How do you make email marketing work for your author business—not against it?

In this episode, creativity coach Jen Graybeal talks with Y. M. Nelson, author of The Accidental Swipe and host of the Nerdy Romantics podcast. Together, they dive deep into building a sustainable writing career—we talk about knowing who you are and what you want, and how that translates to better newsletters and marketing as an indie author.

Y.M. shares her journey from writing tech manuals to publishing spicy, nerdy romance and romantic women’s fiction that celebrates emotional growth and representation. She opens up about the free learning available from webinars and critique partners, and deciding when to invest in coaching or paid tools.

Jen and Y.M. also unpack practical business strategies for authors:

• Building an engaged email list and improving click rates
• Choosing marketing tools that fit your stage of growth
• Navigating the “in‑between” years—when you’ve outgrown the beginner stage but aren’t yet full‑time

Where to find Y. M. Nelson

Website: ymnelson.com

Newsletter Subscription: ymnelson.com/subscribe

@authorymnelson on BlueSky, Threads, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest

@ymnelsonauthor on Facebook

Y.M. Nelson books on Bookshop.org: Bookshop.org US

She is currently writing The On Purpose Wedding, book 3 in the Accidental Lovers trilogy

The Nerdy Romantics Podcast

The Nerdy Romantics Podcast: Nerdyromanticspodcast.com

@nerdyromanticspodcast on YouTube

NerdyRomantics Podcast is everywhere you get podcasts

Links for everything we discussed

MailChimp: Email & SMS Marketing Platform | Mailchimp

MailerLite: https://www.mailerlite.com/

Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody: https://amzn.to/4bPfGBn

Save the Cat by Blake Snyder: https://amzn.to/4drYcfK

Story Engineering: Mastering the Six Core Competencies of Successful Writing by Larry Brooks: https://amzn.to/47GiBKb

Story Genius by Lisa Cron: https://amzn.to/4verftI

The Joy of Writing Sex: A Guide for Fiction Authors by Elizabeth Benedict: https://amzn.to/4drYjba

Cheris Hodges: About – Cheris Hodges

Hoopla: hoopladigital.com/home

Y.M. Nelson on Bookshop.org: Bookshop.org US

20 Books to 50k Facebook Group: 20BooksTo50K® | Facebook

The Rules of a Rebound by Julie Carver: https://amzn.to/4cje3vX

Work It: A 6- Week Coaching Intensive for Authors

Information, Wait List Sign Up, testimonials: https://www.jentheeditor.com/work-it

Where to find Jen

Website: https://www.jentheeditor.com/
All the socials: @jentheeditor

Subscribe to Jen's newsletter for Author Marketing and Mental Health tips

https://www.jentheeditor.com/subscribe