In this episode A.N. Caudle shares her journey as a debut author in the romantasy genre, discussing the intricacies of writing, self-publishing, and marketing. She delves into the differences between romantasy and traditional fantasy, her writing process, and the importance of community support. She also offers valuable insights on balancing writing with family life, the significance of feedback, and the challenges of navigating reader reviews. With a focus on authenticity and personal voice, A.N. Caudle inspires aspiring authors to pursue their passion and connect with their audience.

Keywords

A.N. Caudle, Romantasy, self-publishing, writing process, marketing strategies, author community, book recommendations, editing, reader engagement, writing advice

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to A.N. Caudle and Romantasy

01:38 Defining Romantasy vs. Fantasy

06:04 The Journey to Becoming a Writer

08:41 Writing Process: Plotting vs. Pantsing

11:17 Editing: From Draft to Final Product

15:15 Building a Writing Community

19:53 The Evolution of the Realms In Peril Trilogy

22:05 Creative Process of Writing Romantasy

27:16 Journey to Self-Publishing

31:12 Audiobook Production

36:40 Special Editions and Book Signings

41:33 Balancing Writing with Daily Life

46:32 Marketing Strategies for Authors

55:38 Writing Techniques and Stylistic Choices

01:02:54 Finding Inspiration and Support in the Community

Recommendations

The Writing Gals Facebook Group

WordHippo.com for creative inspiration

Guest Links

Instagram | TikTok: @ancaudleauthor

Website: https://www.ancaudle.com/

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0CT969NHG

Host

Instagram | TikTok: @kkalbabooks

Email: k.k.alba.books@gmail.com

Recorded with Riverside.fm.

Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay.

Check out Tracy’s latest release - Tall, Dark And December!

Bestselling historical romance author Tracy Sumner shares her journey through writing and publishing, discussing her experience with the Duchess Society series, the challenges of navigating the publishing landscape, and her unique approach to character development and historical accuracy. Tracy emphasizes the importance of writing for oneself, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the evolution of her writing process over the years. We discusses the importance of an active presence on social media, particularly Instagram and TikTok, and how it helps authors connect with readers. Tracy emphasizes the importance of being a reader first, shares her creative process for writing romance novels and offers valuable advice for aspiring writers, encouraging them to focus on writing and not get too caught up in trends. The discussion also touches on her upcoming projects and the evolving role of authors as publishers in the modern literary landscape.

Keywords

Tracy Sumner, historical romance, writing process, publishing, character development, Duchess Society, self-publishing, imposter syndrome, social media, reader engagement, writing advice, creative process, romance novels, aspiring authors, book marketing, author community, historical romance, TikTok

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:38 The Journey of Writing Historical Romance

05:13 Navigating Success and Pressure in Writing

12:07 Exploring Novellas and Storytelling

16:34 Crafting Distinct Characters

20:21 Embracing the Writing Process

23:00 The Journey of Writing and Publishing

34:45 Navigating the Changing Landscape of Publishing

46:06 Crafting the Perfect Manuscript

57:43 The Role of Social Media in Author Engagement

01:09:38 Advice for Aspiring Writers

Recommendations

Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott

On Writing by Stephen King

Guest Links

Instagram: @tracysumnerromance

TikTok: @tracy_sumner_romance

Website: https://www.tracy-sumner.com/

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000APFV3G

Facebook Reader’s Group: The Contrary Countesses

Host

Instagram | TikTok: @kkalbabooks

Email: k.k.alba.books@gmail.com

Recorded with Riverside.fm.

Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay.

K.H. Anastasia, an indie romance author, shares her journey to a published author. We discuss the challenges of navigating burnout, the intricacies of writing in a second language, and the unique experiences of being a European author in the indie publishing world. Kiira emphasizes the importance of mental health, the writing process, and offers valuable advice for aspiring writers.

K.H. Anastasia’s writing/publishing process

1. First draft

2. First self-edits

3. First editor round

4. Second self-edits

5. Beta reading

6. Third self-edits

7. Second editor round

8. Fourth self-edits

9. Proofreader

Keywords

K.H. Anastasia, indie author, writing process, burnout, mental health, European authors, publishing, romance novels, writing in English, author advice

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:43 Navigating Burnout and Mental Health

05:30 The Journey to Becoming an Indie Author

08:35 Background

17:42 First Drafts

21:20 Writing And Editing Process

39:03 Writing Routine

44:03 Navigating Writing in a Second Language

51:19 Publishing Challenges for European Authors

57:11 Supporting European Authors

01:10:34 Writing Diversity as a Non-American Author

01:14:12 Realistic Writing Advice for Aspiring Authors

Recommendations

Romancing The Beat by Gwen Hayes

Character Reactions From Head To Toe by Valerie Howard

Strong Verbs for Fiction Writers by Valerie Howard

Helpful Adjectives For Fiction Writers by Valerie Howard

Naughty Words For Nice Writers by Cara Bristol

Guest Links

Instagram | TikTok: @khanastasiawrites

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B09MLYQHMJ

Host

Instagram | TikTok: @kkalbabooks

Email: k.k.alba.books@gmail.com

Recorded with Riverside.fm.

Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay.