Historical Cozies with Benedict Brown (New Author series)

Episode 210 / M.K. Williams writes suspenseful literary fiction and helps aspiring authors. M.K. shares how she writes and markets books across different genres, using Payhip for direct sales, the drawback of a surprise launch, and why delusion is sometimes a good thing. 🌀

• Why M.K. has specific goals for each book
• Why M.K. recommends purchasing your ISBNs
• Why authors should “pack their patience” when it comes to writing and publishing
• Mindset shift M.K. had to go through in considering the tradition route with a book
• The problem with a “surprise” book launch
• Common mistakes aspiring authors make
• How M.K. uses Payhip for her direct sales

Links:

https://1mkwilliams.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@1MKWilliams

Ebooklaunch covers:  https://ebooklaunch.com/?ref=32 (Affiliate)

💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices

❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

Episode 209 / How do you get to the point that your readers “one-click” the buy button for your books? Join us as we chat with small town romance author Melanie Harlow. Melanie shares what she learned about giving readers what they want—and what that has to do with spaghetti versus cake. 🎂

• Knowing how to market the book before you write it
• Discovering micro-tropes that appeal to readers (and one disadvantage of focusing too much on tropes)
• How to keep your writing creatively interesting when you’re staying in your lane
• Repackaging books when trends change
• Why she’d be more intentional about planning series if she were starting over
• How she uses bonus scenes to get readers on her newsletter list
• Alternate special edition paperbacks

💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

Links: 

www.melanieharlow.com

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices

❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

Episode 208 / Want to write something a little bit different? How do you appeal to readers in one of the main genres, but also forge your own path? 

Margaret Lashley joins us to share how she created a subgenre of wacky, humor-filled mysteries that appeal to cozy readers as well as women’s fiction readers. 

• How Margaret’s background in advertising helps her write fiction
• Why Margaret only uses one social media site
• How she markets her genre-adjacent fiction
• Writing humor as well as crafting quirky, but relatable characters
• Why a backlist is important for longevity 

Author website: https://www.margaretlashley.com https://www.facebook.com/valandpalspage

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/B06XKJ3YD8

💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

Links: 

Findaway Voices by Spotify current TOS: https://my.findawayvoices.com/terms-of-use#

Buzzcast’s episode about Spotify: https://buzzcast.buzzsprout.com/231452/14513452-spotify-s-new-podcast-strategy

Author’s Republic: https://www.authorsrepublic.com

Spoken Realms: https://spokenrealms.com

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices

❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

Episode 207 / Do you want to create a loyal readership interested in you, not just your genre? Do you want to up the romantic tension in your books? Rom-com author Emma St. Clair shares tips on these topics, plus much more: 

• The minefield of romance terms used to describe heat level and tone
• Weighing the cost of taking a break from a series
• Handling the pressure that success brings
• Email building tips
• Adding emotional connection to deepen swoony scenes
• Planning an in-person reader retreat
• Going hybrid with a traditional book deal for diversification 

Links: 

http://emmastclair.com

http://instagram.com/kikimojo

WIKT Ep 9: Clean Romance, Sustainability, and “Pantsing” books with Kirsten Oliphant

💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices

❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

Episode 206 / Leslye Penelope, author of fantasy and paranormal romance, joins us and shares how she builds rich story worlds.

• How the worldbuilding can connect to plot, character, theme, and conflict
• Using Payhip to sell signed paperbacks 
• Leslye’s course on Worldbuilding
• How Leslye went from indie publishing to being a hybrid author
• How she transitioned from rapid release to a slower release schedule
• Leslye’s recommendations for helpful writing craft books

https://lpenelope.com/

https://myimaginaryfriends.net/footnotes

Worldbuilding course: https://learn.myimaginaryfriends.net

Podcasts:

https://lpenelope.com/podcast/

https://www.inkandmagic.net

💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices

❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

Subscriber-only episode

How do you structure your novel so the middle is as page-turning as the beginning and the end? How do you write a strong heroine? What are content buckets and how can they help with your newsletter? 

We dive into these topics with the wonderful Ines Johnson, who joins us to answer your questions! Ines is an expert at breaking down story structure. She shares insights on: 

• How Try/Fail cycles help you avoid a saggy middle
• What types of obstacles your protagonist can face
• Where to find inspiration for strong heroines and why character agency is critical
• What to avoid to create likable strong heroines
• Different types of content you can share and how you can share variations on those major types of content
• Writing shorts for subscriptions and then selling them direct

Ineswrites.com
ineswrites.com/ptp - Page Turner Pacing course

If you’re already a supporter, you should have received an email from Buzzsprout with a link to your private RSS feed for the supporter episodes. If you don’t have the link, contact support@buzzsprout.com.

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices

❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

Episode 205 / This episode is all about harnessing the power of direct connection with your readers. Matt Briel from Lulu discusses the value of direct sales as we move away from a distribution-first publishing model. 

• Importance of owning customer data
• Why you should start building your direct audience even if you only have one book
• Using Lulu for Kickstarter fulfillment
• Order Import Tool: upload csv files for order fulfillment of crowdfunding or direct sales that Lulu prints and ships for you 
• New features that are coming to Lulu, including ribbons and endpapers 
• Lulu’s website plug-ins for direct sales

Website: Lulu.com

Lulu’s Publish & Prosper Podcast: https://www.publishprosperpodcast.com/

💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices

❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

Episode 204 / Having trouble getting words on the page? Erin P.T. Canning has strategies to help! We delve into how to let go of perfectionism and give yourself permission to write a “bad” first draft. Erin also shares how writing helped her with depression. 

• Why it’s important to look backward as well plan for the future
• Making time to write as a busy at-home and working mom
• Turning off the inner critic
• Embracing you genre 
• Daydreaming: mentally draft and revise before writing 
• Placeholder as the first chapter

Erin’s website: https://erinptcanning.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinptcanningauthor;

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinptcanning

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentswhowrite

💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices

❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

Subscriber-only episode

Opening lines, where to start the book, and prologues

How do you start your book in a way that hooks readers? In this month’s suporter-only episode, we look at compelling beginnings. 

We cover the heavy lifting that the open line does, where to start your book, and (controversy!) prologues. 

• Famous first lines in literature and why they work
• Some of our personal favorite first lines in books we love
• First lines we’ve written and why we decided on them as our openers
• Using conversation in a first line: yea or yay?
• Where to start your book
• Prologue pros and cons

February’s supporter episode will be a conversation with the fabulous Ines Johnson! What questions do you have for her? Let us know here: https://forms.gle/BjUJVPPgRacJm9dq8

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices

❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing

Episode 203 / Do you want to simplify marketing? Do you want to take your branding up a notch? Do you want to know the trends in writing and publishing? Clayton Noblit of Written Word Media has answers about these topics and also shares tips on where to start with branding and common mistakes new authors often make.

https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/

💜 🎙 Become a supporter of the podcast! We can’t wait to give you a shoutout in a future episode. https://wishidknownforwriters.com/support.

Links mentioned: 

Instalove course: https://instalove-university.teachable.com/p/ilu?affcode=1725974_-clezvvk

ACFW Virtual Conference -  Swoony in the Sweet session on Saturday with Jenny B. Jones: https://acfw.com/acfw-virtual-conference/

🚀 Jami’s Launch Plan https://www.jamialbright.com/authorservices

❤️ Jami’s books https://amzn.to/3wSraA5

🔎 Sara’s books https://www.sararosett.com/bibliography/

📚 Sara’s How to Write a Series book and audiobook: https://www.sararosett.com/how-to-write-a-series/

The Big List of Craft and marketing books mentioned on WIKT podcast episodes https://bookshop.org/lists/recommenced-resources-for-writers-from-the-wish-i-d-known-then-podcast
Resources from the Author and Reader Community to Help Ukrainians https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9QQhmcpa_dlxQY-GEqBiIbIZk-_J1MgQX_BxLI3F84/edit?usp=sharing