Envelope Books Publisher Stephen Games
Envelope Books Publisher Stephen Games

J Hirtle The Last Storyteller

Host Jim Hirtle talks with publisher Stephen Games of Envelope Books about the realities of getting published, from submissions and editing to covers and marketing. The discussion shares blunt truths and practical advice for indie and aspiring authors facing a crowded, often unforgiving book market.

InformativeHonestEncouragingAuthenticEye-opening

54:18•28 May 2026

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Envelope Books’ Stephen Games on Myths, Manuscripts and the Tough Love of Publishing

Episode Overview

Traditional publishing is often closed and unresponsive, so smaller presses like Envelope Books try to offer faster, more respectful feedback.
Authors are expected to help market their books through events, talks, and online presence; writing alone is no longer enough.
Manuscripts are frequently too long, too profane, or overwritten, and tightening the prose usually makes the story stronger.
Titles, subtitles and descriptions must work for search engines as well as readers, making effective keywords crucial.
Vanity publishers can produce expensive, badly made books, so writers need to be cautious about where they invest their money.

“"Your primary audience is not the reader. Your primary audience is Google's bots."”

How do individuals from all walks of life battle addiction to rejection, self-doubt, and a brutal publishing market? This chat between host Jim Hirtle and Envelope Books founder Stephen Games pulls back the curtain on what really happens between a manuscript and a finished book. Aimed squarely at independent and aspiring authors, the conversation breaks down the myths around traditional publishing.

Stephen explains how Envelope Books grew out of frustrated writers contacting him through his magazine Book Launch, tired of agent websites that may as well say, "go away, we don't want you" and publishers who never reply. His antidote? Respect and honesty – including a promise to reply within 24 hours.

You’ll hear Stephen’s very direct approach to submissions – "just send the goddamn manuscript" – and why he can usually tell within a page if a book has "the legs" to go the distance. He talks about the dangers of overusing swearing as a crutch, the curse of "purple prose", and the hard truth that many manuscripts are simply far too long for today’s distracted readers.

For anyone dreaming of being published, there’s plenty of practical guidance: authors must help with marketing, covers absolutely matter, and titles and descriptions need to work for Google’s bots as much as for human readers. Stephen also warns about vanity publishers who "abuse" innocent writers with ugly, amateurish books after taking their money.

The tone stays frank but encouraging, with Jim sharing his own missteps – from a single swear word costing him a review to spotting painful formatting issues in self-published books. If you’ve ever wondered whether your story stands a chance in a crowded market, this conversation might be the reality check (and motivation) you need to keep writing, trimming, and hitting send. So, what would you change in your own manuscript after hearing this?

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