Self-Publishing Tips & Tricks – Details, episodes & analysis

Episode 077

Released on: September 15, 2024

On this episode of the Self-Publishing Tips & Tricks podcast, join us as we dive into the dark and thrilling world of Jay Darkmoore, a UK bestselling author of horror, crime, and dark fantasy dystopian fiction. In this gripping episode, Jay reveals how his background in crime and investigation lends authenticity to his macabre storytelling, from capturing the unique smell of death to crafting realistic scenarios. Discover the intriguing backstory of his journey into self-publishing, sparked by a creative act of revenge at a dinner party. Jay shares his philosophy on engaging readers, saying that readers are vampires, and they like it when you open your personal wounds and bleed on the page. He also offers valuable marketing insights, particularly on creating effective point-of-view videos for platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts. This episode is packed with inspiration and practical advice for authors looking to delve into darker genres and boost their book marketing strategies. WEBSITES/ITEMS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

🌟 Shanon’s Kickstarter for A Curse of Wings & Gems: ⁠https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sdhuston/a-curse-of-wings-and-gems⁠  

🌟 K-lytics Reports: ⁠https://k-lytics.com/dap/a/?a=19545⁠ (affiliate link)

🌟 The 1-Page Marketing Plan: Get New Customers, Make More Money, And Stand Out From The Crowd (Lean Marketing Series) by Allan Dib: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/1-Page-Marketing-Plan-Customers-Money-ebook/dp/B01B35M3SM⁠

🌟 Catch Ben’s Monthly Monday Writing Sprints: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/Running2Write⁠

YOU CAN STILL CATCH ALL THE FREE REPLAYS FOR THE 2024 AUTHORTUBE WRITING CONFERENCE👉 ⁠https://bit.ly/2024-AWC-Playlist⁠

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CONNECT WITH JAY DARKMOORE!

🌐 Jay’s website: ⁠https://www.jaydarkmooreauthor.com/⁠ 🌴 Jay’s Links: ⁠https://linktr.ee/Jaydarkmoore⁠

CONNECT WITH US!

 ▶Shanon’s (S.D. Huston) Links: ⁠https://linktr.ee/sdhuston⁠

▶Ben Pick’s YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/Running2Write⁠

▶Ben Pick Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/running2write⁠

▶Morgan’s Links: ⁠https://linktr.ee/authormorganlee⁠ ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~

#selfpublishingtipstricks #sptt

Episode 076

Released on: September 1, 2024

On this episode of the Self-Publishing Tips & Tricks podcast, join Shanon, Ben, and several guests as we explore the innovative world of Ream, a subscription platform that's reshaping how fiction authors connect with and monetize their readership. We dive into our personal strategies for leveraging Ream's unique features, from offering exclusive content to gamifying the reader experience. Learn how to set up your Ream presence for success, bypass traditional retail barriers, and build direct relationships with your most devoted fans. We also explore the vibrant, supportive Ream community and share insider tips on making the most of this innovative platform. Whether you're a seasoned author or just starting out, this episode is packed with insights to help you thrive in the evolving landscape of digital publishing.

WEBSITES/ITEMS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

🌟 Shanon’s Kickstarter for A Curse of Wings & Gems: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sdhuston/a-curse-of-wings-and-gems  

🌟 Ream: https://reamstories.com/ 🌟 Inka York’s episode about Ream on SPTT, Ep. 038: https://youtu.be/mxFrmyWRIuM

🌟 Ben’s Merch: https://my-store-d1a772.creator-spring.com/

🌟 World Anvil: https://www.worldanvil.com/ 🌟 Ream’s Help Center: https://help.reamstories.com/

🌟 Ream’s Facebook, “Subscriptions for Authors”: https://www.facebook.com/groups/subscriptionsforauthors 🌟 Ream’s Podcast, “Storytellers Rule the World”: https://storytellersruletheworld.com/podcasthome/ 🌟 Elana Johnson’s Podcast episode with Ream: https://youtu.be/yoXY7U0yUlA

FOLLOW EVERYONE’S REAM FOR FREE & GET BONUSES!

✨ Rachel D. Adams, Magical Mischief: https://reamstories.com/magicalmischief ✨ Devon Gambrell, Dark Realms & Portals: https://reamstories.com/devongambrell ✨ Elaine Canyon: https://reamstories.com/elainecanyon ✨ A. Dani, In Luridity: https://reamstories.com/inluridity ✨ Willow Bern: https://reamstories.com/willowbern

✨ Shanon (S.D. Huston): https://reamstories.com/sdhuston

YOU CAN STILL CATCH ALL THE FREE REPLAYS FOR THE 2024 AUTHORTUBE WRITING CONFERENCE👉 https://bit.ly/2024-AWC-Playlist

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CONNECT WITH RACHEL D. ADAMS!

🌐 Rachel’s website: https://racheldadams.com/

🎥 Rachel’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RachelDAdams 📧 Rachel’s Aggressively Helpful Writing Advice: https://racheldadams.substack.com/ CONNECT WITH DEVON GAMBRELL!

🌴 Devon’s Links: https://dgambrell.com/links/ 📧 All Call Indie Newsletter: https://allcallindie.substack.com/ 🌐 All Call Indie Website: https://dgambrell.com/allcallindie/ 📗 Buy Devon’s Book: https://books2read.com/The-Witchs-Crystal 📧 Devon’s Newsletter with Free Book: https://bit.ly/TheWitchsCrystal 🎥 Devon’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@devongambrell

CONNECT WITH ELAINE CANYON!

📸 Follow Elaine on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/elainecanyon 📧 Sign Up for Elaine's Newsletter! https://subscribepage.io/elainecanyon 📙 Read Love, Ships & Sea Serpents! https://books2read.com/u/b5Y0XR 🎥 Get Author help on Elaine's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@elainecanyon

CONNECT WITH A. DANI!

🗨️ A. Dani’s Discord: https://discord.gg/u6rhf33 📸 A. Dani’s World Anvil: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/luridity 🎥 A. Dani’s Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/daniadventures/about 🌐 A. Dani’s Website: https://www.luridity.com

CONNECT WITH US!

▶Shanon’s (S.D. Huston) Links: https://linktr.ee/sdhuston

▶Ben Pick’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Running2Write

▶Ben Pick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/running2write

▶Morgan’s Links: https://linktr.ee/authormorganlee

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#selfpublishingtipstricks #sptt

Episode 067

Released on: April 2, 2024

Are your email newsletters going unopened and unread? Don't let your hard work gather virtual dust! In this episode, you'll discover a surprisingly simple yet incredibly effective strategy to massively increase your email open rates. Shanon reveals an often-overlooked tactic that industry studies show can boost open rates by up to 30%, click-through rates by 14%, and even conversions by 26% - with very little effort on your part. If you've been frustrated by lackluster engagement with your email campaigns, this tip will breathe new life into your newsletters and ensure your message reaches its intended audience.

🐉Order your copy of A Curse of Scales & Feathers: https://books2read.com/A-Curse-of-Scales-and-Feathers

IMPORTANT LINKS FOR THIS EPISODE:

🌟 BookMARCon: https://bookbrush.com/bookmarcon/ - Use coupon code: BMCHUSTON50

🌟 Drop us a line at selfpubishingtipstricks@gmail.com

Some outbound links are affiliate links, which means that your support helps us or other authors while the purchase price for you remains the same!

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Thanks for watching and listening!

🔗 ➤ FACEBOOK: Self-Publishing Tips & Tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/selfpublishingtipstricks

🔗 ➤ Guest Registration for Self-Published Authors: https://forms.gle/a5kagunHv9x1jxvm6

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CONNECT WITH US!

▶Shanon (S.D. Huston) Links: https://linktr.ee/sdhuston

▶Ben Pick YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Running2Write

▶Ben Pick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/running2write

▶Morgan Links: https://linktr.ee/authormorganlee

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#selfpublishingtipstricks #sptt

Episode 066

Released on: March 26, 2024

As an author in a rapidly evolving market, have you considered if your book's cover still has what it takes to captivate readers? Book covers, much like fashion, undergo trends that can make or break a book's packaging. In this episode, I explore the strategic reasons behind reinventing your book's cover design. From aligning with shifting genre expectations to maintaining a consistent brand, discover how a well-timed cover update can breathe new life into your marketing efforts. Learn tips on conducting effective market research to ensure your cover remains a powerful drawcard in an increasingly competitive landscape. Don't let an outdated cover hold your book back - unlock its full potential with a timely reinvention.

🐉Order your copy of A Curse of Scales & Feathers: https://books2read.com/A-Curse-of-Scales-and-Feathers

IMPORTANT LINKS FOR THIS EPISODE:

🌟 BookMARCon: https://bookbrush.com/bookmarcon/ - Use coupon code: BMCHUSTON50

🌟 WhatTheFont: https://www.myfonts.com/pages/whatthefont

🌟 K-Lytics: https://k-lytics.com/dap/a/?a=19545

🌟 Drop us a line at selfpubishingtipstricks@gmail.com

Some outbound links are affiliate links, which means that your support helps us or other authors while the purchase price for you remains the same!

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Thanks for watching and listening!

🔗 ➤ FACEBOOK: Self-Publishing Tips & Tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/selfpublishingtipstricks

🔗 ➤ Guest Registration for Self-Published Authors: https://forms.gle/a5kagunHv9x1jxvm6

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CONNECT WITH US!

▶Shanon (S.D. Huston) Links: https://linktr.ee/sdhuston

▶Ben Pick YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Running2Write

▶Ben Pick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/running2write

▶Morgan Links: https://linktr.ee/authormorganlee

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#selfpublishingtipstricks #sptt

Episode 065 Released on: March 19, 2024 In today’s digital age, authors need innovative ways to connect with readers and promote their books. Enter QR codes - those square barcodes that can magically transport readers to exclusive online content with a simple smartphone scan. In this episode, discover inventive strategies for using QR codes to bridge your print and digital marketing efforts. Unlock a world of promotional possibilities by incorporating QR codes into your book marketing tactics in an engaging, reader-friendly way. 🐉Order your copy of A Curse of Scales & Feathers: https://books2read.com/A-Curse-of-Scales-and-Feathers IMPORTANT LINKS FOR THIS EPISODE: 🌟 Authortube Writing Conference: https://www.authortubewritingconference.com/ 🌟 Bitly: https://bitly.com/ 🌟 Adobe Express: https://new.express.adobe.com/tools/generate-qr-code 🌟 Canva: https://www.canva.com/qr-code-generator/ 🌟 VistaPrint: https://www.vistaprint.com/qr-code-generator 🌟 QR Code Generator: https://www.qr-code-generator.com/ 🌟 Drop us a line at selfpubishingtipstricks@gmail.com Where noted, outbound links are affiliate links, which means that your support helps other authors while the purchase price for you remains the same! ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ Thanks for watching and listening! 🔗 ➤ FACEBOOK: Self-Publishing Tips & Tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/selfpublishingtipstricks 🔗 ➤ Guest Registration for Self-Published Authors: https://forms.gle/a5kagunHv9x1jxvm6 ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ CONNECT WITH US! ▶Shanon (S.D. Huston) Links: https://linktr.ee/sdhuston ▶Ben Pick YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Running2Write ▶Ben Pick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/running2write ▶Morgan Links: https://linktr.ee/authormorganlee ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ #selfpublishingtipstricks #sptt #authortube

Episode 064

Released on: March 15, 2024

In this episode, we talked to Rachel D. Adams, a YouTuber and nonfiction and paranormal romance author. She shares so many insights about how her many years of writing Fan Fiction in a community lead to finding her writing partners and eventually creating their own worlds. Today, she writes with two different co-authors, and she explains how those relationships work when it comes to the duties of self-publishing. She also shares their publishing model, first starting on Kindle Vella before releasing the work as reader magnets and full books.

WEBSITES/ITEMS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

🌟 Publish & Thrive: https://heartbreathings.teachable.com/p/publish-and-thrive

🌟 Ben Pick’s new book: https://www.amazon.com/Saving-Lost-Into-Void-Three-ebook/dp/B0CV6VR8J2

🌟 Seven Free Book Promotions that Worked & Two that Didn’t: https://youtu.be/eKZirfroXL4

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~Thanks for watching and listening!

🔗 ➤ FACEBOOK: Self-Publishing Tips & Tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/selfpublishingtipstricks

🔗 ➤ Guest Registration for Self-Published Authors: https://forms.gle/a5kagunHv9x1jxvm6

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~CONNECT WITH RACHEL D. ADAMS!

🌐 Rachel’s website: https://racheldadams.com/

🎥 Rachel’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RachelDAdams

📚 Rachel’s Ream: https://reamstories.com/magicalmischief

CONNECT WITH US!

▶Shanon (S.D. Huston) Links: https://linktr.ee/sdhuston

▶Ben Pick YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Running2Write

▶Ben Pick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/running2write

▶Morgan Links: https://linktr.ee/authormorganlee

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Episode 063 Released on: March 5, 2024 Did you know the file size of your ebooks directly impacts the royalties you earn on Amazon? Unlike other retailers, Amazon charges authors a "delivery fee" per unit sold, deducted from your 70% royalty rate. These fees are based solely on your book's file size - the larger the file, the bigger the fee. For example, an 8MB ebook could cost you over $1 per sale just in delivery charges! In this episode, Shanon reveals an easy way to minimize those profit-draining fees using free software. You'll learn a simple trick to reduce bloat from images and formatting, ensuring you keep more royalties in your pocket on Amazon instead of paying for delivery. 🐉Order your copy of A Curse of Scales & Feathers: https://books2read.com/A-Curse-of-Scales-and-Feathers IMPORTANT LINKS FOR THIS EPISODE: 🌟 Calibre: https://calibre-ebook.com/ 🌟 StoryOrigin: https://storyoriginapp.com/?via=s-d (affiliate link) 🌟 Atticus: https://www.atticus.io/ 🌟 Drop us a line at selfpubishingtipstricks@gmail.com Where noted, outbound links are affiliate links, which means that your support helps other authors while the purchase price for you remains the same! ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ Thanks for watching and listening! 🔗 ➤ FACEBOOK: Self-Publishing Tips & Tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/selfpublishingtipstricks 🔗 ➤ Guest Registration for Self-Published Authors: https://forms.gle/a5kagunHv9x1jxvm6 ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ CONNECT WITH US! ▶Shanon (S.D. Huston) Links: https://linktr.ee/sdhuston ▶Ben Pick YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Running2Write ▶Ben Pick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/running2write ▶Morgan Links: https://linktr.ee/authormorganlee ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ #selfpublishingtipstricks #sptt

Episode 062 Released on: March 1, 2024 In this episode, we talked to Heather Howland, a professional sensitivity reader. We start the episode with her explanation of what a sensitivity reader is and why one might be important for a writer’s work. She gave us wonderful tips and advice on where to find sensitivity readers, at what point in your manuscript you should seek a sensitivity reader, and how to prepare to share your work, as well as how writers can be more intentional in character development. She also shared tips for getting sensitivity reading feedback if your budget does not allow a paid sensitivity reader at this time. WEBSITES/ITEMS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 🌟 Hire Heather as a Sensitivity Reader: https://www.fiverr.com/heatherrodri903/be-your-sensitivity-and-diversity-reader 🌟 Ben Pick’s new book: https://www.amazon.com/Saving-Lost-Into-Void-Three-ebook/dp/B0CV6VR8J2 ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ Thanks for watching and listening! 🔗 ➤ FACEBOOK: Self-Publishing Tips & Tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/selfpublishingtipstricks 🔗 ➤ Guest Registration for Self-Published Authors: https://forms.gle/a5kagunHv9x1jxvm6 ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ CONNECT WITH HEATHER HOWLAND! 🌐 Hire Heather as a Sensitivity Reader: https://www.fiverr.com/heatherrodri903/be-your-sensitivity-and-diversity-reader 📸 Heather’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather_lee_h/ 📎Heather’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-rodriguez-writes/ CONNECT WITH US! ▶Shanon (S.D. Huston) Links: https://linktr.ee/sdhuston ▶Ben Pick YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Running2Write ▶Ben Pick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/running2write ▶Morgan Links: https://linktr.ee/authormorganlee ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ #selfpublishingtipstricks #sptt

Episode 061 Released on: February 20, 2024 In this week's Self-Publishing Tip or Trick of the Week, Rachel D. Adams shares her tips for how to find low-cost and free ways to advertise your books. IMPORTANT LINKS FOR THIS EPISODE: 🌟 Rachel D. Adams's Ream: https://reamstories.com/magicalmischief/public 🌟 Rachel D. Adams's Website: https://racheldadams.com/ 🌟 Drop us a line at selfpubishingtipstricks@gmail.com 🐉Order your copy of A Curse of Scales & Feathers: https://books2read.com/A-Curse-of-Scales-and-Feathers ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ Thanks for watching and listening! 🔗 ➤ FACEBOOK: Self-Publishing Tips & Tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/selfpublishingtipstricks 🔗 ➤ Guest Registration for Self-Published Authors: https://forms.gle/a5kagunHv9x1jxvm6 ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ CONNECT WITH US! ▶Shanon (S.D. Huston) Links: https://linktr.ee/sdhuston ▶Ben Pick YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Running2Write ▶Ben Pick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/running2write ▶Morgan Links: https://linktr.ee/authormorganlee ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ #selfpublishingtipstricks #sptt

Episode 060 Released on: February 15, 2024 Romance writer, nonfiction writer, hybrid publisher, and YouTuber Emma Bennet joined us to share her experiences and knowledge. She gives great tips about romance writing, especially if authors are pursing traditional publishing. She also discloses the differences in marketing her trad published work and her indie published work. She also gave us some great tips about marketing on social media and writing during NaNoWriMo. 🐉Order your copy of A Curse of Scales & Feathers: https://books2read.com/A-Curse-of-Scales-and-Feathers 🌟 Drop us a line at selfpubishingtipstricks@gmail.com ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ CONNECT WITH EMMA BENNET! 📧Emma's newsletter: https://www.emma-bennet.co.uk/keep-in-touch 🎥Emma's Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaBennetAuthor 🌐Emma's Website: https://www.emma-bennet.co.uk/ 📸Emma's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/romanceemma 📱Emma's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emmabennetwriter 🎵Emma's Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@emmabennetromance 🐦Emma's Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/romanceemma 📚 Emma's books can be found in ebook and paperback formats on Amazon.com: https://tinyurl.com/bdfvf5zkhttps://tinyurl.com/3jdpa63w 📚And Amazon.co.uk if you’re based in the UK: https://amzn.to/36FTmv2https://amzn.to/3NaJPN2 ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ Thanks for watching and listening! 🔗 ➤ FACEBOOK: Self-Publishing Tips & Tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/selfpublishingtipstricks 🔗 ➤ Guest Registration for Self-Published Authors: https://forms.gle/a5kagunHv9x1jxvm6 ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ CONNECT WITH US! ▶Shanon (S.D. Huston) Links: https://linktr.ee/sdhuston ▶Ben Pick  @Running2Write  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Running2Write ▶Ben Pick Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/running2write ▶Morgan  @AuthorMorganLee  Links: https://linktr.ee/authormorganlee ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ #selfpublishingtipstricks #sptt #authortube