SPA Girls Podcast

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

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

Tired of chasing the “Amazon Algorithm”? We’re delighted to welcome Johnny B. Truant to the SPA. Johnny is here to discuss the alternatives to “rapid release / fast publishing” mindset to one of an artisanal author and publisher. We always try to emphasise there is NO ONE RIGHT WAY to approach your self-publishing business and writing, and we think this conversation and approach is really worth understanding. Not just for writers’ physical care, but mental health too. Enjoy! “If modern indie publishing feels like a high-stress race to the bottom, the good news is there’s another way. Most authors start writing for the love of it, but in recent years the reality of “writing for a living” has soured. Now, for a lot of us, it no longer looks fun — or creatively fulfilling — at all.” ~ Johnny B. Truant, author of The Artisan Author Johnny B. Truant is the bestselling author of more than 120 titles across multiple genres, including the Fat Vampire series which was recently adapted by the SyFy network. He was one of the co-hosts of the Self Publishing Podcast, he hosted the Smart Artist Summit conference in Austin, Texas, and he co-authored the industry bible, Write. Publish. Repeat.LINKS:Johnny’s Substack: https://johnnybtruant.substack.com/ Website: https://johnnybtruant.com/ Kickstarter for The Artisan Author: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/johnnybtruant/the-artisan-author-your-way-out-of-the-self-pub-rat-race Our previous episode with Johnny and Sean Platt recorded in 2018 is herehttps://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep128-interview-with-sean-platt-and-johnny-b-truant/ Joanna Penn’s The Creative Penn https://www.thecreativepenn.com/ 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

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

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

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

We’re delighted to welcome USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Sierra Simone, to the SPA today! Our topic is “Writing To Your Own Beat” and Sierra generously shares how she’s leaned into writing forbidden, atmospheric romance that has built a rabid fandom. Resources mentioned:Becca Syme Better-Faster Academy with Becca SymeKennedy Ryan Home – Kennedy RyanJennifer Lynn Barnes – Writing For Your IDhttps://youtu.be/qymZuGlmJ3c?si=u0_ROjM5wt4gs63k Sierra Simone is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling former librarian (who spent too much time reading romance novels at the information desk). Her notable works include Priest, American Queen, and Misadventures of a Curvy Girl, and her books have been featured in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, and Buzzfeed. Sierra lives with her husband and family in Kansas City. Visit her website for author resources and links. Website: https://www.thesierrasimone.com/ 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

This episode with Alaskan author, Tamsin Ley, is one of our most popular and well worth a replay! We talk about Tamsin’s writing journey, marketing strategies, paranormal romance quirks and her fantastic advice for all self-publishers. You can find Tamsin here: https://www.tamsinley.com/ Tamsin Ley builds worlds full of sexy heroes who don’t know they need a mate – that is, until they meet the woman they can’t resist. The romance is sizzling hot, a surprise twist waits around every corner, and the stories will never leave you hanging (although you may still crave more!) Wine-lover, beer-brewer, foodie, serious gardener, and secret zombie prepper, Tamsin lives in Alaska with her husband of twenty something years. In the long days of summer you can find her in the great outdoors, but when the long winter nights set in, she’ll be at the keyboard creating imaginary worlds. 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

Molly and Stephanie are two writing besties who launched an incredibly successful pen name, Hailey Shore, writing romantic comedy. Romantic Comedy | Hailey Shore Author This episode we dig into how they intentionally set out to create this pen, their advertising and launch strategy, things they’ve learned along the way, and a few snafus too. These two amazing authors are incredibly down to earth and honest and provide some of the best advice on mindset and business you’ll hear that’s absolutely relevant to authors at all stages of their careers. Molly Fader/Molly O’Keefe/ M. O’Keefe Award-winning author Molly O’Keefe published her first Harlequin at age 25, and hasn’t looked back since. She’s now the two-time Rita award winning and USA Today bestselling author of more than 50 contemporary romance novels, as well as women’s fiction under the name Molly Fader and darker romance under the name M. O’Keefe. She lives in Toronto Ontario with her husband, two kids and rescue dog. Stephanie Doyle / S. Doyle Stephanie Doyle started writing at age 16, had her first book published by Harlequin at the age of 26, and has continued writing and publishing ever since. She has published 30+ books under two pen names, and is currently writing Contemporary New Adult under the pen name S. Doyle. She lives in South Jersey with her cat Lex, and her two kittens who have taken over everything. LINKS:Hailey Shore https://www.haileyshore.com/Molly Fader http://mollyfader.com/Molly O’Keefe / M O’Keefe https://www.molly-okeefe.com/Stephanie Doyle / S Doyle https://www.amazon.com/stores/S-Doyle/author/B01FHRPW76? 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

USA Today Bestseller, Janie Crouch, shares amazing tips and advice on how she built her readership, launched her romantic suspense, and how she approaches the Business of Authoring and separates it from the creative side of writing. This is a classic replay of a fantastic episode we recorded originally in April 2021. Janie’s writing journey began in the academic world. With a B.A. in English Communication from Montreat College and both an M.A. and Ph.D. in Communication Studies from Regent University, she initially channeled her creative energy into scholarly work. Her doctoral dissertation explored how people form relationships with sci-fi and fantasy characters—revealing her lifelong passion for genre fiction. While her academic advisors often encouraged her to “dial down the drama,” that same dramatic flair now fuels her bestselling romantic suspense novels. (www.janiecrouch.com) Janie’s discusses her release strategy, approach to advertising – what has worked for her and what HASN’T, as well being very upfront about her income and how much she’s spending on advertising to grow her sales. Janie also discusses how she’s found the pros and cons of publishing widely versus Amazon-exclusively. Connecting with her readers has been a key component to her success via her facebook reader group and newsletter. About Janie USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author Janie Crouch writes what she loves to read: passionate romantic suspense featuring protective heroes.  Her books have won multiple awards, including the Romance Writers of America’s coveted Vivian® Award, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Booksellers’ Best Award for romantic suspense. After a lifetime on the East Coast, and a six-year stint in Germany due to her husband’s job as support for the U.S. Military, Janie has settled into her dream home in Front Range of the Colorado Rockies. When she’s not listening to the voices in her head—and even when she is—she enjoys engaging in all sorts of crazy adventures (Ultramarathons across Kenya; Ironman Triathlons, treks to Mt. Everest Base Camp…), traveling, and being a mom of four.  Her favorite quote: “Life is a daring adventure or nothing.” ~ Helen Keller www.JanieCrouch.com 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!