Wish I'd Known Then . . . For Writers

Episode 228 / Kemper Donovan is the host of the All About Agatha podcast and author of The Busy Body, a USA Today bestseller on launch earlier this year. Kemper shares tips for querying and how podcasting about Agatha Christie helped him connect with mystery authors and also provided a built-in audience for his book.

💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! Get access to the backlist of exclusive supporter episodes, the private slack group, and a shoutout on a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

⭐ Episode Sponsor: Xero Accounting Software

Use discount code WISHIDKNOWNTHEN20 and get 20% off a Xero subscription for 3 months. https://www.xero.com/us/?utm_source=WishIdKnownThen&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=customer%20podcast

Topics:

• Tuning out the noise and finding your own writing process and voice
• Benefits of podcasting: social interaction with less stress than social media, audience building, and connection with other authors and readers
• Tips for finding agents and querying and insight into traditional publishing
• How Kemper drew on Agatha Christie’s influence
• Navigating writing, promotion, and self-doubt as an author

Links:

http://www.kemperdonovan.com

Kemper Donovan Books - Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/100095414958480/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/allaboutthedame?lang=en

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutagatha/

Sara’s 1920s mystery, Murder Among the Pyramids, direct sales launch: https://sararosettbooks.com/collections/lady-traveler

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🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices
❤️ 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
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

Episode 223 / Do you like to discover the plot as you write? Do you get bored if you know where the story is going? Then a skeleton draft might be what you need.

Paranormal and gothic romance author Steffanie Holmes joins us to talk about how discovery writers can use a skeleton draft to get their ideas down on paper and avoid writer’s block. We also talk about rebranding, Kickstarter tips for authors outside the US, and bust some publishing myths. 🥊

💙 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! Get access to the backlist of exclusive supporter episodes, the private slack group, and a shoutout on a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

⭐ Episode Sponsor: Xero Accounting Software

Use discount code WISHIDKNOWNTHEN20 and get 20% off a Xero subscription for 3 months. https://www.xero.com/us/?utm_source=WishIdKnownThen&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=customer%20podcast

Topics:

Introduction to Skeleton Drafting

• Why Stephanie shifted away from dark romance to her Nevermore Bookshop series, which features a magical bookstore and a blind heroine who teams up with famous literary villains to solve mysteries
• How Stephanie found success with skeleton drafting, not rigid outlines
• Using TikTok for market research
• How she rebranded her series
• Partnering for order fulfillment to reduce shipping costs and increase sales
• Creating a unique fan experience for achieving success

Links:

www.steffanieholmes.com

https://www.rageagainstthemanuscript.com/skeletondraftcourse

Inkers Con Digital conference: July 20th – August 2nd 2024

Affiliate links:

Sara: https://inkerscon.com/2024-digital-conference/ref/32

CODE: SARA24

Jami: https://inkerscon.com/2024-digital-conference/ref/14

CODE:JAMI24

Ep 161 - Nell Goddin on How Direct Sales Helped Revive her Author Business https://wishidknownforwriters.com/161-2/

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Support the show

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices
❤️ 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
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

Episode 160 / How do you succeed in a market flooded with books? The Gold Rush in publishing is over and authors have to adjust. Sara and Jami discuss Becca Syme’s “New Rules of Publishing,” which gives three business verticals authors can lean into to be successful when the water is more red than blue.

💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode! https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

First Private Zoom Chat for supporters - April 6th at 7pm CST https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

Author Wheel - 7 Days to Your Author Brand: https://www.subscribepage.com/authorbrandchallenge

Show notes:

New Rules of Publishing Video from Becca Syme:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-I_LwrV2rA

• Market has changed - flooded, not the “gold rush” anymore/Red water not blue water
• Horizontal vs. vertical platforms
• First Private Zoom Chat - April 6th at 7pm CST. We’ll send out that morning, so check your inboxes.
• https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support
• Primary types of vertical platforms for authors and examples

Books

Sara

Lindsay Buroker https://www.buzzsprout.com/2121723/12119656-lindsay-buroker-on-pen-names-podcasting-and-rapid-release-reair

Marie Force

Person

Jami

Lucy Score https://www.buzzsprout.com/2121723/12119725-lucy-score-on-building-a-backlist-with-series-as-well-as-standalones

Tonya Kappes https://www.buzzsprout.com/2121723/12119723-tonya-kappes-on-reader-focused-promotion

Pippa Grant https://www.buzzsprout.com/2121723/12119778-how-pippa-grant-revolutionized-her-writing-career-with-a-new-pen-name

World

The Witcher

Marvel

Twilight

50 Shades of Gray

Sherlock Holmes

Send us a text

Support the show

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices
❤️ 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
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

• How mental health advocacy intersects with Liz Long's writing career
• Approaching social media through the lens of helping people
• Liz’s late in life ADHD diagnosis
• Drafting tips and and Liz’s personalized coping mechanisms
• Overcoming self-doubt as well as finding and using your inner voice
• How naming concepts de-stigmatizes mental health and starts conversations

Send us a text

Support the show

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices
❤️ 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
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

Episode 24 / Learn how cozy and historical mystery author Shea MacLeod analyzes her books and makes strategic changes to create solid-selling books that satisfy readers. You can find show notes and links at https://www.wishidknownforwriters.com.

In the intro, Sara shares that she’s using Reedsy to find translators for foregin editions of her books. Jami had a cover reveal and is trying the new technique of including characters from the next book in her second epilogue. Sara also shared a podcast she found helpful, Kobo Writing Life’s podcast, Selling Audiobooks to the Kobo Customer with Elyse Daniels

In this podcast episode, you’ll discover:

• How switching to a new genre helped Shea level up
• Why Shea wishes she’d started her newsletter list earlier
• Why signing with a traditional publisher was a mistake for Shea and the lessons she learned
• How Shea analyzes her books and tries different tactics to increase sales including:
• • Recovering a cozy series to fix discoverability problems and attract cozy readers
  • Rewriting a paranormal romance series to make it a paranormal cozy mystery
• Why reading in your genre can be the key to understanding what changes you need to make to satisfy readers
• Shea’s strategy of having books in Kindle Unlimited as well as wide books
• Why cozies appeal to readers

Genres discussed include cozy mystery, paranormal cozy mystery, historical mystery, and urban

Send us a text

Support the show

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices
❤️ 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
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing