SPA Girls Podcast
The SPA Girls Podcast is a weekly show dedicated to self-publishing authors. Each episode offers practical advice, tips, and strategies for indie authors to navigate the publishing process. The hosts, known as the SPA Girls, share their experiences and insights to help writers succeed in the world of self-publishing. Whether you're a beginner or seasoned author, this podcast provides valuable guidance on writing, marketing, and publishing your work.
Episodes
Hook Readers By Page 10: The Secrets Of Character with Matt Bird (Classic Replay EP#573)
π CLASSIC REPLAY β This episode was originally recorded in 2023 and the writing craft advice is just as relevant today.
Matt Bird is a screenwriter and the author of two craft books for writers, The Secrets of Story and The Secrets of Character: Writing a Hero Anyone Will Love. For the second book he read the first ten pages of dozens of great novels, memoirs, movies and TV pilots, and found the s
How To Diversify Your Income ft. Craig Martelle (EP#572)
This is a concrete, numbers-heavy conversation about what diversification actually means for a working author. Million-selling author Craig Martelle has published over 200 books since 2015, across 28 series, and has around 25 different sources of income. Craig’s definition of Author Diversification is multiple revenue streams, and he counts formats, distributors, languages, genres and co-aut
Writing Short Romance That Sells ft. Lana Love (Classic Replay EP#571)
USA Today bestselling author Lana Love writes short romance: 15,000-word books with curvy heroines and protective heroes. She publishes one a month and has more than 60 out. Her income doubled when one book in her Mountain Men series took off and lifted her whole backlist, and she did it with very little advertising. In this episode of the SPA Girls Podcast (EP571), she walks us through exactly ho
The Successful Author Mindset β Get Focused Without The Overwhelm (EP#570)
Four authors, more than a decade of self-publishing, over 300 books published combined, and four very different takes on the successful author mindset. Cheryl, Shar, Wendy and Trudi share what keeps them writing through industry shake-ups, sales dips and busy family life.
Cheryl runs her whole life from one diary. Wendy’s words for the day get written that day, no exceptions. Shar caps her s
Make Your Writing Goals to Stick ft. Erin Marcus (Classic Replay EP#569)
Be in charge, take action, get results. π― Most of us stay stuck because we’ve never actually decided what we want. Business coach Erin Marcus on working out the outcome, reverse engineering the steps, and putting a date on it. π
A classic replay, and all of it still applies. β¨
Her starting point is that most people don’t get what they want because they’ve never decided what it is
Writing & Marketing Romantasy ft. J. Gabriel Gates (EP#568)
J. Gabriel Gates β who writes romantasy as G.J. Gates β has a full-time job he loves and a self-funded publishing business. He opens every book launch with a Kickstarter, and that money becomes his entire advertising budget. In this episode of the SPA Girls Podcast (EP568) he walks us through going indie after traditional publishing, writing a genre he’d never touched, and the ten-second vid
Collaboration, Box Sets & Beating Burnout ft. Asa Maria Bradley (Classic Replay EP#567)
Burnt out and not writing? Bestselling paranormal romance and urban fantasy author Asa Maria Bradley went two years without finishing much of anything β and it was collaborating with other indie authors that got her writing again. In this episode we dig into anthologies, box sets, shared worlds and author collectives, and exactly how each one works for a self-published author.
Superdraft β How To Write Better and Faster β with Thomas Dean Donnelly (EP#566)
Screenwriter and thriller author Thomas Dean Donnelly joins the SPA Girls Podcast to explain Superdraft, his evidence-based approach to the writing process. Learn how to separate your Creator voice from your Critic voice, beat writer’s block and imposter syndrome, use flow states to write faster, and apply the 1-3-2 drafting method to fix a sagging second act. Essential listening for indie a
Sell More Books With Every Launch β Series Launch Strategy ft. Helen B. Scheuerer (Classic Replay EP#565)
Is your back matter costing you sales? Bestselling fantasy author Helen B. Scheuerer joins us to break down exactly how to launch a book series β from optimising your back matter for read-through, to pre-order strategy, ARC campaigns, and building a street team that generates real buzz.
In this Classic Replay episode, Helen shares the launch strategies behind her book How To Launch A Successful Se
Should You Change Genres? 5 Key Questions To Help You Make The Leap Successfully (EP#564)
Dreaming of writing in a new genre?
In this episode of the SPA Girls Podcast (EP564), all four SPA Girls answer a listener’s question about switching genres as a self-published author, including how Cheryl knew it was the right time to move from contemporary romance to cozy mysteries. Whether your books aren’t selling, you’re bored with your current genre, or a new trend is call
Debunking Publishing Myths & How To Beat Procrastination ft. Rachael Herron (Classic Replay EP#563)Β Β
This episode was originally recorded in 2021. We’re replaying it because the advice hasn’t aged a day.
Most writers don’t have a talent problem. They have a fear problem.In this Classic Replay, internationally bestselling author Rachael Herron joins Trudi, Shar, Cheryl and Wendy to talk about why fear is the real engine behind procrastination, what to actually do about it, andΒ th
Writing Fear & Emotion That Hooks Readers ft. Becca Puglisi (EP#562)
Why do some characters feel real enough to root for while others fall flat despite having every “correct” ingredient? In this episode of the SPA Girls Podcast (EP562), we dive into writing fear and emotion with Becca Puglisi, international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling co-author of The Emotion Thesaurus. Becca’s writing craft books have sold over 1.4 million copies and
Turning Down a Six-Figure Trad Deal & Building a Sustainable Indie Author Career, ft. Brenna Aubrey (Classic Replay EP#561)
This week we’re revisiting a favourite conversation with USA Today bestselling author Brenna Aubrey β and it’s a masterclass in both bold business decisions and long-term career survival.
Brenna takes us right back to the beginning: writing sprawling epic fantasy at night while her husband worked the graveyard shift, stumbling into her local RWA chapter, and the shower-thought that bec
Cracking the German Book Market ft. USA Today Bestseller Skye MacKinnon (EP#560)
Germany is the third-biggest book market in the world β and it’s still hungry for indie authors. This week we’re joined by USA Today bestselling romance author Skye MacKinnon, who returns to update us on everything that’s changed in German translations since her first appearance in 2023. Skye has more than 70 novels across three pen names, and Germany is now her biggest market wo
How to Write a Book Series Readers Binge ft. Helen Scheuerer (Classic Replay EP#559)
Want to write a book series readers binge β and come back to buy again and again? Bestselling YA fantasy author Helen Scheuerer joins the SPA Girls to break down how to design a series that hooks readers, boosts your read-through rate, and sets you up for long-term author income. Whether you’re plotting your first trilogy or wondering if your genre even suits a series, this episode covers th
Mental Resilience for Indie Authors (EP#558)
Why do the highs and lows of an indie author career always hit when you least expect them? In this episode of the SPA Girls Podcast (EP558), it’s just the four of us β Cheryl, Shar, Wendy, and Trudi β talking openly about mental resilience and how to weather the emotional rollercoaster of self-publishing. We unpack the panic of watching your numbers drop, the comparison trap, and the burnout
Six-Figure Income on One Book a Year: An Indie Authorβs Slow-Release Strategy ft. Helen Scheuerer (EP#557 Classic Replay)
π CLASSIC REPLAY β This episode was originally recorded in 2021 and the strategy is just as relevant today. Helen has since gone on to become an internationally bestselling romantasy author with multiple series, proving the long-game approach works.
What if you could earn six figures a year writing just ONE book? We sit down with International Bestselling Fantasy author Helen Scheuerer to unpack h
How to Market Audiobooks Wide: Direct Sales, Spotify & Facebook Ads ft. Rebecca Hefner (EP#556)
What if you could make more money selling audiobooks direct than on Amazon and Audible combined? In this episode of the SPA Girls Podcast (EP556), USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Hefner returns for a third time to break down exactly how she’s doing it β and how indie authors can market audiobooks wide, build a direct store that converts, and stop relying on a single retailer.
Rebecca wa
From Zero to $100K per Month β A Prolific Authorβs Business Strategy ft. Elana Johnson (EP#555 Classic Replay)
We loved our first chat with Elana so much that we kept the mics running! In this follow-up episode to #553, Elana dives into the business side of her prolific career β the release strategies she swears by, the advertising that actually moves the needle, and the mindset it took to reach her first $100K month. True to form, she’s just as honest about the mistakes as the wins. If EP553 was ab
No Sugarcoating the Author Business ft. Bestselling Romance Author Elizabeth OβRoark (EP554)
The indie author realities no-one talks about (much). Bestselling romance author Elizabeth O’Roark joins us this week for one of the most refreshingly honest conversations we’ve had on the show β covering everything from her Random House deal to the indie strategies she’s quietly walked away from.
In this episode we chat about:
Going from medical writer to indie romance author i
Inside a Prolific Authorβs Daily Routine ft. Elana Johnson (Classic Replay EP#553)
π CLASSIC REPLAY β Originally recorded in 2020 and the advice is just as relevant today.
How does a USA Today bestselling author write 84,000 words in 10 days? In this episode, Elana Johnson β author of over 130 books across three pen names β shares the exact daily routine, outlining methods, and mindset shifts behind her prolific output.
We cover her βintense project / light projectβ system for a
Ethical Digital Narration: What It Means for Indie Authors ft. Phil Marshall of Spoken Press (EP#552)
Ever wanted to create an audiobook but been scared off by the price tag? Phil Marshall, founder of Spoken.Press, built an AI-powered platform specifically for indie authors who want professional-quality audio without the professional-level costs.
In this episode we chat about:
Philβs path from surgeon to tech founder and sci-fi author
What βethical AI narrationβ means β consenting voice actors wh
Success Through Switching Genres β with Romance Author, Daniela Romero (Classic Replay EP#551)
This is a classic replay of a fascinating interview we recorded a few years ago with author Danielle Annett (aka Daniela Romero) , who as switched genres from Urban Fantasy to Contemporary Romance, with amazing results.
She talks us through the decision to change genres, and what she did to make it a success, including some of the big decisions she had to make, such as whether to create a new pen
Book Formatting Made Easy β with Brad Andalman of Vellum (EP#550)
What if formatting your book could take minutes instead of hours?
In this episode of the SPA Girls Podcast (EP550), we sit down with Brad Andalman, co-founder of Vellum, the book formatting software (Mac-only) that’s transformed self-publishing for indie authors. Brad shares the surprising Pixar origin story behind Vellum, walks us through exactly how the software works, and reveals some of
How to Run Your Author Business Without Losing Your Mind ft. Corinne OβFlynn (Classic Replay β EP#549)
Feeling buried under your author business? Juggling deadlines, launch plans, newsletter, ads, admin, social media, and somehow you have to also get the actual writing done? Trust us, you are not alone!
In this episode, we sat down with USA Today bestselling author, certified life coach, and podcaster Corinne O’Flynn to talk about how authors can organise their businesses, prevent burnout, an
Supercharge Your Backlist β How To Make Old Books Sell Again (EP# 548)
Got a backlist gathering dust?
In this episode of the SPA Girls Podcast (EP# 548), we dig into how to breathe new life into your older books and get them earning again. Most indie authors pour all their energy into the next release and forget that their backlist is the engine that funds everything β so we’re walking through exactly what to refresh, what to promote, and how to bundle older ti
SPA Girls Podcast β EP547 β Success Writing Small Town Romance β with USA Today Bestseller, Kait Nolan (Classic Replay)
Romance writers gather ’round – Kait Nolan, bestselling author of smart, sassy, small town Southern romance is in the SPA! This is a classic replay of an awesome episode we recorded with Kait a couple of years ago, and well worth a relisten. These days Kait not just writes small town romance, but also romantic suspense (as Harper Jackson), and her writing and marketing advice is spot
SPA Girls Podcast β EP546 β Interview with Lucy Score: Breaking Out, Advice For New Authors
She’s back! NYT #1 Bestseller, Lucy Score last joined us back in March 2021 , before Things We Never Got Over launched her into the stratosphere!
In this episode, Lucy talks about what her breakout moment actually looked like from the inside, how she’s navigated the shift from working author to household name (and instant #1 NYT Bestseller), and what’s stayed surprisingly the sam
SPA Girls Podcast β EP545 β Six Figures Writing Short Romance with Sadie King (Classic Replay)
Classic replay of an inspiring episode we recorded in August ’23 with SADIE KING, a hugely successful author of more than 120 short romances.***USA Today Bestseller, Sadie King has grown her publishing business from zero to six figures in less than four years, writing shortΒ instaloveΒ romances. Knowing her readerβs journey is vital to her success.
In this episode we discuss Sadieβs: 
sh
SPA Girls Podcast β EP544 β 5 Tips To Harness Trends
From incorporating popular tropes to social media trends, the SPA Girls have a robust discussion around what they’re doing to harness trends to reach more readers and sell more books!
Links mentioned:Melanie Harlow’s Harlot Authors group https://www.facebook.com/groups/630439937160840The Bestseller Code: Anatomy of the Blockbuster Novel by Jodie Archer and Matthew L JockersTheodora
SPA Girls Podcast β EP543 β Use Brain Science to Hook Readers From the Very First Sentence with Lisa Cron (Classic Replay)
Want to hook your readers from the very first sentence? This episode is for you!This is a fantastic Classic Replay of an interview we recorded with Lisa Cron a few years back.
Lisa Cron is a story coach and the author of:Β Wired for Story: The Writerβs Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers From the Very First Sentence, Story Genius: How To Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write
SPA Girls Podcast β EP542 β Using AI Assistance for Authors β with Alessandra Torre
AI is a hot discussion point in the author community these days, and we’re joined again by bestselling author and educator, Alessandra Torre, to help us unpack this topic.
At the outset, we acknowledge that this is a difficult topic to cover. From feeling fear to excitement and everything in between, authors cannot deny the reality of the new technologies arriving (and the “new langua
SPA Girls Podcast β EP541 β Interview with Kaye Kennedy: Launch To Success
Well worth a re-listen, this episode was originally recorded a few years ago when romance and romantic suspense author, Kaye Kennedy, scaled her author business from zero to a million page reads in just six months. Kaye utilized her business skills to launch in a focussed way that was truly inspiring (then and now).
Kaye has continued publishing with incredible success and has also added being an
SPA Girls Podcast β EP540 β The Inflexion Point with Nicholas Erik (Part Two)
Part Two of TwoListen to Part One here
“Currently …. we’re at a unique industry-wide inflection point. Whether you’re a new or established author doesn’t matter. You have the opportunity to grow your career much faster than under normal circumstances.” ~ Nicholas Erik
Nicholas Erik joins us again with fantastic insight into the impact technology is having on the
SPA Girls Podcast β EP539 β The Inflexion Point for Authors with Nicholas Erik (Part One)
Part One of Two
“Currently …. we’re at a unique industry-wide inflection point. Whether you’re a new or established author doesn’t matter. You have the opportunity to grow your career much faster than under normal circumstances.” ~ Nicholas Erik
Nicholas Erik joins us again with fantastic insight into the impact technology is having on the publishing world β rig
SPA Girls Podcast β EP538 β Easy Networking For Authors β with Celeste Barclay (Classic Replay)
“The hardest part is the first step – be brave enough to reach out!“
A lot of us are introverts and the idea of “networking” gives us chills (and not in a good way). Historical Romance author, Celeste Barclay, recorded this show with us a few years ago. Her advice is just as relevant now, as building your author community will help ride out the ups and downs of this
SPA Girls Podcast β EP537 β Sell More Books On Amazon β with Janet Margot
We are delighted to welcome book ads and strategy consultant for authors & publishers, Janet Margot, to talk all things Amazon Strategy for Authors including approaching it with the right mindset.Janet covers best practices for building a solid Amazon strategy for authors, metadata, packaging inside and out, when and how to start Amazon Ads and the βads adviceβ she sees that is the opposite o
SPA Girls Podcast β EP536 β How To Write A Cozy Mystery with Nancy J. Cohen (Classic Replay)
Have you always wanted to write a cozy mystery but don’t know where to start? This classic replay we recorded a few years back with Nancy J. Cohen will get you going!Cozy Mysteries are hugely popular with readers and authors alike, and Nancy J. Cohen shares her fantastic advice for writing the successful cozy.
Alongside her fiction, Nancy has also written the acclaimed βhow toβ for cozies βW
SPA Girls Podcast β EP535 β Get Your Author Business Organized β with Lorna K. Bailey
Getting Organized: Business Systems For Authors with Lorna K. Bailey
Self-published a book? Congratulations youβre now running an author business (whether you want to or not). Whether you have 5 books or 50, being an author is a LOT of plate-juggling. This episode we talk to the amazing Lorna K Bailey who as worked with bestselling authors and entrepreneurs, helping them organise and systemize the
SPA Girls Podcast β EP534 β How To Develop A Success Mindset with Amira Alvarez (Classic Replay)
Amira Alvarez is the founder and CEO of The Unstoppable Woman, a global coaching company helping entrepreneurs, empire builders, athletes, creatives, and rising stars in all fields achieve their dreams and goals in record time. This classic replay of an interview we originally recorded in August 2020 is just what we need to get our mindset right for the new year and how to be productive without bu
SPA Girls Podcast β EP533 β New Year Writing Resolutions
Happy New Year from The SPA Girls! π Whether you wrote one chapter or one hundred in 2025, we’re so proud of you. Here’s to fresh pages, new stories, and another year of chasing your author dreams together. Let’s make 2026 your best publishing year yet!
π The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our p
SPA Girls Podcast β EP532 β Our Publishing Naughty & Nice List
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the SPA Girls! It’s time to check off our 2025 Publishing Naughty or Nice list for what worked, and what really didn’t!
SPA Girls Podcast β EP531 β Interview with Lee Savino: Millionaire Author Mindset (Classic Replay)
Lee Savino is a whirlwind of positive energy, and this classic replay of an episode we recorded with her a few years ago will inspire and motivate you – we guarantee it!
Lee Savino is a seven-figure romance author with multiple USA Today and Top 100 Amazon bestsellers who also has coached multiple authors. She has extensive expertise in selling direct, going wide, rapid r
SPA Girls Podcast β EP530 β Interview with Lucy Monroe: Lessons from Trad To Indie
From Traditional To Indie – USA Today Bestseller Lucy Monroe shares her publishing journey, mindset and marketing wisdom, and business strategy advice – especially useful for rolling with the publishing-world ups and downs!
About Lucy
With more than 12.5 million copies of my books in print worldwide, Lucy Monroe is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author with over 90 publish
SPA Girls Podcast β EP529 β Interview with Nalini Singh: Worldbuilding for Authors (Classic Replay)
Every book you write is part of a world and you need to know as much as possible about the world before you start writingβbut be prepared to pivot!
So how do you build a fictional world (whether contemporary, paranormal, fantasy, or historical etc) that sets your story up well and captures readers imaginations?
A long-time friend of the SPA Girls, Nalini Singh talked with us about worldbuilding i
SPA Girls Podcast β EP528 β Effortless Dictation with Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer
Weβre delighted to welcome Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer, historical fiction author and writing instructor.
Weβre diving into how dictation can totally transform the way you write: think faster drafts, more creative flow, and less stress on your body. Sarah has written 13 books solely by speaking words into her smartphone. Once she switched from typing her first drafts to dictating them, she doubled her
SPA Girls Podcast- EP527 β Writing MM Romance with Lucy Lennox (Classic Replay)
This is a fabulous classic replay of our interview with USA Today Bestseller, Lucy Lennox. Lucy saw extraordinary success straight out the gate, from when she first published her MM romance, Borrowing Blue, in November 2016. In fact, by her second month of publishing, Lucy was earning five figures per month! Since then, Lucy’s books have soared the bestseller charts consistently and she̵
SPA Girls Podcast β EP526 β Interview with Amazon #1 Bestselling Romantasy Author, Stacia Stark
In just a few years, Stacia Stark gone from unknown new pen name to Amazon #1 Bestselling Author of Romantasy. She has also signed a major trad deal with Avon with her trad debut coming out in December 2025.
Stacia is an inspiring guest who breaks down exactly how she approaches hybrid publishing, writing romantasy and meeting spice/story/trope expectations, how to find an agent and what to look o
SPA Girls Podcast β EP525 β Interview with Honey Phillips β Success Writing Sci-Fi Romance (Classic Replay)
This is a classic replay of a very popular episode with USA Today Bestseller, Honey Phillips. Honey joined us in the SPA to talk about Science Fiction Romance β what it is, what are readers looking for, how she got started writing in it, and everything in between. Sci-Fi Romance is a distant cousin to Monster Romance (see episode 368 with Lillian Lark), and there are some similarities between the
SPA Girls Podcast β EP524 β Interview with Becca Syme
Planning, Priorities & PublishingWeβre thrilled to welcome back Becca Syme to the SPA to talk about Planning, reducing your Decision Fatigue, the difference between anxiety and intuition, and how to decide what publishing strategies work best for YOU.
As a community, indie publishers are so fortunate to have Beccaβs Clifton Strengths work and writer psychology understanding to help us navigate
SPA Girls Podcast β EP523 β Writing Short Romance with Mia Brody (Classic Replay)
Writing compelling short romance targeting the timed short reads categories (2 hours or less) is a real skill and this is a classic replay of one of the Queens of instalove / short romance: Mia Brody. No matter what length book you’re writing, there is something in this episode for you, not least of all Mia’s inspiring persistence working with health challenges and her incredible busi
SPA Girls Podcast β EP522 β Interview with Chloe Archer: Managing Writing + Your Day Job
Wondering how to juggle a demanding full-time job with having an author career too? Weβre joined today by the fabulous Chloe Archer, who is doing exactly that!
Chloe Archer writes popular queer sci-fi and paranormal rom-coms. And alongside her author career, Chloe also works full-time as a Film Studies Professor, which makes her perfect for this episode!
And if thatβs not enough, Chloe is organi
SPA Girls Podcast β EP521 β Marketing Tips with Vanessa Vale
Within five years, USA Today Bestselling romance author, Vanessa Vale, forged two pen names from scratch to seven figures, using the strategies and techniques she discusses in this episode and in her Thrifty Tips for Authors class. The beginnings of this program came when she was banned from Facebook ads, forcing her to develop strong branding and marketing steps that are enduring and withstand th
SPA Girls Podcast β EP520 β 10 Years Of Podcasting! What Weβve Learned β¦
On 2.10.2015 we published our very first SPA Girls Podcast episode and OH THE NERVES! But we persisted and here we are, ten years later, ten years wiser, 520 episodes later and a million magic moments of inspiration, advice, publishing wisdom and fellow author interviews and shenanigans recorded.
So what are our βacorns of wisdomβ weβve learned from these ten years that have stood the test of time
SPA Girls Podcast β EP519 β Marketing for Authors with Olivia Zugay
Author Business and Marketing Strategist, Olivia Zugay, is here with some wonderful tips on gaining discoverability, improving reader retention and focussing on long-game thinking without overly relying on chaotic social media!
About OliviaOlivia Zugay is a business and marketing strategist for self-published fiction authors. As the founder of Story Flow Solutions, she helps authors market and s
SPA Girls Podcast β EP518 β Interview with Sarra Cannon (Classic Replay)
Feel like a hamster on a wheel trying to get ALL THE THINGS accomplished but never quite managing to do the important stuff? This is your episode! A classic replay from 2023 that’s well worth a relisten!
Self-publishing since 2010, Amazon top 100 best-selling Amazon author with 1million books sold,Β Sarra writes magical contemporary fantasy novels with both teen and college aged characters
SPA Girls Podcast β EP517 β Interview with Mark Leslie: The Realities Of Being An Author Today
Mark Leslie (Lefebvre) is an author, professional speaker and bookseller with more than thirty years of experience in the publishing and bookselling business. In this episode, he brings a wealth of experience and reassurance to those of us somewhat battered by the realities of author life!
This is more than a βmindsetβ episode, itβs a reality check, encouragement and call to follow your passion, t
SPA Girls Podcast β EP516 β Interview with NYT Bestseller, Michele Scott (Classic Replay)
A classic replay of our interview with the awesome Michele Scott, originally published in August 2022.It was our great pleasure to interview Michele Scott, a NYT, Wall Street Journal and Amazon bestselling author of over forty novels and the CEO/owner of equestrian sports medicine company Professionalβs Choice, Inc.Β
Michele has written in various genres including thrillers, mysteries, young adult
SPA Girls Podcast β EP515 β Whatβs New In Publishing?
It’s conference debrief time! Weβre here with all our best writer tips and reflections from the recent Romance Writers of New Zealand annual conference!
Links mentioned:Sadie King talks series planning : https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep409-six-figures-with-short-romance-with-sadie-king/
AK Mulford talks TikTok : https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls
SPA Girls Podcast β EP514 β Interview with Annika Martin, Success Writing RomCom (Classic Replay)
Writing bestselling romance with incredible character chemistry is something that NYT Bestseller Annika Martin excels in. Annika, who also publishes romantic suspense as Carolyn Crane, has seen incredible success writing two books a year (on average) and publishing wide. This is a classic replay episode (originally recorded in 2021) where Annika reveals her plotting and writing process, getting th
SPA Girls Podcast β EP513 β Interview with Anya Mora, Writing Through Challenging Times
When the going gets tough, it can be really hard to get (or keep) going. Today’s episode has empathetic and practical advice from the incredible Anya Mora about working through life challenges, recovering from burnout, trusting your instincts and dealing with things that often throw us βoff courseβ from our author life.
About Anya
Anya Mora is the bestselling author of domestic suspense and
SPA Girls Podcast β EP512 β Manifesting Success with Renee Rose (Classic Replay)
You’re worth it and your work is worth it. 15-time USA Today bestselling romance author Renee Rose is passionate about helping other authors find and maintain an abundance mindset to catapult their careers and create their best future. She employs energetic tools and techniques to help her clients clear resistance and money blocks, access their inner guidance, and tap into their love and app
SPA Girls Podcast β EP511 β Attending Reader Events
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 doesnβt), 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
SPA Girls Podcast β EP510 β Writing Paranormal Romance with Lillian Lark (Classic Replay)
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!
Abou
SPA Girls Podcast β EP509 β The Artisan Author, interview with Johnny B. Truant
Tired of chasing the “Amazon Algorithm”? Weβre delighted to welcome Johnny B. Truant to the SPA. Johnny is here to discuss the alternatives to βrapid release / fast publishingβ 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 rea
SPA Girls Podcast β EP508 β Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance β with Keri Arthur (Classic Replay)
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 bestsellingΒ Riley J
SPA Girls Podcast β EP507 β Erin Wright Publishing Wide β Latest Tips
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 h
SPA Girls Podcast β EP506 β MM Romance Success with Jay Hogan (Classic Replay)
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 
SPA Girls Podcast β EP505 β Sierra Simone and Writing To Your Own Beat
Weβre delighted to welcome USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Sierra Simone, to the SPA today! Our topic is βWriting To Your Own Beatβ and Sierra generously shares how sheβs 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 Barne
SPA Girls Podcast β EP504 β Writing Science Fiction Romance with Tamsin Ley (Classic Replay)
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, unti
SPA Girls Podcast β EP503 β Co-Writing Success with Molly OβKeefe & Stephanie Doyle
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 theyβve learned along the way, and a few snafus too. These two amazing authors are incredibly down to ea
SPA Girls Podcast β EP502 β Book Launch Strategies with Janie Crouch (Classic Replay)
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 Engli
SPA Girls Podcast β EP501 β Using A Virtual Assistant β with Kevin Tumlinson
Who doesn’t want to hand off their least-favorite tasks to a trusted assistant? So how do you go about finding the right person? And what’s the cost?
Kevin Tumlinson is an award-winning and bestselling author, known as βthe Voice of Publishingβ for his work as a podcaster and speaker, helping thousands of authors to start, build, and grow their author careers. Kevin is the Chief Brand
SPA Girls Podcast β EP500 β Behind The Mics!
Weβre celebrating 500 episodes of the SPA Girls – from our baby podcaster days back in 2015 to today, we share some BEHIND THE MICS stories. How we met, why we started and why weβve last this long (almost ten years so far, publishing an episode weekly). Plus our vision for the future and selfpublishing π
Thank you so much to all those who’ve listened, downloaded, watched, reviewed, che
SPA Girls Podcast β EP499 β Interview with Ana Huang, Multi-Million Copy Bestselling Author (Classic Replay)
This episode features an interview with the incredible Ana Huang, multi-million copy bestselling author of new adult and contemporary romance! Ana is a super-smart, hardworking author with a tonne of great advice that she generously shared with SPA Girls Podcast listeners in this information-packed episode.Β
We range in topics from marketing, to TikTok, to branding, to translations, and everythi
SPA Girls Podcast β EP498 β When To Pivot
What happens when your books donβt sell? When is it time to end a series? Or Pivot to a new penname? Wendy, Cheryl and Shar are here to give their advice and (strong!) opinions on when itβs the right time to pivot and the steps writers should take to make that decision.
Weβve collectively written and published almost 200 books over the past 15 years, so weβve experienced and witnessed a LOT of aut
SPA Girls Podcast β EP497 β Writing The Black Moment with Rachel Bailey (Classic Replay)
One of our most popular writing craft episodes deserves a replay: Writing the Black Moment with USA Today Bestseller, Rachel Bailey.
NB re audio quality, we apologise that this isnβt to our current standard (despite new editing), but weβre sure youβll find the content worth listening to nevertheless!
A fantastic tutorial on how you can take your writing to the next level!
In romance fiction, the&#
SPA Girls Podcast β EP496 β Power of Tropes with Jennifer Hilt
Jennifer Hilt is a USA Today Bestselling author urban fantasy and non-fiction creator of The Trope Thesaurus series. She joins us this episode to really dig into how to use tropes in your fiction (no matter the genre), practical ways of applying them, how to use them to amp up the emotion and characterisation, and your characters’ GMC (goal, motivation and conflict).
Jennifer gives lots of t
SPA Girls Podcast β EP494 β How To Strength Your Story Structure
π Welcome back to the SPA Girls Podcast! Today, weβre diving into one of the most powerful tools in your writerβs toolkitβstory structure!
Whether you’re a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between, a strong story structure is the secret sauce that keeps readers turning the pages. In this episode, weβll dive into chapter βrulesβ, beats,scenes and sequences, how to craft a compellin
SPA Girls Podcast β EP493 β Editing with Mary-Theresa Hussey (Classic Replay)
What ten editing tips should all authors know? We share in this classic replay of our interview with Editorial Consultant, Mary-Theresa Hussey.
Prior to becoming a freelance editorial consultant, Mary-Theresa (known as Matrice) worked at Harlequin for more than 25 years, editing nearly a thousand titles. As editor, senior and executive editor, she read, acquired, revised, rejected and critiqued tr
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