The Raccoon Author's Self-Publishing Diary

The Raccoon Author's Self-Publishing Diary

By Elodie NowodazkijArtsBooks
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The Raccoon Author's Self-Publishing Diary episodes

  • Ep. 42 - The feeling when you upload your files for publication, brainstorming story ideas and learning, learning, learning...

    Today, I talk about the excitement that is uploading the files to publish the French version of #TheLeftoverBride, using Draft2Digital, KDP select & Google Play. I also explain why I decided to get my manuscript proofread one more time and I may start brainstorming about the next books in the Swan Cove series. Also mentioned on this episode: the books/free webinars I'm planning on taking (rapid release, dictation & writing your book and more amazon ads courses).

    And as always:

    • Ask me a question (per email: authorelodienowodazkij AT gmail.com or by leaving me a voicemail: https://anchor.fm/elodie-nowodazkij/message)  
    • Follow A Self-Published Author's Diary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aselfpublishedauthorsdiary  
    • Visit my website: www.elodienowodazkij.com



    • 18 min
    • Ep. 41 - Gearing up for the publication of #TheLeftoverBride French edition and writing craft building blocks...

      Today, I talk about gearing up for the publication of #TheLeftoverBride French edition which includes updating backmatter, putting another book permafree, adding the French edition to several readers' websites in France, formatting the text and adapting my ad strategy.

      I also mention how I've been building my writing craft over the years, similarly to building blocks and how some strategies and ways of writing come more easily to me now than they did before.

      Links from this episode:

      • Plottr: https://plottr.com/
      • Novel Factory: https://www.novel-software.com/
      • Babelio: https://www.babelio.com/
      • Livraddict: https://www.livraddict.com/
      • Booknode: https://booknode.com/
      • And as always:

        • Ask me a question (per email: authorelodienowodazkij AT gmail.com or by leaving me a voicemail: https://anchor.fm/elodie-nowodazkij/message) 
        • Follow A Self-Published Author's Diary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aselfpublishedauthorsdiary 
        • Visit my website: www.elodienowodazkij.com
        • 16 min
        • Ep. 40 - Keeping track of indie author conferences, updating newsletter landing pages and the writing high ...

          Today, I talk about keeping track of indie author conferences as I completely missed the Romance Author Mastermind conference. it does require an invitation but I only saw talks about it after it happened (or while it was happening) so making sure I'm adding the link to it to my favorites. I also mention the 20booksto50k conference and Inkers Con. 

          During the week, I also updated my author newsletter landing pages to make them less convoluted and I'm currently experiencing the very fun writing high of starting to write a story I've been thinking about for several months now.

          Links from this episode:

          • Romance Author Mastermind (https://romanceauthormastermind.com/)
          • 20booksto50k conference (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCl3DWM-P5iOtytsCGsdrLmfjqQjAH8Jm)
          • Inkers Con (https://www.inkerscon.com/)
          • And as always:

            • Ask me a question (per email: authorelodienowodazkij AT gmail.com or by leaving me a voicemail: https://anchor.fm/elodie-nowodazkij/message)
            • Follow A Self-Published Author's Diary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aselfpublishedauthorsdiary
            • Visit my website: www.elodienowodazkij.com
            • 27 min
            • Ep - 39: Good news, using Netgalley as an indie author (part 1), getting a spike in free ebooks in Germany (not sure why)...

              Today, I share some good news: I had a PET scan on Wednesday and then we saw my oncologist. And no signs of malignancy. I'll see him again in three months but as I'm now two years out of transplant, no more scheduled scans 🙂

              I also talk about using Netgalley as an indie author: what my goals are in terms of reviews and reaching more readers and why I decided to put #TheLeftoverBride on Netgalley.

              As a self-published author, I use Victory Editing co-op (for one title and one month) and have already received hundreds of request for review.

              • https://victoryediting.com/services/netgalley-co-op/
              • Also mentioned in this episode: TikTok, Instagram as an author and not knowing why some videos take off as well as IN DIESEM EINEN SOMMER (A SUMMER LIKE NO OTHER in German) getting hundreds (now probably at least a thousand) free downloads without me doing anything (I'm not sure why either).

                • Ask me a question (per email: authorelodienowodazkij AT gmail.com or by leaving me a voicemail: https://anchor.fm/elodie-nowodazkij/message)
                • Follow A Self-Published Author's Diary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aselfpublishedauthorsdiary/
                • Visit my website: www.elodienowodazkij.com
                • 25 min
                • Ep. 38 - Another (hard) lesson learned as indie author, getting back into a writing routine and more...

                  Today, on the podcast: another lesson learned in my self-publishing career or how I may have slightly panicked on Wednesday when it comes to the French translation (should be fine now but this was stressful) of my next novel and how I'm learning from my mistakes, getting back into a writing routine, putting #TheLeftoverBride on Netgalley, not doing NaNoWriMo... and more.

                  Also mentioned today:

                  • Victory Netgalley Co-op: ($45 for a monthly slot): https://victoryediting.com/services/netgalley-co-op/
                  • Bookbub: www.bookbub.com 
                  • Visit my website: www.elodienowodazkij.com 

                    Follow me on Instagram: @aselfpublishedauthorsdiary

                    29 min
                  • REPLAY - Interview with audiobook narrator Megan Carter

                    This is a REPLAY episode. This episode was published earlier this year.

                    Have you ever wondered about getting your books published as audiobooks? Or are you thinking about working as an audiobook narrator?

                    This short interview (which wasn't conducted live. I had sent questions to Megan so she could record the answers whenever possible) goes into her process as audiobook narrator and a bit of behind-the-scenes of the FEAR ME, FEAR ME NOT audiobook (which is available on Audible, Amazon and iTunes). She also gives her top 3 tips for audiobook narrators.

                    This episode is also available as a blog post: http://elodienowodazkij.com/2021/01/27/the-one-with-an-interview-with-audiobook-narrator-megan-carter/

                    If you'd like to support this podcast, rate and review and share it with your friends. :-) Or you can also support this podcast by becoming a supporter.

                    Find me online: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Bookbub and on my website.

                    9 min
                  • Ep. 37 - Not writing for a few days and a SEE ME, SEE ME NOT audiobook preview...

                    Today, on the podcast: not writing for a few days, not having any urgent deadlines and a SEE ME, SEE ME NOT audiobook preview.

                    Next week will be a replay...

                    SEE ME, SEE ME NOT is narrated by Megan Carter.

                    Get the full audiobook now on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3B5hZuz ; Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/?asin=B08TLR55FC ; iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/see-me-see-me-not-gavert-city-book-2-unabridged/id1550135369


                    18 min
                  • Ep. 36 - Learning from other indie authors because success isn't a pie, right?

                    Today, I share with you what I've done each day to increase my royalties: one step at a time. Between updating #TheLeftoverBride epilogue, starting to format another bilingual book, putting one of my books as perma-free and running a free promo on another book who is currently in KDP select, I am making progress. 

                    Another topic I'm talking about today is dealing with feeling inadequate or not "as successful" as an indie author because those are feelings many of us have at one time or another. And a reminder that success isn't a pie and that learning from other indie authors as well as remembering what our goals are is oh so important.

                    Also mentioned in this article:

                    And if you'd like to listen to the FEAR ME, FEAR ME NOT audiobook, it's only one credit on Audible and you can try Audible for free!

                    • US: https://adbl.co/3l2MDg6
                    • UK: https://adbl.co/3viWDbJ
                    • Germany: https://adbl.co/3ADLao9
                    • France: https://bit.ly/3AAINm4
                    • Visit my website: www.elodienowodazkij.com 

                      Follow me on Instagram: @aselfpublishedauthorsdiary

                      27 min
                    • What has worked with my latest book release as an indie author and what I've learned... And I turned two!

                      Today, I am doing a "lessons learned" recap for my latest book release as indie author. #TheLeftoverBride has been out for a bit less than a month and while, of course, a lot of readers will read it and smile in the coming weeks, months, years, decades... there are a few things that I will do differently with my next release and things that, I think, have worked very well for me.

                      So, I'm detailing the top 3 mistakes I've made for that release (which turned into the top 5 or so) and then the top 3 things (which turned into the top 4 or 5) I've done very well when self-publishing #TheLeftoverBride.

                      I also talk about what I'm planning to do for the next release and about turning 2 (my stem cell transplant was on October 7th 2019 so I am two for my second birthday).

                      In this episode I mention:

                      • www.bethematch.org (to sign up to be a bone marrow donor - you could potentially save someone life!)
                      • A thread by Tessa Dare on what to think about before choosing a pen name.
                      • The website I created for www.theleftoverbride.com
                      • Thank you for listening!


                        32 min
                      • Ep. 34- The art of translation or why I don't translate my own books... Setting up my writing goals and daily calendar.

                        Today, I am talking about my new process for getting #TheLeftoverBride to the French-speaking market, explaining why I don't translate my own books. After all, literary translation (and all types of translation) are an art. I dig a bit deeper into why I am "wide" on the French-speaking market. More than 15% of pre-orders are currently on Apple & Kobo. And I'm about to set up my pre-order on Google Play.

                        I'm also setting up my calendar and my upcoming projects and trying to find one thing to do each day to help my royalties. :-)

                        Also mentioned in this episode:

                        • Alessandra Torre's "6 Secrets Every Indie Author Should Know" class. https://www.alessandratorreink.com/author
                        • Margie Lawson's classes: https://www.margielawson.com/
                        • Grab a copy of #TheLeftoverBride: https://amzn.to/3i3SDXj 
                        • Visit my website: www.elodienowodazkij.com  
                        • Subscribe to my readers' newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/elodienowodazkij/website  
                        • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aselfpublishedauthorsdiary/
                        • 33 min

                        About The Raccoon Author's Self-Publishing Diary

                        From the publisher's feed

                        A candid self-publishing podcast for indie authors, with author Elodie Nowodazkij (aka the Raccoon Author). Follow the real numbers, experiments, mistakes and decisions behind an indie author…