SPA Girls Podcast

Wondering how to get started with Facebook ads, but not sure where to start? Join us for today’s podcast with Facebook ads guru, Nicholas Erik! Nicholas is a science fiction author with more than 20 books to his name. He’s also written books for authors including The Ultimate Guide to Book Marketing and The Ultimate Guide to Productivity, as well as running courses about Facebook Ads, Amazon Ads and BookBub Ads for authors. He was awesome to talk to and gave a huge amount of useful information for authors – this is one of those episodes you really don’t want to miss! You can find Nicholas at www.nicholaserik.com

After logging time as a music journalist, playwright, and radio writer, Theodora Taylor fell in love with penning hot books with heart. Since deciding to become an author, she’s published 54 books in a range of genres—but with one thing in common—universal fantasies.  When not thinking of ways to write and sell even more hot books with heart, she enjoys spending time with her amazing family, going on date nights with her wonderful husband, learning German, watching ALL the Shonda Rhimes shows ever, and attending parties thrown by others.  She’s here to talk about universal fantasies with us today—what they are, and how you can use them to get your books on the bestseller lists!   Some examples of universal fantasies •          Banging the beast  •          Hot guy likes the geeky girl •          Makeover scene •          Love triangles  •          Not just any gift – the right gift  •          Wounded main character in need of love  •          Fixer upper Listen to What makes Universal Fantasies so powerful for authors and why readers love them so much. Find Theodora at: https://theodorataylor.com/ email at tt @ 7figurefiction.com Buy Theodora’s Book 💗 Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls! * Visit SpaGirlsPodcast.com for full show notes and all previous episodes * Subscribe on your fav podcast app – search “SPA Girls Podcast” * Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors on our website * Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @SPAGirlsPodcast * Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

How To Stop Being Your Own Worst Enemy! The Key To Success Is Between Your Ears! Linda Pucci, Ph.D is a retired psychologist who has turned into a romance novelist (under a separate penname).  After working with people in therapy for 35 years and coaching for 20, she’s realized the key to building lasting relationships and being happy involves letting go of emotional baggage – something her fiction demonstrates through character arcs.  Today Linda is here to talk about how we as creatives can overcome our limiting beliefs, fears of success, failure, being an imposter et al and how we can STOP being our own worst enemy! “I believe that all people carry within themselves the resources to solve their life’s challenges. They just don’t know how to access them. I help them find those inner resources and stand back as they change their lives.” – Linda Pucci, Ph.D. You’ll find this episode incredibly insightful and encouraging – one you’ll listen to again and again especially for the guided meditation! Don’t forget to let Linda and ourselves know what shift you will have experienced in 2021! You can reach Linda via email at linda @ innerresourcecenter.com Linda’s romance penname: Cassidy Wells http://www.cassidywells.com/ 💗 Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls! * Visit SpaGirlsPodcast.com for full show notes and all previous episodes * Subscribe on your fav podcast app – search “SPA Girls Podcast” * Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors on our website * Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @SPAGirlsPodcast * Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

Feeling a bit bombarded by conflicting advice re writing and self-publishing? Got FOMO about courses and conferences others are experiencing, but you can’t afford or attend? And how do you figure out what advice works best for YOU? Friends, you’re not alone – we’ve been there too. This episode we discuss The Best (and Worst!) Advice and …WHERE is it coming fromWHO is giving itHOW it can derail youHOW it can also put you on the right pathWHAT filters to apply so you’re listening to the right adviceWHAT are the credentials of the advice giver?WHAT should you do when you’re overwhelmed by advice 💗 Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls! Visit SpaGirlsPodcast.com for full show notes and all previous episodes Subscribe on your fav podcast app – search “SPA Girls Podcast” Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors on our website Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @SPAGirlsPodcast Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

Author and host of Become A Writer Today Podcast, Bryan Collins, joins the SPA today from Ireland. We love our Irish guests and are super stoked to welcome him here today to talk all things Creativity and how to pull yourself out of a creative rut. Topics covered include finding the time to write, author expectations, free writing, conquering writers block, simple ways to improve productivity and the power of crafting a personal mission statement for your own writing. About Bryan Bryan Collins: Bryan fell in love with the art of writing when he was just 7 years old. After failing as an Irish journalist and short story writer, he drifted in and out of other jobs and spent a year as a stay-at-home Dad. Broke, lacking self-belief and feeling a lack of purpose, Bryan decided to go back into writing but this time focused on learning skills like copywriting and content marketing. He became an award-winning senior content marketer for Sage – one of the top accounting software companies in the world and launched ‘Become a Writer Today’ which generated 2,500,000 page views over the past year. He’s been a guest writer for major publications like Lifehacker, FastCompany, and Copyblogger. He’s also a former Forbes contributor. His writing online has been viewed over 10 million times He’s also the author of several bestselling books including, ‘The Art of Writing a Non-Fiction Book’, ‘The Power of Creativity’, and ‘Yes, You Can Write’. On his top-ranked podcast, Bryan has interviewed NY Times bestselling authors including Daniel Pink, James Clear, and Joanna Penn. Bryan’s website is: http://www.becomeawritertoday.com/ Resources mentioned: Books: Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon Essays by Joan Didion (Essays — Joan Didion)  https://www.thejoandidion.com/essays/ Story by Robert McKee Seven Habits of Effective People by Stephen Covey

This episode we’re sharing the key things that have moved our writing careers, and creativity, forward so far in 2021. It’s a typical “SPA Girls on the couch” episode with some raw honesty and bad humor thrown into the mix. We cover a lot of ground, so grab a coffee (or whatever you prefer) and get comfortable. SHOW NOTES: The first topic we all agree is super important – How to celebrate (and remember) your achievements. And why you should! Working less for more $$ How asking for help has worked The difference between writing speed and creativity Levelling up editing and the surprising result Recovering from being a control freak A checklist let down Gifts for your future self Loving what you do. We hope you enjoy the episode as much as we did. Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls! Visit www.spagirlspodcast.com for full show notes and all previous episodes Subscribe on your favorite podcast app—search “SPA Girls Podcast” Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors on our website Subscribe and watch episode recordings on YouTube @SPAGirlsPodcast Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

Jacob McMillen is a professional copywriter, content strategist & freelancing coach and he’s here to share how we can use the power of clever copywriting to connect with our readers and build sales. We often struggle with what to write in our newsletters and social media posts in a way that’s authentic and reaches the right readers. And then there’s the copywriting skill needed for our book blurbs and advertising. So we’re thrilled to have an expert in the SPA today! This is a Copywriting Tip-packed episode that’ll empower you to up your copy skills tenfold! Lots of great nuggets of wisdom, including: The Two Fundamental Rules of Copywriting: Understand Your Audience and Be Clear The Light Bulb moment for blurb writing we uncovered talking with Jacob (hint: what got you excited to write the story in the first place?) Facebook ad text – why it’s different to book description and other copywriting Why the goal of your blurb writing is to reduce uncertainty in readers You can learn more about Jacob McMillen at: https://jacobmcmillen.com/ Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls! Visit SpaGirlsPodcast.com for full show notes and all previous episodes Subscribe on your fav podcast app – search “SPA Girls Podcast” Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors on our website Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @SPAGirlsPodcast Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

Today we talk about writing successful trilogies, and successful settings with award-winning author Jayne Castel. Jayne writes epic Historical and Fantasy Romance. Her vibrant characters, richly researched historical settings and action-packed adventure romance transport readers to forgotten times and imaginary worlds. Jayne is the author of a number of best-selling series. In love with all things Scottish, she writes romances set in both Dark Ages and Medieval Scotland. When she’s not writing, Jayne is reading (and re-reading) her favorite authors, cooking Italian feasts, and going on long walks with her husband. She lives in New Zealand’s beautiful South Island. www.jaynecastel.com ❤️ Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls! ➡️ Visit SpaGirlsPodcast.com for full show notes and all previous episodes 🔍 Subscribe on your fav podcast app – search “SPA Girls Podcast” 📧 Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors Get your FREE Cheat Sheet! You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: Podcast Episodes ✔️ Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ How To Self-Publish with the SPA Girls ✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

If you’ve been considering taking the plunge into Amazon’s new serials platform, Kindle Vella (and yes, Wendy asked if they’d named it after her), then this is the episode for you! We talked to Virginia Milner, the principal product manager for Kindle Direct Publishing, and leader of the Kindle Vella project, all about the new platform. She explained how Kindle Vella – which launched in July 2021 to readers – works, how authors are already using it to their advantage, and the possible ways that Kindle Vella could be used by authors in the future to broaden their readership, and sell more books.  It was an awesome episode, and we really enjoyed having Virginia on the show to explain it all first hand!  About Virginia: Virginia Milner is a principal product manager for Kindle Direct Publishing, leading the Kindle Vella product, business, and marketing teams. Virginia’s previous projects at Amazon include Great on Kindle and helping independent brands build their business selling on Amazon. Virginia started her career in the Bay Area working in public relations at LaunchSquad helping early stage startup companies, including Okta, Mindflash, and sharethis, tell their stories. She has a BA from Columbia University in New York and an MBA from the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley. A San Francisco native, she now lives in Seattle with her husband, son, and lhasa apso dog Lola. To find out more about Kindle Vella click this link to head over to Amazon. Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls! Subscribe on your fav podcast app – search “SPA Girls Podcast” Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors on our website Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @SPAGirlsPodcast Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

We’re delighted to welcome back Roseanne Cheng of Evergreen Authors to the SPA for this special two-part interview. In this episode we follow on from Roseanne’s approach outlined in EP306 (go listen if you haven’t already!) This is another power-packed show with tips that blew our minds! We cover:Pinterest marketing secrets for authorsWhy doing Less is betterHow to create your own marketing plan around what brings you joyThe “bumper sticker test”Tough truths: Every bestselling author is marketing their books and whyMaking conscious decisions about social media and what you can let go Your author platform and the two vital ingredients every author needs: a website (basic is fine) and a newsletter/email listHow amazon ads work with your marketing strategy – and it’s not just about building your salesWhy data is your secret weapon And finally, we also discuss how everything, including your book, has a sales cycle. About RoseanneRoseanne Cheng is the author of five books including The Evergreen Author: Master the Art of Book Marketing. She worked in publishing as a marketing director in Minneapolis for four years before founding Evergreen Authors, the first of its kind school teaching authors how to create a career as writers. You can find Roseanne at: https://www.evergreenauthors.com/

PART ONE of a two part series Today we welcome Roseanne Cheng of Evergreen Authors to the SPA and we’re going to talk about all about Book Marketing with Joy – especially for the reluctant or overwhelmed author. How do you decide what to do when people tell you to “Do All The Things”?! When the hustle is just too much, Roseanne has guidance for what works and what doesn’t. Roseanne, and her business partner Josie, run Evergreen Authors and offer courses and coaching to hundreds of authors. The Evergreen Author philosophy is that any book marketing you choose to do should bring you joy. We promise that this episode will generate a sigh of relief for many of you listening. If you’re ready to scream in frustration over learning facebook ads, tik tok dances and what on earth social media platform you should be on, listen up! About Roseanne ChengRoseanne Cheng is the author of five books including The Evergreen Author: Master the Art of Book Marketing. She worked in publishing as a marketing director in Minneapolis for four years before founding Evergreen Authors, the first of its kind school teaching authors how to create a career as writers. Websites: Roseanne’s personal website: https://roseannecheng.com/ https://www.evergreenauthors.com/

This is our second podcast with Veteran Police Detective Adam Richardson, who spent seventeen years of his almost 25-year law enforcement career as a detective. Today we talk to Adam about the police duty belt (gun belt), and what they carry on it. Adam goes into detail about each item and explains their use and when it would be needed. So strap in (see what I did there) for an amazingly informative podcast. Adam hosts The Writer’s Detective Bureau podcast where he answers questions about criminal investigation and police work posed by crime-fiction authors and screenwriters writing crime-related stories.Adam has also developed a crime fiction Guns Course for everything crime fiction authors need to know about firearms and ammunition. LINKS MENTIONED:Adam’s course: crimefictionguns.com COUPON CODE “SPA” for 10% off Book “THE TALENT CODE by Daniel Coyle https://www.amazon.com/Talent-Code-Greatness-Born-Grown/dp/055380684X Learn more from Adam at:  Writer’s Detective Bureau  where you can sign up to his All-Points Bulletin for writers.To submit a question for Adam, visit  SUBMIT A QUESTION Don’t miss his facebook group:  Facebook Groups Adam’s podcast Writer’s Detective Bureau:  ‎Writer’s Detective Bureau on Apple Podcasts ❤️ Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls! ➡️ Visit SpaGirlsPodcast.com for full show notes and all previous episodes 🔍 Subscribe on your fav podcast app – search “SPA Girls Podcast” 📧 Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors Get your FREE Cheat Sheet! You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: Podcast Episodes ✔️ Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ How To Self-Publish with the SPA Girls ✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

International bestselling author Rachael Herron joins us in the SPA today to talk to us about her writing journey, how she has created a career with multiple genres (including thriller (under R.H. Herron), mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir, and nonfiction about writing), how she deals with procrastination and blocks in her writing, and the main differences she sees between having books traditionally published and being an indie. It’s an awesome interview, and we loved having Rachael in the SPA!  You can find out more about Rachael at https://rachaelherron.com/

Are you bored, or disheartened, with your writing? Many of us hit the wall of blahhsss or burnout. When persevering and grinding through it just doesn’t work, sometimes you really need to shake things up. From writing in a completely different genre, to rekindling your creative spark, we discuss how to cleanse your writing palate. Soon you’ll be moving from the wahs to the wahoos! Lots of practical tips in this episode including:-try changing things up like font, (bigger smaller)-writing space, move around-when you get to the saggy middle. Stop, go and write a few lines of something different. A side project, or a different genre.-Are you over writing your current genre?-try a side project of something different. Are you actually bored or bored with the process? Do you need to set better goals to get you motivated?-Changing things will help freshen your mind. LIke when we eat or do something we’ve never done before. Writing several genres : This is not that easy, but fun. Two of the SPA Girls do it. Are you burnt out?-Are you making your deadlines too tight?-Is the burnout coming from the pressure you’re putting on yourself? If your books aren’t selling, is that the right genre for you?It’s not good or bad to change, because things in your life change so you need to adjust and pivot too.We all go through this in one way or another – you are not alone! Often cleansing your palate will refresh your creative and get you up and going even stronger than ever! ❤️ Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls! ➡️ Visit SpaGirlsPodcast.com for full show notes and all previous episodes 🔍 Subscribe on your fav podcast app – search “SPA Girls Podcast” 📧 Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors Get your FREE Cheat Sheet! 🖱️ You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: Podcast Episodes ✔️ Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ How To Self-Publish with the SPA Girls ✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

Cozy Mysteries are hugely popular with readers and authors alike, and Nancy J. Cohen is with us today to share her fantastic advice for writing the successful cozy. Alongside her fiction, Nancy has also written the acclaimed “how to” for cozies “Writing The Cozy Mystery”, so we’re thrilled she agreed to give us the scoop on all things cozy. We discuss: Nancy’s writing journey. How she transitioned from traditionally published to self-published Shifting from writing romance to cozies Elements of a great cozy – what to include and what readers don’t want to see Her marketing and publishing strategies About Nancy: Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring South Florida hairstylist Marla Vail. These books have won numerous awards along with her nonfiction titles, Writing the Cozy Mystery and A Bad Hair Day Cookbook. Active in the writing community, Nancy is a past president of Florida Romance Writers and Mystery Writers of America, Florida Chapter. When not busy writing, she enjoys cooking, fine dining, cruising and visiting Disney World. Visit her at NancyJCohen.com

Conventional wisdom says ‘bigger is better’ for books, but is that really true? In this episode, we discuss what different word counts and book sizes mean for successful publishers today, how you can use different sizes to your advantage, and how to find your sweet spot. The Right Size isn’t a black and white thing – in fact, there are 50 shades of writing (size) to embrace! There is NO ONE RULE for word counts: Example: The Romance Writers of America defines a novella as 20,000 to 40,000 words and a novel as a work of fiction of 40,000 words or more as determined by computer word count. The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America organization defines:Short Story: less than 7,500 words;Novelette: at least 7,500 words but less than 17,500 words;Novella: at least 17,500 words but less than 40,000 wordsNovel: 40,000 words or more. Bookbub current rule for word count needed for a featured deal:A full-length book. Novels and collections of short stories or novellas should be at least 150 pages in length, works of nonfiction at least 100 pages, cookbooks at least 70 pages, middle-grade books at least 100 pages, and children’s picture books at least 20 pages. We currently do not feature stand-alone novellas or short stories.” Uses of shorter fiction:Short stories can be published on their own or used to create anthologiesThey can be used as newsletter subscription lures READER EXPECTATION is the key to what word count you should aim forRomance readers (generally) expect a full novel to be 50,000 to 80,000 words; however, there are some popular niches such as sexy shifter romance telling the story in a shorter word count eg 35,000. Thrillers and suspense normally are 60,000 – 90,000 Epic fantasy can have 120,000 words + Cozy mysteries tend to 40,000 to 60,000 Serialized fiction tends to be around 700 – 2000 words per episodeThe new Kindle Vella program states “between 600-5,000 words” IT”S NOT SET IN STONE and TRENDS DO CHANGEAdvantage if you’re publishing exclusively with Amazon and in the Kindle Unlimited program is to have a longer word count. More pages = more $ Want more of the SPA Girls? ✔️  Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/  ✔️  You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/   ✔️ Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast  ✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast  

Join Shar, Wendy, Cher and Trudi for the 300th EPISODE of the SPA Girls Podcast! EEEEEEKKKKK!!!!! Can you believe it? It’s been a crazy ride, but we’ve loved every minute of it. 🙂 In this episode we talk about having pride in your work and being proud of everything you’ve achieved, and then how to persevere in the face of all the odds! This is a fun episode where we open up about some of the things we’ve been through over the last six years, and give our best advice for anyone looking to self publish! 

Get Results Spending $100/month (or less!) Marketing doesn’t have to mean Big Bucks spent on advertising. In fact, some of the best marketing you can do is free or low cost. If you’re just starting out there probably isn’t much left in the budget for paid marketing. We’ve been there! In this episode, we’ve dug deep to find all the tools we used instead of heavy investments—and some we still do. One thing to note, you’ll need to invest something in your marketing—if it’s not money, it’s your time. This episode we’ll cover: * Revising keywords * Tweaking your blurbs * Reach out to other authors for Facebook group intro / newsletter swaps / social media interviews * Writing another series “lead in” as a giveaway on bookfunnel * Revise your Goodreads strategy (see our interview with Alessandra Torres for ideas – https://spagirls.libsyn.com/spa-girls-ep235-interview-with-alessandra-torre)  * Run some social media giveaways using ebook / bookfunnel * Review your author bio * Refresh your website and social media graphics with canva * Create quotes from your books and book review quotes for social media on canva (for example)  * Join another social media platform and have fun – try Tik Tok – front facing videos “raw” are very popular and effective when done well. Free advertising! * Set up a free store on a merchandise site like Cafe Press, create some “reader focussed” designs yourself in canva (eg quotes if you’re not artistic) and use them as giveaways and for sale  * Run a newsletter subscriber – specific poll or competition to encourage sharing of your social media posts * If in KU, use your 5 day free runs on Bk1s and run as many ads as you can afford on Day 1 with smaller advertiser lists like book vixens, book sends, book gorilla etc. * Paid per click ads like bookbub ads, Facebook ads and AMS ads generally cost more than $100/month so we’re focusing on lower priced ad lists with free book, concentrated over the 5 days, to give you a sales boost on back list * Box set your existing series books to create another product  * Research the top 100 of your genre every day for the next 90 days – see who’s on top, who’s upcoming, what covers and what blurbs are selling. There’ll be things you can learn in there. *Not selling? Get honest feedback on whether you’re hitting the market tropes / reader expectations / cover expectations from other authors before you invest more time and energy into writing something off market *Goal is to make more money so you can invest back into your business. The key is investing in Great Product though, so all the effort you put in now into understanding your market and your readers will pay off big time in the future -write a bonus epilogue that readers must sign up for your email newsletter to download. Try doing it in public – start a blog about your journey into publishing and try to engage with fans right from the start.   Create a journey for your readers on social media – plan out a campaign that takes them from being not interested, to being engaged. How do you do that? People love to talk about themselves, ask them engaging questions.  Know your brand/readers really well. Look for the places where they’ll be. Think outside the box in terms of finding readers. If you have a book that is set on a boat, look for boating magazines that might be interested in featuring you.  Go live. Remember people don’t want perfect.  Be vulnerable. Don’t be afraid to be who you really are. People want authenticity over perfection. We hate feeling like something is too slick.  Approach local media outlets. HARO.  The Best Book Promo Sites as of Feb 21 https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/the-best-book-promotion-sites-to-promote-your-ebook/ EBOOK BOOSTER https://www.ebookbooster.com/ebook-promotion-services/ Guaranteed Listings on 15 eBook Websites and Social Media – Only $25 Free eBook Promotion Services Best for Amazon Kindle Free and Permafree eBooks Submit Your eBook to Over 40 eBook Sites and Social Media – Only $30 Hello Books $25 https://hellobooks.com/ More resource links mentioned:If This Then That https://ifttt.com Cafe Press https://www.cafepress.com Society Six https://society6.com SPA Girls Episode with Lucy Score http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep284-lucy-score-talks-reader-groups-releases-and-relationships/  Kindletrends http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep281-kindletrends-with-nat-connors/ SPA Girls Episode with Kaye Kennedy http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep283-interview-with-kaye-kennedy/ SPA Girls Episode with Danielle Romero http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep260-interview-with-danielle-annett/ Help A Reporter Out : https://www.helpareport

We’ve got a very special treat for you this episode – the incredibly talented and savvy, Ms Lucy Lennox, is in the house! Lucy saw extraordinary success straight out the gate, from when she first published her MM romance, Borrowing Blue, in November 2016. In fact, by her second month of publishing, Lucy was earning five figures per month! Since then, Lucy’s books have soared the bestseller charts consistently and she’s built an incredible career, publishing prolifically (despite a serious health challenge) and building a rabid audience for her sweet and steamy male/male gay romances. From release strategies, co-writing tips, MM romance tropes to Writing For Your Id and the power of romance beats, Lucy’s honest, no-holds-barred advice will boost your mindset and your business. In fact, we know you’ll come away just as inspired and motivated to get butt-in-chair-hands-on-keyboard we were from talking with Lucy! No matter what genre you write, this podcast is a must-listen, with something for everyone. About Lucy Lennox: After enjoying creative writing as a child, Lucy didn’t write her first novel until she was over 40 years old. Her debut novel, Borrowing Blue, was published in the autumn of 2016. Lucy has an English Literature degree from Vanderbilt University, but that doesn’t hold a candle to the years and years of staying up all night reading tantalizing novels on her own. She has one husband, three children, plays tennis, and hates folding laundry. Lucy writes male/male gay romance with heart, humor, and heat. To date she’s published 24 novels herself, 12 co-written novels across three series and numerous short stories in her series’ worlds. Find her at http://www.lucylennox.com/ Join Lucy’s facebook group Lucy’s Lair Resources Mentioned Becca Syme’s Write Better Faster course Becca Syme’s Interview on the SPA Girls Podcast Jennifer Lynn Barnes Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ RWA Talk 2018: Writing For Your Id

Dive into this amazing episode with six-figure author Fallyn Briggs, where she discusses the hot topic of writing to trend v writing to market! She has spent most of her life within the pages of a book and now she is thrilled to have the opportunity to invite people into the worlds she creates. When Fallyn is not writing sweet romances, she is traveling, eating too much cheesecake, and thinking about writing sweet romances. Fallyn says, “writing to market may have hungry readers, but writing to trend is hitting on a hot button trope, idea, theme, niche, or genre that has VERY voracious readers gobbling up that particular kind of book on a likely more limited time frame. Like Veruca Salt, they want it and they want it NOW.” You can find Fallyn at: https://fallynbriggs.com/ https://fallynbriggs.com Want more of the SPA Girls? ✔️  Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/  ✔️  You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/   ✔️ Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast  ✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast  

In this episode of the SPA Girls Podcast we talk about emotional wounds, and why they’re so important in developing your characters, and creating an awesome story! From possible wounds that you could give your characters, to how those wounds will develop the story, and how you can use them to amp up the tension, and create a story that your readers will love – we talk about it all! SHOW NOTES: Emotional Wound Thesaurus – Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi Website – Writers Helping Writers Lisa Cron – Wired For Story Michael Hauge Donald Maas Want more of the SPA Girls? ✔️  Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/  ✔️  You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/   ✔️ Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast  ✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast  

Celeste Barclay joins us to discuss finding your village and what doing so did for her. Celeste has published an incredible 27 books since 2017, primarily in historical romance. Her popular series includes the medieval The Clan Sinclair novels and The Highland Ladies series which has an impressive 15 individual books and counting.   Before becoming a full-time author, Celeste was a Social Studies and English teacher. She holds degrees in International Affairs (BA), Teaching Secondary Social Science (MAT), and Political Management (MPS). She channels that knowledge into creating rich historical romances that bring the steam. It was the third book in her first series which really took off and she’s been incredibly successful ever since. Celest says her Author Village “made her career” and today she talks to us about what that means to her, how to find and build your own village, and why it’s so important.  Celeste defines her Author Village as her own network of fellow author peers who lend friendship, support, feedback, writing and business advice. They’re like-minded people who she trusts and respects.  What a village offers:– anthology opportunities– increased business– newsletter swaps, Facebook group takeovers, etc Some ways to find your author village:attend in-person author events and signings and conferences Join author Facebook groups such as Millionaire Author Mastermind (https://www.facebook.com/groups/millionaireauthormastermind/), or Renee Rose’s – Abundance Mindset For Authors (https://www.facebook.com/groups/abundancemindsetforauthors/)To find more, search within Facebook for your own genre group The hardest part is the first step – be brave enough to reach out! Find out more about Celeste at: https://www.celestebarclay.com You’ll find all the show notes at: www.spagirlspodcast.com Keen to join the SPA Girls in a live workshop? Join our mailing list here and we’ll let you know the minute we have workshop bookings open. https://selfpublishingworkshop.co.nz/index.html Come say hi on Facebook and twitter @spagirlspodcast

This episode we’re back “on the couch” with the SPA Girls to discuss tools and resources we’ve used to cope with the ever changing climate of self-publishing, AND those big life events that we all face at times. As always, we share our own experiences and hard-won tips for rolling with the punches and utilizing change as a tool for growth and learning. Resources mentioned: BBC – Why Embracing Change Is The Key To A Good Life 🌸 SpaGirlsPodcast.com ✔️ Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/✔️ You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/✔️ Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ How To Self-Publish with the SPA Girls✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

You’re worth it and your work is worth it. This episode will blow your mind! Renee is passionate about helping authors and creatives get their mindset dialed to SUCCESS. So many nuggets of creativity and business wisdom in this episode, you’ll want to listen more than once. Scroll down for the link to join her private author’s Facebook group. USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR RENEE ROSE loves a dominant, dirty-talking alpha hero! She’s sold over a million copies of steamy romance with varying levels of kink. Her books have been featured in USA Today’s Happily Ever After and Popsugar. Named Eroticon USA’s Next Top Erotic Author in 2013, she has also won Spunky and Sassy’s Favorite Sci-Fi and Anthology author, The Romance Reviews Best Historical Romance, and has hit the USA Today list eight times with her Wolf Ranch books and various anthologies. FB – https://www.facebook.com/groups/abundancemindsetforauthors Sign up to receive a FREE ebook: subscribepage.com/alphastemp Visit her blog at www.reneeroseromance.comFollow Renee at www.Facebook.com/ReneeRoseRomance – She loves to chat with readers! Follow her on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/ReneeRoseAuthor**Follow her on Instagram at www.instagram.com/reneeroseromance 🌸 SpaGirlsPodcast.com ✔️ Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/✔️ You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/✔️ Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ How To Self-Publish with the SPA Girls✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

It’s a heated debate that occurs regularly in the bars and cafes of self-publishing-land – should you go exclusive to Amazon and get the benefits of Kindle Unlimited, or should you go wide, and get the benefits of being able to upload your books on retailers like Kobo, Apple Books and Nook, as well as Amazon?  There are arguments both ways, and in this episode of the SPA Girls Podcast, we take you through all the pros and cons of both, and try to give you some information that will help you make the decision when the time comes… 🌸 SpaGirlsPodcast.com ✔️ Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/✔️ You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/✔️ Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ How To Self-Publish with the SPA Girls✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

We absolutely have more than 9 tools we could recommend because we don’t all use the same ones. Listen to find out which ones we can’t do without and who uses the others and why. Cheryl has a few homemade spreadsheets and tables – no surprises there – which she may be inclined to share. 😉 Resources mentioned: Plottr – https://plottr.com PromoRepublic – deal via AppSumo https://appsumo.com/ Cher’s Plot Timeline spreadsheet Trello – www.trello.com Readerlinks – https://readerlinks.com Bookfunnel – https://bookfunnel.com Grammarly – https://www.grammarly.com Cher’s Income Tracker Kindletrends https://kindletrends.com/  podcast link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy89Sy_c1vM 🌸 SpaGirlsPodcast.com ✔️ Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/✔️ You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/✔️ Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ How To Self-Publish with the SPA Girls✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

Getting edits and critiques is part of every author’s career, but sometimes it can feel worse than getting stung by a wasp on your eyeball. Like directly in the middle of your eyeball. By a really big wasp. Where it would really, really hurt.  So that’s what we’re talking about this week in the SPA – how our thoughts on critiques have changed over the years, how we deal with the pangs when someone says something mean about our book babies, and why we think you can’t afford to go without critiques and edits.  SHOW NOTES: Reedsy – platform to find an editor https://www.reedsy.com Hot Tree Edits – Podcast #60 Interview with Editor Olivia Venturahttp://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep60-interview-with-an-editor/ Spa Girls Podcast #209 Interview with editor Anne Victoryhttp://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep209-editing-with-anne-victory/

Writing bestselling romance with incredible character chemistry is something that NYT Bestseller Annika Martin excels in, and today she joins us in the SPA to give ALL THE TIPS! Annika, who also publishes romantic suspense as Carolyn Crane, has seen incredible success writing two books a year (on average) and publishing wide. This episode, she reveals her plotting and writing process, getting the most “comedy” in her writing, editing tips for deepening characterization, what point of view to choose for best results, cover trends and how she approaches her newsletter and advertising. This is a wonderful discussion, deserving of a long episode, where Annika reveals some absolute nuggets of GOLD that we hadn’t heard before. You’ll love this one, even if you’re not a “funny” writer – trust us! About Annika: Annika Martin is a NYT bestselling author who loves reading and writing fun, sexy books, taking pictures of her cats, rocking out, saving animals, taking long baths, and consuming boatloads of chocolate suckers. She can be found hanging out in Minneapolis coffee shops with her awesome writer husband and tending her very wild, bee-friendly garden.Find her at www.annikamartinbooks.com Resources mentioned: Romancing The Beat by Gwen Hayes 🌸 SpaGirlsPodcast.com ✔️ Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/✔️ You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/✔️ Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ How To Self-Publish with the SPA Girls✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

We have a terrible confession to make. The SPA Girls have no idea what we’re doing when it comes to Instagram (well, Shar does, but the rest of us have no idea) and TikTok. It’s true. Shocking, I know. So we got in an expert. Someone who could tell us everything we ever wanted to know about how to post on social media to engage with readers and develop a deeper connection. (Because that’s what it’s about!)  Anne Malcom is an awesome Kiwi author, kicking butt and taking names in the Dark Romance genre. She’s also genuine, savvy, and smart, and knows all about connecting with readers in an authentic way. Which is why you need to listen to this episode!  To learn more about Anne Malcom check out her social media links here: https://linktr.ee/anne.malcomauthor Or go to her website here: https://www.AnneMalcomAuthor.com 🌸 SpaGirlsPodcast.com ✔️ Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/✔️ You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/✔️ Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

Are you one or the other, or something in between? While Trudi is an outright plotter, Cheryl considers herself a hybrid and Wendy is a confirmed pantser. Shar isn’t with us today but we know she’s tried it all! But is this a hard and fast thing? You’ll find out when and how we plot and the struggles involved with pantsing. The differences intrigue us and we think you’ll agree there is a wide scope to fit in either camp or somewhere in between.  If you’re starting out, plotting is a great way to begin your journey. In the time it takes you to write one book you might get another couple out if you plot. That said, if you’re like Wendy, no amount of plotting is going to work as you’ll end up somewhere else anyway, making the plotting a waste of time. What about research? Is that part of plotting? As we often say, writing is a journey, and your experience will never be exactly the same as anothers. Don’t let anyone tell you there is only one way or that theirs is the best way. Whatever type of writer you are, remember that no one writes like you and how you write affects your voice and your process. Before you decide what that is is, try all the ways we’ve suggested – you may be surprised! Mentioned in the podcast:  Story Grid – https://storygrid.com Michael Hauge – https://www.storymastery.com Lisa Cron – http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep-249-interview-with-story-coach-lisa-cron/ Romancing the Beat – http://gwenhayes.com/free-stuff/ Snowflake Method – https://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/articles/snowflake-method/

Resistance. Fear. Procrastination. Avoidance. Most of us writers struggle with these challenges at some point in their career (or day!). This episode we cover everything from the struggle to finish a manuscript through to fear of publishing, and everything in between. This blogpost inspired today’s episode : http://positivewriter.com/scared-writer/ Blog post by Harrison Demchick excerpt: Two Kinds of Scared WritersDuring my weekly writing group, I’ve been working on a screenplay that begins, oddly enough, with a weekly writing group. My main characters are a pair of best friends named Mindy and Lane, and what I’ve realized during the development of this story is that Mindy and Lane represent two particular kinds of scared writers. They’re the kinds we all see in our writing groups and workshops. There’s a very good chance we’re one of them. 1) Mindy is the writer who doesn’t finish. She has ideas, but she never really pursues them, because she sees every obstacle as a sign that she isn’t good enough. And if she did push on and did finish a draft of something, it would be bad, and then she’d know she could never be good enough. So she comes up with ideas, abandons them, and struggles with the next one. 2) Lane is the writer who doesn’t fight. He has a finished manuscript, but he doesn’t want to do anything with it. It’s the creative accomplishment that matters. But really, he fears what comes next—agents and publishers and rejection. Or he fears the marketing battle any author, traditionally published or self-published, must face. Maybe, at heart, he too doesn’t think he’s good enough, so he hides behind the pretense of contentment and never works for his real dreams.” ++ SPA Girls’ additions Along with Mindy and Lane, we’ve added: Mandy – Mindy’s sister, Shane – Lane’s twin brother, and Xanthe Listen up for their fears and how we can so relate (let’s not even get into Shar’s weighted hula hoop disaster) and tools for overcoming fears we’ve found that work. Recommend reading and resources: Steven Pressfield’s book War on Art and his blog SPA Girls Podcast with Amira Alvarez on Imposter Syndrome Brene Brown https://brenebrown.com/ Developing A Growth Mindset by Carol DweckDeveloping a Growth Mindset with Carol Dweck

Get ready to be inspired! Our guest today, USA Bestseller, Janie Crouch, writes passionate romantic suspense (both traditionally published and self-published) and she’s recently launched her indie Linear Tactical series to six-figure success. Janie is a winner and/or finalist of multiple romance literary awards including the Golden Quill Award for Best Romantic Suspense, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the coveted RITA© Award by the Romance Writers of America.When she’s not listening to the voices in her head—and even when she is—she enjoys engaging in all sorts of crazy adventures (200-mile relay races; Ironman Triathlons, treks to Mt. Everest Base Camp) traveling, and movies of all kinds.Her doctoral dissertation focused on how people formed and maintained relationships with sci-fi/fantasy characters. In her academic writing she was often told she needed to “dial down the drama”. She’s glad to finally be writing something where no tells her that anymore. Her favorite quote: “Life is a daring adventure or nothing.” ~ Helen Keller. In keeping with that quote, Janie’s approach to launching her romantic suspense series was GO BIG and ALL IN. She discusses her release strategy, approach to advertising – what has worked for her and what HASN’T, as well being very upfront about her income and how much she’s spending on advertising to grow her sales. Janie also discusses how she launched wide initially, then took her books into Amazon exclusively – and the pros and cons of doing that. Connecting with her readers has been a key component to her success via her readergroup and newsletter. Janie shares tips and advice on how she built her readership, and how she approaches the Business of Authoring and separates it from the creative side of writing. This is a fascinating episode and we’re sure you’ll want to listen or watch it more than once!

If you’ve ever considered starting up a Facebook reader group, then you need to listen to this episode. Lucy Score’s group is an example of a well run group that is positive, supportive and fun – everything you want in a reader group. She talks to us about how she set it up, and what makes it so great, as well as why she loves her readers so much. Lucy also gives us insight into her most recent book launch, how she connects to readers and why relationships are such an important part of her very successful Indie career. The best thing about Lucy? She’s awesome, genuine, and super smart. We love having her on the show, and we know you’ll get a whole bucket load of useful information for your author career in this podcast. Enjoy! Lucy’s official Bio: Lucy Score is a Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon bestselling author. Small town contemporary rom-coms are her lady jam and she enjoys delivering the feels with a huge side of happily ever after. Her books have been translated into several languages, making readers around the world snort laugh, swoon, and sob. Lucy lives in Pennsylvania with the devastatingly handsome Mr. Lucy and their horrible cat. In her spare time she enjoys sleeping, drinking copious amounts of coffee, and reading all the romance novels in the universe. Links mentioned: Previous SPA Girls Podcast episode with Lucy: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep232-interview-with-lucy-score/ SPA Girls Podcast episdoe with Becca Syme: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep146-interview-with-becca-syme-on-writing-better-faster/ Write Better Faster by Becca Symehttps://betterfasteracademy.com/wbf101/ SPA Girls Links: ✔️ Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/ ✔️ You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/ ✔️ Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast ✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

Success – Lucky or hard work? This episode we’re talking with Kaye Kennedy who had the successful experience we all hope for when we start out. Using her business acumen and spending years studying how to do it right, Kaye managed a million page reads in 6 months and she’s going to tell you how she did it. A CEO by day and a contemporary romance author by night, in her novels, you can always expect a happily ever after that kisses and tells. She’s had a love affair with reading and writing for as far back as she can remember, which led her to earning her degrees in English Literature. Kaye taught college composition & literature classes before switching gears entirely and becoming an entrepreneur, starting multiple businesses.  Originally from New York, Kaye now lives on the Florida coast with her husband, who often inspires her characters (she’s a sucker for an alpha with a soft side).  When she isn’t busy writing or running one of her companies, Kaye spends as much time as she can cuddling with her rescue mutt, Zeus, paddling on the water, or relaxing on the beach with a good book. Kaye’s Timeline: August 5, 2020: Published Book 1 August 18, 2020: Published Book 2 September 30, 2020: Published Book 3 November 11, 2020: Published Book 4 December 6, 2020: Published Christmas Novel (priced at $2.99) December 19, 2020: Published Box Set of books 1-4, plus exclusive short story (priced at $9.99) January 19, 2021: Published Book 5 February 18, 2021: Published Book 5.5, which is a short novella (I haven’t officially announced this yet) March 18, 2021: Published Book 6 Kaye’s website:  kayekennedy.com SPA Girls Links: ✔️ Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/ ✔️ You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/ ✔️ Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast ✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

Making six figures a year while publishing one book a year, isn’t the usual career path for most indies, but for our guest today, it absolutely is! We are thrilled to welcome Aus-Kiwi, Helen Scheuerer, to the SPA today. Helen is a talented YA Fantasy author who’s taken her traditional publishing education and transferred that to a highly successful indie career over the past four years. We discuss how Helen got into writing, her education and specifically what led her to self-publishing. Then we cover in detail her launch strategies and approach to successful publishing with an “outside the norm” annual release schedule. This is a great episode full of tips and inspiration from Helen, especially for listeners who cannot release multiple books in a year. Enjoy! About Helen Scheuerer Helen Scheuerer is the author of the bestselling YA fantasy trilogy, The Oremere Chronicles: Heart of Mist (2017), Reign of Mist (2018) and War of Mist (2019), as well as the prequel short story collection, Dawn of Mist (2020). The series has been highly praised for its strong, flawed female characters and its action-packed plots. It has often been likened to Sarah J Maas’ Throne of Glass series, and the epic #girlpower film, Wonderwoman. Helen’s love of writing and books led her to pursue a Bachelor of Creative Arts, majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Wollongong. Helen also completed a Masters of Publishing at the University of Sydney. Helen Scheurer, YA Fantasy Author Download Helen’s free prequels and learn more at: www.HelenScheuerer.com SPA Girls Links: ✔️ Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/ ✔️ You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/ ✔️ Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast ✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

This episode we’re thrilled to welcome Nat Connors, founder of Kindletrends (and fellow New Zealander #gokiwis) to the SPA! Nat has been a self-published fiction author since 2016, and is also a research academic and data scientist.  Kindletrends is a weekly data newsletter that tells you all about what’s happening across 12 different genres in the Kindle Store.  Nat started using the information in Kindletrends to help outline, write and launch books, and then started sharing it with friends. Now just recently (launched November 2020), Kindletrends is available to the self-publishing community as a whole. We’ll go over contact info at the end of the podcast, but if you can’t wait, check out kindletrends.com.  Subscribe for USD15/month (the first month is free) and every week you’ll get a data-rich newsletter on major categories in the Kindle Store, helping you plan every aspect of your publishing with confidence. *** BONUS FOR SPA GIRLS PODCAST LISTENERS – listen up for a fantastic discount code that’ll save you $5/month on your subscription – ends April 2021, so don’t delay! Nat goes into fascinating detail about: The inspiration behind Kindletrends How it works for beginners and authors with a large catalogue Benefits to your book planning process Marketing tips and tricks How to research your genre Trend spotting Bestselling blurb advice and more! We’re really excited about Kindletrends (and not just because it’s another case of Kiwi ingenuity 😉 This is going to be super helpful to all of us in different ways. As promised, here are some helpful visuals and video explanations that will help you use Kindletrends to help you write and market your books better! Here’s an example of a Kindletrends newsletter. Here’s an introductory video (2 minutes) which explains how to read a newsletter, and what you can do with it. Here’s how to do research on covers, titles and blurbs.  A Data Visualization of Romance Trends in 2020 How To Start Researching A Genre Kindletrends example: Week in Summary snapshot Kindletrends example: wordcloud from top 100 blurbs Kindletrends example : Cover Montage Kindletrends example: airtable report SPA Girls Links: ✔️ Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/ ✔️ You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/ ✔️ Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast ✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

Trying to figure out how to finish your book? Keep getting distracted or discombobulated? This is the episode for you! We break down the processes we use to plan and schedule a book, from start to finish, including everything from booking a cover designer to working with your editor. We show how easy it is to get your writing done, when you know exactly how much you have to write and by when. Join us for another information packed episode… ✔️ Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/ ✔️ You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/ ✔️ Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast ✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

For many of us, the thought of overcoming the technology barriers to self-publishing can be overwhelming and cause us to delay (or not try) publishing. Many authors have likely heard the talk about the all-important “meta data” and “algorithms” like they’re the bogeymen. Something to be avoided – and best done by someone else! WE GET IT. WE’VE BEEN THERE! But if we can do this, trust us, YOU can too! How we overcame our own barriers– mindset– you tube– courses– reading– group support– screwing up – unpublishing and republishing– out sourcing – pacing ourselves– facebook groups Useful links:David Gaughran talks with the SPA Girls http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep225-amazon-decoded/ Identify Your Learning Style: https://www.uow.edu.au/student/learning-co-op/effective-studying/identify-your-learning-style/ You heard right – the SPA Girls will be launching an online Get Started Self-Publishing Course in the next few months. Make sure to sign up for our newsletter and you’ll be the first to know when it launches http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/ Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/ You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/ Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

It’s super easy to be overwhelmed by all the steps required to self-publish. Whether you’re a traditionally published author looking to self-publish now, or a new author straight out of the blocks, we break down the seven simple steps to self-publishing. Step 1: Write the BookStep 2: Get It EditedStep 3: Get a CoverStep 4: Write A BlurbStep 5: Format ItStep 6: Upload to retailersStep 7: Market and repeat Breaking news: If you’d like the SPA Girls to hold your hand through this process, make sure you’ve signed up to our newsletter because we’re currently putting together a detailed online course that will take you through from manuscript to finished ebook and print book and impart our collective wisdom to launch your authoring career!

Today we’re responding to questions from listeners who are just starting their self-publishing journey. From earning expectations to how to learning “All The Things” and being overwhelmed, we’ve got you covered! Some of questions answered: What type of writing SHOULD I focus on? Is genre important for good earnings? Are my expectations realistic? How am I going to support myself during this process? How much can I expect to earn? What do I have to know about self-publishing, there’s so much to learn! Can I just write and pay someone else to do the rest? How do I build a platform? What even IS a platform? What’s the one piece of advice you’d give someone starting out today? Remember, every single step of self-publishing is covered here on the podcast in detail – make sure to search on our website www.SPAGirlsPodcast.com for the topic, and the episodes will come right up.Facebook group mentioned is Author Support Network by Marie Force: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1020661671348562 David Gaughran’s excellent post about vanity publishers is here: https://davidgaughran.com/vanity-press-media-author-solutions/ YES! It’s true – the SPA Girls will be launching an online Get Started Self-Publishing Course in the next few months. Make sure to sign up for our newsletter and you’ll be the first to know when it launches: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/ ✔️  Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/ ✔️  You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/ ✔️ Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast ✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

Today we’re joined by fellow Kiwi romance author – and one of the SPA Girls’ star pupils from their self-publishing workshops – ALEXA RIVERS. Alexa has written and published nine small town romance to date and has really nailed her plotting process, starting with a character. If you’ve been struggling to find a way to plot and love the idea of starting with those characters who are burning a hole inside your head, this is the episode for you! LISTENER BONUS: Click here to download Alexa’s CHARACTER PLOTTING WORKSHEET About Alexa Alexa Rivers is a New Zealand author of steamy and heartfelt small town romances. She lives in a small town herself, complete with nosy neighbors and quirky traditions. She shares a house with a neurotic dog and a husband who thinks he’s hilarious.You can find her at www.AlexaRivers.com Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/ You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/ Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

Are your readers staying for the next book? This week’s podcast is all about read-through – ie what percentage of readers read from the first book in your series to the next, and onwards. Learn all about what it means, why it matters and how to increase your read through in this information-packed episode! We cover: * how to calculate read-through and why its important that you do! * What is the ideal percentage you should be aiming for * Red flags to look for if you DON’T get great read-through * How it affects advertising * How to deal with a “weak” book in the series * The difference between calculating wide read-through vs kindle unlimited * Tools for calculating read through including Readerlinks (https://readerlinks.com/)  Great resource on Kindlepreneur from Malorie Cooper: https://kindlepreneur.com/calculate-series-read-through/ Malorie says : Your series sell-through is pretty easy to calculate. Take the sales of the last book in your series and divide that number by the sales of Book 1. Let’s say you sold 428 copies of Book 1, and 247 copies of Book 2. That gives us: 247 ÷ 428 = 57.7% That’s your total series read-through. “Many authors see something in the neighborhood of 50-60% from books 1 to 2. Unless you’re writing a more loosely connected series, the read-through from the first to the second book is very important.” Knowing if a series is doing well or where it’s falling down can help to make it easier to fix going forward.  Book 1 should be your best book but sometimes it’s not. What should you do if that’s the case? Listen to the episode for some great tips! ✔️  Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/  ✔️  You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/   ✔️ Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast  ✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast  

Inspired by a post from The Greater Good Science Center* at the University of California, Berkeley, today we’re guiding you through five golden questions or guidelines to ask yourself when you’re setting your 2021 writing / author business goals. Be warned – this is a different approach to the usual SMART goal systems, but it really resonated with us, especially after 2020. We’ve come into the New Year probably like a lot of people – more intentional and aware of how we want to spend our time and what’s REALLY important to us. For us, it looks quite different to how we felt this time a year ago and we’ve adapted this especially to suit the writing life whether full time or part-time. So lets dive in… “Even if it feels like all you’re doing is trying to survive, these questions may help you gain a sense of control amid the uncertainty.” GOLDEN QUESTION 1: What do you want to take with you when this is all over? Reflect on what HAS / IS working for you. GOLDEN QUESTION 2: What are some aspirational goals that you could set for yourself? “Identify where can you do better despite the pandemic (and everything else). The goal is not to add more pressure to an already difficult time, but to identify goals that could help you feel better and have more energy at the end of the day.” GOLDEN QUESTION 3: What new habit have you wanted to get into for a while now? GOLDEN QUESTION 4: How can you invest in yourself? This is a GREAT one especially for women who are often handling the lion’s share of the emotional labour and the child / homeschooling / working / caregiving roles. “Remember, the best resource that you have for making a contribution to the world is YOU. When that resource is depleted, your most valuable asset is damaged. In other words: When we underinvest in our bodies, minds, or spirits, we destroy our most essential tools for leading our best lives.” GOLDEN QUESTION 5: What do you want to feel more of in 2021? For many of us, we want to feel less overwhelmed and MORE at peace or in control. This question is asking us to identify what behaviours or habits have in the past elicited the EMOTION that you are looking for?Maintenance habits (like doing daily writing sprint, emptying your inbox each week, removing social media apps from your phone, leaving your phone out of the bedroom at night etc) may make you feel less overwhelmed. NEXT STEPS: Have you already listed your goals or resolutions for the upcoming year?Before you start whipping yourself into action, consider your ANSWERS TO THE GOLDEN QUESTIONS FIRST. Look at your initial goals and then DELETE the ideas you have for your writing goals, habits or new years resolutions that simply AREN’T realistic or that your heart isn’t in. Basically: ELIMINATE THE “SHOULDS!” Setting goals and habits should make you feel happier, more at peace, healthier and more connected to those around you – they should not, especially in the time we’re currently in, be a tool of self-flagellation. So be kind to yourselves, maybe journal or discuss these 5 questions with your family, friends or writing peeps and really take the answers to what makes YOU happy and at peace into account when you’re refining your goals for 2021. Good luck! *Read the article here: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_new_years_resolutions_matter_more_in_a_pandemic?fbclid=IwAR2V2sBJwXJchQ8i6eU2Xbq9TioEoz-fGhtZCIp1tmHRBN-9m-vDdGaRDKw ✔️  Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/join/ ✔️  You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/ ✔️ Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast ✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

Isn’t that what we’re all after? The ONE RIGHT answer to everything – the BEST newsletter strategy, the RIGHT way to sell books, the ONE secret to making ads work? Well, listen up folks because in this episode we’ve got the Magic Wand! Resources mentioned: Bella Andre with the SPA Girlshttp://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep148-interview-with-indie-superstar-bella-andre/ Becca Syme’s Strengths For Writers Coursehttps://betterfasteracademy.com/ Larissa Reynolds talks Newsletters with the SPA Girlshttp://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep177-successful-newsletter-strategies-with-larissa-reynolds/ http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep178-newsletter-strategies-with-larissa-reynolds-part-2/ Tammi Labrecque the Newsletter Ninjahttp://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep145-newsletter-ninja-tammi-labrecque/

Ever wondered why on earth you’re spending all this time writing? Ever think to yourself that maybe your writing isn’t that great? Ever think this self publishing lark is just too hard? Yeah, so have we. But this episode is all about how to throw away those dumb old negative thoughts, and learn how to believe in yourself and your writing! We talk through some of the most common misbeliefs that authors have, and give you some awesome ways to change your thinking, and learn to believe in yourself and most of all, keep going! Resources mentioned: Brooke Castillo https://thelifecoachschool.com/podcasts/

Celebrating the season with a quick recap of our Words For 2020. Hahahahahaha And then onto Important Burning Questions about our Christmas favorites. Sometimes controversial, always tongue-in-cheek, our “unplugged” conversation will hopefully add some Christmas cheer to your day. click here to watch the live recording  Thank you for all your support this year and we do hope, despite the 2020ness of the past 12 months, that you’ve made steps forward in your writing and publishing career.  As the SPA Girls always say, one step at a time. And we’re here for you, right through the holiday period, with information and inspiration on our podcast.  Merry Christmas, dear friends. Whatever you do, take care of yourself and those you love … and know that we are thinking of you. Love, The SPA Girls

You’ve had a great idea for a story – now how do you turn it into a workable outline?This is a “live action” recording where the SPA Girls take a “great” idea – an Elf who hates Christmas – into a workable outline! Probably NSFW, you’ll hopefully find this episode informative and a lighthearted break from holiday stress! And don’t forget to visit us on facebook and let us know which story you think we should write! Included in the tips we discuss … figure out wordcount you want / how many chapters. list the chapters and just start filling in what happens in each chapter snowflake method -The Snowflake Method is an approach to writing that encourages starting with the simplest premise possible. From there, you systematically expand it to include plot and character details. don’t feel you have to outline the whole thing at the start write the blurb and flesh it out more from there keep raising the stakes for characters know what genre you’re writing from the start – same for heat level and character ages Resources mentioned: How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method (Advanced Fiction Writing Book 1) by Randy Ingermanson Gwen Haye’s book Romancing The Beat Jami Gold’s site Romance Beat Sheets

What do you do when you’re running out of steam and you’re only in the middle of the book? Or you’re just running out of steam in general? This episode we share our suggestions for getting yourself re-energized and moving again.Some topics we cover: writing sprints writing with others either in person or on zoom/skype sexy times add more conflict change up environment – add music, go to a cafe or outside (depending on local quarantine measures) try dictation Trudi found shifting from 3 act structure to 4 act structure helpful set a deadline mindset affirmations try background music – rock or classical / brain fm take a break and be understanding of yourself! Resources mentioned: Level Up Romance Writers Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LevelUpRomanceWriters Brain FM: https://www.brain.fm/ Check out our You Tube Channel where you can watch us recording our episodes : http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast Sign up for our free weekly self-publishing tips newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bGkz8L Join us on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/SPAGirlsPodcast

Bonus content is an awesome marketing tool that can be used in a variety of ways – from encouraging people to sign up to newsletters, to convincing them to buy the next book in the series, or thanking superfans for their ongoing support. This week we talk about the ways we’ve used the bonus content we’ve created for our readers, from bonus scenes and epilogues, to short stories, prequel novellas and everything in between! We talk about what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what we think is the best option, no matter where you are in your writing career… 

Want to make sure you give your first book the best possible chance of success… and then have readers auto-buying the next in your series? Then this is the podcast for you! This week we give you a checklist of elements for a successful first book in a series, before you even start writing a single word! We talk about everything – including the tropes that sell, what back matter to use, what kind of characters readers love and much more in this overview of how to make sure the first book in your series is awesome and automatically sells the next book in your series to your readers! SHOW NOTES: Tropes – what sells? What covers sell best? Don’t be afraid to niche Don’t over-complicate your story Find comparable books (published by indies) Make your first book your BEST – it does the heavy lifting of selling the entire series Cast of characters Cover symbolism POV and tense Links discussed: SPA Girls Podcast with Zoe York: Romance Your Brandhttp://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep226-romance-your-brand-with-zoe-york/ Zoe York’s book “Romance Your Brand: Building a Marketable Genre Fiction Series https://www.amazon.com/Romance-Your-Brand-Marketable-Publishing/dp/1989703232 SPA Girls Podcast with Chris Fox: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep206-interview-with-chris-fox-ads-for-authors-who-hate-maths/ K-lytics : https://k-lytics.com/SPA Girls Podcast with Alex Newton of K-lytics: http://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep244-alex-newton-from-k-lytics/