SPA Girls Podcast – EP544 – 5 Tips To Harness Trends

From incorporating popular tropes to social media trends, the SPA Girls have a robust discussion around what they’re doing to harness trends to reach more readers and sell more books! Links mentioned:Melanie Harlow’s Harlot Authors group https://www.facebook.com/groups/630439937160840The Bestseller Code: Anatomy of the Blockbuster Novel by Jodie Archer and Matthew L JockersTheodora Taylor’s Substack https://7figurefiction.substack.com/p/better-butterLillian Lark https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep510/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SPA GIRLS: 🌐 Website & free self-publishing resources: http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com 🎧 Subscribe to our weekly episodes on your favourite podcast app — search “SPA Girls Podcast” 💗 This podcast is supported by our amazing Patreon community! ⭐ Join at the $10 tier for access to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group where we discuss marketing, writing, and answer your burning questions: http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast #WritingCommunity #WritingPodcast

Want to hook your readers from the very first sentence? This episode is for you!This is a fantastic Classic Replay of an interview we recorded with Lisa Cron a few years back. Lisa Cron is a story coach and the author of: Wired for Story: The Writer’s Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers From the Very First Sentence, Story Genius: How To Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages that Go Nowhere), and most recently, Story or Die: How to Use Brain Science to Engage, Persuade and Change Minds in Business and in Life She explains what actually keeps readers turning pages, why both pantsing AND plotting can lead you astray, and how to build a riveting novel from the inside out. If you’ve ever wasted months on pages that go nowhere, and want to really connect with readers, this one’s a must listen/re-listen! About Lisa Lisa Cron is a story coach and the author of:  Wired for Story: The Writer’s Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers From the Very First Sentence Story Genius: How To Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages that Go Nowhere)  And most recently, Story or Die: How to Use Brain Science to Engage, Persuade and Change Minds in Business and in Life, all three published by Ten Speed Press. Her 7 hour video class Wired for Story can be found at CreativeLive.com. Her video tutorial Writing Fundamentals: The Craft of Story can be found at Lynda.com. Lisa has worked in publishing at W.W. Norton, as an agent at the Angela Rinaldi Literary Agency, as a producer on shows for Showtime and CourtTV, and as a story consultant for Warner Brothers and the William Morris Agency. Since 2006, she’s been an instructor in the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program and been on the faculty of the School of Visual Arts MFA program in visual narrative in New York City. Lisa works with writers, nonprofits, educators and organizations, helping them master the unparalleled power of story, so they can move people to action – whether that action is turning the pages of a compelling novel, or taking to the streets to change the world for the better. Or both! Lisa’s website: http://wiredforstory.com/ 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

AI is a hot discussion point in the author community these days, and we’re joined again by bestselling author and educator, Alessandra Torre, to help us unpack this topic. At the outset, we acknowledge that this is a difficult topic to cover. From feeling fear to excitement and everything in between, authors cannot deny the reality of the new technologies arriving (and the “new language” around it which can be confusing.) So we start by asking how Alessandra approaches AI use from her perspective as an indie author who has written and published more than 35 books over many years, founded Inkers Con and is the CEO of Authors AI. She shares her definition of generative AI, assistive AI and responsibility, and how authors could use it for non-creative assistance. This is a meaty episode and one we hope listeners will take something from no matter how they feel about the topic and we’re grateful to Alessandra for joining us! About AlessandraAlessandra Torre is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over 35 novels, and does not use AI to write. However she does have some great ideas for using AI tools to help with the marketing specializing in contemporary romance and domestic suspense, more recently writing as A.R. Torre. She is a prominent hybrid author, speaker, and founder of Inkers Con and the CEO of Authors AI. https://authors.ai/about/ Resources mentioned:The Bestseller Code: Anatomy Of The Blockbuster Novel by Jodie Archer and Matthew L JockersFiction Analysis Tool Marlowe AI https://authors.ai/marlowe/https://www.authorscale.com/ https://app.scribeshadow.com/manage-books Brave New Bookshelf Podcast https://bravenewbookshelf.com/Inkers Con https://inkerscon.com/2026-digital-conference/#GetStarted 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

Well worth a re-listen, this episode was originally recorded a few years ago when romance and romantic suspense author, Kaye Kennedy, scaled her author business from zero to a million page reads in just six months. Kaye utilized her business skills to launch in a focussed way that was truly inspiring (then and now). Kaye has continued publishing with incredible success and has also added being an author coach and psychic medium to her impressive resume! See our original show notes here: https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep283-interview-with-kaye-kennedy/ About Kaye Kaye Kennedy is the author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels featuring everyday heroes who love hard and make love harder. If you like steamy and soulful reads that will break your heart and put it back together again, then her stories are for you. Kaye is an author coach and psychic medium by day and a romance novelist by night! She wrote her first book in the fourth grade, filling a marble notebook, and hooking her on creative writing. She earned her degree in English Literature and taught college composition & literature classes before switching gears entirely and becoming an entrepreneur, starting several businesses. Having always been a voracious reader, devouring three to four books per week, Kaye knew it would only be a matter of time before she saw her name on a book’s byline.  If you’re an author who is looking to level up, Kaye can help you get there by offering divine guidance and by removing energetic blockages that may be holding you back.  Not only is Kaye an author, she’s a psychic medium, personal and professional development coach, Reiki Master, and an ordained minister. With over ten years of experience, she has performed more than a thousand readings for people all over the world. Her additional certifications in Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP), Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT – Tapping), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) give her a breadth of skills to utilize in order to best assist her clients.  In addition, Kaye has been an entrepreneur in various industries for nearly fifteen years. Her experience led her to become a business development and branding coach for numerous small businesses. For the past 3 years, she has been working almost exclusively with authors. While originally from New York, Kaye has lived in New Hampshire and Florida, but now calls Connecticut home. She is battling an invisible illness and resides with her rescue mutt turned service dog, Zeus, who is a character in Burning for Secrets. When she isn’t writing, she’s out paddling on the water, indulging in a beach read, checking out a brewery, or feeding her wanderlust. Find her at: https://www.kayekennedy.com/ 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

Part Two of TwoListen to Part One here “Currently …. we’re at a unique industry-wide inflection point. Whether you’re a new or established author doesn’t matter. You have the opportunity to grow your career much faster than under normal circumstances.” ~ Nicholas Erik Nicholas Erik joins us again with fantastic insight into the impact technology is having on the publishing world — right down to us as individual authors. Now this isn’t a pro or anti AI episode — it’s about understanding how we as authors can adapt to these technology shifts, overcome our pain points through technology, and how the companies we’re dealing with on a day-to-day basis are utilizing it. Nick makes a really compelling case that the next three years could be a once-in-a-career moment to level up, and he’s got this beautifully simple framework for cutting through the noise and focusing on what actually moves the needle. And we had so much to talk about that — for the first time in a long time — we’ve split this into two episodes, because we didn’t want to cut a single thing. Whether you’re building to six figures or already there and wondering what’s next, this one’s for you. Make sure to sign up for Nick’s free 80/20 Book Marketing newsletter here: https://nicholaserik.com/newsletter/ Links / Resources Mentioned: NicholasErik.comChat GPTClaude.aiAdobe FireflyWritten Word Media Author SurveyNick’s previous SPA Girls Episode – Facebook Ads for Authors About Nicholas Erik Nicholas Erik is an experienced indie science fiction author with more than 20 fiction books to his name. But he’s also a very savvy marketer who writes comprehensive guides for authors (such as the Ultimate Guide to Book Marketing and the Ultimate Guide to Author Productivity) as well as offering courses on how to sell more books, build your fanbase and be more productive. Find him at NicholasErik.com 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

Part One of Two “Currently …. we’re at a unique industry-wide inflection point. Whether you’re a new or established author doesn’t matter. You have the opportunity to grow your career much faster than under normal circumstances.” ~ Nicholas Erik Nicholas Erik joins us again with fantastic insight into the impact technology is having on the publishing world — right down to us as individual authors. Now this isn’t a pro or anti AI episode — it’s about understanding how we as authors can adapt to these technology shifts, overcome our pain points through technology, and how the companies we’re dealing with on a day-to-day basis are utilizing it. Nick makes a really compelling case that the next three years could be a once-in-a-career moment to level up, and he’s got this beautifully simple framework for cutting through the noise and focusing on what actually moves the needle. And we had so much to talk about that — for the first time in a long time — we’ve split this into two episodes, because we didn’t want to cut a single thing. Whether you’re building to six figures or already there and wondering what’s next, this one’s for you. Make sure to sign up for Nick’s free 80/20 Book Marketing newsletter here: https://nicholaserik.com/newsletter/ Links / Resources Mentioned: NicholasErik.comChat GPTClaude.aiAdobe FireflyWritten Word Media Author SurveyNick’s previous SPA Girls Episode – Facebook Ads for Authors About Nicholas Erik Nicholas Erik is an experienced indie science fiction author with more than 20 fiction books to his name. But he’s also a very savvy marketer who writes comprehensive guides for authors (such as the Ultimate Guide to Book Marketing and the Ultimate Guide to Author Productivity) as well as offering courses on how to sell more books, build your fanbase and be more productive. Find him at NicholasErik.com 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

“The hardest part is the first step – be brave enough to reach out!“ A lot of us are introverts and the idea of “networking” gives us chills (and not in a good way). Historical Romance author, Celeste Barclay, recorded this show with us a few years ago. Her advice is just as relevant now, as building your author community will help ride out the ups and downs of this wild self-publishing ride! Celeste Barclay books combine history and heat. She has a created a connected world that brings all her series together, so readers never have to say goodbye to their favorite characters. Before becoming a full-time author, Celeste was a Social Studies and English teacher. She holds degrees in International Affairs (BA), Teaching Secondary Social Science (MAT), and Political Management (MPS). She channels that knowledge into creating rich historical romances that bring the steam. She also a speaker and teaches writing and publishing as well as working with with aspiring and emerging authors to bring their publishing goals to life. It was the third book in her first series which really took off and she’s been incredibly successful ever since. Celeste says her Author Village “made her career” and today she talks to us about what that means to her, how to find and build your own village, and why it’s so important.  Celeste defines her Author Village as her own network of fellow author peers who lend friendship, support, feedback, writing and business advice. They’re like-minded people who she trusts and respects.  What a village offers:– anthology opportunities– increased business– newsletter swaps, Facebook group takeovers, etc Some ways to find your author village:attend in-person author events and signings and conferences Join author Facebook groups such as Millionaire Author Mastermind (https://www.facebook.com/groups/millionaireauthormastermind/), or Renee Rose’s – Abundance Mindset For Authors (https://www.facebook.com/groups/abundancemindsetforauthors/)To find more, search within Facebook for your own genre group Find Celeste at: https://www.celestebarclay.com/ 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

We are delighted to welcome book ads and strategy consultant for authors & publishers, Janet Margot, to talk all things Amazon Strategy for Authors including approaching it with the right mindset.Janet covers best practices for building a solid Amazon strategy for authors, metadata, packaging inside and out, when and how to start Amazon Ads and the “ads advice” she sees that is the opposite of helpful to indies.”Amazon ads are a feedback loop: what Amazon thinks and what customers think about your book” ~ Janet Margot About Janet Margot Janet doesn’t just understand the Amazon Ads platform—she helped build it. During her ten-year tenure at Amazon, she owned the advertiser experience for books and spearheaded its international expansion.Today, Janet leads Book Geeks Media, where she translates elite tech algorithms into actionable growth for independent authors. By combining a decades-long media career (Condé Nast, Lonely Planet) with insider platform knowledge, she provides authors with a data-driven “unfair advantage” that few others can claim. Website: https://www.bookgeeksmedia.com/ 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

Have you always wanted to write a cozy mystery but don’t know where to start? This classic replay we recorded a few years back with Nancy J. Cohen will get you going!Cozy Mysteries are hugely popular with readers and authors alike, and Nancy J. Cohen shares her fantastic advice for writing the successful cozy. Alongside her fiction, Nancy has also written the acclaimed “how to” for cozies “Writing The Cozy Mystery”, so we’re thrilled she agreed to give us the scoop on all things cozy. ABOUT NANCY: Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring South Florida hairstylist Marla Vail. These books have won numerous awards along with her nonfiction titles, Writing the Cozy Mystery and A Bad Hair Day Cookbook. Active in the writing community, Nancy is a past president of Florida Romance Writers and Mystery Writers of America, Florida Chapter. When not busy writing, she enjoys cooking, fine dining, cruising and visiting Disney World. Visit her at NancyJCohen.com 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

Getting Organized: Business Systems For Authors with Lorna K. Bailey Self-published a book? Congratulations you’re now running an author business (whether you want to or not). Whether you have 5 books or 50, being an author is a LOT of plate-juggling. This episode we talk to the amazing Lorna K Bailey who as worked with bestselling authors and entrepreneurs, helping them organise and systemize their processes so they can manage their energy, focus on what they do best: creating and building their career. This is a packed episode with a lot of great tips on systems, strategies and processes including: How to know when you’re ready to hire help How to find the right VA for you The difference between energy management and time management Building Systems Yourself To Maximize Efficiency and Minimize Your Stress Tools to use About Lorna K Bailey Lorna Bailey has been an Executive Virtual Assistant since 2014 working behind the scenes for bestselling authors and entrepreneurs including Dave Chesson (Kindlepreneur, Publisher Rocket, Atticus) to help them grow but thrive in their business. Lorna knows many authors struggle with systems, organization, and the business side of being a writer. She’s seen what actually works to get books into readers’ hands and to build sustainable writing careers. Now, she focuses on teaching authors how to: Work effectively with assistants Create simple systems and processes to free up time Shift into the mindset of a healthy, entrepreneurial author In short, she helps writers stop drowning in the “business stuff” so they can get back to what they love most: writing! Find her at www.lornakbailey.com Resources mentionedLorna’s course: Indie Author Empire https://www.lornakbailey.com/the-indie-author-empire20Booksto50K Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/20Booksto50k Notion https://www.notion.com/Trello www.trello.com 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!