You have a book idea. Maybe you've had it for years. But here's what nobody tells you — the idea is not enough. Before a literary agent finishes reading your pitch, they're already Googling you. And if what they find doesn't back you up, that email gets closed.

In this episode of Unknown to Known, Jamie Maglietta sits down with Sally Ekus — literary agent, founder of The Ekus Group, and author of the Substack newsletter The Not So Secret Agent — to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to land a traditional book deal. Sally has placed authors with Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and more, and she is one of the most transparent voices in publishing today.

In this conversation they cover the full road to becoming a published author — from comp research at your local bookstore to building a platform before you ever send a pitch. Sally also breaks down the difference between traditional, hybrid and self-publishing, explains what the 1-3% audience conversion rule means for your follower count, shares the behind-the-scenes story of how The Lao Kitchen came to be, and delivers a serious warning about using AI in your query letter — because she can spot it immediately and it's an automatic pass.

This one is for every person who has ever said "I should write a book." Today we figure out what's standing between you and that deal.

🔗 Sally's Substack — Not So Secret Agent: https://substack.com/@sallyekusThe Ekus Group: https://ekusgroup.com⚠️ Writers Beware (author scam resource): https://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/

Connect on IG: https://www.instagram.com/sallyekus/

Proposal Guide: https://notsosecretagent.substack.com/p/cookbook-proposal-guidelines?r=6lue7

Mentioned: Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) - https://www.ibpa-online.org/

Connect with Jamie:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamie_maglietta/

Show Clips: https://www.instagram.com/get_oncamready/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-maglietta/

Website & Visibility Program:
Visibility Program: https://www.oncamready.com/

Resources + Links:
(ON CAM) Ready Equipment: https://shorturl.at/Ca5tg

Substack:
Newsletter: https://oncamready.substack.com

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Record your content with Riverside: https://riverside.sjv.io/09VWrE

Discount Code: OCR15

VidIQ (Affiliate): https://vidiq.com/oncamready

Your personal brand isn't just for people anymore — it's for the algorithm. In this episode of Unknown to Known, Jamie Maglietta sits down with Krissy and Claire of K&C Creative, a sister duo specializing in branding, web design, and business strategy. Together they break down why so many entrepreneurs are having a brand identity crisis online, how AI is now reading and judging your digital presence, and the three-part framework — Clarity, Cohesion, and Confidence — that transforms how you show up and get booked. Whether you're launching a website for the first time, rebuilding your brand, or trying to attract press and clients through social media, this conversation is your roadmap. Plus, they share their new AI-powered Brand Brain tool and how to use it to fast-track your brand identity before you ever touch a logo or color palette.

🌐 Visit K&C Creative: https://www.kandccreative.com/

🎙️ Subscribe to Unknown to Known on your podcast platform of choice📩 Did a social media post land you traditional media? Tell Jamie: hello@oncamready.com

Connect with Jamie:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamie_maglietta/

Show Clips: https://www.instagram.com/get_oncamready/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-maglietta/

Website & Visibility Program:Visibility Program: https://www.oncamready.com/

Resources + Links:

Substack: Newsletter: https://oncamready.substack.com

Riverside (Affiliate):Record your content with Riverside: https://riverside.sjv.io/09VWrE

Discount Code: OCR15

VidIQ (Affiliate): https://vidiq.com/oncamready

YouTube Channels:

Main Channel (ON CAM Ready Media): https://www.youtube.com/@oncamready
Podcast Links:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unknown-to-known-presented-by-on-cam-ready/id1707162005

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5yEIQWeK7aLHtPSBBbSPcz?si=61b241d434f84578Think Like a Producer: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5w84zVVaquAcIDaes41NoMHDjtllgkCW

What does it actually take to grow on YouTube and turn it into a full-time creator business? Steven Robles did it — and in this episode of Unknown to Known, he breaks down exactly how. With over 200,000 subscribers and a thriving paid community, Steven shares his thumbnail strategy, how he balances evergreen vs. trending content, why he separates his short form from long form, and what he wished he knew about monetization earlier. Host Jamie Maglietta also gets her own channel workshopped live — so if you've ever wondered whether to split your content across two channels, this one's for you. Whether you're just starting out or trying to level up, Steven's journey is proof that consistency, experimentation, and commitment are the real formula for YouTube success.Chapters0:00 Introduction — Meet Steven Robles1:13 Steven's Creator Journey & Going Independent3:02 How Steven Grew to 200K YouTube Subscribers4:23 Thumbnail Strategy: What Actually Works5:47 A/B Testing Thumbnails & Titles6:17 Tools for YouTube Growth: VidIQ, TubeBuddy & YouTube Studio7:13 Evergreen vs. Trending Content: How to Balance Both 9:38 How Often Should You Post on YouTube?12:19 Should You Have Two Separate YouTube Channels? 13:41 How the YouTube Algorithm Responds to Consistency of Format15:36 Workshopping Jamie's Channel Live23:07 Shorts: Separate Channel or Same Channel?24:31 Steven's Instagram Growth Strategy (3K to 30K Fast) 26:56 YouTube on TV: How to Create for the Living Room 29:35 Educate, Inspire, or Entertain — What's Your Value? 30:39 Growing in a Saturated Niche Like Tech34:11 The Reality of YouTube Monetization36:53 Affiliate Revenue, Memberships & Multiple Income Streams42:50 Discovery vs. Relationship Platforms — A Key Creator Strategy43:44 Overcoming Self-Doubt & Committing to the Journey 48:31 Steven's Shortcuts Community on Circle50:55 Launching a Paid Course — What Worked & What Didn't 53:49 Final Thoughts & Wrap Up🔗 CONNECT WITH JAMIE📱 Social Media Instagram (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/jamie_maglietta/ Instagram (Show Clips): https://www.instagram.com/get_oncamready/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-maglietta/ Substack Newsletter: https://oncamready.substack.com🌐 Website & Programs Website + Visibility Program: https://www.oncamready.com/🎙️ Record & Grow Your Content 🎬 Record with Riverside (Affiliate): https://riverside.sjv.io/09VWrE 💰 Use code OCR15 for a discount📈 VidIQ — Grow on YouTube (Affiliate): https://vidiq.com/oncamready🛠️ Gear & Resources (ON CAM) Ready Equipment List: https://shorturl.at/jzqv3