How to Write a Bestseller Without Relying on Amazon, with David Viergutz

The Charlene Gisele Show

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In this jaw-dropping episode for every aspiring author, I sit down with author and entrepreneur David Viergutz, who went from being a full-time police officer donating blood plasma to pay for book covers to building a multi-million-dollar publishing empire.

From revealing the heartbreaking moment an English teacher crushed his childhood dream of being a writer to explaining how he sold his product for $200,000 before it was even written, David pulls back the curtain on the harsh realities of the publishing world. He challenges the "gatekeepers" and exposes the truth about Amazon, proving that success lies in a business mindset, not just a good story.

Whether you're an attorney afraid to publish a book, a corporate professional editing a manuscript for years, or an aspiring author told you need a publisher, this conversation will revolutionize how you think about writing and success and show you there's a different way to build your legacy.

What we cover:

✔️ The origin story: from childhood writer to police officer and back again

✔️ The "you have to be born with talent" lie that stole 20 years of his life

✔️ Why most self-publishing advice is useless platitudes

✔️ The truth about the Amazon algorithm and why it’s not your friend

✔️ Why "people will pay anything to feel something"

✔️ How to get $200,000 in pre-sales with just an idea

✔️ The psychological toll of chasing perfection

✔️ The "good enough" book strategy and why it beats a "perfect" one

✔️ How to build a successful publishing business from scratch

✔️ The myth of the novelist: why abandoning vanity leads to millions

✔️ The future of publishing: a million letters a month and why you should care

David isn't just a writer; he's an entrepreneur who proves that success is about solving problems and creating an emotional experience, not just writing a good book.

Timestamps:

03:35 – Fourth grade crushing defeat: "you have to be born with talent"

11:28 – Blood plasma donations: the literal sacrifice for book covers

32:50 – The feeling economy: why people pay thousands for Taylor Swift

35:13 – Scare Mail genesis: solving the "nothing good in the mailbox" problem

42:12 – Amazon relationship reality: why the algorithm will never love you

52:08 – The perfectionist manuscript trap: when "good enough" beats “perfect”

Resources:

David Viergutz's horror novels and Scare Mail

Epistolary.com - story letter publishing expansion

Not Okay - David's recommended starting book

📲 Connect with Me:

🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charl%C3%A8ne-gis%C3%A8le-bourliout/