Do ARC readers actually make a difference? Short answer: a huge one.

In this episode I'm sharing the real stories of two authors I've crossed paths with, Sarah Marie Paige and Paula Lafferty, who both started out indie published and ended up traditionally published, with ARC readers playing a part in how they got there. If you've ever wondered whether the time you spend reading and reviewing books before release actually adds up to something, this is your proof that it does.

We get into how a single recommendation turned into a sale a year later, how one author's writing process went viral, and why a detailed Goodreads review matters so much more than a star rating.

RESOURCES AND LINKS

Grab my free guide: https://programs.happypharmlife.com/htgarcs

Five ways I've gotten ARCs, plus how to get started as a reviewer.

Want to skip the trial and error I went through? The ARC Reviewer Bootcamp walks you through the whole process in 5 days: https://programs.happypharmlife.com/arcbcog

Watch my Illusion of the Stars review next: https://youtu.be/FFGNGdcDeNU

BOOKS MENTIONED:

Illusion of the Stars by Sarah Marie Paige (traditionally published February 2027): https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Illusion-of-Stars-by-Sarah-Marie-Page/9781037419867

The Once and Future Queen by Paula Lafferty: https://geni.us/a19DPM

Keeper of the Grail by Paula Lafferty: https://geni.us/Peh4V

FIND ME HERE:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf8n3UqviTfYpsgU8HjER8w?sub_confirmation=1

Blog: https://happypharmlife.com

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/happypharmlife/

Scribes Quadrant on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scribesquadrant/

Some links above are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. I only recommend books and products I genuinely use and love. Thank you for supporting Happy Pharm Life!

I read 77 books in one year while working full time as a pharmacist, and finding the time to read more came down to a few simple swaps. No 5am wake ups, no giving up sleep, no reading "hacks" that fall apart the second real life gets busy.

In this episode I walk through exactly where my hours were going and the easy trades that added up fast, from cutting screen time to turning scroll time into reading time, leaning on audiobooks, using deadlines and ARCs, and finding book clubs that keep me accountable. And no, you do not have to read 77. Reading one more book than you did last year absolutely counts.

FREE GUIDE: How to Get Free Books Before They Are Published

I had less than 1,000 followers when I started getting ARCs and PR boxes in my mailbox. This free guide walks you through the five ways I have gotten books early, no huge following required.https://programs.happypharmlife.com/htgarcs

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 The 77 books thing

0:26 My schedule and where I'm starting from

2:33 Audit your screen time first

4:05 Cutting back on social media

5:24 Turning scroll time into reading time

5:36 Why I read multiple books at once

6:25 The daily habit that made it stick

8:04 Yes, audiobooks count

9:48 Fitting physical books into a busy day

10:38 Using deadlines and ARCs to read more

12:17 Book clubs are so underrated

13:22 Why the number does not actually matter

14:43 Where I'm at this year

BOOKS & TOOLS I MENTIONED

**Some links below are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. I only recommend books and products I genuinely use and love. Thank you for supporting Happy Pharm Life!**The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells: https://geni.us/6DZqkjqThe House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune: https://geni.us/IXphV9NDungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman: https://geni.us/9LZbwjStoryGraph (free, this is what I use to track my reading and keep my streak alive): https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/happypharmlifeFable (great for finding virtual book clubs): fable.co/fabler/sierra-richard-172630933770

FIND ME

Blog: https://happypharmlife.com

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/happypharmlife/

Scribes Quadrant on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scribesquadrant/

Business Email: sierrarichard@happypharmlife.com

PPS or the Personnel Placement Service could be a game changer for your pharmacy career, but what exactly is PPS? How should you prepare? Is it really worth the cost? In this episode, Dr. Micaela Hayes and I dive into navigating the PPS process at ASHP Midyear so you are ready to make the most out of your ASHP Midyear experience!

Mentioned in this episode:

• Residency Resources from Dr. Micaela Hayes
• Pharmacy Residency Application Workshop Registration

About this week's guest, Dr. Micaela Hayes:

Micaela Hayes, PharmD is a clinical ambulatory care pharmacist who completed her PGY1 pharmacy residency in ambulatory care at Wake Forest Baptist Health and her PGY2, also in ambulatory care, at Duke University Hospital.

She is the CEO and Founder of a company called Tailored Pharmacist Services, which provides personalized clinical pharmacist access to physician offices, patients, businesses, and pharmacy learners through clinical pharmacist consulting services.

She is also known as the @TheFaithfulPharmD on Instagram and YouTube, where she creates free content and provides personalized, one-on-one coaching to help pharmacy learners successfully navigate the pharmacy residency application process.

She personally completed ASHP's Personal Placement Services (PPS) during her PGY2 residency application season as well as during her job search at the 2022 Midyear Clinical Meeting.