S1E9: Taking Chances on Yourself with Jessica Renwick
In this episode, I interview Jessica Renwick, an independently published middle grade fantasy and sweet romance author and copyeditor who has bucked popular indie wisdom and reaped great rewards. We also talk about dealing with Impostor Syndrome, where she finds inspiration, and adventures in advertising. In the introduction, I talk about some new tools in the indie author space.
(Please note that I am an affiliate of Amazon.com, .ca, and .co.uk, so if you click through to one of those stores from the links below and make a purchase, I’ll get a few cents without any additional charge to you.)
Mentioned in this episode:
The Undine's Tear reviewed in Lorehaven last Friday. (Not an "interview" like I said in the episode!)
Rebel Author Podcast with Sacha Black Ep. 126 - Mailing Lists for Indie Authors with Tammi Lebrecque
About Jessica Renwick:
Jessica Renwick is the award-winning author of books about friendship, courage, and being true to yourself. The Book of Chaos was her first novel and the start of Starfell, her fantasy series for middle-grade readers. Since then she has also published the second and third book in the series, a paranormal mystery for middle-grade kids, and a sweet romance series for adults.
She lives in central Alberta, Canada with her loving partner, two pocket monsters (her dogs), and a flock of chickens.
Interviews with Jessica on my blog:
Jessica Renwick: Writing a New Ending (inspirational personal essay)
Author interview with Jessica Renwick when she released The Bow of Anarchy (Starfell Book 2)
Jessica on Instagram:
@jessicarenwickauthor, @jessicaannerenwickbooks
What we chat about:
How the inspiration for Jessica's first book, The Book of Chaos, came from a long-running DnD campaign
How she got her copy editing certification through Writers Digest University
How she's continually worked to improve her craft
A book that helped her with Impostor Syndrome: The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women - Valerie Young
Resource for middle grade indie authors: How to Self-Publish and Market a Children's Book - Karen Inglis
Facebook groups Jessica recommends for middle grade authors: Society of Middle-Grade Writers
The Creative Penn episode: Draft2Digital Acquires Smashwords with Mark Coker and Kevin Tumlinson
Podium Audio: https://podiumaudio.com/
Courses Jessica recommends:
Bryan Cohen's 5-Day Author Ad Profit Challenge - Free Amazon Ads challenge
Mark Dawson's advertising course: comprehensive cross-platform ads course
David Farland's craft and business courses: https://mystorydoctor.com/
Find Jessica’s upcoming books here:
March 15 - The Book of Chaos (Starfell Book 1) releasing on audio. Pre-order on Audible.
March 29 - The Curse of the Warlock (Starfell Book 4) on eBook & print. Audiobook in September.
Mug quote of the week:
"Our own life has to be our message." Thich Nhat Hanh
Question of the week:
What's a risky decision you've made about your indie author business that has paid off in unexpected ways?
Tweet me: https://twitter.com/talenawinters
Original music by Josh Rickard, www.joshrickardmusic.com.
S1E8: Inviting Opportunity to Knock
In this episode, I talk about:
My recent struggles with Impostor Syndrome and Resistance and how I overcame them (this week)
Branding and marketing are both telling stories
Putting lots of hooks in the water - how we create doors for Opportunity to Knock on. (Don’t worry, the metaphor is only mixed in these notes, not the episode. Or is it?)
Marketing done right is actually serving our readers
Mentioned in this episode:
Sell More Books Show, Episode 410: Helpful Mindsets and Pursuing Your Passion
Mug Quote of the Week:
“If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.” Milton Berle
Question of the Week:
When was a time opportunity knocked because you'd built a door for it to knock on, and how did it pay off?
Tweet me: https://twitter.com/talenawinters
Original music by Josh Rickard, www.joshrickardmusic.com.
S1E7: Branding challenges for multi-passionate creatives
In this episode, I talk about embracing my finitude (or trying), writing progress, and some of the challenges and progress I've made with branding multiple creative businesses under one domain.
Mentioned in this episode:
Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman (affiliate link to some stores)
Wish I'd Known Then… for writers podcast
Mug quote of the week:
"Slow progress is still progress." (Available as an actual mug in my merch store. And a sticker.)
Question of the week:
What's your biggest branding challenge? If you don't have any but you've solved some before, what was it and how did you solve it?
Original music by Josh Rickard, www.joshrickardmusic.com.
S1E4: Life happens. Write anyway.
Hello, and welcome to Coffee & Real Talk for Writers. I'm a multi-genre indie author, developmental editor, and a career creative. Grab a cuppa and let's chat about the writer's life.
In this episode, I talk about being inspired to do better at direct sales, the results of my experiment with AI Narration, and the struggle with setting book prices, as well as a shift I'm thinking of making to increase writing productivity.
Direct link to this episode page: https://www.talenawinters.com/realtalkforwriters/2022/01/20/s1e4-life-happens-write-anyway
Mentioned in this episode:
6 Figure Authors podcast:
SFA 115 - Making More Money Selling Your Books Direct with Katie Cross: https://6figureauthors.com/podcast/making-more-money-selling-your-books-direct-katie-cross/
IngramSpark: https://www.ingramspark.com/
Spiderman: Miles Behind fan film: https://youtu.be/2qKXdjkWNBU
Write for the Win Storybundle for writers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wideforthewin/permalink/1255946151582898/
Stark Reflections podcast: https://www.starkreflections.ca
Becca Syme Quitcast: https://www.youtube.com/c/BeccaSyme
Contact: https://www.talenawinters.com/contact
https://twitter.com/talenawinters
Mug quote of the week:
Life happens. Write anyway.
S1E3: The Joy is in the Journey
In this episode, I talk about how the CliftonStrengths have helped me develop as a person and a writer, and also why most of my top strengths are fed by my podcast addiction. :-) Also, we talk about success metrics for writing, cliffhangers in series, and marketing tips for newer authors—especially wide authors who write in multiple genres. Hint: Patience is the key, so take joy in the journey.
Mentioned in this episode:
Goddess Fish Promotions: https://www.goddessfish.com/
Becca Syme - Write Better-Faster Academy - https://betterfasteracademy.com/
5 Critical Things for Successful Book Signings by Adam Dreece (affiliate link) - https://books2read.com/u/bOyPZW
The Elevator Pitch blog post - https://www.talenawinters.com/writing-tips/2019/9/9/your-story-in-a-single-sentence-part-2-the-elevator-pitch
The Elevator Pitch video: https://youtu.be/16Uy8DtGm4o
My Book Description Writing Services - https://www.talenawinters.com/editing#blurb
Post by author Suzie O’Connell in Facebook group Wide for the Win about marketing - https://www.facebook.com/groups/wideforthewin/permalink/1252194868624693/
ALLi post “What Readers Want from Writers in 2022” -
https://selfpublishingadvice.org/what-readers-want-2022/
Written Word Media’s “What Do Readers Really Want: How to Write a Book to Market” - https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/how-to-write-a-book-to-market/
Bryan Cohen’s 5-Day Author Ad Profit Challenge, currently just starting if you want to check it out at https://bryancohen.lpages.co/jan22/.
Author and editor Brenna Bailey-Davies is doing a webinar called “Self-Editing for Fiction Writers” on January 27 through Editors Canada. You do not have to be a member to take the webinar.
Register at https://training.editors.ca/upcoming_webinar/self-editing-for-fiction-authors/.