Wish I'd Known Then: a Podcast for Self Published Indie Writers

Latest Episodes:

Nana Malone on Writing Intuitively, Instagram Live, and Supporting Authors of Color Apr 20, 2021

Show notes

Episode 066 / Prolific romance author Nana Malone joins us to talk about being a pantser and writing instinctively, how she uses Instagram live to connect with her readers, and why she includes adventure, mystery, or intrigue. We also discuss the difficulties for authors of color and ways to support authors of color, including the gofundme campaign for Audio in Color.

Links:

Audio in Color: https://www.gofundme.com/f/audio-in-color-brownnipplechallenge-audiobooks

Nana website:

www.nanamaloneromance.net

Twitter handle

@nanamalone

Instagram handle

@nanamalonewriter

Facebook Author Page

https://www.facebook.com/nanamalonewriter

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes

Come over and say hi to Jami and Sara in the WIKT Facebook group! You can find show notes and links at wishidknownforwriters.com.

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🚀 Jami’s Consulting and Workshops: https://www.jamialbright.com/authorworkshops
❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5
🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/
📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/
The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast

Write to Market with Jenn Falls Apr 13, 2021

Show notes

Episode 065 / Paranormal cozy mystery author Bella Falls joins us to talk about how she learned to write to market. Writing with her readers in mind helps Jenn plot a series as well as plan her release schedule. Jenn’s active on Clubhouse, and she tells us how authors can use the new platform. Plus, talking squirrels!

Come over and say hi to Jami and Sara in the WIKT Facebook group. You can find show notes and links at wishidknownforwriters.com.

Intro Links:

BingeBooks Author Registration

Sara’s profile on BingeBooks

Creative Penn Podcast - What Can Authors Learn From Digital Changes In The Music Industry? With Tristra Newyear Yeager

Jami on Best Book Ever podcast

Episode links:

Jenn’s website: http://bellafallsbooks.com

Twitter handle: @bellafallsbooks

Instagram handle: @bellafallsbooks

Facebook Author Page: http://facebook.com/bellafallsbooks

Clubhouse Authors on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/320971962548578

Jenn on Clubhouse: @bellajenn

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes

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Jami and Sara Dish on Newsletters and Answer Other Burning Questions Apr 06, 2021

Show notes

Episode 064 / We answer your questions about newsletter content and autoresponders plus tips for reviving backlist sales and launch strategies for debut authors and/or first in series books.

Intro links:

Come over and say hi to Jami and Sara in the WIKT Facebook group! You can find show notes and links at wishidknownforwriters.com.

In this podcast episode, you’ll discover:

What kind of newsletters we send to our list and how often we email
What special things we do for our readers through our newsletters
Tips and ideas for growing a newsletter
Launch strategies for debut authors and/or first in series books
Plus, our tips on how to revive backlist, our favorite conferences, and what we wish we’d know about beta readers and editors

Genre discussed in this podcast: romantic comedy, cozy mystery and historical mystery.

Links:

Jami’s Launch Plan

Sara’s New Release Timeline

Episode 26: Book Launch Plans: The Mega Episode

Episode 36: Trends in Selling Direct and Audiobooks with Damon Courtney of Bookfunnel

Episod 28: Make Your Emails to Readers More Effective with Ryan Zee of Booksweeps and Plottr

Tips on reviving backlist from Ricardo Fayet on the Kobo Writing Life Podcast

David Gaughran’s Starting from Zero

SPF 101 Course (affiliate)

NINC

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes

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Podcasting for Readers with Jenny Wheeler Mar 30, 2021

Show notes

Episode 063 / Podcaster and historical mystery author Jenny Wheeler joins us on the podcast to talk about podcasting for readers, transitioning to writing fiction after another career, and the benefits of taking time off--a whole month!

Intro links:

Productivity site Jami mentioned: Pacemaker

Sign up for historical mystery book releases and updates on Historical Mystery day: Historical Mystery Day and new release sign up

Come over and say hi to Jami and Sara in the WIKT Facebook group! You can find show notes and links at wishidknownforwriters.com.

In this podcast episode, you’ll discover:

How Jenny came to writing fiction later in life
Why developing a following takes time
What Jenny dropped during lockdown and how that impacted her writing life
Why Jenny decided to start a podcast for readers
The benefits of taking time off and how Jenny keeps her listeners engaged during the break
Why she has two different newsletters, one for her podcast listeners and another for her readers and how she’s built both

Genre discussed in this podcast: historical mystery.

Links:

Jenny Wheeler Author Website

The Joys of Binge Reading

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes

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Tonya Kappes on Reader-Focused Promotion Mar 23, 2021

Show notes

Episode 062 / Prolific cozy mystery author Tonya Kappes joins us this week and we delve into how her reader-centric focus has brought her success.

Intro links:

Jami has continued writing first each day and her words are adding up. Shout-out to Becca Syme’s video Why Can’t I Hit My Deadlines that helped Jami.

Sara’s revising and editing. She has a new desk stand.

It’s from a company called Harmoni. (#affiliate link). It’s made for use with a laptop, but Sara uses it as a standing with her iMac desktop and the keyboard stand she had made so she can stand while she works.

Come over and say hi to Jami and Sara in the WIKT Facebook group! You can find show notes and links at wishidknownforwriters.com.

In this podcast episode, you’ll discover:

How a difficult time in her life lead Tonya to discover the joy of book clubs and reading
Why Tonya wishes she hadn’t been so much of a “squirrel” when it came to writing in different genres
How Tonya uses out-of-the-box thinking for her promotion
Tonya’s innovate use of backmatter to motivate readers to sign up for her newsletter
Tonya’s thoughts on going from indie to hybrid with a traditional publishing contract
How having a camper helps Tonya her productivity

Genres discussed include cozy mystery and paranormal cozy mystery

Links:

Tonya Kappes website

Waxcreative Design - website designer

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes

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Weathering the Storm with Adriel Wiggins Mar 16, 2021

Show notes

Episode 061 / Do you want your life set up to weather storms like 2020? Adriel Wiggins joins us this week to talk about how she learned to structure her life in a way that helps her get through the tough times.

Intro notes:

Sara’s celebrating completing the first draft of her historical mystery, while Jami shares a video of Becca Syme that’s helped Jami get her words in each day since she watched it. Check out Why Can’t I Hit My Deadlines.

Come over and say hi to Jami and Sara in the WIKT Facebook group! You can find show notes and links at wishidknownforwriters.com.

In this podcast episode, you’ll discover:

Why waiting for “someday” to come isn’t a good plan to achieve your goals and dreams
How paying off debt from a failed business helped Adriel prepare for 2020
How Adriel learned what type of business best fit her personality
Setting up checkpoints that serve as warning signs your getting close to overwhelm
The Perfect Day exercise
How automating tasks and events gives your freedom

Links:

Weathering the Storm Workshop - Mention WIKT podcast and get an extra download bonus. :)

Weathering the Storm course waitlist

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes

📥 Send us a Text Message

Support the show

Lucy Score on Building a Backlist with Series as well as Standalones Mar 09, 2021

Show notes

Episode 060 / Romance author Lucy Score joined us to talk about how staying in her lane and creating a backlist of titles, all with a similar tone, has contributed to her success. Our conversion ranges from craft to setting boundaries to how Lucy works with her publishing team.

Jami’s novella launched last week, and Sara locked up her computer trying to install an update.

Come over and say hi to Jami and Sara in the WIKT Facebook group! You can find show notes and links at wishidknownforwriters.com.

In this podcast episode, you’ll discover:

Why every detail in a book is a way to deepen character
How Lucy uses series as well as standalone novels to build her readership
How she transitions new readers into her back catalog
Her assumption that writing would get easier and how that was wrong (we all have a good laugh about that one!)
How she nurtures a positive atmosphere in her reader group
Lucy also breaks down her publishing team and their roles
How Lucy uses exercise, meditation, and boundaries to help her handle stress

Links:

Lucy Score’s website

Instagram handle: scorelucy

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/lucyscorewrites

How to Write a Series by Sara Rosett

Write Better Faster

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes

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Joanna Penn on Taking the Long View to Create a Life you Enjoy Around your Writing Mar 02, 2021

Show notes

Episode 059 / Thriller author and creative entrepreneur Joanna Penn of The Creative Penn podcast joined us this week to talk about learning from mistakes, the importance of mindset, and taking the long view in your writing career.

The sun is out in Houston and we’re recovering from the great “snow-apocalypse” of 2021. Jami has running water again (yay!) and her lockdown novella, Locked in Love, launches this week and at the end of the novella she’s giving away her brides novella as a lead magnet. Sara is writing and researching a possible French translation.

Question of the week: What is your approach to translations? Did it change after listening to Episode 58 with Tonya Anne Crosby?

Come over and say hi to Jami and Sara in the WIKT Facebook group! You can find show notes and links at wishidknownforwriters.com.

In this podcast episode, you’ll discover:

Getting better with practice - the continual opportunity to grow in your craft
The importance of backlist for established authors
What Joanna learned from marketing her first book and why she doesn’t use those tactics now
The assumptions Joanna made in the beginning of her writing career about podcasting and writing fiction and why they were wrong
How Joanna used what she learned from a failed business to create a business and life she enjoys
Joanna’s tips on how to choose a pen name
Why multiple streams of income are so important for authors
How authors can prepare for the growth in subscription services in

Links:

The Creative Penn

J.F. Penn

Books and Travel podcast

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes

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Support the show

100+ Translations: Tanya Anne Crosby on Lessons Learned Feb 23, 2021

Show notes

Episode 058 / Are you thinking about doing translations for your books? Historical and contemporary romance author Tanya Anne Crosby has coordinated over 100 translations across German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch. When a health scare meant she couldn’t write quickly, she focused on translations as a way to exploit her intellectual property. She shares what she’s learned about how to produce translations as well as how to market them.

Intro links:

The winter storm hit both of us hard this week, and we’ve been in survival mode. If you want tips on winterizing southern-style or creative ways to use snow during not-so-rolling blackouts, we’ve got you covered. Not much writing was done, and we talk about how both of us are okay with that.

Sara was on The Creative Penn podcast this week talking about her How to Write a Series book.

Come over and say hi to Jami and Sara in the WIKT Facebook group! You can find show notes and links at wishidknownforwriters.com.

In this podcast episode, you’ll discover:

Confidence, rejection, and shooting for the top
After a health scare, Tanya cut back on her production and turned to translations to bring in income
Why Tanya does some translations direct and does others as royalty share
Special considerations around copyright for German translations
The importance of aligning the heat level in romance translations
How Tanya markets her translations
Why writing in different genres slows down your momentum
Learning to let go and not do everything yourself
Why authors shouldn’t overlook print book sales

Genres discussed include historical romance and contemporary romance.

Links:

Tanya Anne Crosby website

Translations presentation link

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Support the show

How to Achieve Financial Goals as an Author with L. B. Dunbar Feb 09, 2021

Show notes

Episode 056 / Do you have financial goals you’d like to achieve in your author career? Romance author L.B. Dunbar tells us how focus and pacing helped her reach her goals. Our conversation also hit on how L.B. went against the conventional wisdom of what sells with her over 40 romance, writing in other authors’ worlds, and transitioning out of a day job into full-time writing.

Intro links:

Jami’s viral video

The Mimosa Tree Mystery

Come over and say hi to Jami and Sara in the WIKT Facebook group! You can find show notes and links atwishidknownforwriters.com.

In this podcast episode, you’ll discover: