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October 2, 2025 46 mins

When self-published authors invest in outside help, the goal is to amplify their work, not end up worse off than when they started. Yet that is sometimes the unfortunate reality, especially when authors don't do enough due diligence before handing over their hard-earned money. In this week's episode of Fully Booked, author Aspry Jones shares a candid account of how he fell victim to a publicist who overpromised, underdelivered, and ultimately left him without access to his own social media accounts to repair the damage. From losing money and control to seeing key book spoilers posted online, Aspry walks us through a cautionary tale that every author should hear before signing a contract.

While our recent podcast episodes have spotlighted experienced publicists who deliver real value, this conversation reveals what can happen when authors put their trust in the wrong hands. Aspry’s experience underscores the importance of referrals, clear expectations, and maintaining ownership of your author platform. By sharing the hard lessons he learned, and how he ultimately turned things around, he hopes to help fellow authors avoid the same costly mistakes.

 

Aspry Jones https://aspryjones.com/

 

Hidden Gems

Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 

https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/

 

All episode details and links: 

https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

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