In this heartfelt conversation, Sharissa Bradley interviews indie author J.A. Forde, who shares her journey from bookish Instagram follower and beta reader to multi-book fiction author with a growing readership. J.A. dives into how she started writing during the pandemic, the vulnerability of publishing her first book, and how community, both online and offline, has kept her going through imposter syndrome and creative doubt.

J.A. reflects on what it's like writing fiction set in faraway places, how pressure shifted between books one and two, and what advice she gives aspiring writers who are scared to start. This episode is an inspiring and relatable reminder that you don't need to be "born a writer" to become one.

In this episode, we discuss:

• [00:00:50] How J.A. went from avid reader to author

• [00:02:00] Falling in love with indie books through Instagram and ARC teams

• [00:03:00] Shifting from nonfiction reading to fiction writing

• [00:04:00] Setting her books in Australia and Tahoe, and the research involved

• [00:05:45] Reader reactions—and the pressure to publish faster

• [00:07:00] Facing imposter syndrome and publishing vulnerability

• [00:09:10] The unexpected difficulty of writing book two

• [00:11:00] The power of messy drafts and trusting the process

• [00:12:00] Finding her passion and purpose through writing

• [00:13:00] Building a writing community on Instagram and Voxer

• [00:15:44] Encouragement for writers stuck at the start

• [00:18:00] Where to find J.A. online, sign up for her newsletter, and shop her book merch

Resources & Links:

• Website: www.authorjaforde.com

• Instagram: @the.sah.author.mom

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Author-JA-Forde/61562177669250/#

• Newsletter subscription https://authorjaforde.substack.com/subscribe

• Shop Book Merch: Available via website & newsletter

Join us on the Project Seed Money Podcast as we delve into the journeys of inspiring female authors, sharing their challenges and triumphs to empower your writing path. Don't miss an episode—subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform. For additional resources and to connect with our community, visit projectseedmoney.com. If you have a story to share, reach out to be featured in an upcoming episode.

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Watch this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OGJbXE4MwVM