In this wide-ranging conversation, Mick and David dive into their personal reading habits as men, as book-lovers, and as supporters of great independent publishing. They explore their current reads—from Austrian history and Michigan ghost ships to literary fiction and classics like The Little Prince—discussing how reading can serve as both intellectual pursuit and spiritual practice.

They examine the stereotype that "men don't read" (spoiler: they definitely do), and share their preferences for physical books over screens, not just because it's "sexier" (according to a recent NYT headline), but because it takes us "out of ourselves" in ways that feel deeply meaningful. They also touch on the changing landscape of book publishing through the rise of independent voices on platforms like Substack and Tumblr, answering the challenge of finding thoughtful analysis in our chaotic political moment.

Whether you're looking for reading recommendations, curious about the evolving book industry, or just want to eavesdrop on two literary professionals shooting the sh#t about their favorite escape from daily life, this episode offers plenty of food for thought—and a good reminder that reading is sexier than staring at a phone.

Publishing Disrupted explores how the book world is changing and how writers can adapt to meet new challenges.

Mick Silva is at micksilva.com

David Morris is at DavidRMorris.com

Lake Drive Books is LakeDriveBooks.com

New episodes every other week.

The publishing industry isn’t just changing—it’s completely fragmenting. In our latest episode, we talked about why two former Christian publishing professionals (Mick Silva and David Morris), have shifted so strongly toward a new model of authors aiming not for everyone, but for the readers that specifically fit them. Based on Kevin Kelly’s “1,000 True Fans“ concept, this episode, as usual, gave us plenty to discuss.

• Why a massive reach isn't necessary anymore to succeed as an author
• Why you need to be able to define your specific audience in a sentence
• How to start finding those "1000 true fans"

Publisher and Literary Agent David Morris is at DavidRMorris.me

Editor Mick Silva is at MickSilva.com

Subscribe for more, and join the conversation at Substack: publishingdisrupted.substack.com

In this episode of Publishing Disrupted, co-hosts Mick Silva and David Morris sit down with their first-ever guest, author Cara Meredith, for an honest and layered conversation about life as a working writer navigating faith, publishing, and purpose.

Cara is the author of the new book Church Camp: Bad Skits, Cry Night, and How White Evangelicalism Betrayed a Generation, a memoir-meets-cultural-critique that examines how white evangelical institutions shaped—and in many cases harmed—a generation.

Together, we unpack what it really means to pursue writing as vocation, the spiritual and professional toll of publishing in evangelical spaces, and what happens when a flagship evangelical outlet publishes a highly critical review. Cara also shares the practical realities of marketing your own book, building authentic author relationships, and sustaining creativity in the midst of competing demands.

This is a rich, reflective, and inspiring conversation for writers, creatives, and anyone trying to live with integrity in the shifting landscape of faith and publishing.

🧵 What We Talk About in This Episode:

• Cara’s new book: Church Camp: Bad Skits, Cry Night, and How White Evangelicalism Betrayed a Generation
• Her “three-legged stool” approach to life and vocation as a writer
• Navigating the shift from evangelical to progressive publishing
• How to build author relationships and leverage your network
• Dealing with criticism and reviews that misrepresent your work
• Setting boundaries, taking breaks, and staying grounded
• Disrupting the norms of religious publishing—for good

🔗 Episode Links

• Cara Meredith’s website: https://www.carameredith.com
• Buy Cara’s book, Church Camp: Broadleaf Books – Church Camp
• Mick Silva's editing & coaching: https://www.micksilva.com
• David Morris' publishing and agenting: https://davidrmorris.me

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👉 https://publishingdisrupted.substack.com/

We explore how publishing is changing—and how writers can stay grounded and grow through the disruption.