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The Indy Author Podcast

Matty Dalrymple (DAL-rim-ple) podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors, and her articles have appeared in Writer’s Digest magazine. She is a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. Matty is also the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including CLOSE THESE EYES. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime.
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Now displaying: Category: authorship
Sep 14, 2021

Author JK Ellem shares why he chose to start indy and go exclusive on Amazon, and his strategy for pursuing traditional publishing deals and wider distribution. He discusses how he found the sweet spot in his release schedule and his pricing model. And he emphasizes why it should be your readers who should be driving the direction of your writing, including whether or not a standalone novel becomes a series.

 

For a transcript of this interview and links to more information, go to https://www.theindyauthor.com/podcast.html.

 

Did you find the information in this video useful? Please consider supporting my work at The Indy Author via Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor) or Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattydalrymple).

 

JK Ellem is an Amazon Charts US and UK #1 Bestselling thriller author. In 2020, his independently published crime thriller, MILL POINT ROAD, climbed to #1 globally in the Amazon Kindle Store in the categories of Crime Fiction, Thriller Fiction, Financial Thrillers, Heist Crime, Kidnapping Crime Fiction, and Noir. This was achieved with no agent, no publicist, and no publishing company behind him. Just him and his wife Jennifer, who looks after his marketing and social media.Jack splits his time between the US, the UK and Australia.

Sep 7, 2021

Michael La Ronn discusses how to maximize the value of the author tools that are already on your computer; what writing apps of the future will (and should) look like; how artificial intelligence will impact authors; and the importance of thinking of our books as data, the currency of the future.

 

For a transcript of this interview and links to more information, go to https://www.theindyauthor.com/podcast.html.

 

Did you find the information in this video useful? Please consider supporting my work at The Indy Author via Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor) or Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattydalrymple).

 

Michael La Ronn is the author of over forty science fiction & fantasy novels and self-help books for writers. He also runs the popular YouTube channel Author Level Up, where he publishes weekly advice videos for writers. Michael also serves on the staff of the Alliance of Independent Authors as a US Ambassador, and he co-hosts the AskAlli Member Q&A Podcast where he answers new writers’ most burning questions about self-publishing.

Aug 31, 2021

Rob Archangel and Mikal Keefer talk about FINDING AND BEING A GHOSTWRITER. Rob, the principal at author services provider Archangel Ink, discusses the different circumstances that lead a person to look for a ghostwriter, how ghostwriting varies based on the client’s needs and skills, and the variables that influence the cost of a ghostwriting service. Mikal, one of the ghostwriters at Archangel Ink, talks about how he matches the voice of the work to the client, and the pros and cons of ghostwriting as a career—and of working on someone else’s books instead of your own. And both share tips for how to make a ghostwriting engagement a positive experience for both the ghost and the client.

For a transcript of this interview and links to more information, go to https://www.theindyauthor.com/podcast.html.

Did you find the information in this video useful? Please consider supporting my work at The Indy Author via Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor) or Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattydalrymple).

Rob Archangel is the owner of Archangel Ink, and author of THE PUBLISHED PROFESSIONAL: How Self-Publishing Can Help Build Your Brand, Attract More Clients, And Increase Sales. Rob founded Archangel Ink to help clients more effectively reach their audience, share their message, and build their brand. Rob and his team help busy authors, entrepreneurs, and business professionals self-publish their written work with quality and ease, so they can focus on their area of expertise.

Mikal Keefer is a freelance author who’s published more than 35 books and ghosted a half-dozen more. He’s a veteran copywriter, crafting advertising and brand collateral for dozens of brands and hundreds of product launches. Mikal has served as an Executive Editor at a publishing house, written hundreds of video and audio scripts, developed curricula, and for one glorious day was hired to write fortune cookies.

Aug 24, 2021

Author Kristina Adams examines writing myths and questions the common wisdom of writing and publishing that perhaps shouldn't be so common. She shares her thoughts on what it means to be a productive and successful author, and debunks some of the myths of a writer's life, including the belief that writing is a talent, not a skill; the admonition to write what you know; how writing short stories is easier than writing a novel; and how a writer's life is necessarily a solitary one.

For a transcript of this interview and links to more information: https://www.theindyauthor.com/podcast.html 

Did you find the information in this video useful? Please consider supporting my work at The Indy Author via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor or Buy Me a Coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattydalrymple 

Kristina Adams is the author of fifteen books and too many blog posts to count. She helps writers overcome their creative obstacles on her blog, podcast, and courses, over at THE WRITER’S COOKBOOK. When she’s not writing, she’s inflicting cooking experiments on her boyfriend or playing with her dog, Millie.

Aug 17, 2021

Nicholas Erik talks about Valuing the Creative Process and the importance of factoring in the enjoyment you get out of the process. We talk about the dangers of trying to increase productivity by taking shortcuts, and the importance of making the puzzles and challenges that you have to solve ones that you want to solve, not ones you dread. And we talk about why Nick places less emphasis on goals, where you set an end date for an activity, and more emphasis on objectives, or how you want to spend your days today and in the coming years … because as Nick says, “If you just want to make money, there are a lot easier ways to do that than writing.”

For a transcript of this interview and links to more information, go to https://www.theindyauthor.com/podcast.html.

Nicholas Erik is the author of science fiction and urban fantasy, with over 20 books, including THE FINAL COLONY series and THE REMNANTS trilogy. He also writes comprehensive guides for his fellow indy authors on how to sell more books, build your fanbase, and be more productive. He runs 1-on-1 ads workshops and provides ads management for select clients. Nick previously joined me for Episode 052 - Five Keys to Building a Resilient Indy Business with Nicholas Erik, which I believe is a must-listen for any indy author.

Aug 10, 2021

Ricardo Fayet, one of the founders of the resource marketplace Reedsy, discusses FINDING A CREW FOR YOUR CREATIVE VOYAGE. He discusses what signs might tip off authors that they have reached the point where investing in this kind of help makes sense, how authors can decide what to outsource, best practices for finding a good match between needs and resources, and how to work effectively with these professionals to make it the most productive and creatively energizing experience for both parties.

For a transcript of this interview and links to more information, go to https://www.theindyauthor.com/podcast.html.

Did you find the information in this video useful? Please consider supporting my work at The Indy Author via Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor) or Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattydalrymple).

Ricardo Fayet is one of the four founders of Reedsy, a marketplace connecting authors to the world's top publishing talent--from editors to cover designers, book marketers, or literary translators. He's the author of several Reedsy Learning courses on marketing and a regular presenter at several prestigious writers' conferences, including NINC, RWA Australia, and The Self Publishing Show Live. He recently released his first book, “How to Market a Book: Overperform in a Crowded Market.”

Aug 3, 2021

Rebel author Sacha Black discusses SIDE CHARACTERS--what are side characters and what distinguishes them from the protagonist and antagonist? Is a sidekick different from a side character? How can side characters support the story or the portrayal of other characters? And what are good and bad reasons to kill off a side character that readers are / will be invested in?

For a transcript of this interview and links to more information, go to https://www.theindyauthor.com/podcast.html.

Did you find the information in this video useful? Please consider supporting my work at The Indy Author via Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor) or Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattydalrymple).

Sacha Black is a bestselling author, rebel podcaster, and professional speaker. She has five obsessions; words, expensive shoes, conspiracy theories, self-improvement, and breaking the rules. Sacha writes books about people with magical powers and other books about the art of writing, including THE ANATOMY OF PROSE: 12 STEPS TO SENSATIONAL SENTENCES, 10 STEPS TO HERO: HOW TO CRAFT A KICKASS PROTAGONIST, and 13 STEPS TO EVIL: HOW TO CRAFT SUPERBAD VILLAINS. She lives in Cambridgeshire, England, with her wife and genius, giant of a son.

Jul 27, 2021

Michael La Ronn talks about his decision end his podcast THE WRITER’S JOURNEY. He discusses his original impetus for starting the podcast, the adjustments he made to it over time, and the personal and professional considerations that made him decide to bring that creative endeavor to an end. He discusses the benefits he gave up and the benefits he gained—and where he plans to redirect his creative energies.

For a transcript of this interview and links to more information, go to https://www.theindyauthor.com/podcast.html.

Did you find the information in this video useful? Please consider supporting my work at The Indy Author via Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor) or Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattydalrymple).

Michael La Ronn is the author of over forty science fiction & fantasy novels and self-help books for writers. He also runs the popular YouTube channel, Author Level Up, where he publishes weekly advice videos for writers. Michael also serves on the staff of the Alliance of Independent Authors as a US Ambassador and he co-hosts the AskAlli Member Q&A Podcast where he answers new writers’ most burning questions about self-publishing.

Jul 20, 2021

In this week's episode of The Indy Author Podcast, author Ben H. Winters discusses the "both-ness" of compelling characters. We talk about how he used the concept of “both-ness” in his own books, including THE QUIET BOY, UNDERGROUND AIRLINES, and THE LAST POLICEMAN, and how other authors have—or haven’t—used it in some of his favorite books, including THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH and STRANGERS ON A TRAIN. We talk about the importance of recognizing “both-ness” in people not only in books but in real life. And we talk about “other-ness,” and how to portray characters who are not only separated in some way from the rest of the world they live in, but sometimes even from ourselves.

Ben H. Winters is the author of the novels THE QUIET BOY, GOLDEN STATE, the New York Times bestselling UNDERGROUND AIRLINES, THE LAST POLICEMAN and its two sequels; the horror novel BEDBUGS; and several works for young readers. His first novel SENSE AND SENSIBILITY AND SEA MONSTERS was also a Times bestseller. Ben has won the Edgar Award for mystery writing, the Philip K. Dick award in science fiction, the Sidewise Award for alternate history, and France’s Grand Prix de L’Imaginaire. His writing has appeared in Slate and in the New York Times Book Review. He also writes for film and television and was a producer on the FX show LEGION. He lives in LA with his family.

Jul 13, 2021

Tiffany Yates Martin shares best practices for how to give and receive critique … and cites some pretty harrowing examples to illustrate her points. We look at the value of formal critique groups; the fact that all input is opinion, not fact; and tips for how to weigh how that input aligns with the vision you have for your work. We talk about whether reading your reader reviews is a good idea, and when you just have to pour yourself a bubble bath and have a glass of wine.

Tiffany Yates Martin has spent nearly thirty years as an editor in the publishing industry, working with major publishers and New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling, award-winning authors as well as indie and newer writers. She is the author of the Amazon bestseller INTUITIVE EDITING: A CREATIVE AND PRACTICAL GUIDE TO REVISING YOUR WRITING. She's led workshops and seminars for conferences and writers' groups across the country and is a frequent contributor to writers' sites and publications. Under the pen name Phoebe Fox, she's the author of the Breakup Doctor series and her most recent release, A LITTLE BIT OF GRACE.

Jul 6, 2021

Dan Wood of Draft2Digital takes a look back at his eight years at Draft2Digital and, more importantly, looks ahead to share how indy authors can apply that perspective going forward. We discuss how social media has changed over that time, what technical and retail platforms indy authors can take advantage of today that were not available in 2013, and how the writing and publishing worlds’ perspectives on indy publishing has transformed over that period.

Dan Wood is the Vice President of Operations at Draft2Digital, where he has spent the last 8 years helping authors publish their books to stores, libraries and subscription services worldwide. During this time he has had the privilege to present at conferences in 7 countries and to speak with thousands of authors at various stages in their careers. Dan is the Co-Host of the Self Publishing Insiders Podcast and Co-Host of Authors Pubhouse, a (mostly) weekly chat Thursdays on Clubhouse with industry professionals and authors.

Jul 3, 2021

In Episode 85 of The Indy Author Podcast, I interviewed Dave Chesson of Kindlepreneur and creator of Publisher Rocket about keywords, and after that episode I got pretty obsessed about my own keywords, and played around a bit with Dave’s four-column method. Of course, the devil’s in the details, so as I was working on optimizing my keywords, I decided to tap into a couple of additional resources, including two previous guests of the podcast, and I’m going to share with you my “before” keywords, the process I went through, and my “after” keywords. I hope this will inspire you to take a look at your own keywords with an eye to making sure you are getting maximum value in guiding the right readers to your books.

Many thanks to previous guests Dale L. Roberts and Joshua Tallent for contributing to this inbetweenisode.

Jun 29, 2021

Dave Chesson talks about the importance of thinking like a reader, not an author, when picking your keywords (actually, keyphrases), best practices for prioritizing your keywords, a newish feature on the Amazon product page that can help you identify phrases that will resonate with readers, and an exercise that KDP itself endorses that you can use to successfully expand beyond those words and phrases.

Dave Chesson is the guy behind Kindlepreneur.com, a website devoted to teaching authors about book marketing. Recommended by Amazon KDP as the place where you can learn how to “optimize marketing for your books,” Kindlepreneur has grown to be one of the largest book marketing websites. Dave’s tactics help both fiction and nonfiction authors of all levels get their books discovered by the right readers. Dave is also the creator of Publisher Rocket, a software that helps authors see what's really going on in the book market, and thus pick better keywords and categories to help them sell more books.

Jun 22, 2021

Kelley Way discusses the legal considerations for use of images for book covers and promotional material, including use of free sites like Unsplash. She discusses the use of music and musical references—a topic of particular interest to me based on an Ann Kinnear Suspense Short I just wrote—and what Creative Commons and public domain material is, and the opportunities it opens for indy authors.

Kelley Way was born and raised in Walnut Creek, California. She graduated from UC Davis with a B.A. in English and a minor in Music, and then attended the UC Davis School of Law. After law school, Kelley did a one-year fellowship at the Pacific Justice Institute, during which time she was approached by her first client, the copyright holder of a New York Times bestselling fantasy series. After the successful resolution of the case, she opened her own law firm. When Kelley is not practicing law, she spends her time reading, knitting, singing, spending time with her family, and learning new languages.

Jun 15, 2021

Abe Ogden discusses the six Rs of maximizing the value of your content: repackage, repurpose, revise, repository, rights, and resources. We talk about how the democratization of formats like hardcover books and outlets like branded merchandise open opportunities for the indy author. "If you're going to be developing this content, squeeze it for everything that you possibly can and hit every channel as much as you possibly can." We also discuss the issue of the most constrained resource of an indy author--time--and how to weigh which items on Abe's a la carte list of options you decide to pursue.

With more than 20 years in non-profit publishing and professional experience in editorial, production, acquisitions, and sales and marketing strategy, Abe Ogden is passionate about helping organizations with limited resources but an important mandate to deliver essential content to constituents and beyond. When he’s not polishing a manuscript draft or putting the final touches on a marketing plan, he’s either playing his guitar or tramping through the outdoors and hiking, camping, or fly fishing with his family.

Jun 8, 2021

Writer's block--is it fact or fantasy? Does it require inspiration or willpower to overcome? What tips or tricks can get a writer writing again? In this episode, previous guests of The Indy Author Podcast share their perspectives on writer's block, from specific tasks you can perform to break through the block to frank discussions of its emotional and psychological basis. Many thanks to Robert Dugoni, Emma G. Rose, Pauline Wiles, Dale L. Roberts, M.K. Williams, Wade Walton, Jerri Williams, Jeff Elkins, and Julie Duffy for sharing their perspectives.

For more information on my guests, go to https://www.theindyauthor.com/podcast.html and search on the guests' names to find links to their episodes and bios.

Jun 1, 2021

Dan Blank of WeGrowMedia shares the central tenets of his concept of human-centered marketing: Give yourself permission to create; understand who you hope to reach; and connect to a person, not an audience. He discusses the pitfalls of counting your success by numbers of Likes and Follows, and how a focus on tools and algorithms can kill the creative spirit. And he shares tips for how introverts can reach out to form lasting bonds with those who will love their work.

Dan Blank is the founder of WeGrowMedia, where he helps writers develop a human-centered approach to marketing and reaching their audience. He is the author of the book Be the Gateway: A Practical Guide to Sharing Your Creative Work and Engaging an Audience. He has worked not only with thousands of writers, but also with companies including Penguin Random House, Sesame Workshop, Hachette Book Group, Writer’s Digest, Library Journal, and many others.

May 25, 2021

Author Daniel Palmer talks about making the transition from the corporate world to the writer’s world, what lessons regarding branding he brought with him, and how he carried that forward into another business venture. He talks about the evolution of his own brand: from Daniel Palmer to authoring books under the brand of his father Michael Palmer, to D. J. Palmer, and what drove each of those steps. And he talks about how Luke Skywalker and The Force work as metaphors in branding—hence the name of this week’s episode, THE FORCE OF A BRAND.

DANIEL PALMER is the USA Today bestselling author of ten critically acclaimed suspense novels, including his latest, as D. J. Palmer, THE PERFECT DAUGHTER. He published his first novel, DELIRIOUS, after a decade-long career in e-commerce, where he helped launch websites for major online retailers including Barnes & Noble. Following the success of Daniel's publishing career, he founded DAY IN THE LIFE MEDIA, a video production and communication company committed to helping brands identify their brand heroes so they can tell stories in a way that directly impacts the bottom line. A recording artist, accomplished blues harmonica player, and lifelong Red Sox fan, Daniel lives in New Hampshire with his wife and two children.

May 18, 2021

Douglas Smith talks about how you can turn your short fiction into a “magic bakery”—a term Doug borrows from Dean Wesley Smith—earning you money and building your resume over and over with the same content. We discuss the opportunities offered by reprints, foreign markets, and audio markets, and we discuss how writer’s groups can—and can’t—help you prepare your work for the professional markets.

Douglas Smith is a multi-award-winning Canadian author described by Library Journal as "one of Canada's most original writers of speculative fiction." His fiction has been published in twenty-six languages and thirty-five countries. His books include the novel THE WOLF AT THE END OF THE WORLD, the collections CHIMERASCOPE and IMPOSSIBILIA, and the writer's guide PLAYING THE SHORT GAME: HOW TO MARKET & SELL SHORT FICTION. Doug is a three-time winner of Canada's Aurora Award and has been a finalist for the Astounding Award, CBC's Bookies Award, Canada's juried Sunburst Award, and France's juried Prix Masterton and Prix Bob Morane.

May 11, 2021

In this week's episode of The Indy Author Podcast, Zibby Owens talks about how creatives can adjust to accommodate a changing environment, as illustrated by Zibby’s publication at the height of the COVID pandemic of the anthology Moms Don’t Have Time To. She talks about how the anthology was a natural outgrowth of other professional and personal pursuits, how her work did and didn’t change during the quarantine, and how her creative pursuits provided emotional support in a time of personal tragedy.

Zibby Owens is the creator and host of the award-winning podcast Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books. Zibby, named “NYC’s Most Powerful Book-fluencer” by New York Magazine’s Vulture, conducts warm, inquisitive conversations with authors, making her show a top literary podcast as selected by Oprah.com in 2019 and 2020. She also created the Moms Don’t Have Time to Lose Weight community and hosts the accompanying podcast. Zibby is the Editor-in-Chief of Moms Don’t Have Time to Write, a Medium.com publication.

May 4, 2021

In this week’s episode of The Indy Author Podcast, I share a behind-the-scenes look at the recent launch of my fourth Ann Kinnear Suspense Novel, A FURNACE FOR YOUR FOE. I talk about what I did and didn't do (and what I didn't do because I didn't think it would be useful versus what I didn't do because I didn't know how), what worked and didn't work, and what I'd do differently for future launches.

Matty Dalrymple podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She is the host of THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST and the author of THE INDY AUTHOR’S GUIDE TO PODCASTING FOR AUTHORS. She is also the co-author, along with Mark Leslie Lefebvre, of TAKING THE SHORT TACK: CREATING INCOME AND CONNECTING WITH READERS USING SHORT FICTION. Matty is a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. Matty is also the author of the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels and Suspense Shorts and the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, and is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the Brandywine Valley Writers Group.

Apr 27, 2021

Damon Courtney of BookFunnel shares information on how authors can use customized landing pages, opportunities offered by email integration, the power of giveaways to attract readers and strengthen ties to fans, the financial benefits of selling direct, and the rise of wide audio.

Damon Courtney is the creator and CEO of BookFunnel, an ebook delivery service for authors and publishers. Though he would like to be a highly successful indie author, he can only lay claim to publishing a single Fantasy trilogy that he does really like, despite its lack of sales. But self-publishing three novels did lead to the creation of BookFunnel, so he’s got that going for him. As a lifelong software engineer, Damon is an expert in just about everything technical and can offer unique insight on publishing as it relates to software and technology.

Apr 20, 2021

Jane Friedman reviews Key Book Publishing Paths, and describes considerations for fitting the path to your desired destination. We talk about how publishing isn’t indy or traditional—it’s a spectrum—and how hybrid authors aren’t necessarily authors who are using hybrid publishers. We talk about lessons one model can learn from another, and red flags to watch out for when you are assessing companies to do business with.

Jane Friedman has 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, with expertise in business strategy for authors and publishers. She’s the editor of The Hot Sheet, the essential industry newsletter for authors, and has previously worked for F+W Media and the Virginia Quarterly Review. In 2019, Jane was awarded Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World; her newsletter was awarded Media Outlet of the Year in 2020.

Apr 13, 2021

This episode of The Indy Author Podcast is a bit of a departure. Most of the episodes focus on one person's perspective on a variety of topics, but this episode is going to focus on many people's perspective on one topic, and that topic is PERSONAL BRANDING.

I solicited perspectives on personal branding from previous guests of the podcast, and I'd like to thank the following for answering the call: Tiffany Yates Martin, Dale L. Roberts, Michael La Ronn, Joanna Penn, Robert Blake Whitehill, Lee Savino, Pauline Wiles, and Wade Walton.

Apr 6, 2021

Website designer Pauline Wiles discusses AUTHOR WEBSITES, including easy fixes for common website problems; design guidelines that create a site that is both engaging and easy to maintain; various alternatives depending on your technology tolerance; and some free tools that can help you make your site look like a pro designed it.

Pauline Wiles is a website designer who builds simple, stylish sites for authors and writers. As an author herself, of the Saffron Sweeting romantic comedies, she noticed others were often overwhelmed by this task. Now, she’s helping to dispel some of the myths around how difficult – and costly – a web project should be. British by birth, Pauline is now a contented resident of California, although she admits to an occasional yearning for afternoon tea and historic homes.

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