Recent Posts

• April 6, 2017Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP76 – First Quarter Goals

  This week we sit down and talk through our self publishing goals for the first quarter, and how we've been going with our writing. It's a bit of a mixed bag, with some of us having achieved our goals and others not so much. But there's always something to learn from our highs and lows, especially how to recalibrate your writing and marketing goals when things happen outside of your control, and how to keep yourself going when times get tough!

• March 28, 2017Guest Interview, Marketing, Advertising & Sales

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP75 – Writing A Kick-Butt Book Blurb with Glenna Mageau

  This week we have a very special guest - Glenna Mageau, book blurb coach and writer extraordinaire - who takes us through how to write a blurb that sells more books. Glenna has a proven system she uses to improve her own book blurbs and she's been teaching other authors how to do the same thing as well. This is a fantastic episode - we really enjoyed chatting to Glenna, she's a lovely lady with a wealth of knowledge. We all picked up loads of useful blurb writing tips and we're sure you will too!

• March 22, 2017Self-Publishing Process & Tools, Writing Craft & Editing

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP74 – Formatting Tips and Tricks

  This week we tackle the topic of formatting your ebooks. We talk about the difference between outsourcing the formatting and doing it yourself, and the pros and cons of each option. Then we talk about what we've done in the past and how we do it now, what we think are the best practices, the programs that we recommend, and why we like them. If you're about to start formatting, or even considering a change to the way you're currently doing it, this is a great episode to listen to!

• March 15, 2017Marketing, Advertising & Sales, Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP73 – Zhushing Up Your Amazon Author Page

  Publishing your book to Amazon KDP is the first step ... then the second VERY important step is setting up your Amazon Author Central account and optimizing your Amazon Author Page. Too many new self-publishers miss the second step and it's costing them sales! It's easy and it's free, so listen up and we'll share how to ZHUSH up your Amazon Author Page to make it sparkle!

• March 9, 2017Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP72 – Author Overwhelm

  This week we talk about a subject dear to our hearts - author overwhelm. It's so easy to become overwhelmed in this digital age, with everything that we are bombarded with and told we "have to" do to succeed as a self published author. This episode we talk you through the tips and tricks we use to help us work through the overwhelm and keep writing. It's another fun episode, the SPA Girls were together in person this week, so we had a laugh as usual...

• March 2, 2017Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP71 – 10 Marketing Tips for Beginners

  This week we talk through the basic marketing principles that you need to make sure you've got in place for promoting your books. Think of it as a 101 class in marketing, just for you. :) We talk through tips like ensuring consistency of brand, having the right kind of bio and blurb, and being professional.

• February 21, 2017Goal Setting, Planning & Productivity

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP70 – Productivity Hacks for Writers

  This week we give some of our best writer productivity hacks - ie a big ole list of tips to increase your productivity, based on things that we do each week to help us write more! From exercise tips and the best writing apps to use, to setting routines and ways to stay in the flow, we give you the best tips that we could find to help keep you writing!

• February 15, 2017Mindset, Health & Writing Life

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP69 – Top Ten Romance Novels of All Time

  In honour of Valentine's Day, the SPA Girls fought it out to come up with our list of the Best Romance Novels of All Time. Listen to this episode to see if you agree with our choices... :)

• February 12, 2017Mindset, Health & Writing Life

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP68 – Etiquette for Authors

  This week we decided to talk about etiquette for authors; or how to talk to other authors, your fans and your service providers, especially online. It's really easy to get carried away, to start acting badly in the online space, and we wanted to give you a few tips on how to keep your online relationships strong and healthy. It's all about treating people as you would like to be treated yourself - a good mantra to use everywhere in your life. :)

• February 2, 2017Writing Craft & Editing

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP67 – Common Writing Mistakes and How to Fix Them

  Wendy, Cheryl and Trudi talk through some common writing mistakes and give suggestions for how to avoid making them yourself. Based around Jack Bickham's book, The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes, we talk on topics from not making excuses, lecturing your readers, dropping alligators through the transom (don't worry, we figure that one out), stopping too soon, giving up and not just sitting there.

• January 27, 2017Writing Craft & Editing

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP66 – The Book of Your Heart Vs Writing to Market

  This week we talk about writing the book of your heart versus writing a book to market. What do these terms mean, and why should they matter to you? Writing the book of your heart means writing what you love, the book you've been dreaming about for your entire life, with the characters who feel like they're your best friends and the storyline that is going to rock the world. You know, that book. Writing to market is about researching the genres that are selling, finding out what the most popular tropes are and finding a storyline that you feel fits into the research you've been doing, and then writing that book. It could be a book you love, but that isn't always the case.

• January 18, 2017Guest Interview

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP65 – Interview with Zoe York

  This week we were lucky enough to talk to Zoe York, USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, and all around lovely lady. She gave us some fantastic tips on writing in series, including craft considerations, marketing ideas, and some best practice tips for making it work. Zoe really knows her stuff, so it's yet another don't-miss episode!

• January 12, 2017Goal Setting, Planning & Productivity

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP64 – Goals for 2017

  This week we get the show number wrong, yet again, and the sound quality is a little bit off, but we still manage to get out an episode talking about our goals for 2017 and how we're going to achieve them. It's a fun, motivational episode that will get you started thinking about your self publishing goals, and how you're going to make them happen in 2017!

• January 5, 2017Writing Craft & Editing

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP63 – Interview with Kathryn Burnett

  This week we talk to screenwriter Kathryn Burnett about planning writing projects, as well as setting goals as an author and keeping them - just in time for the start of the year. We went to a fantastic workshop (on creativity and how to keep it flowing) given by Kathryn at the 2016 RWNZ conference, which is why we thought it would be a great idea to get her onto the show. It was a fun interview; Kathryn gives a heap of valuable information for organising new projects and making sure you stay on track, plus she has some really interesting stories about how she got into screenwriting, and the kind of work she does now for clients.

• December 24, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP62 – Christmas 2016 Special Episode

  This week we come to you live from our local cafe as we eat, drink and be merry, and discuss the highs and lows of self publishing in 2016. We call it our Hit, Miss and Maybe list, and we talk through the things that worked, the things that definitely didn't work, and the things we might try again to see if they work better a second time. It's a great episode, we give some of our top tips from the last 12 months, and spread a little Christmas cheer! Merry Christmas, and a happy New Year! xx

• December 21, 2016Guest Interview, Marketing, Advertising & Sales, Mindset, Health & Writing Life

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP61 – Interview with Joanna Penn

  This week we had the honour of interviewing the one and only... Joanna Penn! She's a best-selling author, an international speaker, a podcaster, and a trainer, and one of our role models in this industry. We were super-excited to have her on the show, and she didn't disappoint. She gave us a huge amount of self publishing advice in this information-packed episode - making it an episode that you don't want to miss!

• December 14, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP60 – Interview With An Editor

  This week we talk to Olivia Ventura from Hot Tree Edits about being a full time editor. She was a fantastic person to interview, and gave great advice on how to work with editors and how to find someone who will do the kind of edit you want for your book. She talks about the most common grammar mistakes that authors make, how to do edits on your own in preparation for sending your manuscript to an editor, and some best practice ideas for making sure your book is as tight as you can make it.

• December 7, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP59 – Answering Listener Questions

  This week Wendy, Cheryl and Shar tackled some of the questions we've been getting from eager listeners to the show. The team were without me (Trudi) because I was off celebrating my 10th wedding anniversary, but it's good to know that they can manage to pull together a show without me... :) The topics covered included how to keeping writing when you have a family, how to find the right editor, and what to do if you hate social media (hint: it's not throwing out your computer).

• December 1, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP58 – Writing for a Kindle World

  This week it was just Shar, Cheryl and Trudi, and we talked about writing and publishing a book in an Amazon Kindle World. Cheryl has just published her second book in the Laguna Beach Kindle World and she gives us the inside story on how it works - plus the benefits and the issues around writing in a Kindle World.

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  November 25, 2016Mindset, Health & Writing Life

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP57 – Dealing With Distractions At Christmas

  This week Wendy, Cher and Trudi talk about dealing with unavoidable distractions, and how to maintain a writing schedule even when things get busy. With Christmas coming up we thought we'd talk about how we personally keep going when it seems that everything in the world is out to stop you writing the next book. It's a great reminder that we're all different and we all deal with distractions and problems in our lives differently, and however you deal with them, as long as you're still progressing forward, it's okay.

• November 17, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP56 – Top Ten Mistakes Self Publishers Make

  I don't actually know how many mistakes we covered in this episode, but I thought that title sounded great. :) But we definitely do go in-depth on all the terrible, dastardly, embarrassing mistakes that we've made in the process of self publishing our books. From not getting our books properly edited and rushing through the process of publishing and putting our books up before we should have, to not being organised enough, to not knowing and understanding our genres - we've done it all! Don't make the same mistakes that we have - listen to this episode and find out how to avoid them all!

• November 9, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP55 – Launching a Non-Fiction Book

  This week we talk about the launch of a project dear to our hearts - our new non-fiction book about author overwhelm. We've been working on this project for a while, and we're really excited about bringing it to you. It's something we've all experienced, and we don't think people talk about it enough, so we've decided to put it out there in book form! This episode we talk about the book, what it involves, and what we're going to do over the next three months before the launch to try and make it a success. One of the big aspects to this launch process is the expansion of our mailing list. We made a goal of getting 1,000 people onto our mailing list by end of February 2017, and we brainstorm some of the techniques we're planning to use to get our numbers up. Join us on the journey, and go sign up to our mailing list!

• November 1, 2016Guest Interview

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP54 – Writing Advice From the Trenches

  This week the SPA Girls chat to three experienced authors - two Indie authors, and one traditionally published author - about their writing tips, their favourite technology as a writer, and why they all say you need to find your writing tribe to succeed. Join us as we get the inside story from contemporary romance author Talia Hunter, pacific billionaire romance author Toni Kenyon, and author of 35 Harlequin romances Yvonne Lindsay in this hilarious, informative, and insightful episode into the life of an author. If you don't come away from listening to this episode with a grin on your face, I'll eat my hat.

• October 25, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP53 – How to Do a Successful Book Launch

  This week we're all back! The SPA Girls are reunited again, and we're on fire with useful and relevant information for you as a self published author. We talk about launching your latest book into the marketplace, and the do's and don'ts, plus tips and tricks that you might want to try out when you're publishing your novel to get some of those golden sales... From when to put the books up, what to price them at, what kind of advertising to do, and when to use your social media and your mailing list, we cover it all in this episode for you. Just listen and take loads of notes! :)

• October 18, 2016Guest Interview, Marketing, Advertising & Sales

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP52 – Interview with Kelly McClymer

  This week we're joined by the lovely Kelly McClymer, an indie author who writes in multiple genres, including historical romance, fantasy and cosy mystery. She tells us the story of how she got into self publishing, the kind of marketing and promotion she does for her books, and talks about what she's been doing in the last week or so in an attempt to get her book onto the USA Today Bestseller list, for her historical romance book, The Next Best Bride. This is a fantastic interview with another smart, savvy indie author!

• October 10, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools, Writing Craft & Editing

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP51 – Characters Your Readers Will Love

  This week we crawled out from our sick beds to provide you with this delayed episode of the SPA Girls Podcast. We managed to talk semi-coherently about creating amazing characters that your readers will love. As far as we're concerned, it's all about creating characters with flaws, who your readers can relate to and fall in love with through the course of the story. We gave away all our secrets, so that you can learn to write the best characters you possibly can.

• September 22, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP50 – Celebrating a Half-Century of Episodes

  This week we celebrate the 50th episode of the SPA Girls Podcast! We're pleased as punch that we made it this far, and we hope we'll make it to another 50! We talked about what's changed for us in the last year, where we are at in our careers, and the highs and the lows of a year in self publishing. A kind of retrospective on what we've learned, what we've seen, and what we think about it all.

• September 19, 2016Guest Interview

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP49 – Interview with Tracey Alvarez

  This week we're still without the lovely Cheryl, so we decided to do another interview, this time with Tracey Alvarez, who lives in Wellington, New Zealand and writes contemporary romance based in New Zealand. I (Trudi Jaye) met Tracey in person at RWA in San Diego this year, and had a great time hanging out with her and Talia Hunter. As you'll see from the interview, Tracey is also a very knowledgeable indie author, with heaps of pro tips to share. This is another 'don't-miss' episode!

• September 10, 2016Guest Interview, Marketing, Advertising & Sales, Mindset, Health & Writing Life

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP48 – Interview with Steffanie Holmes

  This week we interview paranormal romance author Steff Green, who writes as Steffanie Holmes and fantasy as SC Green. Steff was a speaker at the recent RWNZ conference and we were keen to get her on the podcast to give us the inside information on her self publishing career. She was a fantastic guest, and talked to us about her journey toward self publishing, and some of the ways that she's been able to make self publishing work for her, including topics like box sets, writing in series, and cliffhangers.

• September 5, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP47 – Advertising for Authors

  This week we're without the delightful Cheryl, the light of our lives. It's a bit chaotic, but the three remaining SPA Girls managed to talk about the advertising that we've done recently and how it worked. We talked about the mailing lists that we've advertised with - think Book Bub, Ereader News Today, Freebooksy, Bargainbooksy, and Robin Reads - how we organised it, when we booked them for, and the results that we had. We also talk briefly about Amazon ads, and how you might use those kinds of ads in your promotional routine. We hope it helps you get an idea of the kind of advertising promotion that you might choose to do for your next launch or advertising schedule.

• August 28, 2016Guest Interview

  SPA Girls – BONUS Episode – RWNZ16 short interviews

  This is another bonus episode from the SPA Girls - a collection of three short interviews that we did at the RWNZ16 conference in Auckland, New Zealand. Firstly bestselling author Heather Graham talks about how she wants to take us all home with her (we didn't say no...); agent Courtney Miller-Callihan gives a few tips on the kind of books she likes best; and the incomparable Michael Hauge talks about how to create a story that works.

• August 28, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP46 – Should I Write a Series?

  This week I (Trudi Jaye) was away, so against my better judgement, I let the other three do the podcast without me. Surprisingly, against all expectations, they managed to do an episode that was moderately okay. :) Don't miss this episode as Wendy, Cher, and Shar talk about writing in series - why you would do it, what it involves, how to remember all the characters, and some hot tips on marketing your series.

• August 19, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP45 – RWNZ conference indepth

  This week we had a huge amount of fun talking about the RWNZ conference that we just had here in New Zealand. With an all-star international line up including Hollywood Script Consultant Michael Hauge, multi-award winning author Heather Graham, Australian Superstar Rachel Bailey, Scriptwriting Extraordinaire Kathryn Burnett, Self-Publishing Gurus Leeanna Morgan and Steff Green plus many more, we had a whole heap to discuss. We break down Michael Hauge's amazing story structure ideas, discuss regency dancing, and talk about why conferences are so amazing. It's a fun episode, and we hope you enjoy it! :)

• August 15, 2016Guest Interview, Marketing, Advertising & Sales

  SPA Girls – EP44 – Conference episode with Leeanna Morgan

  This week we bring you a special episode direct from the Romance Writers of New Zealand conference in Auckland, New Zealand. Wendy Vella and Trudi Jaye snuck out of the workshops, grabbed the incredibly talented Leanna Morgan along the way and hid out in one of the conference rooms, making her spill her guts on her self publishing career. And boy, does she deliver. This is a must listen episode for our listeners - Leanna knows what she's talking about. :)

• August 4, 2016Guest Interview, Mindset, Health & Writing Life

  BONUS EPISODE – Trudi Jaye and Talia Hunter at RWA

  This is a special bonus episode of the SPA Girls Podcast, hosted by Trudi Jaye and Talia Hunter and recorded live at RWA in San Diego. We recorded this little snippet on our last day in an attempt to give SPA Girls listeners a sense of what it was like to attend the conference. At the start of the recording we're joined by Allyson, a Harlequin editor that we harangued into joining us in the recording. :) We talk about some of the workshops that we attended, the people we met, and what we learned while we were there. I hope you enjoy it!

• August 4, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP43 – Great Covers And How To Get One

  This week we talk about covers for ebooks. We've mentioned self publishing covers in passing on previous episodes, but this week we put the microscope to the topic and try to work out what makes them great. We talk about our experiences on our own covers, the changes we've made along the way, and why we've made them. We also discuss how to work with a designer, how to decide what you should put on your cover, and what your readers want from your cover. And finally, we talk about the idea that sometimes the cover you love isn't the one that's going to sell your book, and you need to put aside your fragile writer's ego, and go for the one that's most suitable to the type of book you've written.

• July 25, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP42 – Surviving Writers Conferences

  This week we talk about our experiences (all family-friendly) at writers conferences and give tips on how to get the most out of conferences (aka overcome the sudden urge to hide behind a large pot plant and not talk to anybody). In a cunning plot twist, we got confused at the intro and said this was episode 41 (instead of 42). Our excuse? Too much heat in the SPA!

• July 19, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP 41 – Content For Your Facebook Page

  This week's episode talks about what to post on your Author Facebook page to keep fans engaged and coming back for more! We've all experimented with different kinds of posts - from thoughtful quotes through to "let it all hang out" videos, and have been surprised at what's worked best! Facebook can be an author's friend, but it's also a beast that needs constant feeding. Hopefully you'll get some "feeding tips" from us this week!

• July 8, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools, Writing Craft & Editing

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP40 – Getting Your Pacing Right

  This week we talked about tips and tricks to keep the pace of your novel moving at the right speed, all the way to the high impact ending. We each talk about the tricks we use to make the pace of our novels work for our readers. We talk about genre and how it affects pacing, also things like sentence structure, word sound, chapter length, and other methods you can use to keep your pacing fast or slow. It's all about creating the right rhythm for your novel, so that your reader follows you through to the end. :)

• June 28, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP39 – Finding Focus as an Author

  This week we decided to bring back the challenge episodes. It's the middle of winter here in New Zealand - it's cold and wet and dreary, and we're all feeling a little frustrated with where we're at. So we decided to talk about finding our focus again and pushing forward in our writing careers. We all talk through the issues that we're each having, from changing family schedules, to slipping in our usual writing and marketing routines or recovering from illness. And then we talk through the plans we have to solve some of these issues and get ourselves back on the track that we're aiming for.

• June 24, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP38 – Writing Good Sex Scenes

  This week we decided to talk about Wendy's favourite subject - sex! :) Just kidding, it's the favourite topic of all the SPA Girls... When you're writing romance, there will generally be some form the physical activity that happens when people fall in love. ie Sex. The different genres have different heat levels, and it's partially about knowing the conventions of your genre, but also about knowing what you're comfortable with personally. This week we talked through what each of us personally is comfortable with, what we like when we read other romance books, and how to write a sex scene that will knock the socks off your readers. I hope you enjoy it! FAIR WARNING: The language in this episode is a little grittier than we normally go for, sorry about that. If you're not keen on bad language and talk of genitalia, you might want to skip this episode (we're pretty tame, really, but just in case...).

• June 14, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP37 – Intro to Twitter

  In episode 37 we were all together in person again and we talked about Twitter. It's probably the second most popular social media platform after Facebook, and it's definitely one worth investigating. We give some basics on the platform, how to get started, what some of the jargon means, and a few tips on the best ways to build up an audience and connect with others on the platform. It's probably more of a networking opportunity than somewhere that you will make a huge number of books sales, but it's a fun way to connect with readers, authors, publishers and other industry folk.

• June 8, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP36 – Help! What Do I Write in My Newsletter?!

  This week is episode number 36 and we decided to talk a little more indepth about the kind of content you might provide in your newsletter for your subscribers. They've signed up to your list, now what? It's all very well being told that you need to write to your email subscribers regularly - but what on Earth do you write to them about? Your latest doctor's appointment? Which politicians you hate most? NO! That'll just get you a nice high UNSUBSCRIBE rate. This week we give you a whole bunch of ideas on the best way to connect with your readers, how to keep them engaged and interested in you and your books, and how to figure out what they will be most interested in reading about. Enjoy!

• June 1, 2016Writing Craft & Editing

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP35 – A Great Hook for Your Book

  This week we're up to episode number 35, and we talked about brainstorming your next novel. We each talked about how we do it, the kind of methods we use and what we recommend for people wanting to create a solid book idea. At the end we decided to do an impromptu session where we actually brainstorm a brand new novel together. It was a huge laugh, and we hope it's both entertaining and helpful to you when you start planning your next novel.... :)

• May 25, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP34 – How Do I Get Reviews?

  This week - episode 34 - we talked about reviews - what they are, why you need them, and how you might go about getting some more! The best thing about Amazon is the ability to leave reviews and to gather momentum for your books through word of mouth, and we love them for it. Even better, they're pretty good at trying to make sure those reviews are legitimate reviews, rather than people trying to game the system (and okay, there will always be peeps trying to game the system, but at least they're trying).

• May 18, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP33 – Getting Your Newsletter Started

  Welcome to another episode of the infamous SPA Girls Podcast, where we break down the journey to self publishing one step at a time. This week we talked about newsletters - what they are, why you should have one, and how to go about getting one sorted. Setting up an email newsletter is often quoted as being the number one top priority for a self published author - it gives a direct line between you and your readers, which can be invaluable.

• May 11, 2016Marketing, Advertising & Sales

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP32 – Getting The Price Right

  In this week's episode we tackle the always-changing topic of pricing in self publishing. It's a biggie, and it's sometimes hard to distill this one down, especially because most people who are new to self publishing just want those who are older and wiser (haha) to just say - "You must do it this way!" Unfortunately there is no "one true path" for pricing, especially given the vast array of differing goals and aims of authors, and the constantly changing nature of the industry. What worked two years ago won't necessarily work now. We suggest that you research the price of other books similar to your own (in genre, length etc), and then determine what your overall strategy is for the launch (eg discoverability vs sales), before you decide what to price your book at. The main thing to remember is that you can always change it later if you decide you've done it wrong. That's the best thing about self publishing, you can test and experiment to find out what works best for you!

• May 4, 2016Writing Craft & Editing

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP31 – Self Editing for Self Publishers

  This week, in lucky number 31, we talk about self editing - what we all do, the kind of techniques and strategies that we use to make sure we don't make mistakes in our work, and how we work in with professional editors to make sure we catch as many of the mistakes in our work that we can. And that's a very valid point - no matter how good you think you are, you will ALWAYS miss something in your own work, which is why it's vital to get outside people looking at your work as well as editing it yourself. Don't miss another fascinating episode of the SPA Girls!

• April 28, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP30 – Self Publishing Resources

  This week we talk about our favourite self publishing resources to help make your writing life just a bit easier. From writing tools like Scrivener and writeordie.com to editing support with grammarly.com or the best courses on Udemy and CreativeLive.com, we've packed this episode full of information for self publishers!

• April 21, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP29 – The Ingredients For a Delicious Novel

  This week we went with a baking theme, and talked about the ingredients that we think are most important when 'cooking' a novel. This wasn't an exhaustive list, just a few of the things we think you should work on first, to make sure your novel is going to be the best it can be. We know most about, and are most focused on, the romance genre, so it's a multi-layered Black Forest chocolate gateau cake. Just saying. But for anyone who's interested in a little bit of help with writing craft, listen in to our discussion of the most important ingredients...

• April 14, 2016Writing Craft & Editing

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP28 – Where Do Ideas Come From?

  This week we thought we'd take a quick detour into ideas-land to answer the most common question that writers get - where do your ideas come from? If you're feeling lost or lacking in inspiration, just pinch a few of our ideas for gathering new stories and get going!

• March 22, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP27 – Self Publishing Trends

  This week we're without the delightful Wendy Vella (who is off on a romantic holiday in an exotic location for her daughter's wedding), but we managed to put an exciting episode together anyway. We're talking about some of the more recent self-publishing trends that we've noticed (and some that aren't so recent, but are still relevant) and how you might be able to use them to your advantage.

• March 14, 2016Mindset, Health & Writing Life

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP26 – Exercise Challenge

  This week in episode 26 we talk about exercise! It's a challenge episode, so we mentioned it a few weeks ago, and challenged ourselves to put more exercise into our daily routine. This is the show where we talk about what we did, how we did it, and what we learned about exercise and the writer's mind (and body). As a writer, you probably spend the majority of your day sitting down - and all we can say is... DON'T! The latest research shows that sitting down all day at work - even if you're not overweight and exercise every day - can be just as detrimental to your health as eating fried food and never exercising. Listen to this episode to find out more about it, and what you can do to ensure you're not at risk.

• March 6, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP25 – All About Amazon – PART TWO

  It's episode number 25, and we're talking about Amazon again this week. It's the second in our two-part Amazon special, and this episode we walk you through the process of loading a book onto Amazon.com. We go through each of the sections and tell you what we do/answer for each one. If you've never put a book up on Amazon (or even if you have) this should help you as you as you go through the process. We give tips and advice on the best way to answer the various sections, how to find the best keywords, and what categories you should be in. It's an information packed episode, so be sure to take notes!

• February 28, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP24 – All About Amazon

  It's the episode you've all been waiting for... This week, in lucky episode 24 (I love that number, it's my date of birth), we talk all about the retail site Amazon. It's the first of two episodes on Amazon, and this week we start by giving a bit of an overview of Amazon's history, what they do, and how they came to be such a powerhouse retail site. Then we talk about Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) where indie authors load up their books, the pros and cons of KDP Select, talk about Kindle Unlimited (KU), and how to use Author Central.

• February 22, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP23 – Dealing with Author Overwhelm

  Welcome to episode 23 of the SPA Girls podcast. This episode we're talking about Author Overwhelm, one of those insidious blockages sent to distract us as authors. When you've got so much on, and so many things that you're trying to do, and it's making you feel panicky and frustrated - to the point where you're not actually doing anything useful at all... that's author overwhelm. We've focused on giving practical tips on what we do when author overwhelm hits, how we keep going through the tough times, and what we do to try and avoid author overwhelm in the first place! I hope you enjoy it, it's a great episode!

• February 14, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP22 – Pre-Publication Checklist (Part Two)

  Welcome to episode 22, and the second in our pre-publication special episodes. In these two informative sessions, we talk in depth about the things you need to take into account before you hit publish on your self-published book. This episode we talk about things like formatting, categories, key words, book descriptions, covers, pricing and your title/subtitle of your book.

• February 8, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP021 – Pre-Publication Checklist (Part One)

  We're officially 21! Well, at least 21 episodes into the SPA Girls Podcast... This week we dive into some really meaty content - it's the first of a two part series on what you'll need to have organised before you publish your book onto the various retail platforms. This first episode talks about tax numbers (ITIN and EIN etc) and whether you need them, ISBN numbers (what they are, and why you might choose to get one), copyright for your books, bank accounts and accountants, pen names, and front and back matter in your book.

• February 2, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP20 – Find Your Tribe Challenge

  This week it's a challenge episode, and we talk about the ways we decided to meet new people - preferably other authors who could help with the self publishing process. We all found ways to get into Facebook groups, Google + hangouts, and forums and online groups. Listen in and find out how you can find the kind of people who will support you through the ups and downs of the self publishing process.

• January 25, 2016Guest Interview

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP019 – Interview with Trudi Jaye

  This week we're up to episode 19, and it's an interview with paranormal romance author Trudi Jaye, yet another member of the SPA Girls.

• January 18, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP018 – The Right Mental Attitude for Self Publishing

  Welcome to the 18th episode of the SPA Girls Podcast. This week we delve into the fascinating topic of the mental attitude you'll need to succeed as a self publisher. It's not a matter of just posting your book up on Amazon and waiting for the money to roll in... You'll need a few things like grit and determination to see you through to the end result that you're aiming for.

• January 12, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP017 – Setting Goals for Success

  Thanks for joining us for episode number seventeen! We're at the time of the year where we like to set some goals for the year, and we decided to sit down and discuss how we do it; things like the kind of goals we like to set, how many we set, and the things we've done to make our goals work for us.

• January 4, 2016Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP016 – Where Will You Self Publish?

  Welcome to episode 16 of the SPA Girls podcast. I hope the new year is treating you well, and you're excited and motivated to make this year your best one yet! In this episode we talk about a few of the different sites where you can put up your books once they're finished and ready to go.

• December 25, 2015Mindset, Health & Writing Life

  SPA Girls Podcast – Christmas 2015 episode

  It's our Christmas episode, and we're hanging out at our favourite restaurant, chatting about our year, and talking about what we hope to achieve in 2016. Join us for this celebration of all the goodness in 2015, and the greatness that will be 2016!

• December 22, 2015Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP014 – Websites for Authors

  This week we talked about author websites and why it's vital for self publishing authors to have one, despite the naysayers (mostly from traditional publishers who don't see the point). We talk about what you should include on your website, the kind of content you should be writing, and the style of writing you should use on the web. We also talk a little bit about the technical aspects of setting up a website.

• December 15, 2015Guest Interview

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP013 – Author Interview with Cheryl Phipps

  This week was lucky thirteen, so we decided to do an interview... with one of our own. The lovely Cheryl Phipps talks about her writing journey, from right back when the kids were little, to now, with eight books published, and more on the way! Cheryl's the wise member of the group, so be sure to listen in and get some self-publishing and writing gems!

• December 8, 2015Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP012 – Genre Break Down Challenge

  This week's episode is number twelve - that's right, we made it to three months! This episode was a challenge episode, and we each talked about the research we'd done on our particular genres - Trudi looked into the genre conventions of Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy (with a little bit of comparison between them along the way), Cheryl investigated Chick Lit and what makes it so good, Wendy waxed lyrical on the conventions of Historical Romance, and Shar rounded it all out by telling us about Contemporary Romance.

• November 30, 2015Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP011 – All About Covers

  Welcome to the 11th episode of the SPA Girls Podcast! This week we're talking covers. It's a massive subject, and we've tried to cover the basics in this show. Having a really good cover in this crowded marketplace is a must-do. Not just a good cover, but the right cover for your book, and your genre. This will take time and research on your part, but it's time well spent in your self publishing journey. Basically, in a nutshell - don't try to do it by yourself! Hire a professional cover designer (not your next door neighbour's kid) who knows and understands the industry to create a cover for you.

• November 22, 2015Writing Craft & Editing

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP010 – Editing for Indies

  Thanks for joining us for episode number 10 of the SPA Girls Podcast! We made it to double digits! This week we talk about a really important topic for self published authors - editing. What it is, why it's important, the kinds of mistakes we've made along the way and who you can get to help you through the process. Don't miss this vital episode!

• November 16, 2015Guest Interview

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP09 – Interview With Author Toni Kenyon!

  This week's episode was a huge amount of fun for us... We did our first ever proper interview (if you don't count the one we did with SPA Girl Wendy Vella) with author Toni Kenyon! Toni was a delight to have on the show, and she was a wealth of information on being a self publishing author

• November 8, 2015Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP08 – Finding Your Tribe

  For the eighth episode of the SPA Girls podcast we talk about finding your tribe. But what if you're shy? No problem! We give ideas, advice and actual resources for a wide range of places you can go to meet other authors and discuss writing and self publishing.

• November 2, 2015Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP07 – Overview Of The Self-Publishing Process

  Today, we give you an overview of the whole self publishing process from start to finish!

• October 26, 2015Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP06 – Successful Self-Publishers’ Challenge

  We all think it's important to have someone you aspire to be like in any career, and self publishing is no different, so we set the challenge in episode one to research someone who is successfully managing a self publishing career. Today we report back on our own personal self-publishing heroes: Joanna Penn, Courtney Milan, Lindsay Buroker and Marie Force!

• October 19, 2015Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP05 – What Is Genre?

  This episode is all about genre - what it is, why you should know about it, and what it means to you as a self publishing author. There are certain conventions in every genre - especially in romance. No happily ever after? Then it's not romance, and your readers are going to be disappointed! This is why it's important to know your genre. Listen on for details ...

• October 2, 2015Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP04 – Facebook For Beginners

  Love it or hate it, facebook is THE place to be for romance authors wanting to extend their platform and talk to new readers. We talk about why you should be on there, the difference between a profile and a page, and get the hard word on the do's and don'ts of facebook.

• October 2, 2015Guest Interview, Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP03 – Interview With Author Wendy Vella

  This week we have an interview with one of our own - SPA Girl member Wendy Vella. Wendy has been self publishing since 2013, and she now has 14 titles and has been included in three box sets. She's sold over 100,000 copies of her books, and at the beginning of this year took the plunge and went full time as an indie author. We interview her on her road to success, where and when she writes, and what it took to make it all happen.

• October 2, 2015Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP02 – Finding The Time To Write

  Do you want to write, but struggle to find the time in your busy schedule? In this episode we offer some ideas, suggestions and practical tips on how to make it happen!

• October 2, 2015Self-Publishing Process & Tools

  SPA Girls Podcast – EP01 – Introducing The SPA Girls

  We're four New Zealand-based romance authors, who are trying out self publishing online through stores like Amazon, Kobo and iBooks, and we want to give you a few of the tips, tricks and tales of the things we've learned along the way. Designed with the newbie in mind, we take you from the very beginning, answering those questions you were too embarrassed to ask - basically helping you to avoid the mistakes and pitfalls that we (sometimes) fell into. Thanks for joining us!