In this episode, Mike sits down with the multi-talented Dr. Sharifah Akilah Trinay Parr, a PhD, author, consultant, and the founder of both Revision Publishing and RP Books.

Akilah shares her journey from being a high school English teacher to becoming an "accidental entrepreneur" in the publishing world. We dive deep into the nuances of hybrid publishing, the importance of owning your intellectual property, and the reality of building a brick-and-mortar bookstore to support local and independent authors.

Key topics discussed in this episode:

• The Hybrid Approach: How to act as a consultant and accountability partner for authors rather than just a traditional publisher.
• The Author-Publisher Model: Reimagining publishing so that authors retain more control and ownership of their work.
• Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Practical advice on embracing your unique professional identity and not getting bogged down by online reviews.
• Marketing & Distribution: Strategies for getting your books onto independent bookstore shelves and balancing Amazon with other platforms like IngramSpark.
• The Power of Community: Why connecting with fellow creators is essential for long-term success.

Whether you are at the brainstorming stage of your first manuscript or you are a seasoned indie author looking to scale your brand, this conversation offers invaluable insights into the business and heart of independent publishing.

• Website: www.revisionpub.com
• Social Media: Search RP Books Bookstore or Revision Publishing LLC on Instagram, Facebook, and X (Twitter).

The Bay Area Independent Publishers Association (BAIPA) is a volunteer-run community dedicated to elevating the art and business of indie publishing. Join our global community of authors and professionals!

• Website: baipa.org

Watch the video of this interview

#IndiePublishing #SelfPublishing #AuthorLife #HybridPublishing #WritingCommunity #BookMarketing #BAIPA #IndieAuthorsTellAll

In this episode, Becky welcomes authors Nita Winter and Rob Badger to discuss their extraordinary journey of self-publishing.

What began as a 30-year passion for photographing California's wildflowers evolved into a prestigious award-winning coffee table book: Beauty and the Beast: California Wildflowers and Climate Change. Nita and Rob share the raw, real-world details of the independent publishing path—from the challenges of managing a diverse group of 16 professional essayists to the logistical complexities of overseas printing and high-quality book design.

Highlights include:

• The Power of Control: Why they chose independent publishing over traditional routes to maintain creative vision and content sequencing.
• Collaborative Success: How they partnered with organizations like the California Native Plant Society and professional designers to elevate their work.
• Breaking Barriers through Accessibility: An inspiring look at their groundbreaking project to create an image-described audiobook, making the beauty of nature accessible to the visually impaired community.
• Lessons Learned: The importance of marketing, the realities of long-term production timelines, and the value of finding the right professional "fit" for your team.

Whether you are a photographer looking to publish a collection or an author navigating the complexities of multi-author projects, Nita and Rob’s story is a masterclass in perseverance, passion, and the power of community.

• Visit the Authors: wildflowerbooks.com
• Join the Community: BAIPA.org (Bay Area Independent Publishers Association)
• Watch the video of this episode

#IndiePublishing #SelfPublishing #WildflowerPhotography #ClimateChangeAwareness #AccessiblePublishing #IndieAuthors #BookDesign #NaturePhotography #BAIPA #IndieAuthorsTellAll

In this episode, Mike sits down with the incredibly prolific Gini Graham Scott to explore how she manages a massive, multi-disciplinary career spanning books, films, games, and music.

Gini shares her unique philosophy of "playing life as a game" and demonstrates how she uses cutting-edge AI tools to streamline her creative process—from generating book illustrations and brainstorming chapter outlines to developing game mechanics. We dive deep into the practicalities of being a "Creative Director" of your own life, managing a global team of virtual assistants, and navigating the ethical complexities of AI in the modern publishing landscape.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• Multi-Stream Creativity: How to tie different mediums (writing, gaming, film, music) together into a cohesive brand.
• AI as a Tool: Practical ways to use AI for research, illustrations, and overcoming writer's block without losing your personal voice.
• Time Management & Delegation: How to manage multiple projects simultaneously by segmenting time and leveraging virtual assistants.
• The Business of Indie Publishing: Insights into using platforms like Amazon, ACX, and SongTrader to monetize various creative outputs.

• Main Website: https://www.changemakerspublishingandwriting.com/

Watch the video of this episode

Looking for community, guidance, and professional growth? BAIPA is a volunteer-run educational community dedicated to the art and business of independent publishing.

Website: BAIPA.org

#IndiePublishing #AuthorLife #AIinWriting #CreativeEntrepreneur #SelfPublishing #BAIPA #IndieAuthors #WritingCommunity #Gamification

In this episode, Becky sits down with BAIPA member and author Carolyn C.J. Jones to discuss her transformative journey through writing, publishing, and personal healing.

Carolyn shares the fascinating origin of her pen name and dives into the creative process behind her books: the poetic imagery of Opening the Gates of the Heart, the life-changing lessons in The Art of Forgiveness, and her recent memoir, Beyond Childhood Trauma. Beyond the personal stories, Carolyn offers invaluable insights into the realities of independent publishing—from the importance of establishing a searchable brand to the challenges of marketing and the life-saving benefits of joining a community like the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association (BAIPA).

Whether you are an author looking for encouragement or a reader seeking a path toward peace and healing, this conversation offers profound inspiration on how storytelling can facilitate deep personal transformation.

• Branding as an Author: Why Googling your name is a vital first step.
• The Creative Spark: How journaling and photography merged to create evocative verse.
• The Path to Peace: Moving from victimhood to forgiveness using the "Yippee Method."
• Navigating the Indie Landscape: The role of community and continuous learning in publishing and marketing.

Author Website: carolyncjjones.com

BAIPA (Bay Area Independent Publishers Association): baipa.org

Audiobooks: amplifyaudiobooks.com

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube

#IndieAuthors #SelfPublishing #WritingCommunity #Forgiveness #PersonalTransformation #AuthorLife #BAIPA #IndiePublishing #HealingThroughWriting #Memoir

In this episode, we sit down with Karin Fisher-Golton, a multi-talented children's book author and specialized editor, to explore the unique landscape of independent publishing for young readers.

Karin shares her fascinating journey from using crowdfunding to launch her board book, My Amazing Day, to diving deep into historical research for her time-travel novel, The Clock and the Boulder. We discuss the intricacies of children's book editing, why developmental and structural editing are vital for young audiences, and how to ensure your manuscript hits the right age demographic.

Whether you are an aspiring author looking to master your "elevator pitch," a writer interested in the benefits of poetry for honing your prose, or an indie publisher seeking community, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration.

• https://karinfisher-golton.com/
• https://www.pacificdogwoodpress.com/
• https://www.baipa.org
• See the video interview on YouTube

#indieauthor #selfpublishing #childrensbooks #crowdfunding #writingtips #bookediting #BAIPA #indiepublishing #authorcommunity

In this episode of Indie Authors Tell All, host Judy M. Baker sits down with Dan Miller, famously known as "The Copyright Detective," to navigate the complex and rapidly changing landscape of intellectual property in the era of Artificial Intelligence.

As AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT continue to evolve, independent authors face new challenges: How much can you use AI before you lose your copyright? Is your work being "scraped" without permission? And most importantly, what practical steps can you take right now to protect your creative assets?

Whether you are a novelist, a blogger, or a non-fiction author, this episode provides a much-needed roadmap for "hardening" your work against the digital onslaught. Listen to hear a discussion about the AI Copyright dilemma, the three- month rule, dealing with web scraping, practical AI usage, and avoiding common pitfalls.

Learn more about Dan:

https://thecopyrightdetective.com/consulting/

Learn more about the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association (BAIPA): https://www.baipa.org

See the full video interview: BAIPA's YouTube Channel

#IndieAuthor #Copyright #AI #Self-Publishing #WritingCommunity #IntellectualProperty #AuthorsGuild #IndiePublishing #Podcast #BAIPA

In this episode of Indie Authors Tell All, host Mike Van Horn talks with Patricia Sullivan, author of Overland Before the Hippie Trail: Kathmandu and Beyond, With a Van, a Man and No Plan. Patricia shares the remarkable true story of a two-year journey she and her husband took in 1965, driving a VW van from Europe through the Middle East and Asia all the way to Nepal and beyond.

Patricia discusses how decades later she transformed old journals, letters, maps, and photographs into a compelling memoir, the challenges of writing about experiences from 60 years ago, and what she learned about indie publishing. She also shares the exciting news that Stanford University is archiving and digitizing her original travel materials for future generations.

Learn more about Patricia and her book: https://patriciansullivan.com

Learn more about the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association (BAIPA): https://www.baipa.org

#TravelMemoir #MemoirWriting #IndieAuthor #SelfPublishing #TravelWriting #AdventureStory #VanLife #WritingCommunity #AuthorInterview #HistoricalTravel #BookPodcast #WritersLife #Storytelling #BAIPA #IndependentPublishing

In this episode of Indie Authors Tell All, host Becky Parker Geist chats with Michelle St. Romain, author of the debut novel, "Song of Belonging." Michelle shares her writing journey, the inspiration behind her literary fiction/magical realism novel set in French Louisiana, and the importance of community in independent publishing. Discover how a childhood memory sparked a story of family, mystery, and environmental awareness.

Learn more about Michelle and her book:

• Michelle St. Romain: https://michellestromain.com
• "Song of Belonging" available wherever books are sold
• https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Song-of-Belonging/Michelle-St-Romain/9798896361268

• Bay Area Independent Publishers Association (BAIPA): https://baipa.org

#IndieAuthors #IndependentPublishing #LiteraryFiction #MagicalRealism #SouthernFiction #BookLaunch #AuthorInterview #WritingCommunity #MichelleStRomain #SongOfBelonging #BAIPA