Dreaming of a traditional book deal but feeling totally lost about how to actually get there?
Well, good news.
In this episode, I’m sitting down with book broker Randy Peyser, who has spent nearly three decades helping authors land deals with traditional publishers. Randy shares what’s working right now in publishing, what agents and editors are really looking for and how to position both your book and your platform so you’re taken seriously.
Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, this conversation gives you a clear-eyed, encouraging look at the business side of books—without crushing your own personal magic.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• What a book broker is and how Randy acts as a connector between authors, agents, and publishers
• Why she won’t pitch anything that isn’t polished, “stellar,” and clearly sellable
• The current word count realities publishers are quietly using (including why many don’t want books over ~80K words)
• Why nonfiction lives or dies on outcome-driven titles and a clear promise to the reader
• What makes fiction stand out in an oversaturated market—and why your opening pages matter so much
• How platform and engagement are evaluated behind the scenes (including tools like SocialBlade and what agents check while you’re pitching)
• Smart ways to build visibility before your book is even out—like podcasts, newsletters, and focused social content
• How conferences, pitch sessions, and tight, two-minute pitches can accelerate your chances of getting noticed
• Randy’s hilarious and inspiring story of how her book Crappy to Happy ended up in Eat Pray Love
• Her current project, Bald Courage, and why legal permissions matter when you’re writing about real people
• The mindset shift from “my book is an option” to “my book is a priority”—and why that changes everything
About Randy Peyser
Randy Peyser is a book broker and the founder of Author One Stop. After working as an editor-in-chief in the Mind–Body–Spirit magazine world, she transitioned into helping authors land traditional book deals. Over nearly 30 years, she’s developed deep relationships with literary agents and publishers, and now pitches both nonfiction and fiction projects—often securing multiple offers and even six-figure deals for her clients. Randy also oversees a team of highly vetted editors and ghostwriters and is currently working on her own book, Bald Courage:
Gentle Wisdom on the Chemo Journey. Resources
• Randy’s website: Author One Stop – https://www.authoronestop.com
• Social media metrics tool: https://www.socialblade.com (check your own engagement the way publishers do)
• Look for in-person pitch opportunities like the Writer’s Digest Conference and other agent “speed dating” or pitch sessions in your genre
Listen + Subscribe
You can listen to this episode of Get Writing with Liz Mugavero wherever you get your podcasts.
If this conversation gave you hope, a nudge, or a new way to look at your own “drawer novel,” it would mean the world if you:
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And if you’re craving a little more support, come hang out with me inside The Creativity Lab— it’s where we write together, keep each other accountable, and make space for the kind of progress that actually feels good.