Episodes
Reading the feed…
Reading the feed…
Burnt out and not writing? Bestselling paranormal romance and urban fantasy author Asa Maria Bradley went two years without finishing much of anything — and it was collaborating with other indie authors that got her writing again. In this episode we dig into anthologies, box sets, shared worlds and author collectives, and exactly how each one works for a self-published author.
Screenwriter and thriller author Thomas Dean Donnelly joins the SPA Girls Podcast to explain Superdraft, his evidence-based approach to the writing process. Learn how to separate your Creator voice from your Critic voice, beat writer’s block and imposter syndrome, use flow states to write faster, and apply the 1-3-2 drafting method to fix a sagging second act. Essential listening for indie authors and self-published writers who struggle to finish a first draft. In this episode we discuss: Why the 2023 Hollywood writers’ strike pushed a 30-year screenwriter into self-publishing What screenwrite
Is your back matter costing you sales? Bestselling fantasy author Helen B. Scheuerer joins us to break down exactly how to launch a book series — from optimising your back matter for read-through, to pre-order strategy, ARC campaigns, and building a street team that generates real buzz. In this Classic Replay episode, Helen shares the launch strategies behind her book How To Launch A Successful Series. Whether you’re a new indie author planning your first book launch or a seasoned self-published author looking to level up your release strategy, you’ll walk away with practical tactics: the “ran
Dreaming of writing in a new genre? In this episode of the SPA Girls Podcast (EP564), all four SPA Girls answer a listener’s question about switching genres as a self-published author, including how Cheryl knew it was the right time to move from contemporary romance to cozy mysteries. Whether your books aren’t selling, you’re bored with your current genre, or a new trend is calling your name, this episode gives you a 5-question framework to make the decision with confidence. Changing genres is one of the biggest decisions in an indie author career — it can mean a new pen name, new covers, new
This episode was originally recorded in 2021. We’re replaying it because the advice hasn’t aged a day. Most writers don’t have a talent problem. They have a fear problem. In this Classic Replay, internationally bestselling author Rachael Herron joins Trudi, Shar, Cheryl and Wendy to talk about why fear is the real engine behind procrastination, what to actually do about it, and three publishing myths that need to die. Rachael has written more than two dozen books across thriller, mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir and nonfiction for writers. She publishes both traditionally and indep
Why do some characters feel real enough to root for while others fall flat despite having every “correct” ingredient? In this episode of the SPA Girls Podcast (EP562), we dive into writing fear and emotion with Becca Puglisi, international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling co-author of The Emotion Thesaurus. Becca’s writing craft books have sold over 1.4 million copies and are used by novelists, screenwriters, and universities worldwide. Becca unpacks the difference between surface-level fear and the deep, wound-driven fear that powers a character’s arc — and how to weave it through your
This week we’re revisiting a favourite conversation with USA Today bestselling author Brenna Aubrey — and it’s a masterclass in both bold business decisions and long-term career survival. Brenna takes us right back to the beginning: writing sprawling epic fantasy at night while her husband worked the graveyard shift, stumbling into her local RWA chapter, and the shower-thought that became her breakout gamer romance, At Any Price. Then came the moment that made her something of a self-publishing legend — her debut went to auction, two houses landed in a bidding war, and Brenna told her agent th
Germany is the third-biggest book market in the world — and it’s still hungry for indie authors. This week we’re joined by USA Today bestselling romance author Skye MacKinnon, who returns to update us on everything that’s changed in German translations since her first appearance in 2023. Skye has more than 70 novels across three pen names, and Germany is now her biggest market worldwide. She’s just released the second edition of Self-Publishing in German, and it’s more than double the length of the original — because there was that much to update. From the collapse of IngramSpark distribution
Want to write a book series readers binge — and come back to buy again and again? Bestselling YA fantasy author Helen Scheuerer joins the SPA Girls to break down how to design a series that hooks readers, boosts your read-through rate, and sets you up for long-term author income. Whether you’re plotting your first trilogy or wondering if your genre even suits a series, this episode covers the strategy behind binge-worthy fiction. Helen shares the real reasons a series is more lucrative than standalones (hint: you build your audience once), how to use open loops, breadcrumbs, and cliffhangers t
Why do the highs and lows of an indie author career always hit when you least expect them? In this episode of the SPA Girls Podcast (EP558), it’s just the four of us — Cheryl, Shar, Wendy, and Trudi — talking openly about mental resilience and how to weather the emotional rollercoaster of self-publishing. We unpack the panic of watching your numbers drop, the comparison trap, and the burnout that can quietly creep up on even seasoned authors. Whether you’re spiraling over a bad sales week or questioning whether your writing matters at all, this episode is a reminder that the dips are part of t
🔁 CLASSIC REPLAY — This episode was originally recorded in 2021 and the strategy is just as relevant today. Helen has since gone on to become an internationally bestselling romantasy author with multiple series, proving the long-game approach works. What if you could earn six figures a year writing just ONE book? We sit down with International Bestselling Fantasy author Helen Scheuerer to unpack how she built a six-figure self-publishing career on a single annual release — the opposite of the “rapid release” model most indie authors are told to follow. Helen took her traditional publishing ed
What if you could make more money selling audiobooks direct than on Amazon and Audible combined? In this episode of the SPA Girls Podcast (EP556), USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Hefner returns for a third time to break down exactly how she’s doing it — and how indie authors can market audiobooks wide, build a direct store that converts, and stop relying on a single retailer. Rebecca walks us through the Facebook ad strategies, Pinterest funnels, newsletter excerpt formula, and bundle pricing that now drive the majority of her author revenue from her own Shopify and Payhip stores. We also
We loved our first chat with Elana so much that we kept the mics running! In this follow-up episode to #553, Elana dives into the business side of her prolific career — the release strategies she swears by, the advertising that actually moves the needle, and the mindset it took to reach her first $100K month. True to form, she’s just as honest about the mistakes as the wins. If EP553 was about how she writes, this one’s about how she earns. #SelfPublishing #WritingProductivity #IndieAuthor About Elana Johnson USA Today Bestselling Author, Top 10 Kindle Unlimited All-Star Author, and #1 Bestsel
The indie author realities no-one talks about (much). Bestselling romance author Elizabeth O’Roark joins us this week for one of the most refreshingly honest conversations we’ve had on the show — covering everything from her Random House deal to the indie strategies she’s quietly walked away from. In this episode we chat about: Going from medical writer to indie romance author in 2013 The Devil series breakout and working with publicist Nina Grinstead at Valentine PR Pantser writing, rewriting every book 30 times, and writing scenes out of order The honest truth about special editions, direct
🔁 CLASSIC REPLAY — Originally recorded in 2020 and the advice is just as relevant today. How does a USA Today bestselling author write 84,000 words in 10 days? In this episode, Elana Johnson — author of over 130 books across three pen names — shares the exact daily routine, outlining methods, and mindset shifts behind her prolific output. We cover her “intense project / light project” system for always writing two books at once, why she outlines to the midpoint using Romancing the Beat, how she learned to write in 15-minute blocks while teaching elementary school, the steering wheel desk that
Ever wanted to create an audiobook but been scared off by the price tag? Phil Marshall, founder of Spoken.Press, built an AI-powered platform specifically for indie authors who want professional-quality audio without the professional-level costs. In this episode we chat about: Phil’s path from surgeon to tech founder and sci-fi author What “ethical AI narration” means — consenting voice actors who are credited and compensated The difference between text-to-speech (TTS) and speech-to-speech (STS) and when to use each How Spoken analyses your manuscript to recommend voices matched to your charac
This is a classic replay of a fascinating interview we recorded a few years ago with author Danielle Annett (aka Daniela Romero) , who as switched genres from Urban Fantasy to Contemporary Romance, with amazing results. She talks us through the decision to change genres, and what she did to make it a success, including some of the big decisions she had to make, such as whether to create a new pen name, how to market it, and what kind of social media/website and newsletter presence she wanted to have with the new genre/name. Danielle is a savvy businessperson, and you’ll definitely pick up some
What if formatting your book could take minutes instead of hours? In this episode of the SPA Girls Podcast (EP550), we sit down with Brad Andalman, co-founder of Vellum, the book formatting software (Mac-only) that’s transformed self-publishing for indie authors. Brad shares the surprising Pixar origin story behind Vellum, walks us through exactly how the software works, and reveals some of the newer features — including double-page chapter spreads — that most authors don’t even know exist. Whether you’re a brand-new self-publisher about to format your first book or a Vellum veteran who suspec
Feeling buried under your author business? Juggling deadlines, launch plans, newsletter, ads, admin, social media, and somehow you have to also get the actual writing done? Trust us, you are not alone! In this episode, we sat down with USA Today bestselling author, certified life coach, and podcaster Corinne O’Flynn to talk about how authors can organise their businesses, prevent burnout, and stay sane when the to-do list never ends. Corinne has lived it. After years of writing-to-market, chasing the algorithms, and running on a rapid-release treadmill, she hit deep burnout — the kind that doe
Got a backlist gathering dust? In this episode of the SPA Girls Podcast (EP# 548), we dig into how to breathe new life into your older books and get them earning again. Most indie authors pour all their energy into the next release and forget that their backlist is the engine that funds everything — so we’re walking through exactly what to refresh, what to promote, and how to bundle older titles so they keep working for you. Whether you’ve got three books or thirty sitting quietly on Amazon, this episode gives you a practical checklist to get them moving again. We cover cover refreshes, blurb
Romance writers gather ’round – Kait Nolan, bestselling author of smart, sassy, small town Southern romance is in the SPA! This is a classic replay of an awesome episode we recorded with Kait a couple of years ago, and well worth a relisten. These days Kait not just writes small town romance, but also romantic suspense (as Harper Jackson), and her writing and marketing advice is spot on! About Kait Nolan Kait Nolan is a USA Today best selling, RITA® Award-winning Mississippi author who calls everyone sugar, honey, or darlin’, and can wield a ‘Bless your heart’ like a Snuggie or a saber, depend
She’s back! NYT #1 Bestseller, Lucy Score last joined us back in March 2021 , before Things We Never Got Over launched her into the stratosphere! In this episode, Lucy talks about what her breakout moment actually looked like from the inside, how she’s navigated the shift from working author to household name (and instant #1 NYT Bestseller), and what’s stayed surprisingly the same. We dig into the practical stuff , including her evolving covers, brand-building, the Riley Thorn series, and advice for emerging authors. Plus the mindset it takes to keep showing up at the page when the pressure (a
Classic replay of an inspiring episode we recorded in August ’23 with SADIE KING, a hugely successful author of more than 120 short romances. *** USA Today Bestseller, Sadie King has grown her publishing business from zero to six figures in less than four years, writing short instalove romances. Knowing her reader’s journey is vital to her success. In this episode we discuss Sadie’s: short romance publishing strategy rapid release strategy targeted wordcounts for Amazon Kindle’s 60m, 90m and 2 hour reads categories Techniques for writing short fiction Gaining visibility especially when you’re
From incorporating popular tropes to social media trends, the SPA Girls have a robust discussion around what they’re doing to harness trends to reach more readers and sell more books! Links mentioned: Melanie Harlow’s Harlot Authors group https://www.facebook.com/groups/630439937160840 The Bestseller Code: Anatomy of the Blockbuster Novel by Jodie Archer and Matthew L Jockers Theodora Taylor’s Substack https://7figurefiction.substack.com/p/better-butter Lillian Lark https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep510/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SPA GIRLS: 🌐 Website & free self-publishin
Want to hook your readers from the very first sentence? This episode is for you! This is a fantastic Classic Replay of an interview we recorded with Lisa Cron a few years back. Lisa Cron is a story coach and the author of: Wired for Story: The Writer’s Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers From the Very First Sentence, Story Genius: How To Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages that Go Nowhere), and most recently, Story or Die: How to Use Brain Science to Engage, Persuade and Change Minds in Business and in Lif
