Tag: author

A self-published author's diary

My reality (or realities) of missing out in my self-publishing business…

Elodie

New episode of A Self-Publishing Author’s Diary Podcast is up. This one about my reality (or realities) of missing out in my self-publishing business…

Also, you can listen to this podcast on your favorite podcast platform, but I’m also just adding the audio here for ease. The text below isn’t a transcript but a short summary. If you’d like me to provide transcripts in the future, let me know and I’ll try my best.

So this episode/post is brought to you by a shower, a hoarse voice from dictating, and a long list of grand and great plans I had to adjust due to fatigue.

And all of that got me thinking about ROMO. The Reality of Missing Out. Not FOMO. Not JOMO. The third thing.

I thought I’d made up the term. Yes, really. I was really proud of myself. And then I Googled it. I had not.

But I did take this picture with my emotional support pickle in December 2025…

(Side note. The episode I actually thought I was going to record this week was about all the things I’ve been Googling lately, because I am not a lawyer and I’ve had to research so many legal things. That one is still coming. ROMO won the shower.)

A little context for how this one came to be. I had every intention of waking up early today and getting a lot of words in on My Christmas Wish-List (which releases July 1, so the deadline is real), and then going for a jog. This jog is important to me: emotionally and physically.

I’ve been dictating, which is going great word-count wise. I had two 6,000-word days last week, which hasn’t happened in forever. But my voice got hoarse, and I don’t know if it’s the dictation or if I caught a virus, and I didn’t sleep well, and yeah. No jog today. I did get 2,400 words in this morning, so it’s not a wash. But it’s also not what I’d planned.

And in the shower I started thinking about all the things I’m not doing right now. Not because I’m afraid of missing out on them. Not because I’ve made peace with opting out of them. But because I genuinely can’t do them right now. And I feel like that’s its own thing, right? And I thought I’d named it.

Really. I did. I was so proud of myself.

Turns out I had not. Cleveland Clinic and Psychology Today both already had. I’m adding the links at the bottom…

A few of the things I get into in this episode:

Declining profits from one year to another. Last year was a four-figure profit year for me. Two years ago was a good five-figure year, not high five figures, but a good five figures. And then last year, well. Kindle Vella shut down, which had been a big chunk of where the revenue was coming from. We had an international move. A lot of other things on top of that. I’ll do a Numbers episode about it at some point. But the short version is, I’m rebuilding. Again. I’ve rebuilt before, after cancer, after Vella, after a lot of things, and that informs how I’m thinking about everything right now.

The Kickstarter I’d love to do for Cancer Is Not My Brand, and why I’m not doing one right now. I really would love to. I think there’s an audience for it. I think I could come up with rewards I’d actually be excited about. I’d love to share the A to Z experience of running it. But I don’t have the time, or the bandwidth, or the energy to do it right. And I’ve made that mistake before. I ran a Kickstarter for The Leftover Bride audiobook that didn’t get fulfilled, and a big reason was that I tried to do it fast and hoped for the best. So I know what running one that doesn’t get fulfilled looks like, and I’m not going to do that to this book. (That’s not the only reason though. I get into the rest in the episode.)

Not doing InkersCon this year, or the Write Better, Faster Academy digital conference on fandoms. I really recommend both. I still have last year’s InkersCon videos that I haven’t all watched. For those, it’s less ROMO and more, I’m not sure. Maybe it’s because I’m more attuned about what I need right now or just because I can’t expand more energy in those directions right now. Still searching… but isn’t it amazing how sometimes revelations come to you as you’re writing or recording? Because yes, that came to me while I was recording. For those doing Gallup strengths (and I didn’t mention that one in the episode, doh, I am a #8 communication… talking out loud definitely helps me).

Ines Johnson’s Romance Write Club Kickstarter. I just backed it. She does these amazing things where the Kickstarter comes with a course. I took the course from a previous Kickstarter, so I didn’t take this one. But she’s one of the authors I look up to, and I’m trying to learn that it’s possible to look up to people and also not chase what they’re doing, because they’re in their story and I’m in mine. Still learning that one.

The Becca Syme idea that really resonated with me, about the different business phases of your authorship. Making decisions based on where you actually are in your phase, not where the unicorn authors are. Her videos and Patreon are linked below.

And the whole thing kind of comes back to Cancer Is Not My Brand, in a way. I’m working on it. The cover is in progress with Qamber Designs. I’m thinking about the blurb. I’m thinking about narrating it. And I’m thinking a lot about what it means to write a book about a difficult thing without letting that difficult thing become my whole brand. The ROMO concept is part of what the book is about, really. There’s a lot of missing out in cancer treatment, and not the FOMO kind. Sitting with that, and writing about it, is taking up a lot of my brain right now. So the Kickstarter waits. Many things are waiting…

So the reality of missing out, for me, is twofold. Sometimes it’s I cannot physically or emotionally do this right now. And sometimes it’s I cannot financially or time-wise do this right now because it’s not the best for my author business. And those are different. And then there’s a third thing, which I actually figured out while recording like I said (as one does, right?), which is realizing you’re not actually missing out at all, because it may not be what you need at that moment.

There’s also a thing my therapist used to say. It’s okay to not be okay. And it sucks to not be okay. And sometimes knowing that helped me find more moments where I could find the okay. Which I know doesn’t sound super inspiring, but it really helped me. I talk about it in the book, about feeling like you’re alone in a pond. If you’re going through a hard time right now, I hope you feel a little less alone.

Links and resources mentioned:

Deep dives on each phase: https://www.patreon.com/beccasyme/shop

If you want to tell me what you’re missing out on, or if you’re currently more in a FOMO, JOMO, or ROMO phase, or all of the above, don’t hesitate to leave a comment…

Wishing you happy reading and happy writing 🙂

Thanks for reading/listening.

❤

Elodie

ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World… – A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

This episode is brought to you by: a shower, a hoarse voice from dictating, having grand and great plans I had to adjust due to fatigue. All of that got me thinking about ROMO. The Reality of Missing Out. Not FOMO. Not JOMO. The third thing.I thought I'd made up the term. Yes, really. I was really proud of myself. I Googled it. I had not.I talk about many things in this episode, including:dealing with declining profits from one year to another in my self-publishing business;the Kickstarter I'd love to do for Cancer Is Not My Brand (my upcoming nonfiction book) and why I'm not doing one right now, knowing my latest one for # The Leftover Bride audiobook Kickstarter didn't get fulfilled, but this isn't the only reason. I; about not going to InkersCon or the Write Better, Faster Academy digital conference this year, even though I really recommend both. about Ines Johnson's Romance Write Club Kickstarter, which I just backed, and how I'm learning that it's possible to look up to other authors and also not chase what they're doing (still learning that one).about how the reality of missing out, for me, is twofold…sometimes it's I cannot physically or emotionally do this right now, and sometimes it's I cannot financially or time-wise do this right now because it's not the best for my author business, and those are different. And then there's a third thing, which I figured out while recording (as one does, right?), which is realizing you're not actually missing out at all, because it may not be what you need at that moment.If you're going through a hard time, I hope you feel a little less alone. That's the whole thing, really.Links and resources mentioned:InkersCon — http://www.inkerscon.com (I think Golden Angel has a $50 discount code)Write Better, Faster Academy — https://betterfasteracademy.com/Becca Syme on author business phases:- Phases for Author Business: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGX7gDqtvCM – Deep dives on each phase: https://www.patreon.com/beccasyme/shopInes Johnson's Romance Write Club Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/romancewriteclub/page-turner-craft-a-complete-page-turning-story-blueprint/descriptionCleveland Clinic on FOMO, JOMO, and ROMO : https://health.clevelandclinic.org/understanding-fomoPsychology Today on the reality of missing out: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-deeper-wellness/202506/understanding-and-managing-fomoQamber Designs (cover designer) : https://www.qamberdesignsmedia.com/If you want to tell me what you're missing out on or if you're currently more in a FOMO, JOMO, ROMO phase or all of the above, don't hesitate to send me an email: authorelodienowodazkij@gmail.comHappy writing. Happy reading.My website:www.elodienowodazkij.com
  1. ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World…
  2. Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book.
  3. This isn't a grand gesture …
  4. My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)
  5. My F***-It Book: She Had Cancer and Still Gets a Holiday Steamy Rom-Com

A self-published author's diary

Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book.

Elodie

New episode of A Self-Publishing Author’s Diary Podcast is up. This one is a numbers episode. I’m focusing on numbers a little bit, and the stories behind them. This will most likely be a recurring segment.

Also, you can listen to this podcast on your favorite podcast platform, but I’m also just adding the audio here for ease. The text below isn’t a transcript but a short summary. If you’d like me to provide transcripts in the future, let me know and I’ll try my best.

I’m going back to the archives for this one. The book I’m talking about is A Summer Like No Other. I released it in 2015. It had 23 preorders. And it became one of my most read books.

I released it as a 99-cent novella, and I had a real plan. Cover reveal with Xpresso Book Tours, NetGalley, YouTube videos, a blog series called The Making Of, emails to every reader who had reviewed 123 (my very first book) asking if they’d want to review the new one. I really worked on the craft too — I’d just done Margie Lawson’s Deep Edits packet and I was trying hard to make every chapter ending pull the reader forward.

I got 23 preorders. In the first three months, I made about $200 on A Summer Like No Other in English, and about $300 on Always Second Best. I still make about that amount on Always Second Best every month, 11 years later.

According to PublisherChamp, A Summer Like No Other in English has now been downloaded 66,550 times. 40,279 audiobooks, 24,414 ebooks, 1,360 paperbacks. Best month was May 2024 with 7,930 downloads.

The French versions tell their own story. Un Été Pas Comme Les Autres had 20 preorders. Une Seconde Chance (Always Second Best in French) had 131. Love in B Minor in French had 229. The French version of A Summer Like No Other is now perma free and has been downloaded 48,368 times, and the translation got picked up by a publisher that was part of Hachette — which is how I became a hybrid author. Lifetime royalties on the French version, including the publisher contract, are a little less than €7,000. (I have seen gotten my rights back as per my contract).

Me in September 2018 signing the contract for my option book (after the publication of the French version of A Summer Like No Other and Always Second Best, my French publisher published the French version of my very first book: One, Two, Three)
In July 2017 – in a bookstore in Compiegne with my parents and the Chemical Engineer, we found my book on the shelves… 🙂 My Dad bought a copy to put in our village’s library.

My books in Auchan (a French grocery store!) (including close to Jenny Han… well her book :-))

In March 2026, the French version of Always Second Best was my number one most sold book of the month. About ten years after that book came out, and it is consistently one of my most sold books every single month.

So preorders really don’t make or break a book. They didn’t then, and they don’t now. If I get 22 or 25 preorders on a book today, I’m okay with it, because I know what can happen.

I’m also working on a third book with Nick and Em. I have a draft I need to expand over the summer. I haven’t written in their voices in more than a decade, so I’m excited and very nervous.

A few other numbers from this week, because that’s the segment:

  • Two days with more than 6,000 words, thanks to dictation. Dictation has never worked for me before. This time it’s actually fun. I tried it on a walk and it thought I said “could be there a couple of course, and I don’t want to tie her back, so I’m just letting her too washing her face and her chemist,” which is definitely not in my Christmas romcom.
  • The two YouTube videos that helped me get dictation working: Real Time Dictation Session: Dictate and Edit a Scene With Me by Alyssa in the Books, and Book Dictation for Beginners by The Courtney Project.
  • Last week’s newsletter (Elodie Now): 205 subscribers, 48.19% open rate, 0.49% click rate, one unsubscribe.
  • Fun fact — more than 50 subscribers across Apple Podcasts and Spotify. I didn’t know that until this week. Thank you to all of you.

The two YouTube videos that helped me with dictation:

  • Real Time Dictation Session: Dictate and Edit a Scene With Me — Alyssa in the Books
  • Book Dictation for Beginners — The Courtney Project

The Margie Lawson Deep Edits packets:

PublisherChamp:

If you’d like to tell me you’re listening, reading and where from, let me know in the comments. 🙂 And tell, what numbers would you maybe like me to look at closer?

Thanks for reading/listening!

❤

Elodie

ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World… – A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

This episode is brought to you by: a shower, a hoarse voice from dictating, having grand and great plans I had to adjust due to fatigue. All of that got me thinking about ROMO. The Reality of Missing Out. Not FOMO. Not JOMO. The third thing.I thought I'd made up the term. Yes, really. I was really proud of myself. I Googled it. I had not.I talk about many things in this episode, including:dealing with declining profits from one year to another in my self-publishing business;the Kickstarter I'd love to do for Cancer Is Not My Brand (my upcoming nonfiction book) and why I'm not doing one right now, knowing my latest one for # The Leftover Bride audiobook Kickstarter didn't get fulfilled, but this isn't the only reason. I; about not going to InkersCon or the Write Better, Faster Academy digital conference this year, even though I really recommend both. about Ines Johnson's Romance Write Club Kickstarter, which I just backed, and how I'm learning that it's possible to look up to other authors and also not chase what they're doing (still learning that one).about how the reality of missing out, for me, is twofold…sometimes it's I cannot physically or emotionally do this right now, and sometimes it's I cannot financially or time-wise do this right now because it's not the best for my author business, and those are different. And then there's a third thing, which I figured out while recording (as one does, right?), which is realizing you're not actually missing out at all, because it may not be what you need at that moment.If you're going through a hard time, I hope you feel a little less alone. That's the whole thing, really.Links and resources mentioned:InkersCon — http://www.inkerscon.com (I think Golden Angel has a $50 discount code)Write Better, Faster Academy — https://betterfasteracademy.com/Becca Syme on author business phases:- Phases for Author Business: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGX7gDqtvCM – Deep dives on each phase: https://www.patreon.com/beccasyme/shopInes Johnson's Romance Write Club Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/romancewriteclub/page-turner-craft-a-complete-page-turning-story-blueprint/descriptionCleveland Clinic on FOMO, JOMO, and ROMO : https://health.clevelandclinic.org/understanding-fomoPsychology Today on the reality of missing out: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-deeper-wellness/202506/understanding-and-managing-fomoQamber Designs (cover designer) : https://www.qamberdesignsmedia.com/If you want to tell me what you're missing out on or if you're currently more in a FOMO, JOMO, ROMO phase or all of the above, don't hesitate to send me an email: authorelodienowodazkij@gmail.comHappy writing. Happy reading.My website:www.elodienowodazkij.com
  1. ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World…
  2. Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book.
  3. This isn't a grand gesture …
  4. My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)
  5. My F***-It Book: She Had Cancer and Still Gets a Holiday Steamy Rom-Com
A self-published author's diary

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

Elodie

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 Music – Overcast 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?

Elodie
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 Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – Pocketcasts – Amazon Music – and 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.

Elodie

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!

ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World… – A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

This episode is brought to you by: a shower, a hoarse voice from dictating, having grand and great plans I had to adjust due to fatigue. All of that got me thinking about ROMO. The Reality of Missing Out. Not FOMO. Not JOMO. The third thing.I thought I'd made up the term. Yes, really. I was really proud of myself. I Googled it. I had not.I talk about many things in this episode, including:dealing with declining profits from one year to another in my self-publishing business;the Kickstarter I'd love to do for Cancer Is Not My Brand (my upcoming nonfiction book) and why I'm not doing one right now, knowing my latest one for # The Leftover Bride audiobook Kickstarter didn't get fulfilled, but this isn't the only reason. I; about not going to InkersCon or the Write Better, Faster Academy digital conference this year, even though I really recommend both. about Ines Johnson's Romance Write Club Kickstarter, which I just backed, and how I'm learning that it's possible to look up to other authors and also not chase what they're doing (still learning that one).about how the reality of missing out, for me, is twofold…sometimes it's I cannot physically or emotionally do this right now, and sometimes it's I cannot financially or time-wise do this right now because it's not the best for my author business, and those are different. And then there's a third thing, which I figured out while recording (as one does, right?), which is realizing you're not actually missing out at all, because it may not be what you need at that moment.If you're going through a hard time, I hope you feel a little less alone. That's the whole thing, really.Links and resources mentioned:InkersCon — http://www.inkerscon.com (I think Golden Angel has a $50 discount code)Write Better, Faster Academy — https://betterfasteracademy.com/Becca Syme on author business phases:- Phases for Author Business: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGX7gDqtvCM – Deep dives on each phase: https://www.patreon.com/beccasyme/shopInes Johnson's Romance Write Club Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/romancewriteclub/page-turner-craft-a-complete-page-turning-story-blueprint/descriptionCleveland Clinic on FOMO, JOMO, and ROMO : https://health.clevelandclinic.org/understanding-fomoPsychology Today on the reality of missing out: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-deeper-wellness/202506/understanding-and-managing-fomoQamber Designs (cover designer) : https://www.qamberdesignsmedia.com/If you want to tell me what you're missing out on or if you're currently more in a FOMO, JOMO, ROMO phase or all of the above, don't hesitate to send me an email: authorelodienowodazkij@gmail.comHappy writing. Happy reading.My website:www.elodienowodazkij.com
  1. ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World…
  2. Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book.
  3. This isn't a grand gesture …
  4. My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)
  5. My F***-It Book: She Had Cancer and Still Gets a Holiday Steamy Rom-Com

Uncategorized

A monthly (not really monthly) recap…

Elodie

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)

ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World… – A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

This episode is brought to you by: a shower, a hoarse voice from dictating, having grand and great plans I had to adjust due to fatigue. All of that got me thinking about ROMO. The Reality of Missing Out. Not FOMO. Not JOMO. The third thing.I thought I'd made up the term. Yes, really. I was really proud of myself. I Googled it. I had not.I talk about many things in this episode, including:dealing with declining profits from one year to another in my self-publishing business;the Kickstarter I'd love to do for Cancer Is Not My Brand (my upcoming nonfiction book) and why I'm not doing one right now, knowing my latest one for # The Leftover Bride audiobook Kickstarter didn't get fulfilled, but this isn't the only reason. I; about not going to InkersCon or the Write Better, Faster Academy digital conference this year, even though I really recommend both. about Ines Johnson's Romance Write Club Kickstarter, which I just backed, and how I'm learning that it's possible to look up to other authors and also not chase what they're doing (still learning that one).about how the reality of missing out, for me, is twofold…sometimes it's I cannot physically or emotionally do this right now, and sometimes it's I cannot financially or time-wise do this right now because it's not the best for my author business, and those are different. And then there's a third thing, which I figured out while recording (as one does, right?), which is realizing you're not actually missing out at all, because it may not be what you need at that moment.If you're going through a hard time, I hope you feel a little less alone. That's the whole thing, really.Links and resources mentioned:InkersCon — http://www.inkerscon.com (I think Golden Angel has a $50 discount code)Write Better, Faster Academy — https://betterfasteracademy.com/Becca Syme on author business phases:- Phases for Author Business: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGX7gDqtvCM – Deep dives on each phase: https://www.patreon.com/beccasyme/shopInes Johnson's Romance Write Club Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/romancewriteclub/page-turner-craft-a-complete-page-turning-story-blueprint/descriptionCleveland Clinic on FOMO, JOMO, and ROMO : https://health.clevelandclinic.org/understanding-fomoPsychology Today on the reality of missing out: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-deeper-wellness/202506/understanding-and-managing-fomoQamber Designs (cover designer) : https://www.qamberdesignsmedia.com/If you want to tell me what you're missing out on or if you're currently more in a FOMO, JOMO, ROMO phase or all of the above, don't hesitate to send me an email: authorelodienowodazkij@gmail.comHappy writing. Happy reading.My website:www.elodienowodazkij.com
  1. ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World…
  2. Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book.
  3. This isn't a grand gesture …
  4. My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)
  5. My F***-It Book: She Had Cancer and Still Gets a Holiday Steamy Rom-Com

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

Elodie
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

ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World… – A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

This episode is brought to you by: a shower, a hoarse voice from dictating, having grand and great plans I had to adjust due to fatigue. All of that got me thinking about ROMO. The Reality of Missing Out. Not FOMO. Not JOMO. The third thing.I thought I'd made up the term. Yes, really. I was really proud of myself. I Googled it. I had not.I talk about many things in this episode, including:dealing with declining profits from one year to another in my self-publishing business;the Kickstarter I'd love to do for Cancer Is Not My Brand (my upcoming nonfiction book) and why I'm not doing one right now, knowing my latest one for # The Leftover Bride audiobook Kickstarter didn't get fulfilled, but this isn't the only reason. I; about not going to InkersCon or the Write Better, Faster Academy digital conference this year, even though I really recommend both. about Ines Johnson's Romance Write Club Kickstarter, which I just backed, and how I'm learning that it's possible to look up to other authors and also not chase what they're doing (still learning that one).about how the reality of missing out, for me, is twofold…sometimes it's I cannot physically or emotionally do this right now, and sometimes it's I cannot financially or time-wise do this right now because it's not the best for my author business, and those are different. And then there's a third thing, which I figured out while recording (as one does, right?), which is realizing you're not actually missing out at all, because it may not be what you need at that moment.If you're going through a hard time, I hope you feel a little less alone. That's the whole thing, really.Links and resources mentioned:InkersCon — http://www.inkerscon.com (I think Golden Angel has a $50 discount code)Write Better, Faster Academy — https://betterfasteracademy.com/Becca Syme on author business phases:- Phases for Author Business: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGX7gDqtvCM – Deep dives on each phase: https://www.patreon.com/beccasyme/shopInes Johnson's Romance Write Club Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/romancewriteclub/page-turner-craft-a-complete-page-turning-story-blueprint/descriptionCleveland Clinic on FOMO, JOMO, and ROMO : https://health.clevelandclinic.org/understanding-fomoPsychology Today on the reality of missing out: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-deeper-wellness/202506/understanding-and-managing-fomoQamber Designs (cover designer) : https://www.qamberdesignsmedia.com/If you want to tell me what you're missing out on or if you're currently more in a FOMO, JOMO, ROMO phase or all of the above, don't hesitate to send me an email: authorelodienowodazkij@gmail.comHappy writing. Happy reading.My website:www.elodienowodazkij.com
  1. ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World…
  2. Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book.
  3. This isn't a grand gesture …
  4. My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)
  5. My F***-It Book: She Had Cancer and Still Gets a Holiday Steamy Rom-Com
podcast

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

Elodie
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

ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World… – A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

This episode is brought to you by: a shower, a hoarse voice from dictating, having grand and great plans I had to adjust due to fatigue. All of that got me thinking about ROMO. The Reality of Missing Out. Not FOMO. Not JOMO. The third thing.I thought I'd made up the term. Yes, really. I was really proud of myself. I Googled it. I had not.I talk about many things in this episode, including:dealing with declining profits from one year to another in my self-publishing business;the Kickstarter I'd love to do for Cancer Is Not My Brand (my upcoming nonfiction book) and why I'm not doing one right now, knowing my latest one for # The Leftover Bride audiobook Kickstarter didn't get fulfilled, but this isn't the only reason. I; about not going to InkersCon or the Write Better, Faster Academy digital conference this year, even though I really recommend both. about Ines Johnson's Romance Write Club Kickstarter, which I just backed, and how I'm learning that it's possible to look up to other authors and also not chase what they're doing (still learning that one).about how the reality of missing out, for me, is twofold…sometimes it's I cannot physically or emotionally do this right now, and sometimes it's I cannot financially or time-wise do this right now because it's not the best for my author business, and those are different. And then there's a third thing, which I figured out while recording (as one does, right?), which is realizing you're not actually missing out at all, because it may not be what you need at that moment.If you're going through a hard time, I hope you feel a little less alone. That's the whole thing, really.Links and resources mentioned:InkersCon — http://www.inkerscon.com (I think Golden Angel has a $50 discount code)Write Better, Faster Academy — https://betterfasteracademy.com/Becca Syme on author business phases:- Phases for Author Business: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGX7gDqtvCM – Deep dives on each phase: https://www.patreon.com/beccasyme/shopInes Johnson's Romance Write Club Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/romancewriteclub/page-turner-craft-a-complete-page-turning-story-blueprint/descriptionCleveland Clinic on FOMO, JOMO, and ROMO : https://health.clevelandclinic.org/understanding-fomoPsychology Today on the reality of missing out: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-deeper-wellness/202506/understanding-and-managing-fomoQamber Designs (cover designer) : https://www.qamberdesignsmedia.com/If you want to tell me what you're missing out on or if you're currently more in a FOMO, JOMO, ROMO phase or all of the above, don't hesitate to send me an email: authorelodienowodazkij@gmail.comHappy writing. Happy reading.My website:www.elodienowodazkij.com
  1. ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World…
  2. Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book.
  3. This isn't a grand gesture …
  4. My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)
  5. My F***-It Book: She Had Cancer and Still Gets a Holiday Steamy Rom-Com
podcast

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

Elodie
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

ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World… – A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

This episode is brought to you by: a shower, a hoarse voice from dictating, having grand and great plans I had to adjust due to fatigue. All of that got me thinking about ROMO. The Reality of Missing Out. Not FOMO. Not JOMO. The third thing.I thought I'd made up the term. Yes, really. I was really proud of myself. I Googled it. I had not.I talk about many things in this episode, including:dealing with declining profits from one year to another in my self-publishing business;the Kickstarter I'd love to do for Cancer Is Not My Brand (my upcoming nonfiction book) and why I'm not doing one right now, knowing my latest one for # The Leftover Bride audiobook Kickstarter didn't get fulfilled, but this isn't the only reason. I; about not going to InkersCon or the Write Better, Faster Academy digital conference this year, even though I really recommend both. about Ines Johnson's Romance Write Club Kickstarter, which I just backed, and how I'm learning that it's possible to look up to other authors and also not chase what they're doing (still learning that one).about how the reality of missing out, for me, is twofold…sometimes it's I cannot physically or emotionally do this right now, and sometimes it's I cannot financially or time-wise do this right now because it's not the best for my author business, and those are different. And then there's a third thing, which I figured out while recording (as one does, right?), which is realizing you're not actually missing out at all, because it may not be what you need at that moment.If you're going through a hard time, I hope you feel a little less alone. That's the whole thing, really.Links and resources mentioned:InkersCon — http://www.inkerscon.com (I think Golden Angel has a $50 discount code)Write Better, Faster Academy — https://betterfasteracademy.com/Becca Syme on author business phases:- Phases for Author Business: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGX7gDqtvCM – Deep dives on each phase: https://www.patreon.com/beccasyme/shopInes Johnson's Romance Write Club Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/romancewriteclub/page-turner-craft-a-complete-page-turning-story-blueprint/descriptionCleveland Clinic on FOMO, JOMO, and ROMO : https://health.clevelandclinic.org/understanding-fomoPsychology Today on the reality of missing out: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-deeper-wellness/202506/understanding-and-managing-fomoQamber Designs (cover designer) : https://www.qamberdesignsmedia.com/If you want to tell me what you're missing out on or if you're currently more in a FOMO, JOMO, ROMO phase or all of the above, don't hesitate to send me an email: authorelodienowodazkij@gmail.comHappy writing. Happy reading.My website:www.elodienowodazkij.com
  1. ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World…
  2. Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book.
  3. This isn't a grand gesture …
  4. My Self-Pub Weekly Diary: Some Wins, Some Wobbles, and Absolutely Zero Words (on My Manuscripts)
  5. My F***-It Book: She Had Cancer and Still Gets a Holiday Steamy Rom-Com
Uncategorized

Swans Cove Gossip Column…

Elodie
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 🙂