Podcasts about self publishing formula

In this week's episode, we take a look at professional development for writers, and examine both the benefits and the pitfalls. We also take a look at my advertising results for March 2025. This week's coupon code will get you 50% off the audiobook of Dragonskull: Curse of the Orcs, Book #4 in the Dragonskull series (as excellently narrated by Brad Wills), at my Payhip store: ORCCURSE50 The coupon code is valid through April 25, 2025. So if you need a new audiobook for spring, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates   Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 246 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is April 4, 2025, and today we are looking at professional development for writers. Before we get to our main topic, we'll have Coupon of the Week, an update on my current writing and audiobook projects, Question of the Week, and then a look back at how my various ads performed for March 2025.   So let's start off with Coupon of the Week. This week's coupon code will get you 50% off the audiobook of Dragonskull: Curse of the Orcs, Book Four in the Dragonskull series (as excellently narrated by Brad Wills) at my Payhip store. That coupon code is ORCCURSE50. As always, you can find the coupon code and the links to my store in the show notes. This coupon code is valid through April 25th, 2025. So if you need a new audiobook for spring, we have got you covered.   Now for an update on my current writing projects. I'm very pleased to report that the rough draft of Shield of Battle is done, 102,800 words written in 22 days. That will be the second to last book in the Shield War series. If all goes well, I'm still hoping to have that out and edited and published before the end of the month. I'm now working on a currently untitled short story that newsletter subscribers will get for free in ebook form when Shield of Battle comes out. So this might be a great time to sign up for my new release newsletter. I am also 10,000 words into Ghost in the Corruption and that will be my main project after Shield of Battle is out.   Recording is still underway for Shield of Deception and Ghost in the Assembly. That is Brad Wills and Hollis McCarthy narrating, respectively. So I am looking forward to having those audiobooks out for you to listen to and then Shield the Battle and Ghost in the Corruption available for you to read, but I just have to get back to work on them.   00:01:48 Question of the Week   Now it's time for Question of the Week. Question of the Week is intended to inspire enjoyable discussions of interesting topics. This week's question, what games (if any) are you currently playing? No wrong answers, including “I don't play video games”. The inspiration for this question was that the fact that Nintendo was having this big Switch 2 announcement on April 2, which is amusing to me personally on a meta level because people have been speculating wildly about a Switch successor for years. Baseless Switch 2 rumors have been a clickfarm industry for years. Probably Nintendo had to have it on April 2 so no one would think it was a really elaborate April Fool's Day joke. Justin says: Online it would be World of Warcraft Classic. Otherwise, it is Conquest of the New World. Like me, my games are old and dated.   I can relate to Justin because I'm currently playing a game that was first made in 1994, but more on that later.   Sam says: Currently dancing between two games, my long-term love game, Final Fantasy 14 and Dragon Age: the Veilguard. The Veilguard was a massive disappointment for me, unfortunately, but it still has its reasonably okay points, but man, the developers dropped the ball in the worst way since Cyberpunk's disastrous release.   That's interesting because I've actually encountered a couple different people who have played Dragon Age: Veilguard and they either love it or hate it. There is just no in-between. So that does seem to be the kind of game where you either love the thing or you just hate it. Todd says: Enjoying No Man's Sky, waiting for Light No Fire. Continuing to grind World of Warcraft retail. Recently played the re-release of Half Life. Today, I also installed Lands of Lore, gotta love Patrick Stewart as King Richard!   I had forgotten that Patrick Stewart voiced King Richard back in the ‘90s in the Lands of Lore game. His most famous video game part (I think) is playing Emperor Uriel Septim in the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.   JKM says: Monster Hunter Wilds and Star Citizen.   Jesse says: Been doing an on and off run on Enshrouded. The story hasn't hugely gripped me as yet, but the mechanics are fun if you like Breath of the Wilds-esque world exploration.   Michael says: I'm currently playing Star Traders: Frontiers, which is a 2D indie space trading/exploration/crew management game in a vaguely Dune-like setting. It has turn based squad combat in Darkest Dungeon style too. Originally a mobile game but mechanics are surprisingly deep. It's good fun.   Randy says: Wizardry Remaster. Ironic because I didn't play the original.   For myself, I am kind of alternating between three current games. I am playing the Master of Magic remake on the PC and I'm determined to finally beat a campaign at that. I am still playing Iratus: Lord of the Dead and drawing closer to the final level. And when I'm really tired and don't want to do anything else that requires a lot of brain power, I still fire up some Starfield and go really mess up the day of some procedurally generated space pirates.   So watch my website and Facebook for Question of the Week if you want to have your comment read on the show as well.   00:04:39 Ad Results for March 2025   Now let's look at how my ads for my books did in March 2025, which is interesting because I changed things up a fair bit for ads in March. The reason I did this is because the economy isn't great and not likely to improve for several years. I saw someone arguing that all the policy decisions in the Covid era will have a 15 year economic hangover into which we're only five years, and I think that argument might have some merit to it. So because of that, I thought it might be prudent to move some older series into Kindle Unlimited. So I did that with the Demonsouled books and with Cloak Games, though not with Cloak Mage, which will remain wide as new books come out. I might do it with Silent Order as well, but I haven't decided. My thinking is that as people are looking to economize, subscription services will probably offer better value than direct book sales.   So let's see how we did. For Facebook ads, I did Cloak Games/Cloak Mage and The Ghosts. For Games/Cloak Mage, I got $4.14 back for every $1 spent, with 10% of the profit coming from the audiobooks. For The Ghosts, I got back $8.73 for every dollar spent, with 6% of the profit coming from the audiobooks. Obviously the total for The Ghosts might be inflated because of Ghosts in the Assembly, which did well. Thanks, everyone! Without Ghosts in the Assembly, The Ghosts still would've done $3.68 for every dollar spent, with 15% for the profit coming from the audiobooks. So still pretty good.   For Amazon ads, I mostly focused on Half-Elven Thief. Remember that for an Amazon ad to be successful, it needs to get a sale or a complete Kindle Unlimited read for every six to eight clicks. So for Half-Elven Thief, I got back $3.41 for every $1 spent, with a sale or a complete KU read for every 0.84 clicks, which is a really good result. However, it was not all roses in Amazon ads because I gave up on advertising Stealth and Spells Online: Creation. I've realized I fundamentally misunderstood what readers in the LitRPG actually want. I'm still going to finish the series this summer with the final book. I am 75,000 words into it as of this recording, but I don't think I'm going to advertise the series anymore.   For Demonsouled, I did a combined Facebook/Amazon ads campaign and for a combined campaign like that, it's easiest just to track the return. So for Demonsouled, I got back $2.53 for every dollar spent on Facebook and Amazon ads. So that was pretty close to how it did in February.   I also did some BookBub ad campaigns for The Ghosts and Sevenfold Sword on Apple. For The Ghosts, we got back $9.24 for every dollar I spent and for Sevenfold Sword, I got back $6.76 back for every dollar spent. So those are some very good results.   Finally, I've begun experimenting with BookBub ads for Google Play. I tried out Sevenfold Sword first and for Sevenfold Sword on Google Play with BookBub ads, we got back $3.86 for every dollar. So that is a promising beginning and I might try more experiments with BookBub ads and Google Play in May. So a good month all in all. Thanks for reading, everyone. Hopefully I'll have more new books for you soon.   00:07:46 Main Topic: Professional Development   So our main topic this week will be part three of our series on writing adjacent activities, and that is professional development. As I mentioned on past episodes, I'm working on a new podcast series on what I call writing adjacent activities. What do I mean by this? I'm talking about the tasks that seem like they're a part of the writing process but really belong in a different category. These tasks are important, but they can also be a pitfall if you spend too much time on them or don't use that time correctly. In this series, we'll focus on a few of these tasks and how they can benefit or hinder your writing process, even though they seem like good uses of time and may in fact be beneficial in proper amounts.   In this episode, we'll talk about professional development for writers. Those working in education, healthcare, or the corporate world will be very familiar with this concept. For those who aren't familiar with professional development, let's explain what it is. What is professional development and what is it for writers specifically? Professional development generally means gaining skills or knowledge that can help someone stay current in their field and grow in their work. In some fields like teaching or healthcare, professional development is required and must be done regularly. Some examples of typical professional development tasks include learning a new programming language, attending conferences, and reading professional journals. Writers have many of these same opportunities. Ther are a slew of conferences, workshops, webinars, videos, courses, and books available for writers to hone their craft, pick up marketing skills, and learn the ever evolving technical skills needed to self-publish and have an online presence. Some of these options, especially conferences and retreats, can be very expensive and time consuming while others are free and quick to consume, such as blog posts or podcast episodes.   How can you benefit from professional development? There are five ways.   #1: You can learn information and techniques that can help you improve your writing. An example would be a workshop session presenting data on when readers typically give up when starting a new book, which can help you think about how your book is structured.   #2: You can learn about technology and software that can make your work more efficient or look more professional. An example of this would be tutorials on how to use formatting software to turn Word documents into a formatted ebook.   #3: In-person professional development can help you network with others in your field. For example, if one of your priorities is being added to group promotion, meeting other authors at a workshop or a conference could lead to more promising leads than just emailing people.   #4: You can keep up with the constant changes in the field and adjust your strategies and plans accordingly. For example, Amazon's policies for KDP change constantly, sometimes monthly, it feels like. Writing blogs and podcasts can often explain these changes in a practical way that's more efficient than trying to parse long legal documents yourself.   #5: Finally, and fifthly, some people find professional development motivational or it helps them to feel more excited about their work. An example is a phenomenon called the post conference high, when someone returns from a conference with a high level of excitement and a list of plans a mile long. It's easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day tasks of work and sometimes professional development can shake things up in a positive way.   So professional development can be a good thing, but there are ways it can hinder your writing process. So we'll look at four ways that professional development can get in the way of you actually sitting down and getting some writing done.   #1: One of the downsides of being a writer is that professional development must be self-funded or you must pursue your own scholarships or grants for it, which are pretty limited compared to professional development in other fields. It is quite easy to spend tens of thousands of dollars on it each year, so each opportunity must be carefully considered. It's important not to spend money without a clear plan for how to turn it into action and without researching less expensive (but still effective) options that might serve your purposes. It's also important to look carefully to see if you can find lower cost options before registering for something. For example, instead of going to a weeklong residential bootcamp to learn WordPress, you could find a community education class or a LinkedIn Learning class (which many libraries provide to their patrons). Do you need a full course offered by another author or are you only interested in one portion of it and can learn that information from a YouTube channel? There is a lot of nonsense on the Internet of course, but one of the advantages of living in the modern era is that there is an abundance of good free information. You just have to find it.   My podcast transcriptionist has something that she likes to call the Two Buck Chuck Principle. It is named after the store brand of wine from Trader Joe's. That's way back when it was $2 a bottle, hence the popular nickname for it. Many people refuse to stray from this cheapest available option at the store because they find it meets their alcohol related needs and refuse to buy more expensive bottles.   The point of this principle is that like those Trader Joe's shoppers, my podcast transcriptionist will search for the free and low cost option for something first and then see what is missing from them that a more expensive option offers before buying the more expensive option. For example, if you're just starting out as a writer, you may be tempted to pay $3,000 or $4,000 for consulting sessions about advertising strategies because you read a convincing testimonial. Realistically, if you only have one or two books with only a handful of reviews and you're not willing to throw thousands of additional dollars on a professional style ad campaign, this would be severe overkill.   Applying the Two Buck Chuck Principle to this person's ad spending, it would make more sense to learn the basics first through webinars and blog posts on the topic. Something like Brian Cohen's Five Day Amazon Ad Challenge would teach the basics of using the interface and some strategies that keep a rookie from overspending or straying from their target audience. Once a writer has a few years of sales and several books in the same series, then perhaps it might be wise to progress to something more advanced and expensive, like hiring a consultant.   For most professional development, if you're paying money, you're either paying for being in a physical location or you're paying for the time someone else took to assemble and present the knowledge for you (in the case of a conference or workshop, both). For the latter, you can usually apply this Two Buck Chuck Principle by taking the time to assemble the knowledge yourself or find others who have through blogs, podcasts, and lower cost books. Someone like Joanna Penn or David Gaughran provides a wealth of sensible advice through these types of much lower cost options.   #2: Professional development, like many other writing adjacent activities, can give you the illusion of progress. Knowing about something and actually doing it are very different things. You have to have a specific plan for how you will implement your professional development. The sooner you start after completing your professional development activity, the more likely you are to benefit from it. Even five minutes a day working on it helps keep the knowledge fresh and gives you the confidence to continue.   #3: The number of available options for professional development can be paralyzing and it can be easy to feel like you have to do it all. The fear of missing out is a very real phenomenon, but it's necessary to combat it by being intentional with your time. Start by making your goals for the next year and then seeing what professional development you need to further those goals. For example, if creating video content is not part of your goals for the year, then it doesn't make sense to watch webinars on creating Instagram Reels or TikTok videos, even if you feel like it might be useful or you have a fear of missing out on the information. Your professional development, your goals, and your output all need to be in harmony in order to progress as a writer.   I have talked before about how a certain degree of tunnel vision is necessary to write at the pace that I do. Because I want to publish frequently, I often ignore conference and workshop opportunities because travel actively hinders my main goal of getting down as many words as possible each day.   #4: Professional development can take up so much time that it keeps you from the priority of writers, which is actually writing. Like the other writing adjacent activities out there, they expand to the size you'll allow. Planning your professional development goals for the year when you've created your writing goals can help you be disciplined in choosing the activities that will serve you best and fit with the time you can give them.   For example, if your goal is to set up an author website in May, you can allocate a little block of time each day for that month to watching tutorials, reading instructions, checking out other author sites for inspiration, and testing out the software. You wouldn't want to attend a three week intensive writing retreat in May because that would likely derail your progress on your other goal.   So finally, what do I personally do for professional development? What has helped me? I think the biggest help I had in terms of writing advice was a book called Billion Dollar Outlines by David Farland. It's well worth reading and a good look at story structure and understanding story structure that I think would be very helpful if you're struggling to finish an outline and write a book. Most of my professional development since then has been aimed towards the goal of trying to sell as many books as possible. So I took the Self-Publishing Formula course on advertising for Facebook, which was very helpful. I read a couple of different books on Facebook advertising, which was helpful. What was really helpful was a course on Photoshop I took in 2020 and 2021 that really increased my Photoshop skills and gave me the ability to do my own covers, which is very helpful because you often have to book a cover designer out well in advance. So that was very useful. And beyond that, I keep an eye on the various writing podcasts and Facebook groups. I don't really participate in the Facebook groups because that can be a huge time sink. Arguing with random people over the internet is not a productive use of time, but it is a good way to keep an eye on news within the indie author space and what people are doing and what trends you can expect to see. So that's what I do.   In short, professional development, like so many other writing adjacent activities, is a good thing that can hinder your progress if it's not done with intentionality and clear goals. As I said earlier in the podcast, your professional development, your goals, and your output all need to be harmonized in order to progress as a writer.   So that is it for this week. Thank you for listening to the Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found the show useful. And a quick note of thanks to my podcast transcriptionist for helping me to pull together the research for this episode. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes on https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave your review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy and see you all next week.

Stu Grant has been working in the publishing industry for over 8 years- largely with the team at Self Publishing Formula and is currently the highest rated Author Website designer on Reedsy (maybe even the world!) with his company Digital Authors Toolkit. Curious about what makes an author website world class? Tune in to find out.//Draft2Digital is where you start your Indie Author Career//  Looking for your path to self-publishing success? Draft2Digital is the leading ebook publisher and distributor worldwide. We'll convert your manuscript, distribute it online, and support you the whole way—and we won't charge you a dime.  We take a small percentage of the royalties for each sale you make through us, so we only make money when you make money. That's the best kind of business plan.  • Get started now: https://draft2digital.com/• Learn the ins, the outs, and the all-arounds of indie publishing from the industry experts on the D2D Blog: https://Draft2Digital.com/blog  • Promote your books with our Universal Book Links from Books2Read: https://books2read.com  Make sure you bookmark https://D2DLive.com for links to live events, and to catch back episodes of the Self Publishing Insiders Podcast.

Today's show is for those of you authors who are using TikTok and want to up their game, or those of you who are thinking about using TikTok to promote their books. So, I brought on two experts who continue to see success using TikTok. Bestselling Author and Indie Author Superstar Cecelia Mecca and from the Self-Publishing Formula, Self-Publishing Launchpad, and the Self-Publishing Show Podcast, James Blatch. Cecelia and James have their fingers on the pulse of indie publishing and know what works and doesn't work for marketing on social media, especially TikTok. This is a great conversation that is packed with useful information for those of you who want to sell more books using TikTok! I highly suggest you get your pen and paper out for this one and take notes.In today's episode we discuss:·      Cecelia and James' highly successful author careers. ·      Their upcoming TikTok presentation they will be giving at 20Books Vegas this November.·      Overview of TikTok and the benefits for authors trying to get exposure.·      The advantages and disadvantages of using TikTok to promote your author business. ·      How often, and what time of day is best to post a TikTok video?·      Are hashtags still relevant?·      Where they get their ideas for their videos.·      The future of Artificial Intelligence in making TikTok videos.Learn more about Cecelia Mecca and her books at her website.Learn more about James Blatch and his books at his website. Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.Please visit the Cops and Writers website.  Do you enjoy gritty, action-packed real-life police dramas to get your fill of blood, heartache, and cop humor, and maybe even a little romance?I have partnered up with Michael Anderle and we have released a new crime fiction series called “Brew City Blues.” If you're a fan of Hill Street Blues, Southland, or Bosch you're going to love Brew City Blues! Brew City Blues is now live! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BLR7FX27 Only for Cops and Writers Podcast listeners! Get 50% off the audiobook version of the F.B.I. K-9 thriller, Avenging Adam by Jodi Burnett. Use code, https://jodi-burnett.com/copsandwriters/Avenging Adam Audiobook by Jodi Burnett Get 50% off Avenging Adam audiobook with this link! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

In today's episode, we are joined by renowned indie publishing business expert, educator and author, Mark Dawson – who also happens to be a fellow podcast producer and host! Mark Dawson is the author of over twenty books across multiple series, has sold millions of copies of his titles, and is also the founder of the Self Publishing Formula and host of the Self Publishing Show podcast. Mark hardly needs an introduction – his presence in the world of self-publishing goes above and beyond, and it was great to have him join us for this episode. We spoke to Mark about his Facebook ad process, his advertising course, his newsletter and how he optimizes its reach, and what he has coming up next – including the a live conference! We had a really wonderful time and an interesting conversation with Mark – don't forget to check out Self Publishing Formula for more resources and the associated Facebook group for a great community. Be sure to also check out Self Publishing Show Live - digital tickets are available now! You can learn more about Mark by visiting his  website, listening to the SPF Podcast, or following him on Twitter and Facebook.

Self Publishing Formula PLR - Self Publishing Formula PLR From Jason Oickle (marketingsharks.com)This Brand New PLR Content Teaches Your Audience How Anyone Can Successfully Publish And Sell Their Own Books With Ease!Self Publishing Formula PLRSelf-Publishing Formula PLR Lead Magnet PackageSelf-Publishing Formula is a brand new lead magnet package with Private Label Rights that teaches your audience how anyone can successfully publish and sell their own books with ease. This brand new lead magnet PLR package makes it easy for you to get up and running building your lists with very little effort on your part.You will get personal use Private Label Rights to the entire lead magnet package which includes:High Quality Ready to Publish ReportMobile Responsive Lead Capture & Thank You PagesProfessional Product Image GraphicsFully Editable Source Files Included

In today's Beginners Self-Publishing Podcast: creating superfans. Studies suggest that readers must read 4.5 books on average from the same author before they even remember their name. But that's without author intervention. Use a few tricks, and you can engage fans far earlier in the process. In this episode, ALLi Product Marketing Manager Dan Parsons and Campaigns Manager Melissa Addey explore a range of strategies any author can deploy to warm readers who enter their ecosystem. Together, they cover sales funnels, online communities, a quest to deliver extra value, and more.   Follow their tips, and you, too, can turn casual readers into superfans. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our self-publishing advice center,  http://selfpublishingadvice.org. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. You can do that at allianceindependentauthors.org. Now, go write and publish! About the Hosts Dan Parsons writes the Creative Business series for authors, bestselling fantasy and horror novels (under Daniel Parsons), and a weekly blog for The Self-Publishing Formula. In the past, he has worked for three trad publishers, managed two bookstores and listened to an unhealthy number of podcasts. Now he's ALLi's product marketing manager. Melissa Addey has a PhD in creative writing and writes historical fiction set in first-century Rome, eleventh-century Morocco and eighteenth-century China. She runs writing workshops covering both craft and entrepreneurship, most frequently for the British Library. She's also ALLi's campaigns manager, a role in which she loves observing and supporting the vast diversity of self-published authors. Visit her at her website and pick up a free novella.

In today's Beginners Self-Publishing Podcast: writing a series. Oscar Wilde, Emily Brontë, and Silvia Plath only wrote one book. History tells us it's possible to “make it” with just one title, but is that still true today? Generally, no. It can happen, but most modern authors need a series for a range of reasons. In this episode, ALLi's Product Marketing Manager Dan Parsons and Campaigns Manager Melissa Addey discuss why series help authors build a business. Plus, they outline the forms series can take and explore a range of tips authors can use to maximize the value of a series. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our self-publishing advice center,  http://selfpublishingadvice.org. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. You can do that at allianceindependentauthors.org. Now, go write and publish! About the Hosts Dan Parsons writes the Creative Business series for authors, bestselling fantasy and horror novels (under Daniel Parsons), and a weekly blog for The Self-Publishing Formula. In the past, he has worked for three trad publishers, managed two bookstores and listened to an unhealthy number of podcasts. Now he's ALLi's product marketing manager. Melissa Addey has a PhD in creative writing and writes historical fiction set in first-century Rome, eleventh-century Morocco and eighteenth-century China. She runs writing workshops covering both craft and entrepreneurship, most frequently for the British Library. She's also ALLi's campaigns manager, a role in which she loves observing and supporting the vast diversity of self-published authors. Visit her at her website and pick up a free novella.

In today's Beginners Self-Publishing Podcast: building a mailing list. Book marketing is an overwhelming topic. From Facebook to Amazon ads to blog tours and physical events—the possibilities can seem endless and ever-changing. But most authors agree that one marketing method remains constant: email. Learn how to build a mailing list and you can create a powerful author business, no matter your genre. But how?   In this episode, ALLi's Product Marketing Manager Dan Parsons and Campaigns Manager Melissa Addey discuss how mailing lists work, as well as how to build one from scratch to help you connect with your readers, create superfans and sell more books.   Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our self-publishing advice center, http://selfpublishingadvice.org. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. You can do that at allianceindependentauthors.org. Now, go write and publish! About the Hosts Dan Parsons writes the Creative Business series for authors, bestselling fantasy and horror novels (under Daniel Parsons), and a weekly blog for The Self-Publishing Formula. In the past, he has worked for three trad publishers, managed two bookstores and listened to an unhealthy number of podcasts. Now he's ALLi's product marketing manager. Melissa Addey has a PhD in creative writing and writes historical fiction set in first-century Rome, eleventh-century Morocco and eighteenth-century China. She runs writing workshops covering both craft and entrepreneurship, most frequently for the British Library. She's also ALLi's campaigns manager, a role in which she loves observing and supporting the vast diversity of self-published authors. Visit her at her website and pick up a free novella.

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In today's Beginners Self-Publishing Podcast: launching reviews. Selling books can be a tough gig for authors who are yet to attract an audience. When you're unknown, you need reviews to get sales. But you also need sales to get reviews. Thankfully, there are ways to break out of this vicious cycle. In this episode, ALLi's Product Marketing Manager Dan Parsons and Campaigns Manager Melissa Addey discuss a few time-tested ways authors with no contacts and a shoestring budget can accumulate early reviews, including strategies to maximize both their quantity and quality. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our self-publishing advice center, http://selfpublishingadvice.org. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. You can do that at allianceindependentauthors.org. Now, go write and publish! About the Hosts Dan Parsons writes the Creative Business series for authors, bestselling fantasy and horror novels (under Daniel Parsons), and a weekly blog for The Self-Publishing Formula. In the past, he has worked for three trad publishers, managed two bookstores and listened to an unhealthy number of podcasts. Now he's ALLi's product marketing manager. Melissa Addey has a PhD in creative writing and writes historical fiction set in first-century Rome, eleventh-century Morocco and eighteenth-century China. She runs writing workshops covering both craft and entrepreneurship, most frequently for the British Library. She's also ALLi's campaigns manager, a role in which she loves observing and supporting the vast diversity of self-published authors. Visit her at her website and pick up a free novella.

WELCOME BACK to the Indie Author Weekly podcast! We went on hiatus back in December 2021, and we are finally ready to RELAUNCH this podcast! Woohoo!In this episode, we discuss…More details about WHY we went on hiatus for such a long time (15 months rather than our originally-planned 2 months).Update on what Sagan's been up to in her author life over the past year — book writing (several books), planning and mapping out 24 book ideas, self-publishing updates, working through imposter syndrome, and joining TikTok for book promotional purposes.The future of Indie Author Weekly (what to expect, both from the content and logistics)WIN BOOKMARKS featuring Sagan's novels when you publish a review of any of her books between now and April 30, 2023! All you need to do is write and publish a review of any of her books on Amazon, Goodreads, Kobo, etc (any book platforms of your choice), and then email hello[at]saganmorrow[dot]com with the link and your mailing address — and then Sagan will mail you bookmarks! Resources & links mentioned in this episode: Tune into Indie Author Weekly on your favourite podcast platform at https://saganmorrow.com/podcast Learn more about all of Sagan's books (including the Polyamorous Passions romcom series, Small Town Stilettos, and her business books for solopreneurs) at https://saganmorrow.com/books/ Subscribe, rate, and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/indie-author-weekly/id1469586590 Check out Sagan's YouTube channel to watch the video versions of these podcast episodes: https://www.youtube.com/user/SaganMorrow Work with Sagan: SaganMorrow.com/workwithmeEpisode 139 of Indie Author Weekly (why I went on hiatus from this podcast) — https://www.buzzsprout.com/400015/9657830-139-doing-the-uncomfortable-thing-this-is-not-the-episode-i-had-planned TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@saganlives Self Publishing Formula (how I learned about TikTok for authors): https://selfpublishingformula.com/ and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5Qu8GvA0lUm3GmzBqmmfeg Let's chat about this episode:@Saganlives on Twitter and InstagramHashtag: #IndieAuthorWeeklyEmail: hello@saganmorrow.com Share your thoughts (or submit requests for future episode topics) at https://saganmorrow.com/question Support the show

In today's Beginners Self-Publishing Podcast: soft launching a book. Thanks to movies and a narrative perpetuated by trade publishers, debut authors fixate on big book launches, characterized by perfection and fanfare. The reality, however, is that many experienced authors stagger book launches, choosing not to fire all cylinders at once for a variety of reasons. In this episode, ALLi's Product Marketing Manager Dan Parsons and Campaigns Manager Melissa Addey discuss such practices, explaining what a soft launch is, the nuances of launching to a smaller audience before hitting the masses, and how to engineer a soft launch for more long-term success. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our self-publishing advice center, http://selfpublishingadvice.org. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. You can do that at allianceindependentauthors.org. Now, go write and publish! About the Hosts Dan Parsons writes the Creative Business series for authors, bestselling fantasy and horror novels (under Daniel Parsons), and a weekly blog for The Self-Publishing Formula. In the past, he has worked for three trad publishers, managed two bookstores and listened to an unhealthy number of podcasts. Now he's ALLi's product marketing manager. Melissa Addey has a PhD in creative writing and writes historical fiction set in first-century Rome, eleventh-century Morocco and eighteenth-century China. She runs writing workshops covering both craft and entrepreneurship, most frequently for the British Library. She's also ALLi's campaigns manager, a role in which she loves observing and supporting the vast diversity of self-published authors. Visit her at her website and pick up a free novella.

In today's Beginners Self-Publishing Podcast: book formats and distribution. When average readers discuss the book trade, many tend to have a one-track mind focused on print books and physical bookstores. The truth, though, is that books have much more potential in terms of formats and distribution. In this episode, ALLi Product Marketing Manager Dan Parsons and Campaigns Manager Melissa Addey lead a discussion on the range of intellectual property assets an author can create from a single book, and the places they can distribute, covering everything from large print to digital audiobooks, and libraries to pay-as-you-go reading apps.   Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our self-publishing advice center, http://selfpublishingadvice.org. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. You can do that at allianceindependentauthors.org. Now, go write and publish! About the Hosts Dan Parsons writes the Creative Business series for authors, bestselling fantasy and horror novels (under Daniel Parsons), and a weekly blog for The Self-Publishing Formula. In the past, he has worked for three trad publishers, managed two bookstores and listened to an unhealthy number of podcasts. Now he's ALLi's product marketing manager. Melissa Addey has a PhD in creative writing and writes historical fiction set in first-century Rome, eleventh-century Morocco and eighteenth-century China. She runs writing workshops covering both craft and entrepreneurship, most frequently for the British Library. She's also ALLi's campaigns manager, a role in which she loves observing and supporting the vast diversity of self-published authors. Visit her at her website and pick up a free novella.

James is the author of Cold War military aviation thrillers, with two books out and a third almost ready to launch. He is the co-host of The Self Publishing Show and a co-founder of The Self Publishing Formula, the home for online courses for indie authors. Learn more at selfpublishingformula.com and jamesblatch.com.//Draft2Digital is where you start your Indie Author Career//  Looking for your path to self-publishing success? Draft2Digital is the leading ebook publisher and distributor worldwide. We'll convert your manuscript, distribute it online, and support you the whole way—and we won't charge you a dime.  We take a small percentage of the royalties for each sale you make through us, so we only make money when you make money. That's the best kind of business plan.  • Get started now: https://draft2digital.com/• Learn the ins, the outs, and the all-arounds of indie publishing from the industry experts on the D2D Blog: https://Draft2Digital.com/blog  • Promote your books with our Universal Book Links from Books2Read: https://books2read.com  Make sure you bookmark https://D2DLive.com for links to live events, and to catch back episodes of the Self Publishing Insiders Podcast.

Four time zones, two counties, and an ocean can't separate these heavy hitters in publishing! This is why I still do the podcast! It is so much fun being with all of you and I want to share the wisdom of this hive.Today's show is for the writers out there who want to level up their author careers! My guests, that's right guests, are none other than Author and Host of the Self Publishing Show, James Blatch, and best-selling authors Cecelia Mecca and Jodi Burnett!We chat about the new and improved Self-Publishing Formula course formerly known as SPF 101, now SPF Launchpad with James and these two wildly successful authors who have benefited from the course. We also talk about what is selling books for them in this super competitive marketplace. In today's episode we discuss:·      How James, Cecelia, and Jodi started their author careers. ·      When and what book in your catalog should be converted into an audiobook.·      Best use of Facebook and other ads. ·      Getting the most out of social media, especially TikTok. ·      The benefits of SPF Launchpad and how to maximize its effectiveness.·      How Cecelia and Jodi have had their spouses assist them in their author business.  All of this and more on today's episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.Come visit James Blatch at his website and Self Publishing Formula.Head on over to both of Cecelia's author websites. Visit Jodi Burnett on her website!Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!Enjoy the Cops and Writer's book series.Please visit the Cops and Writers website.If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.Join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook groupConsider buying me a coffee :-)Do you enjoy gritty, action-packed real-life police dramas to get your fill of blood, heartache, and cop humor? You've come to the right series!Book one of Brew City Blues, Field Training, is now live and book two, Probation is now on pre-order and will be available for purchase on December 30, 2022, only on Amazon!Support the show

In today's Beginners Self-Publishing Podcast: book marketing foundations. Talk to experienced indie authors and most will tell you that writing well is only part of the equation. If you want to succeed commercially then you must also master marketing. In this episode, ALLi's Product Marketing Manager Dan Parsons and Campaigns Manager Melissa Addey outline the foundations of marketing a book for debut authors: what works, what doesn't, and what can work but isn't applicable for most first-time authors. If you want to save time, sidestep common mistakes and shift early copies, this is the episode for you. Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our self-publishing advice center, http://selfpublishingadvice.org. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. You can do that at allianceindependentauthors.org. Now, go write and publish! About the Hosts Dan Parsons writes the Creative Business series for authors, bestselling fantasy and horror novels (under Daniel Parsons), and a weekly blog for The Self-Publishing Formula. In the past, he has worked for three trad publishers, managed two bookstores and listened to an unhealthy number of podcasts. Now he's ALLi's product marketing manager. Melissa Addey has a PhD in creative writing and writes historical fiction set in first-century Rome, eleventh-century Morocco and eighteenth-century China. She runs writing workshops covering both craft and entrepreneurship, most frequently for the British Library. She's also ALLi's campaigns manager, a role in which she loves observing and supporting the vast diversity of self-published authors. Visit her at her website and pick up a free novella.

What are some of the fundamentals behind self-publishing success? James Blatch shares tips and insights as well as introducing the Launchpad course from Self Publishing Formula. I'm an affiliate of the course, which you can find at www.TheCreativePenn.com/launchpad James Blatch is a historical military thriller author. He's also the co-founder of Self-Publishing Formula, Fuse Books, Hello Books, and […] The post Self-Publishing LaunchPad With James Blatch first appeared on The Creative Penn.

In today's Beginners Self-Publishing Podcast: editing and proofreading. Writing a book is impressive but getting yours to a publishable standard is a whole other trial by fire. Doing so requires a stringent quality control process, a team of collaborators, and several editorial stages. In this episode, ALLi's Product Marketing Manager Dan Parsons and Campaigns Manager Melissa Addey walk listeners through the major editing stages that authors must face to turn a written manuscript into a professional product. Together, they'll discuss the whys, hows, and whens of editing, as well as insights from their own processes. This podcast is brought to you by Children's Literature. Children's Literature holds the largest collection of children's and YA book reviews in the reviewing industry. Their reviews are licensed to booksellers, libraries, and literature databases. They review over 2,000 books per year from a variety of publishers and include self-published book reviews. Their website, ChildrensLit.com, is a great place to find information about the latest books and creators in the field of children's and YA literature. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. You can do that at allianceindependentauthors.org. About the Hosts Dan Parsons writes the Creative Business series for authors, bestselling fantasy and horror novels (under Daniel Parsons), and a weekly blog for The Self-Publishing Formula. In the past, he has worked for three trad publishers, managed two bookstores and listened to an unhealthy number of podcasts. Now he's ALLi's product marketing manager. Melissa Addey has a PhD in creative writing and writes historical fiction set in first-century Rome, eleventh-century Morocco and eighteenth-century China. She runs writing workshops covering both craft and entrepreneurship, most frequently for the British Library. She's also ALLi's campaigns manager, a role in which she loves observing and supporting the vast diversity of self-published authors. Visit her at her website and pick up a free novella.

What are the reasons to self-publish? Despite the growth of the self-publishing industry, many inexperienced authors still choose to sign with a traditional publisher. That's fine if that route is best for your business, but it's not fine if you only do it because you don't know any better. In this episode, ALLi's Product Marketing Manager Dan Parsons and Campaigns Manager Melissa Addey discuss all the reasons why new authors should consider self-publishing, delving into financial, creative and personal benefits that make it the best option for many writers' businesses. This podcast is brought to you by specialist sponsor Dartfrog Books. ALLi Partner Member DartFrog Books provides indie authors with opportunities for bookstore placement and promotion to more than 27,000 book clubs. Their self-publishing, hybrid,  traditional, and single-service publishing platforms are designed to engage authors of all types at every stage of their journey. We'd like to thank Dartfrog for their support of this podcast. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. You can do that at allianceindependentauthors.org. About the Hosts Dan Parsons writes the Creative Business series for authors, bestselling fantasy and horror novels (under Daniel Parsons), and a weekly blog for The Self-Publishing Formula. In the past, he has worked for three trad publishers, managed two bookstores and listened to an unhealthy number of podcasts. Now he's ALLi's product marketing manager. Melissa Addey has a PhD in creative writing and writes historical fiction set in first-century Rome, eleventh-century Morocco and eighteenth-century China. She runs writing workshops covering both craft and entrepreneurship, most frequently for the British Library. She's also ALLi's campaigns manager, a role in which she loves observing and supporting the vast diversity of self-published authors. Visit her at her website and pick up a free novella.

James Blatch is a former defense journalist turned novelist, with a few twists and turns in between. He also runs SPF (SPF as in Self-Publishing Formula...not the stuff that keeps my skin from burning) with Mark Dawson where they produce the Self-Publishing Show podcast, many renowned indie author courses and more.  Jame wrote his first book Final Flight in 2021 and came out with his second this June 2022. If you're interested in the Ads for Authors course he talks about you can check it out my affiliate link here.   Want to support the show? Go here:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PencilsLipstick Looking for tips on writing, publishing, and storytelling? Join my writers' newsletter! Want more information on my books, author swaps, short stories and what I'm reading? Sign up for my readers' newsletter.   On an app that doesn't support hyperlinks? https://jamesblatch.com/finalfight https://courses.selfpubform.com/referral/adsforauthors/4P61vDPNosHNohQ6 https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/o9f0k9 https://sendfox.com/lp/3z9v6w    

STEVEN MOORE is a writer of action thriller books. He is proudly self-published and has written 25 books. Since this podcast episode was recorded, Steve has just launched another book in his compelling Hiram Kane action thriller series entitled The Oak Island Enigma to find out more and buy your copy, click on the links below. During our walk and talk around Waterloo and the South Bank area of London, Steve talks about self-publishing and why this is his preferred method of reaching his audience of readers. We talk about the Self Publishing Formula format and forthcoming LIVE show and how Steve's natural skills have led him in to creating an editing business and how this helps to support his life as a writer. Steve is well travelled spending large swathes of time in Asia and South America. He currently lives between America and Norfolk while his American wife of seven years struggles to secure a visa to live with her husband in the UK. Steve also talks a little about his commitment to Mental Health Awareness Week and why after many years suffering from severe social anxiety, he sought help to identify his condition and learn to consciously cope with his symptoms in a more positive and productive way as well as reaching out to others who are suffering. To connect with STEVEN MOORE go to: https://www.stevenmooreauthor.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HiramKane Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenmooreauthor/ Email Steve: stevenmooreauthor@gmail.com To find out about the Self Publishing Formula go to: https://selfpublishingformula.com/ To find out about your podcast host EMMA go to https://www.travellingthrough.co.uk/ A big thanks to MARISKA Martina at https://www.mariskamartina.com/ for creating our wonderful podcast jingle! Our podcast chat began and ended at https://www.thekingsarmslondon.co.uk/

As I wrap up the production of the podcast, there are two episodes that I did not want to miss getting out to listeners. In this encore episode one, I visit with author Andrew about his inspiring journey to authorship and his recovery to health after a life-changing medical event.    This episode is sponsored by Mark Dawson's Self-Publishing Formula 101.   In This Episode, You'll Hear: (Podcast run time  36 minutes)   •1:53: Introduction to Andrew •3:08: Andrew shares about his writing journey •11:29: Andrew talks about his publishing journey •16:03: Andrew shares about writing through his recovery from an aneurysm •27:59:  Andrew reads from “Prolific: The Obituary of Jack O'Brien” •36:37: Andrew closes the podcast with advice for authors     Meet the Author:  https://andrew-davie.com    

This podcast is sponsored by Mark Dawson's Self Publishing Formula 101.   Episode 117: Dede Montgomery; memoir and short stories author   In This Episode, You'll Hear: (Podcast run time minutes) •1:59: Introduction to Dede. •4:27: Vikki discussed the end of the podcast with Dede. •5:23:  Dede talks about her publishing journey. •8:26: Dede shares her writing journey. •19:23: Dede talks about her research process.  •37:07: Dede reads from Humanity's Grace. •40:14: Dede closes the podcast with events she will be at this fall.    Featured Book: https://books2read.com/u/4DP8J7   Dede's website: https://dedemontgomery.com   Podcast Music Credits: Sweet Relief - Zachariah Hickman. Free licensing is offered by Youtube.

On today's show, it is my pleasure to be joined once again by the writer of Cold War military aviation thrillers, The Final Flight and Dark Flight, James Blatch! Many of you know James from the Self-Publishing Show Podcast that he co-hosts with Mark Dawson. He is also partnered up with Mark Dawson for the Self Publishing Formula (SPF) which includes free writer resources and guides and the wildly popular courses for writers, Self Publishing 101 and Mark Dawson's Ads for Authors. James and I had a lot of fun with this interview! I hope you guys enjoy this episode. In today's episode, we discuss:·      How his mother and father were in the Royal Air Force and how it influenced him growing up and his writing. ·      His first book, The Final Flight, and how it changed or didn't change his life.·      The power of emotion in your story and characters.·      The challenges of writing his latest book, Dark Flight, and how he overcame them.·      What works and doesn't work in book marketing, including TikTok, and paid ads on Amazon and Facebook.·      The importance of audiobooks.·      What's in the future for SPF and James Blatch. All of this and more on today's episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.Learn more about James Blatch and buy his books on his website!Listen or watch the Self Publishing Show Enjoy the Cops and Writer's book series.Please visit the Cops and Writers website.If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.Come join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook groupIf you are a new author and are wondering how to maximize sales or you are a published author who wants to elevate your author career, check out Self Publishing 101 and Mark Dawson's Ads for Authors!Smart Passive Income PodcastWeekly interviews, strategy, and advice for building your online business the smart way.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

Welcome back to Alchemy for Authors! In today's solo episode I share my journey towards becoming an author, and the role manifestation played in getting my first book written and published. I talk about my dark night of the soul and how this spurred me on to making my author dreams a reality. I also share some of the tips and tricks I used to shift my mindset away from negativity and towards a life I truly love, with writing at the core. If you're enjoying this show, please remember to rate, review, and subscribe so you never miss an episode. You can connect with me on Instagram: @jobuerauthor, or join the Alchemy for Authors Facebook Group here. Visit my website for the full transcript of this episode: https://jobuer.com/alchemy-for-authors/  Resources mentioned in this episode: Facebook Groups: 20BooksTo50K and Wide For The Win Mark Dawson's Self Publishing Formula 101 Course The Magic Mala: A Story That Changes Lives - Written by Bob Olson Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power And Create Your Life's Work - Written by Steven Pressfield Denise Duffield-Thomas - Money Mindset Mentor, Author & Coach The Creative Penn Podcast - Hosted by Joanna Penn NaNoWriMo Story Origin & Bookfunnel - Great platforms for newsletter swaps Between The Shadows: A Collection of Short Stories - Written by Jo Buer (You can get a FREE copy here.)

Today on the #AskALLi Foundational Self-Publishing podcast: Are book fairs the right place for indie authors? Recorded at the London Book Fair, this podcast focuses on how indie authors can make the most of publishing conferences like this one. ALLi Director Orna Ross and Production Manager Dan Parsons talk about networking for indie authors. What you should know before walking into the chaos and crowds of a book fair. This podcast is brought to you by specialist sponsor Dartfrog Books. ALLi Partner Member DartFrog Books provides indie authors with opportunities for bookstore placement and promotion to more than 27,000 book clubs. Their self-publishing, hybrid,  traditional, and single-service publishing platforms are designed to engage authors of all types at every stage of their journey. We'd like to thank Dartfrog for their support of this podcast. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. You can do that at http://allianceindependentauthors.org. About the Hosts Orna Ross writes and publishes historical fiction, inspirational poetry, and nonfiction guides for authors. She is director of the Alliance of Independent Authors.  Dan Parsons writes the Creative Business series for authors, bestselling fantasy and horror novels (under Daniel Parsons), and a weekly blog for The Self-Publishing Formula. While pursuing his author career, he has worked for three traditional publishers, managed two bookstores, and listened to an unhealthy number of podcasts. Now he manages ALLi's book production schedule.    

This podcast is sponsored by Mark Dawson's Self Publishing Formula 101.   Episode 115: Special Guest, Wolf O'Rourc; YA Thiller  In This Episode, You'll Hear: (Podcast run time  1: 19 minutes) •1:58: Introduction to Wolf & how Vikki met Wolf.•6:02: Wolf introduces his book Cyberspiracy. •10:17: Wolf and Vikki discuss role models in science for young girls.   •21:31: Wolf discusses Cyberspiracy further. •23:18: Wolf shares about his self-publishing journey. •37:07: Wolf reads from Cyberspiracy.  •53:15: Wolf closes the podcast by sharing his other works.   Podcast Music Credits: Sweet Relief - Zachariah Hickman. Free licensing is offered by Youtube.

Today on the #AskALLi Foundational Self-Publishing podcast: What we wish we knew when we started as indie authors. To celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the Alliance of Independent Authors, ALLi Director Orna Ross and Production Manager Dan Parsons discuss all the things they wish they knew when they first started out as authors. Topics range from community and professionalism to marketing, productivity, business models, and health. Plus, they will touch upon some of the big changes that have shaped the industry since the dawn of the self-publishing renaissance and the 2012 Kindle Gold Rush. This podcast is brought to you by specialist sponsor Dartfrog Books. ALLi Partner Member DartFrog Books provides indie authors with opportunities for bookstore placement and promotion to more than 27,000 book clubs. Their self-publishing, hybrid,  traditional, and single-service publishing platforms are designed to engage authors of all types at every stage of their journey. We'd like to thank Dartfrog for their support of this podcast. And, if you haven't already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. You can do that at http://allianceindependentauthors.org. About the Hosts Orna Ross writes and publishes historical fiction, inspirational poetry, and nonfiction guides for authors. She is director of the Alliance of Independent Authors.  Dan Parsons writes the Creative Business series for authors, bestselling fantasy and horror novels (under Daniel Parsons), and a weekly blog for The Self-Publishing Formula. While pursuing his author career, he has worked for three traditional publishers, managed two bookstores, and listened to an unhealthy number of podcasts. Now he manages ALLi's book production schedule.

The Final Flight is James Blatch's first book, and during our chat, I asked him how he's planning on selling copies because it's easier to sell books when you have a back catalog.So what should a new author do when they're about to release their first book? James talks about using advertising to sell copies of his book, so I asked him if advertising could help me sell the parenting memoir that I've written?James also talks about the different businesses that he runs aside from Self Publishing Formula, in particular, Fuse Books and Hello Books, and how they can help authors find more readers and get more copies of their work into the world.In this episode, we discuss.How Final Flight was originally written for the NaNoWriMo competition Finding the time to write a book while working on a businessIdentifying where your market isLearning from your writing process and making changesUsing advertising to promote your book and build an audienceBuilding an email listThe importance of checking and re-checking for errorsResources.James BlatchHello BooksFuse BooksSelf Publishing FormulaThe Final FlightNaNoWriMoSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/becomeawritertoday)

On today's show, we will be going across the pond to England chatting with the one and only James Blatch!Many of you know James from the Self-Publishing Show Podcast that he co-hosts with Mark Dawson. He is also partnered up with Mark Dawson for the Self Publishing Formula (SPF) that includes free writer resources and guides and the wildly popular courses for writers.James also introduces us to his debut novel, The Final Flight! James talks about his time as a war and street reporter for the BBC. During this episode you will learn:• How James became a reporter with the BBC• How to look through the lens of a crime reporters' eyes at a crime scene• The relationship between the police and reporters, the answer may shock you• How SPF started and the incredible value it is to authors• How James' father, a highly decorated RAF pilot, influenced his story in his debut novel, The Final FlightAll of this and more on today's episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.Check out James on his author websiteSelf Publishing FormulaListen or watch the Self Publishing ShowEnjoy the Cops and Writers book series.Please visit the Cops and Writers website.If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.Come join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook groupSupport the show (https://patreon.com/copsandwriters)

EPISODE 224I Today's guest is https://www.authoraccelerator.com/ (Jennie Nash), founder and CEO of Author Accelerator. Her book coaching clients have landed six-figure book deals with Big 5 publishing houses, so I asked her to come share with us her best tips for editing your book. This is the first of five episodes this month all on this one topic! Jennie starts with explaining the kinds of editing a book can need, and helps us understand what might happen if we hire the wrong type of editor. Additionally, when we begin self-editing, we need to understand how to look at our fiction or nonfiction books with an editor's hat on instead of a writing hat. She shares her three steps to revision and generously offers listeners her Stoplight Strategy handout here https://podcast.writenowworkshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Stoplight-Strategy.pdf (https://podcast.writenowworkshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Stoplight-Strategy.pdf). You can also get her Inside Outline at her website, https://www.authoraccelerator.com/insideoutlinebook (https://www.authoraccelerator.com/insideoutlinebook). Find her course, How to Revise Your Book, on Mark Dawson's Self Publishing Formula courses page https://learn.selfpublishingformula.com/courses (https://learn.selfpublishingformula.com/courses).

Heather Grace Stewart, author of “The Ticket” is my guest this week. We discuss the challenges of indie publishing in Canada, her success with Self Publishing Formula and our shared belief that kindness is an essential quality of Canadians. This has been an exciting week as an entrepreneur so it's a good time to discuss independent publishing with my fantasy romance writer buddy.

Stuart Bache has some tips for designing the perfect cover. As a professional cover artist, he helps traditional and indie authors around the world create covers that are visually appetizing, clearly represent the book’s genre and message, and market themselves well to potential readers. Stuart has been in the field for over a decade and has worked with Mark Dawson, Stephen King, and other big-name authors. He has a number of online resources, including his Books Covered design service and a mini-course on Self Publishing Formula. His book, The Author’s Guide to Cover Design, is also available below.From Amazon.com:With well over a decade of experience in both traditional and independent publishing, Stuart Bache started his career as a Junior Designer for Hodder & Stoughton, worked as Senior Designer for Puffin Books and HarperCollins, and was Art Director of Oneworld Publications. He has worked across every major genre for a whole host of publishers and authors, including Mark Dawson, Stephen King, John le Carré, S. K. Tremayne and the Tolkien Estate. Stuart is now the Art Director and founder of Books Covered, where he continues to create market-leading book covers for authors, agents and publishers. Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins. Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.In this episode, you’ll discover:How Books Covered was formedWhy more indie authors are caring about their coversHow to formulate research into a designThe importance of strategically marketing your coverHow to compromise with a cover designerLinks:J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/Stuart Bache - https://stuartbache.co.ukBooks Covered - https://www.bookscovered.co.ukCover Design for Authors Course - https://selfpublishingformula.com/designThe Author’s Guide to Cover Design by Stuart Bache - https://mybook.to/coverdesignMusic by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.comContact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/ “Muggable” quote by Harley Christensen - https://www.mischievousmalamute.com/*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

James Blatch is a former BBC Defence Reporter and a former BBFC Film Examiner. He reported for the BBC on the UK military from, among other places, HMS Invincible, Kuwait, the Arctic Circle as well as covering the UK air offensive during the Kosovo Conflict in 1999. However, you probably know James Blatch as one of the voices of the incredibly rich and popular Self Publishing Formula podcast which he co-hosts with thriller author Mark Dawson. James is also a director of the Self Publishing Formula Limited, an online course provider for independent authors, of which I have personally benefited from.In this episode we go deep into:What 3 things James would never leave the house withoutWhere Jame’s writing journey beganWhy NaNoWriMo helped James finish his first projectThe challenge between switching from journalistic writing to fiction writingThe evolutionary journey of a 10-year novelHow being surrounded by other writers with the SPF podcast has influenced how James approaches his next worksWhy you should always think of writing the next bookThe origin of James’ involvement in the Self Publishing Formula podcastWhat are the lessons learned from working with Mark Dawson and running the podcastGetting over imposter syndrome by humanizing other authorsThe pressure that comes with launching a first book when you’ve already got a large podcast platformHow to keep the pressure of waiting readers at bay when writingWhen are we going to see The Last Flight published?Why does James writeJames answers questions from Patrons:H.B. Lyne: How do you use your journalism background in your writing?Meg Jolly: James, is the book done yet?!?Ian J Middleton: I really enjoyed listening to James on Writers Ink the other week. From his experience in journalism, does he have any tips for interviewing people?Sacha Black: How many pints does James owe me now for not publishing by LBF?Find out more about James:https://selfpublishingformula.com/https://www.jamesblatch.com/Links from the show:J Thorn’s “9 Things”series: http://getbook.at/9thingsseriesThe Creative Penn Episode 500: https://pod.link/309426367/episode/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlY3JlYXRpdmVwZW5uLmNvbS8_cD0zMTc4OA==Ads for Authors course: https://selfpublishingformula.com/courses/Author Accelerator: https://www.authoraccelerator.com/Get more from Great Writers Share!https://www.danielwillcocks.com/merch/gwshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/greatwritersshare/GWS Press books:Collaboration for... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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Mark Dawson has developed many useful marketing and writing techniques for aspiring or developed authors. Through keeping his writing time structured and making the effort to understand Amazon’s advertising platform, he quickly found success as a self-published writer. Mark is well-known for his bestselling John Milton series, which follows the chilling encounters of a hired gun, with over a million copies sold. He is also the mastermind behind the esteemed Self Publishing Formula, where he educates authors around the world about writing and marketing through podcast episodes, blog posts, and online courses. His next publication and newest addition to the John Milton series, Killa City, will be available this fall.From Amazon.com:Mark Dawson has worked as a lawyer and in the London film industry. His first books, The Art of Falling Apart and Subpoena Colada, have been published in multiple languages. He is currently writing three series. The John Milton series features a disgruntled assassin who aims to help people make amends for the things that he has done. The Beatrix Rose series features the headlong fight for justice of a wronged mother--who happens to be an assassin--against the six names on her Kill List. Soho Noir is set in the West End of London between 1940 and 1970. The first book in the series, The Black Mile, deals with the (real-life but little-known) serial killer who operated in the area during the Blitz. The Imposter traces the journey of a criminal family through the period; it has been compared to The Sopranos in austerity London. Mark lives in Wiltshire with his family. Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins. Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouse, J. Thorn, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.In this episode, you’ll discover:How and where to write effectivelyTips for optimizing a websiteHow to market to bookstores as a self-published authorThe importance of Amazon advertisingTips for scheduling an author’s work dayLinks:J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/Consequences of Rock Podcast - https://consequencesofrock.com/ Mark Dawson - https://markjdawson.com/Killa City by Mark Dawson - https://books2read.com/Killa-CityThe Cleaner (John Milton Book 1) by Mark Dawson - https://books2read.com/The-CleanerMark Dawson’s Self Publishing Formula - https://selfpublishingformula.com/Music by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.comContact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/ “Muggable” quote by Harley Christensen - https://www.mischievousmalamute.com/*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Louise and Denise talk to Barry Award-nominated thriller writer John A. Connell about moving from Berkley (Penguin USA) to independent publishing. Listen To Find Out More About:Being a Hollywood camera operator ... Jurassic Park, Thelma and Louise, and NYPD Blue Getting a publishing contract with a major press The Mason Collins series When publishers are no longer invested Moving to independent publishing Clawing back book rights Using movie experience to craft a novel's scene Beyond writing: what indie publishers need to do Challenges and benefits of indie publishing Being edited Useful organizations Writing a series versus standalone novels Future projects Top tips from JohnBuild a mailing list Offer a free short story or novella Develop a series Use Facebook ads Craft a great website Engage with your audience Get your business head on Invest in appropriate editing Contacting John A. ConnellSubscribe to John's newsletter and get a free book: Website: https://johnaconnell.com/ (John A Connell: Gripping Thrillers With a Historical Twist) Email: john@johnaconnell.com https://www.facebook.com/johnconnellauthor1/ (Facebook author page) John's books on https://www.amazon.com/John-A-Connell/e/B00OYUOE8G/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1 (Amazon US) and https://www.amazon.co.uk/John-A-Connell/e/B00OYUOE8G/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1 (UK) Editing Bites And Other ResourcesStephen King (video): https://youtu.be/l8TkQvdJVbc (Masterclass, University of Massachusetts Lowell), 2012 Joanna Penn: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/video-marketing-for-authors/ (Video marketing for authors) https://selfpublishingformula.com/ (Mark Dawson's Self-Publishing Formula) http://thrillerwriters.org/ (International Thriller Writers) https://mysterywriters.org/ (Mystery Writers of America) https://selfpublishingformula.com/ (Mark Dawson's Self-Publishing Formula) Ask Us A QuestionThe easiest way to ping us a question is via Facebook Messenger: Visit the podcast's Facebook page and click on the http://bit.ly/EditPodFB (SEND MESSAGE) button. Denise And Louisehttps://my.captivate.fm/bit.ly/CowleEditing (Denise Cowle Editorial Services) https://my.captivate.fm/bit.ly/HarnbyEditing (Louise Harnby | Fiction Editor) Music Credit‘Vivacity' Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ (By Attribution 3.0 License).

First-time author James Blatch is already a perfect example of the “write what you know” mentality. While drafting his debut novel, The Last Flight, he has employed his genuine love of aircraft and his father’s personal experiences as a pilot to create both a story that feels authentically him and a brand that will undoubtedly lead him to success. Blatch is currently a director of the Self Publishing Formula, an online course for aspiring authors. He also co-hosts the SPF Podcast with Mark Dawson. James’ debut novel will be available this year.From JamesBlatch.com:James Blatch is a former BBC Defence Reporter and a former BBFC Film Examiner. He reported for the BBC on the UK military from, among other places, HMS Invincible (Operation Desert Fox build up), Kuwait (Ali Al Salem allied air base), the Arctic Circle as well as covering the UK air offensive during the Kosovo Conflict in 1999... Blatch is a director of the Self Publishing Formula Limited, an online course provider for independent authors. He co-hosts the weekly SPF Podcast.Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouse, J. Thorn, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.In this episode, you’ll discover:How to write authenticallyThe importance of brandingWhy to have several people edit a draftHow to bring in extra revenue as a podcasterHow the industry is shifting from traditional to indie publishingLinks:J. D. Barker - http://jdbarker.com/J. Thorn - https://theauthorlife.com/James Blatch - https://www.jamesblatch.com/The Last Flight by James Blatch - https://www.jamesblatch.com/booksSupercharge Your Scene - http://superchargeyourscene.comSave Indie Bookstores - https://www.saveindiebookstores.comMusic by Nicorus - https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep Voice Over by Rick Ganley - http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio - http://www.millpondstudio.comContact - https://writersinkpodcast.com/contact/ “Muggable” quote by Harley Christensen - https://www.mischievousmalamute.com/*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week I have started SPF 101- Self Publishing Formula. Hear what I have learned so far and the new tools, websites and tricks. Indie Author Shoutout of the week is Slate R. Raven and his new paranormal suspense thriller Magicians Mayhem. Podcasts to listen to: Self Publishing Show with Mark Dawson and James Blatch. Great Western Wood Worldbuilding with Angeline Travena and H.B Lyne. Self Punlishing Journeys with Paul Teague.

Mark interviews international bestselling author Mark Dawson about his journey through publishing, his author support business and the ground-breaking publishing deal he just signed. Prior to the interview, Mark shares some comments left on previous episodes and via Twitter. He also shares a word about the episode's sponsor Findaway Voices. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In his personal update, Mark talks about Canadian Thanksgiving, putting up Halloween decorations in the front yard and a new anthology, Cursed Collectibles, edited by Angela Eschler, that he has a story in.   In their conversation, the two Marks talk about: Mark's background as a lawyer prior to becoming a writer, and how he has benefited from the skills he learned there The kick in the pants Mark received back in 1999 that led to his entry into publishing The surprisngly fast way he had found an agent and that agent had found a publisher for his first books The disappointing experience that came with having his print books appear in book shops and the two strikes that led to the end of that part of his writing career How John Milton was inspired by the original Equalizer television show staring Edward Woodward When Mark's indie writing journey began and the approximate 30 books he has published in that way The first time that Mark realized that writing could be a full-time endeavour - when the money he was earning from writing not only matched the money he was making working a full time job, but was more than double that amount for several months in a row The origin of the Self-Publishing Formula courses and podcast The 2020 Self Publishing Conference that will be taking place in London prior to the London Book Fair How Mark is able to continue to write his novels as well as offer support to the writing community via his intimate network The ground-breaking joint-venture print-only deal that Mark recently signed The 3-books a year release plan within this deal The international element of the deal to get the books into stores in multiple countries After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of this deal that Mark Dawson just signed and the significance it can have on publishing.   Links of Interest: Mark Dawson's Author Website Author Facebook Page Twitter Mark Dawson's Self Publishing Formula The Self Publishing Show Podcast Self Publishing Formula Courses Episode 99 - Getting Your Book Into Libraries Episode 97 - Ten Tips for Marketing and Making Money off Your Short Fiction Episode  87 - You, Your Book, and Bookstores Episode 47 - In the Pilot's Seat with James Blatch Cursed Collectibles Anthology Eschler Editing Superstars Writing Seminars The Don Hodge Memorial Scholarship StoryBundle - NaNo Writing Tools Findaway Voices Patreon for Stark Reflections   The music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Who says fiction can’t be profitable? Learn how Mark Dawson went from “self-publishing newbie” to bestselling author in just 3 years. After quickly learning that traditional book publishing didn’t work for him, Mark Dawson started self-publishing Kindle books on Amazon in 2012. Today, Mark is an award-nominated, USA Today bestseller, with more than 20 books published and over 2 million books downloaded in multiple countries and languages. So for anyone who thinks you can’t earn a living selling fiction in 2019, Mark is here to share how he uses digital marketing tactics to earn well over six figures a year selling his Kindle books. Plus, we talk about how he turned that knowledge into a successful online business called Self Publishing Formula, where he offers extremely popular online courses about self-publishing and advertising for authors. To learn more about Mark, Self Publishing Formula, or Teachable, visit www.teachable.com/eit3.

In this first episode, Tom talks to first-time author and co-founder of the Self Publishing Formula, James Blatch.

  Kraig Mathias is the founder of Mathias Media and he's a husband, father, brother, son and uncle. His family means the world to him. He's from Minnesota and enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, eating good food and doing great work. He got into the websites and internet marketing business 12 years ago, sort of by accident. After graduating from college, a position at a small, growing company that built and managed websites for furniture retailers caught his eye. He took a chance on it and that's why he's in the website design and development business today. For six years, he learned from many successful business leaders how the internet works (and doesn't work) for marketing and selling in business. That entry-level position turned into the COO position and he helped lead the company's growth from $250k/year to over $3m/year in revenue. In 2013, he founded Mathias Media as a website and online marketing service provider. The company has grown and evolved into specifically website design and development for entrepreneurs, authors and online course creators. They're honored to be recommended by David Siteman Garland of Create Awesome Online Courses, Mark Dawson of Self Publishing Formula and many others. They have high standards for their work and take pride in making top-notch websites for their clients. Here's what we cover during episode 029: How Kraig went to school for business and then taught himself how to design and build websites How a college assignment helped him land his first job in 2007 How he managed to work his way up from being a data entry person to doubling his salary in 2 years Why starting off in a small company was the key thing in building his career How gaining financial clarity and setting up a saving strategy helped him turn his life around and save 5 years of living expenses Why he advises designers to have 1 year of expenses saved before leaving a full-time job How buying a course by David Siteman Garland kick-started his career as a website designer and developer How he managed to get David Siteman Garland himself to be his business partner and what impact it had on his career How a theory about only needing 10 real clients in order to be successful changed his mindset and brought him his first big projects Why conferences like FinCon have a huge impact on his business How he went from $500 per project to being a premium service provider with an average of $3000 - $5000 per project. Why Kraig advises against charging your clients per hour Where his current clients come from today His goals for next year Why his lifestyle is more important than his business Why he doesn't scale his business and the pros of working alone Why he doesn't want to create his own online course Why Kraig believes that it is ok to just enjoy your work and be an artist Why he started using Kajabi instead of WordPress His plans for the future of his business Links mentioned: Kraig's Website Dave Ramsey's Website Your first 10K Readers Tropical MBA Podcasts Fin Con Expo Seth Godin Like what you heard? Click here to subscribe + leave a review on iTunes Click here to join the free community! Let's connect on Instagram!

EPISODE 139I Our guest today is former BBC reporter, James Blatch. You may recognize him as the co-host of the Self-Publishing Show podcast (formerly Self-Publishing Formula) with Mark Dawson. He shares with us the long journey of writing his first book, which should be out in a few months. James tells us how he started…

If you are familiar with the Self Publishing Formula Podcast, you'll likely recognize James Blatch as Mark Dawson's right-hand man; his co-host, or, perhaps, his co-pilot for the podcast. But in this episode Mark puts James in the pilots seat with a focus on Blatch's own writing, his background as a reporter, a videographer and, of course, as a pilot. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from the podcast's sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .In his personal update, Mark reflects upon the recent death of Stan Lee and talks about the impact Lee's writing had on him, and, in particular, the influence that the character Peter Parker (Spider-Man's alter-ego) had. In the interview, Mark and James talk about: The type of specific videos or books that lend themselves best to YouTube videos VS Facebook videos How videos for most authors, specifically fiction authors, is a medium that can be used to connect and engage with a community of readers The intimacy of radio and digital audio format A bit about James' experience at the BBC and how the skills, particularly of his final few years there lent to this new role as a co-host of the Self Publishing Formula Podcast James' first writing experiences as a young man and his more recent NaNoWriMo experience where his current novel came to him in a single flash of inspiration The evolution of this novel with various feedback from readers and editors The turning point moment for James of meeting and working with editor Jennie Nash Jennie's prompting question: "Why do you need to tell this story" and all that question sparked in James Other questions that Jennie asked or prompts given that helped with the re-imagining of the way the story was unrolled The origin of his love for aviation How James is an even split between the exuberant mother and his reserved and "stiff-upper-lip" father James' recent experience in Florda flying with Nathan van Coops (from episode 38) The advice that James would go back and give to himself when he was just starting After the interview, Mark reflects upon the latest "catastrophy" in the indie publishing space, the recent disappearance of the buy buttons on Amazon for thousands of titles. He offers a reflection on the likely reason for this odd phenomenon and then suggests that much time is wasted worrying over the matter instead of working on the next book. He also considers, if it truly is the negative thing authors think it might be, it's yet another reason why authors shouldn't be putting all their eggs in a single basket.   Links of Interest: James Blatch's Website The Last Flight James Blatch on Twitter The Self Publishing Formula Podcast Episode 133 - The Author Accelerator with Jennie Nash Findaway Voices Stan Lee Spider-Man A Canadian Werewolf in New York Kobo NaNoWriMo Patreon for Stark Reflections Stark Reflections Survey   James Blatch is co-host of the Self Publishing Formula podcast. He is a former BBC Television News reporter and is currently writing his first novel, a military thriller set in 1960s Britain.   The music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

What I’ve been up to since the last episode, including finally releasing my debut novel, A Thief & a Gentlewoman. My tip this week is actually a list of resources for launching your first book - see the links below. Links: Editor - Kendra Olson: https://kendraolson.wordpress.com/development-editing-service/ Cover designer - Stuart Bache at Books Covered: https://www.bookscovered.co.uk/ BookFunnel: https://www.bookfunnel.com/ Draft2Digital: https://draft2digital.com/ MailerLite: https://www.mailerlite.com/ 20Booksto50k(TM) Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/781495321956934/ Epic Fantasy > Romance Authors Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/915278855313426/ Mark Dawson’s Self Publishing 101 Course is currently open for enrolment (as of 9th September 2018) and you can buy it here (https://learn.selfpublishingformula.com/p/101/ ) or get more information in the Self Publishing Formula’s Facebook community here (https://www.facebook.com/groups/SPFsecretgroup/ ) Credits: Intro/Outro Music: “Inspired” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Mark Dawson joins us this week to discuss his road towards indie publishing success. Hosted by Simon Jones, writer and Digital Marketing Manager at the National Centre for Writing. Find out more about the National Centre for Writing: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/introducing-the-national-centre-for-writing/ Mentioned events: Dragon Hall Salon (Tuesday 17th July): https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/dragon-hall-salon/ Useful links: Mark Dawson's website: https://markjdawson.com/ Mark's Self-Publishing Formula courses: https://selfpublishingformula.com/ Music by Bennet Maples: http://sonicfruit.co.uk/

The first three recipients of Self Publishing Formula's Foundation scholarships about their writing, book marketing, and future career hopes.

This episode of Harper Bliss & Her Mrs is all about having a bad week and how to get over it.   We got edits back for the co-written royal romance this week, and Harper did some mailing list hygiene work, in view of the GDPR. Helpful resources for writers are this episode of The Creative Penn, this workshop by Nick Stephenson and this episode of The Self-Publishing Formula. We binge-watched a new Netflix show called Safe, even though it's really not very good. But we profess our love for Graham Norton and his weekly talk-show. Then we discussed our bad week, what happened and what we'll try to do to have a better next week. Tune in again next week for a new episode of Harper Bliss & Her Mrs.   Get in touch with us with your questions, comments or suggested topics at harperblissandhermrs@gmail.com.  For more on Harper Bliss visit www.harperbliss.com To get a weekly newsletter with discounted lesbian books sign up HERE.

My guest today is James Blatch. James is a co-founder and director of the Self Publishing Formula with bestselling indie superstar, Mark Dawson. SPF offers fantastic training courses for authors on advertising, self-publishing, and book cover design, as well as a brilliant weekly podcast and free ebooks and resources. James is also an author and […]

In this third episode of Harper Bliss & Her Mrs the recap and topic of the week are one and the same: our visit to The London Book Fair. We start by talking about the new woman in our life: Alexa! We're still getting to know each other. Harper also announces her daring plan for the coming week. Next we discuss the second part of Money Heist, which was as great as the first part and which we can't recommend enough. Finally, the London Book Fair. Or maybe it should be called the London Beer Fair. We hung out and had loads of fun with fellow lesfic authors Clare Lydon and T.B. Markinson. We had too much to drink at the Self Publishing Formula meet-up, but had a great chat with Mark Dawson and James Blatch (listen to their great podcast!)  We also had too much to drink at the Alliance of Independent Authors reception (it was sponsored by Amazon, so why not?)   Tune in again next week for a new episode of Harper Bliss & Her Mrs.   Get in touch with us with your questions, comments or suggested topics at harperblissandhermrs@gmail.com  For more on Harper Bliss visit www.harperbliss.com To get a weekly newsletter with discounted lesbian books sign up HERE.

One of the best ways for learning how to sell books is not just to read blogs or listen to podcasting, but to go to conferences and meet other authors. It can be amazing what kind of ideas come out, and what you can learn from one another. Once a month, I’ll be doing episodes called Marketing and Coffee where I sit down with some of the best authorities out there and chat about book marketing. This week, I’m talking with Mark Dawson, who is the host of The Self-Publishing Formula podcast and has some amazing self-publishing courses available on his website. He’s also a successful fiction and nonfiction writer. For more information, visit the show notes at http://kindlepreneur.com/e19

If you're just getting started in self-publishing, there are some things that you need to know upfront in order to save yourself time, money and heartache along the way. In this interview, I discuss the basics with Mark Dawson from Self-Publishing Formula. In the intro, I discuss the first album produced entirely by AI as […] The post 5 Important Things That Authors Need To Know About Self-Publishing With Mark Dawson first appeared on The Creative Penn.

James talks to NOLA romance writer Maria Luis who quit her marketing job and now makes three times her previous salary via her books, thanks in part to the Self Publishing Formula courses. This week’s highlights include: The details on Maria’s strategic plan to leave her day job and make a living writing The […]

1) This week's writing progress - 5125 words: 2) This is my PayPal HERE card reader - it links to my phone via Bluetooth and allows me to take book payments at training events: 3) My current InstaFreebie Giveaway: https://freebie-books.com/crime-thrillers-may2017/ 4) My appearance on Begin Self-Publishing podcast here 5) Reminder! Amazon Academy event in Edinburgh on 23rd May http://selfpublishingadvice.org/amazon-academy/ 6) Reminder! The Newcastle Writing Conference on Saturday 20th May http://newwritingnorth.com/projects/newcastle-writing-conference/ [Waiting list only] 7) Reminder! ALLi Indie Author Fringe event on June 3rd http://selfpublishingadvice.org/6-weeks-until-bookexpo-indie-author-fringe-2017-are-you-ready-to-sell-more-books/ 8) Sarah Painter's Worried Writer podcast: http://www.worriedwriter.com/ 9) Self-Publishing Formula recommended interview with TS Paul https://selfpublishingformula.com/episode-62/ This Week’s Self-Publishing News The Alliance of Independent Authors news update: http://selfpublishingadvice.org/self-publishing-news-ebooks-are-not-in-crisis/ [wp_ad_camp_5] --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/self-publishing-journeys/message

1) This week's writing progress - 5125 words: 2) This is my PayPal HERE card reader - it links to my phone via Bluetooth and allows me to take book payments at training events: 3) My current InstaFreebie Giveaway: https://freebie-books.com/crime-thrillers-may2017/ 4) My appearance on Begin Self-Publishing podcast here 5) Reminder! Amazon Academy event in Edinburgh on 23rd May http://selfpublishingadvice.org/amazon-academy/ 6) Reminder! The Newcastle Writing Conference on Saturday 20th May http://newwritingnorth.com/projects/newcastle-writing-conference/ [Waiting list only] 7) Reminder! ALLi Indie Author Fringe event on June 3rd http://selfpublishingadvice.org/6-weeks-until-bookexpo-indie-author-fringe-2017-are-you-ready-to-sell-more-books/ 8) Sarah Painter's Worried Writer podcast: http://www.worriedwriter.com/ 9) Self-Publishing Formula recommended interview with TS Paul https://selfpublishingformula.com/episode-62/ This Week's Self-Publishing News The Alliance of Independent Authors news update: http://selfpublishingadvice.org/self-publishing-news-ebooks-are-not-in-crisis/ [wp_ad_camp_5]

Ep#52: Orna Ross and Mark Dawson answer members' questions on writing, publishing and promoting books. Mark also answers the question, is paid advertising right for you Each month, Orna Ross, ALLi Director, invites a special guest into the indie author hot seat to answer ALLi Members’ self-publishing questions. This month's special guest is Facebook advertising expert Mark Dawson, and this session was recorded live during London Book Fair. As well as being a best-selling author, Mark is the powerhouse and frontman behind The Self-Publishing Formula, which provides authors with tried and tested methods to self-publish and reach more readers. He started using Facebook Ads to increase his mailing list sign ups and boost his own sales figures, and a couple of years ago he turned that knowledge and expertise into his first "Facebook Advertising for Authors" course. Today he's sharing insights about Facebook advertising, but also covering the new kid on the block, Amazon Ads. Amazon Ads vs. Facebook Ads Q: Are you better to spend your money boosting a post on Facebook? Q: I once heard that Mark would rather have a mailing list sign up than a sale, how can that make sense? Q: I have standalone books (not in a series) will Facebook Ads still be effective for me? Q: Should I do sponsored or keywords Facebook Ads? Q: How do you scale your book advertising success? Q: How may keywords are optimal on your Amazon Ad? Our weekly Self-Publishing Advicebroadcast is brought to you by ALLi, the Alliance of Independent Authors. This Indie Author Fringe Highlight  is one of four regular shows, which include an ALLi Member Q&A, a beginners' salon and an advanced self-publishing salon. Find more author advice, tips and tools at our self-publishing advice center, www.selfpublishingadvice.org. And, if you haven’t already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally. You can do that at www.allianceindependentauthors.org.   If you're not familiar with our Fringe event, it's three-times a year, online conference for self-publishing authors, brought to you by the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and fringe to the major global publishing fairs; London Book Fair, BookExp, and Frankfurt Book Fair. ALLi brings together the most up-to-date self-publishing education and information available and broadcasts it to authors everywhere. Running 24 sessions over 24 continuous hours allows our members, and other authors round the globe, to attend sessions, no matter where they’re located. For more information, visit our Conference Home Page.   Now, go write and publish.   Host Bio: Orna Ross launched the Alliance of Independent Authors at the London Book Fair in 2012. Her work for ALLi has seen her named as one of The Bookseller’s “100 top people in publishing”. She also publishes poetry, fiction and nonfiction, and is greatly excited by the democratising, empowering potential of author-publishing. Connect with Orna on Twitter @OrnaRoss

What you’ll hear on this episode of the Self Publishing Formula is nothing short of empowering. Tony Garrett is a new and very successful author, (writing as ‘T.J.Garrett’), pulling in over $30K per month in book sales. But in order to get to that point he’s had to overcome a degenerative disease that makes it […]

Working with your spouse may not be your idea of a perfect work environment, but many authors are discovering it’s a natural next step once success comes knocking on their door. If you’ve listened to the Self Publishing Formula you know that Mark and James often speak of the real work it is to become […]

Writing a novel is one thing. Writing a novel specifically to fulfill a demand is another. On this episode of the Self Publishing Formula podcast, James has a very intriguing conversation with Gabriel Mercer, a marketing and technical expert who was approached by a would-be author about marketing her books – before they were written. […]

Social Media Ads are a big focus of our work here at the Self Publishing Formula simply because the days when you could organically drive traffic to your website and book sales pages through normal social media interaction are gone. That’s not only because social media is becoming more and more crowded but also because […]

This episode of The Self Publishing Formula is part two of a three part series about using non-fiction writing to establish revenue through online courses. Give some time to this episode and you’ll see the common sense and not-so-difficult way you can turn your knowledge and expertise into an online course that generates income for […]

Much of the Self Publishing Formula audience is engaged in writing fiction. But there are distinct advantages to learning how to write and distribute non-fiction works. To investigate and expose these opportunities we’re starting off today with the first of a 3-part series that focuses on how to write and leverage non-fiction for the purpose […]

The Self Publishing Formula Podcast is very nearly here! In this preview, its hosts, bestselling indie author Mark Dawson and rookie novelist James Blatch, talk about what they hope to achieve with the show for the legions of authors and would-be authors who dream of making a living out of their passion. Show Notes On […]