SPA Girls Podcast

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 Bestselling Author on Nook and Apple Books, Author Elana Johnson writes clean and wholesome contemporary romance, usually set on the beach or within the vicinity of the beach. Unfortunately, she lives in a landlocked state and must travel to the beach to get her fix, which her husband gladly accompanies her to do a few times each year. She also writes contemporary Christian cowboy romance as Liz Isaacson and sweet romantic women s fiction as Jessie Newton, and all of her books are part of the Feel-Good Fiction Books brand. 🔗 authorelanajohnson.com 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SPA GIRLS: 🌐 Website free self-publishing resources: http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com 🎧 Subscribe to our weekly episodes on your favourite podcast app — search SPA Girls Podcast 💗 This podcast is supported by our amazing Patreon community! ⭐ Join at the $10 tier for access to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group where we discuss marketing, writing, and answer your burning questions: http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast #SelfPublishing #romancewriter #writingpodcast #writingcommunity

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 sales and Amazon ads for romance authors Landing a two-book Random House deal — how it happened and what surprised her Why KU is “like doing heroin” and the realities of going wide as a romance author Cover changes, branding decisions, and learning to take feedback from other authors The biggest challenge after 23 books: staying inspired Voice dictation as a game-changer for writing faster ABOUT ELIZABETH O’ROARK Elizabeth O’Roark has a bunch of degrees she does not use and gave up working as a medical writer to craft grumpy, alpha heroes and the flawed women who love them. When not writing, she likes to spend time with her three kids, who are now teenagers and wish she’d find a different way to spend time. She can be found on Facebook feverishly debating whether or not “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie and telling people to read “The Hating Game”, which she did not write but wishes she had. Website: https://www.elizabethoroark.com 📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED: Elizabeth’s website: https://www.elizabethoroark.com Nina Grinstead / Valentine PR: https://valentine-pr.com Natural Readers (text-to-speech for self-editing): https://www.naturalreaders.com Romance Author Mastermind (RAM) Entangled Publishing (Devil series print deal) Whitney G — author who gave the cover feedback Elizabeth credits CliftonStrengths / Gallup Strengths assessment Book Lovers by Emily Henry (mentioned re: trad publishing process) 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SPA GIRLS: 🌐 Website & free self-publishing resources: http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com 🎧 Subscribe to our weekly

🔁 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 changed her writing life, why tracking your own patterns for 30–60 days is the single best productivity move you can make, and why she gave herself permission to stop writing in the morning like everyone said she should. Whether you’re writing your first novel or trying to speed up your backlist, this one is packed with practical takeaways. #SelfPublishing #WritingProductivity #IndieAuthor 👤 ABOUT ELANA JOHNSON: USA Today Bestselling Author, Top 10 Kindle Unlimited All-Star Author, and #1 Bestselling Author on Nook and Apple Books, Author Elana Johnson writes clean and wholesome contemporary romance, usually set on the beach or within the vicinity of the beach. Unfortunately, she lives in a landlocked state and must travel to the beach to get her fix, which her husband gladly accompanies her to do a few times each year. She also writes contemporary Christian cowboy romance as Liz Isaacson and sweet romantic women’s fiction as Jessie Newton, and all of her books are part of the Feel-Good Fiction Books brand. 🔗 authorelanajohnson.com 🔗 Indie Inspiration Facebook Group 📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED: Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes (out

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 characters Creating multi-voice and full-cast audiobooks on a self-publishing budget Where you can distribute AI-narrated audiobooks (spoiler: more places than you think) About Phil Marshall Phil Marshall is the founder and CEO of Spoken (spoken.press), the AI Audiobook Company. With a background in medicine and 25+ years in technology — including founding a conversational AI company in healthcare — Phil built Spoken after experiencing firsthand how expensive and complicated audiobook production was for his own debut novel. Spoken now serves thousands of authors worldwide, from first-time self-publishers to New York Times bestsellers. Website: https://www.spoken.press/ 📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED: Spoken.Press: https://www.spoken.press/ Spoken Ethical AI page: https://www.spoken.press/ethicalai Voices by InAudio (distribution): https://www.voicesinaudio.com/ BookFunnel (direct audiobook sales): https://bookfunnel.com/ Author Republic (distribution): https://www.authorrepublic.com/ Taming the Perilous Skies by Phil Marshall (debut novel, June 2026) 🔗 CONNECT W

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 excellent tips from this discussion…  Danielle is also an organisational superstar, and we talk a little bit about how she organises all the various segments in her life so successfully! We loved chatting to her, and we’re sure you’re going to enjoy listening to this episode again! About Daniela Daniela Romero is a Snarky AF, Latinx Author, who happens to also be a Mom of 3. Born and raised in sunny California, she now makes her home in the Pacific Northwest and is happy to enjoy all four seasons even if the snow can sometimes be a bit much. She hates cheese—of all kinds—and yes that means she orders cheeseless pizza. Daniela is an ENTJ all the way which means she loves to talk (a lot) and is probably as extroverted as they come so feel free to shoot her a message, send a raven, throw up smoke signals. Whatever it may be. She love’s chatting with readers so feel free to stalk her. Find her at: https://daniela-romero.com/ Danielle’s bookbox business: https://baddiesbookshop.com/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SPA GIRLS: 🌐 Website & free self-publishing resources: http://www.SelfPublish

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 suspects you’re not using it to its full potential, this episode covers everything from the basics (importing your manuscript, choosing styles, exporting for Kindle and print) through to the advanced design tricks that make your books look professionally typeset. Brad also explains why so many authors have started writing inside Vellum itself, and shares how the platform has evolved over the past decade-plus. All the SPA Girls are avid Vellum users (even Shar, who’s a Windows girl but bought a cheap Mac just to use it years ago!). If you’d like to try Vellum before you buy, hop over to Vellum.Pub (full disclosure, this is an affiliate link that supports our podcast. If you’d prefer to not use it, just google Vellum Pub) 👤 ABOUT BRAD ANDALMAN:Brad Andalman is the co-founder of Vellum, the leading book formatting software for indie authors. Before Vellum, Brad spent years at Pixar working on animated films, where he and co-founder Brad West built professional-level software alongside their design work. Together, the “two Brads” launched Vellum to put beautiful book design into authors’ hands. 🔗 https://vellum.pub 📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED: Vellum: https://vellum.pub Vellum tutorials on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VellumApp 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SPA GIRLS:🌐 Website & free self-publishing resources:http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SPAGirlsPodcast 🎧 Listen on your favourite podcast app — search “SPA Girls Podcast” 💗 This podcast is supported by our amazing Patreon community! ⭐ Join at the $10 tier for access to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group where we discuss marketing, writing, and answer your burning questions:http://www.patreon.com/spagi

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 doesn’t lift after a weekend off. What she discovered on the way out became the foundation of The Calm Entrepreneur: a back-to-basics approach to the admin, systems, and daily rhythms that make or break an indie author career. We dig into why so many of us end up stressed and overwhelmed, how to spot the early warning signs before full burnout hits, and the practical fundamentals you can put in place so your author business works for you instead of running you into the ground. If you’ve ever thought “I love writing, so why does this feel so awful?” — this one’s for you. In this episode we chat about: How writing-to-market and rapid release can quietly lead to burnout Why recovery isn’t just about rest — it’s about rebuilding your foundations The admin and systems most authors avoid (and what happens when you do) Getting back in touch with the things you’ve put on auto-pilot How to build a sustainable author business that still leaves room for a life Why organising is a skill, not a personality trait — and anyone can learn it Corinne’s words say it best: “Before this burnout experience, I was not someone who operated from a place of stress. I loved my work and somehow got lost in the mire. Getting back to the place where I work in ease has been transformative for me, and it’s something I think I need to share with the world. I believe it’s possible to thrive in your business and live your full life without losing your mind in the process.” 🔁 Classic Replay — This episode was originally recorded in 2022 and the advice is just as relevant today, maybe more so. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/EP549-Corinne-OFlynn-1-1024x576.jpg" alt="" cla

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 fixes, metadata clean-ups, bonus content for newsletter growth, ad strategies, and the bundling tricks that turn old books into new income. #SelfPublishing #BacklistMarketing #IndieAuthor 📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED: The Best Book Promotion Sites in 2026: [URL] BookFunnel: https://bookfunnel.com BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SPA GIRLS: 🌐 Website & free self-publishing resources: http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com 🎧 Listen on your favourite podcast app — search “SPA Girls Podcast” 💗 This podcast is supported by our amazing Patreon community! ⭐ Join at the $10 tier for access to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group where we discuss marketing, writing, and answer your burning questions: http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast Subscribe so you never miss an episode!

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, depending on requirements. She believes in love, laughter, and that tacos are the world’s most perfect food. When she’s not writing, reading, or wrangling family (both the two-legged and the four-), you can find her obsessively watching The Great British Bake Off. You can check out her darker alter ego Harper Jackson for romantic suspense.Find her at : kaitnolan.com

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 (and the audience) keeps growing. Lucy is just as genuine and delightful behind the scenes as she is in public, and we couldn’t be more thrilled for her success (and why this is the third time she’s been on the show!). Whether you’re deep in your publishing journey or just getting started, this honest, fun and inspiring conversation is a must-listen (or watch). ABOUT LUCY SCORE Lucy Score is an instant #1 New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance. She grew up in a literary family who insisted that the dinner table was for reading and earned a degree in journalism. Her books have been translated into thirty languages and her international bestseller Things We Never Got Over has been optioned for television. She writes full-time from the Pennsylvania home she and Mr. Lucy share. When not spending hours crafting unforgettable characters, Lucy can be found reading books other people wrote, snacking, and sometimes even working out. https://www.lucyscore.net 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank

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 just starting out Keep readers hooked from one book to the next Crafting a funnel for readers. Must-have scenes in short romance Making paid advertising work for short fiction Sadie’s “must have” scenes for short romance: Quick meet cute Thrown together Get to the steam fast (1 – 3 steamy scenes) Conflict Resolution Epilogue She is currently writing 16k – 20k words with 1500 words (approx) per chapter; 2.99 price point Resources mentioned: Sadie’s non-fiction book, Writing Short Romance for Pleasure & Profit, is a must-read for those writing short romance. Writing Short Romance for Pleasure and Profit: How I Became a Six Figure Author Writing Short Romance About Sadie King Sadie King is a USA Today Best Selling Author of over 120 short and steamy romance books and novellas. She loves to write about military heroes and the sassy curvy women who steal their hearts. Sadie lives in New Zealand with her ex-military husband and raucous young son. When she’s not writing she loves catching waves with her son, hanging out at the beach, and drinking good wine, preferably with a book in hand.Visit authorsadieking.com 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SPA GIRLS: 🌐 Website & free self-publishing resources: http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com 🎧 Subscribe to our weekly episodes on your favourite podcast app — search “SPA Girls Podcast” 💗 Thi

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/630439937160840The Bestseller Code: Anatomy of the Blockbuster Novel by Jodie Archer and Matthew L JockersTheodora Taylor’s Substack https://7figurefiction.substack.com/p/better-butterLillian Lark https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep510/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SPA GIRLS: 🌐 Website & free self-publishing resources: http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com 🎧 Subscribe to our weekly episodes on your favourite podcast app — search “SPA Girls Podcast” 💗 This podcast is supported by our amazing Patreon community! ⭐ Join at the $10 tier for access to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group where we discuss marketing, writing, and answer your burning questions: http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast #WritingCommunity #WritingPodcast

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 Life She explains what actually keeps readers turning pages, why both pantsing AND plotting can lead you astray, and how to build a riveting novel from the inside out. If you’ve ever wasted months on pages that go nowhere, and want to really connect with readers, this one’s a must listen/re-listen! About Lisa 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 Life, all three published by Ten Speed Press. Her 7 hour video class Wired for Story can be found at CreativeLive.com. Her video tutorial Writing Fundamentals: The Craft of Story can be found at Lynda.com. Lisa has worked in publishing at W.W. Norton, as an agent at the Angela Rinaldi Literary Agency, as a producer on shows for Showtime and CourtTV, and as a story consultant for Warner Brothers and the William Morris Agency. <p class="wp-block

AI is a hot discussion point in the author community these days, and we’re joined again by bestselling author and educator, Alessandra Torre, to help us unpack this topic. At the outset, we acknowledge that this is a difficult topic to cover. From feeling fear to excitement and everything in between, authors cannot deny the reality of the new technologies arriving (and the “new language” around it which can be confusing.) So we start by asking how Alessandra approaches AI use from her perspective as an indie author who has written and published more than 35 books over many years, founded Inkers Con and is the CEO of Authors AI. She shares her definition of generative AI, assistive AI and responsibility, and how authors could use it for non-creative assistance. This is a meaty episode and one we hope listeners will take something from no matter how they feel about the topic and we’re grateful to Alessandra for joining us! About AlessandraAlessandra Torre is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over 35 novels, and does not use AI to write. However she does have some great ideas for using AI tools to help with the marketing specializing in contemporary romance and domestic suspense, more recently writing as A.R. Torre. She is a prominent hybrid author, speaker, and founder of Inkers Con and the CEO of Authors AI. https://authors.ai/about/ Resources mentioned:The Bestseller Code: Anatomy Of The Blockbuster Novel by Jodie Archer and Matthew L JockersFiction Analysis Tool Marlowe AI https://authors.ai/marlowe/https://www.authorscale.com/ https://app.scribeshadow.com/manage-books Brave New Bookshelf Podcast https://bravenewbookshelf.com/Inkers Con https://inkerscon.com/2026-digital-conference/#GetStarted 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit <a

Well worth a re-listen, this episode was originally recorded a few years ago when romance and romantic suspense author, Kaye Kennedy, scaled her author business from zero to a million page reads in just six months. Kaye utilized her business skills to launch in a focussed way that was truly inspiring (then and now). Kaye has continued publishing with incredible success and has also added being an author coach and psychic medium to her impressive resume! See our original show notes here: https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep283-interview-with-kaye-kennedy/ About Kaye Kaye Kennedy is the author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels featuring everyday heroes who love hard and make love harder. If you like steamy and soulful reads that will break your heart and put it back together again, then her stories are for you. Kaye is an author coach and psychic medium by day and a romance novelist by night! She wrote her first book in the fourth grade, filling a marble notebook, and hooking her on creative writing. She earned her degree in English Literature and taught college composition & literature classes before switching gears entirely and becoming an entrepreneur, starting several businesses. Having always been a voracious reader, devouring three to four books per week, Kaye knew it would only be a matter of time before she saw her name on a book’s byline.  If you’re an author who is looking to level up, Kaye can help you get there by offering divine guidance and by removing energetic blockages that may be holding you back.  Not only is Kaye an author, she’s a psychic medium, personal and professional development coach, Reiki Master, and an ordained minister. With over ten years of experience, she has performed more than a thousand readings for people all over the world. Her additional certifications in Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP), Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT – Tapping), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) give her a breadth of skills to utilize in order to best assist her clients.  In addition, Kaye has been an entrepreneur in various industries for nearly fifteen years. Her experience led her to become a business development and branding coach for numerous small businesses. For the past 3 years, she has been working almost exclusively with authors. While originally from New York, Kaye has lived in New Hampshire and Florida, but now calls Connecticut home. She is battling an invisible illness and resides with her rescue mutt turned service dog, Zeus, who is a character in <a href="https://bit.ly/burning-for-secrets" tar

Part Two of TwoListen to Part One here “Currently …. we’re at a unique industry-wide inflection point. Whether you’re a new or established author doesn’t matter. You have the opportunity to grow your career much faster than under normal circumstances.” ~ Nicholas Erik Nicholas Erik joins us again with fantastic insight into the impact technology is having on the publishing world — right down to us as individual authors. Now this isn’t a pro or anti AI episode — it’s about understanding how we as authors can adapt to these technology shifts, overcome our pain points through technology, and how the companies we’re dealing with on a day-to-day basis are utilizing it. Nick makes a really compelling case that the next three years could be a once-in-a-career moment to level up, and he’s got this beautifully simple framework for cutting through the noise and focusing on what actually moves the needle. And we had so much to talk about that — for the first time in a long time — we’ve split this into two episodes, because we didn’t want to cut a single thing. Whether you’re building to six figures or already there and wondering what’s next, this one’s for you. Make sure to sign up for Nick’s free 80/20 Book Marketing newsletter here: https://nicholaserik.com/newsletter/ Links / Resources Mentioned: NicholasErik.comChat GPTClaude.aiAdobe FireflyWritten Word Media Author SurveyNick’s previous SPA Girls Episode – <a href="https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep

Part One of Two “Currently …. we’re at a unique industry-wide inflection point. Whether you’re a new or established author doesn’t matter. You have the opportunity to grow your career much faster than under normal circumstances.” ~ Nicholas Erik Nicholas Erik joins us again with fantastic insight into the impact technology is having on the publishing world — right down to us as individual authors. Now this isn’t a pro or anti AI episode — it’s about understanding how we as authors can adapt to these technology shifts, overcome our pain points through technology, and how the companies we’re dealing with on a day-to-day basis are utilizing it. Nick makes a really compelling case that the next three years could be a once-in-a-career moment to level up, and he’s got this beautifully simple framework for cutting through the noise and focusing on what actually moves the needle. And we had so much to talk about that — for the first time in a long time — we’ve split this into two episodes, because we didn’t want to cut a single thing. Whether you’re building to six figures or already there and wondering what’s next, this one’s for you. Make sure to sign up for Nick’s free 80/20 Book Marketing newsletter here: https://nicholaserik.com/newsletter/ Links / Resources Mentioned: NicholasErik.comChat GPTClaude.aiAdobe FireflyWritten Word Media Author SurveyNick’s previous SPA Girls Episode – Facebook Ads for Authors About Nicholas Erik Nicholas Erik is an experienced indie science ficti

“The hardest part is the first step – be brave enough to reach out!“ A lot of us are introverts and the idea of “networking” gives us chills (and not in a good way). Historical Romance author, Celeste Barclay, recorded this show with us a few years ago. Her advice is just as relevant now, as building your author community will help ride out the ups and downs of this wild self-publishing ride! Celeste Barclay books combine history and heat. She has a created a connected world that brings all her series together, so readers never have to say goodbye to their favorite characters. 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. She also a speaker and teaches writing and publishing as well as working with with aspiring and emerging authors to bring their publishing goals to life. It was the third book in her first series which really took off and she’s been incredibly successful ever since. Celeste 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 Find Celeste at: https://www.celestebarclay.com/ <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://selfpublishingauthorsp

We are delighted to welcome book ads and strategy consultant for authors & publishers, Janet Margot, to talk all things Amazon Strategy for Authors including approaching it with the right mindset.Janet covers best practices for building a solid Amazon strategy for authors, metadata, packaging inside and out, when and how to start Amazon Ads and the “ads advice” she sees that is the opposite of helpful to indies.”Amazon ads are a feedback loop: what Amazon thinks and what customers think about your book” ~ Janet Margot About Janet Margot Janet doesn’t just understand the Amazon Ads platform—she helped build it. During her ten-year tenure at Amazon, she owned the advertiser experience for books and spearheaded its international expansion.Today, Janet leads Book Geeks Media, where she translates elite tech algorithms into actionable growth for independent authors. By combining a decades-long media career (Condé Nast, Lonely Planet) with insider platform knowledge, she provides authors with a data-driven “unfair advantage” that few others can claim. Website: https://www.bookgeeksmedia.com/ 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you

Have you always wanted to write a cozy mystery but don’t know where to start? This classic replay we recorded a few years back with Nancy J. Cohen will get you going!Cozy Mysteries are hugely popular with readers and authors alike, and Nancy J. Cohen shares 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. 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 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

Getting Organized: Business Systems For Authors with Lorna K. Bailey Self-published a book? Congratulations you’re now running an author business (whether you want to or not). Whether you have 5 books or 50, being an author is a LOT of plate-juggling. This episode we talk to the amazing Lorna K Bailey who as worked with bestselling authors and entrepreneurs, helping them organise and systemize their processes so they can manage their energy, focus on what they do best: creating and building their career. This is a packed episode with a lot of great tips on systems, strategies and processes including: How to know when you’re ready to hire help How to find the right VA for you The difference between energy management and time management Building Systems Yourself To Maximize Efficiency and Minimize Your Stress Tools to use About Lorna K Bailey Lorna Bailey has been an Executive Virtual Assistant since 2014 working behind the scenes for bestselling authors and entrepreneurs including Dave Chesson (Kindlepreneur, Publisher Rocket, Atticus) to help them grow but thrive in their business. Lorna knows many authors struggle with systems, organization, and the business side of being a writer. She’s seen what actually works to get books into readers’ hands and to build sustainable writing careers. Now, she focuses on teaching authors how to: Work effectively with assistants Create simple systems and processes to free up time Shift into the mindset of a healthy, entrepreneurial author In short, she helps writers stop drowning in the “business stuff” so they can get back to what they love most: writing! Find her at www.lornakbailey.com Resources mentionedLorna

Amira Alvarez is the founder and CEO of The Unstoppable Woman, a global coaching company helping entrepreneurs, empire builders, athletes, creatives, and rising stars in all fields achieve their dreams and goals in record time. This classic replay of an interview we originally recorded in August 2020 is just what we need to get our mindset right for the new year and how to be productive without burning ourselves out! As someone who has made a quantum leap (going from barely making 6-figures to making $700k in one year, then onto 7-figures) and has lived to tell about it, Amira knows exactly what tactical strategies and mindset shifts are required to get out of your own way, live life on your own terms, and master the art of achieving any goal you set your mind to. Learn more about Amira at: https://www.TheUnstoppableWoman.com 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

Happy New Year from The SPA Girls! 🎉 Whether you wrote one chapter or one hundred in 2025, we’re so proud of you. Here’s to fresh pages, new stories, and another year of chasing your author dreams together. Let’s make 2026 your best publishing year yet! 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the SPA Girls! It’s time to check off our 2025 Publishing Naughty or Nice list for what worked, and what really didn’t!

Lee Savino is a whirlwind of positive energy, and this classic replay of an episode we recorded with her a few years ago will inspire and motivate you – we guarantee it! Lee Savino is a seven-figure romance author with multiple USA Today and Top 100 Amazon bestsellers who also has coached multiple authors. She has extensive expertise in selling direct, going wide, rapid releasing, and branding, as well as less commonly explored (but extremely lucrative) areas such as translations.  Lee’s website: https://www.leesavino.com/author-advice/ Join her Millionaire Author Mastermind Facebook group Listen to the Six Figure Author Experiment with Russell Nohelty Courses:  The Seven Figure Author course  💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

From Traditional To Indie – USA Today Bestseller Lucy Monroe shares her publishing journey, mindset and marketing wisdom, and business strategy advice – especially useful for rolling with the publishing-world ups and downs! About Lucy With more than 12.5 million copies of my books in print worldwide, Lucy Monroe is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author with over 90 published novels. After a long and fulfilling career in traditional publishing, she made the leap to indie—and has never looked back. The freedom to write the stories she loves (and that her readers devour!) has been an absolute joy. Her spicy Syndicate Rules mafia romance series is packed with morally gray alpha heroes, fierce heroines, and all the spice my characters demand. She writew contemporary, historical, and paranormal romance—some with suspense, all with heart, heat, and high emotion. A voracious reader, and a passionate romance fangirl, Lucy loves chatting books (hers or yours!) on social media. Find her at LucyMonroe.com https://lucymonroeauthor.substack.com https://www.facebook.com/LucyMonroe.Romance Resources mentioned: Andi Durrant interview on Beyond The Boothhttps://youtu.be/OuuGu-ecrBY?si=_kSgZJaTOu6hEHhT Romance Writers of New Zealandhttps://www.romancewriters.co.nz/ Written Word Media https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/ Bookfunnel https://bookfunnel.com/ 💗 The S

Every book you write is part of a world and you need to know as much as possible about the world before you start writing—but be prepared to pivot! So how do you build a fictional world (whether contemporary, paranormal, fantasy, or historical etc) that sets your story up well and captures readers imaginations? A long-time friend of the SPA Girls, Nalini Singh talked with us about worldbuilding in 2022 and her evergreen craft advice is just as relevant today! New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series of paranormal romances, Nalini also writes New Zealand-set thrillers, the next one coming out in January 2026, Such A Perfect Family. Her contemporary romances include the Rock Kiss and Hard Play series, the latter of which revolves around a rugby-loving family in Auckland. Nalini’s books have hit the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller lists numerous times over the past two decades. The first book in her Psy-Changeling series, Slave to Sensation, was named as one of the New York Public Library’s 125 books from the last 125 years that inspire a lifelong love of reading. Born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand, Nalini was first published in 2003. Her books are both traditionally and indie published and have sold millions of copies worldwide with translations in multiple languages.Visit Nalini’s website at www.NaliniSingh.com and make sure to sign up for her newsletter to receive a monthly reading goodies especially for subscribers. 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all thin

We’re delighted to welcome Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer, historical fiction author and writing instructor. We’re diving into how dictation can totally transform the way you write: think faster drafts, more creative flow, and less stress on your body. Sarah has written 13 books solely by speaking words into her smartphone. Once she switched from typing her first drafts to dictating them, she doubled her writing speed. A tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Sarah also shares her advice on writing Native American characters with truth and respect. About Sarah Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer is an award-winning historical fiction author and writing instructor. She’s published 19 books and is also the host of The Confident Fiction Author podcast. She’s been featured on The Creative Penn podcast, Jane Friedman’s blog, Writer’s Digest magazine, and at InkersCon 2025. Plus, of course, the SPA Girls Podcast! 😉She’s also taught over 800 fiction authors how to dictate their novels through her Dictation Bootcamp for Authors and Fictation™ Digital Courses. Links: Sarah’s substack “The Five Minute Fictation Club”https://www.fictioncourses.com/ https://www.sarahelisabethwrites.com/The Confident Author Podcast https://www.fictioncourses.com/podcast”Fictation” – the art of dictating your fiction https://www.fictioncourses.com/fictation Scrivener for IOS app 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our list

This is a fabulous classic replay of our interview with USA Today Bestseller, Lucy Lennox. 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 Lucy Lennox is the USA Today bestselling author of over fifty gay romance titles including the GoodReads Hall of Fame winner Wilde Love. Born and raised in the southeast USA, she is finally putting good use to that English Lit degree she earned before the turn of the century.   Lucy enjoys naps, pizza, and procrastinating. She stays up way too late each night reading romance because it’s simply the best. For more information and to stay updated about future releases, sales and audio news and to grab some free and bonus reads, please sign up for Lucy’s author newsletter, or to stay in the know, join her exciting reader group, Lucy’s Lair on Facebook. Lucy’s website: https://www.lucylennox.com/ 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so

In just a few years, Stacia Stark gone from unknown new pen name to Amazon #1 Bestselling Author of Romantasy. She has also signed a major trad deal with Avon with her trad debut coming out in December 2025. Stacia is an inspiring guest who breaks down exactly how she approaches hybrid publishing, writing romantasy and meeting spice/story/trope expectations, how to find an agent and what to look out for when targeting a traditional publishing deal. About Stacia Stacia Stark is an Amazon #1 bestselling author of romantasy filled with found families, self-reliant heroines, and brooding, grumpy heroes. Her books have been translated into over 15 languages, her Kingdom of Lies series was nominated twice for Goodreads Choice Awards, and her traditionally published debut We Who Will Die releases with Avon in December 2025. Originally from New Zealand, Stacia Stark now lives in Chicago, which she adores during the summer and tolerates (or flees) during the winter. Find her at Home | Stacia Stark 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at Get more from SPA Girls Podcast on Patreon ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTub

This is a classic replay of a very popular episode with USA Today Bestseller, Honey Phillips. Honey joined us in the SPA to talk about Science Fiction Romance – what it is, what are readers looking for, how she got started writing in it, and everything in between. Sci-Fi Romance is a distant cousin to Monster Romance (see episode 368 with Lillian Lark), and there are some similarities between the two genres, but Honey gives us a fascinating breakdown of the main expectations of SciFi Romance readers, and what she does to be so successful in the genre… and it’s not always what you’d expect! About Honey Phillips USA Today bestselling author Honey Phillips writes steamy science fiction romance about hot alien warriors and the Earth women they can’t resist. From abductions to invasions, the ride might be rough, but the end always satisfies. Honey wrote and illustrated her first book at the tender age of five. Her writing has improved since then. Her drawing skills, unfortunately, have not. She loves writing, reading, traveling, cooking, and drinking champagne – not necessarily in that order. Find her at www.honeyphillips.com! 💖 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much. We love our listeners and our patrons! Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your questions. Come on in and join us; we’d love to see you there! www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast Visit <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com

Planning, Priorities & PublishingWe’re thrilled to welcome back Becca Syme to the SPA to talk about Planning, reducing your Decision Fatigue, the difference between anxiety and intuition, and how to decide what publishing strategies work best for YOU. As a community, indie publishers are so fortunate to have Becca’s Clifton Strengths work and writer psychology understanding to help us navigate the chaos of publishing and prevent/overcome burnout. Becca’s upcoming Kickstarter (November 2025) Dear Writer You Still Need To Quit can be found here: https://betterfasteracademy.com/links If you’re listening to this after her kickstarter campaign has ended you can buy the book on all platforms. Find Becca’s podcast https://betterfasteracademy.com/podcast/ on all podcast apps and YouTube. About Becca SymeBecca Syme holds a master’s degree in transformational leadership and has been a success coach (primarily utilizing the Gallup Strengthsfinder®) for over fifteen years. She’s coached over 5,000 individual authors and creatives through her Write Better-Faster and Strengths for Writers classes & coaching cohorts: six- and seven-figure authors, major award winners, midlisters, and new authors alike. Becca is a firm believer that an individualized approach is the most effective, so she’s brought on other certified coaches who are also writers, to help coach even more writers to maximize their strengths.Becca’s website: https://betterfasteracademy.com Resources mentioned:Quitcast EP7.32 “Why Can’t I Do It All Just This Once” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWuVBOH4pmM Values Sort Googlesheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-3UMGc9JqaZRJEdJ8mxZ5vyGxhZB3IYHpD_qRrmmxMQ/edit?gid=913371111#gid=913371111 Becca’s interview with the https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep146-interview-with-becca-syme-on-writing-better-faster/ in 2018 on how to write better, faster. 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you s

Writing compelling short romance targeting the timed short reads categories (2 hours or less) is a real skill and this is a classic replay of one of the Queens of instalove / short romance: Mia Brody. No matter what length book you’re writing, there is something in this episode for you, not least of all Mia’s inspiring persistence working with health challenges and her incredible business savvy. She is one of those authors who is incredibly kind and generous in her advice to others, and we’re delighted to replay this episode. Mia Brody is a romance author who loves big, bearded guys that are gruff on the outside and oh-so gooey on the inside. She writes swoon-worthy small town romances set in the fictional town of Courage County. She often writes characters that are disabled, chronically ill, or neurodivergent. Her own struggles with muscular dystrophy and anxiety inspire many of her stories. She’s passionate about showing readers that happily ever after is possible for everyone. Get exclusive bonus scenes, early access to her latest books, and more when you sign up: https://miabrody.com/news/ Resources mentioned: Bookfunnel, Grit by Angela Duckworth, https://www.facebook.com/groups/writinginstalove 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

Wondering how to juggle a demanding full-time job with having an author career too? We’re joined today by the fabulous Chloe Archer, who is doing exactly that! Chloe Archer writes popular queer sci-fi and paranormal rom-coms. And alongside her author career, Chloe also works full-time as a Film Studies Professor, which makes her perfect for this episode! And if that’s not enough, Chloe is organising Pride in Prose which is an amazing Virtual Retreat in February 2026 for LGBTQ+ Romance Authors and Professionals. Links mentioned: Pride In Prose Online Retreat https://www.chloearcher.com/pride-in-proseTea, Tentacles & Talk https://www.youtube.com/@chloearcheauthor/videosCover Designer, Natasha Snow https://natashasnow.com/ About Chloe Chloe Archer writes queer sci-fi and paranormal rom-coms with laugh out loud humor, zany shenanigans, silly acronyms, and plenty of spice! She currently calls Minnesota home, but has lived abroad in places like Montreal, Edinburgh, and Tokyo. She’s hoping to relocate to Scotland permanently in the next few years if the stars align. Chloe is a fur mama to two adorable Yorkies, Jasper and Teddy, and she loves them in a crazy dog mama kind of way. When she isn’t busy writing, she enjoys visiting friends and family, traveling, reading, binge watching movies and TV shows, and practicing her karaoke skills. She does a mean cover of Pat Benatar and Cher, or so she’s been told. Chloe’s website: www.chloearcher.com 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Ma

Within five years, USA Today Bestselling romance author, Vanessa Vale, forged two pen names from scratch to seven figures, using the strategies and techniques she discusses in this episode and in her Thrifty Tips for Authors class. The beginnings of this program came when she was banned from Facebook ads, forcing her to develop strong branding and marketing steps that are enduring and withstand the changes and whims of the publishing industry without relying on paid click ads. This classic replay episode is a must listen for writers of all genres! Learn more about Vanessa’s course Thrifty Tips For Authors here: https://thriftytipsforauthors.com/courses About Vanessa Vale Vanessa Vale is the USA Today bestselling author of sexy romance novels, including her popular Bridgewater historical series and hot contemporary romances. With over one million books sold, Vanessa writes about unapologetic bad boys who don’t just fall in love, they fall hard. Her books are available worldwide in multiple languages in e-book, print and audio. Her Thrifty Tips for Authors group has over 2500 members (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thriftytipsforauthors ) Vanessa’s Author website: https://vanessavaleauthor.com/ 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your questions. Come on in and join us, we’d love to see you there! <p class="wp-blo

On 2.10.2015 we published our very first SPA Girls Podcast episode and OH THE NERVES! But we persisted and here we are, ten years later, ten years wiser, 520 episodes later and a million magic moments of inspiration, advice, publishing wisdom and fellow author interviews and shenanigans recorded. So what are our “acorns of wisdom” we’ve learned from these ten years that have stood the test of time and the constantly-changing publishing landscape? We discuss the importance of: Being Yourself Building Community Riding Industry Shifts Dealing with Burnout Writing While Chaos Is Happening Mindset Finding The Joy Thank you so much for tuning in. We wouldn’t be here without you, and appreciate every listener, subscriber, guest and special shout out to our patreon supporters who have helped us keep producing our weekly show! (pictured below SPA Girls, 2015) <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="450" height="450" src="https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/spa-girls-sq.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-326" srcset="https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/spa-girls-sq.jpg 450w, https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/spa-girls-sq-150x150.jpg 150w, https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/spa-girls-sq-300x300.jpg 300w, https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/spa-girls-sq-160x160.jpg 160w, https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/spa-girls-sq-240x240.jpg 240w, https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/spa-girls-sq-60x60.jpg 60w, https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/spa-girls-sq-184x184.jpg 184w" sizes

Author Business and Marketing Strategist, Olivia Zugay, is here with some wonderful tips on gaining discoverability, improving reader retention and focussing on long-game thinking without overly relying on chaotic social media! About OliviaOlivia Zugay is a business and marketing strategist for self-published fiction authors. As the founder of Story Flow Solutions, she helps authors market and sell their books with clarity, confidence, and sustainable strategy — so they can grow their readership, increase their sales, and build thriving full-time author careers. With a background in project management and virtual assistant work for bestselling indie authors, Olivia has spent years behind the scenes crafting high-converting launches, reviving stagnant platforms, and helping her clients hit their highest-revenue years.  Through her 1:1 services and membership program, the Story Flow Collective, Olivia empowers fiction authors to treat their work like the business it truly is — with smart marketing & sales strategies that build thriving full-time author careers. When she’s not deep in sales data or mapping out an email funnel, you’ll find her reading romance, analyzing book trends, or sneaking a Twilight reference into her content. She’s a marketing + sales strategist for self-published fiction authors with the heart of a bookish best friend — and she’s here to help authors turn their passion into a sustainable author career. Links: Website: https://www.storyflowsolutions.com/  Story Flow Collective: https://www.storyflowsolutions.com/story-flow-collective  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyflowsolutions/  Beyond Social Media: Smart Marketing Strategies freebie: <a href="https://www.s

Feel like a hamster on a wheel trying to get ALL THE THINGS accomplished but never quite managing to do the important stuff? This is your episode! A classic replay from 2023 that’s well worth a relisten! Self-publishing since 2010, Amazon top 100 best-selling Amazon author with 1million books sold, Sarra writes magical contemporary fantasy novels with both teen and college aged characters (and lots of twists you’ll never see coming). Sarra talks to us about her solution to planning without all the heartache and leading us to be more joyful. “When we sit down to plan we see the perfect scenario. Then Life gets in the way.” About Sarra Cannon: Sarra Cannon writes magical contemporary fantasy novels with both teen and college aged characters (and lots of twists you’ll never see coming). Her novels often stem from her own experiences growing up in the small town of Hawkinsville, Georgia, where she learned that being popular always comes at a price and relationships are rarely as simple as they seem. With over a million books sold, Sarra loves writing witchy books and connecting with fans. You can connect with her on her author website here at SarraCannon.com Click to visit Sarra’s Heartbreathings YouTube channel for authors, and Heartbreathings website with her courses for writers here 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at <a href="http://www.patreo

Mark Leslie (Lefebvre) is an author, professional speaker and bookseller with more than thirty years of experience in the publishing and bookselling business. In this episode, he brings a wealth of experience and reassurance to those of us somewhat battered by the realities of author life! This is more than a “mindset” episode, it’s a reality check, encouragement and call to follow your passion, that we’re sure will fire you up, just as much as it did us while recording! Mark’s website:https://markleslie.ca/ Mark’s podcast Stark Reflections https://starkreflections.ca Mark & Liz doing the parody of “Stuck in the Middle with You” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFUlLTP1SgE Draft2Digital where Mark is Director of Business Development https://draft2digital.com/ Our podcast recording with Johnny B Truant https://youtu.be/Pim34Cv8eA4?si=VVXeFCuPMei0gAAo 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

A classic replay of our interview with the awesome Michele Scott, originally published in August 2022.It was our great pleasure to interview Michele Scott, a NYT, Wall Street Journal and Amazon bestselling author of over forty novels and the CEO/owner of equestrian sports medicine company Professional’s Choice, Inc.  Michele has written in various genres including thrillers, mysteries, young adult mysteries, fantasy, and women’s fiction. Her thriller Daddy’s Home from her Holly Jennings’ Thriller series written under her pen name of AK Alexander has sold over one million copies and was the #1 bestselling book in the UK Amazon. Her thriller Mommy, May I? was number 2 on the Amazon list. Her Wine Lover’s Mysteries are currently optioned, and a movie version is projected to begin filming this year.  Like most of our guests, Michele’s success didn’t happen overnight and there were huge ups and downs. We think you’ll agree that it wasn’t perseverance alone that took Michele down the path to finding the right agent and having books optioned. Firstly, it was all about loving what she did, but she also did her research, made contacts and made sure she was on brand. She also consistently produced products good enough for someone to take notice when she got it in front of the right eyes. Michele also talks about having a good marketing plan, so she knows where to use her budget and that she wears a professional hat when making important decisions. She also believes it’s important to block off time to learn, refresh your well with reading or writing in a different genre, and take time out, but writing time is sacred. Michele’s website: michelescott.comFacebook: @akalexanderauthor Instagram: @michelescottauthor Resources mentioned: How To Write a Damn Good Mystery by James N. Frey <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003E4CY8U/"

It’s conference debrief time! We’re here with all our best writer tips and reflections from the recent Romance Writers of New Zealand annual conference! Links mentioned:Sadie King talks series planning : https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep409-six-figures-with-short-romance-with-sadie-king/ AK Mulford talks TikTok : https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep332-tiktok-tips-with-ak-mulford/ AK Mulford’s How I Write You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@A.K.Mulford Johnny B Truant on being an Artisan Author https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep509-the-artisan-author-interview-with-johnny-b-truant/ Steffanie Holmes on running a successful Kickstarter : https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep370-running-a-successful-kickstarter-with-steffanie-holmes/ Sarah McLean’s Fated Mates Podcast: https://fatedmates.net/episodes Romance Writers of New Zealand https://www.romancewriters.co.nz/ Lucille Henry https://diamondhealing.co.nz/ Catherine Bilson’s AI Translations book https://amzn.to/4lLYEWm

Writing bestselling romance with incredible character chemistry is something that NYT Bestseller Annika Martin excels in. Annika, who also publishes romantic suspense as Carolyn Crane, has seen incredible success writing two books a year (on average) and publishing wide. This is a classic replay episode (originally recorded in 2021) where Annika 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 episode is well worth a replay because Annika reveals some absolute nuggets of GOLD for all authors! About AnnikaAnnika 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. Newsletter: www.annikamartinbooks.com/newsletterFind Annika at: https://annika-martin.myshopify.com/and on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/annikamartinauthor/# 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPub

When the going gets tough, it can be really hard to get (or keep) going. Today’s episode has empathetic and practical advice from the incredible Anya Mora about working through life challenges, recovering from burnout, trusting your instincts and dealing with things that often throw us “off course” from our author life. About Anya Anya Mora is the bestselling author of domestic suspense and psychological thrillers, as well as an extensive romance catalogue under the pen name Frankie Love. She is also the host of I Am The Miracle Podcast on manifestation, creativity and living life out loud. Anya lives a ferry ride from Seattle, WA with her family. Her novels, while leaning toward the dark, ultimately reflect light, courage, and her innate belief that love rewards the brave. Find her at: anyamora.com 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

You’re worth it and your work is worth it. 15-time USA Today bestselling romance author Renee Rose is passionate about helping other authors find and maintain an abundance mindset to catapult their careers and create their best future. She employs energetic tools and techniques to help her clients clear resistance and money blocks, access their inner guidance, and tap into their love and appreciation for their books so they can achieve their dreams. This is a classic replay of an episode we recorded with the amazing Renee Rose back in 2021 with these timeless tips. About Renee USA Today Bestselling Author Renee Rose loves a dominant, dirty-talking alpha hero! Readers have devoured over five million copies of her 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’s gone on to hit the USA Today list fifteen times with her Chicago Bratva, Bad Boy Alpha, Wolf Ranch books, and various anthologies. Renee’s author website: https://shop.reneeroseromance.com/ Write2Riches.com https://write2riches.com/ Renee’s facebook group for authors: https://www.facebook.com/groups/abundancemindsetforauthors Listen to our previous episodes with Renee and Lee Savino here: SPA Girls Podcast – EP365 – Write to Riches with Renee Rose https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep365-write-to-riches-with-renee-rose%ef%bf%bc/ SPA Girls Podcast – EP348 – Millionaire Author Mindset with Lee Savino https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep348-millionaire-author-mindset-with-lee-savino/ <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP512-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3520" srcset="https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP512-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP512-300x169.jpg 300w, https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EP512-768x432.jpg 768w, https://selfpublishing

Wendy, Cheryl and Trudi are off to RARE Melbourne in October 2025 and busy organising ALL the things! So this episode we share all our BEST TIPS (merchandise sourcing, what works, what doesn’t), table set up, what to wear, how to approach reader events, how many books to take (or offer on preorder) and how to calm the nerves / talk to strangers (ha!) Links mentioned: Author websites: Wendy Vella / Lani Blake https://wendyvella.com/index.htmlhttps://laniblake.com/ CA Phipps https://caphipps.com/ Trudi Jaye https://www.trudijayewrites.com/ Beventi https://beventi.co/RARE (Romance Author Reader Events) https://rarettes.wordpress.com/ Ages of Pages NZ reader event https://www.agesofpagesbookfair.com/ Vellum https://store.vellum.pub/?via=spagirlsIngram Spark : https://www.ingramspark.com/ 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit <a hr

Wondering how to write a great paranormal romance? What’s the difference between paranormal and monster romance and what are readers looking for? And how to connect with readers on tiktok and other social media? This is a replay of a fun episode we recorded a few years ago with the awesome author, Lillian Lark. It’s well worth a listen no matter what genre you’re writing! About Lillian Lark: Born and raised in the saltiest of cities in Utah. Lillian is an avid reader, cat mom to three demons, and loves writing sexy stories that twist you up inside.Find Lillian at: https://www.lillianlark.com/ 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

Tired of chasing the “Amazon Algorithm”? We’re delighted to welcome Johnny B. Truant to the SPA. Johnny is here to discuss the alternatives to “rapid release / fast publishing” mindset to one of an artisanal author and publisher. We always try to emphasise there is NO ONE RIGHT WAY to approach your self-publishing business and writing, and we think this conversation and approach is really worth understanding. Not just for writers’ physical care, but mental health too. Enjoy! “If modern indie publishing feels like a high-stress race to the bottom, the good news is there’s another way. Most authors start writing for the love of it, but in recent years the reality of “writing for a living” has soured. Now, for a lot of us, it no longer looks fun — or creatively fulfilling — at all.” ~ Johnny B. Truant, author of The Artisan Author Johnny B. Truant is the bestselling author of more than 120 titles across multiple genres, including the Fat Vampire series which was recently adapted by the SyFy network. He was one of the co-hosts of the Self Publishing Podcast, he hosted the Smart Artist Summit conference in Austin, Texas, and he co-authored the industry bible, Write. Publish. Repeat.LINKS:Johnny’s Substack: https://johnnybtruant.substack.com/ Website: https://johnnybtruant.com/ Kickstarter for The Artisan Author: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/johnnybtruant/the-artisan-author-your-way-out-of-the-self-pub-rat-race Our previous episode with Johnny and Sean Platt recorded in 2018 is herehttps://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep128-interview-with-sean-platt-and-johnny-b-truant/ Joanna Penn’s The Creative Penn https://www.thecreativepenn.com/ <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EP509-Johnny-Truant-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-3507" srcset="https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EP509-Johnny-Truant-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EP509-Johnny-Truant-300x169.jpg 300w, https:

Keri Arthur is a NYT Bestselling author of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Initially traditionally published, she is now fully self-published, and in this episode she talks to us about that transition and shares tips and processes from her writing journey.This is a classic replay, originally recorded in 2020. About Keri Arthur Keri Arthur, the author of the New York Times bestselling Riley Jenson Guardian series, has written more than fifty-five novels–35 of them with traditional publishers Random House/Penguin/Piatkus. She is now fully self-published. She’s won six Australian Romance Readers Awards for Favourite Sci-Fi, Fantasy, or Futuristic Romance & the Romance Writers of Australia RBY Award for Speculative Fiction. Her Lizzie Grace series won ARRA’s Fav Continuing Romance Series in 2022 and she has in the past won The Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Urban Fantasy. When she’s not at her computer writing the next book, she can be found somewhere in the Australian countryside taking photos.Find her at: www.keriarthur.com 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast <p class="wp-block-paragr

USA Today Bestseller, Erin Wright, is the Queen of Publishing Wide and shares with us fantastic advice on:direct sales, AI audio and human narration, AI translations, woo commerce v shopify, kickstarter and platform specific tips. About Erin WrightUSA Today Bestselling author Erin Wright has worked every job under the sun, including library director, barista, teacher, website designer, and ranch hand helping brand cattle, before settling into the career she’s always dreamed about: Author. She went wide on all platforms in 2017 when she discovered that she couldn’t get her books in libraries if she was exclusive to Amazon. Then being the kind of person who likes to help others, she founded the Wide for the Win platform in 2019, and now does consulting for authors who want to find out more about how to be a successful wide author.Find her at erinwright.net Resources mentioned:Draft2Digital https://draft2digital.com/PublishDrive https://publishdrive.com/ Street Lib https://www.streetlib.com/ Scribe Shadow https://app.scribeshadow.com/Previous SPA Girls Episode with Erin #391 Erin’s WFTW facebook group and website : erinwright.net/authorshttps://wideforthewin.com/ 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Pub

BEST SELLING ROMANCE AUTHOR JAY HOGAN is a New Zealand author writing mm romance and romantic suspense, primarily set in New Zealand. This is a fantastic episode, well worth a replay, with Jay’s unique insights into writing MM romance, marketing, craft and the writing life. About JayHeart, Humour, & Keepin’ It Real Jay is a two-time Lambda Literary Award finalist for her books Digging Deep and The Art of Husbandry in 2020 and 2024. Her book Off Balance was the 2021 New Zealand Romance Book of the Year. She is a New Zealand author writing mm romance and romantic suspense, primarily set in New Zealand. She writes character driven romances with lots of humour, a good dose of reality and a splash of angst. She’s travelled extensively, lived in many countries, and in a past life she was a critical care nurse, nurse educator and counsellor. Jay is owned by a huge Maine Coon cat and a gorgeous Cocker Spaniel. Find Jay at www.jayhogan.com