Category: A self-published author’s diary

A self-published author's diary, podcast

Learning from other indie authors because success isn’t a pie, right?

Elodie

Listen to the full episode now…Choose you favorite platform here or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Audible, Overcast, Breaker and more…

Episode 36

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 episode

Don’t hesitate to ask me a question per email or record a question…

How to support this podcast?

Thank you so much for listening!

Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life – A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

I had different plans for this episode. And then I ended up in a Belgian ER at 6:45 in the morning with hives and a lip that decided to start swelling. So… change of plans.This week, I'm taking you behind the scenes of three days in my life as a self-published author: the writing, the taxes, and yes, the ER.I talk about:My ER stories as a writer (and former cancer patient) in three countries (the US, France, and Belgium) and how those experiences end up in my books, including the nurses who made everything easier (hi to the one who called me Bebe)Finding the small good moments even in crappy situations, and why sometimes that's easier said than doneWhy I moved the preorder date for # My Christmas Wish-List to the end of July (spoiler: there was just no way)Bringing Plato (our beagle who we said goodbye to in 2025 ) into My Christmas Wish List, and how writing him helped me get back into the storyRevision talk: digging deeper into character voice, the "worst and best" to make characters more three-dimensional, a scene more alive and why knowing where the dog is in every scene actually mattersThe Belgian VAT saga continues (I called the FinMin help line, I sent an email, I wait)And Cancer Is Not My Brand is now up for preorder! What a wonderful way to announce it. Such a nice segue.Links mentioned in this episode:Preorder Cancer Is Not My Brand: https://books2read.com/cancerisnotmybrand/Preorder My Christmas Wish-List (now coming end of July): https://books2read.com/MyChristmasWishNice Guys Don't Kiss Like That at Christmas: https://books2read.com/NiceGuysDontKissLikeThatBecca Syme's QuitCast for Writers — "Why We Want You to Prioritize Your Health This Year as Authors" (also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ1Lm5o3IcI)The Creative Penn — "Writing Through Grief and Rebooting an Indie Author Business" with Jami Albright: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2026/06/01/writing-through-grief-and-rebooting-an-indie-author-business-with-jami-albright/Jami Albright's website (and her book The Summer That Changed Us): Steel Magnolias meets Schitt’s Creek with the heart of This is Us.https://jamialbright.com Choose your favorite e-retailer https://books2read.com/b/mdZvPWSusan Dennard on writing more than one book at once "Finishing what You Start": https://stdennard.substack.com/p/finishing-what-you-startTell me where you're listening from! Email me at elodie@elodienow.comMy websites: https://www.elodienowodazkij.com and https://www.elodienow.comMy Substack: https://elodienowodazkij.substack.com/My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@authorelodienowodazkijMy Patreon: Elodie's Writing Nook https://www.patreon.com/c/elodieswritingnookThank you so much for listening from the US to Nigeria, Hong Kong to Lithuania, Belgium and France and Germany (and hi Alex, hi Maman, hi Gisela). I hope your socks are fluffy, and if you're writing, that the words are flowing. Happy writing, and happy, happy reading.
  1. Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life
  2. Numbers: Amazon blocked one of my e-books (one that had been live for ten years)
  3. ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World…
  4. Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book.
  5. This isn't a grand gesture …
  6. My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)
  7. My F***-It Book: She Had Cancer and Still Gets a Holiday Steamy Rom-Com
  8. New Release Hiccups, Metadata, Pen Names, and Mild Panic
  9. Hi, it's me…a self-published author now in Belgium
  10. Splitting Pen Names & Newsletters (Plus My Cat Might Make an Appearance)

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

A self-published author's diary, podcast

What has worked with my latest book release as an indie author and what I’ve learned… And I turned two!

Elodie

Listen to the full episode now…Choose you favorite platform here or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Audible, Overcast, Breaker and more…

Episode 35

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:

Don’t hesitate to ask me a question per email or record a question…

How to support this podcast?

Thank you so much for listening!

Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life – A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

I had different plans for this episode. And then I ended up in a Belgian ER at 6:45 in the morning with hives and a lip that decided to start swelling. So… change of plans.This week, I'm taking you behind the scenes of three days in my life as a self-published author: the writing, the taxes, and yes, the ER.I talk about:My ER stories as a writer (and former cancer patient) in three countries (the US, France, and Belgium) and how those experiences end up in my books, including the nurses who made everything easier (hi to the one who called me Bebe)Finding the small good moments even in crappy situations, and why sometimes that's easier said than doneWhy I moved the preorder date for # My Christmas Wish-List to the end of July (spoiler: there was just no way)Bringing Plato (our beagle who we said goodbye to in 2025 ) into My Christmas Wish List, and how writing him helped me get back into the storyRevision talk: digging deeper into character voice, the "worst and best" to make characters more three-dimensional, a scene more alive and why knowing where the dog is in every scene actually mattersThe Belgian VAT saga continues (I called the FinMin help line, I sent an email, I wait)And Cancer Is Not My Brand is now up for preorder! What a wonderful way to announce it. Such a nice segue.Links mentioned in this episode:Preorder Cancer Is Not My Brand: https://books2read.com/cancerisnotmybrand/Preorder My Christmas Wish-List (now coming end of July): https://books2read.com/MyChristmasWishNice Guys Don't Kiss Like That at Christmas: https://books2read.com/NiceGuysDontKissLikeThatBecca Syme's QuitCast for Writers — "Why We Want You to Prioritize Your Health This Year as Authors" (also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ1Lm5o3IcI)The Creative Penn — "Writing Through Grief and Rebooting an Indie Author Business" with Jami Albright: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2026/06/01/writing-through-grief-and-rebooting-an-indie-author-business-with-jami-albright/Jami Albright's website (and her book The Summer That Changed Us): Steel Magnolias meets Schitt’s Creek with the heart of This is Us.https://jamialbright.com Choose your favorite e-retailer https://books2read.com/b/mdZvPWSusan Dennard on writing more than one book at once "Finishing what You Start": https://stdennard.substack.com/p/finishing-what-you-startTell me where you're listening from! Email me at elodie@elodienow.comMy websites: https://www.elodienowodazkij.com and https://www.elodienow.comMy Substack: https://elodienowodazkij.substack.com/My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@authorelodienowodazkijMy Patreon: Elodie's Writing Nook https://www.patreon.com/c/elodieswritingnookThank you so much for listening from the US to Nigeria, Hong Kong to Lithuania, Belgium and France and Germany (and hi Alex, hi Maman, hi Gisela). I hope your socks are fluffy, and if you're writing, that the words are flowing. Happy writing, and happy, happy reading.
  1. Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life
  2. Numbers: Amazon blocked one of my e-books (one that had been live for ten years)
  3. ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World…
  4. Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book.
  5. This isn't a grand gesture …

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

A self-published author's diary, podcast

The art of translation or why I don’t translate my own books… Setting up my writing goals and daily calendar.

Elodie

Listen to the full episode now…Choose you favorite platform here or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Audible, Overcast, Breaker and more…

Episode 34

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:

Ddon’t hesitate to ask me a question per email or record a question…

How to support this podcast?

Thank you so much for listening!

Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life – A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

I had different plans for this episode. And then I ended up in a Belgian ER at 6:45 in the morning with hives and a lip that decided to start swelling. So… change of plans.This week, I'm taking you behind the scenes of three days in my life as a self-published author: the writing, the taxes, and yes, the ER.I talk about:My ER stories as a writer (and former cancer patient) in three countries (the US, France, and Belgium) and how those experiences end up in my books, including the nurses who made everything easier (hi to the one who called me Bebe)Finding the small good moments even in crappy situations, and why sometimes that's easier said than doneWhy I moved the preorder date for # My Christmas Wish-List to the end of July (spoiler: there was just no way)Bringing Plato (our beagle who we said goodbye to in 2025 ) into My Christmas Wish List, and how writing him helped me get back into the storyRevision talk: digging deeper into character voice, the "worst and best" to make characters more three-dimensional, a scene more alive and why knowing where the dog is in every scene actually mattersThe Belgian VAT saga continues (I called the FinMin help line, I sent an email, I wait)And Cancer Is Not My Brand is now up for preorder! What a wonderful way to announce it. Such a nice segue.Links mentioned in this episode:Preorder Cancer Is Not My Brand: https://books2read.com/cancerisnotmybrand/Preorder My Christmas Wish-List (now coming end of July): https://books2read.com/MyChristmasWishNice Guys Don't Kiss Like That at Christmas: https://books2read.com/NiceGuysDontKissLikeThatBecca Syme's QuitCast for Writers — "Why We Want You to Prioritize Your Health This Year as Authors" (also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ1Lm5o3IcI)The Creative Penn — "Writing Through Grief and Rebooting an Indie Author Business" with Jami Albright: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2026/06/01/writing-through-grief-and-rebooting-an-indie-author-business-with-jami-albright/Jami Albright's website (and her book The Summer That Changed Us): Steel Magnolias meets Schitt’s Creek with the heart of This is Us.https://jamialbright.com Choose your favorite e-retailer https://books2read.com/b/mdZvPWSusan Dennard on writing more than one book at once "Finishing what You Start": https://stdennard.substack.com/p/finishing-what-you-startTell me where you're listening from! Email me at elodie@elodienow.comMy websites: https://www.elodienowodazkij.com and https://www.elodienow.comMy Substack: https://elodienowodazkij.substack.com/My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@authorelodienowodazkijMy Patreon: Elodie's Writing Nook https://www.patreon.com/c/elodieswritingnookThank you so much for listening from the US to Nigeria, Hong Kong to Lithuania, Belgium and France and Germany (and hi Alex, hi Maman, hi Gisela). I hope your socks are fluffy, and if you're writing, that the words are flowing. Happy writing, and happy, happy reading.
  1. Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life
  2. Numbers: Amazon blocked one of my e-books (one that had been live for ten years)
  3. ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World…
  4. Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book.
  5. This isn't a grand gesture …

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

A self-published author's diary, podcast

Why the Chemical Engineer was right and the hardest part about writing & self-publishing #TheLefoverBride…

Elodie

Listen to the full episode now…Choose you favorite platform here or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Audible, Overcast, Breaker and more…

Episode 33

Today, I share why the Chemical Engineer was right and how I didn’t listen to him but listened to L. Penelope. 🙂 It’s related to the formatting of the #TheLeftoverBride title and how to make it more “searchable”.

I also answer questions from Sam (on Instagram) who asked: what was the hardest part about writing #TheLeftoverBride? I added the hardest part about self-publishing it…

I go more into details about:

  • The revision process (cutting and reworking the beginning)
  • Deepening and adjusting the character arc for Ryan
  • Writing steamy scenes, ensuring lots of emotions.
  • Managing expectations…

Next week, I’ll talk about book translations/marketing, don’t hesitate to ask me a question per email or record a question…

How to support this podcast?

Thank you so much for listening!

Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life – A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

I had different plans for this episode. And then I ended up in a Belgian ER at 6:45 in the morning with hives and a lip that decided to start swelling. So… change of plans.This week, I'm taking you behind the scenes of three days in my life as a self-published author: the writing, the taxes, and yes, the ER.I talk about:My ER stories as a writer (and former cancer patient) in three countries (the US, France, and Belgium) and how those experiences end up in my books, including the nurses who made everything easier (hi to the one who called me Bebe)Finding the small good moments even in crappy situations, and why sometimes that's easier said than doneWhy I moved the preorder date for # My Christmas Wish-List to the end of July (spoiler: there was just no way)Bringing Plato (our beagle who we said goodbye to in 2025 ) into My Christmas Wish List, and how writing him helped me get back into the storyRevision talk: digging deeper into character voice, the "worst and best" to make characters more three-dimensional, a scene more alive and why knowing where the dog is in every scene actually mattersThe Belgian VAT saga continues (I called the FinMin help line, I sent an email, I wait)And Cancer Is Not My Brand is now up for preorder! What a wonderful way to announce it. Such a nice segue.Links mentioned in this episode:Preorder Cancer Is Not My Brand: https://books2read.com/cancerisnotmybrand/Preorder My Christmas Wish-List (now coming end of July): https://books2read.com/MyChristmasWishNice Guys Don't Kiss Like That at Christmas: https://books2read.com/NiceGuysDontKissLikeThatBecca Syme's QuitCast for Writers — "Why We Want You to Prioritize Your Health This Year as Authors" (also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ1Lm5o3IcI)The Creative Penn — "Writing Through Grief and Rebooting an Indie Author Business" with Jami Albright: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2026/06/01/writing-through-grief-and-rebooting-an-indie-author-business-with-jami-albright/Jami Albright's website (and her book The Summer That Changed Us): Steel Magnolias meets Schitt’s Creek with the heart of This is Us.https://jamialbright.com Choose your favorite e-retailer https://books2read.com/b/mdZvPWSusan Dennard on writing more than one book at once "Finishing what You Start": https://stdennard.substack.com/p/finishing-what-you-startTell me where you're listening from! Email me at elodie@elodienow.comMy websites: https://www.elodienowodazkij.com and https://www.elodienow.comMy Substack: https://elodienowodazkij.substack.com/My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@authorelodienowodazkijMy Patreon: Elodie's Writing Nook https://www.patreon.com/c/elodieswritingnookThank you so much for listening from the US to Nigeria, Hong Kong to Lithuania, Belgium and France and Germany (and hi Alex, hi Maman, hi Gisela). I hope your socks are fluffy, and if you're writing, that the words are flowing. Happy writing, and happy, happy reading.
  1. Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life
  2. Numbers: Amazon blocked one of my e-books (one that had been live for ten years)
  3. ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World…
  4. Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book.
  5. This isn't a grand gesture …

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

A self-published author's diary, podcast

#TheLeftoverBride is out in the world! A recap a few days after publication…

Elodie

Listen to the full episode now…Choose you favorite platform here or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Audible, Overcast, Breaker and more…

Episode 32

Today, I talk about publication day… #TheLeftoverBride (Kindle – Paperback) is out in the world. Between celebrating, managing expectations (and sometimes not managing said expectations), a rush of anxiety and knowing readers will be smiling, release day is a roller coaster of emotions.

Also mentioned in this episode: this reel from Courtney Summers: “Everything I’ve done doesn’t feel like it happened. Courtney Summers doesn’t exist.” Especially as I’m thinking about the next book. 🙂

And White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson:  https://www.epicreads.com/books/9780063029095/white-smoke/

The Haunting of Hill House meets Get Out in this chilling YA psychological thriller and modern take on the classic haunted house story from New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson!

“The creeps come on slowly, then start to build. When the cold shivers ran down my back, I wanted to scream—but I was too busy turning pages. I had to know: Just how frightening will it get?”- R.L. Stine, author Goosebumps and Fear Street

Follow me on instagram: @aselfpublishedauthorsdiary :-), on my author’s YouTube channel or the podcast’s YouTube channel.

Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life – A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

I had different plans for this episode. And then I ended up in a Belgian ER at 6:45 in the morning with hives and a lip that decided to start swelling. So… change of plans.This week, I'm taking you behind the scenes of three days in my life as a self-published author: the writing, the taxes, and yes, the ER.I talk about:My ER stories as a writer (and former cancer patient) in three countries (the US, France, and Belgium) and how those experiences end up in my books, including the nurses who made everything easier (hi to the one who called me Bebe)Finding the small good moments even in crappy situations, and why sometimes that's easier said than doneWhy I moved the preorder date for # My Christmas Wish-List to the end of July (spoiler: there was just no way)Bringing Plato (our beagle who we said goodbye to in 2025 ) into My Christmas Wish List, and how writing him helped me get back into the storyRevision talk: digging deeper into character voice, the "worst and best" to make characters more three-dimensional, a scene more alive and why knowing where the dog is in every scene actually mattersThe Belgian VAT saga continues (I called the FinMin help line, I sent an email, I wait)And Cancer Is Not My Brand is now up for preorder! What a wonderful way to announce it. Such a nice segue.Links mentioned in this episode:Preorder Cancer Is Not My Brand: https://books2read.com/cancerisnotmybrand/Preorder My Christmas Wish-List (now coming end of July): https://books2read.com/MyChristmasWishNice Guys Don't Kiss Like That at Christmas: https://books2read.com/NiceGuysDontKissLikeThatBecca Syme's QuitCast for Writers — "Why We Want You to Prioritize Your Health This Year as Authors" (also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ1Lm5o3IcI)The Creative Penn — "Writing Through Grief and Rebooting an Indie Author Business" with Jami Albright: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2026/06/01/writing-through-grief-and-rebooting-an-indie-author-business-with-jami-albright/Jami Albright's website (and her book The Summer That Changed Us): Steel Magnolias meets Schitt’s Creek with the heart of This is Us.https://jamialbright.com Choose your favorite e-retailer https://books2read.com/b/mdZvPWSusan Dennard on writing more than one book at once "Finishing what You Start": https://stdennard.substack.com/p/finishing-what-you-startTell me where you're listening from! Email me at elodie@elodienow.comMy websites: https://www.elodienowodazkij.com and https://www.elodienow.comMy Substack: https://elodienowodazkij.substack.com/My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@authorelodienowodazkijMy Patreon: Elodie's Writing Nook https://www.patreon.com/c/elodieswritingnookThank you so much for listening from the US to Nigeria, Hong Kong to Lithuania, Belgium and France and Germany (and hi Alex, hi Maman, hi Gisela). I hope your socks are fluffy, and if you're writing, that the words are flowing. Happy writing, and happy, happy reading.
  1. Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life
  2. Numbers: Amazon blocked one of my e-books (one that had been live for ten years)
  3. ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World…
  4. Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book.
  5. This isn't a grand gesture …

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

A self-published author's diary, podcast

The jitters before publication and thinking about the next stories…

Elodie

Listen to the full episode now…Choose you favorite platform here or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Audible, Overcast, Breaker and more…

Episode 31

Today, I go back and forth between being “done-done” and “just one more tiny change”. Those are pretty much the jitters before publication as #TheLeftoverBride releases next week… https://books2read.com/TheLeftoverBridePodcast

I also discuss my next projects, talking about time management, planning and more.

And I added the bonus episode at the end of the episode: the article I’ve written for the Ulman Foundation entitled: “Because Sometimes You Just Need To Ask About a Dog…” I’ve decided to read this article out loud in case it can help someone. You can find more information about the Ulman Foundation here: https://ulmanfoundation.org/ Also mentioned in this episode: September is also Blood Cancer Awareness Month and if you’d like to find more information about blood cancers or find support: the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has both (https://www.lls.org/)

You can already pre-order #TheLeftoverBride e-book for only $0.99 (special pre-order price) on Amazon, Kobo, B&N, Apple and more: https://books2read.com/TheLeftoverBride

And you can sign up for my readers’ newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/elodienowodazkij/website

As always, thank you for subscribing, rating and reviewing!

Follow me on instagram: @aselfpublishedauthorsdiary :-), on my author’s YouTube channel or the podcast’s YouTube channel.

Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life – A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

I had different plans for this episode. And then I ended up in a Belgian ER at 6:45 in the morning with hives and a lip that decided to start swelling. So… change of plans.This week, I'm taking you behind the scenes of three days in my life as a self-published author: the writing, the taxes, and yes, the ER.I talk about:My ER stories as a writer (and former cancer patient) in three countries (the US, France, and Belgium) and how those experiences end up in my books, including the nurses who made everything easier (hi to the one who called me Bebe)Finding the small good moments even in crappy situations, and why sometimes that's easier said than doneWhy I moved the preorder date for # My Christmas Wish-List to the end of July (spoiler: there was just no way)Bringing Plato (our beagle who we said goodbye to in 2025 ) into My Christmas Wish List, and how writing him helped me get back into the storyRevision talk: digging deeper into character voice, the "worst and best" to make characters more three-dimensional, a scene more alive and why knowing where the dog is in every scene actually mattersThe Belgian VAT saga continues (I called the FinMin help line, I sent an email, I wait)And Cancer Is Not My Brand is now up for preorder! What a wonderful way to announce it. Such a nice segue.Links mentioned in this episode:Preorder Cancer Is Not My Brand: https://books2read.com/cancerisnotmybrand/Preorder My Christmas Wish-List (now coming end of July): https://books2read.com/MyChristmasWishNice Guys Don't Kiss Like That at Christmas: https://books2read.com/NiceGuysDontKissLikeThatBecca Syme's QuitCast for Writers — "Why We Want You to Prioritize Your Health This Year as Authors" (also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ1Lm5o3IcI)The Creative Penn — "Writing Through Grief and Rebooting an Indie Author Business" with Jami Albright: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2026/06/01/writing-through-grief-and-rebooting-an-indie-author-business-with-jami-albright/Jami Albright's website (and her book The Summer That Changed Us): Steel Magnolias meets Schitt’s Creek with the heart of This is Us.https://jamialbright.com Choose your favorite e-retailer https://books2read.com/b/mdZvPWSusan Dennard on writing more than one book at once "Finishing what You Start": https://stdennard.substack.com/p/finishing-what-you-startTell me where you're listening from! Email me at elodie@elodienow.comMy websites: https://www.elodienowodazkij.com and https://www.elodienow.comMy Substack: https://elodienowodazkij.substack.com/My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@authorelodienowodazkijMy Patreon: Elodie's Writing Nook https://www.patreon.com/c/elodieswritingnookThank you so much for listening from the US to Nigeria, Hong Kong to Lithuania, Belgium and France and Germany (and hi Alex, hi Maman, hi Gisela). I hope your socks are fluffy, and if you're writing, that the words are flowing. Happy writing, and happy, happy reading.
  1. Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life
  2. Numbers: Amazon blocked one of my e-books (one that had been live for ten years)
  3. ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World…
  4. Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book.
  5. This isn't a grand gesture …

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

A self-published author's diary, podcast

Writing on the couch… Revising and editing in the chair. And finishing my book!

Elodie

Listen to the full episode now…Choose you favorite platform here or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Audible, Overcast, Breaker and more…

Episode 30

Today, I am very very happy about finishing my book. At the time of recording, I was finalizing it before sending it to my copy editor (cue, happy dance and a very giddy Elodie). I also talk about what I’ve learned in this process: I tend to write better on the couch and to revise and edit better sitting at the chair in my office.

Also mentioned in this episode:

  • Because Sometimes You Need To Talk About A Dog (the article I wrote for the Ulman Foundation): https://ulmanfoundation.org/elodies-story/ I’ll be recording a bonus episode over the weekend reading this article.

You can already pre-order #TheLeftoverBride e-book for only $0.99 (special pre-order price) on Amazon, Kobo, B&N, Apple and more: https://books2read.com/TheLeftoverBride

And you can sign up for my readers’ newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/elodienowodazkij/website

As always, thank you for subscribing, rating and reviewing!

Follow me on instagram: @aselfpublishedauthorsdiary :-), on my author’s YouTube channel or the podcast’s YouTube channel.

Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life – A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

I had different plans for this episode. And then I ended up in a Belgian ER at 6:45 in the morning with hives and a lip that decided to start swelling. So… change of plans.This week, I'm taking you behind the scenes of three days in my life as a self-published author: the writing, the taxes, and yes, the ER.I talk about:My ER stories as a writer (and former cancer patient) in three countries (the US, France, and Belgium) and how those experiences end up in my books, including the nurses who made everything easier (hi to the one who called me Bebe)Finding the small good moments even in crappy situations, and why sometimes that's easier said than doneWhy I moved the preorder date for # My Christmas Wish-List to the end of July (spoiler: there was just no way)Bringing Plato (our beagle who we said goodbye to in 2025 ) into My Christmas Wish List, and how writing him helped me get back into the storyRevision talk: digging deeper into character voice, the "worst and best" to make characters more three-dimensional, a scene more alive and why knowing where the dog is in every scene actually mattersThe Belgian VAT saga continues (I called the FinMin help line, I sent an email, I wait)And Cancer Is Not My Brand is now up for preorder! What a wonderful way to announce it. Such a nice segue.Links mentioned in this episode:Preorder Cancer Is Not My Brand: https://books2read.com/cancerisnotmybrand/Preorder My Christmas Wish-List (now coming end of July): https://books2read.com/MyChristmasWishNice Guys Don't Kiss Like That at Christmas: https://books2read.com/NiceGuysDontKissLikeThatBecca Syme's QuitCast for Writers — "Why We Want You to Prioritize Your Health This Year as Authors" (also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ1Lm5o3IcI)The Creative Penn — "Writing Through Grief and Rebooting an Indie Author Business" with Jami Albright: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2026/06/01/writing-through-grief-and-rebooting-an-indie-author-business-with-jami-albright/Jami Albright's website (and her book The Summer That Changed Us): Steel Magnolias meets Schitt’s Creek with the heart of This is Us.https://jamialbright.com Choose your favorite e-retailer https://books2read.com/b/mdZvPWSusan Dennard on writing more than one book at once "Finishing what You Start": https://stdennard.substack.com/p/finishing-what-you-startTell me where you're listening from! Email me at elodie@elodienow.comMy websites: https://www.elodienowodazkij.com and https://www.elodienow.comMy Substack: https://elodienowodazkij.substack.com/My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@authorelodienowodazkijMy Patreon: Elodie's Writing Nook https://www.patreon.com/c/elodieswritingnookThank you so much for listening from the US to Nigeria, Hong Kong to Lithuania, Belgium and France and Germany (and hi Alex, hi Maman, hi Gisela). I hope your socks are fluffy, and if you're writing, that the words are flowing. Happy writing, and happy, happy reading.
  1. Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life
  2. Numbers: Amazon blocked one of my e-books (one that had been live for ten years)
  3. ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World…
  4. Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book.
  5. This isn't a grand gesture …

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

A self-published author's diary, podcast

Who’s talking? Or why I need to change one scene’s point-of-view. And how I fall in love with my revised chapters…

Elodie
Episode 29

Listen to the full episode now…Choose you favorite platform here or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Audible, Overcast, Breaker and more…

Today, I talk about needing to change one scene’s point-of-view and the process behind that decision (mainly related to which character needs to have a certain realization). I also discuss falling in love with my revised chapters, when I no longer focus on each page, paragraph, sentence, word and re-read the whole chapter on a different device than my computer…

Plus, I share some tidbits about my 40th birthday and our 10-year anniversary getaway. The Chemical Engineer surprised me with a trip to Inn Boonsboro (the inn owned by Nora Roberts) and we had a wonderful time. Yes, he is amazing.

And I also open up about feeling overwhelmed with everything happening in the world and wanting to make sure I find ways to help.

Mentioned in this episode:

You can already pre-order #TheLeftoverBride e-book for only $0.99 (special pre-order price) on Amazon, Kobo, B&N, Apple and more: https://books2read.com/TheLeftoverBride

And you can sign up for my readers’ newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/elodienowodazkij/website

As always, thank you for subscribing, rating and reviewing!

Follow me on instagram: @aselfpublishedauthorsdiary :-), on my author’s YouTube channel or the podcast’s YouTube channel.

Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life – A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

I had different plans for this episode. And then I ended up in a Belgian ER at 6:45 in the morning with hives and a lip that decided to start swelling. So… change of plans.This week, I'm taking you behind the scenes of three days in my life as a self-published author: the writing, the taxes, and yes, the ER.I talk about:My ER stories as a writer (and former cancer patient) in three countries (the US, France, and Belgium) and how those experiences end up in my books, including the nurses who made everything easier (hi to the one who called me Bebe)Finding the small good moments even in crappy situations, and why sometimes that's easier said than doneWhy I moved the preorder date for # My Christmas Wish-List to the end of July (spoiler: there was just no way)Bringing Plato (our beagle who we said goodbye to in 2025 ) into My Christmas Wish List, and how writing him helped me get back into the storyRevision talk: digging deeper into character voice, the "worst and best" to make characters more three-dimensional, a scene more alive and why knowing where the dog is in every scene actually mattersThe Belgian VAT saga continues (I called the FinMin help line, I sent an email, I wait)And Cancer Is Not My Brand is now up for preorder! What a wonderful way to announce it. Such a nice segue.Links mentioned in this episode:Preorder Cancer Is Not My Brand: https://books2read.com/cancerisnotmybrand/Preorder My Christmas Wish-List (now coming end of July): https://books2read.com/MyChristmasWishNice Guys Don't Kiss Like That at Christmas: https://books2read.com/NiceGuysDontKissLikeThatBecca Syme's QuitCast for Writers — "Why We Want You to Prioritize Your Health This Year as Authors" (also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ1Lm5o3IcI)The Creative Penn — "Writing Through Grief and Rebooting an Indie Author Business" with Jami Albright: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2026/06/01/writing-through-grief-and-rebooting-an-indie-author-business-with-jami-albright/Jami Albright's website (and her book The Summer That Changed Us): Steel Magnolias meets Schitt’s Creek with the heart of This is Us.https://jamialbright.com Choose your favorite e-retailer https://books2read.com/b/mdZvPWSusan Dennard on writing more than one book at once "Finishing what You Start": https://stdennard.substack.com/p/finishing-what-you-startTell me where you're listening from! Email me at elodie@elodienow.comMy websites: https://www.elodienowodazkij.com and https://www.elodienow.comMy Substack: https://elodienowodazkij.substack.com/My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@authorelodienowodazkijMy Patreon: Elodie's Writing Nook https://www.patreon.com/c/elodieswritingnookThank you so much for listening from the US to Nigeria, Hong Kong to Lithuania, Belgium and France and Germany (and hi Alex, hi Maman, hi Gisela). I hope your socks are fluffy, and if you're writing, that the words are flowing. Happy writing, and happy, happy reading.
  1. Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life
  2. Numbers: Amazon blocked one of my e-books (one that had been live for ten years)
  3. ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World…
  4. Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book.
  5. This isn't a grand gesture …

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

A self-published author's diary, podcast

The One With the First Three Chapters of the A SUMMER LIKE NO OTHER audiobook…

Elodie
Episode 28

Listen to the full episode now…Choose you favorite platform here or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Audible, Overcast, Breaker and more…

Today is a bit different. As I’m celebrating my 40th birthday as well as my husband and I’s 10-year wedding anniversary this week, I am not recording a full episode but instead, I am sharing the first three chapters of the A SUMMER LIKE NO OTHER audiobook with you all (narrated by Megan Carter).

If you’d like to listen to more chapters: don’t hesitate to subscribe to my YouTube Channel (https://youtu.be/b_Fe5HYjmGQ) or you can purchase the full audiobook on Audible, Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Chirp or from me directly or you can also borrow it from your library!

In the introduction of this episode, I mention I have two interviews with Megan already available on this podcast where we talk about audiobooks, writing, theater, acting and more…

As always, thank you so much for listening!

You can already pre-order #TheLeftoverBride e-book for only $0.99 (special pre-order price) on Amazon, Kobo, B&N, Apple and more: https://books2read.com/TheLeftoverBride

And you can sign up for my readers’ newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/elodienowodazkij/website

As always, thank you for subscribing, rating and reviewing!

Follow me on instagram: @aselfpublishedauthorsdiary :-), on my author’s YouTube channel or the podcast’s YouTube channel.

Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life – A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

I had different plans for this episode. And then I ended up in a Belgian ER at 6:45 in the morning with hives and a lip that decided to start swelling. So… change of plans.This week, I'm taking you behind the scenes of three days in my life as a self-published author: the writing, the taxes, and yes, the ER.I talk about:My ER stories as a writer (and former cancer patient) in three countries (the US, France, and Belgium) and how those experiences end up in my books, including the nurses who made everything easier (hi to the one who called me Bebe)Finding the small good moments even in crappy situations, and why sometimes that's easier said than doneWhy I moved the preorder date for # My Christmas Wish-List to the end of July (spoiler: there was just no way)Bringing Plato (our beagle who we said goodbye to in 2025 ) into My Christmas Wish List, and how writing him helped me get back into the storyRevision talk: digging deeper into character voice, the "worst and best" to make characters more three-dimensional, a scene more alive and why knowing where the dog is in every scene actually mattersThe Belgian VAT saga continues (I called the FinMin help line, I sent an email, I wait)And Cancer Is Not My Brand is now up for preorder! What a wonderful way to announce it. Such a nice segue.Links mentioned in this episode:Preorder Cancer Is Not My Brand: https://books2read.com/cancerisnotmybrand/Preorder My Christmas Wish-List (now coming end of July): https://books2read.com/MyChristmasWishNice Guys Don't Kiss Like That at Christmas: https://books2read.com/NiceGuysDontKissLikeThatBecca Syme's QuitCast for Writers — "Why We Want You to Prioritize Your Health This Year as Authors" (also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ1Lm5o3IcI)The Creative Penn — "Writing Through Grief and Rebooting an Indie Author Business" with Jami Albright: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2026/06/01/writing-through-grief-and-rebooting-an-indie-author-business-with-jami-albright/Jami Albright's website (and her book The Summer That Changed Us): Steel Magnolias meets Schitt’s Creek with the heart of This is Us.https://jamialbright.com Choose your favorite e-retailer https://books2read.com/b/mdZvPWSusan Dennard on writing more than one book at once "Finishing what You Start": https://stdennard.substack.com/p/finishing-what-you-startTell me where you're listening from! Email me at elodie@elodienow.comMy websites: https://www.elodienowodazkij.com and https://www.elodienow.comMy Substack: https://elodienowodazkij.substack.com/My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@authorelodienowodazkijMy Patreon: Elodie's Writing Nook https://www.patreon.com/c/elodieswritingnookThank you so much for listening from the US to Nigeria, Hong Kong to Lithuania, Belgium and France and Germany (and hi Alex, hi Maman, hi Gisela). I hope your socks are fluffy, and if you're writing, that the words are flowing. Happy writing, and happy, happy reading.
  1. Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life
  2. Numbers: Amazon blocked one of my e-books (one that had been live for ten years)
  3. ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World…
  4. Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book.
  5. This isn't a grand gesture …

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

A self-published author's diary, podcast

Finding my words, writing as a form of catharsis and letting the ending of #THELEFTOVERBRIDE simmer…

Elodie
Episode 27

Listen to the full episode now…Choose you favorite platform here or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Audible, Overcast, Breaker and more…

Today, I’m talking about: being vulnerable and honest about some of my experience with cancer in an article I’ve written for the Ulman Foundation, reflecting on finding my words again and using writing as a form of catharsis (not only in this article but in my novels as well). I’m also sharing an update on my #TheLeftoverBride revision which includes letting the ending of #TheLeftoverBride simmer a little and more google searches. 🙂  

I am also reading two excerpts from my revision in the past week:

CHAPTER 2 – RYAN

I still can’t believe I’m back on the East Coast. In Swan Cove. The town that’s filled with some of my best memories… and some of my worst. My plan was to go straight to my parents’ but I had to stop at the bakery. After all, Mom loves their lemon pie. And what type of son who hasn’t come home in over ten years wouldn’t get his mom her favorite dessert if he could? Nothing to do with the breathtaking redhead staring up at me like I stomped all over her heart. My jaw clenches with years of regrets, remorse and fucked-up chances.

Excerpt from #TheLeftoverBride

He must have taken lessons on how to master his puppy eyes from Fluffy Napoleon because even with the gust of arctic air sending shivers up and down my spine, I melt at the way he looks at me.

Excerpt from #TheLeftoverBride

You can already pre-order #TheLeftoverBride e-book for only $0.99 (special pre-order price) on Amazon, Kobo, B&N, Apple and more: https://books2read.com/TheLeftoverBride

And you can sign up for my readers’ newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/elodienowodazkij/website

As always, thank you for subscribing, rating and reviewing!

Follow me on instagram: @aselfpublishedauthorsdiary :-), on my author’s YouTube channel or the podcast’s YouTube channel.

Listen to the first forty minutes of the A SUMMER LIKE NO OTHER audiobook…And subscribe to my channel. 🙂

Watch the video on YouTube

Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life – A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

I had different plans for this episode. And then I ended up in a Belgian ER at 6:45 in the morning with hives and a lip that decided to start swelling. So… change of plans.This week, I'm taking you behind the scenes of three days in my life as a self-published author: the writing, the taxes, and yes, the ER.I talk about:My ER stories as a writer (and former cancer patient) in three countries (the US, France, and Belgium) and how those experiences end up in my books, including the nurses who made everything easier (hi to the one who called me Bebe)Finding the small good moments even in crappy situations, and why sometimes that's easier said than doneWhy I moved the preorder date for # My Christmas Wish-List to the end of July (spoiler: there was just no way)Bringing Plato (our beagle who we said goodbye to in 2025 ) into My Christmas Wish List, and how writing him helped me get back into the storyRevision talk: digging deeper into character voice, the "worst and best" to make characters more three-dimensional, a scene more alive and why knowing where the dog is in every scene actually mattersThe Belgian VAT saga continues (I called the FinMin help line, I sent an email, I wait)And Cancer Is Not My Brand is now up for preorder! What a wonderful way to announce it. Such a nice segue.Links mentioned in this episode:Preorder Cancer Is Not My Brand: https://books2read.com/cancerisnotmybrand/Preorder My Christmas Wish-List (now coming end of July): https://books2read.com/MyChristmasWishNice Guys Don't Kiss Like That at Christmas: https://books2read.com/NiceGuysDontKissLikeThatBecca Syme's QuitCast for Writers — "Why We Want You to Prioritize Your Health This Year as Authors" (also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ1Lm5o3IcI)The Creative Penn — "Writing Through Grief and Rebooting an Indie Author Business" with Jami Albright: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2026/06/01/writing-through-grief-and-rebooting-an-indie-author-business-with-jami-albright/Jami Albright's website (and her book The Summer That Changed Us): Steel Magnolias meets Schitt’s Creek with the heart of This is Us.https://jamialbright.com Choose your favorite e-retailer https://books2read.com/b/mdZvPWSusan Dennard on writing more than one book at once "Finishing what You Start": https://stdennard.substack.com/p/finishing-what-you-startTell me where you're listening from! Email me at elodie@elodienow.comMy websites: https://www.elodienowodazkij.com and https://www.elodienow.comMy Substack: https://elodienowodazkij.substack.com/My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@authorelodienowodazkijMy Patreon: Elodie's Writing Nook https://www.patreon.com/c/elodieswritingnookThank you so much for listening from the US to Nigeria, Hong Kong to Lithuania, Belgium and France and Germany (and hi Alex, hi Maman, hi Gisela). I hope your socks are fluffy, and if you're writing, that the words are flowing. Happy writing, and happy, happy reading.
  1. Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life
  2. Numbers: Amazon blocked one of my e-books (one that had been live for ten years)
  3. ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World…
  4. Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book.
  5. This isn't a grand gesture …

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