Second Cup of Joe...and John

This Publisher Has 100 NYT BEST SELLERS | Jonathan Merkh

August 2, 2026·40 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

What does it take to create a New York Times bestseller? Jonathan Merkh would know. The longtime publishing executive has helped launch more than 100 bestsellers, including 13 that reached #1, and now he's turning the publishing world on its head. Growing up as a missionary kid in France, Merkh shares how an unlikely path led him to Nashville and a career working with everyone from Brad Paisley and Mike Rowe, to Joan Lunden. He also explains why authors today don't necessarily need atraditional publisher, why AI has every publisher paying attention, and what separates a good book from one you simply can't put down.AMONG THE TOPICS: WHY HIS FIRST RIDE IN A FORD F-150 HAPPENED IN FRANCE, THE $40,000 QUESTION EVERY ASPIRING AUTHOR SHOULD ASK, WHAT AI CAN'T WRITE (YET), WHY A GREAT BOOK IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT DOWN, THE DANGERS OF 120 MPH ON THE NATCHEZ TRACE, AND THE ONE WORD EVERY DAD SHOULD SAY MORE OFTEN.This show is brought to you by Two Rivers Ford: The South's Most Trusted Ford Dealer. tworiversford.comThis show is produced by DEADLEG Mediawww.chaseakers.com#podcast #fyp #Nashville

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