Rejection to Recognition: The Tenacity Behind Dick Wybrow’s Best-Selling Success

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Dick Wybrow on Writing the Cain Series, Independent Publishing and Marketing Books Through Reader Relationships

Dick Wybrow is a best-selling independent fantasy author, a former television producer for CNN and Discovery, and a former stand-up comedian and radio host. In this episode of Your Brand Amplified, he tells Anika Jackson how he kept writing through years of rejections and a demanding TV career until his Cain series found readers and was optioned for TV and film. His core lesson: persistence and genuine relationships with readers matter more than any single marketing tactic.

How did Dick Wybrow become a best-selling author?

Dick Wybrow started writing as a teenager and collected many rejections over the years. He kept writing while working in television production, including roles at CNN and Discovery. A comedy zombie book in 2012 was his first breakthrough. He later moved into fantasy fiction with the Cain series, which focuses on character relationships and emotional depth more than supernatural elements. After roughly 20 years of setbacks, the Cain series was optioned for TV and film adaptation.

Born in Canada, Wybrow spent 35 years in the United States before moving to Auckland, New Zealand. He also manages narcolepsy, which led him to write in the early hours before his day job.

What did television and stand-up teach him about marketing?

Television taught Wybrow the importance of self-promotion. The industry's competitiveness built his confidence and a personal brand, both of which help him now as an independent author who runs his own marketing. Stand-up and radio taught him to take criticism with grace and not let negativity stop him.

How does Dick Wybrow use social media with readers?

Wybrow uses social media to build relationships and listen to readers rather than just promote. Reader feedback directly shaped the development of his third book. He sees a role for AI in generating ideas and supporting advertising, but he holds that creativity and original storytelling remain human work.

Key takeaways

• Wybrow's Cain series was optioned for TV and film after about 20 years of rejections and setbacks.
• Skills from television, stand-up and radio, especially self-promotion and handling criticism, transfer to independent publishing.
• Listening to readers on social media builds loyalty and can improve the work itself.
• AI can help with ideas and ads, but Wybrow sees storytelling as human work.
• A consistent writing routine, even early mornings before a day job, keeps a long-term writing career moving.

Listen to Anika Jackson's full conversation with Dick Wybrow on Your Brand Amplified.