SPA Girls Podcast

Burnt out and not writing? Bestselling paranormal romance and urban fantasy author Asa Maria Bradley went two years without finishing much of anything — 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. Whether you're staring down burnout, trying to grow your newsletter list, or thinking about organising your own multi-author collection, this one covers the creative side AND the unglamorous business side — royalty splits, contracts, tax-year timing, cross-promotion, and how to vet a list-run box set before you hand over any money. Asa also explains how a 5,000-word short story for 1001 Dark Nights accidentally launched an entire series, and why writing outside your genre might be the best thing you do for your author career. Why Asa left traditional publishing (and how she ended up with no editor and no agent in the same month) Burnout, the pandemic, and the point where the writing stopped Accountability: why she'll blow her own deadline but never someone else's Writing a crime-fiction novella in someone else's shared world — and finding readers who "don't read romance" How a 5,000-word short story for 1001 Dark Nights became an entire series Organising your own collection: choosing your authors, letting readers vote on the title, and what she'd do differently The money bits — Draft2Digital royalty split vs going direct, tax-year timing, quarterly payouts, and the minimum-royalty clause worth stealing Editing, POV and word count: where to be strict and where to let people write What a well-run list-run collection looks like, and how to vet the organiser before you hand over money Laura Greenwood's low-cost social media game strategy (and why emoji-only questions quadruple engagement) 🔁 CLASSIC REPLAY — This episode was originally recorded in 2022 (EP343) and the advice on collaborations, box sets and author burnout is just as relevant today. Watch interview on YouTube About Asa USA Today bestselling author Asa Maria Bradley grew up in Sweden surrounded by archaeology and history steeped in Norse mythology, which inspired her sexy paranormal romance and sizzling romantasy series. Booklist attributes her writing with "nonstop action, satisfying romantic encounters, and intriguing world building" and Entertainment Weekly says "when it comes to paranormal romance with explosive action scenes, Bradley has that nailed." Her work has received the honors of a double nomination for the Romance Writers of America's RITA contest, a Reviewers' Choice Award nomination, a Holt Medallion win, and a Booksellers' Best Award win. Asa came to the United States as a high school exchange student and quickly fell in love with ranch dressing and crime TV dramas of all flavors, two addictions she unfortunately still struggles with. Currently, she lives on a lake deep in the forest of the Pacific Northwest with a British husband and a rescue dog of an indeterminate breed. Sadly, neither obeys her commands. Subscribe to her newsletter and get access to exclusive content and giveaways. www.asamariabradley.com 📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED: 1001 Dark Nights & Blue Box Press: https://1001darknights.com The Grifter's Song (Down & Out Books, series editor Frank Zafiro): https://downandoutbooks.com Draft2Digital royalty split: https://draft2digital.com BookBub Partners (new release alerts): https://partners.bookbub.com Becca Syme — Strengths for Writers: https://www.betterfasteracademy.com Gretchen Rubin — The Four Tendencies: https://gretchenrubin.com Canva: https://www.canva.com 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SPA GIRLS: 🌐 Website & free self-publishing resources: http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com 🎧 Listen on your favourite podcast app — search "SPA Girls Podcast" 💗 This podcast is supported by our amazing Patreon community! ⭐ Join at the $10 tier for access to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group where we discuss marketing, writing, and answer your burning questions:

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 — 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 Series. Whether you're a new indie author planning your first book launch or a seasoned self-published author looking to level up your release strategy, you'll walk away with practical tactics: the "rank vs bank" pre-order debate, why buffer time saves your sanity, and how to run a street team on Discord that turns readers into cheerleaders. #SelfPublishing #BookLaunch #IndieAuthor 👤 ABOUT HELEN B. SCHEUERER: Helen B. Scheuerer is the bestselling fantasy author of The Oremere Chronicles, Curse of the Cyren Queen, and The Legends of Thezmarr. Her work has been praised for its strong, flawed female characters and action-packed plots. She also publishes advice for authors through her nonfiction series, Books For Career Authors, and has been a full-time author since 2018. 🔗 https://www.helenscheuerer.com 📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED: How To Launch A Successful Series by Helen B. Scheuerer How To Write A Successful Series by Helen B. Scheuerer BookFunnel (for ARC delivery): https://bookfunnel.com 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SPA GIRLS: 🌐 Website & free self-publishing resources: http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com 🎧 Listen on your favourite podcast app — search "SPA Girls Podcast" 💗 This podcast is supported by our amazing Patreon community! ⭐ Join at the $10 tier for access to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group where we discuss marketing, writing, and answer your burning questions: http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast Subscribe so you never miss an episode! #WritingCommunity #WritingPodcast

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, and three publishing myths that need to die. Rachael has written more than two dozen books across thriller, mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir and nonfiction for writers. She publishes both traditionally and independently, which makes her one of the most useful people to ask about how those two paths really compare — money included. Rachael Herron is the international and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including fantasy, thrillers (under R.H. Herron), mainstream fiction, romance, memoir, and nonfiction about writing. She received her MFA in writing from Mills College, Oakland, and she's taught writing extension workshops at both UC Berkeley and Stanford. A dual New Zealand and American citizen, she lives in Wellington, New Zealand with her banjo-playing wife and brick-eating dog. Find Rachael: rachaelherron.com and on her How Do You Write podcast ℹ️ NOTE SINCE RECORDING: NaNoWriMo, which Rachael talks about in this episode, closed as an organisation in March 2025. The approach still works — if you're after a structured drafting challenge, indie author Sarra Cannon runs the Rough Draft Challenge: https://roughdraftchallenge.com/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SPA GIRLS: 🌐 Website & free self-publishing resources: http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com 🎧 Subscribe to our weekly episodes on your favourite podcast app — search "SPA Girls Podcast" ❤️ Watch our episode recordings on the SPA Girls Podcast You Tube Channel http://www.youtube.com/c/SPAGirlsPodcast 💗 This podcast is supported by our amazing Patreon community! ⭐ Join at the $10 tier for access to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group where we discuss marketing, writing, and answer your burning questions: http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast #SelfPublishing #romancewriter #writingpodcast #writingcommunity

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 name, how to market it, and what kind of social media/website and newsletter presence she wanted to have with the new genre/name. Danielle is a savvy businessperson, and you'll definitely pick up some excellent tips from this discussion... Danielle is also an organisational superstar, and we talk a little bit about how she organises all the various segments in her life so successfully! We loved chatting to her, and we're sure you're going to enjoy listening to this episode again! About Daniela Daniela Romero is a Snarky AF, Latinx Author, who happens to also be a Mom of 3. Born and raised in sunny California, she now makes her home in the Pacific Northwest and is happy to enjoy all four seasons even if the snow can sometimes be a bit much. She hates cheese—of all kinds—and yes that means she orders cheeseless pizza. Daniela is an ENTJ all the way which means she loves to talk (a lot) and is probably as extroverted as they come so feel free to shoot her a message, send a raven, throw up smoke signals. Whatever it may be. She love's chatting with readers so feel free to stalk her. Find her at: https://daniela-romero.com/ Danielle's bookbox business: https://baddiesbookshop.com/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SPA GIRLS: 🌐 Website & free self-publishing resources: http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com 🎧 Subscribe to our weekly episodes on your favourite podcast app — search "SPA Girls Podcast" 💗 This podcast is supported by our amazing Patreon community! ⭐ Join at the $10 tier for access to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group where we discuss marketing, writing, and answer your burning questions: http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast #authortube #SelfPublishing #IndieAuthor #romancewriter #SelfPublishing #romancewriter #writingpodcast #writingcommunity

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, and stay sane when the to-do list never ends. Corinne has lived it. After years of writing-to-market, chasing the algorithms, and running on a rapid-release treadmill, she hit deep burnout — the kind that doesn't lift after a weekend off. What she discovered on the way out became the foundation of The Calm Entrepreneur: a back-to-basics approach to the admin, systems, and daily rhythms that make or break an indie author career. We dig into why so many of us end up stressed and overwhelmed, how to spot the early warning signs before full burnout hits, and the practical fundamentals you can put in place so your author business works for you instead of running you into the ground. If you've ever thought "I love writing, so why does this feel so awful?" — this one's for you. In this episode we chat about: How writing-to-market and rapid release can quietly lead to burnout Why recovery isn't just about rest — it's about rebuilding your foundations The admin and systems most authors avoid (and what happens when you do) Getting back in touch with the things you've put on auto-pilot How to build a sustainable author business that still leaves room for a life Why organising is a skill, not a personality trait — and anyone can learn it Corinne's words say it best: "Before this burnout experience, I was not someone who operated from a place of stress. I loved my work and somehow got lost in the mire. Getting back to the place where I work in ease has been transformative for me, and it's something I think I need to share with the world. I believe it's possible to thrive in your business and live your full life without losing your mind in the process." 🔁 Classic Replay — This episode was originally recorded in 2022 and the advice is just as relevant today, maybe more so. About Corinne O'Flynn Corinne O'Flynn is a USA Today bestselling fiction author, certified life coach, certified Quantum Human Design™ specialist, podcaster, nonprofit executive director, and multi-passionate entrepreneur with over twenty years of experience being self-employed. She's on a mission to change the way we talk about work and life, productivity and success — helping authors, solopreneurs, and small business owners simplify their businesses, reconnect with their passion, and get it all done without the overwhelm. 🔗 Connect with Corinne: www.corinneoflynn.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!

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 on! About Kait Nolan Kait Nolan is a USA Today best selling, RITA® Award-winning Mississippi author who calls everyone sugar, honey, or darlin', and can wield a 'Bless your heart' like a Snuggie or a saber, depending on requirements. She believes in love, laughter, and that tacos are the world's most perfect food. When she's not writing, reading, or wrangling family (both the two-legged and the four-), you can find her obsessively watching The Great British Bake Off. You can check out her darker alter ego Harper Jackson for romantic suspense. Find her at : kaitnolan.com 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SPA GIRLS: 🌐 Website & free self-publishing resources: http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com 🎧 Subscribe to our weekly episodes on your favourite podcast app — search "SPA Girls Podcast" 💗 This podcast is supported by our amazing Patreon community! ⭐ Join at the $10 tier for access to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group where we discuss marketing, writing, and answer your burning questions: http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast #author #WritingPodcast #selfpublishing

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 short instalove romances. Knowing her reader's journey is vital to her success. In this episode we discuss Sadie's: short romance publishing strategy rapid release strategy targeted wordcounts for Amazon Kindle's 60m, 90m and 2 hour reads categories Techniques for writing short fiction Gaining visibility especially when you're just starting out Keep readers hooked from one book to the next Crafting a funnel for readers. Must-have scenes in short romance Making paid advertising work for short fiction Sadie's "must have" scenes for short romance: Quick meet cute Thrown together Get to the steam fast (1 – 3 steamy scenes) Conflict Resolution Epilogue She is currently writing 16k – 20k words with 1500 words (approx) per chapter; 2.99 price point Resources mentioned: Sadie's non-fiction book, Writing Short Romance for Pleasure & Profit, is a must-read for those writing short romance. Writing Short Romance for Pleasure and Profit: How I Became a Six Figure Author Writing Short Romance About Sadie King Sadie King is a USA Today Best Selling Author of over 120 short and steamy romance books and novellas. She loves to write about military heroes and the sassy curvy women who steal their hearts. Sadie lives in New Zealand with her ex-military husband and raucous young son. When she's not writing she loves catching waves with her son, hanging out at the beach, and drinking good wine, preferably with a book in hand. Visit authorsadieking.com 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SPA GIRLS: 🌐 Website & free self-publishing resources: http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com 🎧 Subscribe to our weekly episodes on your favourite podcast app — search "SPA Girls Podcast" 💗 This podcast is supported by our amazing Patreon community! ⭐ Join at the $10 tier for access to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group where we discuss marketing, writing, and answer your burning questions: http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast #WritingCommunity #WritingPodcast