Indie Author Life

Author Julie Kay has dived head first into the self-publishing world. Inspired by the places she’s visited, her family experiences and a nudge from a clairvoyant, she’s embraced her passion for writing.

First seen with her debut novel, ‘Not My Father’ was inspired by Japanese travel and her father’s war time experiences. But she is not limited by genre, and her next few books have shifted in theme and age range.

Crikey Roo and the Riddler, her latest middle-grade publication, was a creation from her classroom. With the help of the brilliant minds of her primary school class, they helped her craft the story of the five children in Crikey Roo. It has now become a fixture in the local school library.

We also talk about the importance of the book community. Julie both engages with others on social media, but also stresses the importance of in-person events, such as writing groups and supporting local libraries.

Enjoy the episode!

Timestamps

00:00 introduction

02:51 Julie Kay’s Background

09:13 About ‘Not My Father’

10:43 Career changes and pivoting to self publishing

12:33 Julie’s writing routine

14:33 Clairvoyant message

17:04 Getting out of your comfort zone

22:50 Crikey Roo, Julie’s next book

24:50 On changing genres

25:52 Most enjoyable vs hardest parts of writing

31:42 Importance of writing communities

36:48 How travel has inspired Julie’s writing

41:45 Middle Grade writing

48:45 What’s next for Julie Kay

Julie Kay Links

* Instagram

* Website

MG Hunt Links

* Instagram

* Linktree

* Threads

* Goodreads

* TikTok

* Facebook

* Website

* Amazon

Thanks for tuning in to my segment on the Indie Author Life show! If you’d like to support my work, my Ko‑Fi author shop has signed copies of my books and a range of bookish goodies, including pins, bookmarks, and art prints.

Growing up in rural Victoria, then spending time with First Nation’s communities in Central Australia, E.J. Riley has always carried a passion for storytelling close to her heart. Throughout her adolescence, her concept for her debut book series, The Seekers Guild, was a lifeline that carried her through multiple schools and ups and downs of tertiary education.

E.J. Riley has always valued the art of storytelling. From her childhood immersing herself in the rich storytelling culture of First Nation Australian’s, to following her passion for archaeology at University - one thing that never left her was her deep desire to craft a story of her own.

She even has the map of the world she made for her universe from when she was 13 still next to her on her desk! I adore the way E.J. Riley’s mind works, and with several anthology submissions under her belt, it won’t be long until her debut saga is released.

Enjoy the episode!

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

03:30 The Botched State of Mind Girl Dinner Anthology

06:00 About E.J. Riley and her background

15:03 Life changing moment: deciding to write

20:55 Travel inspiring your story ideas

23:00 EJ Riley’s approach to writing

30:15 The Seekers Guild map

30:45 Developing unique stories

36:09 Unpacking the Romantasy term

43:50 All about The Seekers Guild

52:02 The plans to release The Seekers Guild

57:06 Where to connect with EJ Riley

E.J. Riley Links

* Instagram

* Linktree

* Threads

* Goodreads

* Website

MG Hunt Links

* Instagram

* Linktree

* Threads

* Goodreads

* TikTok

* Facebook

* Website

* Amazon

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support my work, my Ko‑Fi author shop has signed copies of my books and a range of bookish goodies, including pins, bookmarks, and art prints.

Thanks for reading Indie Author Life! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Once again, I had the pleasure of chatting with MM romance author and friend of the show, Rachel O’Rourke. From our first episode recorded together in 2025, it felt like Rachel had a clear vision for what she wanted her author career to look like: ambitious and always moving forward.

Her dreams have become a reality and more, with the release of her light-hearted MM romance ‘Pretending in Paradise’, along with the spectacular special edition versions of some of her pivotal titles - please visit her website to check these gorgeous books out.

With an international signing under her belt, Rachel is ready to embrace whatever comes next. Her attention to detail is clear in the curation of her social media accounts, as well as her in-person book events set ups. If you want to know how to sell yourself as an author, a self-published one at that, look no further than Rachel for inspiration.

Enjoy the episode!

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

03:11 A look back at Rachel’s journey since we last chatted

04:55 Pretending in Paradise

10:19 Writing comedy

13:15 Rachel’s foray into the Omegaverse

24:11 Curating your social media

32:42 The differences between social media platforms and posting content

39:47 Special Editions of Rachel O’Rourke’s books

53:31 Book Signing Events - An international book signing

01:06:29 What is next for Rachel O’Rourke

Rachel O’Rourke Links

* Website

* Instagram

* Linktree

* Tiktok

* Goodreads

* Facebook

* Amazon

* Threads

MG Hunt Links

* Instagram

* Linktree

* Threads

* Goodreads

* TikTok

* Facebook

* Website

* Amazon

Thanks for tuning in!

If you’d like to support my work, my Ko‑Fi author shop has signed copies of my books and a range of bookish goodies, including pins, bookmarks, and art prints.

Thanks for reading Indie Author Life! This post is public so feel free to share it.

I have powerhouse indie author SK May to thank for birthing the current format of the Indie Author Life Show. For she was the first author that took a chance on me. She was my first guest on the show! That was way back in October 2024, and it feels like so much has changed and evolved from then.

If you’re curious, check out the first episode of Indie Author Life featuring SK May

For round two of Simone’s visit on the show, we got into the development of her new spicy romantasy series, ‘The Coven and the Marked’. I was intrigued to learn it featured themes of Christianity, and an exploration into Genesis, Eve, and delving into a witchy world akin to a matriarchy. The first book of this series, ‘His Inferno’, is available now, with the second book in the series, ‘Her Ruin’, coming soon.

We also talked about the rebirth of her debut series, The Hidden Heirs. This series was created out of a difficult time in Simone’s life, to which she turned to writing as a much needed outlet. What came out of this tough time was a fantasy filled with strong female characters and time-travel.

Enjoy the episode!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:20 The Chronology of SK May’s publications

03:33 How SK May’s writing has developed

08:20 The Coven and the Marked Series

20:33 Writing in varied levels of spice

22:55 How writing helped SK May deal with grief

27:20 Managing chaotic inspiration

29:33 Her Ruin and dealing with grief

34:10 The Hidden Heirs rebirth

49:50 Dedication to SK May’s father

53:10 Where to find SK May

SK May Links:

* Instagram

* Facebook

* Threads

* Linktree

* Goodreads

MG Hunt Links

* Instagram

* Linktree

* Threads

* Goodreads

* TikTok

* Facebook

* Website

* Amazon

Thanks for tuning in to my segment on the Indie Author Life show! If you’d like to support my work, my Ko‑Fi author shop has signed copies of my books and a range of bookish goodies, including pins, bookmarks, and art prints.

Thanks for tuning into Indie Author Life! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

As a child, author E. Solofoni found solace in reading and the magic of being taken away into new fantasy worlds. It was also was a massive aid in improving her literacy skills. Chatting with E. Solofoni reminded me how powerful reading is and how daydreaming can boost your creativity.

We’ve heard it so often now about the negative sides to overconsumption of social media, a tool that I am self confessed to be distracted by. But in this conversation, Ellie and I talk about a time where we didn’t have social media, and let our imaginations run wild. Being inpsired by the art of anime/manga has also similarly inspired our world building, so that was a shared interest between us.

E. Solofoni is also an avid cosplayer, and you might see her dress up at her next book event, Supanova Melbourne.

Enjoy the episode!

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

02:58 E.Solofoni’s background and where she grew up

07:28 Embracing your own solitude for creativity

15:05 E. Solofoni’s writing schedule

20:12 Getting out of writing ruts

25:23 Fanning over Anime/Manga

26:40 the power of fan fiction as a creative outlet

28:30 A yap about Popmart

31:06 Cosplaying!

33:19 E.Solofoni’s publications

36:54 Writing about hope in times of adversity

47:37 What’s next for E. Solofoni

52:35 Sharing your writing with friends and family

57:59 Supanova and book events

01:01:02 Where to get in contact with E. Solofoni

E. Solofoni Links

* Instagram

* Website

* Amazon

* Linktree

* Goodreads

M.G. Hunt Links

* Instagram

* Linktree

* Threads

* Goodreads

* TikTok

* Facebook

* Website

Thanks for tuning in to my segment on the Indie Author Life show! If you’d like to support my work, my Ko‑Fi author shop has signed copies of my books and a range of bookish goodies, including pins, bookmarks, and art prints.

Author Chloe O’Connor has written across multiple genres, beginning in romance and now focusing on fantasy in her current series. Elemental magic is a favourite trope of mine, so to hear Chloe discuss all about her magic system in The Elemental Series makes me keen to delve into her latest publication, The Lure of Fire.

Not wanting to be labelled by genre or trope, Chloe also writes about other themes such as Greek mythology (see Aphrodite) and spicy romances (see the Precious Trilogy). That is one of the most fulfilling parts of being self-published; the ability to genre switch and produce the book of your dreams without the inhibitions of industry pressures or marketing ‘guidance’.

With the world of indie author events expanding, Chloe has also immersed herself in this world too. She will be running Bookish Amour Mentor Day 22nd November 2026, which is an event that focuses on networking and mentoring.

About the event

“A chance for likeminded authors to come along, mingle and seek answers they have. Aspiring authors, debut authors and everything in between are welcome to attend!”

Check out tickets for the Bookish Amour Event here.

On that note, I will be attending Bookish Amour as a Mentor! If you’re attending the event and wish to pre-order any of my books, please visit my Beventi Event Form.

Enjoy the episode!

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

01:20 Chloe’s Background and where she grew up

05:32 Changing landscape of book promotion

12:01 A day in the life of Chloe O’Connor

16:30 Hardest vs. most enjoyable part of writing

20:41 The Lure of Fire and Bound by Elements

26:36 Sneak Peak into what’s next!

28:30 Parameters around elemental magic

33:00 Bookish Amour Mentor Day!

44:38 Where you can get in contact with Chloe O’Connor

Chloe' O’Connor Links

* Instagram

* Bookish Amour Mentor Day

* Website

* Tiktok

* Substack

* Patreon

M.G. Hunt Links

* Instagram

* Linktree

* Threads

* Goodreads

* TikTok

* Facebook

* Website

Thanks for tuning in to my segment on the Indie Author Life show! If you'd like to support my work, my Ko‑Fi author shop has signed copies of my books and a range of bookish goodies, including pins, bookmarks, and art prints.

Thanks for reading Indie Author Life! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

I think I’m the luckiest indie author in the world—I spent the whole weekend chatting with one of my author besties while we shared a table at Book Fair Australia, Melbourne.

Throughout the busy weekend selling our books, we were able to find time to chat about Jess’s upcoming projects. The exciting final book in the Arasgain Rule series, King of Stags will be coming out 7th May 2026, almost a year and a half since the release of the first in her four book series, Woman of Wolves. Looking ahead, Jess discussed her future writing plans which feature her first entry into the wildly popular and niche Omegaverse.

It is no surprise to me that Jess sold out of all her books at Book Fair Australia. What was encouraging to see was the interest people had towards the Arasgain Rule series - you should have seen the way people were gravitating to the beautiful covers on her books! Once people learned about the feminine rage and Irish mythology within, they were sold. I am immensely proud of Jess and the way she continues to be a force in the indie author space.

Enjoy the episode!

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

01:07 The journey from Woman of Wolves to the release of King of Stags.

03:10 Reflecting on the impact writing has on readers.

08:41 Why four books feels right for the Arasgain Rule series.

12:01 Learning about the indie author industry

14:38 The self indulgence to keep writing the Arasgain Rules series

15:44 How Riagan’s story might be published

16:45 What can we expect from book 4, King of Stags.

21:10 Coming to the end of the series

22:16 How Jess approached writing spice

24:48 Jess’s next writing project

29:58 Future book events

Jess McFarlane Links

* Instagram

* Facebook

* Linktree

* Goodreads

* Amazon

MG Hunt Links

* Instagram

* Linktree

* Threads

* Goodreads

* Tiktok

* Facebook

* Website

Thanks for reading Indie Author Life! This post is public so feel free to share it.

When the world feels like it’s going to shit, sometimes the best escape is diving into distant realities that, strangely enough, mirror your own.

I have always gravitated to dystopian fiction. There is something so engaging and thought provoking about the concepts presented in these stories. So coming across indie author Nikki Brooke’s YA (Young Adult)/Dystopian fantasies was such a pleasure, and chatting with her about her author journey was even better.

In our discussion, Nikki brought up the profoundness in reading dystopia in times where life can feel so bleak. Not that there hasn’t been a time of true peace, but there are often questions about the popularity of reading and engaging with dystopia when it seems like a lot of people would be looking for different genres of escapism.

Nikki argues that dystopian novels, especially YA ones, often have tales of triumph of good over evil - we only have to look to Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games to see how captivating the teen underdog is.

Further, I really enjoyed our discussion of the importance of bi-representation in fantasy, but more so how Nikki explores it in her books. Both Plagued Lands and The Huxian Fox explore the complexities of navigating queerness. We always need more queer representation in our world, it is refreshing to see bisexuality expressed in such rich and entertaining stories.

Enjoy the episode!

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

01:12 Nikki’s background

06:51 The inspiration and resolve to write Plagued Lands

15:27 What day or week in the life of Nikki Brooke looks like

23:17 Hardest vs. Most enjoyable part of writing

30:21 Nikki talks about how she approached writing Huxian Fox and Plagued Lands

37:25 Audiobook production

42:24 Bi-representation in Nikki’s literature

56:01 Future projects

01:00:54 Where to find Nikki Brooke on social media and in person

Nikki Brooke Links

* Instagram

* Facebook

* Newsletter

* Website

* Amazon

* Goodreads

MG Hunt Links

* Instagram

* Linktree

* Threads

* Goodreads

* Tiktok

* Facebook

* Website

Thanks for reading Indie Author Life! This post is public so feel free to share it.

In the Indie Author space, no one really knows the industry quite like the indie authors themselves. For such a niche industry like publishing, and even niche-er still in self-publishing, it is often the community members themselves learning, growing and paving the way for themselves, and others to succeed.

Today, I have travelled to Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, to chat to the wonderful individuals who make up Coven Press, a collective dedicated to making a self-published author’s experience as rewarding and streamlined as possible. They are made up of four incredible women; Alana, Ana, Liz, Stef

With their literary and publishing powers combined, Coven Press is a self-publishing hub ready to launch indie authors into the literary world.

So, welcome to this very special episode of the Indie Author Life show!

Growing up during the era of The Lion King or the Warrior Cats books, it makes perfect sense that indie author Morgana Sandpiper has build her shifter universe around big cats. I too was a child of the early 90’s/2000’s, where animal-themed cartoons were big in my life. The excitement and drama of these cartoons definitely inspired a deep appreciation for animal stories (also, anyone remember Kimba the White Lion?)

In this conversation, Morgana speaks about always being captivated by the stories shared by her father in childhood, particularly stories surrounding her roots and Black American history. In Soulmateless, the protagonists struggle as a couple, navigating a world that wants to keep them apart. Morgana describes this theme to be akin to navigating the obstacles that occur with interracial dating and relationships, particularly ones from her family history.

Soulmateless is Morgana Sandpiper’s debut novel. It is set to be a part of a trilogy, with book two scheduled for release in the later half of 2026.

Enjoy the episode!

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

01:32 Morgana’s background

04:50 A day in the life of Morgana

08:05 Hardest vs most enjoyable parts of writing

16:59 Getting into Soulmateless, coming up with the title

18:55 How long it took to get Soulmateless out there

23:07 Soulmateless Cover creation

29:21 Romance in Soulmateless

34:29 Soulmateless trilogy updates

38:20 Where you can find Morgana Sandpiper

Morgana Sandpiper Links

Instagram

Linktree

Threads

Goodreads

Tiktok

Website

MG Hunt Links

Instagram

Linktree

Threads

Goodreads

Tiktok

Facebook

Website

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