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.

Women have been involved in pharmacy since they were called apothecaries, but as the profession transitioned into modern medicine, women were left behind. It wasn’t until the mid to late 1800s that women were being recognized as pharmacists. In this special episode for Women Pharmacists Day, Dr. Carlene Link and I discuss the current state of women in pharmacy, our experience as women pharmacists, and our predictions for the future of pharmacy. This is an episode you don’t want to miss!

Grab Carlene's Free SOS Guide.

Click here for the full show notes

October is American Pharmacists Month, it could also be the month that pharmacists go on strike to protest poor working conditions and unsafe staffing. In this episode I dive into the history of the pharmacy profession, the rise of chain drugstores and PBMs, and the questions surrounding the possible walkouts in the near future.

I went a little crazy with the resources for this one so if you want any of the references, you can click here for the full show notes.

Join me for another episode as I dive into the world of board certification in pharmacy specialties. If you're a recent pharmacy graduate, in a residency, or within two years of graduation, this episode is just for you. Discover the pros and cons, gain insights on making the right choice, and get ready for a deeper dive into this important career decision. Episode resources: Get my Free Guide for New Pharmacists: https://www.happypharmlife.com/mistakes Exam Results History: https://bpsweb.org/exam-results-history/ BPS Specialties: https://bpsweb.org/bps-specialties/ BPS Candidate’s Guide: https://bpsweb.org/candidates-guide/ How to Apply for the BCPPS Exam: https://youtu.be/IgypCGgqW_g Taking the BCPPS Exam? Watch this First: https://youtu.be/BqlR65B_eJk

Inbox overwhelm is a real thing. If you have ever stared at your inbox hoping all the emails would magically disappear, you understand what I'm talking about. In this episode, I share how I manage the 15,000 emails that come through my inbox each month as an investigational drug service pharmacist as well as my organizational strategies to keep everything straight.

Join New Pharmacist Society: https://www.newpharmacistsociety.com

Full Show Notes: https://www.happypharmlife.com/126

In this episode, I am comparing 3 common areas of pharmacy: community, hospital, and industry. We are diving into the job duties, the hours, where these pharmacists work, and how much they are paid. You don't want to miss out on this episode! Resources for Residency Candidates: Residency Interview Masterclass: https://www.happypharmlife.com/residency-interview-masterclass-sign-up-form Rock Solid Rank List Guide: In this episode, I am comparing 3 common areas of pharmacy: community, hospital, and industry. We are diving into the job duties, the hours, where these pharmacists work, and how much they are paid. You don't want to miss out on this episode! Resources for Residency Candidates: Residency Interview Masterclass Rock Solid Rank List Guide

Full show note can be found here.