A podcast for indie author moms, featuring and made by indie author moms.
Writer Mom Life Episode 62: It Never Hurts To Ask In our first episode in the new format of 2 WMs just chatting about life and writing, Daphne and JR discuss what glorious things can happen when you dare to ask for what you want.
Did you meet all your goals this year? How do you know what you'll be able to do? In this interview, author of 4 and mother to 3 Marla Holt sheds some light on the importance of finishing what you start so that you know what's possible.
Writer Mom Life Episode 59: Jessica Wayne and Making A Career Shift What happens when the career you planned for doesn't work out the way you expected? Jessica Wayne was set to make her life a military one, but is now at home full time with her kids and writing several series under 2 pen names. This is a super positive episode full of tons of great tips and ideas for indie author moms wondering how to fit everything in.
Writer Mom Life Episode 58: Magdalena Sabatino and Living a Creative Life Do you need to pick just one passion? Magdalena Sabatino was focused on her poetry for awhile, but that doesn't mean it's the only thing she enjoys doing. Listen to her story of how she decided to publish her poetry and what her creative life looks like today.
Writer Mom Life Bonus Episode: Why We're Changing After last episode's big announcement that we're shifting to a monthly format, here's a quick bonus episode to let you know WHY. Don't worry, it's for a good reason (even if it is causing Daphne a bit of anxiety!).
Writer Mom Life Episode 57: Candice Gilmer, from Trad to Hyrbid to Indie Candice is a mom of 2 and author of...well, a lot more than 2! After a decade in publishing, listen to how her career has shifted from trad to fully indie, and how her schedule has adapted as her kids have gotten older. Full show notes at writermomlife.com
Writer Mom Life Podcast Episode 56: MJ McGriff and Seeing Yourself In Your Genre Why is it important to see people like you succeed? To know that it's possible! This interview with SFF author and single mom of two MJ McGriff touches on this and related subjects, like diversity in characters (and authors!) and finding your tribe. In 20 years, what an awesome world she'll have helped create for her girls! Get full show notes at writermomlife.com
Writer Mom Life Episode 55: Diana Collins and Writing About Loss Full show notes: http://writermomlife.com Diana Collins lost her best friend to Postpartum Depression and has spent the past few years working on a podcast, book, and nonprofit to help moms struggling with PPD. In this positive interview full of hope and strength, she shares her journey, in the hopes it helps others. The Suicide Prevention Hotline in the US is free 24/7: 1-800-273-8255 In the UK, the Samaritans Helpline can be reached toll-free 24/7 at 116 123 The hotlines in other countries can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_lines
Writer Mom Life Episode 54: 2 Years As An Indie Author - Kayla Tirrell and M.F. Lorson updates Get the full show notes at writermomlife.com Get ready for some major giggling! Daphne interviews her two writing besties about their indie author journeys, writing together, and so much more.
Writer Mom Life Episode 53: Kelsie Stelting and Why Audio Is Important >>>full show notes at writermomlife.com Kelsie Stelting has been publishing for a while, but this year, her life changed in a big way... she is a new foster mom to two little ones! This experience, along with many others, influences her work and allows her to think about how it will impact others for years to come. Like how she's making sure her most recent book, featuring two blind protagonists, will be available in audio so her brother and his friends can enjoy her writing!
Writer Mom Life Episode 52: Natalie Banks and Coming Back To Writing Natalie Banks came back to writing once her 5 kids were a little older, and her homeschooling days were winding down. It's a great reminder that putting aside writing to focus on other things doesn't mean you'll never come back to it! Get full show notes at writermomlife.com
Writer Mom Life Episode 51: Maya Hughes and Creative Instagram Ideas for Authors Maya Hughes is a romance author of over a dozen books, with plans to publish another 6 this year! All of that on top of raising two kids overseas where she and her husband work full-time. Daphne and Maya talk about the batching and planning this all requires along with other great insights into her busy writer mom life.
Writer Mom Life Episode 50: Celebrate! We made it to 50 episodes! Hurray! Daphne and JR chat about all that's changes, what hasn't changed, and what we hope to see more of in the future. Thanks for listening the past 2 years, and we can't wait to see what the next 50 episodes have in store.
Writer Mom Life Episode 49: Holly Lyne and Scheduling Your Social Media Homeschooling mum of 2 Holly Lyne talks about the "see-saw" of balancing writing, marketing, and mom life. With a goal to retire her husband in a a few years, she has a 7 year plan you'll want to be taking notes on! Get full show notes at writermomlife.com
Writer Mom Life Episode 48: Kirsten Oliphant and Hitting Big Goals In a recent poll of our Facebook group, you all said you wanted more from writer moms making the big bucks, and Kristen has been doing AWESOME the past 12 months! She is a great example of the work and strategy that goes into the "ten year overnight success" and explains how adaptability is essential to making it in the indie world. And as a mom of five, she's gotten pretty good at leaning into the chaos! Get the full show notes at writermomlife.com/ep48
Writer Mom Life Episode 47: Lauren Ranalli and Transferable Skills >>get full show notes at writermomlife.com Lauren Ranalli is passionate about many things! Public health, diverse books for children, and writing her own children's books. One way to balance everything is applying the skills learned in one area to her other projects.
Writer Mom Life Episode 46: Holly Ostara from Fiction Alchemy 2018 was a busy year for Holly: new book, new baby, and starting a Discord group to connect with other writers! Listen to her story (and top baby sleep tip!) in this week's episode. >>get full show notes at writermomlife.com
Writer Mom Life Episode 45: Check in with Yesenia Vargas and her 4-figure goal We last talked to Yesenia in Episode 16 of the podcast. Now almost exactly a year later, we check in to hear about the journey she took to reach all those goals she set for herself back in 2017. And she reached them! Yay! She breaks down what she had to do to get there, in a great look at the step-by-step mentality that can get anyone from the inklings of an idea to full-fledged success. Get full show notes at writermomlife.com
Writer Mom Life Episode 44: Aditi Wardhan Singh and Raising Strong Kids >> get full show notes at writermomlife.com Wouldn't it be great to have a guidebook on how to raise strong kids who are aware to the wonderful cultural differences that surround us? Aditi has a great message about what to focus on in order for kids to have these kinds of values, and she's put it all in her first book. She shares her journey to publication, and explains how to get a non-fiction books ready for release. (Hint: it's pretty much the same as for fiction!)
Writer Mom Life Episode 43: J.K. Coy and Staying Flexible >> get full show notes at writermomlife.com J.K. Coy got her inspiration for her children's books from...her children! No surprises there, I bet ;-) But it was surprising for her that her first daughter never napped and her second one did, meaning she needs to be flexible about how and when she gets her writing (and her running!) in.
Writer Mom Life Episode 42: Meg Cowley and Setting Realistic Expectations >>get full show notes at writermomlife.com A full-time indie author before she had her first baby, Meg Cowley walks us through that transition, along with some amazing insights on goal-setting, time-management and mindset. (There is a bit of discussion related to difficult pregnancies, birth experiences, and loss, so if it is hard for you to hear about such things, then feel free to skip the last few minutes.)
Writer Mom Life Episdoe 41: J.A. Armitage and writing full-time with three kids >> get full show notes at writermomlife.com/ep41
Writer Mom Life Episode 40: Pascale Kavanagh and Finding Your Own Creative Rhythm For our first episode of the year, we have a very positive interview with Pascale Kavanagh. She talks about writing with a teenager in the house, binge writing, and so much more!
Writer Mom Life Episode 39: 2019 plans >>check out writermomlife.com for full show notes and a free self-publishing workbook >>After an amazing 2018, what does WML have in store for 2019?? Listen to find out!!
Writer Mom Life Bonus Episode 5: >>Grab your writer mom mugs and tees at writermomlife.com/shop >>Have you ever wondered how to start a twitter chat or where to find more writers on twitter? In this final bonus episode of 2018, Autumn Lindsey from Writer Moms Inc talks about how she formed the Facebook group along with a few other writer moms and how it grew once they started running the regular weekly #WM_Chat on Twitter.
Writer Mom Life Episode 38: Daphne James Huff and Teaming up with others >> get a free self-publishing workbook for moms at writermomlife.com This week we flip the script ... J. R. Frontera does the interviewing, and Daphne James Huff is the interviewee! This was super fun to each get a chance to be on the "other" side of things, and we got to dive into topics we're both super passionate about.
Writer Mom Life Bonus Episode 4: Jennifer Jill Araya, Audiobook Narrator >>Get your Writer Mom Life mugs and tees at http://WriterMomLife.com/Shop >>Audiobooks - even if you've never listened to one, there is a growing market that is craving them! If you haven't considered creating one for your book, put it on your 2019 list of things to think about... Who better to give a little insight into how it works than a professional audiobook narrator (and mom)? Jennifer Jill Araya has gone from performance on stage to performance behind the microphone and is loving her new job!
Writer Mom Life Episode 37: Lyssa Layne and Realizing You're a Writer >> the Writer Mom Life shop is live! Get your mugs, tees, and notebooks at writermomlife.com/shop >> Lyssa Layne fell into writing unexpectedly and has found great community and support in her connection with other indies and her readers. She works full-time at a job that provides a good amount of flexibility, but there are still periods of the year she can’t write every day - and that’s okay! >> Get full show notes at writermomlife.com
Writer Mom Life Episode 36: MJ Greenway and Picking a Genre MJ Greenway is a hybrid author who writes in multiple genres and with a co-writer. And if that wasn’t enough, along with her co-writer, she also runs the Pen and Parent blog! Daphne talks to her about her writing journey so far and they dive deeper into: Picking a genre Her preference for first or third person Starting the Pen and Parent blog Getting paid for your writing Having the support and space to experiment The choices you need to make when writing as a parent
Writer Mom Life Episode 35: Jasmine Silvera and Celebraing Milestones on the Road to Success Hybrid author Jasmine Silvera started her book during NaNoWriMo pre-baby while living abroad. Today she lives in Seattle with a three-year old and things look very different but one thing is the same - she is still writing! Daphne had a great time talking to Jasmine about: The writing community she found for herself, both abroad and in the states, Her journey to hybrid author The marathon approach she takes to her career How she differentiates success from being successful Her big goal of being on Dancing with the Stars The importance of celebrating milestones of success along the way to your larger goals
Writer Mom Life Episode 34: Indie Author Basics - How to maintain your book's success long after its launch! >>The WML Shop is live!! Get your Writer Mom Life loot at writermomlife.com/shop >>This week we're talking all about "the cliff" ... and how to keep from falling off of it. "The cliff" is the dreaded point in time in which most authors see their book sales suddenly ... plummet. Most often this is at the 30 day mark, as at that point what little boost Amazon has given you as a new release has ended. And unless you've built yourself a nice little flying contraption to keep your book in the air, the poor thing is going to run right off that edge and plummet to its doom. Okay, okay, maybe it's not all that grim. But we authors like drama, sooo... In this longer tips episode, we discuss book "maintenance", which is ... well, frankly, more advertising. Aka, the flying contraption that will keep your book afloat even long after it's initial launch! But don't despair! This doesn't have to be overly complicated, either.
Writer Mom Life Episode 33: Killian McRae and Finding Your People >>Get full show notes and a free self-publishing workbook for moms at writermomlife.com Killian McRae / Kendrai Meeks has been self-publishing for nearly a decade, but only recently made the leap and quit her full-time job to concentrate on her writing. Daphne talks to her about: Why she didn't try to go full-time author earlier The difference between writing when kids are young and when they're in high school (spoiler: it apparently is not easier!) Finding her writing community Acknowledging that the life others present online is not the full story What to do when your partner does not support your writing
Writer Mom Life Episode 32: All about launching your book! >>get full show notes and a free self-publishing workbook at writermomlife.com >>Finally, all your hard work writing and editing and getting covers and formatting has paid off, because now it's LAUNCH DAY! In this episode, Daphne and I talk about some key things to remember (and plan for) when that big day finally comes!
Writer Mom Life Episode 31: Azaaa Davis, Minimalism, and Book Babies >>>Get full show notes and a free self-publishing workbook for moms at writermomlife.com Azaaa Davis got married, had a baby, and wrote a book… all in roughly a year and a half! Daphne chats with Azaaa about her decision to quit her job and write for a year along with: Why indie publishing for her is easier with a small child than trade would be How’s she’s been preparing for the launch in October How long she’s giving herself to see if this works (hint: more than one book!) Her strategies for slowly but surely growing her audience The support her husband gives (but it’s not reading her book!)
Writer Mom Life Episode 30: Indie Author Basics - Pre-Production >>get full show notes and a free self-publishing workbook for indie author moms at writermomlife.com Now that you've written the book, it's time to get it ready for release! In this episode we cover: Editing Cover design Formatting Building your audience Building your network of influencers (but more detail on this one next tips episode!)
Writer Mom Life Episode 29: Meaghan Halderman and Offset Schedules >>get full show notes and free self-publishing workbook at writermomlife.com Meaghan Halderman is writing three different books, running a used bookstore online, and will be jumping back into full-time work soon! Daphne gets all the details on her different projects, her decision to go back to work, and asks about every mom's favorite topic: sleep. >> No tips this week, since we're doing longer ones as regular episodes! Tune in in a few weeks to get the next in our Indie Author Basics series
Writer Mom Life Episode 28: Happy one year anniversary! A look back and a look ahead. >>get full show notes and a free self-publishing workbook for moms at writermomlife.com Writer Mom Life launched July 24th, 2017 and here we are 28 episodes (and 3 bonus episodes) later! It's been an incredible and transformative year and Daphne takes the opportunity to step back and see what has changed, what's stayed the same, and what the plans are for WML's future (hint: continue making stuff you writer moms like and need!).
Writer Mom Life Episode 27: Indie Author Basics - Writing >> Get full show notes and a free self-publishing workbook at writermomlife.com Writer Mom Life Presents: Indie Author Basics. In the first in our series of longer tip episodes we tackle the very first step in any self-publishing journey: writing the book! Everyone does it differently, and we talk about how some advice just doesn't apply to writer moms. But don't despair! There is always something new to try.
Writer Mom Life Episode 26: Rhea Pechter and Self-Editing Tips >>Get full show notes and your free self-publishing workbook at writermomlife.com There are many ways to get your stories out into the world, and Rhea Pechter found hers through podcasting while she gets her first picture book ready to self-publish. She shares details on how she got started and what her recording schedule looks like, along with: What building a relationship with listeners looks like How writing for audio is different than writing for books Ways her husband and family supports her How creating without pressure of an audience kept her motivated Why she thought she wouldn’t come back after her third child What her sons think of the podcast In the tips, JR and Daphne discuss ways to save money by self-editing.
Writer Mom Life Episode 25: April M Woodard and Budgeting Mindset Tips >>>get full show notes and free self-publishing workbook for moms at writermomlife.com April M Woodard released her first book at the end of May but got started way before that on the writing and marketing side! We talk about her long journey to publication, her preparation for the launch, and how her community has supported her. April also gives details on: How she found her ARC team – and tribe! – through Twitter The kinds of things an editor will notice that betas won’t How it’s sometimes better to hear from other authors instead of readers - Why she doesn’t give writing advice to new authors Her plans for her vlog How she’ll get in writing time during the summer In the tips, Daphne and J. R. dive into the first of three tips on budgeting, where we discuss the importance of knowing if you’re writing as a hobby or a business (both are totally cool!)
Writer Mom Life Episode 24: Mary Castillo and WML's favorite organization tools >>Get full show notes and a free self-publishing workbook for moms at http://writermomlife.com/workbook Mary Castillo is a hybrid author. She had some books traditionally published before the 2008, then self-published a few more, then tried erotica, and now has been focusing on her audiobooks. Mary talks a lot about the process of recording and releasing her own audiobooks, along with: - How she makes her living as a writer - How she structures her days to get in both client work and her work - How her schedule in the 40s compares to that in her 20s - How she markets her audiobooks >>In the tips, JR and Daphne discuss their favorite organization tools, from planners to online note-taking.
Writer Mom Life Bonus Episode 3: Peter Barlow from Author Secret >>> Get full show notes and your self-publishing workbook for moms at writermomlife.com/podcast Writer Mom Jenna and her digital designer husband Peter joined forces to start Author Secret three years ago. Learn more about this A to Z, draft to marketing service, and listen closely for a special deal on the launch of Troubleshoot Your Book Marketing, coming out May 31st!
Writer Mom Life Episode 23: Elizabeth Ann West and Marketing Tools >>get full show notes and a self-publishing workbook for writer moms at writermomlife.com/podcast Elizabeth Ann West is a military wife and homeschooling mom who has been getting paid for her writing for over ten years. She writes Jane Austen derivative fiction but will be branching out into cozy mysteries this year. Diversifying is a big part of her strategy for success, and she talks to Daphne about her goals for this year and next. Elizabeth also shares: Why she only plans 3 weeks at a time Why she doesn’t write every day How her definition of success has changed as her daughter gets older A peek into her author education resources Why she is focusing on giving live classes Where she gets her indie author news - What she’d like to tell new authors on the scene (hint: you don’t need to know everything right away! Really!) >>In the tips, J. R. and Daphne go over the four basic marketing tools you need to get started in the indie author business (though traditionally published authors should probably be using them, too!)
Writer Mom Life Episode 22: Amy Hopkins and Writing Tools >>get full show notes and a self-publishing workbook for writer moms at writermomlife.com/podcast Australian Amy Hopkins knows how important having writer friends is: whether it’s getting you out of a self-doubt funk or collaborating on new projects, she’s found the support she needs to help her reach her goals. We talk a little about those goals, how she sets them (hint: not 5 years in advance! Just a few months at a time), and get into discussing her current and future projects. Amy shares: What’s different about her Writer Mom Life this year Why she focuses on quarterly goals How she started collaborating with Michael Anderle What that kind of massive collaboration project looks like (it sounds so fun!) Why it’s been such a successful model for Michael (hint: it puts readers first!) Why she’s doing a pen name for her next series Where she found her “family” of other writers What she hopes to be able to do in 3 years (not 3 months!) In the tips, the first in a 3-part series on tools, J. R. and Daphne talk about their favorite writing tools.
Writer Mom Life Episode 21: Karen Tomlinson and the Importance of Ritual! >> get full show notes and a free self-publishing workbook at writermomlife.com/podcast It’s the second international guest of the podcast! British author Karen Tomlinson works full-time for the NHS, released her first YA fantasy book a little over a year ago, and has already scored a USA Today bestseller tag thanks to a boxset with 25 other authors. Oh, and she has twins! She has a great optimistic and positive attitude about her work and writing that keeps her going, even though she hasn’t hit all of her goals quite yet. Daphne had a lot of fun talking with Karen about her writing and self-publishing journey, including: How long it took her to write her first draft of 250k words! (Hint: not as long as you might think!) Transferable skills between her training role and her writing How the 25 authors worked together to hit the USA Today bestseller list Her strategy for getting her list to pay for itself Her weekly schedule (that includes a day off from everything business every week!) What her short-term goals are -Why she may not ever want to transition to full-time writer Why writing to market just isn’t for her >> In the tips, J. R. and Daphne talk about the importance of ritual in our daily lives, and especially as it relates to writing!
Writer Mom Life Episode 20: Sarah Woodbury and Staying in Your Own Boat >> get full show notes and a free self-publishing workbook at writermomlife.com When you’re in the trenches of writing in between changing dirty diapers, it can be hard to picture that it will all amount to something. So talking with Sarah Woodbury was a great opportunity to see what a Writer Mom Life can look like a few years (and 40 books!) down the line. Sarah shares her story from writing her book, getting an agent, not being able to sell it to a publisher, then finally deciding to self-publish back in the “wild west” of the early days of the e-reader. While it can be tempting for those of us starting out to feel a little jealous of those who were around during the “golden age” of the Kindle, Sarah is amazed at how much easier it is now for people with all the resources and connections and support for self-publishing. And whether you have 1 or 40 books – you still have to market! Sarah also shares: How many words she writes per day Her writing/editing process and her “posse” who help her What she’d do if she were starting now (hint: the same thing she did 7 years ago!) Why she doesn’t worry about individual launches or books anymore How many books she’s sold Learning to write in the middle of the chaos of homeschooling 4 kids >> In the tips, J. R. and Daphne talk about why you haven't missed the boat and should just stay in your own.
Writer Mom Life Episode 19: Lee Savino and dealing with an unsupportive family >> Get the full show notes and your free writer mom life self-publishing workbook at writermomlife.com/podcast Lee Savino decided to make the transition to stay at home mom and writer when she was pregnant with her first child. Now just two years later with baby number 2 due any day, she’s at six figures thanks to her sexy short romances based on Norse mythology. Lee shares her author journey with lots of little tips and tricks sprinkled in. It’s a longer episode but packed full of great stuff! Such as: How she didn’t quite meet her expectations of motherhood – and that’s okay! The two essential elements of her success How hard and fast and write to market play into her strategy Why she doesn’t read baby books (but devours craft books!) Her daily word count (it’s not even close to the 10k you might think it is!) Whether you need an MFA to be a writer How choosing to unconditionally love herself set her on the path to success In the tips, J. R. goes through the suggestions from our Facebook group members on how to keep going when your family isn’t as supportive of your writing as you’d like.
Writer Mom Life Bonus Episode 2: Amanda Cherry Talks Small Press Publishing >>get full show notes and your free self-publishing workbook at writermomlife.com/podcast In Bonus Episode 2, Daphne talks to Amanda Cherry, a writer mom who worked with a small press for her first book. Just like there are many definitions of success, there are all sorts of ways to get there. Self-publishing isn’t for everyone, and Amanda’s experience may sound more like the route for you. She talks about how her community of creative people (including her husband who she met during her first NaNoWriMo!) has given her the support and encouragement needed to feel like she has a place at the writing table. We hope you enjoy this bonus episode with Amanda, and give small press publishing a look if you think it may help you with your writer mom life journey!
Writer Mom Life Episode 18: Eva Moore and tips for structuring your time! >>> Get full show notes and a free self-publishing workbook at writermomlife.com Romance author Eva Moore may seem like a “fast” writer – publishing 5 books in one year is no easy feat! But as with almost everything in self-publishing, there is more to the story than it first appears. Winning a marketing contest gave her the push to put out all 5 much faster than she’d originally planned, and she shares some lessons learned to apply to her next series. Eva also shares: Her definition of success for her books Why “fresh eyes” on your work are so important When and where she gets in her writing time How a shift in schedule affected her social media presence How she started using social media 2 full years before she first published to build her author platform Why newsletters are still important for her, despite a very active Facebook presence Her favorite part of being a writer Eva had to shift how she used her time when her husband’s schedule changed. In the tips, J. R. and Daphne talk about time-saving tips like batching and learning to concentrate on one thing at a time (yes it can be done!) in order to maximize the precious minutes Writer Moms have available to them.
Writer Mom Life Episode 17: Kara Lockharte and Using your First Book as an Experiment >> Get your Writer Mom Life workbook and episode show notes at writermomlife.com Shifter-space-odyssey-paranormal-romance author Kara Lockharte launched her debut novel in the top 2000 while spending less than $100 on promotion. Wow! Daphne finds out how she did it, and also talks to Kara about: How she picked her genre Her goals for 2018, including a branded series with 11 other authors How her husband supports her writing Why authors shouldn’t watch TV (hint: bad dialogue makes us angry) How her short story launch 2 years ago helped her learn the basics Other advantages to newsletter swaps beyond the promotional aspect In the tips, J. R. and Daphne talk about why putting up a short work can be a useful way to experiment with self-publishing.
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