#39 - Creating a Visual, Bestselling Brand with Bella Andre

Episode 39 features the one and only... Bella Andre! Bella is a self-publishing superstar, one of the original KWL beta testers when we started off in 2012, NYT and USA Today bestselling Romance and New Adult author, and all-around lovely and fun person to talk to. Christine Munroe hosts this episode and chats with Bella about her publishing journey, including (listen up!) her secrets for success. In this can't-miss episode, Christine and Bella discuss:

• The turning point in Bella's career in April 2010, when she put eBooks up for sale and several days later checked and realized she had sold several hundred copies.
• Her work creating the visual brand of Bella Andre. She recommends that authors treat themselves like the bestseller they want to be. In her case, that started with making her name prominent on her covers.
• Bella's learn-by-doing approach, including creating her own covers, which she does to this day.
• There is a great virtue in putting in blood, sweat, and tears and understanding how to do everything yourself before passing it off and outsourcing part of the publishing process.
• The origins of the pen names Bella Andre and Lucy Kevin.
• Her promise: she will never disappoint her readers.
• Bella's unique 7-figure, print-only deal with Harlequin MIRA.
• Her translation partnership with KWL, creating French editions of five Lucy Kevin titles.
• The opportunities Bella says no to - including a reality TV show.
• Why Bella enjoys collaborating with other authors (including Melissa Foster and Jennifer Skully), and her best advice for making a collaborative relationship work: "always be nice."
• Will she ever run out of Sullivans? (Thankfully, no!)

At the end of the episode, Christine catches up with KWL Director Mark Lefebvre. They discuss why it's so important for authors to network with retailers - from the very beginning, Bella impressed Mark and he wanted to help her succeed on Kobo. They also talk about KWL's recent third birthday and the most exciting new projects we have in the works for our authors.

Thanks for listening!