In this episode, author R. A. Howitt shares his journey from aspiring writer to successful author and podcast host. We discuss the challenges of writing, the importance of community in the literary world, and his innovative projects aimed at supporting new authors. Richard emphasizes the significance of character development in storytelling and his unique approach to self-publishing, focusing on creating a niche market for his work. He introduces his book, Daniel King: ASD (Alien Specialist With Dad), which explores themes of neurodiversity and adventure, showcasing the strengths of its main character.

Keywords

writing, podcast, community, middle grade, self-publishing, Richard Howitt, authors, creativity, storytelling, mental health

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

07:05 Creation of New2TheScene

11:44 Writing Routine

17:35 Innovative Writing Projects

21:09 Books and Genre

26:24 Conventions of Middle Grade Genre

27:57 Plotting

33:53 Personal Favorites

39:41 Editing

47:36 Daniel King: ASD (Alien Specialist With Dad)

59:03 Self-Publishing Strategy and Community Engagement

Recommendations

Save The Cat! Writes A Novel by Jessica Brody

Editing and Proofreading Services: clevercrow.co.uk

Cover Design and Illustration: carlknapper.com

Guest Links

Instagram: @new2thescene.official

New2TheScene shop and community: https://www.new2thescene.co.uk/

Author Website: https://www.rahowitt.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, debut author Stefanie Medrek shares her journey into writing, the influence of her writer father, and her experiences with mentorship and self-publishing. She discusses her genre selection, the drafting process, and the importance of editing and professional help. Stefanie also reflects on her launch experience, marketing strategies, and the balance between writing and family life. Throughout the discussion, she emphasizes the significance of community support as the number one writer tool.

Keywords

writing, self-publishing, mentorship, editing, community, imposter syndrome, author journey, marketing strategies, genre selection, drafting process

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:49 The Journey of Writing and Family Influence

05:41 Choosing a Genre and Publishing Route

07:55 Drafting Process

11:02 Editing

13:32 Debut Novel Launch Strategy

16:40 Balancing Writing with Family Life

17:49 Debut Launch

21:08 Routine

22:35 Community

26:19 Promotion Strategies

27:40 Building an Author Brand

28:58 Finding Your Author Voice

31:41 Imposter Syndrome

35:09 Reviews and Feedback

37:26 Writing Advice

39:20 Reflections

42:33 Future Projects and Author Heroes

45:36 Resources on Writing

47:22 Connecting with Readers

Recommendations

Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast by Savannah Gilbo

Story Grid book and podcast

Notes to Novel course by Savannah Gilbo: https://www.savannahgilbo.com/store

Guest Links

Instagram / TikTok: @medrekwrites

Website: https://medrekwrites.com/

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0DF92RFQZ

Host

Instagram | TikTok: @kkalbabooks

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

Recorded with Riverside.fm.

Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay.

Summary

In this episode, bestselling historical romance author Eliana Piers shares her journey to becoming a prolific writer with over 21 published books. She discusses her writing process, the leap into self-publishing and her branding strategy. Eliana reflects on her achievements, including winning awards and reaching bestseller status, while also addressing the challenges. She emphasizes the significance of marketing and building a community. Eliana offers valuable advice for new authors, highlighting the importance of staying true to one's voice and how it ties into effective branding.

Keywords

historical romance, writing process, self-publishing, author journey, beta readers, marketing strategies, author voice, book awards, imposter syndrome, writing advice

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:36 The Spark of Writing: Bridgerton's Influence

05:29 The Journey to Self-Publishing

08:19 The Growth of an Author: 21 Books in 2 Years

11:21 Winning Awards and Bestselling Status

13:55 The Writing Process

21:56 The Importance of Beta Readers

24:24 Writing Routine

26:36 Collaborations and Anthologies

29:29 Author Voice

32:01 Writing Skills

37:17 Author Brand

43:29 Handling Reviews and Imposter Syndrome

47:50 Marketing Strategies for Authors

53:50 Writing Advice

Recommendations

Romancing The Beat by Gwen Hayess

The Writing Gals Facebok Group

Kindlepreneur - Book Marketing for Self-Publishing Authors: https://kindlepreneur.com/

Craft books on romance tropes by Cindy Dees

Guest Links

Facebook Reader Group — Eliana's Beau Monde Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/elianasbeaumondereadergroup/

Join Eliana’s Newsletter: https://www.bit.ly/SweetenTheRogue

Instagram: @elianapiersauthor

TikTok: @elianapiers

Website: https://elianapiers.com/

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0C6GF28N1

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 Lindsay Lovise shares her journey as a writer, discussing her background, the challenges she faced, and her unique writing process. She emphasizes the importance of community, reading widely, and the balance between writing and personal life. Lindsay also delves into the intricacies of the publishing world, her experiences with imposter syndrome, and the significance of finding one's author voice. Throughout the discussion, she offers valuable insights and advice for aspiring writers. This episode is a treasure trove of inspiration and practical tips!

Keywords

Lindsay Lovise, writing journey, author voice, publishing, romance novels, writing process, overcoming writer's block, marketing strategies, writing advice, author interviews

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:53 Writing Journey

05:10 The Craft of Writing

09:56 Genres and Inspirations

16:33 Writing Process and Routine

21:10 Overcoming Challenges in Writing

25:19 Navigating the Publishing Landscape

28:31 Understanding Author Voice

31:30 Identifying Weaknesses in Writing

33:13 Writing Advice

35:25 Building a Writing Community

36:33 The Persistence of a Writer

38:23 Crafting Emotional Connections in Romance

42:11 The Role of Conflict in Romance

45:21 Promoting New Releases and Author Engagement

Recommendations

On Writing by Stephen King

Save The Cat! Writes A Novel by Jessica Brody

Romancing The Beat by Gwen Hayes

Guest Links

Instagram: @lindsaylovise

Website: https://lindsaylovise.com/

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0C6Z4LCM8

Host

Instagram | TikTok: @kkalbabooks

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

Recorded with Riverside.fm.

Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay.

Summary

In this episode, I interview Alivia Fleur, an Australian author known for her historical romance novels. Alivia shares her journey into writing, her experiences with self-publishing, and the importance of community and support among writers. She discusses her writing process, the challenges of balancing health with her creative work, and her unique approach to storytelling that includes unconventional (but still happy) endings!

Keywords

writing, publishing, historical romance, indie authors, writing process, editing, community, health, storytelling, character development

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Content Warning

02:32 Writing Journey

10:32 Finding Readers and Community

13:31 Awards and Recognition in Writing

15:54 Exploring Unconventional Happy Endings

18:52 The Impact of Reader Feedback

21:29 Navigating the Romance Genre

26:39 Non-Traditional Happily Ever Afters

36:34 The Discovery Writing Process

41:35 Line Level Writing

46:17 Editing and Feedback Mechanisms

49:34 Balancing Health and Writing

01:01:14 Writing Influences and Heroes

01:05:04 Exploring Literary Techniques

01:09:24 Navigating the Publishing Landscape

01:14:04 Writing Advice

01:18:22 Craft Recommendations

01:23:21 Supporting Indie Authors

Recommendations

Writers Beware: https://writerbeware.blog/

Writers Beware Facebook Group

Alliance of Independent Authors: https://www.allianceindependentauthors.org/

Kate Forsyth’s writing courses: https://kateforsyth.com.au/event/upcoming-talks-workshop/

Creating Character Arcs by K.M. Weiland

K.M. Weiland’s podcast

The Invisible College podcast

Guest Links

Instagram: @aliviafleur_writes

Website and store: https://aliviafleurbooks.com/

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B09RXTFXDK

Host

Instagram | TikTok: @kkalbabooks

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

Recorded with Riverside.fm.

Music by Denis Pavlov from Pixabay.

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.