Podcasts about ingramspark

 We often cover struggles and challenges on this podcast, but my guest this week, Shonagh Johnson, from East Lothian, is a great example of how well tandem breastfeeding can go. Although she had some nipple sensitivity, Shonagh found feeding her first daughter Freya relatively easy after a swift home birth. Despite having no expectations of how long they would feed for, she carried on throughout her pregnancy with her second daughter, Charlotte. During this pregnancy, Shonagh did experience aversion, particularly during her third trimester and occasionally post-birth, but she handled it with a mixture of relaxation techniques and communicating with Freya to establish boundaries around feeding. Towards the end of our conversation we also discuss the process of donating milk via the local milk bank, as Shonagh has just started to donate, having been inspired by Charlotte's story in episode 67.You can follow Shonagh on Instagram @‌shonaghmackMy new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie's Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children's Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other book shops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.Follow me on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com  This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Ready to sell more books and look like a pro on Amazon? In this tactical, game-changing episode of Thought Leader Launch, Sara Connell is joined by publishing strategist Susie Schaefer, who walks us through the most overlooked (and powerful) tools authors can use to elevate their Amazon presence: Author Central and A+ Content. You'll learn: How to actually set up and optimize your Amazon Author Central page The secrets of A+ Content—and how it turns browsers into buyers Why your book may be missing critical sales page elements (and how to fix it fast) How to position yourself as a thought leader, not just an author Simple changes that make your Amazon page look polished, professional, and searchable If you're publishing on KDP, IngramSpark, or both—this is the masterclass you didn't know you needed. Join Sara's community: https://www.saraconnell.com/thought-leader-academy Women STARTING MOVEMENTS: A 3 day curated event for experts, coaches, visionaries, & entrepreneurs- https://www.saraconnell.com/women-starting-movements

 Every so often a project comes along with the potential to radically change the experience of lactating parents. My guest this week, Amber, has one such project.Amber Clark is an infant feeding specialist nurse and IBCLC working in Wessex. Her work, the Early Breast Milk Improvement Project is all about improving outcomes for pumpers by fitting flanges properly and increasing pumping efficiency.In our conversation, we delve deep into the world of breast pumping and flange sizes. Amber shares her expertise and exciting findings, covering the critical impact of correctly fitted flanges, the challenges of standard pump sizes, and practical advice for both health professionals and parents. Find the project toolkit here - https://healthinnovationwessex.org.uk/projects/658/early-breast-milk-improvement-project-toolkitAnd the research that inspired Amber here - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/08903344241296036Amber is @‌empoweredbirthuk on Instagram or you can contact her at amberclarkibclc@gmail.comMy new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie's Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children's Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other book shops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.Follow me on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

In this week's episode, we take a look at the major self-publishing platforms that I use, and examine the pros and cons of each. This coupon code will get you 50% off the audiobook of Dragonskull: Doom of the Sorceress, Book #8 in the Dragonskull series, (as excellently narrated by Brad Wills) at my Payhip store: DOOM50 The coupon code is valid through June 24, 2025. So if you need a new audiobook this summer, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates   Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 253 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is May 30th, 2025, and today we are looking at the current major self-publishing platforms and what they offer indie authors. Before we get to our main topic, we'll have Coupon of the Week and an update on my current writing projects.   So let's start with Coupon of the Week. This week's coupon code will get you 50% off the audiobook of Dragonskull: Doom of the Sorceress (book number eight in the Dragonskull series, as excellently narrated by Brad Wills) at my Payhip store. That code is DOOM50. And as always, we will have the coupon code and the links to the store in the show notes. This coupon code is valid through June 24th, 2025. So if you are setting out on summer travels this summer and you need an audiobook to listen to while you're in the car or plane, we have got you covered. So now for an update on my current writing and audiobook projects. Ghost in the Corruption (as I mentioned last week) is now out and available at all the ebook stores: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play, Apple Books, Smashwords, and Payhip. It is selling well. So thank you all for that. Now that Ghost in the Corruption is finished, what am I working on next? Well, back in 2023, I finished the Dragonskull and The Silent Order series back to back, so I declared Summer 2023 to be my Summer of Finishing Things. Well, it looks like Summer 2025 is going to be the Super Summer of Finishing Things because I intend to finish three series back to back.   First up is Shield of Power, the sixth and final book of The Shield War series. As of this publishing, I am 26,000 words into it, which puts me on Chapter 6 of 29. So I think it's going to end up being around 100,000-110,000 words long, and I am hoping it will be out in June, though it might slip to July depending on how things go. Once that is done, the next one up will be Stealth and Spells Online: Final Quest, which will be the third and very definitely final book of the Stealth and Spells Online trilogy. Believe it or not, I have been working on Final Quest on the side for so long that I passed the 100,000 word mark in that book this week. In fact, it's been a side project for so long that I don't remember how long I've been working on it, and I had to look up the metadata to check that I indeed started chipping away on it on October 18th, 2024. So I am very pleased that I'm nearly done with the rough draft and because of that reason, if all goes well, it'll come out very quickly after Shield of Power, since I think the rough draft will end up at about 125,000 to 130,000 words or in that neighborhood. Once Stealth and Spells Online: Final Quest is finished, I will then write Ghost in the Siege, which will be the sixth and final book of the Ghost Armor series. I am 1,500 words into that and hoping for that to come out in August or September, if all goes well. Once The Shield War, Stealth and Spells Online, and Ghost Armor are finished, I will finally be free to return to the Rivah and Nadia series. I realized that through all of 2024 and the first half of 2025, I had five unfinished series at the same time, and that was just too much for me to keep track of as a writer, and I think it may have been too much for the readers because it was too much of a wait between the different series as I worked my way through them. So five series at the same time is too much, so hence the Super Summer of Finishing Things. Going forward, I've decided that three unfinished series at the same time will be my maximum, which after the Super Summer of Finishing Things will be Cloak Mage, Half-Elven Thief, and a new epic fantasy series that I will set in the realm of Owyllain.   In audiobook news, Brad Wills started working on Shield of Battle this week and Hollis McCarthy started working on Ghost in the Corruption, so hopefully before probably about July or thereabouts, we will have those audiobooks available for you to listen to. So that is where I'm at with my current writing projects.   00:03:49 Main Topic of the Week: Self-Publishing Platforms for Ebooks [Note: Information in this Episode is Very Likely to Change]   So now let's move on to our main topic for the week, which is the main self-publishing platforms for ebooks. Today we will do a brief overview of the self-publishing platforms I currently use: Amazon/KDP, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play, and Draft2Digital/Smashwords. The reason I wanted to do this is because there are many scammy platforms for self-publishing out there, but fortunately there are also many legitimate ones. Today we'll compare several of the most popular ones for ebooks. Just to make things easier for comparison, we'll be using the term platform to discuss both retailers and aggregators and we're not going to talk about options for self-publishing print or audio formats today. We're going to focus solely on ebooks.   First of all, what should you look for in a publishing platform? The first thing is to make sure you retain complete ownership of your content in all formats. Some of these scammer ones try to claim all rights to anything you try to post or sell through them, so that is definitely a red flag to watch out for. Make sure that you understand any exclusivity requirements of any programs that you sign up for such as KDP Select, such as if other formats like audio are also included in their requirements, how long exclusivity lasts, et cetera. If the platform requires exclusivity, that is definitely something to pay attention to. Make sure you do your research carefully to understand how pricing, royalties, and payments work on each individual platform. Sometimes some of them will pay quarterly, some of them pay monthly, and some of them pay you last month's royalties at the end of the month. Some of them like Amazon run like two months behind.   Finally, and this is a big one, you should not have to pay any money in order to upload your work. If they are asking for money upfront, it is probably a scam. Now, there are some aggregators that don't take a percentage and instead charge you a yearly fee. I'm not talking about them in this podcast episode because I don't use them, but they are out there. One example would be Book Funnel, which does charge a yearly fee for you to use but provides a valuable service in being a backend for running your own store on like Payhip or Shopify, and there's a couple of other useful services in that way, but they're not a storefront and they don't take a percentage of any royalties. They just charge a yearly fee. So they're not the topic with this episode.   All the platforms I've talked about today do not have any fees in order to upload. Reputable sites like Amazon or Kobo will instead take a percentage of each book's sale. It's also good to have a few realistic expectations before you start using self-publishing platforms, and one of them is that the platform is not a marketer. For example, many people complain that KDP doesn't showcase their books and they get lost in the millions of books available. However, none of these services are promising that you'll make the front page of their site just by publishing there. It's a common delusion among new indie authors that when you publish your first book, that's all you have to do and people will flock to it. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way.   In fact, since Amazon makes a small fortune off book ads, it's not in their interest to give away screen space for free, and this isn't to knock on Amazon, that's just the way the retail industry works. For example, if you go into a Target or a Walmart or another big box retailer, note the products that are prominently displayed on the aisle displays or the endcaps of the aisles. They didn't just get there randomly. The manufacturers of those products paid big money to Amazon and Target and Walmart and the other big box retailers to have their products featured there. In many cases, online commerce is no different.   Getting your book uploaded onto a platform is just the first step. Promoting and marketing the book is up to you and strategies for those will vary based on which ones you choose to use. For example, if you choose to make your work exclusive to just one platform, it's not a good idea to run Facebook ads in countries where that platform either doesn't exist or where it's not terribly popular. Today we're going to be just focusing on comparing the platforms, not how to best to market from them. So what are the options?   #1: First up is the most common platform people use and it's the 800 pound gorilla in the self-publishing space, and that is Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing. And what are the pros and cons of KDP?   Pro: They are the biggest force in ebook publishing in many countries, including the United States. Some authors find that as much as 80 to 95% of their ebook sales come from Amazon, even if they are not exclusive with Amazon. For myself, it's usually about 50 to 60% of my sales on any given month are from Amazon and the rest come from the other retailers.   Heavy readers are generally very familiar with the Kindle Store interface and Library setup, and many readers are kind of locked into Amazon because they own Kindle devices, subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, and have large Kindle Libraries. So those are all the pros of publishing with KDP.   Cons: If you're expecting a large portion of your sales to come from the print version of your book or if print sales are very important to you, be aware that many bookstores and libraries either can't or won't buy print books from Amazon, so you should find an additional platform for the print version such as Ingram Spark or maybe Barnes & Noble's print division. One big concern about going exclusive with Amazon is that you're losing readers who don't have Kindle books in their countries, people who are boycotting Amazon for a variety of reasons, people who are locked into another platform such as Apple or Kobo, or people who want to self-archive their ebooks since Amazon doesn't allow that anymore. If you're already wide, you'll have to look carefully at what percentage of your sales are non-Amazon and if this percentage is an amount you'd be comfortable risking losing in order to be exclusive. Occasionally authors do complain about the customer service available to KDP, especially if it's urgent. For myself, I've not personally had any huge problems with KDP customer service. That said, I think you should expect a lead time of about one to two business days on anything you ask because I usually go through the email form.   Does KDP offer a subscription service? Yes. Kindle Unlimited (KU) readers pay a set amount and can read an unlimited number of books each month, although they're limited as to how many they can have in their library at any one time. Promotions happen regularly, usually based around big sales like Prime Day, and it can make a subscription as cheap as $0.99 for a three month period. Some also receive free subscriptions by buying certain Amazon products such as a new Kindle or Kindle Fire.   The downside of being in Kindle Unlimited is the exclusivity. You can't be in KU without being exclusive with Amazon, or at least the specific book in question has to be exclusive. Not all of your books have to be exclusive, and many authors such as myself will usually put one series in KU and then make sure everything else is wide. You must agree to be exclusive with them for ninety days and that time period is renewable.   What does KDP pay in terms of royalty? For $2.99 to $9.99, they give you 70% of the sale price. Under $2.99 and above $9.99, it's 35%. So that is sort of an encouragement from Amazon to price your ebooks in the $2.99 to $9.99 range. Currently I price new novels at $4.99 and do short stories at $0.99 cents.   What do I do? I have all of my titles available through KDP. I have a smaller portion of my collection exclusive through KDP Select/KU, and I have only recently increased that amount of Select titles due to the economic downturn. I suspect that KU users are likely to hold onto their subscriptions while cutting other expenses because honestly, KU is a pretty good deal for readers and the monthly subscription costs is about the same as one tradpub frontlist ebook, but with a KU subscription, they could read thousands of books for the same price. The value of KU is really very strong for frequent romance, LitRPG, science fiction, and fantasy readers. There's a strong population in the KU subscriber base often referred to as binge readers. They care more about variety, discovering new books, and the ability to read a lot over the ability to read specific authors or stories.   So overall, I think if you are self-publishing and even if you don't like Amazon very much or don't plan to go exclusive, it's still in your best interest to publish your ebook with them, even if you are wide and intend to do all the other retailers just because Amazon really is the biggest ebook platform out there at the moment. #2: Now, the next self-publishing platform we're going to look at is Barnes & Noble Press, which as the name implies, belongs to Barnes & Noble. The Pros: some people are never, ever going to let go of their Nooks or they already have a large personal ebook library through the Nook so they feel locked into that platform. These readers are the majority of people buying ebooks through Barnes & Noble, but fortunately that group tends to read a lot. There's also a lot of trust in Barnes & Noble as a brand, and that inspires people to continue buying from them.   In fact, for a while in the indie author space at the end of the 2010s and the start of the 2020s, it was a regular prediction that Barnes & Noble was going to go out of business soon, but then the company was bought by a private equity firm, and while private equity firms often have a deserved bad reputation for stripping a company of assets and then selling it off at a bargain basement price (such as the fate of Red Lobster), that does not seem to be the case of what happened with Barnes & Noble and the company really has been strengthening in recent years. So they may be here to stay for a while.   The downsides of publishing with Barnes & Noble Press is that Barnes & Noble is relatively a minor player in the ebook market, though usually in the top four of most indie author ebook sales if they're wide. They have shifted their focus to selling print books instead of Nook devices, especially in the retail space.   Do they offer a subscription service? They do not. However, nothing about Barnes & Noble requires exclusivity, which is nice, and the royalty structure is pretty good. It's 70% over all titles over $0.99. So if you want, you could price your ebook at $0.99 or $19.99 and still make 70%, which you couldn't do with those prices on Amazon.     #3: The next self-publishing platform we'll look at is Kobo Writing Life, which is the ebook platform to publish on Kobo, which is owned by Rakuten. Pros: Kobo is strong in the international market and will help you to reach readers in many countries. Based on my sales data, in Canada and Australia, Kobo is significantly bigger than Amazon for ebook sales. Kobo has also had a surge of recent media attention in the US as people seek out alternatives to Amazon and Kindle devices.   The Con of Kobo, and this is a fairly small one, is that their US market share is still fairly small compared to Amazon or Barnes & Noble or some of the others. But as I mentioned, they're a lot stronger in Canada and Australia, and they do reach a lot of different countries, more than Amazon does.   Does Kobo have a subscription service? Yes, Kobo Plus. Kobo Plus is significantly less expensive than Kindle Unlimited, and there's an additional tier that allows you to add audiobook content to the plan. The library isn't quite as extensive as KU though, though. I should note that in the years since Kobo has been introduced, I'd say about half of my revenue from Kobo (sometimes 60% of my revenue from Kobo) comes from Kobo Plus and not from direct ebook sales. So it's getting to the point where the majority of their ebook revenue I suspect, is coming from Kobo Plus and not direct Kobo sales.   Do they require exclusivity? No, which is another strong selling point for Kobo Plus. For their royalty structure, ebooks over $2.99, you get 70% and any books over below $2.99, you get 45%, which is a more generous term than Amazon in terms of the royalty rate for below $2.99 and above $9.99.   So what do I do? I currently use it as one of the platforms for my ebooks. It's been a pretty strong seller for me consistently over the years, and every Kobo book that I have is also available in Kobo Plus, which probably explains the revenue split I was talking about earlier. #4: The next platform we'll look at is Draft2Digital/Smashwords, which we'll do as one because Draft2Digital and Smashwords are in the process of merging. Draft2Digital is technically what's called an aggregator, where you upload your book and then they can publish on a variety of different platforms for you, and in exchange, they take a small cut of the sales. Draft2Digital is, in my opinion, probably the most effective way to get your ebooks through Apple and Smashwords. Apple does have its own direct uploading service, but I've never used it because there are a bit too many hoops to jump through.   Draft2Digital does, as I mentioned, have a way to publish on multiple storefronts at once while managing uploads and sales reporting through just one interface. They're not a storefront in and of themselves, although since Draft2Digital does own Smashwords, Smashwords essentially acts as their storefront for them. Although Draft2Digital lists Amazon, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble as an option, most authors will upload to these sites separately, and in fact, that's what I do for myself.   The Pros of Draft2Digital is that it's a definite time savings using Draft2Digital to publish across multiple platforms, especially with platforms like Apple that are more difficult or time consuming to learn. This is also a convenient way to make your work accessible to library platforms like Overdrive/Libby, Hoopla, and Bibliotheca, if that is important to you. Library sales have never been a huge priority of mine, but I've never been opposed to them either, so I usually just flip those switches on and then don't think about it again.   The Cons for Draft2Digital are that there was a period after the Smashwords migration where they received complaints about customer service and difficulty in setting up tax information, though I think that is mostly ironed out now.   One potential hazard for Draft2Digital with a very specific subset of writers is that if you are a writer of, shall we say, very hard erotica, the sort that ends up in very restricted categories on most stores, you will probably have trouble publishing through Draft2Digital. This is not, however, a problem that's unique to Draft2Digital. Amazon has what is called the “erotica dungeon”, where if you publish certain kinds of, like we said, very harsh erotica, your book isn't searchable on the Amazon store. You can link to it directly, but it will never show up on any search results. Kobo in particular has had problems with erotica.   Back in the 2010s, Kobo was also distributing ebooks to some British retailers, and these British retailers suddenly got upset when they noticed that these kinds of hard erotica were showing up on their store pages, which was not a good look for the company. And so there was a kerfuffle until that was all sorted out. My frank opinion with that is if you are writing these kinds of erotica, the big stores and Draft2Digital will never be on your side, and so you are better off pursuing a sort of a Patreon/running your own store on Shopify or Payhip strategy, but that is a bit of a digression.   So in terms of royalties, Draft2Digital takes 10% of the book's retail price per copy sold, which is in addition to whatever amount is taken by the specific storefront. So you are paying a bit of money in exchange for convenience for just uploading your book to Draft2Digital and having it push out the book to all the different stores for you.   What I do is I use Draft2Digital for Apple mainly because for a while I was using Smashwords, but Smashwords in the 2010s was a bit more persnickety than is now, and you needed to prepare a specially formatted doc file to publish on Smashwords and sometimes getting it through the Smashwords processing onto Apple was a bit of a pain. Draft2Digital took epub files, which are much easier to work with, and after a while I switched over all my Apple publishing to Draft2Digital entirely. So that's why I use Draft2Digital for Apple and for various library services that tend to be a minor amount of sales. Because of the difficulties on publishing direct to Apple, I do find that that 10% is good trade off in terms of selling books on Apple for me.   #5: Now onto Google Play's ebook self-publishing platform, which is, I think its full name is the Google Books Partner Center, which lets you publish books to the Google Play Store for sale on Android devices.   The Pros are that for writers interested in the international market, Google Play is another strong choice for a platform since the international mobile device market is very Android heavy. The iPhone (Apple) tends to be concentrated mainly in the US and a few of the wealthier countries like the UK and Canada, but Android has a much more international reach in general than the iPhone. Google Play also has some interesting promotional options for ebooks, such as offering the buyer a chance to subscribe to a specific series.   The cons are that some authors report that their sales reporting doesn't always consistently generate reports, and others are annoyed that it only generates a CSV file, (which isn't that much of a hardship for people who are familiar with Excel).   For myself, I found that there is a bit of a reporting lag on Google Play where it will sometimes take as long as five or six days for sales to show up on the dashboard, though usually it's only a delay of two days, though sometimes during the month you'll get these bigger lags and sometimes processing new material on the Google Play Store can be slow, and it can sometimes take two to three days for things to appear, though it usually gets worked out in the end. Does Google Play have a subscription service? It does not, nor does it require exclusivity, which is another point in its favor. And the royalties, the data is quite nice here. It is 70% for all price points in the countries listed on their support page, which only excludes a handful of countries like India, South Korea, and Japan (because of currency conversion regions or other local laws).   So those are the ebook publishing platforms that I currently use, and because I use them myself, I would recommend them. Hopefully that is helpful to you as you are looking for places to self-publish your book as you set out to become an indie author.   So that is it for this week. Thank you for listening to The Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found the show useful. A reminder that you can listen to all the backup episodes at https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy and see you all next week.  

Sometimes the thing we need most is the space and time to figure it out ourselves.My guest this week, Becca from Oxfordshire, had a challenging start to breastfeeding her son, Rupert. A combination of a tongue tie, slightly inverted nipples, and troubles latching, led to severe nipple damage just days after Rupert's birth. Becca turned to exclusive pumping to let her nipples heal, and days turned into weeks. Despite her struggles, Becca found hope and support through local breastfeeding groups and charities.  Giving herself the time and space to figure out what worked for her, she eventually returned to successful breastfeeding after five weeks and is still feeding Rupert now at 16 months. Find out about the charities that helped Becca - Oxfordshire Breastfeeding Support https://oxbreastfeedingsupport.org/Wallingford Babybar https://www.wallingfordbabybar.co.uk/Didcot Baby Monday  https://www.didcotbabymonday.co.uk/My new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie's Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children's Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other book shops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.Follow me on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

In today's indie author news update, we're diving into the latest feature rollouts from IngramSpark, an exciting new marketing tool from Barnes & Noble Press, and a handful of cutting-edge book promotion services you'll want to check out. We're also covering updates from Apple Books, a powerful book structure fix from Fictionary, and wrapping up with a huge giveaway opportunity you don't want to miss. Tune in and find out what's new and what's hot in self-publishing! Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord  Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. Sources: IngramSpark - https://ingramspark.com - IngramSpark May 2025 Newsletter - https://www.ingramspark.com/newsletter-may2025 Barnes & Noble Press: A Free Book Marketing Tool for Self-Published Authors - https://press.barnesandnoble.com/bnpress-blog/book-marketing-tool-for-self-published-authors/ Apple Books for Authors - https://authors.apple.com Spoken.Press - https://spoken.press Book Bounty - https://DaleLinks.com/BookBounty (affiliate link) Gemsy.io - https://DaleLinks.com/Gemsy (affiliate link) The Wide Author's Playbook: Unlocking Your Book's Potential - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/bHywZKmPSPmp6NBHe9UbMQ#/registration  Kindlepreneur: Cracking the Code to Amazon Book Sales - https://my.demio.com/ref/kIMXsb6k4Itz2WNI  30 Books in 30 Days Giveaway - https://DaleLinks.com/30Books Grand Prize Day – Win Big in Our Author Giveaway! - https://www.youtube.com/live/QRc1jsvUHx4?si=0VVvEDyM9BhNbASA Fix Your Story's Structure with These 5 Key Scenes | Kristina Stanley of Fictionary - https://www.youtube.com/live/szsfwHKLTpA?si=UK3Ib0e0NUFjOF02  Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts

My guest this week is Dr. Louise Goldsmith, a urologist and aspiring IBCLC from North London. Louise successfully breastfed her first daughter but was taken aback when that previous history didn't protect her from a crisis of confidence second time around.Carrie's feeding style was very different to Paloma's, which surprised Louise and her husband, and they feared she was not receiving enough milk. But after a weigh-in confirmed that she had in fact gained weight since birth, things started to get on track. At six months, Carrie is now successfully breastfeeding, and her older daughter, Paloma has got in on the act, returning to breastfeeding after a year of being weaned. Louise is now tandem feeding both daughters. My new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie's Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children's Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other bookshops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.Follow me on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

In this episode of The Entrepreneurial You, Heneka Watkis-Porter sits down with publishing industry veteran Michele DeFilippo, founder of 1106 Design. With over 50 years in the book publishing world, Michele brings a wealth of knowledge on how authors can take control of their publishing journey, avoid scams, and profit from their passion. She breaks down the evolution of self-publishing, revealing how independent authors can compete with traditional publishers—and win—by maintaining ownership, setting industry-standard quality, and being smart about their choices. Whether you're a first-time writer or a seasoned author, Michele's guidance provides a blueprint for building a successful, scam-free publishing experience. The Power of Self-Publishing: Profit, Control & Protection Michele is clear: self-publishing isn't just an alternative—it's a business decision. Authors can maintain creative control, keep more of their earnings, and bring their books to market without signing away their rights. But with this freedom comes responsibility. Michele warns against shady hybrid publishers that charge high production fees and still claim a share of your royalties. Her advice? If you're paying for the work, own the outcome—including your files, your ISBNs, and your book's future. Heneka echoes the importance of being informed, noting how many aspiring authors fall victim to scams due to lack of publishing knowledge. Competing With Traditional Publishing: Yes, You Can Michele debunks the myth that self-published books are inferior. With platforms like Amazon KDP and IngramSpark, and a focus on professional-quality design, editing, and typesetting, indie authors can match—and often exceed—the quality of traditional publishers. The key? Following industry standards and never cutting corners. “Readers don't care how a book is published,” Michele says, “only that it's well done.” She urges authors to purchase their own ISBNs through Bowker, which allows them to retain full control over the book in all its formats—eBook, paperback, or hardback. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • How to avoid scams and bad deals in the publishing industry • Why self-publishing can be more profitable and empowering than traditional routes • How to meet traditional publishing standards on your own • Why owning your ISBNs and production files matters • Smart marketing tactics for positioning your book as a business tool • The truth about bestseller programs—and what really drives book success This episode is a must-listen for any aspiring author ready to publish with confidence, clarity, and control. Tune in, take notes, and share it with someone who dreams of becoming a published writer—without the pitfalls. COMMUNITY CONNECTION: Now it's time for our Community Connection segment! We'd love to hear your thoughts on today's episode or any questions you have for Drewbie or Heneka—email us at heneka@henekawatkisporter.com or WhatsApp us at 876-849-2571. Also, don't forget about the upcoming LeadHerShip Cruise, where leaders like YOU can network and grow aboard Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas! This four-day event combines empowerment with transformative learning against the stunning backdrop of the Bahamas. Contact us at heneka@henekawatkisporter.com or WhatsApp 876-849-2571 for more details! CONTACT Michelle Defilippo: Website: 1106design.com TRENDING NOW: Here's an eye-opening stat: Authors lose over $500 million annually due to predatory publishing scams—and AI-generated books are flooding platforms like Amazon faster than ever before. This makes professional design and marketing more important than ever. If you enjoyed this episode of The Entrepreneurial You, subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave a rating, and share it with your friends. Visit henekawatkisporter.com to download a free eBook on how to conduct podcast interviews like a pro! AFFIRM WITH ME: I am an empowered author who makes informed decisions about my book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Vicky, my guest this week, is a fantastic example of successful breastfeeding at work. She is a nurse in a busy intensive care unit, who takes regular breaks to pump in a dedicated room, with the full support of her manager and colleagues. This success story is even better when you hear how she got to this place - her daughter Evie's birth was painful and distressing, ending with a ventouse delivery. She struggled to breastfeed in the hospital, relying on expressing and syringes, and continued to struggle through pain and a staph infection at home. Vicky's determination to breastfeed kept her going through the pain for seven months and three tongue tie divisions, before she and Evie settled into the feeding relationship they continue today.My new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie's Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children's Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other bookshops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.Follow me on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Recently, BookVault—a company familiar to many of our U.S. and U.K. listeners—expanded its print-on-demand services to Australia. In this episode, ALLi's nonfiction advisor Anna Featherstone speaks with Alex Smith, BookVault's brand manager, to learn what the company offers, how it operates globally, and whether it might be a good fit for authors looking to diversify how they produce and distribute their books. In this episode, you'll learn: What BookVault is, which countries it currently serves, and how it compares to KDP, IngramSpark, and traditional book printers How special editions work—costs, timelines, trends, and possibilities The most common mistakes authors make with POD, and how to avoid them Why BookVault charges a setup fee—and how ALLi members can have it waived A crash course on bookbinding types: perfect bound, case bound, and saddle stitch Trends and innovations in indie publishing that have Alex excited about the future Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-Publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. Sponsors This podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. This podcast is also sponsored by Gatekeeper Press, the all-inclusive Gold Standard in Publishing, offering authors 100% rights, royalties, satisfaction and worldwide distribution. Gatekeeper Press, Where Authors are Family. About the Host Anna Featherstone is ALLi's nonfiction adviser and an author advocate and mentor. A judge of The Australian Business Book Awards and Australian Society of Travel Writers awards, she's also the founder of Bold Authors and presents author marketing and self-publishing workshops for organizations, including Byron Writers Festival. Anna has authored books including how-to and memoirs and her book Look-It's Your Book! about writing, publishing, marketing, and leveraging nonfiction is on the Australian Society of Authors recommended reading list. When she's not being bookish, Anna's into bees, beings, and the big issues of our time. About the Guest Alex Smith has been with Printondemand Worldwide, the parent company of BookVault, for more than seven years. During that time, he has gained extensive knowledge of the publishing industry. His experience positioned him to take a leading role in redeveloping the BookVault platform. Alex works closely with leading indie publishing entrepreneurs to ensure BookVault continues to deliver the innovative features authors and publishers need.

Many breastfeeding parents also choose to carry their baby in a sling or wrap as they go about their day. There are so many carriers out there to choose from that it can be an overwhelming decision. That's where my guest today can help. Lizzy Allen  is a babywearing consultant, but she's also a breastfeeding peer supporter, trained with the ABM. She runs Chester Sling Library, which offers support to families in person in Chester and in Northeast Wales and also online to families around the UK.We're talking today about babywearing, how to choose a carrier that suits you and your baby, and most importantly about the safety of babywearing and breastfeeding.You can find Lizzy online at www.chesterslinglibrary.co.uk/ and @‌chester_sling_library on Instagram.My new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie's Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children's Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other book shops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.Lizzy recommends - https://www.carryingmatters.co.uk/2017/08/05/breast-bottle-feeding-safely-sling/Finding a sling library https://www.carryingmatters.co.uk/sling-pages/@‌babywearingeducationnetwork on InstagramYoutube creators @‌SouthEastSlings @‌TheBabywearingAcademy @‌carryingmatters @‌SheenSlings  @‌SouthEssexSlings @‌WrapyouinloveFollow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com  This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Uni-boobing - feeding on just one breast - is more common than many of us think. Whether through child-preference, injury, or as a result of surgery, like my guest this week, it's absolutely possible to exclusively breastfeed on just one breast.My guest, Coral, had duct surgery due to unexplained bleeding and a family history of breast cancer, in her twenties. Although she was told she probably could still breastfeed, it wasn't until her son, Rowan, was born that the reality of exclusively breastfeeding him was revealed. She persevered through tube feeding, combined feeding and very frequent feeds with determination. Rowan is now two years old and still nursing.My new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie's Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children's Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other book shops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.During our conversation, we mentioned -Breastfeeding After Breast and Nipple Surgeries https://www.bfar.org/index.shtmlMy article Breastfeeding: The dangerous obsession with the infant feeding interval - Baby Friendly Initiative https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/breastfeeding-the-dangerous-obsession-with-the-infant-feeding-interval/Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Back in 2020, Ann Owen felt like she was the only person in the UK breastfeeding a four year old. Not an unusual feeling for an extended breastfeeder, but Ann's next step was unusual. She's a photographer, specialising in documenting birth and post-partum journeys, so she started a project to meet and photograph other families with older nurslings. Now she travels all over the UK, meeting nurslings from 4-8 years old, with an aim of collating 100 photographs for her Milk Project.The Milk Project can be found at https://milkproject.uk/You can see some of Ann's photographs on my Instagram account this week @emmapickettibclc or Ann's @‌ann.owen.fotoWe also mentioned spectrumlactation.org @‌spectrumlactationMy new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie's Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children's Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other book shops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Scammers are targeting authors, a major audiobook platform is expanding into new countries, and a new tool promises to simplify website building for indie writers. Plus, I uncovered a lesser-known audiobook distribution option you'll want to keep your eye on. All that and more in this week's self-publishing news roundup—don't miss it. Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee. Sources: If You're an Author, Don't Fall for This Scam - https://youtu.be/V_ied17gNNE?si=Bo7VopHf3nBjp6zk Spotify Expands Its Audiobooks Offering To Listeners In Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein - https://newsroom.spotify.com/2025-04-15/spotify-expands-its-audiobooks-offering-to-listeners-in-germany-austria-switzerland-and-liechtenstein/ IngramSpark presents Tertulia for Authors - https://www.ingramspark.com/easy-author-websites-in-minutes-a-special-offer?e AMPlify Audiobooks - https://proaudiovoices.com/amplify-audiobook-distribution/  StoryOrigin presents Beyond Distribution: Building a Strategic Roadmap for Success - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/lwVxieXsTvqjDQNpm1VWyw#/registration  Authors Guild presents How to Book Podcasts as an Author - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QSdnfY2uR0is1BUfku_tHw#/registration  AppSumo presents DepositPhotos - https://DaleLinks.com/DepositPhotos (affiliate link) The Secrets of Successful Author Branding w/ Bryan Cohen - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-successful-author-branding/ Author Nation tickets - https://DaleLinks.com/AuthorNation (affiliate link) Kitboga: Scammers Panic Exposed on Live Video - https://youtu.be/IKvs3InhTMo?si=ybPP8WITDJvX4wB6  Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts

 My guest this week, Sarah, is a great example of the power of self belief. Sarah's twins, Louie and Robyn, were conceived through IVF during the COVID lockdowns, and had a tricky birth resulting in transfusions and a hospital stay. Throughout all this, Sarah knew that she wanted to breastfeed her twins, and advocated for herself despite busy maternity staff not providing the support they needed. She managed to establish breastfeeding with a combination of pumping and nipple shields, continuing when she returned to work as a primary school teacher.Louie and Robyn are now three years old and thriving. Sarah plans to continue breastfeeding them as long as they need.You can find Sarah on Instagram @‌sarahgrace2710My new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie's Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children's Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other book shops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

Victoria Jane welcomes Maggie Hoopis to discuss her debut novel "Grace of Dragons," a genre-blending Western romantasy featuring dragons instead of horses and a strong female lead who knows exactly who she is.• "Grace of Dragons" combines Western elements with fantasy and romance• Maggie created the book as a "palette cleanser" between heavier reads• Writing process influenced by Rebecca Ross's Writer's Conservatory class• Character-driven plotting and improv techniques shape Maggie's storytelling approach• Balancing motherhood and writing requires flexibility rather than rigid routines• "Quilting" approach to writing - working on different parts as inspiration strikes• Working with a PA helps manage the marketing side of indie publishing• Community support crucial for navigating imposter syndrome• Second book coming fall 2024 - an interconnected standalone following side characters• Independent publishing allows quicker response to reader interests than traditional routeFind Grace of Dragons on Amazon, Kindle Unlimited, or through Ingram Spark retailers. Connect with Maggie on Instagram @maggiehoopis.author or visit maggiehoopis.com for signed copies and merchandise.Book Blurb: Grace of DragonsA blizzard is blowing into the Old West. Are you fierce enough to brave the storm?Grace of Dragons is an Adult Western Romantasy full of adventure, snark, spice, tenderness, a brazen FMC, and dragons!  In this captivating tale of self-discovery, empowerment, and sweeping romance, Grace will be pushed to her limits as she grapples with the transformative powers of loss, grief, and love.Author bio: Maggie grew up with a strong love of reading. Her dream of writing has been fueled by the support and inspiration of fellow beta readers. She co-founded the Indie Romantasy Reads Book of the Month Club, which focuses on championing indie literature and fostering a deeper connection between readers and writers. She lives in Illinois with her husband, daughter, and Duck Tolling Retriever, who lovingly support her in her endeavors.LINKS:Instagram: @maggiehoopis.authorAuthor Website: https://www.maggiehoopis.com/About Victoria:Hey there, I'm Victoria! As a writer and developmental editor, I specialize in helping busy writers bring their publishing dreams to life without the overwhelm. Editing doesn't have to feel like pulling teeth—it's the magic that transforms your story from “meh” to masterpiece!Here's how I can help:

 We're doing something a little bit different this week, as you may have guessed from our title. I'm talking to Liz Lee-Smith, who is @‌thebirthhistorian on Instagram. She's an antenatal educator,a breastfeeding peer supporter, and she's a history nerd as well. And we'll be discussing wet nursing, by looking at the lives of a handful of women through history. One note of warning, we will be talking about a story that involves baby death, and we do note that it's coming up so that you can skip if you need to.My new picture book on how breastfeeding journeys end, The Story of Jessie's Milkies, is available from Amazon here -  The Story of Jessie's Milkies. In the UK, you can also buy it from The Children's Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. Other book shops and libraries can source a copy from Ingram Spark publishing.You can also get 10% off my books on supporting breastfeeding beyond six months and supporting the transition from breastfeeding at the Jessica Kingsley press website, that's uk.jkp.com using the code MMPE10 at checkout.Follow me on Twitter @MakesMilk and on Instagram  @emmapickettibclc or find out more on my website www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.comResources mentioned - https://spectrumlactation.org/https://kimberlysealsallers.com/books/ This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

168: Anne Marie Otañez is an accomplished Chief of Staff and author of The Chief of Staff: An Insider's Guide to Becoming a Strategic Partner in the Executive Suite. With over 20 years of leadership experience, including a tenure at Microsoft, Anne Marie has navigated the complexities of executive roles with resilience and grace. As a Black woman and daughter of immigrants, she brings a unique and empathetic perspective to leadership, emphasizing the importance of organizational alignment, team trust, and personal well-being. She is the Founder of Own Your Power with Anne Marie, an organization focused on Executive Coaching with an eye to the Chief of Staff domain as well as the creator of The Chief of Staff Academy.

Special podcast announcing my new Moon Tree children's book. Listen to our interview with the co-creator, and my sister, Miss Dee Dassen! I'm thrilled to introduce our new children's book: "Izzy and Dee – The Moon Trees" co-created with author and illustrator (and my sister!) - Miss Dee Dassen. She is my guest on this special episode. Hear about how we grew up to be creative and how we inspire to impact the world! This children's book about Moon trees is inspired by the real-life seeds taken to the Moon on the Apollo 14 mission. Izzy and Dee - The Moon Trees is a magical story that blends imagination, science, and adventure to inspire the next generation of space explorers and engineers. Alongside the book is the Moon Tree Companion Passport guide, filled with interactive activities, worksheets, and sticker pages to track real-life Moon Tree visits around the U.S. This is not our first adventure together—Dee and I also created Explore Space A to Z, and she's written several beloved children's books including Weird Animals A - Z, Weirdest Animals A to Z and the Skullie and Boop series. Our new book is available now on Amazon, IngramSpark, and at your local bookstore. Visit MissDeeDassen.com to learn more and subscribe for updates on upcoming books and products. Listen to this podcast on all of the major channels and at SpaceMarketingPodcast.com. Let's inspire the next generation to look up and reach for the stars! Links: Book information: MissDeeDassen.com Moon Trees locations - Apollo 14: nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/moon_tree.html Moon Trees locations - Artemis I: NASA.gov/learning-resources/artemis-i-moon-tree-stewards U.S. Forest Service: www.fs.usda.gov/learn/conservation-education/moon-trees #SpaceMarketingPodcast #IzzyAndDee #MoonTrees #STEMeducation #ChildrensBooks #ArtemisMission #Apollo14 #NASA #STEMforKids #ImaginationInspires #DeeDassenArt #ReadToInspire #SpaceBooks #TreeStewardship #CreativeSisters #MoonTrees #ExploreWithIzzyAndDee Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to the final episode of the Creativity Miniseries! In this conversation, Emily Sutherland and I open up our personal creativity toolkits and share the resources and strategies that help us bring our ideas to life. Working on this miniseries with Emily has been an absolute joy. She's not just an incredible creative and coach—she's also become a trusted friend and advisor throughout the development of Wrestling a Walrus, my first children's book. I truly could not imagine doing this without her. Interestingly, we didn't plan on recording another discussion on the creative process, but that's exactly where our behind-the scenes, warm-up conversation led us. So, we left it in. I think you might find some usefulness in this bonus material as we share our thoughts on the value of authenticity, the importance of differentiating yourself, and the surprising relationship between uncertainty and clarity.  A huge thank you to Emily for her wisdom and generosity, and to you for joining us as part of the creative community.  SPECIAL MENTIONS Emily Sutherland's Storytelling for Business (April 4, 2025) and Nurturing Your Creative Self (May 9, 2025) - https://www.emilysutherland.me/events Storytelling Community (Substack) - https://open.substack.com/pub/storytellingcommunity The Secret Lies Within by “Auntie Anne” Beiler and Emily H. Sutherland - http://bit.ly/3FmIxPT Betsy B. Murphy - https://substack.com/@betsybmurphy or http://betsybmurphy.com/ Vanessa Marin, sex therapist on IG @vanessaandxander PROCESS TOOLKIT Write it down when you feel it (and be prepared in the middle of the night). Be ready for the idea. Be discerning about what, when, and who to share your idea with.    When your idea is at a tender stage, who are your tender people? Do you need an editor or a cheerleader? Journaling. Let the creative juices flow without requiring an outcome. The more you write, the more ideas will come. Immerse yourself  and trust the process.  Try on new ideas to see if they go anywhere. “I make what I like, and they eat it how they want to eat it.” - Erykah Badu to Donald Glover ELECTRONIC TOOLS Manuscript Software - Scrivener - affiliate link: https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview?fpr=emilysuth Google Docs, YouTube, and Apps (e.g., voice memo, talk-to-text, notes) IngramSpark - https://www.ingramspark.com/  Kindle Direct Publishing - https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B008241EAQ Storytelling Workshops - https://www.emilysutherland.me/events PHYSICAL TOOLS  Fine Tip Sharpie Pen or The Pilot G2 (in multiple colors!) Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert - https://www.elizabethgilbert.com/books/big-magic/ Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott - https://writingforyourlife.com/bird-by-bird-some-instructions-on-writing-and-life/ The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron - https://juliacameronlive.com/books-by-julia/ Rifle Paper Company little notebooks (great for lefties!) - https://riflepaperco.com/ The Treasured Journal - https://danielleireland.com/journal DANIELLE IRELAND, LCSW Thank you for your support and engagement as part of the Don't Cut Your Own Bangs community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share. You can connect with me at any of the links below. Website - https://danielleireland.com/ The Treasured Journal - https://danielleireland.com/journal Substack - https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Blog - https://danielleireland.com/blog/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW Podcast on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured        

To set your books and audiobooks up for the best chance at success, you need to make your titles available to purchase in as many retail outlets as possible. Author and book publishing consultant Erin Wright joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share her expertise about the most effective methods to distribute books and audiobooks to as many retail sites as possible, including details about how to best use IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, PublishDrive, Author's Republic, Bookvault, and more for your publishing goals.PARTICIPANTSErin Wright is a full-time contemporary western romance author, but unless you're a fan of sexy cowboys, you've probably heard of her instead because of her work in the Wide for the Win Facebook group. She conned Suzie O'Connell (close writing friend and fellow cowboy romance author) into co-founding the Facebook group back in March of 2019, and has been avoiding writing books by posting in the group ever since. If you're thinking about going Wide, or if you're already Wide and just want to connect with other Widelings, be sure to come join Erin in the largest group on the internet for Wide authors. She'd be thrilled to have you!Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,600 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He's also passionate about indie publishing, because he's an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.LINKSLearn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membershipMake sure to connect with Erin for her consulting at work https://erinwright.net/consulting and https://erinwright.net/authors, as well as in the Wide for the Win Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wideforthewinFollow IBPA on:Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonlineX – https://twitter.com/ibpaInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/Follow Erin on:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@erinwrightLVFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/AuthorErinWrightPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/erinwrightbooksTwitter: https://twitter.com/erinwrightlvBookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/erin-wrightInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorerinwrightGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/erinwright

The Story of Jessie's Milkies is available from Amazon here: The Story of Jessie's MilkiesOr, if you prefer not to use Amazon, ask your local book shop to order from our other publisher, Ingram Spark, and libraries can order from them too. This podcast is presented by Emma Pickett IBCLC, and produced by Emily Crosby Media.

In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, I'm giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the timeline of drafting, editing and submitting (and editing and submitting again) that led to finally getting a publication deal for my new novel BEFORE & AFTER YOU & ME.It has been quite a long journey filled with ups and downs to get here! And I think it's really important to hear the real stories behind others' success. In fact, many times books aren't published in the order in which the writer wrote them (which has certainly been true for me!)In this episode you'll hear:What inspired the idea for this story 12 years ago.How I played around with the structure, setting and POV.Ways I took feedback to make my book better while staying true to myself and my vision for the book.What I feared would happen if I made any big changes to the book.The discouragement after making it to an acquisitions meeting at a big publisher but not getting an offer… and how I was able to learn from that experience and later get a publication deal with my wonderful publisher Owl Hollow Press.The process of working with amazing editors to get the book to the next level, which helped me grow so much as a writer.So even if it's a long journey to get YOUR book out into the world, who knows what's around the next corner. Just keep moving forward, find that next stepping stone and don't give up on yourself. You never know what opportunities and excitement are waiting for you!BEFORE & AFTER YOU & ME is available now and recently won the 2024 Indies Today Book Award for Best Teen Contemporary! I am so thrilled and honored by this news, and am eternally grateful to the team at Owl Hollow Press for bringing the best version of my book to life, and to everyone who has supported and spread the word about this story I poured my heart into for twelve years.P.S. If you decide you want to take the reins (and timeline) into your own hands and self-publish your book — but you don't want to worry about getting all the moving pieces coordinated and getting your book up on Amazon and Ingram Spark — you're in luck. I have a Book Publishing Package where I can handle that all for you, in addition to editing and cover/interior design. Just reach out!

In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Sana sits down with Stephen Huff, a dynamic storyteller, humanitarian, and recovering tech entrepreneur. With a career spanning Fortune 100 boardrooms to refugee camps, Stephen has faced chaos in its many forms. His new book, Life is Chaos, and All is Well, explores the paradox of finding joy and success in uncertainty. Together, they discuss how chaos isn't an obstacle but a necessary component of growth. Stephen shares how his personal experiences—from a failed tech startup to surviving cancer—shaped his philosophy on making powerful choices. He introduces three critical responses to chaos: accepting it, working to improve it, or leaving it behind. Through an inspiring story about his brother's journey from frustration to success as a teacher, Stephen illustrates the power of focusing on what you can control. Tune in to learn how to reframe adversity, cultivate joy amidst uncertainty, and take ownership of your choices for a more fulfilling life.   About the Guest:   Stephen Huff is a global speaker, entrepreneur, and author of Life is Chaos, and All is Well. With decades of experience in leadership, business, and humanitarian work, he helps individuals and organizations navigate uncertainty and turn challenges into opportunities.   Key Takeaways:   ✅ Chaos is necessary for growth – Without challenges, there's no opportunity.✅ Three powerful choices in chaos – Accept it, improve it, or leave it.✅ Reclaiming power – Focus on what you can control instead of dwelling on what you can't.✅ Joy in uncertainty – Stability isn't required for happiness; it's found in perspective and gratitude.✅ Authentic leadership – Leaders thrive when they communicate, take accountability, and lead with integrity.   Connect with Stephen Huff:  

Amazon is removing the ability to download and backup Kindle ebooks. And on the same day they roll out that change, Amazon will be closing down Kindle Vella. IngramSpark has a few marketing opportunities this month, as well as a giveaway for five free books. Findaway Voices by Spotify announced an agreement to distribute digitally-narrated audiobooks by Elevenlabs. And so much more in the self-publishing news this week! Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro  (affiliate link) Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com  Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp  Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships  Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee  Sources: Amazon's killing a feature that let you download and backup Kindle books - https://www.theverge.com/news/612898/amazon-removing-kindle-book-download-transfer-usb Kindle Vella Announcement - https://www.kdpcommunity.com/s/article/Kindle-Vella-Announcement?language=en_US Amazon: We are winding down Kindle Vella - https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/a/faq Spotify Welcomes Digital Voice Narrated Audiobooks from ElevenLabs via Findaway Voices - https://blog.findawayvoices.com/spotify-welcomes-elevenlabs-audiobooks/ Amazon Ads - https://advertising.amazon.com Apple Books for Authors - https://authors.apple.com IngramSpark: Nominate Your Book Today - https://www.ingramspark.com/editorial-calendar IngramSpark: Mastering Metadata: Are Your a Book Marketing Pro? - https://ingramcontent.jotform.com/250495414855160 Get Authentic Book Reviews - https://GetAuthenticBookReviews.com ProWritingAid: Manuscript Analysis - https://DaleLinks.com/Analysis (affiliate link) PublishDrive: Audiobooks - technical requirements, easy fixes and FAQs - https://streamyard.com/watch/HNgSJGxZHf44 Why Cheap Promo is No Bargain: One Unusually Prolific Example - https://writerbeware.blog/2025/02/21/why-cheap-promo-is-no-bargain-one-unusually-prolific-example/ The Power of Reviews: What Every Author Needs to Know - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/power-reviews-what-every-author-needs-know-ross-brand-ho7ne Get More Book Reviews—Faster & Easier! (Book Bounty interview) - https://www.youtube.com/live/WFyyMPjJDXk?si=kwmWznhD8vrKz34T Join my ARC Team - https://DaleLinks.com/ARCTeam  Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts

In this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi Member Q&A podcast, hosts Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black discuss whether authors should release print, e-book, and audiobook formats at the same time or stagger them to maximize visibility and sales. Other questions include: What are some affordable alternatives to NetGalley for getting book reviews? What should I do if someone is copying my work and publishing it as their own? How can I approach a museum gift shop to carry my book? Is it better to market a book's availability on IngramSpark, or should I focus on general book promotion? How can I distribute my free audiobook codes most effectively? What are the best strategies for marketing books without relying on social media? And More! Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-Publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. Sponsor The Member Q&A podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. About the Hosts Michael La Ronn is ALLi's Outreach Manager. He is the author of over 80 science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers. He writes from the great plains of Iowa and has managed to write while raising a family, working a full-time job, and even attending law school classes in the evenings (now graduated!). You can find his fiction at www.michaellaronn.com and his videos and books for writers at www.authorlevelup.com. Sacha Black is a bestselling and competition winning author, rebel podcaster, speaker and casual rule breaker. She writes fiction under a secret pen name and other books about the art of writing. When Sacha isn't writing, she runs ALLi's blog. She lives in England, with her wife and genius, giant of a son. You can find her on her website, her podcast, and on Instagram.  

IngramSpark announced changes in print book pricing and an increase in their market access fee. Circana Bookscan shared stats on book sales in 2024 and it's looking things are improving. And, Overdrive announced that 2024 was a record-breaking year for digital lending. All that and more in the self-publishing news for Feb. 3, 2025. Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate) Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks  Source: USA Pen Press: The Ghostwriting Scam of a Thousand Websites - https://writerbeware.blog/2025/01/24/us-pen-press-the-ghostwriting-scam-of-a-thousand-websites/ IngramSpark: Service Alert - https://www.ingramspark.com/2025-price-change Circana Bookscan: “Book Sales 2024 Results: A Year of Fantasy, Thriller, and Romance. Data and Highlights” (Top Selling Books 2024) - https://www.infodocket.com/2025/01/22/circana-bookscan-book-sales-2024-results-a-year-of-fantasy-thriller-and-romance-data-and-highlights-top-selling-books-2024 Overdrive: Libraries Break Digital Lending Records in 2024 with Over 739 million Checkouts - https://company.overdrive.com/2025/01/27/libraries-break-digital-lending-records-in-2024-with-over-739-million-checkouts/ KDP: Kindle Vella Wind Down - https://www.kdpcommunity.com/s/article/Kindle-Vella-Announcement?language=en_US Kindle Vella Update FAQ - https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GUJHP3574Z3DLPZD  Laterpress - https://Laterpress.com Miblart: 5-Day Writing Journey - https://miblart.com/join-writing-challenge/?ref=daleroberts5 Get Authentic Book Reviews - https://getauthenticbookreviews.com  Publisher Rocket + Mastering Keywords & Categories Course (expires Feb. 9, 2025) - https://rocket.thrivecart.com/publisher-rocket-course/?affiliate=selfpubwithdale Book Brush: Platinum Academy: Set Your Intentions for 2025 & Plan to Level Up with Renee Rose and Lee Savino - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/qL1JT8PzSrykRBsDJas5ZQ#/registration 6 Versus 1 Project - https://DaleLinks.com/6v1 The Power of LinkedIn for Book Promotion: The Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast Featuring Dale L. Roberts - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-linkedin-for-book-promotion/ Dale L. Roberts joins The Author's Lounge to talk branding, book marketing, awards and much more! - https://youtu.be/6WGKS032We4?si=ehD9ZmOQpy3ocCbl Wide Publishing for Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/WideBook The Self-Publishing with Dale Book Series - https://dalelinks.com/selfpubwithdale  Credit: The Hot Sheet - https://hotsheetpub.com  Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts

The Kindlepreneur Dave Chesson is on a roll lately, as he's updated his deep dive article about choosing the right categories for your book on Amazon. IngramSpark dropped an email this past week with a trifecta of opportunities. And, three people have been indicted in an alleged $44 million scam targeting elderly authors. Find out what you need to know and what you should do to prevent scams like this from happening ever again. All that and more in the self-publishing news. Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks Sources: Amazon Book Categories: My Secret Method to Choose Clear Winners - https://kindlepreneur.com/how-to-choose-the-best-kindle-ebook-kdp-category/ MOBI Support for eBooks Frequently Asked Questions - https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GULSQMHU5MNH4EZM Spoken Beta V0.7.5: Project Mastering And Email Account Creation. - https://www.spoken.press/the-spoken-chronicle/spoken-beta-v075-project-mastering-and-email-account-creation PROMOTE MY BOOK- INGRAMSPARK AUTHOR COMMUNITY - https://www.facebook.com/groups/402138132921961/ IngramSpark: Showcase Your Books - https://www.ingramspark.com/ala-2025 IngramSpark: Nominate Your Book Today! - https://www.ingramspark.com/editorial-calendar  Three Indicted and Internet Domain Seized in $44 Million Nationwide Book Publishing Scam Targeting Elderly Authors - https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/three-indicted-and-internet-domain-seized-44-million-nationwide-book-publishing-scam Inkers Con: Author mistakes to avoid on Goodreads - https://inkerscon.com Resources for the Goodreads Author Program - https://www.goodreads.com/author/how_to  Publishing Industry AI Insights Survey - https://www.surveyol.com/r/AIInsightsSurvey Your Book Deserves Better Profits—Here's How! - https://www.youtube.com/live/_0qo1t6kBB0?si=j6PldLBTVNLMyokw Wide Publishing for Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/WideBook  Credit: Laterpress - https://Laterpress.com Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts

In this episode, Jodi chats with self-publishing expert Monique Mensah about how business owners writing books and other self-publishing authors can achieve traditional publishing quality. They discuss essential steps like hiring genre-specific professional cover designers, understanding the various editing types available in the marketplace, and leveraging platforms beyond Amazon to maximize control and profit. Monique also shares practical tips on building an author's brand, maintaining design consistency, and the significance of owning your ISBN for true publishing independence.   Time Stamps: 00:00 Self-publishing doesn't mean doing everything yourself. 05:39 ISBN gives authors publishing rights and control. 08:41 Professional editing is essential for quality books. 10:03 Professional editor essential for high-quality manuscript. 15:10 Lack of developmental editing undermines memoir structure. 17:40 Subscribe to Coffee and Commas newsletter. 20:25 Use published books as benchmark for quality. 24:01 Book cover duplicated; not a custom design. 25:58 Interior design requires expertise and understanding. 30:16 Sell books via platform with profit-sharing costs. 35:32 Drive traffic to your site, not Amazon. 37:41 Define goals for writing or marketing books. 39:36 Sign up for Monique's list for insights. 42:38 Connect via my website for self-publishing insights. Keywords: self-publishing, traditional publishing, book quality, book benchmarks, genre alignment, DIY design platforms, professional cover designers, template covers, unique book design, professional typesetting, book interiors, developmental editing, line editing, copy editing, proofreading, editing misconceptions, book cover design, professional editing, Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, ISBN ownership, print-on-demand distribution, direct book sales, strategic marketing, building author brand, self-publishing pitfalls, customer data control, professional publishing assistance, high-quality self-publishing, authorpreneurs, Monique Mensah Resources Mentioned: Ready Set Write Challenge: www.jodibrandoneditorial.com/readysetwrite Mastery of Self by Don Miguel Ruiz Jr. The Last Party by A.R. Torre About Our Guest: Monique Mensah is a Personal Self-Publishing Assistant, who helps authors in all genres--fiction to nonfiction--take their books from Manuscript to Masterpiece. Through her signature done-for-you self-publishing service, Monique guides independent authors in producing professional, premium-quality books that don't look self-published and can stand out in a crowded market. Known for her straightforward, no-nonsense approach and deep understanding of the publishing process, Monique ensures authors maintain full ownership and control of their work so they can transform into Savvy Saelf-Publishers. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, and now living in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, she brings passion and strategic insight to every project, making self-publishing both achievable and rewarding for authors who are serious about success. Website: www.moniquemensah.com Free Self-Publishing Guide: www.moniquemensah.com/free-guide Book a Free Strategy Call: www.moniquemensah.com/book-a-call Instagram: instagram.com/theminiquemensah TikTok: tiktok.com/themoniquemensah LINK TO FULL EPISODE (RAW) TRANSCRIPT: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qG4utCiUNSY98O12Pc051ZeSKhBS8Ja_2DcHWSy-4cQ/edit?usp=sharing  

Thelema Now's Harper Feist talks with Barry William Hale about his latest work, Arcana Arcanorum by Robert C. Stein. The book is a comprehensive exploration of Aleister Crowley's holy book, Liber Arcanorum. In Arcana Arcanorum, Robert C. Stein presents an initiate's perspective into the system as a whole. He further explores in depth the significance of each individual sigil and its corresponding name. Complementing this analysis, Barry William Hale offers a series of 22 mesmerizing drawings, each piece ingeniously merging the upright and averse spirit of each tarot card into a single, unified form. Together, the engrossing artwork and penetrating analysis uniquely honors and unveils the mysteries of the holy book.     Now available for purchase at Ingram Spark.      Barry William Hale's 231 artwork from this book, along with a number of other pieces, will be featured in an upcoming VR title "Arcanorum 231" available to wishlist on steam here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/744690/ARCANORUM_231/

In this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi Member Q&A podcast, hosts Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black discuss what to look for in an editor, including recommendations for vetting, sample edits, and aligning editor styles with author needs. Other questions include: How can first-time authors set up profitable Amazon ads for fiction? What are the benefits and drawbacks of entering short story competitions? How can authors effectively market hardback books with dust jackets distributed via IngramSpark and Amazon? What are the best tools and strategies for using AI to assist with editing? What strategies can authors use to market books when attending an exhibition or conference? What are the considerations for translating books into foreign languages and finding reviewers for translated works? And More! Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-Publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. Now, go write and publish! Sponsor The Member Q&A podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. About the Hosts Michael La Ronn is ALLi's Outreach Manager. He is the author of over 80 science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers. He writes from the great plains of Iowa and has managed to write while raising a family, working a full-time job, and even attending law school classes in the evenings (now graduated!). You can find his fiction at www.michaellaronn.com and his videos and books for writers at www.authorlevelup.com. Sacha Black is a bestselling and competition winning author, rebel podcaster, speaker and casual rule breaker. She writes fiction under a secret pen name and other books about the art of writing. When Sacha isn't writing, she runs ALLi's blog. She lives in England, with her wife and genius, giant of a son. You can find her on her website, her podcast, and on Instagram.

On today's episode of The Wholesome Fertility Podcast, Kelly Meehan of @spiritbabymedium discusses her new book,'Notes from a Spirit Baby Medium,' and explores the themes of intuition, spirit baby communication, and the importance of community in the healing process. She emphasizes the connection between past experiences and intuition, the mystical journey of conception, and how babies communicate with their parents. The discussion highlights the significance of understanding one's own energy and the role of community in fostering healing and connection. In this conversation, we explore the profound connection between emotions, consciousness, and the external world. We discuss the importance of self-awareness, the journey of awakening, and the challenges of navigating personal healing while supporting others. Our conversation also delves into the complexities of grief and loss, particularly in the context of miscarriage, and highlights the significance of spirit baby communication as a resource for healing.   Takeaways   Kelly's new book focuses on spirit baby communication. Intuition is a natural instinct that everyone possesses. Past experiences can hinder one's ability to trust intuition. Community plays a vital role in healing and connection. Babies are evolving and communicate with their parents. Frequency affects conception and the energy of babies. Meditation helps in understanding and connecting with intuition. Awareness of one's own energy is crucial for personal growth. Our consciousness can impact the world we perceive. Awakening can happen suddenly, like a light switch. Navigating personal healing requires setting boundaries. Grief and loss are unique experiences for everyone. Self-compassion is crucial during times of loss. Presence and connection are vital in supporting others. Emotions dictate much of our health and well-being. Meditation can aid in processing grief and loss. Spirit baby communication offers a unique healing perspective.     Guest Bio:   Kelly Meehan is a healing visionary, author of Notes From A Spirit Baby Medium - Everything you need to know about spirit baby communication, a birth advocate, and a holistic mother to her sons Rain and Forest. Her loving support and teachings focus on spirit baby communication in conception, energetic fertility wellness, intuitive health with medical intuition, pre-birth pregnancy communication, and sacred grief support in all areas of birth loss(miscarriage, stillbirth, termination & newborn to toddler). Kelly understands how to listen to the unseen and deeply felt world of spirit baby and conscious parenting.   Kelly shares her newest published book *Notes from A Spirit Baby Medium- Everything you need to know about spirit baby communication*This insightful book explores Spirit Baby Communication 101, testimonials and real messages from spirit baby, and how to bring intuition & psychic self awareness into your conception, pregnancy, and or healing birth loss. Available for purchase NOW! Amazon & Ingram Spark.   Kelly is the creator and host of SPIRIT BABY RADIO podcast with over 200 episodes by the end of 2024. She has been in the media on birth related and spiritual podcasts and radio shows as a guest expert, being invited and attending over 40 online global summits with topics such as: fertility, pregnancy, grief, and spirituality. She has been featured in Blogs and magazines, and articles.  She has been on a TV Show (Nighttime Prime) Nick MOMS sharing her work.     Websites:   https://www.newearthchildren.com https://www.spiritbabyacademy.com   Social Media:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spiritbabymedium/ Facebook:Spirit Baby Medium/Medical Intuitive Facebook:  SPIRIT BABIES: Conscious Conception, Intuitive Pregnancy, & Motherhood Facebook: The After Life of Spirit Baby- Healing, Connections, & Love Twitter: @SPIRITBABYRADIO YouTube:www.youtube.com/@spiritbabycommunication   For more information about Michelle, visit: www.michelleoravitz.com   Check out Michelle's Latest Book: The Way of Fertility! https://www.michelleoravitz.com/thewayoffertility   The Wholesome FertilityFacebook group is where you can find free resources and support: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2149554308396504/   Instagram: @thewholesomelotusfertility   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewholesomelotus/     Transcript:     Michelle (00:00) Welcome back to the podcast, Kelly.   Kelly (00:03) Thank you for having me again.   Michelle (00:05) I'm so excited to have you back. first of all, congratulations on your new book.   Kelly (00:12) Yay, thank you. Do want me to tell you the title? Yes.   Michelle (00:15) Yes. Tell us the title and tell us all about it. You've been on the podcast before. If you want to give us kind of like a brief background for people who are hearing you for the first time and haven't heard the podcast before, I would love for you to share your background and then also talk about your new book.   Kelly (00:26) Yes.   Yeah, thank you. As always, I love Michelle and her work and yay. And I remember when you were writing your book, I was like, it was motivating me. was like, we're kind of like near each other, but then yours came out and it was awesome. And then I'm like, wait, where's my book? And so I'm Kelly. I go by Spirit Baby Media, medical intuitive and mentor. And I support that conception and pregnancy, birth loss in many different psychic energetic ways.   Michelle (00:37) I love Kelly!   you   Kelly (01:03) And my new book is called Notes from a Spirit Baby Medium, Everything You Need to Know About Spirit Baby Communication. And yeah, what else are we sharing? What do you want to know?   Michelle (01:15) Okay, let's talk about it all. Let's talk about first of all, what intuition is how you connect with it and how you've kind of like, figured out that you have that.   Kelly (01:27) Yeah, I love it. I actually I'm not going to divulge too much of this. I share a story in the beginning of the book on what brought me into the work. And it is a really fun story. And was like, Whoa, it's there. And so really, basically, I've always had extra sensory perception. I was born very different. Not only was it traumatic. I know we all have very traumatic, but sometimes in the trauma, you know, you work harder as the infant to be in the world. And sometimes it does open up other   levels of perceptions and abilities. And I didn't really fully discover that until I was a teenager. I feel like puberty is a very big time of expression. Puberty, you know, we can even go into like moon paws, I call it menopause, like these big, you know, shifts in our physiology, but also into our consciousness. And I just had feeling, perceptions, and it was nonstop after that until today. And I brought it.   my energetic psychological background, brought it into the energy of children and babies and supporting, again, the psychic, the energetic, the spiritual in therapeutic and loving ways. And the book has been written over a decade of my heart in the work. It's like, what have I seen? What have I known? And spirit baby communication is a term, but also,   There's not a lot of books now more after 2020. I feel like there's way more information. But before that, there really wasn't a lot about the before life. And I thought I've been writing the book for a long time and I go into the really the great mysteries because it's not like here is the here's the secrets of the before life, right? It's just like the afterlife of death. There's things that we feel and know because I do feel like it is inside us. There's a wisdom inside us that   Michelle (03:10) Mm-hmm.   Kelly (03:19) we are always in relationship with. my mission is to share that. And you just talk about intuition, it's all connected to that because we are naturally instinctually intuitive beings. And we can bring that in any part of our lives, whether in conception, outside of conception. And it's very valuable because we're all born too. We're all, my often joke is you were once a spirit baby being too. we don't, right?   Michelle (03:42) Mm-hmm.   I love that. That's great. It's true.   Kelly (03:49) Nobody thinks about that, but like, you know, let's say someone's on a fertility journey and they're struggling. Have you ever looked at your own birth into the world? Most people would say no. I don't know. My mom says it's good or she didn't like it or I wasn't breathing or she had birth loss before me or after and like, whoa, those are big things to the foundational formation of your reality and the consciousness of your parents in those times.   Michelle (03:59) Right.   Kelly (04:18) through loss, through struggle, through whatever, and they seep through, right? And so, yeah, remembering we were once all spirit baby beings and we come into this world and many of us, you know, looking to deepen that connection, like where are my children? I'm ready for that next level. And then I feel like then, know, Michelle, then the lessons begin. You know, there's, I don't think it's ever easy.   Michelle (04:35) Mm-hmm.   Yes.   Kelly (04:45) You know, like some people say, I guess it's all your perception of ease, right? Because having children is a huge heart commitment. It's not, you know, just, I don't think it's nonchalant. I think it's something powerful in in-between worlds that we bring life into this world. And that's something to reflect with too. It's incredible. And sometimes it takes longer for some people. And some people are still working towards it, you know?   Michelle (05:12) For sure. And I was thinking while you were talking, there's just so much we're not conscious of. I think about that, like when it comes to intuition, it's just that we all have it. It's built in. It's kind of part of our working. it's part of what made us. It's that connection to why we're here.   but we're so not conscious of so many things and we're not conscious of things that can actually provide us empowerment.   Kelly (05:43) No, and I blame culture, society, and subconscious programming. I have to laugh. We have to laugh sometimes because it could be very serious and there's a lot of fear. But I know me and Michelle, talked before, we're very optimistic, and even beyond that for the future that...   Michelle (05:51) Yeah.   Kelly (06:03) people will be intact with trusting their intuition more and more. And it's a really beautiful thing because your intuition is your own. It's not my intuition. Right? It's like, and that's the beautiful intelligence of just being alive and having a body is that we get to use our energy and connection with it in different ways. And sometimes we need to really slow down and be in the quiet, right?   Michelle (06:13) Yeah.   Kelly (06:27) through different practices to find our way, right? Especially when it's noisy, noisy life, noisy town, or maybe noisy city, noisy even upbringing, or maybe there's old energies that are noisy as well. But intuition is, to me, is a basic instinct. It's just like, yeah, like there, and you...   We do all use it all the time. Even if people feel like, I don't know if I use it. I'm like, you can distrust it and ignore it, but it's still there, right?   Michelle (06:57) Yeah, for sure. Without a doubt. I feel like we all remember a time where we didn't listen to it and it was something important. We all remember those times. We're like, I knew it. I knew it and I didn't listen. And of course we remember it it was such a strong lesson. We felt it and we're like, my God.   Kelly (07:07) Yes. Yes.   I think those are good when they happen. You know why? Because then it goes, you go, my gosh, like, see, like I told you so. And then you get to go, I feel like we get to stop and pause and have that awareness. And awareness is everything. And then almost to me is like creating a map of it, like a design.   Like, that's that connection and let's see what happens. And then you may be playing around with fear and intuition for a little bit to find the differences, which is very natural. But once we get really clear on ourselves, which is really through embodiment practices, through really healing our old traumas and our wounds, especially with parents, mother and father energies are so big because we get from that and we're like sifting through and finding where we are. And in that, you know,   Michelle (07:55) Mm-hmm.   Mm-hmm.   Kelly (08:02) I pride myself in my intuition and I say that with such my own reverence because I do feel like I'm very intuitive and there's no shame in that. And I feel like are there times where I'm unintuitive? There are times where I'm fearful, but not unintuitive. I'm always intuitive, but the fear, if I know, I know myself very well that when fear comes up and there's sometimes, you know, I've managed it where it's fleeing these days.   Michelle (08:18) Mm-hmm.   Kelly (08:32) But sometimes big things will come in and I'm like, that sucks. I have to say it. I'm going, ooh, that's an unwinding. was like, ooh, this is big. And sometimes it has a lot to do with our, actually all the time it has to do with our past. Because present time, there's nothing wrong in the present time. And so, you know, it's like, learning the difference. And I do talk about that in my book, On a Conception Journey, Pregnancy Journey.   Michelle (08:36) Yeah.   Yeah, right.   Kelly (08:59) healing through lost journey, but I just think basic human nature journey, you're born, you're in a body, you were a baby being, it's like, you know, we're coming into re-remembrance more than anything with it. And that's great. And again, like you were saying, like, yeah, like, I've had times growing up where I could have been in bad situations, you know, when you're like in your 20s, like.   let's go party or do this. then something always shifted me and then something weird would happen. And I was like, whoa, what is that? So it also is very automatic pilot too. Sometimes we're not getting that like loud sound. it's, when that happens, I go, wow, okay. I was like, wow, I'm an automatic intuitive pilot sometimes. And I love that because it just means I'm just connecting with nature and just being, right?   That feels important.   Michelle (09:54) Yeah, for sure. And also talk about connecting with your own intuition as a person who may not be used to doing that.   Kelly (10:03) So the biggest obstacle to trusting intuition is going to be your past, right? And the environment that you're in creation with. just like, you know, because think about it when we were little children, we were so pure and intuitive and everything was connected. But then we become a part of the world in a way where we take on our families loads and lessons and it can even go further back. And we do sometimes have to find our way back to it and move into what was always there.   Michelle (10:08) Mm-hmm. Like the memory.   Mm-hmm.   Kelly (10:33) Right? So I think if somebody's saying, well, I'm not intuitive and I don't know what I'm doing, I'd say, are you grounded in your body even? And where is your body? Like, what is this vessel? And where is your own heart energy? Right? There's so many different ways we can take it. And then I think that hanging out with other people of like heart, like mind is infectious. And it will change our frequency and vibration to be in those spaces.   Michelle (10:41) Mm-hmm.   Kelly (11:00) So communities, this is the future forward energy is all about community. Even I just presented on an energy lecture for fertility community and the women were just amazing because it's like they have that synergistic connection and they were more connected than they probably realize, right? Because that's what we do. We may not even realize it. And I love that because it makes life more spontaneous and but also we're relational. We want connection.   Michelle (11:02) Yeah, this is true, 100%.   Mm-hmm.   Right.   It's true. it, I feel like when you combine energies, just multiplies the vibe.   Kelly (11:38) Yes. Yes.   Michelle (11:40) And when you are going through, you know, I'm going to give you an example. have one of my patients and it happens sometimes where it takes a really long time for them to conceive and they struggle and they go through IVF and then that doesn't work. And I had one actually recently who after finally, after a year and then some of coming to me, she finally spontaneously got pregnant.   but she had connected with her spirit baby because she got these crazy signs that were insane. I'm going to eventually have her on the podcast once she gives birth because I want her to get through it and then have her come on so she could tell the story. but so I have people going through that, but like before you even get to that point,   It could be so daunting. And then you're just wondering why is this not happening? So I know for every individual, it's very unique, but I wanted to get your thoughts on that. Like why sometimes it gets derailed. It eventually happens, but why it can get derailed for so long. And is that something that connects with the spirit of baby's timing or what are your thoughts on that?   Kelly (12:52) There's probably a lot of different answers for that one, right? Because everybody has their own connection and journey. And it is quite baffling when you're like, deepening and working and then all of a sudden, wow, what just happened? And I think it's pretty even more profound that she actually received communication and that she listened. Yeah, you gotta tell me when this episode comes because I'm so curious.   Michelle (12:55) Yeah.   She got crazy communication. Some of the stuff was so insanely, it was crazy. She'd get bottle of wine. It was a name that she just knew that it was going to be the name and then she saw the name on TV and then she'd get a bottle of wine with that name and it's not a typical average name.   Kelly (13:29) Yeah.   Yeah, yeah, yeah.   Michelle (13:34) And it was a girl's name and she knew it was going to be a girl based on that. And even when she got pregnant, she was like, I know it's going to be a girl. She told even the doctors like, whatever, I know it's going to be a girl. And it was a girl. It was just so insane and like really amazing. she kept seeing that before she even conceived. And she kept seeing that also when she had her failed retrievals and she was going to do another retrieval. And that's when she conceived naturally, just spontaneously. But it's   Kelly (13:41) Bye.   Yeah.   I love that. Yeah.   Michelle (14:03) know, it kind of defies the odds because you're like, well, I don't have any proof right now. And I can base it on my history and say, how's, how's this possible? How would this happen? But then it does.   Kelly (14:17) This is where I'd say, yeah, this is where I'd say some things live in the realms of mysticism, right? Especially with baby. And I know I've seen stuff like this happen before where it's like the struggle, the struggle, the struggle, and then pushing with intervention and all of a sudden baby comes naturally. And I've seen this with a few different women over the years. And it's like, it blows them away and they're so confused and everything comes down to frequency.   Michelle (14:44) Mm-hmm.   Kelly (14:44) And when I use the term frequency, every single person is set in tone to a certain frequency. And we can even look at it as though we have a sound to us. And you know this because think about people that you meet and you're like, do not get along with them or they don't even see you because your frequencies are different radio stations. And there's nothing wrong with that. And babies are coming in, they are coming in more evolved.   Michelle (14:56) Yeah. Yeah.   Right.   Kelly (15:08) And I'm not saying that the mother or father are not evolved enough, but there's something in the energy field from the history, sometimes from ancestors and the past that is still in clearing. And sometimes it has nothing to do with the mother or the father in a sense, but also has to do with the baby. But also sometimes it's just one side of the lineage of the energy in the family without blaming anybody. There's a lot of parts to that. And I feel like   when we can build a communication practice that feels connected and sometimes babies will just come in as that. It's just like, I'm coming in, please listen to me. I'm gonna send you signs, I'm gonna like throw it in your face. And some people, by the way, you know this, some people would still ignore it, right? It's like, so I suspect a lot of the women that I meet, especially over the many, years, oftentimes miss the sign symbols.   Michelle (15:48) Mm-hmm. Yeah.   Right. Yes.   Kelly (16:04) that are coming through and they'll say something and I'm like, you literally just told me, I don't know if you realize that, that is your baby communicating. It was like, whoa, really? Because we're looking for something really big, right? And you can get those big signs, but you're gonna have to go deep into your multi-dimensional self. You're gonna have to really cut away this reality in a way that is gonna let your own energy grow and see the very many possibilities.   Michelle (16:34) Yes, key.   Kelly (16:34) And if you can't, it's okay. I have a friend who sometimes I talk to her and she's like, I don't know what you just said, right? So I'm like, yeah. I love her and it's just like, but it's so honest. Yeah. And this is the story of my life. I'm starting to get used to that because I just got into this massive rant yesterday with my husband and he's just like looking like, okay.   Michelle (16:46) I can relate to that.   Kelly (17:02) I was like, I know it doesn't make sense, but I was like, it's hard to put the energetic frequency vocabulary into this earth body and knowledge. It's almost like it feels a lot harder. I know many of you that are tuning in, are in communication more than you realize. Some will be very visual and feeling and auditory and others, it may be more dull. But what I do know is that babies do hear their parents. And so even if you're in...   I'm communicating one-sided or through a serenade, through song, poetry, through words, through journaling. Your baby hears you, 100%. And the whole part of trusting that is like, feel like babies are awakening parents to wake up to themselves, to know who they are. And so many women I see is like, especially when there's a miscarriage or later loss, right? You are literally being initiated into two worlds of energy. And there's a deep healing in that and it's...   It's not so scary. Yes, grief is just terrible and my heart goes out and we feel it, but something else is like cracking through. It's like people use the word bringing heaven to earth, right? How are we going to do that? How are we bringing the death space, the heaven space, the earth space all together in a way where there's a sense of understanding harmony and connection? Well, we are in many different ways and some would disagree, but you know, again,   the energy of the baby realms, not even babies, so much more advanced. They're in communication with us all the time and we just have to be open. I say listen, but I know listen is a challenging word, but it's true. It's like full on body-heart listening. How about that?   Michelle (18:41) It's like receiving really. That's how I see it. It's kind of like being in a receptive place where I feel like sometimes you can get really used to speaking rather than receiving. But I'm talking about the subtleties too, you know, I think the subtleties are things that we don't often hear. And that's why I think meditation is so powerful because it gets us quiet enough to be able to receive, to almost kind of improve our antenna.   to receiving something outside of this world.   Kelly (19:09) I feel like, yeah, I love that. The three things I wanna say when you said that came up in my mind is like, really to achieve really good kind of spirit baby, fertile energy connections, conception struggles, is number one is knowing yourself in meditation, but not doing it without two and three. So two I would say is, do you have a healer, a guide?   coach or somebody that can actually work in love space with you. It's not just, I'm going to give you these instructions. Like I'm holding energy and love and connection with you because the practitioners and the healers, if their frequency is more elevated, guess what? You're not going to come in their space unless your frequency wants to move into that. And the third one would be people. I feel like community togetherness. I feel like those three is like literally just the best equation.   for healing and being heard and moving into your psychic space because think about it. You meet, you know, I know you meet many women as I do where they feel like I call, I'll call it right now a psychic loneliness. They have these extra sensory perceptions. They feel like they're alone.   Michelle (20:16) Mm-hmm.   Kelly (20:21) what am I doing with it? I feel like I'm just, it's not worth anything. And then you see the light or at least I do in them, they just start sparking up like, my gosh, you see me, you hear me, you know me, I'm allowed to speak this way. And then it adds to the journey, adds to their up leveling of their own inner frequency of co-creation really with life and where you want it to, where they're wanting to go and build those next parts, you know?   Michelle (20:47) Definitely. Well, I don't know if you know this, you probably know this, that I'm like, really love Joda Spence's work and I just came back from a retreat and every time I go, I learned something new. And one of the things the big thing that he really talks about is that   we hold a frequency, our emotions hold a frequency. And so when we have certain emotions, what we typically do is we wait for the outside world, which really is our manifestation of whatever is going on inside internally. When we wait for the outside world to shift so that our inside can feel better, but it's actually the opposite. It's kind of holding a frequency that we want or an emotion or a vibration that we want, and that will influence the outside world.   Kelly (21:33) you   Michelle (21:33) there's a lot of science that is showing us that our thoughts and our consciousness and our controlled consciousness and kind of like lasered perspective and perception can impact matter. And they're seeing that with there's a show that I was watching on Gaia. I forget what it was called. I think it was like the creative universe or something like that. But   Kelly (21:47) Hmmmm   Michelle (21:56) I remember the exact name. And they were talking about these professors at major universities talking about quantum physics and how we are so attached to an old paradigm of reality, which is way more materialist, but that is such a small perspective in that whenever we see something that's outside of that, lot of times scientists will dismiss that because it doesn't fall under their   Kelly (22:10) you   Michelle (22:24) perspective and what they have solidified as real. And so it becomes very dogmatic and we're not really seeing the truth of reality and the truth of reality does not just consist of the matter. It also consists of consciousness and the interplay between the two. And it's really fascinating. So basically our consciousness can impact the world in which we're seeing this,   Kelly (22:32) Mm.   Michelle (22:51) that our consciousness is perceiving. And not only that, this is starting to become realized in science. So this is what's crazy about it is you were talking about us reawakening, but it's not just within ourselves. We're actually starting to see this in the world.   Kelly (23:11) And I think we're gonna start seeing more. I that there's gonna be more, I call it almost like a light switch. Like some of us will be in the trenches like waiting around like, what's happening? I always have to laugh like, what's happening? Like are people, yeah, yeah. So what's gonna happen with a lot of the sleepers? It's gonna be a light switch and so all of a sudden people are just gonna be on. It's some of the people that slow. I feel like for me it's like,   Michelle (23:23) Yeah, there are the people that are sleeping when you're sleeping. You don't want to wake up. It's too comfortable.   Mm-hmm.   Kelly (23:39) I felt, actually felt like an awakening at 15 years old. So I've had to go through the trenches for, along the trenches. I think more of the awakenings came in the 1950s even, but it's like, and then it's been a journey where it's like, am I allowed to speak this way in a dense world where they're like, no, I was like not allowed to speak this way. I was very shy, quiet, kept things very inward. And of course the, you know.   Michelle (23:42) Mm-hmm. You were one of the first early risers.   Kelly (24:06) as humanity keeps shifting, we have permission, right? It's like, all of a sudden we're allowed to own our own connections and we see it more and more, but it's gonna be like a light switch. But I love what you just shared. That's freaking amazing because when you said that, it made me think of like water. You know, people are doing these experiments again where they're like yelling at water and like, this like really, but like not just yelling at the water, but like giving your like dark energy to it and then connecting with, and you're just thinking.   Michelle (24:10) Mm-hmm.   Mm-hmm.   Yeah, you could see the crystals.   intention.   Kelly (24:35) my gosh, because when you think about we're made up of so much water, it's like, my gosh, like what is the impact on that? And you're right, there is the science spirit kind of, I always feel like they touch each other, but I still really feel they're supposed to be separate. They can intertwine with each other and science believes that they have to prove everything, but they can't, it's silly to me. And I feel like we're evolving out of that because everybody...   Michelle (24:39) Yep. Yeah.   Yes.   Kelly (25:04) has a different energetic perspective, but also we're in different frequencies. So we're not gonna have the same things. It's like medicine, it's like healing. Yeah.   Michelle (25:12) But it is a form of communication where it's going to awaken people who are very, or identify as more science-based minded. And so that it does include that group of people.   And I think that that's important as well, because for a while what happened was in this documentary, that one guy was saying that people used to believe in transcendence and they believed in this kind of like a, this spiritual world until science came along and then dismissed it. And then they said, well, that can't be true. And so that it kind of like took us away from that spiritual aspect. And it was kind of looked down upon from, an educational perspective. And then.   Kelly (25:25) Yeah.   Hmm.   Michelle (25:52) Now they're starting to see it. Now, of course, the idea is, that when consciousness is able to impact reality, there is no way you're going to fully be able to dissect that. It's just not going to be possible because it's constantly ever flowing, ever changing as much as your imagination. So you can never really that down. However, it still gives way to somebody who's completely asleep and does not.   Kelly (26:02) No.   Yes.   Michelle (26:19) look at the spiritual aspect naturally as we do to open up to it. So kind of like in some weird way, I believe that it's meant to be because it is one way to get everybody on the same page. And then eventually, of course, really awakened.   Kelly (26:30) Hmm.   Yeah, you say that I get this image of somebody wrapped up in their little blanket on the bed in their slumber. Like, hello, it's time to wake up. It's time to wake up. Let's shake things up. But some things do get really shaken up and other times you, you know, I've watched a lot of people involved and from afar and some more intimately. And it's quite fascinating because somebody that has future information at times or medical intuition, I want to fix everybody and heal them.   Michelle (26:46) Yes. Yes. It's like bright light.   Mm-hmm.   Yes. I totally understand you. I get you. I feel the same way.   Kelly (27:09) And then I have to step away and look and go, it's none of my business, right? Yeah. This is a good one. You tell yourself it's none of my business because we're not in charge of that. think that if we are evolving in our own space, then we ripple, right? And I know you know that it's like, that's the piece because I had to watch it. Yeah. Especially with family. Family is really hard, right? Family, you're just like,   Michelle (27:25) Yes. I think that's the hardest part of doing our work or being healers. It really is. Yes, that's the hardest part. I think that's the biggest challenge is like when you know what you know and you know that it can benefit somebody and you could be like, here, I'll give you the key. I know exactly what you need, but you can't say that. You can't until they're ready or they ask because   Kelly (27:47) It's very painful. I've even seen that with friends of friends and I'm like, just walk away Kelly, because you just, I'm like, can't, it's hard. We all have different levels of suffering. But then when you see people really suffering and you're like, ugh, like, yeah, it's like, okay. And then I have to go inward to my own suffering and go, what is that? What is the need?   Michelle (27:57) Mm-hmm.   Kelly (28:10) I know you want to help that person, but they are not there. They don't want that. And it's like, I just have to send that with love and just peace and not dwell on it. Right? Because it's like, that's all we can do.   Michelle (28:11) Right, exactly.   Yep, 100%. It's like, you're just aware of it. It's almost like being like a neat freak or like a personal organizer for a living and then going to a really messy place and you're like, okay, I just have to let go of that right now and just let it be.   Kelly (28:32) I wanna like, yeah, yeah.   Yeah, and then ground into our own self, create our own boundary and then just be like, okay, it is what it is. But I think I always wonder if that will be ongoing in my reality because of who I am. Like I just see things through a different lens and I know that and I've accept that. And I used to think it was really bad. And I used to think that something was wrong with me. And now I've moved into deeper levels of self love that I...   Michelle (28:42) Yeah.   Kelly (29:05) perceive things differently and it's okay if people don't understand it. It doesn't really matter. I say as long as we're just connecting with love and respect and presence with each other because we're not gonna all understand our own individual journey, especially in conception. know, some struggle, everybody struggles in a different way or even birth loss. Everybody miscarries in a different way. Yes, there's like, there's a topic, there's this, that, but the impact.   Michelle (29:10) Yeah.   Yeah, for sure.   That's true.   It's true.   Kelly (29:32) is gonna be very unique for each person. And it is a real deep spiritual calling when there's this conception struggle or there's loss. If we can just begin more to nourish it, even in the medical environments, to look at it, and I'm sure you do, from that more whole space, but also like, okay, you're a physical body, but how are you feeling in your emotions? Like, our emotions dictate so much of our health, you know?   Michelle (29:54) Yeah.   yeah, big time. And I think a big part of it is really not learning how to process them or having that shut down that aspect of it. know a lot of people, they go to the doctor, they miscarry in the hospital or the doctor says, just go home and go back to your life. And there's no, there's no in between. And I mean, their spouses aren't like,   skilled in therapy, like they don't know how to go through it either. And so it's kind of like, it's a really difficult thing because you're just like, now what, how do I process this? And part of it is really allowing yourself to digest emotions, just like you do food, you need to process it so that it doesn't sit and stagnate and then get stored in the body.   Kelly (30:42) I've had women speaking about miscarriage for a moment, because this is a very big topic I can get into because it's a lot of my specialty accidentally has come through in my work over decade. And what I noticed is that the biggest thing when a woman goes into has a miscarriage, the first thing I want them to go into is tenderness and self-compassion. And I say, you don't have to think about what the next step is. There's no plans. And women that don't slow down, I see they have a major   Michelle (30:50) Yeah.   Yeah.   Mm-hmm.   Kelly (31:12) traumatic energetic wounds to heal. And it's okay, that may or may not happen, but it's more of like addressing, can you slow, because I, you know, a woman has lost, there's pain, there's feeling, I don't want to slow down, right? Maybe that's even it too. And everybody says I'm okay, I'm moving forward, but then I hear, you know, I've many times where, well my partner, especially male partner,   Michelle (31:14) Mm-hmm.   Yeah.   Kelly (31:33) They don't understand. I don't know if they feel anything or sometimes they feel so wrecked inside. They don't know how to deal with it. And I'm like, what is this what we're doing to the world of like, know, miscarriages of birth loss. There's even if it's the tiniest spec, there's a connection there and the body feels the separation of light. And there is no respect and women need to intuitively, right, wake up.   Michelle (31:38) Mm-hmm.   Yeah.   Mm-hmm.   Kelly (31:58) to feel like they deserve that. But when we're in grief, we're not very clear when we're in literally the traumatic moment of grief. You're not like, okay, I'm gonna go, you know, do this, do that. I remember my recent deaths I've had to deal with. My friend was like, what do you need? And I said, I don't know. And she's like, well, let me do something. I'm like, I don't know. Because I was just so in the weeping.   Michelle (32:02) That's true. Yeah. It's true.   Yeah.   Kelly (32:25) the overwhelm, the visitation and the healing of it. And what she did was so communal, she brought me over homemade soup and bread. And I remember just not eating like at all because that's where I was in the beginning. And I'm just like, I guess I can try to eat. And it just lifted my spirits. I'm like, yeah, I need food. And just to have her there and just to share some memories and feelings. And it was like, this is what we're not taught, right? It's like, so.   Michelle (32:35) love that.   that's really beautiful. Yeah.   It's true.   Kelly (32:55) when there's a loss or birth loss, infant loss, child loss, and you're not in it, like maybe it's a friend or a family member, you have to step in. They're not gonna ask you anything. And I feel like, yeah.   Michelle (33:05) Right, that's true. And just really the presence. I think the presence is the medicine. That's the comfort.   Kelly (33:12) Yeah, and it's gonna happen. There's gonna be, know, loss is gonna happen, but it's again, I think addressing it. And I do have a whole chapter on miscarriage specific loss, but I also have something really cool in the book. I feel like I haven't shared this enough. I keep forgetting. There are seven QR code meditations in the book that you can actually click and listen live. Not live, but like it has music to it. And then they're made specifically through certain areas where one is pregnancy.   Michelle (33:30) Ooh, I love that.   Kelly (33:41) One is conception, I have a couples one you can use. I also have for fertility, like embryonic connection, miscarriage, I even have stillbirth, which is, know, later loss. I even have termination. There are specific meditations made that I feel like can just help provide that heart communication and just moving forward with spirit baby awareness. Yeah, I love that I was like, put that in there.   Michelle (34:02) Mm, I love that.   Kelly (34:07) And then it has a link too. if you can, you like, can't use the QR code. There's a link and it's like literally linked to my website and you'll have it forever and you can download them. And there are some favorites people are telling me right now, like, I really love this one. And I do it all the time. it's really fun to hear that because it was one of my favorite ones that I made like a long time ago. And it's interesting that people are so linked in and some are more visual feeling. It's a little bit of everything. Cause I know we have a little   you know, we all have different connections. And so that you get that in the book as well.   Michelle (34:36) It's true.   my God, I love that. Well, you guys got to check out her book. It is amazing. It is notes from a spirit baby medium, everything you need to know about spirit baby communication. It is an amazing book. I've read it myself.   I got to have an insider's peak before it came out. And and I just know Kelly comes and does her work from the heart, like fully full on from the heart and from the light. And really anything that she talks about, is aligned with light. So I highly recommend you guys check out her book.   Kelly (34:58) That's right.   Michelle (35:19) I highly recommend you guys check out her and for people actually who do want to check you out, how can they find you?   Kelly (35:28) So the best way to reach me is at newearthchildren.com or it's also spearbabymedium.com and my Instagram, a lot of people love connecting there is at Spear Baby Medium.   And you can, yeah, check it out. And there's even a book page so you can access the book. And it's offered through Amazon. It's offered through IngramSpark, which is global distribution Barnes and Noble. And you can get paperback or an ebook. And I just recently put on my website a PDF because I don't have ebooks. so if you're like, I want that PDF. There you go. I have everybody covered.   Michelle (35:59) Mm-hmm.   Perfect. And she also has an amazing podcast.   Kelly (36:09) Yes, thank you Spirit Baby Radio, which I'm coming up to 200. Yay. Thank you. Yay.   Michelle (36:13) Amazing. Congrats and congrats on the book and always amazing talking to you. And I'm so happy you got to come on today and thank you for joining us today.   Kelly (36:27) Yes, as always, Michelle, I love you. Thank you for having me. It's always fun. And I'm very excited to keep sharing the beautiful work, similar to what you do, bringing in that deep level of consciousness, healing. And I know you bring spirit baby energies into your space too. Thank you.   Michelle (36:44) Awesome. you.  

Discover the latest in self-publishing news! From Taylor Swift facing backlash over errors in her self-published book to Barnes & Noble Press warning about scams, and IngramSpark expanding distribution in Singapore, we've got you covered. Plus, other important updates every author needs to hear! Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp  Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks  Sources: Taylor Swift's Eras Tour book dubbed ‘errors tour' over spelling mistakes, ‘blurry photos, and design flaws' - https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/taylor-swift-eras-tour-book-typos-b2658821.html Barnes & Noble Press - https://press.barnesandnoble.com Book Distribution in Singapore - https://www.ingramspark.com/Singapore Final Call: 30% Off PublishDrive Plans Ends on January 8 - https://DaleLinks.com/PublishDrive (affiliate link)  Join my Discord community for access to free AI tools - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord  Unveiling 2025: Indie Authors Gear Up for AI Innovations and Craft Renaissance - https://indieauthormagazine.com/unveiling-2025-indie-authors-gear-up-for-ai-innovations-and-craft-renaissance/ Stop Missing Out: Monetize Your Writing with Audio | Spoken.Press - https://www.youtube.com/live/PgnK8ZnHC4M?si=1A62VesBIGWGOWPe Simplify Story Structure: Write Better, Faster Novels | Jason Hamilton - https://www.youtube.com/live/B4NKQspKEBg?si=Apv_D1ea4Q9vE0JB How to build an audience from scratch: Webinar with Russell Nohelty - https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EaX7Nu_9QI26PwF60zvCWw#/registration  Authors Guild: Rights Reversion & Self-Publishing - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Gyc8GDBWRl6aT5Z-V51vMA#/registration  Outstanding Creator Awards - https://www.outstandingcreator.com/winners--2024-clash-of-champions.html Global Book Awards - https://globalbookawards2024self.spread.name/?page=4 and https://globalbookawards2024self.spread.name/?page=5 My bookshelf - https://DaleLinks.com/Bookshelf  Million Dollar Mastermind with Larry Weidel - https://podcasts.fame.so/million-dollar-mastermind-with-larry-weidel  Credit: The Hot Sheet - https://hotsheetpub.com  Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts

Many self-published authors treat paperbacks and hardcovers as an afterthought, assuming they're too hard to sell or less lucrative than eBooks. This week's guest, author Kevin G. Chapman, challenges that notion by sharing how indie authors can effectively market and sell their physical books. From leveraging platforms like IngramSpark to building relationships with bookstores and libraries, Kevin outlines the strategies he uses to get paperbacks and hardcovers into readers' hands and unlock new revenue streams. Kevin also shares his experience in producing and marketing audiobooks, an ever-expanding market with unique opportunities for indie authors. By utilizing platforms like BookFunnel and Gumroad, he demonstrates how to maintain greater control, boost profits, and broaden your reach. So if you're ready to expand your publishing strategy beyond eBooks and tap into the often overlooked potential of both physical and audiobooks, this episode offers the insights and inspiration you've been waiting for.   Kevin G. Chapman https://kevingchapman.com/   Hidden Gems Need our help publishing or marketing your book?  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/   All episode details and links:  https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

In this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi Member Q&A podcast, hosts Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black discuss whether debut authors should focus their prelaunch efforts on Amazon or consider a wider approach, including using universal links. Other questions include: ·       How do I get free upload codes for IngramSpark, and what are the current restrictions? ·       Are there templates available for formatting books for multiple platforms, and which software is recommended? ·       What should I do if I find a typo in my published book, and when is it worth updating? ·       How do international tax processes work for authors selling in multiple countries, and when should professional advice be sought? ·       What are the key considerations for transitioning distribution from one platform to another, such as moving from IngramSpark to KDP? ·       How can authors ethically incentivize readers to leave reviews without violating platform rules?   And more! Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-Publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. Now, go write and publish! Sponsor The Member Q&A podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. About the Hosts Michael La Ronn is ALLi's Outreach Manager. He is the author of over 80 science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers. He writes from the great plains of Iowa and has managed to write while raising a family, working a full-time job, and even attending law school classes in the evenings (now graduated!). You can find his fiction at www.michaellaronn.com and his videos and books for writers at www.authorlevelup.com. Sacha Black is a bestselling and competition winning author, rebel podcaster, speaker and casual rule breaker. She writes fiction under a secret pen name and other books about the art of writing. When Sacha isn't writing, she runs ALLi's blog. She lives in England, with her wife and genius, giant of a son. You can find her on her website, her podcast, and on Instagram.

The audiobook direct sales platform, StoryFair is available to buy. IngramSpark sent out a service alert to account holders. And, Dibbly Create just launched a new keyword research tool for Amazon called KIP Scout. Find out more details in this week's self-publishing news. Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Wide Publishing for Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/WideBook Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks  Source: StoryFair Audiobooks - https://storyfair.net/. Contact: storyfairllc@gmail.com. IngramSpark - https://IngramSpark.com Apple Books for Authors - https://authors.apple.com/ Findaway Voices by Spotify - https://findawayvoices.com KIP Scout - https://DaleLinks.com/Scout (affiliate link)  Miblart: Email Marketing for Authors: How to Build an Author Email List - https://miblart.com/blog/how-to-build-author-email-list/?ref=daleroberts5 Miblart: Advent Calendar - https://miblart.com/advent-calendar-sign-up/?ref=daleroberts5  Mastering Author Branding with Andrea Jo DeWerd: The Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast Featuring Dale L. Roberts - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-mastering-author-branding/  Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts

The Amazon Community Guidelines updated their policies about reviews and this affects some review service sites like Pubby, Get Books Reviewed, Get Authentic Book Reviews, Book Bounty and more. Amazon Advertising rolled out two NEW features for account holders that can greatly improve book sales. And, self-publishing is on the rise, according to Publishers Weekly. All that and more in the self-publishing news this week! Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com  Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks  Sources: Kindle Vella Announcement - https://www.kdpcommunity.com/s/article/Kindle-Vella-Announcement?language=en_US Self-Publishing's Output and Influence Continue to Grow - https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/96468-self-publishing-s-output-and-infuence-continue-to-grow.html The Alliance of Independent Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/ALLi (affiliate link) Book Bounty - https://book-bounty.com/ Amazon Community: About Promotional Content - https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GDSRWWGGRA2JXSNZ Get Book Reviews on Amazon Without Violating Guidelines | Authentic Book Reviews - https://youtube.com/live/w0KxkSf6CMs Authentic Book Reviews - https://GetAuthenticBookReviews.com Amazon Advertising - https://advertising.amazon.com Draft2Digital - https://DaleLinks.com/D2D (referral link) Barnes & Noble Press - https://press.barnesandnoble.com/ Bookvault - https://bookvault.app. Use code BVDALE to waive your first three uploads.  IngramSpark - https://IngramSpark.com Earn Even More with IngramSpark (Share & Sell) - https://www.ingramspark.com/share-sell-promotion PublishDrive - https://DaleLinks.com/PublishDrive (affiliate link) PublishDrive: Holiday Content Deadlines and Instructions for 2024 - https://publishdrive.com/holiday-content-deadlines-and-instructions-for-2024.html  PublishDrive: Print Books - PDF creation, margins, how to use built in PD tools, and key strategies in distribution - https://streamyard.com/watch/Shn2bxiDagWU PublishDrive: Introducing PublishDrive's Cover Image Generator: Your Fast-Track to Stunning Ebook Covers - https://publishdrive.com/introducing-publishdrives-cover-image-generator.html PublishDrive: From Manuscript to Market: Your Fast-Track to Stunning Ebook Cover - https://streamyard.com/watch/uBY7XYXCmEYA Dibbly Create presents: Creator Q & A.I. - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ39eNz8xkmj0x7ELhrZW8l3lU7DqzslP More Reviews, More Readers: Hidden Gems' Founder Reveals All - https://www.youtube.com/live/yjYRPrpmDuM?si=z9p8h88sL-nTc-TJ Black Friday Deal Alerts (affiliate links)  Miblart (cover design) - https://DaleLinks.com/Miblart. Use MIBL20BLACK for 20% off your next order. Good till December 1, 2024. GetCovers (cover design) - https://DaleLinks.com/GetCovers. Use BLACKDEALS for up to 30% off your next order. Good till December 1, 2024. Press Ranger (AppSumo LTD) - https://DaleLinks.com/PressRanger. Good till Nov. 26, 2024 at 9:00am EDT. DepositPhotos (AppSumo LTD) - https://DaleLinks.com/DepositPhotosDeal. Good till Dec. 2, 2024. ProWritingAid - https://DaleLinks.com/ProWritingAid MailerLite - https://DaleLinks.com/MailerLite SiteGround - https://DaleLinks.com/SiteGround BLACK FRIDAY DEALS for Authors & Self-Publishers 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/live/yB57FnddsD4?si=a2KuvifR2v6PzfIA  Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts

IngramSpark announced they're temporarily waiving all surcharge fees for their Share & Sell program. Black Friday deals are rolling out for AppSumo, DepositPhotos, ProWritingAid, and more. And the third book in my Self-Publishing with Dale series got a book award. All that and more in the self-publishing news this week! Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Advanced Self-Publishing for Books - https://DaleLinks.com/AdvancedAuthors Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com  Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp  Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks  Sources: Earn Even More with IngramSpark - https://www.ingramspark.com/share-sell-promotion  ProWritingAid - https://DaleLinks.com/ProWritingAid DepositPhotos on AppSumo - https://DaleLinks.com/DepositPhotosDeal The Audiobook Narrator - https://books2read.com/The-Audiobook-Narrator Book Brush: Helping Hands, Happy Authors: How to Team Up with a Virtual Assistant - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpdeyvrjMqEtYjXyqz9aKPXG3bEmXWgG5o#/registration Get More Reviews, Fast: Booksprout's Proven Method for Authors - https://youtube.com/live/RmIumHTsS5I?feature=share Unlock the Secrets of Author Branding with Todd Fahnestock - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/todd-fahnestock/ 2024 Goody Business Book Awards - https://goodybusinessbookawards.com/new-2024-goody-business-book-awards/ Advertising for Books - https://DaleLinks.com/AdsBook How To Write a NonFiction Book in 24 hours Book Review| D.L. Tillery - https://youtu.be/S4kvSldcUh4?si=_VXxIlfew6OvURSl How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 24 Hours - https://DaleLinks.com/24HoursBook  Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts

*Don't forget to pre-order my new book, It's Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn: A Parent's Guide to Helping Children and Teens Develop Sexual Integrity. You can get your copy here! And would you consider leaving this podcast a rating and writing a quick little review? A sentence or two would be so great and helpful. You can leave one here. Both of these things would be so helpful to me in spreading the word about my mission to help families create connection in a disconnected world. Join me!  Today I am so excited to welcome homeschool grad and young author, the wonderful Millie Florence! This was my first time meeting Millie, but we share some friends and life experiences, so it felt like we were old friends right away. Millie has multiple middle grade novels out in the world, and her newest novel, Beyond Mulberry Glen comes out in January of 2025. I loved talking to Millie about this new book, about home schooling, about creativity, writing, publishing and more! I know you'll love this conversation too. Enjoy!  Where to find Millie: Her website here Her newest book here Her Instagram here  Resources mentioned in this episode: Pre-order goodies here Brave Writer (a home school writing program) here Honey Butter (Millie's first book) here Ingram Spark (self-publishing book distributor) here Waxwing Books (Millie's publisher) here   Some favorite quotes from this episode: “Home school is customizable.” Millie Florence “My mom wanted our home school to be directed by the things we delighted in.” Millie Florence “There was never a time in my life when I didn't want to be a writer.” Millie Florence “You're never going to be ready. You just have to do it.” Sarah Mackensie “Look at what you have and use that to the best of your ability.” Millie Florence 

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing dropped two prominent features on their platform, one of which being Kindle Vella. Written Word Media published their findings in a recent indie author survey. The guys at Hidden Gems Books shared a recent post about how well AI-generated art faired against stock images for promoting books on Facebook. The findings are interesting to say the least. All that and more in the self-publishing news this week! - Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link)

In this episode, Jodi talks about the inevitability of errors in published books, discussing why even meticulously edited and proofread books are not immune to typos and mistakes, and highlighting a 95% “acceptable” error rate in the publishing industry. The episode explains the roles of human and AI editors, the importance of multiple editing passes, and the potential pitfalls that sometimes come during the self-publishing process. Jodi emphasizes the significance of building time for self-editing and revisions into the production schedule and offers insights on different editorial styles and their impact on the final book. Time Stamps: 00:00 Rushed drafts contain more errors, require revisions. 04:42 Join "Ready Set Write" challenge to improve productivity. 10:07 Book creation is difficult; join my mentorship program. Keywords: book publishing, entrepreneurs, book writing, traditional publishing, self-publishing, hybrid publishing, typo, copy editing, proofreading, human error, editing process, manuscript, editing test, production schedule, self-editing, revision, Microsoft Word, Google Docs, track changes, suggested edits, typesetter, Amazon, IngramSpark, Lulu, unrealistic schedule, style guides, Chicago Manual of Style, AP style, grammar mechanics, casual language, clarity of message, book team Resources Mentioned: Write Publish Market episode 156: http://www.jodibrandoneditorial.com/write-publish-market-podcast/156 Ready Set Write Challenge: www.jodibrandoneditorial.com/readysetwrite LINK TO FULL EPISODE (RAW) TRANSCRIPT: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Zy4fZYPC5CedUXcBdPm01eWZWoN5vXK9ZStS3w2CPSM/edit?usp=sharing  

Olivia McCoy and Karen McNally Upson discussed the benefits of print on demand technology for authors, dispelling stigmas associated with self-publishing. Karen offers essential insights into the  importance of aligning distribution strategies with reader behavior to maximize book sales.Key PointsThe benefits of print on demand for authors, highlighting how it reduces the need for authors to carry books and prevents excess inventory costs. Traditional publishing houses are increasingly adopting this approach.The impact of timing - production delays and distribution challenges in the book industry.The importance of publishers focusing on acquiring and producing great books while leaving distribution to specialized companies like Ingram. The efficiency and global reach of Ingram's print on demand service (Ingramspark) are highlighted..How different genres have varying reader preferences for book formats, such as ebooks or physical copies, and importance of aligning distribution strategies with reader behavior to maximize book sales.A case study contrasting two publishing pathways: custom publishing under an author's imprint and hybrid publishing. The success stories of two authors with similar topics but different brand evolutions demonstrate the effectiveness of tailored distribution strategies.Setting authors up for success by aligning their distribution strategies with their brand development and readership. The discussion highlights the significance of choosing the right publishing pathway based on individual goals and brand maturity.Discover more about Smith Publicity at www.smithpublicity.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, & LinkedIn.

In this episode of the AskALLi Member Q&A podcast, hosts Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black discuss when to seek permission for quotes in memoirs and when to paraphrase. They also share strategies for maximizing global distribution through various platforms and aggregators. Other questions include: Is it better to upload my print book to IngramSpark before Amazon to avoid issues? How do I navigate copyright concerns? Should I use the same ISBN for Draft2Digital and Amazon? Is self-publishing a 33,000-word historical romance on Kindle Unlimited a good idea? And more! Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-Publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. Now, go write and publish! Sponsor The Member Q&A podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote. About the Hosts Michael La Ronn is ALLi's Outreach Manager. He is the author of over 80 science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers. He writes from the great plains of Iowa and has managed to write while raising a family, working a full-time job, and even attending law school classes in the evenings (now graduated!). You can find his fiction at www.michaellaronn.com and his videos and books for writers at www.authorlevelup.com. Sacha Black is a bestselling and competition winning author, rebel podcaster, speaker and casual rule breaker. She writes fiction under a secret pen name and other books about the art of writing. When Sacha isn't writing, she runs ALLi's blog. She lives in England, with her wife and genius, giant of a son. You can find her on her website, her podcast, and on Instagram.

Send me your writing and publishing questions!Until somewhat recently, streamlined pre-orders were only possible for traditionally published authors. Now, indie authors can also benefit from pre-orders as well, helping them with:Building Excitement and Engagement: Pre-orders allow authors to generate buzz and excitement around their upcoming book, encouraging readers to take action before the release date.Community Building: Offering pre-orders helps authors build and nurture a community by gathering email addresses and establishing a direct connection with readers, which can lead to quicker reviews and word-of-mouth promotion.Data Collection: Through pre-orders, authors can collect valuable reader data (like email addresses) that is otherwise inaccessible when books are sold through platforms like Amazon. This data allows authors to maintain a relationship with their readers post-purchase and make future marketing efforts more effective.This episode of Write the Damn Book Already discusses not only the benefits and considerations of offering books for pre-order but also the potential hiccups (and how to avoid them!) such as unexpected costs due to Amazon's handling of pre-orders through IngramSpark.RESOURCES MENTIONEDPublish the Damn Book Already self-publishing course - 25% off with code AUTHOR25Jane Friedman's Hot Sheet bestseller listPre-Order Packages workshop with Mary Belle Follow Mary Belle on Instagram: @mary.belle.booksJenn Hanson-dePaula's website (author marketing/PR)Follow Jenn Hanson-dePaula on Instagram: @mixtusmedia MOCKUP SHOTS DEALI've used MockUp shots for years to create attention-grabbing images great for social media. It usually costs $207, but they're offering a 60% discount on lifetime access with lifetime updates. It's a great way to get an unheard-of price on a product that will make you money and that you will end up using all the time.Click Here for 60% off >>Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry. Available wherever podcasts are available: Apple PodcastsSpotify YouTube Let's Connect! InstagramWebsite Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] comThe podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Written Word Media published a deep dive piece about how to avoid an Amazon KDP termination or suspension. IngramSpark launched a new free tool for authors; is it any good? And, Barnes & Noble Press loads you up with their top tips for summer book marketing. All that and more in the self-publishing news. Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Get my latest book at every major online retailer: - Self-Publishing for New Authors - https://DaleLinks.com/NewAuthors Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships  Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts  Sources: Awards for Authors: Secrets from a Book Award Judge - https://bookawardpro.com/blog/secrets-from-a-book-award-judge/ Mastering Metadata: How to Avoid KDP Account Suspension - https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/how-to-avoid-kdp-account-suspension/  IngramSpark's Book-Building Tool - https://www.ingramspark.com/design-a-book Hot Summer Book Marketing Tips for Indie Authors - https://press.barnesandnoble.com/bnpress-blog/summer-book-marketing-tips-indie-authors/ Atticus: Customer Success Geek - https://www.atticus.io/join-our-team/ Reader Magnets and Growing Your Email List for Indie Author Success - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-reader-magnets/ PublishDrive - https://DaleLinks.com/PublishDrive (referral link) Selling Audiobooks: Production, Marketing, and Distribution - Q&A w/ Lindsay Senior @ Author's Republic - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0kc--rrzguEtRiC-4Y-QCg6d1xiqLhcXFV#/registration Non Fiction Extravaganza July Part 2 - https://DaleLinks.com/VirtualFair Self Publishing for New Authors with Dale L. Roberts - https://youtu.be/Nsvu2Bth3Wg?si=Bxt7zAp_L6f6HGVo  Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts

S.M. Sykes (Scott)Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know S.M. Sykes. Scott Sykes is an author in the young adult (YA) fiction genre. In this episode, we chat about what his career was before he started writing, and what led him to eventually start writing his first novel. After serving in the U.S. Navy, and settling down in Delaware, Scot got inspired to pick up the pen. In addition to his THREE novel series (The Blue Series), Scott has written tons of novellas and short stories. You better believe I ask him to explain the difference to me! We discuss several different writing forums including Medium, and NaNoWriMo, and even some of his social media strategies. The Blue Series consists of: Eyes of Blue, A Dim Blue, and Loss of Blue. Scott thought the series was done there, but the story won't be laid to rest! Expect more books in the series from this tireless indy writer. You can catch Scott at various writing & horror conventions around the country, and don't forget to check out his social media. He posts some pretty fun and inventive videos on Instagram & TikTok.

Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Alabama Short Stories Podcast! I'm your host, Shawn Wright. As always, it's a pleasure to have you with me. I want to take a moment to remind you about something you might already be familiar with: my books, "Alabama Short Stories, Volumes 1 and 2.""Volume 1" features stories from our first three seasons. It includes thirty tales about iconic statues, daring pilots, high school athletes, painters, and musicians. You'll also find intriguing stories about falling stars, aliens, and close encounters."Volume 2" continues with stories from seasons four to six. This collection includes another thirty stories about athletes and their fans, movie stars, and lives that have become movies. You'll meet beauty queens, devils, a Spider, and even the Beatles. These stories highlight builders, memorable moments, and extraordinary individuals who have helped shape Alabama into the state it is today.Both volumes are packed with photos to help bring these stories to life.If you've enjoyed the podcast, these books are perfect for you. They're also great for anyone interested in history – specifically Alabama's rich and diverse history and the American South. Growing up in Alabama, I had heard some of these stories, but during my research, I uncovered many more fascinating tales that I knew others would enjoy.You can get these books through online retailers like Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and Bookshop.org. If you own a bookstore and would like to stock these titles, you can find them through IngramSpark.If you prefer to listen, the stories are also available on Audible.com. However, these are the same stories you can enjoy for free on this podcast, just organized in book order. It's perfect for people who don't want to listen to individual stories on podcasts and prefer long-form audio.Thank you for your continued support of Alabama Short Stories. I hope you enjoy the books and find them to be a great addition to your collection. They also make fantastic gifts for those hard-to-buy-for family members. Take care, and happy reading!Purchase Volume 1AmazonBooks-A-Million Bookshop.org Purchase Volume 2AmazonBarnes & Noble Support the Show.Support the Podcast The podcast is free but it's not cheap. If you enjoy Alabama Short Stories, there are a few ways you can support us. Tell a friend about the podcast. Buy some merchandise from the Art Done Wright store at https://www.teepublic.com/user/wright-art Buy Volume 1 of the Book. https://a.co/d/9VhY9cO Buy the newly released Volume 2 of the Book. https://a.co/d/ef1yunC Want to support your local book store? You can do that by purchasing Volume 1 and Volume 2 through Bookshop.org, which gives back to local bookstores. You can listen to the podcast on the website or wherever you prefer to listen and subscribe to podcasts.

IngramSpark is launching a new book promotion package with a hefty price tag. Will the services be worthwhile? Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX) updated their sales report dashboard with some much-needed improvements. Is ACX still missing anything authors need beyond this update? And, the UK-based print on demand company Bookvault announced direct integration with the direct sales platform Payhip. All that and more in the self-publishing news! Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link) Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships  Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord  Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts  Sources: Amazon Advertising - https://advertising.amazon.com/  Bookvault + Payhip Integration - https://bookvault.app/payhip/ ACX - https://www.acx.com/ Draft2Digital: Notification Regarding Weltbild - https://www.authoremail.com/email/campaigns/yd690y2ad6e9d/web-version/eq3389j0wvdc4 IngramSpark: Promote Your Book - https://www.ingramspark.com/title-discovery  IngramSpark Academy: Self-Publishing Essentials - https://www.ingramspark.com/book-metadata-course-description Spotify's New Basic Plan Strips Out Audiobooks - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-spotify-audiobook-plan/ How to analyze what book covers sell in your genre? - https://miblart.substack.com/p/how-to-analyze-what-book-covers-sell Streetlib: July and August Apple Promos - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd9wgHN_S8QYb6jyIq2suD6CbBw-WoKTOL_ApEHo9lrjVFYwQ/viewform PublishDrive - https://DaleLinks.com/PublishDrive (affiliate link) More Email Marketing Tips for Indie Authors - https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-email-marketing-tips/ Book Brush presents: Level Up with the 5 Places You'll Make Money During a Kickstarter Campaign with Russell Nohelty - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsfu-hpjwtE9wZbalJOhDk8ovVeKUKEhLm#/registration Smashwords July Summer/Winter Sale - https://www.smashwords.com/shelves/promos/1/any/any  My Smashwords Profile - https://dalelinks.com/smashwords  Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding! - Dale L. Roberts

How can authors navigate the complexities of self-publishing to create a successful, high-quality book that stands out in the market?Unlock the secrets to self-publishing success with industry veteran Michele DeFilippo. Gain invaluable insights into maintaining creative control and maximising your revenues as Michelle shares her 50-year journey in book publishing. Learn why hiring experts for tasks like cover design and formatting is non-negotiable if you want to produce books that truly stand out. Michele's experience and passion for empowering authors will inspire you to take control of your publishing destiny.Navigating the complex world of traditional versus self-publishing, Michele outlines the challenges authors face with traditional publishers, such as the need for a large social media following and the sacrifice of creative control. In contrast, self-publishing offers more freedom but comes with its own set of hurdles. Michele stresses the importance of using professional services such as editing and proofreading to ensure your book meets market standards, and she clarifies Amazon's role as a platform rather than a publisher. This episode is packed with insights to help you make informed decisions about your publishing journey.Finally, get invaluable marketing advice tailored to self-published authors. Learn about the importance of using platforms like Amazon and IngramSpark for broad distribution and how to make your book stand out in a crowded marketplace. Explore two different marketing strategies: self-education through the resources available on our website, and professional guidance from trusted marketing experts. Learn about common pitfalls, such as the do-it-yourself mentality and reluctance to market, and get practical advice on how to overcome these obstacles. This episode is packed with insights to help you produce a quality book that will resonate with readers and stand the test of time.˚

Erik and Jeanne Anderson have been full-time RVing with their beloved “Hershey Pup” since hitting the road 2020. After their primary remote employment ended unexpectedly, Erik started writing RV related content and the couple did some workamping save on rent. Then they decided to publish a children's book based on Hershey Pup's RV adventures. Knowing nothing about self publishing at the time, they did extensive research and figured it out. They are now working on their second book in the series. And, they share their thoughts on the publishing process, working with editors and illustrators, marketing a book once it's launched, and what they'll do differently next time. They also discuss their best methods for finding remote writing gigs and workamping jobs. Spoiler alert: That boils down to direct outreach and relationship marketing. Learn More at www.HersheyPupAdventures.com GUEST BIO: Erik and his wife Jeanne have been living, remote-working, and traveling full-time around the U.S. and Canada in their mid-size Class A motorhome since July 2020. They love hiking, biking, kayaking, and adventuring with their beloved Cavalier King Charles spaniel, “Hershey Pup”. A well-traveled pup, Hershey has happily wagged his tail through all of the “Lower 48” U.S. states, 6 Canadian provinces, and 38 national parks to date. Erik enjoys contributing his writings to many RV-related magazines, blogs and social media groups. They have published their first children's book based on Hershey Pup's RV adventures. Connect With Erik: Facebook: erik.anderson.378 Instagram: erikvtmtb Facebook: Hershey Pup Adventures Instagram: hersheypupadventures RESOURCES MENTIONED Products: - K9 Sport Sack: https://amzn.to/3PyNgQF Publishing: - Kindle Direct Publishing: https://kdp.amazon.com/ - Ingram Spark: https://www.ingramspark.com/ - Fiverr: https://www.fiverr.com/ - Illustrator: https://kidsbookart.com/ - Be More Dog: htts://bemoredog.net Remote Work: - Indeed: https://indeed.com Workamping: - https://www.volunteer.gov/ - https://www.workamper.com/ - https://www.facebook.com/groups/weloveworkamping The RV Entrepreneur: - Mutliple Revenue Streams: https://therventrepreneur.com/multiple-revenue-streams/ - RVE #337 - Relationship Marketing: https://therventrepreneur.com/rve337/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE RV ENTREPRENEUR ⁠⁠https://therventrepreneur.com⁠ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Join the RVE community on Facebook! ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/therventrepreneurcommunity⁠ Connect with RVE on all your favorite socials ⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/connect⁠⁠ Got questions or comments for our hosts? Leave us a voice message! ⁠⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/voicemail⁠⁠ (NOTE: Audio submitted may be published on the podcast unless specifically requested otherwise.) Got a great story or tips to share with RVE Listeners? Complete our Guest Intake Form: ⁠⁠https://therventrepreneur.com/guestform⁠ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rve/message