Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

Maid meets Under the Tuscan Sun!

Betsy Cornwell built her career writing young adult fantasy, but her newest book tells an entirely different story. In this episode, Betsy opens up about her memoir, Ring of Salt, which chronicles her escape from an abusive marriage and her creation of a sanctuary for single-parent artists.

At the center is the Old Knitting Factory in western Ireland, a historic building she transformed into a childcare-inclusive residency. What began as a crowdfunded dream became both a physical refuge and a symbol of resilience, reshaping her creative life.

Betsy also shares wisdom about the writing process itself. Teaching creative writing at the University of Galway, she knows firsthand how perfectionism derails authors and offers that waiting to write or release a book until it’s guaranteed “good” is like refusing to give birth unless you know the baby will be perfect.

This is an episode for anyone wrestling with the voice that says “not good enough.” Ring of Salt releases September 30th.

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Access the first 6 modules of my newest course FOR FREE and see if the full course is right for you right here: 

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/freetrial

Get the first draft of your nonfiction or memoir written in 33 days!

...even if you don't have a cabin in the wilderness, 4 uninterrupted hours a day to write, or confidence that you're a "real" writer. No overwhelm, no confusion. Just simple, actionable steps.

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook/writethebook

AWESOME EMAIL TEMPLATES FOR AUTHORS 

From communicating with your launch team to building incredible relationships with readers, my customizable templates take all the guesswork out of writing emails that turn email subscribers into loyal fans. 

🎉 CLICK HERE to access to the templates

Support the show

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

Most authors have as big a stack (if not bigger) of abandoned drafts as they do books that actually make it into the world. Jane Hamilton—bestselling author of The Book of Ruth and A Map of the World and two-time Oprah Book Club pick—is refreshingly open about that reality.

Her newest novel, The Phoebe Variations, took nearly a decade to finish. Not because she was “blocked,” but because finding the center of a story often means writing and tossing out entire versions until one finally lands. “I wrote probably seven distinct novels before I got to what it is now,” she told me.

She talks about putting “Spanx” on her drafts while acknowledging the boxes of pages she’ll likely never read again. As I always say, those pages weren’t wasted; they were the stepping stones to the book she ultimately wrote. “I just have to make it the best failure I can,” she says, “and in doing so I get to the next place.”

For writers who may also feel stuck (*raises own hand), her perspective is freeing. Writing isn’t mechanical. It’s unpredictable and sometimes maddening. But it's always a process of discovery.

Whether you’ve read Jane’s work for years or are just meeting her now, this conversation is a candid look at the messy road to great storytelling.

🎉 NOW OPEN - AMAZON ADS FOR INDIE AUTHORS!

Access the first 6 modules of my newest course FOR FREE and see if the full course is right for you right here: 

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/freetrial

Get the first draft of your nonfiction or memoir written in 33 days!

...even if you don't have a cabin in the wilderness, 4 uninterrupted hours a day to write, or confidence that you're a "real" writer. No overwhelm, no confusion. Just simple, actionable steps.

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook/writethebook

AWESOME EMAIL TEMPLATES FOR AUTHORS 

From communicating with your launch team to building incredible relationships with readers, my customizable templates take all the guesswork out of writing emails that turn email subscribers into loyal fans. 

🎉 CLICK HERE to access to the templates

Support the show

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

Copyright. Piracy. LibGen. AI scraping. If just reading that list makes you want to hide under your desk with a bottle of...something...you’re not alone. Indie authors are being forced to navigate a landscape that feels murkier by the day, and most of us didn’t exactly sign up to become copyright attorneys.

Unfortunately, the “poor man’s copyright” trick (mailing yourself a sealed copy of your manuscript) I used to suggest won’t do a thing to protect you in 2025. What does matter? Understanding when and how to formally register your copyright, what that three-month filing window really means, and how to handle it when you discover your book has been pirated.

In this episode, I break down:

• Whether copyright registration is worth the time and money for indie authors
• What to do (and what not to do) if your book shows up on LibGen or other shady sites
• The difference between healthy protection and exhausting paranoia

I’ll show you how to balance protecting your work with staying focused on what really matters—building genuine connections with readers who do want to support you.

Want to go deeper? Check out Jenn Hansen-dePaula’s conversation with attorney Olivia Maynes for a legal perspective here: https://jenndepaula.com/podcast/90

🎉 NOW OPEN - AMAZON ADS FOR INDIE AUTHORS!

Access the first 6 modules of my newest course FOR FREE and see if the full course is right for you right here: 

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/freetrial

Get the first draft of your nonfiction or memoir written in 33 days!

...even if you don't have a cabin in the wilderness, 4 uninterrupted hours a day to write, or confidence that you're a "real" writer. No overwhelm, no confusion. Just simple, actionable steps.

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook/writethebook

Support the show

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

There are more than 42 million books on Amazon right now. So how in the world do you help your book stand out? One word: keywords.

Think of keywords as Amazon’s GPS. They tell the algorithm exactly where your book belongs and who should see it. However, Amazon only gives you seven keyword boxes to work with. Seven! Which means every slot has to pull its weight.

In this episode, I walk you through how to make those keywords work harder for you. We cover:

• Why those “optional” keyword boxes are actually non-negotiable if you want readers to find you.
• The difference between broad, hopelessly crowded terms (like romance or personal growth) and the kind of long-tail keywords that actually connect you to the right readers.
• Simple (and sometimes free) ways to research what your audience is really typing into Amazon.
• Paid (but not ghastly expensive) tools that can save you time if you want to dig deeper.
• How to maximize all 50 characters in each slot.
• The big no-nos: other authors’ names, book titles, quotation marks (all off-limits).

🎉 NOW OPEN - AMAZON ADS FOR INDIE AUTHORS!

Access the first 6 modules of my newest course FOR FREE and see if the full course is right for you right here: 

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/freetrial

Get the first draft of your nonfiction or memoir written in 33 days!

...even if you don't have a cabin in the wilderness, 4 uninterrupted hours a day to write, or confidence that you're a "real" writer. No overwhelm, no confusion. Just simple, actionable steps.

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook/writethebook

Support the show

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

Amazon ads don’t have to be complicated (or eat up your entire marketing budget) to actually sell books. In this episode, I’m sharing my approach to making Amazon ads simple(r) without endless spreadsheets, confusing dashboards, or the kind of budget that makes you wonder if you should’ve stuck with free bookmarks.

Common Questions Tackled:

• Do I really need to spend $50–$100 a day like people recommend for Meta ads? Or can I start with $2–$3 and still see results?
• How do I actually know if my ads are working?
• Everyone says to use 300+ keywords. Do I actually need that many? (No, you don't.)
• Should I even bother with ads if my book listing isn’t fully optimized yet? 
• How often am I supposed to tweak campaigns?
• What’s more important: impressions and clicks, or actual conversions (aka sales)?
• Can I determine the exact words people are typing into Amazon when they find my book?

If you’ve been curious about trying Amazon ads but feel completely overwhelmed by the process, head to publishaprofitablebook.com/amazonads and see how simple this process can actually be.

🎉 NOW OPEN - AMAZON ADS FOR INDIE AUTHORS!

Access the first 6 modules of my newest course FOR FREE and see if the full course is right for you right here: 

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/freetrial

Get the first draft of your nonfiction or memoir written in 33 days!

...even if you don't have a cabin in the wilderness, 4 uninterrupted hours a day to write, or confidence that you're a "real" writer. No overwhelm, no confusion. Just simple, actionable steps.

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook/writethebook

Support the show

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

Writers dream of the day they’ll hold their finished book, but few warn you about how intense the editing phase can be. In this episode, debut novelist Jill Beissel gets real about the messy, magical process of turning a rough draft into a polished novel readers will love.

Jill’s upcoming book, Glitter and Gold (out October 7!), went through what she calls “color-coded chaos”—a DIY system using highlighters, sticky notes, and sheer persistence to untangle plot issues and deepen character arcs.

She also shares what it’s like to write while raising two young kids and working full-time. Some nights she wrote 500 words, others just 50, but she kept showing up. Her writing sprints, “progress over perfection” mindset, and decision to celebrate any words written (instead of beating herself up for what she didn’t write) are what more of us need to hear.

We talk about dual timelines, beta readers, and why sometimes, the bravest thing a writer can do is shelve a manuscript after 100+ rejections and start fresh. 

And if you’re near Phoenix, join her for the launch of Glitter and Gold at Changing Hands Bookstore on October 17. Come for the celebration and stay for the reminder that persistence and patience really do pay off.

🎉 NOW OPEN - AMAZON ADS FOR INDIE AUTHORS!

Access the first 6 modules of my newest course FOR FREE and see if the full course is right for you right here: 

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/freetrial

Get the first draft of your nonfiction or memoir written in 33 days!

...even if you don't have a cabin in the wilderness, 4 uninterrupted hours a day to write, or confidence that you're a "real" writer. No overwhelm, no confusion. Just simple, actionable steps.

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook/writethebook

Support the show

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

Ever feel like everyone has some secret book marketing hack? Most of those “shortcuts” are just expensive detours.

In this episode, I’m calling out three distractions that keep indie authors spinning their wheels. First up: Kirkus Reviews. Are they legit? Yes. Are they worth the price for most self-published authors? Maybe. But if you're hoping a $400 review is going to move thousands of copies, well, it probably won't. 

Then we dive into the Amazon Bestseller badge obsession. 

Finally, we'll talk about AI. As someone who edits A LOT of manuscripts, I can spot AI-generated content from a mile away. So can readers. In publishing, the long game truly is the shortcut.

***

Want to learn how to actually get your book in front of the right readers? My Amazon Ads for Indie Authors course is officially open—with early bird pricing! Now live at publishaprofitablebook.com/amazonads. 

🎉 NOW OPEN - AMAZON ADS FOR INDIE AUTHORS!

Access the first 6 modules of my newest course FOR FREE and see if the full course is right for you right here: 

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/freetrial

Support the show

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

If you’re the kind of person who devours psychological thrillers but also wants to be emotionally sucker-punched (in the best way), Lauren Oliver’s What Happened to Lucy Vale needs to be on your radar. 

In this episode, Lauren takes us behind the scenes of what might be her most structurally daring novel to date. Set in a small Indiana town with a possibly-haunted house at its core, Lucy Vale unspools two eerie mysteries—one set in the past, one unraveling in real time—using both traditional storytelling and a collective “we” voice (think The Virgin Suicides meets Reddit sleuth thread). 

This book took years to write, and when you hear how the pieces click into place, you’ll understand why. 

Through this book, she challenges us to ask: What if we’re not always the hero in someone else’s story? 

We also dive into Lauren’s writing journey, which is less “neat staircase to the top” and more “rollercoaster meets overgrown hiking trail.” She talks honestly about the pressure to stick to one genre, the heartbreak of writing books that don’t land, and the weird freedom in failure. “I’d rather have a diversified breaking of my heart,” she says. 

So whether you’re obsessed with fresh storytelling formats, fascinated by how online culture is warping our real-life relationships, or just here for the haunted-house vibes, What Happened to Lucy Vale is a must-read and this conversation is a must-listen.

🎉 NOW OPEN - AMAZON ADS FOR INDIE AUTHORS!

Access the first 6 modules of my newest course FOR FREE and see if the full course is right for you right here: 

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/freetrial

Get the first draft of your nonfiction or memoir written in 33 days!

...even if you don't have a cabin in the wilderness, 4 uninterrupted hours a day to write, or confidence that you're a "real" writer. No overwhelm, no confusion. Just simple, actionable steps.

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook/writethebook

Support the show

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

In this episode, I sit down with Tiffany Graham Charkosky to talk about her forthcoming memoir, Living Proof (October 21, Little A), a book written and shaped over years of writing and rewriting.

At just 11 years old, Tiffany lost her mother. For decades, she believed it was an unexplainable tragedy, until a DNA test unearthed information that changed everything. That discovery didn’t just reshape her understanding of her mother’s death; it also made her question what she might unknowingly pass on to her own children.

INSIDE THE EPISODE

• The emotional (and editorial) decision-making around what belongs in a book
• How long it took for her story to find its true shape (and why)
• The surprising speed of her publishing deal once it all came together
• How do we process loss as kids versus adults? And what happens when new information forces us to reinterpret our past?

Tiffany’s story is as deeply personal as it is universally relatable. 

🎉 NOW OPEN - AMAZON ADS FOR INDIE AUTHORS!

Access the first 6 modules of my newest course FOR FREE and see if the full course is right for you right here: 

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/freetrial

Get the first draft of your nonfiction or memoir written in 33 days!

...even if you don't have a cabin in the wilderness, 4 uninterrupted hours a day to write, or confidence that you're a "real" writer. No overwhelm, no confusion. Just simple, actionable steps.

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook/writethebook

Support the show

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

If you’ve been chasing the magical marketing strategy that will finally make your book “take off,” welcome to the club. In this episode, I’m addressing the question nearly every author eventually asks: What does it actually take to make a book successful?

Spoiler: there’s no guaranteed formula. Even authors with six-figure advances, NYT bestsellers, or celebrity blurbs still worry their latest book won’t sell. 

So what are we really buying when we shell out thousands for a publicist? Often, it’s access and visibility, not actual sales. You can land your book in front of all the right people, and still... crickets. Why? Because readers are human. Think about how long you’ve let a book sit in your online cart before clicking “buy,” even if you really wanted to read it.

Success usually requires a mix of good writing, staying power, and yes, a little luck. But maybe it’s time we stop defining success only by sales numbers. What if it’s about writing something you’re proud of? Or connecting deeply with a few readers who say, “Your book changed me”?

Marketing will always involve experimentation. And when it starts to feel like a full-time job you didn’t apply for, you have every right to pause, pivot, or try something wildly different. Your book might find its audience next week—or three years from now—in a way you never expected.

🎉 NOW OPEN - AMAZON ADS FOR INDIE AUTHORS!

Access the first 6 modules of my newest course FOR FREE and see if the full course is right for you right here: 

👉 https://www.publishaprofitablebook.com/freetrial

Support the show

Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

Available wherever podcasts are available:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube

Let's Connect!
Instagram
Website

Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth