SPA Girls Podcast

This episode we’re sharing the key things that have moved our writing careers, and creativity, forward so far in 2021. It’s a typical “SPA Girls on the couch” episode with some raw honesty and bad humor thrown into the mix. We cover a lot of ground, so grab a coffee (or whatever you prefer) and get comfortable. SHOW NOTES: The first topic we all agree is super important – How to celebrate (and remember) your achievements. And why you should! Working less for more $$ How asking for help has worked The difference between writing speed and creativity Levelling up editing and the surprising result Recovering from being a control freak A checklist let down Gifts for your future self Loving what you do. We hope you enjoy the episode as much as we did. Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls! Visit www.spagirlspodcast.com for full show notes and all previous episodes Subscribe on your favorite podcast app—search “SPA Girls Podcast” Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors on our website Subscribe and watch episode recordings on YouTube @SPAGirlsPodcast Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

Jacob McMillen is a professional copywriter, content strategist & freelancing coach and he’s here to share how we can use the power of clever copywriting to connect with our readers and build sales. We often struggle with what to write in our newsletters and social media posts in a way that’s authentic and reaches the right readers. And then there’s the copywriting skill needed for our book blurbs and advertising. So we’re thrilled to have an expert in the SPA today! This is a Copywriting Tip-packed episode that’ll empower you to up your copy skills tenfold! Lots of great nuggets of wisdom, including: The Two Fundamental Rules of Copywriting: Understand Your Audience and Be Clear The Light Bulb moment for blurb writing we uncovered talking with Jacob (hint: what got you excited to write the story in the first place?) Facebook ad text – why it’s different to book description and other copywriting Why the goal of your blurb writing is to reduce uncertainty in readers You can learn more about Jacob McMillen at: https://jacobmcmillen.com/ Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls! Visit SpaGirlsPodcast.com for full show notes and all previous episodes Subscribe on your fav podcast app – search “SPA Girls Podcast” Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors on our website Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @SPAGirlsPodcast Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

Today we talk about writing successful trilogies, and successful settings with award-winning author Jayne Castel. Jayne writes epic Historical and Fantasy Romance. Her vibrant characters, richly researched historical settings and action-packed adventure romance transport readers to forgotten times and imaginary worlds. Jayne is the author of a number of best-selling series. In love with all things Scottish, she writes romances set in both Dark Ages and Medieval Scotland. When she’s not writing, Jayne is reading (and re-reading) her favorite authors, cooking Italian feasts, and going on long walks with her husband. She lives in New Zealand’s beautiful South Island. www.jaynecastel.com ❤️ Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls! ➡️ Visit SpaGirlsPodcast.com for full show notes and all previous episodes 🔍 Subscribe on your fav podcast app – search “SPA Girls Podcast” 📧 Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors Get your FREE Cheat Sheet! You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: Podcast Episodes ✔️ Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ How To Self-Publish with the SPA Girls ✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

If you’ve been considering taking the plunge into Amazon’s new serials platform, Kindle Vella (and yes, Wendy asked if they’d named it after her), then this is the episode for you! We talked to Virginia Milner, the principal product manager for Kindle Direct Publishing, and leader of the Kindle Vella project, all about the new platform. She explained how Kindle Vella – which launched in July 2021 to readers – works, how authors are already using it to their advantage, and the possible ways that Kindle Vella could be used by authors in the future to broaden their readership, and sell more books.  It was an awesome episode, and we really enjoyed having Virginia on the show to explain it all first hand!  About Virginia: Virginia Milner is a principal product manager for Kindle Direct Publishing, leading the Kindle Vella product, business, and marketing teams. Virginia’s previous projects at Amazon include Great on Kindle and helping independent brands build their business selling on Amazon. Virginia started her career in the Bay Area working in public relations at LaunchSquad helping early stage startup companies, including Okta, Mindflash, and sharethis, tell their stories. She has a BA from Columbia University in New York and an MBA from the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley. A San Francisco native, she now lives in Seattle with her husband, son, and lhasa apso dog Lola. To find out more about Kindle Vella click this link to head over to Amazon. Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls! Subscribe on your fav podcast app – search “SPA Girls Podcast” Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors on our website Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @SPAGirlsPodcast Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

We’re delighted to welcome back Roseanne Cheng of Evergreen Authors to the SPA for this special two-part interview. In this episode we follow on from Roseanne’s approach outlined in EP306 (go listen if you haven’t already!) This is another power-packed show with tips that blew our minds! We cover:Pinterest marketing secrets for authorsWhy doing Less is betterHow to create your own marketing plan around what brings you joyThe “bumper sticker test”Tough truths: Every bestselling author is marketing their books and whyMaking conscious decisions about social media and what you can let go Your author platform and the two vital ingredients every author needs: a website (basic is fine) and a newsletter/email listHow amazon ads work with your marketing strategy – and it’s not just about building your salesWhy data is your secret weapon And finally, we also discuss how everything, including your book, has a sales cycle. About RoseanneRoseanne Cheng is the author of five books including The Evergreen Author: Master the Art of Book Marketing. She worked in publishing as a marketing director in Minneapolis for four years before founding Evergreen Authors, the first of its kind school teaching authors how to create a career as writers. You can find Roseanne at: https://www.evergreenauthors.com/

PART ONE of a two part series Today we welcome Roseanne Cheng of Evergreen Authors to the SPA and we’re going to talk about all about Book Marketing with Joy – especially for the reluctant or overwhelmed author. How do you decide what to do when people tell you to “Do All The Things”?! When the hustle is just too much, Roseanne has guidance for what works and what doesn’t. Roseanne, and her business partner Josie, run Evergreen Authors and offer courses and coaching to hundreds of authors. The Evergreen Author philosophy is that any book marketing you choose to do should bring you joy. We promise that this episode will generate a sigh of relief for many of you listening. If you’re ready to scream in frustration over learning facebook ads, tik tok dances and what on earth social media platform you should be on, listen up! About Roseanne ChengRoseanne Cheng is the author of five books including The Evergreen Author: Master the Art of Book Marketing. She worked in publishing as a marketing director in Minneapolis for four years before founding Evergreen Authors, the first of its kind school teaching authors how to create a career as writers. Websites: Roseanne’s personal website: https://roseannecheng.com/ https://www.evergreenauthors.com/

This is our second podcast with Veteran Police Detective Adam Richardson, who spent seventeen years of his almost 25-year law enforcement career as a detective. Today we talk to Adam about the police duty belt (gun belt), and what they carry on it. Adam goes into detail about each item and explains their use and when it would be needed. So strap in (see what I did there) for an amazingly informative podcast. Adam hosts The Writer’s Detective Bureau podcast where he answers questions about criminal investigation and police work posed by crime-fiction authors and screenwriters writing crime-related stories.Adam has also developed a crime fiction Guns Course for everything crime fiction authors need to know about firearms and ammunition. LINKS MENTIONED:Adam’s course: crimefictionguns.com COUPON CODE “SPA” for 10% off Book “THE TALENT CODE by Daniel Coyle https://www.amazon.com/Talent-Code-Greatness-Born-Grown/dp/055380684X Learn more from Adam at:  Writer’s Detective Bureau  where you can sign up to his All-Points Bulletin for writers.To submit a question for Adam, visit  SUBMIT A QUESTION Don’t miss his facebook group:  Facebook Groups Adam’s podcast Writer’s Detective Bureau:  ‎Writer’s Detective Bureau on Apple Podcasts ❤️ Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls! ➡️ Visit SpaGirlsPodcast.com for full show notes and all previous episodes 🔍 Subscribe on your fav podcast app – search “SPA Girls Podcast” 📧 Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors Get your FREE Cheat Sheet! You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: Podcast Episodes ✔️ Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ How To Self-Publish with the SPA Girls ✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

International bestselling author Rachael Herron joins us in the SPA today to talk to us about her writing journey, how she has created a career with multiple genres (including thriller (under R.H. Herron), mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir, and nonfiction about writing), how she deals with procrastination and blocks in her writing, and the main differences she sees between having books traditionally published and being an indie. It’s an awesome interview, and we loved having Rachael in the SPA!  You can find out more about Rachael at https://rachaelherron.com/

Are you bored, or disheartened, with your writing? Many of us hit the wall of blahhsss or burnout. When persevering and grinding through it just doesn’t work, sometimes you really need to shake things up. From writing in a completely different genre, to rekindling your creative spark, we discuss how to cleanse your writing palate. Soon you’ll be moving from the wahs to the wahoos! Lots of practical tips in this episode including:-try changing things up like font, (bigger smaller)-writing space, move around-when you get to the saggy middle. Stop, go and write a few lines of something different. A side project, or a different genre.-Are you over writing your current genre?-try a side project of something different. Are you actually bored or bored with the process? Do you need to set better goals to get you motivated?-Changing things will help freshen your mind. LIke when we eat or do something we’ve never done before. Writing several genres : This is not that easy, but fun. Two of the SPA Girls do it. Are you burnt out?-Are you making your deadlines too tight?-Is the burnout coming from the pressure you’re putting on yourself? If your books aren’t selling, is that the right genre for you?It’s not good or bad to change, because things in your life change so you need to adjust and pivot too.We all go through this in one way or another – you are not alone! Often cleansing your palate will refresh your creative and get you up and going even stronger than ever! ❤️ Learn to Self-publish with the SPA Girls! ➡️ Visit SpaGirlsPodcast.com for full show notes and all previous episodes 🔍 Subscribe on your fav podcast app – search “SPA Girls Podcast” 📧 Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with tips and resources for self-publishing authors Get your FREE Cheat Sheet! 🖱️ You’ll find all the show notes and SPA Girls podcast episodes at: Podcast Episodes ✔️ Subscribe and Watch episode recordings on YouTube @ How To Self-Publish with the SPA Girls ✔️ Join us on Facebook and Twitter @SPAGirlsPodcast

Cozy Mysteries are hugely popular with readers and authors alike, and Nancy J. Cohen is with us today to share her fantastic advice for writing the successful cozy. Alongside her fiction, Nancy has also written the acclaimed “how to” for cozies “Writing The Cozy Mystery”, so we’re thrilled she agreed to give us the scoop on all things cozy. We discuss: Nancy’s writing journey. How she transitioned from traditionally published to self-published Shifting from writing romance to cozies Elements of a great cozy – what to include and what readers don’t want to see Her marketing and publishing strategies About Nancy: Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring South Florida hairstylist Marla Vail. These books have won numerous awards along with her nonfiction titles, Writing the Cozy Mystery and A Bad Hair Day Cookbook. Active in the writing community, Nancy is a past president of Florida Romance Writers and Mystery Writers of America, Florida Chapter. When not busy writing, she enjoys cooking, fine dining, cruising and visiting Disney World. Visit her at NancyJCohen.com