The Indy Author Podcast

Matty Dalrymple talks with Jessie Kwak about USING MAGPIE MODE TO GATHER AND CONNECT IDEAS, including collecting creative sparks before you know exactly where they belong, finding patterns among seemingly unrelated notes, building a practical system for capturing and reviewing ideas, applying the process to both fiction and nonfiction, and knowing when a shiny object enriches the book rather than distracting from it.

Interview video at https://tinyurl.com/TIA347YT

Show notes at https://theindyauthor.substack.com/ (subscribers get exclusive content and benefits)

If you find the information in this video useful, please consider supporting The Indy Author!

https://theindyauthor.substack.com/

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattydalrymple

https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor

Jessie Kwak is an author, book coach, and nonfiction book ghostwriter living in Portland, Oregon. When she's not writing, she can be found sewing, mountain biking, and exploring the Pacific Northwest (and beyond). She has written over 20 books, including thriller novels, two series of space scoundrel sci-fi crime novels, and a handful of productivity books including FROM CHAOS TO CREATIVITY and FROM BIG IDEA TO BOOK.

Matty Dalrymple is 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. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. More at mattydalrymple.com. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author, and shares what she's learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She writes nonfiction books for authors; her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine; and she is a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. More at theindyauthor.com. She also guides professionals in building their presence through a sideline or second act through her platform From Expertise to Authority. More at theindyauthor.com/authority.

Matty Dalrymple talks with Mark Leslie Lefebvre about BUILDING AN AUTHENTIC AUTHOR BRAND, including how your brand already exists whether or not you have consciously shaped it, using reader feedback and comparable authors to identify your strongest brand signals, balancing consistency with experimentation, and connecting authentically with readers without sharing more of your personal life than feels comfortable.

Interview video at https://tinyurl.com/TIA346YT

Show notes at https://theindyauthor.substack.com/ (subscribers get exclusive content and benefits)

If you find the information in this video useful, please consider supporting The Indy Author!

https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattydalrymple

Mark Leslie Lefebvre's first short story was published in 1992, the same year he started working in the book industry. He has published over thirty-five books under the name Mark Leslie that include thrillers and fiction, paranormal non-fiction and anthologies. Under his full name, Mark Leslie Lefebvre, he writes books to help authors navigate publishing. His industry experience includes President of the Canadian Booksellers Association, Director of Author Relations and Self-Publishing for Rakuten Kobo, Director of Business Development for Draft2Digital, and Professional Advisor for Sheridan College's Creative Writing and Publishing Honours Program. Mark lives in Waterloo, Ontario.

Matty Dalrymple is 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. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. More at mattydalrymple.com. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she's learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She writes nonfiction books for authors; her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine; and she is a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. More at theindyauthor.com. She also guides professionals in building their presence through a sideline or second act through her platform From Expertise to Authority. More at theindyauthor.com/authority.

Matty Dalrymple talks with Kevin Hall about BOOK MARKETING ON A BUDGET, including how to pitch print publications, radio stations, and libraries with a brief, targeted email; why alumni associations are an overlooked goldmine for book exposure; how to navigate paid media opportunities; and the three Cs—collaboration, community, and consistency—that underpin sustainable, low-cost author marketing.

Interview video at https://www.youtube.com/@TheIndyAuthorPodcast/podcasts

Show notes at https://theindyauthor.substack.com/ (subscribers get exclusive content and benefits).

If you find the information in this video useful, please consider supporting The Indy Author!

https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattydalrymple

Kevin M. Hall is a memoirist, storyteller, and independent author of four multi-genre, non-fiction books, including his latest: Book Marketing on a Budget – Simple Steps for New Authors. After a 40+ year career in corporate America he began writing, inspired by his grandchildren's questions about what it was like when he was growing up. He favors lived experience over theory and steady progress over hype, sharing practical, low-cost strategies that help authors reach readers through outreach, relationships, and consistency.

Matty Dalrymple is 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. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. More at mattydalrymple.com. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she's learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She writes nonfiction books for authors; her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine; and she is a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. More at theindyauthor.com. She also guides professionals in building their presence through a sideline or second act through her platform From Expertise to Authority. More at theindyauthor.com/authority.

Matty Dalrymple talks with Frankie Blooding about FINDING YOUR AUTHOR ARCHETYPE TO AVOID BURNOUT, including the four archetypes and the distinct burnout patterns and red flags tied to each one, why matching your personality type to your business model reduces wasted energy, how to uncover the authentic "why" fueling your writing, and how your archetype shapes the way you connect with your ideal reader.

Interview video at https://www.youtube.com/@TheIndyAuthorPodcast/podcasts

Show notes at https://www.theindyauthor.com/episodes-all and on Substack at https://theindyauthor.substack.com/

If you find the information in this video useful, please consider supporting The Indy Author!

https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattydalrymple

Frankie Blooding is a USA Today bestselling author of 24 books and the founder of Real Indie Author. After burning out and leaving publishing, she spent several years as a growth strategist where she doubled a construction company's revenue. She returned to indie publishing with a new framework — the Story Stamina System — which maps authors into four creative archetypes and builds production systems around how their brains actually work. She's on a mission to burn the bookmill and help indie authors build sustainable careers.

Matty Dalrymple is 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. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. More at mattydalrymple.com. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she's learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She writes nonfiction books for authors; her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine; and she is a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. More at theindyauthor.com. She also guides professionals in building their presence through a sideline or second act through her platform From Expertise to Authority. More at theindyauthor.com/authority.

Matty Dalrymple talks with Kat Caldwell about WRITING BETTER CHARACTERS WITH THE BIG FIVE PERSONALITY, including what the five traits are and how they function as a spectrum rather than fixed categories; why a character's "need" is really about the unconscious ways their personality causes hurt to the people they love; how to use the Big Five as a diagnostic tool when your story feels like something's off; and why a satisfying character arc means growth and not a 180-degree reversal.

Interview video at https://www.youtube.com/@TheIndyAuthorPodcast/podcasts

Show notes at https://www.theindyauthor.com/episodes-all and on Substack @TheIndyAuthor.

If you find the information in this video useful, please consider supporting The Indy Author!

https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattydalrymple

Kat is a novelist and short story writer and loves to teach fiction. She writes love stories in several genres including historical romance, contemporary romance, and contemporary fiction. Kat is the creator of the Pencils&Lipstick podcast, a podcast for writers with author interviews, craft talk and insight into the publishing world. In between conducting interviews for her podcast and writing, you can find Kat traveling the world, reading, or volunteering with her church—always with a cup of cold brew close by.

Matty Dalrymple is 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. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. More at mattydalrymple.com. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she's learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She writes nonfiction books for authors; her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine; and she is a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. More at theindyauthor.com. She also guides professionals in building their presence through a sideline or second act through her platform From Expertise to Authority. More at theindyauthor.com/authority.

Matty Dalrymple talks with Gordon McClellan about HYBRID PUBLISHING: GREEN FLAGS, RED FLAGS, AND WHAT TO EXPECT, including the key difference between a genuine hybrid publisher and a publishing mill, why a publisher saying "not yet" is actually the green flag authors should be looking for, how to evaluate a hybrid publisher's marketing commitment before you sign anything, red flags in contracts, and AI-generated scam solicitations.

Interview video at https://www.youtube.com/@TheIndyAuthorPodcast/podcasts

Show notes at https://www.theindyauthor.com/episodes-all

If you find the information in this video useful, please consider supporting The Indy Author!

https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattydalrymple

Gordon McClellan is a publisher and communications leader with 20+ years of experience building mission-driven publishing and content organizations. As Founder of DartFrog Books, he leads editorial strategy, author development, and innovative initiatives focused on authorship, ownership, and the future of publishing. His work spans books, digital media, and audience-building systems designed to support long-term author success. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles in churches, shaping communications around governance, stewardship, and organizational change—experience that informs his focus on clarity, credibility, and trust in publishing.

Matty Dalrymple is 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. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. More at mattydalrymple.com. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she's learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She writes nonfiction books for authors; her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine; and she is a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. More at theindyauthor.com. She also guides professionals in building their presence through a sideline or second act through her platform From Expertise to Authority. More at theindyauthor.com/authority.

Matty Dalrymple talks with Austin S. Camacho about CONFLICT, CHARACTER, AND MOTIVATION, including why conflict is about opposing goals rather than violence, how to find conflict in every scene including ones between characters who agree, how internal conflict distinguishes heroes from villains, why motivation has to be personal to feel real, how to make large-scale stakes relatable by grounding them in a character's specific fears, and why ROCKY is the perfect example of a protagonist who states his true goal out loud.

Interview video at https://www.youtube.com/@TheIndyAuthorPodcast/podcasts

Show notes, including extensive summary and transcript, at https://www.theindyauthor.com/episodes-all

If you find the information in this video useful, please consider supporting The Indy Author!

https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattydalrymple

Austin S. Camacho is the author of eight novels about Washington DC-based private eye Hannibal Jones, five in the Stark and O'Brien international thriller series, the detective novel Beyond Blue, and the action thrillers True Target and Mirror Target. His short stories have been featured in several anthologies and he is featured in the Edgar nominated African American Mystery Writers: A Historical and Thematic Study by Frankie Y. Bailey. He is a past president of the Maryland Writers Association, past Vice President of the Virginia Writers Club, and one of the creators of the Creatures, Crimes & Creativity literary conference.

Matty Dalrymple is 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. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. More at mattydalrymple.com. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she's learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She writes nonfiction books for authors; her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine; and she is a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. More at theindyauthor.com. She also guides professionals in building their presence through a sideline or second act through her platform From Expertise to Authority. More at theindyauthor.com/authority.

Matty Dalrymple talks with Kristen Tate about INTERIORITY: THE SECRET SAUCE OF GOOD FICTION, including how to calibrate the depth of interiority across multiple point-of-view characters; the difference between overt and subtle interiority, and why the "she thought" tag is usually unnecessary; how interiority functions as the glue that connects plot events and reveals character motivation; how to use it strategically in action scenes to control pacing; and how it shapes reader experience in unreliable narrator stories and mysteries.

Interview video at https://www.youtube.com/@TheIndyAuthorPodcast/podcasts

Show notes, including extensive summary and transcript, at https://www.theindyauthor.com/episodes-all

If you find the information in this video useful, please consider supporting The Indy Author!

https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattydalrymple

Kristen Tate has been a freelance editor for over a decade, helping authors transform their work from rough draft to finished book. She has a PhD in English from Columbia University, with a focus on publishing history. She is the author of Novel Study: Decoding the Secrets and Structures of Contemporary Fiction and writes a regular newsletter full of craft advice and encouragement for authors.

Matty Dalrymple is 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. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. More at mattydalrymple.com. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she's learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She writes nonfiction books for authors; her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine; and she is a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. More at theindyauthor.com. She also guides professionals in building their presence through a sideline or second act through her platform From Expertise to Authority. More at theindyauthor.com/authority.

Matty Dalrymple talks with Dale L. Roberts about SMART MARKETING OVER HOT GENRES, including why consistent promotion matters more than genre selection, how going wide on platforms like Kobo and direct sales tools like Curios and Payhip can boost profitability, what your Amazon product page must get right to convert readers, and how author community and tools like Booksprout can give your book a sustainable edge.

Interview video at https://www.youtube.com/@TheIndyAuthorPodcast/podcasts

Show notes, including extensive summary and transcript, at https://www.theindyauthor.com/episodes-all

If you find the information in this video useful, please consider supporting The Indy Author!

https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattydalrymple

Dale L. Roberts is an award-winning author, YouTuber, and leading voice in self-publishing with over 50 titles and 40 book awards. As a trusted advisor to indie authors, he helps writers build their brands, grow their readership, and publish bestselling books.

Matty Dalrymple is 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. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. More at mattydalrymple.com. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she's learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She writes nonfiction books for authors; her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine; and she is a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. More at theindyauthor.com. She also guides professionals in building their presence through a sideline or second act through her platform From Expertise to Authority. More at theindyauthor.com/authority.

Matty Dalrymple talks with Rene Gutteridge about THE CHOREOGRAPHY OF A SCENE, including how to identify the purpose of every scene before you write it, where to enter a scene for maximum impact, how to balance propulsive moments with the quieter character-development scenes your story also needs, and why every element in a scene—from minor characters to setting—should be doing more than one job. We also talk about why so many manuscripts open with someone drinking coffee, and what to do about it.

Interview video at https://www.youtube.com/@TheIndyAuthorPodcast/podcasts

Show notes, including extensive summary and transcript, at https://www.theindyauthor.com/episodes-all

If you find the information in this video useful, please consider supporting The Indy Author!

https://www.patreon.com/theindyauthor

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattydalrymple

Rene Gutteridge has been writing professionally for over twenty years, with projects spanning fiction, non-fiction, comedy sketches, novelizations and screenwriting. She is the multi-genre author of 24 novels plus several non-fiction titles. Her indie film Skid won deadCenter's Best Oklahoma Feature, and her novel My Life as a Doormat was adapted into the Hallmark movie Love's Complicated. She is co-writer on the feature film Family Camp, which was a Movieguide award winner and a Dove Award nominee. She is also a Screencraft finalist in true crime. Rene is co-director of WriterCon in Oklahoma City, senior contributor at Writing Momentum and is the head writer at 231 Collective.

Matty Dalrymple is 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. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. More at mattydalrymple.com. Matty also writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage, and shares what she's learned on THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST. She writes nonfiction books for authors; her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine; and she is a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. More at theindyauthor.com. She also guides professionals in building their presence through a sideline or second act through her platform From Expertise to Authority. More at theindyauthor.com/authority.