music. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.fictionalinfluence.com/subscribe
