We’re back with episode 14 of our Before the Bestseller book series, where we dive into one of the most creative parts of the book, the section where we talk about bold, outside-the-box marketing moves. This is for the moments when standard strategies just don’t cut it and you’re ready to try something a little more daring.

We’ll explore how some bestselling authors turned unexpected tactics into powerful book-selling engines, marketing ideas that don’t follow traditional book promotion paths. Think car washes, thank-you pages, handwritten notes, rubber chickens (yes, really), and how speaking gigs can double as book distribution channels if you play your cards right. They’re not paint-by-numbers, they’re wild colors spilled on a blank canvas.

Because sometimes, the difference between a good book and a breakout one isn’t just the content, it’s the courage to market it in a way no one else has. Let’s talk moonshots.