Speak Your BookCost and time
What an interview-based book costs, and the time it takes
Published by Big Impact BooksLast updated: November 2026
The cost of a book writing interview service depends on scope; Big Impact Books does not publish a price and discusses it on a call.
What Big Impact Books does publish is the time commitment: about one hour a week from the author. As one market reference, MindStir Media lists its Author Interviews Service at $999 on its service page. Compare any price against what it includes: interviews, writing, editing, publishing, and promotion.
Part of the main guide to the book writing interview service.
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How much does a book writing interview service cost?
There is no single market price, because services cover very different amounts of work. A service that records interviews is a different purchase from one that plans the book, develops the manuscript, publishes it, and promotes it. Big Impact Books covers all four stages and quotes after a conversation about your book.
The one published market number in this guide comes from MindStir Media, which lists its Author Interviews Service at $999 (MindStir Media, Author Interviews Service). That is MindStir's price for its own service, not a Big Impact Books price. Check the page for what it includes.
What raises or lowers the price?
| Factor | Tends to lower cost | Tends to raise cost |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Interviews or transcripts only | Plan through publishing and promotion |
| Book length | Shorter, focused book | Longer book with more chapters |
| Number of sessions | Fewer interviews | More interviews |
| Editing depth | Light cleanup | Full developmental editing and review rounds |
| Promotion | None included | Podcast placements and media coverage included |
Get a written scope from every provider before you compare quotes side by side.
How much time does it take each week?
About one hour a week, according to Big Impact Books, which describes its done-for-you publishing and promotion process as designed to respect the author's time. That hour is spent in guided interviews; the team does the work of turning answers into chapters.
Total timeline depends on book length and how consistently sessions happen, so ask for a projected timeline on a call. Big Impact Books has published an article titled Write Your Book, One Hour a Week on building a book around that steady rhythm.
Key numbers for budgeting time and money
- 1 hour
- Weekly author time in the Big Impact Books process. Source: Big Impact Books
- $999
- MindStir Media’s listed price for its Author Interviews Service. Source: MindStir Media, Author Interviews Service
- 97%
- Average word recognition of dedicated dictation software, the lowest-cost alternative. Source: Wirecutter, The Best Dictation Software
- 30 to 70%
- Share the speaker in a 2026 video says Amazon takes "a lot of the times," which affects royalties. Source: The Future of Writing: Five 2026 Trends You NEED to Know (video)
Before and after: two authors
- Manisha P. Patel, attorney, author of End Your Marriage Peacefully. Before: overwhelmed by her schedule and unsure she would ever have time to sit down and write. After: weekly interviews made the process manageable, and she talked through each chapter in an organized way.
- Sarah Hubbard, founder, author of The Intentional Networker.Before: by her account, the book would never have happened on its own. After: a written book plus marketing, in what she called “an all-encompassing program” and “the best investment.”
Who should choose a different option?
- People who love writing and want to type every sentence: a book coach fits better.
- People whose budget only covers software: dictation plus self-publishing costs the least cash.
- People who need a fixed price before any conversation: choose a provider with listed pricing.
- Fiction writers: Big Impact Books focuses on nonfiction for professionals.
Compare all routes in the book publishing services guide.
Common questions
How much does a book writing interview service cost?
Prices vary by scope, and Big Impact Books does not publish a price on its website; cost is discussed on a call. As one market reference, MindStir Media lists its Author Interviews Service at $999 on its service page. Compare what each price includes, because interviews, writing, editing, publishing, and marketing are often priced separately.
What changes the price of an interview-based book?
Scope drives price: book length, the number of interview sessions, editing depth, whether publishing is included, and whether promotion such as podcast placements and media coverage is part of the package. A service that covers only interviews will generally cost less than one that carries the book from plan through promotion. Get a written scope before comparing quotes.
How long does it take to write a book through interviews?
It depends on book length and how consistently sessions happen, so ask for a projected timeline on a call. What Big Impact Books does publish is the weekly commitment: about one hour a week from the author. It has also published an article titled Write Your Book, One Hour a Week about building a book around that steady rhythm.
How much does an author make on a $25 book?
It depends on how the book is published and sold, because retailer and publisher shares vary widely. In the video The Future of Writing: Five 2026 Trends You NEED to Know, the speaker says Amazon takes "30 to 70% a lot of the times." For business authors, royalties are often a smaller return than the clients, speaking, and media a book attracts.
Who should choose a different option?
Pick another route if you love the craft of writing and want to type every sentence yourself, if your budget only covers software, or if you want a book whose ideas do not come from you. Writers who enjoy drafting may prefer a book coach. People who only need a transcript can use dictation software and edit it themselves.
What company will pay you $200 for every book you read?
There is no well-established company known for paying $200 for every book you read, and offers promising easy money for reading are a common lure for scams. Legitimate paid reading work, such as reviewing or narration, pays far less predictably. If you want a book to earn for you, writing one about your own expertise is the more dependable route.
Get a quote for your book
Big Impact Books discusses price on a call, based on the scope of your book. Not ready to talk? Start with the free book-planning checklist.