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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.

<3

Elodie

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

This one's a numbers-and-behind-the-scenes episode. I share a full preorder update across all five of my current books, platform by platform, the good and the zero, and where I'm at ten days into a thirty-day TikTok experiment in 2026 (I know, I know).The BookTok part is genuinely interesting to me: one video crossed 2,000 views and somehow racked up more than eight hours of total watch time, while its near-identical twin stalled at 94 and I have no idea why. That's kind of the whole lesson. I get into what's working, where in the world people are actually watching from (hello, UK), how many of them clicked through (spoiler: two), and yes, what it's costing me in focus, because I opened the app nineteen times in one afternoon and that felt worth admitting out loud.Plus: the Belgian VAT answer that arrived in eleven pages, the Barnes & Noble payment I'm still chasing, a trip to the ER that cancelled a posting day, and trying to use my phone less.And I'm going to interview the chemical engineer about how to write a believable one. If you've got a question for him, send it to elodie@elodienow.com. He refuses to see them in advance. So. :-)If you've tried TikTok and it worked for you, or really didn't, come tell me. We can commiserate, or you can show me your data.BeccaCon + Becca Syme's Write Better-Faster Patreon — the author-business conference and the experiments-homework that started all this: https://betterfasteracademy.com (Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/beccasyme/posts)Wide for the Win Circle (where I posted about the Barnes & Noble delay): https://wideforthewin.com/L. Penelope — "The Fire That Forges You" (My Imaginary Friends), on documenting your process while you're in it: https://myimaginaryfriends.substack.com/p/the-fire-that-forges-youJami Albright — The Summer That Changed Us — the book that wrecked me (Steel Magnolias meets Schitt's Creek with the heart of This Is Us): https://books2read.com/b/mdZvPW — jamialbright.comMy Christmas Wish-List (preorder, now July 31st): https://books2read.com/MyChristmasWishCancer Is Not My Brand (preorder): https://books2read.com/cancerisnotmybrand/Nice Guys Don't Kiss Like That at Christmas: https://books2read.com/NiceGuysDontKissLikeThatA New Year's Eve Like No Other (third in the Nick & Em series): https://books2read.com/ANewYearsEveLikeNoOtherFrench editions — Ma Liste de Noël and Un Réveillon Pas Comme Les AutresIf the episode was useful, a rate-and-review would make this self-published author's day. Happy writing, and happy, happy reading.www.elodienowodazkij.comwww.elodienow.com
  1. Numbers: A TikTok Experiment As an Indie Author (the yay, the nay, and what it costs), pre-order numbers and more
  2. Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life
  3. Numbers: Amazon blocked one of my e-books (one that had been live for ten years)
  4. ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World…
  5. Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book.
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.

<3

Elodie

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

This one's a numbers-and-behind-the-scenes episode. I share a full preorder update across all five of my current books, platform by platform, the good and the zero, and where I'm at ten days into a thirty-day TikTok experiment in 2026 (I know, I know).The BookTok part is genuinely interesting to me: one video crossed 2,000 views and somehow racked up more than eight hours of total watch time, while its near-identical twin stalled at 94 and I have no idea why. That's kind of the whole lesson. I get into what's working, where in the world people are actually watching from (hello, UK), how many of them clicked through (spoiler: two), and yes, what it's costing me in focus, because I opened the app nineteen times in one afternoon and that felt worth admitting out loud.Plus: the Belgian VAT answer that arrived in eleven pages, the Barnes & Noble payment I'm still chasing, a trip to the ER that cancelled a posting day, and trying to use my phone less.And I'm going to interview the chemical engineer about how to write a believable one. If you've got a question for him, send it to elodie@elodienow.com. He refuses to see them in advance. So. :-)If you've tried TikTok and it worked for you, or really didn't, come tell me. We can commiserate, or you can show me your data.BeccaCon + Becca Syme's Write Better-Faster Patreon — the author-business conference and the experiments-homework that started all this: https://betterfasteracademy.com (Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/beccasyme/posts)Wide for the Win Circle (where I posted about the Barnes & Noble delay): https://wideforthewin.com/L. Penelope — "The Fire That Forges You" (My Imaginary Friends), on documenting your process while you're in it: https://myimaginaryfriends.substack.com/p/the-fire-that-forges-youJami Albright — The Summer That Changed Us — the book that wrecked me (Steel Magnolias meets Schitt's Creek with the heart of This Is Us): https://books2read.com/b/mdZvPW — jamialbright.comMy Christmas Wish-List (preorder, now July 31st): https://books2read.com/MyChristmasWishCancer Is Not My Brand (preorder): https://books2read.com/cancerisnotmybrand/Nice Guys Don't Kiss Like That at Christmas: https://books2read.com/NiceGuysDontKissLikeThatA New Year's Eve Like No Other (third in the Nick & Em series): https://books2read.com/ANewYearsEveLikeNoOtherFrench editions — Ma Liste de Noël and Un Réveillon Pas Comme Les AutresIf the episode was useful, a rate-and-review would make this self-published author's day. Happy writing, and happy, happy reading.www.elodienowodazkij.comwww.elodienow.com
  1. Numbers: A TikTok Experiment As an Indie Author (the yay, the nay, and what it costs), pre-order numbers and more
  2. Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life
  3. Numbers: Amazon blocked one of my e-books (one that had been live for ten years)
  4. ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World…
  5. Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book.
podcast

Latest podcast episode: My writing and self-publishing love list…

Choose your favorite platform here…

My writing and self-publishing love list (for those days, you know). Also an update on Kindle Vella, a local event and Claire Taylor’s kickstarter…

<3

Elodie

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

This one's a numbers-and-behind-the-scenes episode. I share a full preorder update across all five of my current books, platform by platform, the good and the zero, and where I'm at ten days into a thirty-day TikTok experiment in 2026 (I know, I know).The BookTok part is genuinely interesting to me: one video crossed 2,000 views and somehow racked up more than eight hours of total watch time, while its near-identical twin stalled at 94 and I have no idea why. That's kind of the whole lesson. I get into what's working, where in the world people are actually watching from (hello, UK), how many of them clicked through (spoiler: two), and yes, what it's costing me in focus, because I opened the app nineteen times in one afternoon and that felt worth admitting out loud.Plus: the Belgian VAT answer that arrived in eleven pages, the Barnes & Noble payment I'm still chasing, a trip to the ER that cancelled a posting day, and trying to use my phone less.And I'm going to interview the chemical engineer about how to write a believable one. If you've got a question for him, send it to elodie@elodienow.com. He refuses to see them in advance. So. :-)If you've tried TikTok and it worked for you, or really didn't, come tell me. We can commiserate, or you can show me your data.BeccaCon + Becca Syme's Write Better-Faster Patreon — the author-business conference and the experiments-homework that started all this: https://betterfasteracademy.com (Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/beccasyme/posts)Wide for the Win Circle (where I posted about the Barnes & Noble delay): https://wideforthewin.com/L. Penelope — "The Fire That Forges You" (My Imaginary Friends), on documenting your process while you're in it: https://myimaginaryfriends.substack.com/p/the-fire-that-forges-youJami Albright — The Summer That Changed Us — the book that wrecked me (Steel Magnolias meets Schitt's Creek with the heart of This Is Us): https://books2read.com/b/mdZvPW — jamialbright.comMy Christmas Wish-List (preorder, now July 31st): https://books2read.com/MyChristmasWishCancer Is Not My Brand (preorder): https://books2read.com/cancerisnotmybrand/Nice Guys Don't Kiss Like That at Christmas: https://books2read.com/NiceGuysDontKissLikeThatA New Year's Eve Like No Other (third in the Nick & Em series): https://books2read.com/ANewYearsEveLikeNoOtherFrench editions — Ma Liste de Noël and Un Réveillon Pas Comme Les AutresIf the episode was useful, a rate-and-review would make this self-published author's day. Happy writing, and happy, happy reading.www.elodienowodazkij.comwww.elodienow.com
  1. Numbers: A TikTok Experiment As an Indie Author (the yay, the nay, and what it costs), pre-order numbers and more
  2. Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life
  3. Numbers: Amazon blocked one of my e-books (one that had been live for ten years)
  4. ROMO Or My Reality (Realities) Of Missing Out In the Self-Publishing World…
  5. Numbers: The Book That Had 23 Preorders and…became my most read book.
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Three reasons to pre-order #TheLeftoverBride audiobook today…

I mean there are definitely more than three reasons to pre-order #TheLeftoverBride audiobook but … let’s start with three.

You may have seen that the Kickstarter for #TheLeftoverBride audiobook was not funded. Which yep. Sad. But because I always try to have a backup plan and because I do believe in this project, I have set-up a pre-order for #TheLeftoverBride audiobook in my store.

And here are three reasons to pre-order #TheLeftoverBride audiobook today from my store:

  1. If you pre-order the audiobook, you will receive additional narrated bonus scenes!
  2. If you pre-order #TheLeftoverBride audiobook before August 2nd, you can get 25% off. Yes, you read that right: for a very limited time, you can get 25% on the pre-order of #TheLeftoverBride audiobook. Just use the coupon: TLB25 at checkout. The coupon is only valid for that item and will expire on August 2nd: so make sure you click pre-order today!
  1. You’ll be able to listen to the audiobook before anyone else… The audiobook will be sent to you via BookFunnel. You can listen to it on your phone or on your computer. You can use the BookFunnel app (very easy) or via a browser (also very easy). And BookFunnel is there to help you if you’re having issues.

Plus: when you pre-order #TheLeftoverBride audiobook directly from my store, I receive more royalties and I don’t have to wait sixty days, so you basically support a small business 🙂

Don’t forget there are also limited items in my store: name a character in #SweetsForLove, get your name in #TheLeftoverBride credits, chat with me about self-publishing and more …

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

Ep. 62 – The ups and downs of self-publishing (including the words every romance author wants to hear…) A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

Within a few days, I had a few self-publishing ups and downs, including: hearing the words every romance wants to hear (during a pretty stressful day), losing a crown on one of my Vella stories, fangirling over Eloisa James and regaining a crown on said Vella story. Today I also talk about my dream of having Fear Me, Fear Me Not adapated for Lifetime or Netflix… And I have my first voicemail!!!!  Mentioned in this episode: Los Angeles Times – Meet 8 industry players behind Hollywood’s book adaptation boom: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2021-02-11/meet-8-players-connecting-amanda-gorman-other-writers-to-hollywood Lifetime submitting script: https://support.mylifetime.com/hc/en-us/articles/216240478-Where-can-I-send-a-script-or-story-idea-that-I-would-like-to-submit- Happy Self-Publishing Moments on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aselfpubbedauthorsdiary/video/7093148769214172462?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&lang=en Leave me a voicemail: https://anchor.fm/elodie-nowodazkij/message Ways to help Ukraine: A few ways to help Ukrainians:  https://snyder.substack.com/p/a-few-ways-to-help-ukrainians?utm_source=url&fbclid=IwAR1tRHYwpS0z9XOtaMafpVuequlTEuRKcs74bEEpeCUAXHtPOardfnQe15k  List of charities to support Ukraine by subject: https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/comments/s6g5un/want_to_support_ukraine_heres_a_list_of_charities/  If you're in Germany: https://zez.am/act.now.by.klitschko  If you're in France: https://parrainage.refugies.info/  Ukraine Media Crisis Center How To Help: https://uacrisis.org/en/help-ukraine As always: Ask me a question (per email: authorelodienowodazkij AT gmail.com or by leaving me a voicemail: https://anchor.fm/elodie-nowodazkij/message)  Follow A Self-Published Author's Diary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aselfpublishedauthorsdiary  Visit my website: http://www.elodienowodazkij.com  I'm on TikTok: @elodienowodazkij and the podcast too: @aselfpubbedauthorsdiary
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What do you do after your Kickstarter doesn’t get fully funded …

Well, if you’re like me, trying out Kickstarter was a roller coaster full of emotions. Plus, all that marketing? And putting yourself out there? Challenging to say the least. One day, I thought I had the best carefully-crafted plan, the next I thought: what am I doing? I really believed my Kickstarter would get funded. Yet, here I am. The kickstarter was funded at 48% and it had 23 amazing backers.

When your Kickstarter doesn’t get fully funded, you do not receive any of the pledges.

Part of my process…

Also part of my process…

I am so grateful to everyone who backed this project for believing in it and me and Megan.

But now that it hasn’t been funded, what do I do?

  1. I will do a root cause analysis of why I think it wasn’t funded. And what I might do differently should I ever do a Kickstarter again. If you’re an author, there are many free resources available (podcast, blog posts and more that talk about kickstarter for authors – I’ll make a list when I do an episode on my podcast about it).
  2. I have sent a message to my backers (including a video) to express my gratitude and talk about next steps for the audiobook.
  3. And when it comes to one of the major next steps: before the Kickstarter announced it wasn’t funded, I updated my online store to offer some of the rewards. For example, readers and audiobook listeners can pre-order #TheLeftoverBride audiobook directly from me (helping with increasing the royalties), they can name a character in #SweetsForLove, get their names in the credit and chat self-publishing with me if they wish. 🙂

I’ll share more on my podcast A Self-Published Author’s diary in a few weeks… But in the meantime, if you’d like to grab one of the LIMITED items in my store, don’t hesitate.

Here’s a 10% coupon code for you: WEBSITE10 (expires on July 26th)

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

Ep. 62 – The ups and downs of self-publishing (including the words every romance author wants to hear…) A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

Within a few days, I had a few self-publishing ups and downs, including: hearing the words every romance wants to hear (during a pretty stressful day), losing a crown on one of my Vella stories, fangirling over Eloisa James and regaining a crown on said Vella story. Today I also talk about my dream of having Fear Me, Fear Me Not adapated for Lifetime or Netflix… And I have my first voicemail!!!!  Mentioned in this episode: Los Angeles Times – Meet 8 industry players behind Hollywood’s book adaptation boom: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2021-02-11/meet-8-players-connecting-amanda-gorman-other-writers-to-hollywood Lifetime submitting script: https://support.mylifetime.com/hc/en-us/articles/216240478-Where-can-I-send-a-script-or-story-idea-that-I-would-like-to-submit- Happy Self-Publishing Moments on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aselfpubbedauthorsdiary/video/7093148769214172462?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&lang=en Leave me a voicemail: https://anchor.fm/elodie-nowodazkij/message Ways to help Ukraine: A few ways to help Ukrainians:  https://snyder.substack.com/p/a-few-ways-to-help-ukrainians?utm_source=url&fbclid=IwAR1tRHYwpS0z9XOtaMafpVuequlTEuRKcs74bEEpeCUAXHtPOardfnQe15k  List of charities to support Ukraine by subject: https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/comments/s6g5un/want_to_support_ukraine_heres_a_list_of_charities/  If you're in Germany: https://zez.am/act.now.by.klitschko  If you're in France: https://parrainage.refugies.info/  Ukraine Media Crisis Center How To Help: https://uacrisis.org/en/help-ukraine As always: Ask me a question (per email: authorelodienowodazkij AT gmail.com or by leaving me a voicemail: https://anchor.fm/elodie-nowodazkij/message)  Follow A Self-Published Author's Diary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aselfpublishedauthorsdiary  Visit my website: http://www.elodienowodazkij.com  I'm on TikTok: @elodienowodazkij and the podcast too: @aselfpubbedauthorsdiary

#THELEFTOVERBRIDE, kickstarter

* Insert upbeat message here*

Less than 48 hours to go for my Kickstarter project and still 64% to go: *Insert upbeat message here*. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to grab one of the amazing rewards (starting at $1).

It is “all or nothing”, meaning the project will only be funded if it reaches its goal by Tuesday, July 19th (8.30 EDT).

(PS: if you’re receiving this post in your email, you signed up at some point on my website  If you no longer want to receive those blog posts, there’s a little “unsubscribe” at the bottom of your email.)

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

#THELEFTOVERBRIDE, kickstarter

Less than 70 hours to go …

Less than 70 hours to go: Don’t miss out on the opportunity to grab one of the amazing rewards (starting at $1).

It is “all or nothing”, meaning the project will only be funded if it reaches its goal by Tuesday, July 19th (8.30 EDT).

(PS: if you’re receiving this post in your email, you signed up at some point on my website  If you no longer want to receive those blog posts, there’s a little “unsubscribe” at the bottom of your email.)

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

kickstarter

Help me prove them wrong?

I’ve been told this is not possible… That this Kickstarter project of mine with (amazing) rewards will never get funded. It is “all or nothing”, meaning the project will only be funded if it reaches its goal by Tuesday, July 19th (8.30 EDT).

(PS: if you’re receiving this post in your email, you signed up at some point on my website 🙂 If you no longer want to receive those blog posts, there’s a little “unsubscribe” at the bottom of your email.)

And maybe they’re right. It’s at 30% funded now with 16 backers … 

But … Do you want to help me prove them wrong?

Back this project with $1 and you’ll also get #TheLeftoverBride ebook as well as a digital postcard! 

And of course, you could snag an early copy of #TheLeftoverBride audiobook or signed copies and so much more.

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

Ep. 62 – The ups and downs of self-publishing (including the words every romance author wants to hear…) A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

Within a few days, I had a few self-publishing ups and downs, including: hearing the words every romance wants to hear (during a pretty stressful day), losing a crown on one of my Vella stories, fangirling over Eloisa James and regaining a crown on said Vella story. Today I also talk about my dream of having Fear Me, Fear Me Not adapated for Lifetime or Netflix… And I have my first voicemail!!!!  Mentioned in this episode: Los Angeles Times – Meet 8 industry players behind Hollywood’s book adaptation boom: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2021-02-11/meet-8-players-connecting-amanda-gorman-other-writers-to-hollywood Lifetime submitting script: https://support.mylifetime.com/hc/en-us/articles/216240478-Where-can-I-send-a-script-or-story-idea-that-I-would-like-to-submit- Happy Self-Publishing Moments on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aselfpubbedauthorsdiary/video/7093148769214172462?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&lang=en Leave me a voicemail: https://anchor.fm/elodie-nowodazkij/message Ways to help Ukraine: A few ways to help Ukrainians:  https://snyder.substack.com/p/a-few-ways-to-help-ukrainians?utm_source=url&fbclid=IwAR1tRHYwpS0z9XOtaMafpVuequlTEuRKcs74bEEpeCUAXHtPOardfnQe15k  List of charities to support Ukraine by subject: https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/comments/s6g5un/want_to_support_ukraine_heres_a_list_of_charities/  If you're in Germany: https://zez.am/act.now.by.klitschko  If you're in France: https://parrainage.refugies.info/  Ukraine Media Crisis Center How To Help: https://uacrisis.org/en/help-ukraine As always: Ask me a question (per email: authorelodienowodazkij AT gmail.com or by leaving me a voicemail: https://anchor.fm/elodie-nowodazkij/message)  Follow A Self-Published Author's Diary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aselfpublishedauthorsdiary  Visit my website: http://www.elodienowodazkij.com  I'm on TikTok: @elodienowodazkij and the podcast too: @aselfpubbedauthorsdiary
#THELEFTOVERBRIDE, kickstarter

Three reasons I’m running a Kickstarter campaign…

Three reasons I am giving Kickstarter a try for my upcoming audiobook…

Full disclosure: the campaign is still ongoing and is currently funded at 30% … So, not sure if I’ll be successful with it or not. And this post is both aimed to be informative and to maybe also spur a few of you to back this project.

Communication is key, right?

You can’t back a project you don’t know about. And transparency is important. Can you tell I used to work as a press officer?

If you don’t know, on Kickstarter, you can pledge amounts for rewards (or just because you want to support a project). The creator is the one coming up with the rewards. Your pledge is only debited if the full project is funded.

So, for this project, the rewards range from: a digital postcard, to talking to me about self-publishing, an early copy of the audiobook, your name in the credits, choosing a name in an upcoming novel/novella, signed copies and so much more… Backers support a creative process. You basically become a “patron of the arts”.

Here are the three reasons I am giving Kickstarter a try this time around.

  1. The Kickstarter can serve as a pre-order for the audiobook. All rewards backers can choose (except the $1 reward) include the audiobook. It’s a win-win for listeners since they receive the audiobook ahead of publication (all they have to do is download an app to listen to it) and it is cheaper than it will be after publication. For me, that means that I receive almost the entire price of the audiobook instead of a much lower royalty when a listener purchases it online and can then use the project funding to compensate my narrator…
  2. I want to distribute the audiobook to libraries. To do so, I cannot have the book exclusive to audible. That means I cannot do a so-called royalty-share plus agreement via ACX with my narrator. This also means I need to compensate my wonderful narrator a higher price per finished hour. Trust me, narrating, mastering and editing an audiobook is a very demanding job. You not only have to be a talented narrator; you also need to be tech savvy and have the needed software.
  3. Financing the project via Kickstarter enables me to not put money up-front—except to run a very low-budget ad. This allows me to use parts of my budget for other projects. Being a self-published author means I remunerate an editor, a copy editor for my books. I have software costs and marketing costs. I also have an ad budget and a translation budget. In addition, if you sell books on certain retailers, you only get paid for those sales about two months later. Financing the audiobook via Kickstarter might enable me to realize other projects during 2022, such as more bilingual books.

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Ep. 60 – Writing process, the writing craft and advice from TikTok (Thank you so much!)… A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

Today, I give you an update on my social media marketing, how writing for Kindle Vella is helping me not only keep a schedule but also going back to my Margie Lawson's lecture packet on deep editing. I also share writing advice writers would give someone who's just starting.  Mentioned in this episode: TikTok video asking writers for advice they would give someone who's just starting. Margie Lawson's lecture packets (Deep Editing, Rhetorical Devices, and More & Visceral Rules: Beyond Hammering Hearts) : https://www.margielawson.com/lecture-packets/ Save the Cat Writes A Novel by Jessica Brody: https://www.jessicabrody.com/books/non-fiction/save-cat-writes-novel/about/ Gwen Hayes Scrivener Template: http://gwenhayes.com/free-stuff/ – Jami Gold also has an excel template: https://jamigold.com/for-writers/worksheets-for-writers/#Romance-Beat-Sheet Libby Hawker's Take Off Your Pants!: Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing. (Not mentioned but should have been :-)): Jami Gold – Calling all Scrivener using over achievers… https://jamigold.com/2018/01/calling-all-scrivener-using-over-achievers/ L. Penelope's podcast: https://lpenelope.com/podcast/ Ways to help Ukraine: A few ways to help Ukrainians:  https://snyder.substack.com/p/a-few-ways-to-help-ukrainians?utm_source=url&fbclid=IwAR1tRHYwpS0z9XOtaMafpVuequlTEuRKcs74bEEpeCUAXHtPOardfnQe15k     List of charities to support Ukraine by subject: https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/comments/s6g5un/want_to_support_ukraine_heres_a_list_of_charities/    If you're in Germany: https://zez.am/act.now.by.klitschko   If you're in France: https://parrainage.refugies.info/ Ukraine Media Crisis Center How To Help: https://uacrisis.org/en/help-ukraine As always: Ask me a question (per email: authorelodienowodazkij AT gmail.com or by leaving me a voicemail: https://anchor.fm/elodie-nowodazkij/message)   Follow A Self-Published Author's Diary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aselfpublishedauthorsdiary     Visit my website: http://www.elodienowodazkij.com    I'm on TikTok: @elodienowodazkij and the podcast too: @aselfpubbedauthorsdiary