A self-published author's diary

First Video AND Audio Podcast: Splitting pen names & Newsletters (and yes, Bobbie Voltaire might make an appearance)…

First audio and video episode…. yes, Bobbie Voltaire might make an appearance. I’m talking about splitting my books into two pen names, what that means for updating newsletter automations, and creating reader bonus scenes. Plus, a sneak peek at Sophie and Liam’s surprise twist, thoughts on making Sweets for Love free, and details on InkersCon 2025 (use code Golden25 for a discount – this is a friend’s affiliate code which *I* am planning on using and thought I’d share with you all).

You can listen to this podcast on your favorite podcast player: Spotify Apple Amazon MusicOvercast and more or watch it on YouTube or Spotify

Thank you so much for reading/listening/watching!

To KU or not KU my Gavert City series in English?
A self-published author's diary

To KU or not to KU my Gavert City series in English?

Listen to the episode on Spotify…

Have a coffee with me, this short self-publishing podcast episode is taking you my thought process on whether to put my Gavert City series in English in Kindle Unlimited or not…

Also mentioned in this episode:

Find my books online: ⁠www.elodienowodazkij.com⁠ or ⁠www.elodienow.com⁠

Listen to this episode on SpotifyApple PodcastsYouTube Pocketcasts Amazon Musicand more...

Thank you SO much for reading and listening!

signature elodie
A self-published author's diary

Dear Meta, It’s Not Me, It’s You… or My Facebook Ads Account For My Books Has Been Disabled.

This is the podcast episode where I tell you allllll about my Facebook Ads account being restricted, and mostly about how I was told everything would be fixed… but it wasn’t. And my ads account is now basically gone. Well, it’s here, but I can’t use it.

A few things in this episode:

  • I may get slightly frustrated and laugh because sometimes, well, why not laugh?;
  • I explain the back and forth and more than 80 hours lost in this;
  • I think about multiple streams of income – including an “I Fail” series;
  • I talk about expectations;
  • I focus back on writing…

This is not the episode where you’ll learn how to get your account back. (Spoiler: I haven’t – and I’m no longer trying…).

Have you ever got your FB ads account restricted? Disabled? Back?

Listen to this podcast on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and more....

Totally looking for a dopamine hit here, but if you’ve listened to the podcast, don’t hesitate to let me know by leaving a comment and make sure you follow my podcast.

Thank you!

My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts) A self-published author's diary

My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)This episode is a daily mashup of behind-the-scenes of my self-publishing life including: libraries buying my ebooks, regaining my B&N vendor account, releasing a book (YAY!), but no words on my manuscripts (I did write bonus scenes).Also: trying to invigorate my Goodreads profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/55359987.Elodie_NowAs always if you enjoy this podcast make sure to subscribe and leave a review.Thank you so much for listening!www.elodienowodazkij.com
  1. My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)
  2. My F***-It Book: She Had Cancer and Still Gets a Holiday Steamy Rom-Com
  3. New Release Hiccups, Metadata, Pen Names, and Mild Panic
  4. Hi, it's me…a self-published author now in Belgium
  5. Splitting Pen Names & Newsletters (Plus My Cat Might Make an Appearance)

Uncategorized

A monthly (not really monthly) recap…

Hi, it’s me, the author of this blog, it’s me… My last post? Let’s just say it’s been a while. So, I thought I’d share with you a bit of a recap of what I’ve been working on, sharing, updating.

Also Plato The Dog says hi…

NEW AUDIOBOOKS ON YOUTUBE….Also I now have 219 subscribers (are you one of them? Super subtle hint to ask you if you already subscribe…)

  • UN ETE PAS COMME LES AUTRES lu par Maya Belgnaoui est dispo gratuitement en livre audio sur Spotify, Apple, B&N, Kobo, Google Play, Amazon, Audible et plus encore et est aussi maintenant sur YouTube

RECORDING AN AUDIOBOOK IN FRENCH (follow along on YouTube)

  • And yep I’m recording LA PEUR DANS LES YEUX in French…

REVISING NICE GUYS DON’T KISS LIKE THAT AT CHRISTMAS…And updating my progress on Patreon (yep, I have a FREE Patreon)

  • It’s available for pre-order ….
  • You can read several chapters already… including this one on my FREE Patreon

Certain chapters take me longer than others, especially in the revision process… and this one feels like it needs to balance the emotions with the humor. It is a romcom. It is Adam and Eve. It is SO MUCH. (….)

Chapter 15.      XXX-ADAM

She’s still wrapped around me, breath shaky against my neck, and I don’t say anything yet. Just let her feel it. Let myself feel it. Our damp skin, the messy sheets around us, the air that smells like her, like me, like us.

Because this isn’t just (KEEP READING HERE….)

  • And the dedication…

Sharing this with all of you because something finally clicked as I was revising Nice Guys Don’t Kiss Like That At Christmas (yet again):

Eve had cancer… and is living a romcom. Fuck it, why not?

When I was revising, there was a moment that didn’t feel right. Why did Eve ghost Adam? After everything they’d shared—after the way he made her feel—why wouldn’t she show up in Pittsburgh? Why did she feel like this couldn’t work?

I needed to really understand this to give them their second chance.

And then I knew.

But part of me …. (keep reading here)

Dealing with my Facebook Ads Account being restricted (for some reason)…

  • I’m on my Substack explaining what’s happening (or rather explaining I have no clue what’s happening)

My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts) A self-published author's diary

My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)This episode is a daily mashup of behind-the-scenes of my self-publishing life including: libraries buying my ebooks, regaining my B&N vendor account, releasing a book (YAY!), but no words on my manuscripts (I did write bonus scenes).Also: trying to invigorate my Goodreads profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/55359987.Elodie_NowAs always if you enjoy this podcast make sure to subscribe and leave a review.Thank you so much for listening!www.elodienowodazkij.com
  1. My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)
  2. My F***-It Book: She Had Cancer and Still Gets a Holiday Steamy Rom-Com
  3. New Release Hiccups, Metadata, Pen Names, and Mild Panic
  4. Hi, it's me…a self-published author now in Belgium
  5. Splitting Pen Names & Newsletters (Plus My Cat Might Make an Appearance)

Very excited about this pacing class by Ines Johnson…

I’ve backed this Kickstaster by Ines about pacing and more and I’m very much looking forward to it. While you can no longer back the project, Ines has a website with more information…I’ve taken her Writing Dirty class and I definitely think about it when I craft, um, certain scenes.

Celebrating Katy’s latest release which is a B&N Monthly Pick

I *am* planning to go to B&N next week to see this beauty in person… But I’m so so excited for Katy and her Lia and Beck and Isaiah to find their ways into your heart. EVERYTHING I PROMISED YOU

In addition, I’ve been reading (the last one was House Of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen, which I could not put down), and watching XO, Kitty during my lunch break (because it makes me smile, not every episode, but still…) and making sure to stay informed (without spending hours scrolling, though, let’s be honest, I still scroll… but still).

There’s so much happening right now, impacting so many people. I’m about to call one of my representatives about how the NIH funding cuts could affect research on Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Past studies have shown that a significant portion of research funding for certain clinical trials comes from the NIH, and since Hodgkin’s is rare and not exactly the most profitable, these cuts could be devastating—especially for patients in smaller hospitals, not just the big ones. If you’d like to get informed about direct and indirect cuts, here are some articles:

And maybe you’re wondering why I’m bringing this up. Well, many reasons, but not to be dramatic, but I’m alive thanks to research. This is one of the topics I’ll bring up with my representatives when I talk to them.

Because writing is a creative process, and let me tell you, it’s much easier to write when I feel like I’ve done something. And, yes I’m going to keep wanting to bring joy and happiness and so much more through my books.

Thank you for reading ❤

podcast

Latest podcast episode: Cancer and Creativity: Finding Hope in Therapy, Romance Novels and Second Opinions

Choose your favorite platform here... or listen to it on YouTube…

Also did you know I have a YouTube channel? Make sure to subscribe 🙂

In this episode, I open up and look back about navigating life with cancer back in 2017—receiving tough PET news, seeking second opinions, and finding support in unexpected places. I talk about how therapy really helped, how romance novels reminded me to escape into stories, and how creativity (not necessarily mine) brought moments of light during some of the hardest times. This episode explores the small yet powerful ways hope can appear, even when it feels out of reach.

http://www.elodienowodazkij.com or http://www.dasdog.net

authorelodienowodazkij AT gmail.com

Questions about writing, self-publishing or those weird stuff in-between? Shoot me an email at ⁠authorelodienowodazkij@gmail.com⁠.

Elodie

My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts) A self-published author's diary

My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)This episode is a daily mashup of behind-the-scenes of my self-publishing life including: libraries buying my ebooks, regaining my B&N vendor account, releasing a book (YAY!), but no words on my manuscripts (I did write bonus scenes).Also: trying to invigorate my Goodreads profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/55359987.Elodie_NowAs always if you enjoy this podcast make sure to subscribe and leave a review.Thank you so much for listening!www.elodienowodazkij.com
  1. My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)
  2. My F***-It Book: She Had Cancer and Still Gets a Holiday Steamy Rom-Com
  3. New Release Hiccups, Metadata, Pen Names, and Mild Panic
  4. Hi, it's me…a self-published author now in Belgium
  5. Splitting Pen Names & Newsletters (Plus My Cat Might Make an Appearance)
podcast

Latest podcast episode: Goodbye, Kindle Vella. A recap of the highs, the lows and yet another pivot as a self-published author.

Choose your favorite platform here... or listen to it on YouTube…

Also did you know I have a YouTube channel? Make sure to subscribe 🙂

Amazon announced on October 28th that it’s closing Kindle Vella. To quote their press release: “We’ve made the difficult decision to gradually wind down Kindle Vella in February 2025 as the program hasn’t caught on as we’d hoped…”

Right when they announced it, I was in the middle of doing this huge analysis on what had been working for me—digging into my Facebook ad data, my reads, my bonus… especially since they’d been slashing that bonus pool for the past few months.

This episode is about: a recap of my reads, monthly bonus and royalties writing romance serials on Kindle Vella, my theories and what’s next for my serials (pivoting, again).

Questions about writing, self-publishing or those weird stuff in-between? Shoot me an email at ⁠authorelodienowodazkij@gmail.com⁠.

Elodie

My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts) A self-published author's diary

My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)This episode is a daily mashup of behind-the-scenes of my self-publishing life including: libraries buying my ebooks, regaining my B&N vendor account, releasing a book (YAY!), but no words on my manuscripts (I did write bonus scenes).Also: trying to invigorate my Goodreads profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/55359987.Elodie_NowAs always if you enjoy this podcast make sure to subscribe and leave a review.Thank you so much for listening!www.elodienowodazkij.com
  1. My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)
  2. My F***-It Book: She Had Cancer and Still Gets a Holiday Steamy Rom-Com
  3. New Release Hiccups, Metadata, Pen Names, and Mild Panic
  4. Hi, it's me…a self-published author now in Belgium
  5. Splitting Pen Names & Newsletters (Plus My Cat Might Make an Appearance)
podcast

Latest podcast episode: Gasp. Anxiety And Writing Didn’t Prepare Me For Cancer.

Choose your favorite platform here... or listen to it on YouTube…

Also did you know I have a YouTube channel? Make sure to subscribe 🙂

Intro: First of all, how dare anxiety and writing not prepare me for this? I thought we had a deal—you’d give me fears, I’d be anxious about them. I’d learn, become a Google MD. Heck, I’d even develop OCD—starting young because why not? And boom, when something happens, I’d know how to handle it. Like. A. Pro.

And maybe sometimes, yes.

But when I got diagnosed, that plan went out the window. My brain didn’t like that plan. Or it skipped that lesson entirely for me. Because things didn’t go the way I thought.

I also share what happened in the past two weeks in my writing/self-publishing world, including my newsletters, Facebook Groups I joined and more.

In this episode: I talk about not having control, my first days after diagnosis, how writing can be cathartic…

To read the full text mentioned: check out my Substack – https://elodienowodazkij.substack.com/

Thank you so much for listening/reading!

And if spicy paranormal or fantasy romance is your thing, check out Elizabeth Briggs’ books to support a fellow author going through treatments for stage IV colon cancer: ⁠https://elizabethbriggs.com⁠.

Questions about writing, self-publishing or those weird stuff in-between? Shoot me an email at ⁠authorelodienowodazkij@gmail.com⁠.

Elodie

My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts) A self-published author's diary

My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)This episode is a daily mashup of behind-the-scenes of my self-publishing life including: libraries buying my ebooks, regaining my B&N vendor account, releasing a book (YAY!), but no words on my manuscripts (I did write bonus scenes).Also: trying to invigorate my Goodreads profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/55359987.Elodie_NowAs always if you enjoy this podcast make sure to subscribe and leave a review.Thank you so much for listening!www.elodienowodazkij.com
  1. My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)
  2. My F***-It Book: She Had Cancer and Still Gets a Holiday Steamy Rom-Com
  3. New Release Hiccups, Metadata, Pen Names, and Mild Panic
  4. Hi, it's me…a self-published author now in Belgium
  5. Splitting Pen Names & Newsletters (Plus My Cat Might Make an Appearance)
Uncategorized

Swans Cove Gossip Column…

Swans Cove Gazette Aunt Locelli Column with covers

SPILLING THE OLD BAY: Our Grumpy Ex-SEAL & Not-So-Ice Princess Tell All! (Or Try Not To…)

Oh, my darlings! You won’t believe what I witnessed at Aisling’s bakery this morning. Our favorite neighbors were having their “totally coincidental” coffee break (the fifth this week, but who’s counting?).

“So, dears,” I asked, sliding into their booth with my signature timing, “on a scale of Old Bay to Ghost Pepper, how spicy was that self-defense class?”

Maddie choked on her latte while Damian’s half-grin appeared – you know the one, ladies! “The class was… educational,” she managed, just as Damian leaned forward with that intense gaze of his. “Very thorough instruction,” he added, making Maddie turn pinker than his infamous towels.

“And these interesting changes?” I pressed. “The Hallmark movies appearing in a certain someone’s Netflix queue? The Formula 1 racing sounds at midnight?”

“Mom’s been visiting,” Damian growled just as Maddie blurted, “Research purposes!” They shared a look that could’ve melted all the snow from last winter.

When I innocently mentioned certain gym… activities, Maddie nearly dropped her phone. “Would you look at the time?” she squeaked, while Damian suddenly remembered a “very important class to teach.” They practically raced out – though I couldn’t help but notice they went the same direction. Again.

Mrs. Bittel swears she saw something through the gym window, but she might need new glasses. (Though that doesn’t explain why she’s ordered three new pairs just to “make sure.”)

The Ladies’ Bingo Night pot remains unclaimed, but between you and me, darlings? Those “practice sessions” must be quite… instructional. 😉

Your favorite town gossip who’s absolutely not installing a bench outside the gym (Though if anyone needs me, that’s exactly where I’ll be!)

PS: Have you already met Maddie and Damian? (the first part Definitely NOT Lovers is free and of course their follow-up # Dear Santa, With Love is already available).

PPS: Oh, and remember audiobooks, I have a few books available on YouTube… (Spotify, Audible, Apple, libraries and more…)

If you’re on my newsletter, I sent a bonus scene yesterday 🙂

podcast

Latest podcast episode: Organizing Writing/Self-Publishing Goals and tasks and to-do lists : Finding a System That Works for Me…

Choose your favorite platform here…or read the article inspired by this podcast here.

Also did you know I have a YouTube channel? Make sure to subscribe 🙂

Intro: I think I finally found a writing/self-publishing goals tracking that works for me. In this one, I talk about my Gallup Strengths and how Becca Syme’s helped me come up with ways to get more organized, my Sarra Cannon’s HB90-inspired adapted board and more.

I also share what happened in the past two weeks in my writing/self-publishing world, including my newsletters, Facebook Groups I joined and more.

To read the actual newsletters mentioned: check out my Substack – https://elodienowodazkij.substack.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Thank you so much for listening/reading!

And if spicy paranormal or fantasy romance is your thing, check out Elizabeth Briggs’ books to support a fellow author going through treatments for stage IV colon cancer: ⁠https://elizabethbriggs.com⁠.

Questions about writing, self-publishing or those weird stuff in-between? Shoot me an email at ⁠authorelodienowodazkij@gmail.com⁠.

Elodie

My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts) A self-published author's diary

My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)This episode is a daily mashup of behind-the-scenes of my self-publishing life including: libraries buying my ebooks, regaining my B&N vendor account, releasing a book (YAY!), but no words on my manuscripts (I did write bonus scenes).Also: trying to invigorate my Goodreads profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/55359987.Elodie_NowAs always if you enjoy this podcast make sure to subscribe and leave a review.Thank you so much for listening!www.elodienowodazkij.com
  1. My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)
  2. My F***-It Book: She Had Cancer and Still Gets a Holiday Steamy Rom-Com
  3. New Release Hiccups, Metadata, Pen Names, and Mild Panic
  4. Hi, it's me…a self-published author now in Belgium
  5. Splitting Pen Names & Newsletters (Plus My Cat Might Make an Appearance)
podcast

Latest podcast episode: Big, but Not Romance Big: Looking Back at Cancer Treatments, Creativity, and All the Weird Stuff In Between.

Choose your favorite platform here…or read the article inspired by this podcast here.

Intro: This isn’t your typical how-to guide, because let’s be real—it’s more about the messy art of balancing (or not balancing) self-publishing, creativity, and cancer treatments. I’m publishing this episode on my fifth second birthday (my second birthday was the day I received my stem cells back during my autologous stem cell transplant). And I’ve been in remission for now five years after three years of treatment for refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and while I won’t shy away from the tough stuff (we’ve all cried in the shower, right?), I’m hoping to fill this series with humor, hope, and maybe a bit of awkward laughter.

Join me on the first Monday of every month for Big, but Not Romance Big: Looking Back at Cancer Treatments, Creativity, and All the Weird Stuff In Between.

And if spicy paranormal or fantasy romance is your thing, check out Elizabeth Briggs’ books to support a fellow author going through treatments for stage IV colon cancer: ⁠https://elizabethbriggs.com⁠.

Questions about writing, self-publishing or those weird stuff in-between? Shoot me an email at ⁠authorelodienowodazkij@gmail.com⁠.

Elodie

My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts) A self-published author's diary

My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)This episode is a daily mashup of behind-the-scenes of my self-publishing life including: libraries buying my ebooks, regaining my B&N vendor account, releasing a book (YAY!), but no words on my manuscripts (I did write bonus scenes).Also: trying to invigorate my Goodreads profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/55359987.Elodie_NowAs always if you enjoy this podcast make sure to subscribe and leave a review.Thank you so much for listening!www.elodienowodazkij.com
  1. My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)
  2. My F***-It Book: She Had Cancer and Still Gets a Holiday Steamy Rom-Com
  3. New Release Hiccups, Metadata, Pen Names, and Mild Panic
  4. Hi, it's me…a self-published author now in Belgium
  5. Splitting Pen Names & Newsletters (Plus My Cat Might Make an Appearance)