SPA Girls Podcast

How do you build superfans and a sustainable income through patreon*, kickstarter, subscriptions and serial works? Bestselling author Tao Wong joins us this episode to reveal all the secrets of keeping readers begging for more (cliff-hangers anyone ?!), building a thriving community of superfans and, most importantly, diversifying your income streams. ‌(For those who don’t know, Patreon is a subscription service, where people pay a monthly fee for different benefits/exclusive opportunities offered to them. For authors, this is usually books, excerpts, and other pieces of writing.) About Tao Tao Wong is a Canadian science fiction and fantasy author writing in LitRPG and Xianxia (a genre based on Chinese mythology and the concept of the chivalrous spirit, that is huge pop culture phenomenon in China) with five different series across a range of worlds. He’s been writing full time since 2019, and has his books in audio, paperback, hardcover and ebook formats as well as translations to German, Spanish, Portuguese and others. ‌When he’s not writing and working, he’s practicing martial arts, reading (even more!) and taking care of his family. Other hobbies include occasional RPGs and board games as well as picking up new, random skillsets. Find Tao at MyLifeMyTao.com Links mentioned: Brandon Sanderson Royal Road https://www.royalroad.com/home 💗 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. ⭐ Get personal online coaching with the SPA Girls each month through our $100 tier. Spots for this are strictly limited and on a first-come-first-served basis. 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!

How the heck do you build a reader newsletter list, especially when you're first starting out? We're back with another SPA Girls minisode, to get your author career rocking. Listen up for how we built our own reader newsletters and what tools and services we recommend. ‌ 7 SIMPLE WAYS TO BUILD YOUR NEWSLETTER LIST: ‌ SPA Girls EP378 Be Newsletter Ninja with Tammi Labrecque https://www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/?s=378 SPA Girls EP258 Nail Your Newsletter with Holly Mortimer https://www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/?s=258 SPA Girls EP177 & 178 with Larissa Reynolds https://www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/?s=177 https://www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/?s=178 SPA Girls EP424 with Damon Courtney https://www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep424-bookfunnel-tips-for-authors/ ‌ ‌ 💗 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. ⭐ Get personal online coaching with the SPA Girls each month through our $100 tier. Spots for this are strictly limited and on a first-come-first-served basis. All the info is at Get more from SPA Girls Podcast on Patreon ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on You Tube @ spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

Being a resilient author means being able to bounce back after experiencing a knock - and we all know that being a self-published author can knock you around sometimes! This week we talk with Patricia McLinn, an author who's been writing for more than 35 years, and who knows a thing or two about how to keep going when the going gets tough. Pat gives us her top five pieces of advice so you can stay focused and keep the positivity flowing when it seems like everything is falling apart around you. 💗 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. ⭐ Get personal online coaching with the SPA Girls each month through our $100 tier. Spots for this are strictly limited and on a first-come-first-served basis. 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 http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast @spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

Kate Hall is a paranormal romance and non-fiction author who has taken her marketing expertise and used it to kick butt on TikTok. She started Alyne Digital Solutions in an effort to help authors make a sustainable income from their books, and since starting has scaled two of her businesses and several others’ to six figure incomes. As well as discussing facts and figures for TikTok, we’re also delving into marketing for authors, and why you’re probably using the wrong hooks in your social media. ‌A wonderful open and informative discussion that could unlock answers to questions we’re all asking right now! Find Kate at: https://www.alynedigital.com

Welcome to the first SPA Girls double-minisode where we invite you into the SPA for a double mini-tips session. This week we're covering two burning topics: what are the worst mistakes newbies are making, and how to write chapter endings that keep readers reading! Let us know what you think of this new sub-30 minute episode! 💗 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. ⭐ Get personal online coaching with the SPA Girls each month through our $100 tier. Spots for this are strictly limited and on a first-come-first-served basis. 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 http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast @spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

In this podcast we talk to KimBoo about her latest book Secrets of Discovery Writing. We dive into how you can successfully use discovery writing when crafting your novel. It's an awesome podcast and one the pantsers among us will really enjoy. KimBoo York is a GenX elder-goth whose main life purpose is to provide a good life for her rescue mutt, Keely-Boo, who is perfect and beyond reproach in every way. She is also a librarian, former project manager, and a professional author who wears too many hats and crosses too many genres including romance, fantasy, and non-fiction. She is a bit grumpy, especially in the morning. House of York By the Seat of Your Pants: Secrets of Discovery Writing 💗 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. ⭐ Get personal online coaching with the SPA Girls each month through our $100 tier. Spots for this are strictly limited and on a first-come-first-served basis. 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 http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast @spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

Our guest today, Kiwi author Melissa Pearl, has five pen names across multiple genres and has been learning about self publishing since she published her first book in 2010. Since then she's published more than 80 books, and shares with us some real and raw insights into the career of an indie author, including all the highs and the lows. When she launched her latest pen name last year, she made sure she used everything she'd learned over that time to ensure her new pen name was successful right from the start. Melissa generously tells us exactly what she did to create her latest pen name, and every step she took along the way to make it successful. Don't miss this information packed episode! Find Melissa at: Foreverlovepublishing.com Resources mentioned: Renee Rose Jen Sincero https://jensincero.com/ Amanda Frances https://amandafrances.com/ Heather Hildenbrand https://spagirls.libsyn.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep434-top-3-mindset-tips-for-authors-with-heather-hildenbrand Skye Warren https://www.skyewarren.com/authors/ 💗 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. ⭐ Get personal online coaching with the SPA Girls each month through our $100 tier. Spots for this are strictly limited and on a first-come-first-served basis. 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 http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast @spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

Let's talk Enneagrams. Fiction strategist and owner of FFS Media, Claire Taylor publishes her fiction through her company, under four pennames. She also helps authors through her Story Alignment and Author Alignment services, as well as her masterclasses and non-fiction for authors. An Advanced Certified Instructor through the Enneagram Spectrum Method, as well as an Accredited Practitioner of the Integrative Enneagram (iEQ9), Claire uses the Enneagram framework to help authors create stories that stand out and careers they love. Today we'll learn just what an Enneagram is and how it can affect us. www.spagirlspodcast.com

Procrastination takes many forms for writers, and it holds us back from writing, publishing and promoting our work. We discuss how to get out of your own way with our guest today, Kathryn Burnett. Kathryn is an award-winning screenwriter, playwright, author and writing coach who has worked in the television/film/arts industry for over 25 years. “It's never been easier to put your work into the world and yet many writers don’t write as productively as they'd like to. They have the best intentions in the world but find themselves distracted, anxious about their work and deeply unsatisfied with their progress.” Kathryn Burnett Kathryn offers practical tips for us all to: ✔️ Identify the red flags of perfectionism ✔️ Uncover how you are procrastinating and then how to deal with this ✔️ Why self-reflection is so important - ask yourself “Why am I not prioritizing my writing at the moment?” ✔️ Time blocking ✔️ Wrestling with doubts and demons Resources mentioned: Kathryn’s non-fiction book for writers - Productive Writer Guidebook Julia Cameron’s morning pages in The Artist’s Way Reedsy's free newsletter for writers About Kathryn Burnett Kathryn Burnett has been a working writer for over 25 years and truly understand the challenges that come with creative work. When she’s not writing, she runs craft workshops and programmes under the Beginner’s Guide Writing Workshops umbrella – and facilitate an awesome subscription-based group called The Writing Room. Sign up to her newsletter for regular insights, tips and workshop updates at www.kathryn-burnett.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. ⭐ Get personal online coaching with the SPA Girls each month through our $100 tier. Spots for this are strictly limited and on a first-come-first-served basis. All the info is at SPA Girls Podcast | Patreon ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on Self Publishing Info with the SPA Girls @spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

Creating and running Facebook ads has got a lot easier! Wondering how to delve into facebook advertising or had poor experiences in the past and wondering where you went wrong? This episode is for you! We’re joined by Senior Marketing Manager of Written Word Media, Clayton Noblit, who’s an expert in getting authors books in front of the right readers through advertising and promotion. Clayton generously shares his top tips for getting your ads working well, and takes us through setting up your first facebook ads, the campaign structure, as well as the best targeting, budget and ad creative tips for beginners. We then discuss Promo Stacking, which is broadly defined as “a lot of marketing tactics conducted over a short period of time to increase your books' rank and get more sales”. And finally, Clayton covers off some key insights from WWM’s Author Survey 2023 results: specifically around AI and Direct Sales. Links mentioned: Written Word Media blog: https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/learn/ Our previous podcasts with WWM are here and here David Gaughran’s advice for authors: https://davidgaughran.com/blog/ About Clayton Noblit Clayton Noblit is a senior marketing manager at Written Word Media. He is passionate about helping authors find their readers and finding ways to sell more books. When he’s not helping authors, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports, and making beverages. www.writtenwordmedia.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. ⭐ Get personal online coaching with the SPA Girls each month through our $100 tier. Spots for this are strictly limited and on a first-come-first-served basis. 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 http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast @spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

Ever hesitate over making an important decision because you were trying to figure out what the 'right' thing to do was... and then miss out on an awesome opportunity because you didn't take a leap of faith? Yeah, us too. That's why this episode is all about making good decisions in your author career. In fact, we're not only advocating making decisions and moving forward, we're also suggesting that a FAST decision is even better than an average speed decision. Research has shown that fast decisions are often higher quality, perhaps proving that our subconscious brain can move faster than our conscious brain... or maybe it's just our intuition is more capable than our overthinking brain? Whatever the reason, it's a powerful reminder that we know more than we think we know... In this episode you'll learn some ideas and techniques on how to assess decisions, learn when to make fast decisions and hear about some of the decisions we did and didn't make in our careers and what we learned from them.

Today we’re interviewing Dan Wood, Chief Operating Officer at Draft2Digital, one of the best known distributors for eBooks, print and audio books. We last spoke to Dan in 2019 and a lot has happened since then! D2D has not only merged with Smashwords to make their reach stronger, they build tools and services that let you focus on writing while they take care of layout, publishing, distribution, print-on-demand paperbacks, and more. If you’re a new author or simply want to level up and expand, Dan has lots of tips to help you, including promotional opportunities and Books2Read, an author promotions powerhouse that includes New Release Notifications, Universal Book Links (UBLs), B2R Author Pages, B2R Book Tabs, and so much more!

Your brain is a liar! Heather Hildenbrand is a bestselling author and business coach for creatives. This episode she demystifies how our results are determined by our beliefs first, and our efforts, second. Listen up for amazing (and do-able!) mindset tips for authors and how to overcome our blocks with less woo and more “do”! About Heather: Heather Hildenbrand was born and raised in a small town in northern Virginia where she was homeschooled through high school, and says she's only slightly socially awkward as a result. She’s an award winning author who has written more than 50 paranormal, urban fantasy, science fiction and contemporary romance novels, and in 2016, her Imitation series was purchased by Warner Bros and optioned for TV by Jerry Bruckheimer studios. Heather also offers business and life coaching to authors and other creatives to create more abundance and attract the life & business they desire. A certified life coach, Reiki master, and public speaker Heather helps authors understand how to better attract their desires AND heal their wounds in the process. ‌Find her at: HeatherHildenbrand.com ManifestYourHEA.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. ⭐ Get personal online coaching with the SPA Girls each month through our $100 tier. Spots for this are strictly limited and on a first-come-first-served basis. 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 http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast @spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

In this episode we chat to YA Fantasy author Katie Cross. She has so much passion and enthusiasm for what she does, and loves her readers! We talk about direct sales and how to relate to your readers, and these are just two of the topics we covered. Sit down with your favorite beverage and enjoy because it's action packed and full of information! Find Katie here ➡️ https://katiecrossbooks.com/ We first interviewed Katie back in 2017. Then she talked about a military wife, and learning to be a nap-time authorpreneur, and making every moment count. This was another informative podcast and well worth a listen! Link below ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ SPA Girls Podcast – EP101 – Interview with Katie Cross 💗 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 questions. Come on in and join us, we’d love to see you there! www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch the recording on our YouTube Channel @spagirlspodcast

You are your own publishing house when you self-publish. There’s lots to do, and lots to think about, especially the first few times you publish a book. That’s why we’ve created this helpful, back-to-basics SPA Girls Podcast episode – to help you go from rough manuscript to published book, with our notes on what you need to plan for and schedule, and how to figure out what you’re going to need to actually do to get your book published on all the platforms. We haven’t given a specific order for these tasks to be done in – we know too many successful authors who get different aspects of the checklist done at different times. There are also tasks that can be finished quickly and others that will take time. The important thing is to know what you need to do, to work out a schedule that suits you and your life, and then to actually do the tasks! To help out, we’ve also created a handy checklist for you to download; just click the links to find it, or head to the show notes for the episode on our website! A4 Size pdf Letter Size pdf 💗 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. ⭐ Get personal online coaching with the SPA Girls each month through our $100 tier. Spots for this are strictly limited and on a first-come-first-served basis. 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 http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast @spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

This episode, we’re joined again by the effervescent Kathleen Sweeney from Bookbrush. Book Brush is a platform where authors can easily create their own professional-looking ads and marketing images for social media. Kathleen is going to update us on best practices, new additions to Book Brush software and added service options that can save authors time and stress producing graphics. Kathleen’s kindly given us a coupon code for listeners that gives you 15% off a single author plan. Visit bookbrush.com and use SPA15 Bio: Kathleen Sweeney is the Customer Service Manager & Marketing Lead at Book Brush. She loves creating images. She brings over 20 years of client service experience, business assurance, strategy and problem solving to Book Brush. 💗 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. ⭐ Get personal online coaching with the SPA Girls each month through our $100 tier. Spots for this are strictly limited and on a first-come-first-served basis. 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 http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast @spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

Inspired by Dr Michael Moseley’s JUST ONE THING (https://michaelmosley.co.uk/ ) we use his framework to give practical tips for uncomplicating your writing and author business life. Dr Michael Mosley is a No. 1 international bestselling author and journalist. He trained as a doctor at the Royal Free Hospital in London before joining the BBC, where he spent three decades as a science journalist and executive producer. Resource mentioned: Ohwrite.co 💗 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. ⭐ Get personal online coaching with the SPA Girls each month through our $100 tier. Spots for this are strictly limited and on a first-come-first-served basis. 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 http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast @spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen!

Business Planning for authors isn’t too often discussed, but the minute you go from hobbyist writer to publishing-for-profit, congratulations! You’re now a business entrepreneur. So what is a business plan? It’s the foundation of your business, a road map of your business structure, future projects, markets, earnings and expenses. It sounds more complicated than it needs to be. With that in mind, we’ve put together a simple SPA Girls Business Plan template you can download for free from https://www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/businessplan/‌ Completing this as you’re recovering from the holiday season could be just the ticket to kicking off your new year with a clear mind and solid goals. 💗 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 questions. Come on in and join us, we’d love to see you there!

Want to set yourself up for an awesome 2024? Then this is the SPA Girls podcast episode for you. We go through our top eight tips to help amp up your career and kickstart your new year! From looking at the data and knowing what you want, to getting your newsletter humming and revamping blurbs, we give you all our best advice for 2024. SHOWNOTES: Our Top Eight Tips For The New Year: 1. Know what you want 2. Reverse Engineer Everything 3. Fine Tune Your Processes 4. Check Your Look Insides 5. Get Your Newsletter Humming 6. Revamp Your Blurbs 7. Reassess Your Keywords and Categories 8 Keep Moving Forward! 💗 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. ⭐ Get personal online coaching with the SPA Girls each month through our $100 tier. Spots for this are strictly limited and on a first-come-first-served basis. 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 http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast @spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

We’re celebrating you, our wonderful listeners, in the SPA today by sharing our 12 Christmas Wishes for you and your self-publishing journey. We want you to know how special to us. We’re so proud of this journey we’ve all embarked on and with what everyone has achieved. No matter where you are in the publishing process, it really is time to celebrate! May your holiday be filled with love, joy, good food, fun, books and time to relax and recharge yourself. x