SPA Girls Podcast – EP62 – Christmas 2016 Special Episode
Dec24

SPA Girls Podcast – EP62 – Christmas 2016 Special Episode

This week we come to you live from our local cafe as we eat, drink and be merry, and discuss the highs and lows of self publishing in 2016. We call it our Hit, Miss and Maybe list, and we talk through the things that worked, the things that definitely didn’t work, and the things we might try again to see if they work better a second time.

It’s a great episode, we give some of our top tips from the last 12 months, and spread a little Christmas cheer!

Merry Christmas, and a happy New Year! xx

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SPA Girls Podcast – EP61 – Interview with Joanna Penn
Dec21

SPA Girls Podcast – EP61 – Interview with Joanna Penn

This week we had the honour of interviewing the one and only… Joanna Penn! She’s a best-selling author, an international speaker, a podcaster, and a trainer, and one of our role models in this industry. We were super-excited to have her on the show, and she didn’t disappoint. She gave us a huge amount of self publishing advice in this information-packed episode – making it an episode that you don’t want to miss!

Joanna Penn: Author, Speaker and Creative Entrepreneur

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of thrillers and non-fiction, Joanna Penn is an international professional speaker and entrepreneur, voted as one of The Guardian UK Top 100 Creative Professionals 2013.

Visit her amazing website The Creative Penn where you will find resources to help you write, publish and market your book.

Joanna Penn was also voted one of the Top 10 Blogs for Writers and one of the Top 10 Blogs for Self-Publishers. As seen at:

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SPA Girls Podcast – EP60 – Interview With An Editor
Dec14

SPA Girls Podcast – EP60 – Interview With An Editor

towelThis week we talk to Olivia Ventura from Hot Tree Edits about being a full time editor. She was a fantastic person to interview, and gave great advice on how to work with editors and how to find someone who will do the kind of edit you want for your book. She talks about the most common grammar mistakes that authors make, how to do edits on your own in preparation for sending your manuscript to an editor, and some best practice ideas for making sure your book is as tight as you can make it.

It’s a fascinating must-listen episode, that you’ll love!

Hot Tree Editing

http://www.hottreeediting.com/

OUR TEAM

Hot Tree Editing has over ten years’ experience of creative editing and proofing. Each and every project is precise and professional and is meticulously overseen from start to finish.

We are proud to be firmly established within the indie book community, and pride ourselves on our approachable, friendly and cost-effective editing service.

All of our editors have BA (hons) degrees in disciplines within business, humanities, psychology, and the arts: English literature, English language, and creative writing.

OUR SERVICE

Top quality editing is essential for the successful completion and publication of your book. We offer a range of affordable editing solutions and pride ourselves on our precision, perfection and professionalism.

All content and copy and line edits come with a second review by one of our final-eyes’ readers (a trainee proofreader). We also work closely with a team of savvy beta readers at the final pre-publication stage. Our post-edit beta readers are available upon request only, and at no extra cost. Please be sure to allow extra time in your schedule for this service.

Our aim: perfection!

OUR PROMISE

In book editing, our task is only complete when satisfaction is reached.We pride ourselves on our honesty and commitment to you, the author.

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SPA Girls Podcast – EP59 – Answering Listener Questions
Dec07

SPA Girls Podcast – EP59 – Answering Listener Questions

facemaskThis week Wendy, Cheryl and Shar tackled some of the questions we’ve been getting from eager listeners to the show. The team were without me (Trudi) because I was off celebrating my 10th wedding anniversary, but it’s good to know that they can manage to pull together a show without me… 🙂 (Although I have to say, Wendy needs to memorize the show’s opening lines a bit better… haha.)

The topics covered included how to keeping writing when you have a family, how to find the right editor, and what to do if you hate social media (hint: it’s not throwing out your computer).

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SPA Girls Podcast – EP58 – Writing for a Kindle World
Dec01

SPA Girls Podcast – EP58 – Writing for a Kindle World

Self Publishing Authors PodcastThis week it was just Shar, Cheryl and Trudi, and we talked about writing and publishing a book in an Amazon Kindle World. Cheryl has just published her second book in the Laguna Beach Kindle World and she gives us the inside story on how it works – plus the benefits and the issues around writing in a Kindle World.

It’s an intriguing discussion on how a Kindle World works, and why you might consider joining an author’s Kindle World, and how it might benefit your writing career.

This is just another way to get eyes on your work, and is an example of how we operate as authors, by trying things on – seeing what works and what doesn’t for you and your stories.

A kindle world is based on one author’s stories which are already an established series set in a particular world. This author can invite other authors to join their world, although some worlds can be applied to directly.  It takes a certain type of author who can make this successful by writing the original works well and then promoting the new authors in the world.

The theory behind a kindle world is that this is a form of Fan fiction. When readers love a particular setting, they will want to revisit that world over and over, and  these worlds will have writers with stories written in roughly the same vein as the lead author.

Cheryl has just published her second book in Kaira Rouda’s Laguna Beach Kindle World, which was brought about by a Reality TV series called Laguna Beach. Cheryl feels lucky to have had an amazing group of supportive authors in her group, including Zoe York who did all the covers for both releases.

The Spagirls also believe that you should treat a kindle world as a totally different venture, and explore it in depth before deciding this is for you.

How it works (from what Cheryl has witnessed)

Kaira took her characters and wrote several books. Amazon then asked her to create a kindle world, so she invited other authors to join her. (You may upload your own work, but it may not be accepted)

You can’t use the main characters the lead author’s books, but you can use secondary characters, have them live in and around Laguna Beach, and even take them elsewhere.

Different authors have different styles, but all these stories are romance with HEA.

They are usually shorter stories – novella length more often than not, although not always.

Every author is sent a confidential contract and an Amazon rep is assigned to the group.

There is usually a story bible and guidelines from Amazon

Advantages

You already have a place and some ideas for characters.

Branding is often done for you re covers, and the font for the series title.

It can be used as a separate stream for readers to find you – a promotional vehicle to increase your visibility.

Big selling authors like Lindsay Buroker, Hugh Howey, Roxanne St Clair and Melissa Foster have kindleworlds, and aligning yourself to any of the bigger names will, by default, increase your following, provided you have a good product.

The ability to share fan bases. You have an opportunity to introduce other authors fan base to your own writing and therefore, your other works. Don’t underestimate the reach you wouldn’t have had.

A great way to build relationships with our fellow authors

A dedicated FB group, with potentially Blog tour joint promotional efforts., therefore cross-promotion for your books.

Lends itself to romance since our readers are so voracious and willing to try other authors.

A good way to learn the ropes as a new author.

Nice to work with others in a team environment

Disadvantages

You will have to get another person to upload and pay them if you do not reside in USA

Market is USA only and therefore not global.

A certain amount of control is lost, which includes but not necessarily limited to, pricing.

Hints: Check out ones that are well written and well run.

Read the original series to get a feel for what attracts readers.

Find out what you need to write to appeal to that audience.

Make a connection with the lead author if you haven’t been invited.

Choose Savvy authors and be assured of a great way to learn another aspect of your craft.

As an author, sharing of information is key to being successful.

Links to Laguna Beach kindle world guidelines. http://bit.ly/2hqLEtz

Note: All worlds will have varying guidelines.

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