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.

Historical romance author Anna Bradley shares her journey into writing, the challenges of crafting stories set in the Regency and Georgian eras, and her experiences with traditional publishing. She discusses her writing process, the importance of character development, and the ever-present imposter syndrome that many writers face. Anna also offers valuable advice for aspiring authors, emphasizing the significance of reading widely and finding one's unique voice in writing. As she prepares for the release of her latest book, 'The Duke's Christmas Bride,' Anna reflects on her growth as a writer and the joy of storytelling.

Keywords

historical romance, writing process, Anna Bradley, publishing, imposter syndrome, character development, deep third POV, writing advice, querying agents, full-time author

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

07:23 Background

16:57 Writing Process

22:19 Craft Book Recommendation: 'Damn Fine Story' by Chuck Wendig

26:25 Editing Process

30:03 Challenges of Coming Up with New Stories

33:03 Choosing the Right Words for Mood and Style

40:50 Exploring Point of View in Historical Romance

46:51 Mastering Deep Third Point of View

01:00:31 The Pros and Cons of Traditional and Indie Publishing

01:04:15 The Importance of Reading Widely

01:08:14 Check Out 'The Duke's Christmas Bride'

Recommendations

Billy Mernit – Writing the Romantic Comedy

James Scott Bell – Plot & Structure

Larry Brooks – Story Engineering

Chuck Wendig – Damn Fine Story

Robert McKee – Story Structure

Stephen King – On Writing

John Vorhaus – The Comic Toolbox

Marcy Kennedy – Deep Point of View

Anna Lamott – Bird by Bird

Anything by Michael Hague – his books are about writing screenplays, but his advice also applies to novelists.

Guest Links

Instagram | TikTok: @annabradleyauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annabradley472

Website: https://www.annabradley.net/

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0034PP4M2

Host

Instagram | TikTok: @kkalbabooks

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

Recorded with Riverside.fm.

Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay.

Lainey Lockett shares her journey from avid reader to indie romance author, discussing her writing process, the importance of community, and the challenges of balancing life and writing. She emphasizes the significance of developmental editing, building an audience, and utilizing tools. Lainey also highlights her inspirations in the romance genre and offers valuable advice for aspiring authors.

Keywords

Lainey Lockett, indie author, romance writing, writing process, editing, book promotion, author success, Pacific Northwest, cozy romance, writing community

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:52 Background

01:44 Discovering Self-Publishing

03:06 Author Heroes

04:17 Definition of Success

05:40 Building an Audience

06:27 Writing Process and Tools

10:56 Editing Process

20:17 ARC Readers and Promotion

24:01 Scrivener for Outlining

30:37 Plotting and Structure

32:53 Balancing Writing

36:19 Setting as a Branding Strategy

39:03 The Best and Worst Writing Advice

41:29 Building an Author Community

44:10 Books and Future Plans

45:37 Where Can You Find Laney?

Recommendations

• The Smutty Authors Support Group on Facebook
• Romancing The Beat by Gwen Hayes
• The Fussy Librarian Newsletter
• The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi
• Naughty Words For Nice Writers: A Romance Novel Thesaurus by Cara Bristol
• The Truly Successful Author by Maria Secoy

Guest Links

Instagram | TikTok: @laney_lockett

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0CCZKVQJY

Host

Instagram | TikTok: @kkalbabooks

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

Recorded with Riverside.fm.

Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay.

Romance author Sienna Zini shares her journey from a career in accounting to pursuing her passion for writing. We discuss her decision to self-publish, the themes in her dark romance novels and the importance of content warnings, and her unique writing process as a pantser. She also shares her take on the challenges of imposter syndrome, her definition of success, and the role of community for new writers. Hope you enjoy!

Sienna’s new book — Strangers By Fate — releases October 31st 2024! Preorder here: ⁠https://a.co/d/cFS0psF

⁠Keywords

Sienna Zini, indie publishing, writing process, dark romance, imposter syndrome, author success, character development, editing, writing advice, reader engagement

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:04 Background

04:41 Publishing The First Book

06:31 Writing In English As A Second Language

08:46 Writing Psychology Of Love

11:37 Putting Yourself Into Your Books

13:19 Writing Process

16:56 The Importance of Content Warnings

18:53 Editing Proces

26:13 Intuitive Writing

30:58 Writing Mafia Romance

32:54 Impostor Syndrom

35:16 Critique Partners

39:37 Reading Reviews

42:56 Defining Success as a Writer

47:49 Author Heroes

52:07 Greatest Weakness

53:17 ARC Readers

56:56 Writing Advice

01:02:47 New Romantasy Release!

Guest Links

Instagram | TikTok: @authorsiennazini

Website: ⁠https://www.siennazini.net/

⁠Amazon author page:⁠ https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sienna-Zini/author/B0BNQTV768

⁠Next release: Strangers By Fate (a fated mates romantasy, out 10/31/2024): ⁠https://a.co/d/cFS0psF⁠

Host

Instagram | TikTok: @kkalbabooks

Email: ⁠k.k.alba.books@gmail.com⁠

Recorded with Riverside.fm.

Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay.

Liz Shipton, a freelance writer and indie author, shares her unique journey of living off-grid while sailing around the world and turning her adventures into speculative fiction. We discuss her writing process, the challenges and rewards of self-publishing, and the impact of her TikTok fame on her career as an author. We also talk about the use of AI for non-creative tasks of our creative journeys.

Liz’s new book — her trad debut — releases next summer. More info: https://blog.lizshipton.com/dot-slash-magic

Keywords

Liz Shipton, TikTok, indie author, writing process, self-publishing, social media marketing, off-grid living, book promotion, writing advice, mental health themes, speculative fiction, dystopian romance

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Liz Shipton's Background

05:15 Background

08:50 Writing Process

10:15 Publishing Strategy

13:08 Getting An Agent Through Social Media

15:00 Traditional and Indie Publishing

15:36 New Book!

16:23 TikTok Fame

23:56 Plotting And The First Draft

27:35 Editing Process

31:03 Beta Readers and ARC Readers

35:04 Dealing with Reviews and Feedback

39:36 Biggest Weakness

46:04 Writing Advice

47:57 Recommendations

49:56 Using AI For Time-Consuming Tasks

54:46 Write To Live Or Live To Write?

01:02:25 Where To Find Liz

Recommendations

• A Most Wanted Man by John le Carré
• Understanding Show, Don't Tell (And Really Getting It) by Janice Hardy
• Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
• Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel by Lisa Cron
• 20BooksTo50K Facebook group

Guest Links

Instagram | TikTok: @lizshipton

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lizshipton

Website: https://lizshipton.com/

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BN4YHLXF

Shop: https://shop.lizshipton.com/

Host

Instagram | TikTok: @kkalbabooks

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

Recorded with Riverside.fm.

Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay.

In this episode, author H.R. Lloyd shares her journey from an aspiring writer to a published romance author! We discuss her diverse writing interests, the impact of her creative writing education, and her unique writing process. We also delve into the challenges of self-publishing, the importance of beta readers and ARC teams, and her strategies for marketing her books. Hannah is full of valuable advice, and is all around amazing person to chat with!

Keywords

H.R. Lloyd, romance author, writing process, self-publishing, creative writing, character development, marketing for authors, beta readers, ARC readers, writing advice

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:11 Writing Journey

07:24 The Value of Creative Writing Education

13:26 Writing Process

19:24 Plotter Or Pantser

24:13 Routine

26:30 Editing And Deadlines

29:48 Resources and Support for Aspiring Authors

34:13 Beta Readers

35:36 ARC Readers

41:03 Using Social Media for Marketing

45:26 Definition Of Success

48:38 Author Heroes

52:23 Best and Worst Writing Advice

55:53 Recommendations

1:00:34 Upcoming Christmas Novella

Recommendations

• The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression by Angela Akcerman and Becca Puglisi
• Thinking Like A Romance Writer: The Sensual Writer's Sourcebook of Words and Phrases by Dahlia Evans
• The 5 Sentence Method: How to Write Your D*mn Book, Already by Rebecca Thorne

Guest Links

Instagram: @author_h.r.lloyd

TikTok: @han_ro_ll

Website: https://hrlloyd.co.uk/

Preorder the new Christmas novella coming out Nov 1st 2024: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Two-Purple-Gloves-Christmas-Rom-Com-ebook/dp/B0DDDVBY3G?ref_=ast_author_mpb

Host

Instagram | TikTok: @kkalbabooks

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

Recorded with Riverside.fm.

Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay.