A Self-Published Author’s Diary: Before the cover reveal and random thoughts about social media.

In addition to explaining my current process about engaging readers even before the cover reveal, today on the podcast (Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and more), I dip my toe into the way I use social media, some (very just brushing the surface) of my complicated feelings about social media and the fact that I am still learning how to use it as an author. I even started making Instagram Reels and using TikTok!

A little catch-up

• Happy release day to Jessica Patrick and THIS IS FOR TONIGHT! “When Andi attends a music festival with one goal in mind – capture an interview with a famous band so she can pay for college – she gets more than she bargained for in this YA novel about family ties and finding your own way.”
• Would you like to win a copy of one of L. Penelope’s books? Check out this giveaway.
• Would you like to win a copy of one of Mona Shroff’s books? Check out this giveaway.
• Do you want to leave me a message or ask me a question that I will play on the podcast, click here or leave a comment on this blog post.

Random update and thoughts on social media

I started working pretty early today (well, the day I’m drafting this post) as I need to finish recording an audiobook I got hired for…My to-do list for the day is pretty long and I may be slightly tired because I had one of those wonderful reading moments where you just don’t want to stop reading. I’m currently reading PRETTY LITTLE WIFE by Darby Kane and I told myself I was going to stop at Chapter 11…I read until Chapter 19.

Have you already read it? Any book recommendations for me? Don’t hesitate to either leave me a voicemail or send me an email at either : authorelodienowodazkij AT gmail.com or aselfpublishedauthorsdiary AT gmail.com 🙂

To share my excitement about the book, I even made a reel on Instagram 🙂

Talking about reels, I made my very first one on Friday at a random moment and it got more than 1000 views very quickly. The reel about PRETTY LITTLE WIFE also got more than 1000 views. I also now have a TikTok.

When it comes to using social media as an author, I don’t necessarily know what I’m doing. Maybe because the author part of me is still me? But at the same time, I am not comfortable sharing certain things . As authors, sometimes we’re told we are the brand. And…well…I’m still learning. You hear: be strategic, but be real. Use hashtags but make sure you use the right ones. Post often but not too often. Don’t spend too much time on social media but connect with people.

And right now, for me, it’s not about growing the number of my followers (even though I guess it would be nice), but it’s more to have more engagement on the posts that I do share.

Right now, I am trying new things. I’ll report back. 🙂

Cover reveal and engaging readers…

When it comes to covers, I either design them myself or I hire someone to design them. I’ve designed all my contemporary romance covers. And the Gavert City book covers have all been designed by Najla Qamber.

Seven years ago, I used to book Blog tours for cover reveals. And I’m wondering how much those still help. I need to do a bit more research…

I’ve already designed one cover for #THELEFTOVERBRIDE (Amazon, iTunes, Kobo,
Add it on Goodreads) and will be designing another one this week.

Mid-May or so, I will send an email to my newsletter subscribers asking them to help me choose between the two covers.

My goals are three-fold:

1. Get more newsletter subscribers. I’ve announced it on my blog and in my Facebook readers’ group. The reach in that group is very low and I know it’s probably because I do not post consistently enough. It’s easier for me to send emails. And…as mentioned before, I’ve read it is also more efficient.
    
2. Get feedback on which cover readers prefer: Both covers will have the same style and to me it will be interesting to see which one readers prefer.
    
3. Start the buzz...By asking readers for help in choosing the cover reveal, I might get more engagement for the book itself and maybe start the buzz even before the cover reveal.

Author life moment that made me smile last week

I received an email from a reader telling me how much my books have helped distract her through…*waves hands* everything. And knowing that my books have helped someone smile or get lost in the moment in the world that I created definitely made me smile and gave me a boost in my revisions. 🙂

I have two newsletters!

(1) My weekly self-publishing emails: A Self-published author’s diary…

(2) A newsletter for my readers: full of bonus scenes, updates on my books, shows I’m watching, books I’m reading, exclusive giveaways and more…

Click on this link and just add your email and you’ll receive access to a page full of exclusive content! Plus my emails include pictures of my cat and my dog…and they’re pretty adorable…:-)

Follow me on Instagram – Bookbub – Facebook – Twitter – Goodreads – TikTok

Numbers: A TikTok Experiment As an Indie Author (the yay, the nay, and what it costs), pre-order numbers and more – A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

This one's a numbers-and-behind-the-scenes episode. I share a full preorder update across all five of my current books, platform by platform, the good and the zero, and where I'm at ten days into a thirty-day TikTok experiment in 2026 (I know, I know).The BookTok part is genuinely interesting to me: one video crossed 2,000 views and somehow racked up more than eight hours of total watch time, while its near-identical twin stalled at 94 and I have no idea why. That's kind of the whole lesson. I get into what's working, where in the world people are actually watching from (hello, UK), how many of them clicked through (spoiler: two), and yes, what it's costing me in focus, because I opened the app nineteen times in one afternoon and that felt worth admitting out loud.Plus: the Belgian VAT answer that arrived in eleven pages, the Barnes & Noble payment I'm still chasing, a trip to the ER that cancelled a posting day, and trying to use my phone less.And I'm going to interview the chemical engineer about how to write a believable one. If you've got a question for him, send it to elodie@elodienow.com. He refuses to see them in advance. So. :-)If you've tried TikTok and it worked for you, or really didn't, come tell me. We can commiserate, or you can show me your data.BeccaCon + Becca Syme's Write Better-Faster Patreon — the author-business conference and the experiments-homework that started all this: https://betterfasteracademy.com (Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/beccasyme/posts)Wide for the Win Circle (where I posted about the Barnes & Noble delay): https://wideforthewin.com/L. Penelope — "The Fire That Forges You" (My Imaginary Friends), on documenting your process while you're in it: https://myimaginaryfriends.substack.com/p/the-fire-that-forges-youJami Albright — The Summer That Changed Us — the book that wrecked me (Steel Magnolias meets Schitt's Creek with the heart of This Is Us): https://books2read.com/b/mdZvPW — jamialbright.comMy Christmas Wish-List (preorder, now July 31st): https://books2read.com/MyChristmasWishCancer Is Not My Brand (preorder): https://books2read.com/cancerisnotmybrand/Nice Guys Don't Kiss Like That at Christmas: https://books2read.com/NiceGuysDontKissLikeThatA New Year's Eve Like No Other (third in the Nick & Em series): https://books2read.com/ANewYearsEveLikeNoOtherFrench editions — Ma Liste de Noël and Un Réveillon Pas Comme Les AutresIf the episode was useful, a rate-and-review would make this self-published author's day. Happy writing, and happy, happy reading.www.elodienowodazkij.comwww.elodienow.com

1. Numbers: A TikTok Experiment As an Indie Author (the yay, the nay, and what it costs), pre-order numbers and more 29:12
2. Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life 29:48
3. Numbers: Amazon blocked one of my e-books (one that had been live for ten years) 18:33
4. ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World… 25:59
5. Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book. 43:42
6. This isn't a grand gesture … 12:46
7. My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts) 18:36
8. My F***-It Book: She Had Cancer and Still Gets a Holiday Steamy Rom-Com 17:52