Quick summary: I had different plans for this episode, and then I ended up in a Belgian ER at 6:45am with hives and a lip that decided to swell. So… new plan. This one’s three days in the life of this self-published author: writing and revising, taxes, and the ER. (I’m fine. Bobbie Voltaire was very concerned for approximately four seconds, then remembered it was second-breakfast o’clock.)
Writing: Revising # My Christmas Wish List and making sure Plato is in all the scenes he needs to be in. If you’re new here, Plato was our beagle (2015–2025), and writing him in (pillow-humping, stubbornness, the nickname Poopie) helped me get back into the story in July last year. He’s earning his place in every scene now. 🙂
BOOKS
# My Christmas Wish-List — new pre-order date, July 31st, 2026 (the book, and I, will be better for the extra time). Pre-order.
Burst pipes. One bed. Feelings I did not sign up for. And a vet with very large… hands. Merry Christmas to me.
I probably should’ve asked more questions before accepting a temporary Christmas nursing contract to “get my life back on track.” Like: Is the local vet my unresolved romantic trauma in human form? Spoiler: he is.
He’s also my former video-chat almost-boyfriend—the one I ghosted seven years ago, right after finishing chemo, when my body felt borrowed and my heart felt like an organ I hadn’t relearned how to use yet.
And now we’re sharing a honeymoon suite. (Me, him, my Emotional Support Pickle, and the vibrator named after him. Do not ask.)
Dr. Adam Large Hands, Larger Heart, Largest…Brain Harrison has my Great Dane swooning, my dachshund wearing a Santa hat, and me… laughing. Unclenching. Melting.
I should remember: it’s safer to freeze than to fall. (Shoutout to Dr. Jerk du Soleil, my ex, for turning me into Ice Queen Foster, ruler of emotional Antarctica.)
Adam’s leaving tomorrow. I’m leaving after Christmas.
One night won’t turn me into a messy puddle of emotions.
…Right?
It’s temporary. Unless it isn’t.
EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER ONE – EVE
(…)
I grip the steering wheel, a startled laugh escaping me. This is from an app that promises love and understanding, a partner who gets you.
The laugh dies in my throat as I squint through the windshield. The shadowy figure is moving closer. And is he crouching? Making a strange sound?
“Co, co, co.”
It could be a coyote with bronchitis. Or a serial killer rehearsing his holiday-themed monologue. Either way, I’ve watched enough true-crime shows to know this is where the narrator says, “She never saw it coming.”
Where is Dante with his “touch her and die” intensity when you need him? A fictional man ready to burn the world down for his love sounds pretty good right about now. Something about the approaching figure makes my stomach clench in a way that has nothing to do with fear and everything to do with déjà vu. Great. Even my fight-or-flight response is having flashbacks.
My Bluetooth comes back to life. “Hello? Hello? You’re freaaaaaaaaaaking us o—o—out.” Julie’s voice goes up two octaves.
Unbothered, LoverBoy stretches and settles in the carrier like he’s lived here forever. For a dog I almost ran over, he seems alarmingly trusting.
I glance at him, at Blanche, at Dorothy. Three sets of eyes staring at me like I know what I’m doing. Dangerous assumption, but I’ll take it.
“I’m okay.” I’m not even sure my friends can hear me at that point. Not that it matters when my definition of “okay” includes being stranded in a horror Christmas movie with a cursed Honda Civic, three dogs, and a potential serial killer doing his best seasonal ASMR.
Where is my emotional support pickle when I need it? In the backseat, looking at me like I’ve lost my mind.
Proof 1001 I’m not Hallmark material.
But Lifetime? Oh, I’m your final girl… armed with trauma, a push-up bra, and one shot at my Prove-It-All-Without-Falling-Apart era.
And yes, I’m going to go on that walk 😛 And also share this post on my Elodie Now website at some point. And I swear splitting my works in two MAKES sense. It does. It really does… (she says to herself).
🙂
Elodie
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It’s been about a month since my last blog post. Hi! Wishing you all the words or time to think about your words, books that make you feel and warmth. Here’s a (non-exhaustive) recap from the last 30 days…
This past month, I spent a lot of my time (really, a LOT of my time) exchanging emails with Meta about my restricted Facebook Ads account. (your guess is as good as mine). My Facebook Ads account is now disabled. Read more about it in my Substack post, Dear Meta, It’s Not Me, It’s You…
I shared voice memos (and more) about my writing process on my FREE Patreon. If you’d like to listen to them and get early access and random musings and a CHAT (with a pickle), make sure you join…
I spent a bit less than two weeks in France–spending time with my family and enjoying walks and moments around the area where I grew up.
Rosoy…PierrefondsA CatDid you see the snail says “I’m beautiful”
Pictures from the plane… and the airport in Iceland…
The Chemical Engineer and I celebrated our engagement anniversary on St. Patrick’s Day 🙂
For years, I’ve been thinking about splitting my Elodie Nowodazkij fiction in two. And it’s time. Read more about it in Two Heat Levels, One Author Brain (And A Little Bit of Hopefully Organized Chaos) here.
For book club, I read Heartless and couldn’t put it down… so I read Rebel Witch right after…. Love, love, love that duet! Have you read it?
Also Kristen called Heartless Hunter her fuck-it book… and I’m going to share more about my Fuck-It book aka Nice Guys… very soon.
Heartless HunterRebel Witch
My newsletters this month (in case you missed them :-)) – the latest one had a question about your favorite cover (and an exclusive access to the first 1.5 part of Nice Guys…)
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…)
LA PEUR DANS LE SANG est dispo en livre audio sur Spotify, Apple, B&N, Kobo,Google Play et plus encore et est aussi maintenant sur YouTube
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 FREEPatreon)
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.
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.
If you're an indie author self-publishing wide, or specifically on Amazon KDP, and you're based in the EU, this episode is for you (or at least, it's for you to commiserate with me). I walk through my ongoing, unresolved, and occasionally maddening experience trying to figure out EU VAT reporting for my Amazon royalties as a Belgian-registered sole proprietor and US citizen self-employed author.Topics covered in this episode:Amazon KDP's EU VAT Invoices requirement and the self-billing agreement, and why that option isn't showing up in my accountWhat actually happened during a two-hour Amazon KDP support chat, including an agent who left mid-conversation and wrong information about my tax formsWhy a US citizen living abroad still has to file a W-9, not a W-8BEN, no matter where they liveWhat I found digging through KDP's own (and partly outdated) VAT help pagesThe next step I've identified but haven't tackled yet: submitting VAT invoices to Amazon manuallyA Patreon update: three new paid tiers now live (Emotional Support Crew, Spicy Pickles, and Raccoon Author), and what free members and newsletter subscribers can still expectAn early audiobook release for # Sweets For Love, going out chapter by chapter on PatreonA Barnes & Noble payment update and a quick note on my ongoing TikTok experimentDisclaimer: This episode is not tax, VAT, or legal advice. It's a personal account of one indie author's experience. Please consult a qualified tax advisor, VAT specialist, or your local tax authority for guidance specific to your situation.Stick around for the blooper reel. I still cannot say "EU VAT" cleanly.Links mentioned:Patreon (with the Raccoon Author tier): https://www.patreon.com/c/elodieswritingnook/membershipFAQ VAT (old document I think): https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GZJMEVQJPYBGJ8Z7FAQ VAT (newer FAQ): https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GZU8XMCDUGR6PM7FContact: elodie AT elodienow.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 <3
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As Halloween approaches and if you’re looking for a read/listen that will keep you turning the pages or just way past up your bedtime, Fear Me, Fear Me Not is for you…
A great book with a lot of plot twists. (Apple Reviewer)
I figured it might be a good time to re-share this book of mine which readers have compared to Criminal Minds, Lifetime Movies and the movie Scream.
In a serial killer’s small town where girls disappear, my heart’s torn between a hopeless crush on my best friend’s brother and a chilling reality. Here, secrets cast desperate shadows, and trust could be deadly. Fear isn’t just a reaction — it’s a power. And the line between love and terror is razor-thin.
Available as ebook / paperback and audiobook…In libraries and your favorite e-retailers…
Here’s what we all know: Sometime this week or the next or the one after that, we will find another dead girl. Every year, a girl disappears, and every year, she’s found dead with an angel wing carved into her cheek.
And this year is no different.
Another girl disappeared.
….
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A baking competition for the Happily Ever After channel could bring success to my small-town bakery… and one night of toe-curling passion that would keep me warm for years to come. But nothing more. Because I don’t have time for love. Right? Right.
And yes, maybe my mom shouldn’t read that one… I mean, mom, you can but maybe don’t tell me. 🙂
I was re-reading some excerpts yesterday and it is steaammmmmmmmmmy. There’s a moment in the first chapter in the elevator and one in chapter 9 in the hallway that … *blush*. And then later on, oh my. Think a notch (or two) below Tessa Bailey’s books’ heat level. But just a notch (or two).
And it has so many funny and heartwarming moments! I feel like those characters just grab you by the heart and you can’t help but root for them. <3
One reader told me two days ago that this book is in their top 5 for the year. TOP. FIVE! ***Tearing up***…
And if you have a few minutes after reading it, leaving a review is another way to make this writer go all “awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww”. 🙂 Thank you SO MUCH!
PS: Do you want to see the unboxing video? (it’s really an unwrapping video)…
If you're an indie author self-publishing wide, or specifically on Amazon KDP, and you're based in the EU, this episode is for you (or at least, it's for you to commiserate with me). I walk through my ongoing, unresolved, and occasionally maddening experience trying to figure out EU VAT reporting for my Amazon royalties as a Belgian-registered sole proprietor and US citizen self-employed author.Topics covered in this episode:Amazon KDP's EU VAT Invoices requirement and the self-billing agreement, and why that option isn't showing up in my accountWhat actually happened during a two-hour Amazon KDP support chat, including an agent who left mid-conversation and wrong information about my tax formsWhy a US citizen living abroad still has to file a W-9, not a W-8BEN, no matter where they liveWhat I found digging through KDP's own (and partly outdated) VAT help pagesThe next step I've identified but haven't tackled yet: submitting VAT invoices to Amazon manuallyA Patreon update: three new paid tiers now live (Emotional Support Crew, Spicy Pickles, and Raccoon Author), and what free members and newsletter subscribers can still expectAn early audiobook release for # Sweets For Love, going out chapter by chapter on PatreonA Barnes & Noble payment update and a quick note on my ongoing TikTok experimentDisclaimer: This episode is not tax, VAT, or legal advice. It's a personal account of one indie author's experience. Please consult a qualified tax advisor, VAT specialist, or your local tax authority for guidance specific to your situation.Stick around for the blooper reel. I still cannot say "EU VAT" cleanly.Links mentioned:Patreon (with the Raccoon Author tier): https://www.patreon.com/c/elodieswritingnook/membershipFAQ VAT (old document I think): https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GZJMEVQJPYBGJ8Z7FAQ VAT (newer FAQ): https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GZU8XMCDUGR6PM7FContact: elodie AT elodienow.com
No… not those words. Well, at least, not in this case.
I shared in my newsletter today a pretty eventful day from a couple of days ago. For the full story, click here.
Here’s the very short version.
As I was looking to switch car insurances, the insurance agent (who was very friendly and knowledgeable) went through a list of questions to see if he could match the new offer.
At some point in the process, he asked “So what’s your job title?”
I replied, “Author.”
And he followed up with: “Oh, what do you write?”
“Romance novels.”
There was one of those long pauses… you know the type. The ones that could go in so many directions and thousands of answers flashed in my mind.
Sometimes, let’s just say, romance novels are seen as “lesser-than.”
And his response caught me off guard.
He said…. are you ready for this?
“Oh wow, you’re spreading happiness around the world. That’s awesome.”
His words were just the pick-me-up I needed. And who knows, maybe his words will have the same effect on someone else. After all, a little bit of happiness can go a long way…
And whatever you’re doing, you might be spreading a bit of happiness around you, too.
And if you’re looking for your next romance novel: one-click #TheLeftoverBride (A Hallmark-worthy romance with a little extra steam) and start reading now…
Or pre-order #SweetsForLove and make this romance author even happier. :-)
If you're an indie author self-publishing wide, or specifically on Amazon KDP, and you're based in the EU, this episode is for you (or at least, it's for you to commiserate with me). I walk through my ongoing, unresolved, and occasionally maddening experience trying to figure out EU VAT reporting for my Amazon royalties as a Belgian-registered sole proprietor and US citizen self-employed author.Topics covered in this episode:Amazon KDP's EU VAT Invoices requirement and the self-billing agreement, and why that option isn't showing up in my accountWhat actually happened during a two-hour Amazon KDP support chat, including an agent who left mid-conversation and wrong information about my tax formsWhy a US citizen living abroad still has to file a W-9, not a W-8BEN, no matter where they liveWhat I found digging through KDP's own (and partly outdated) VAT help pagesThe next step I've identified but haven't tackled yet: submitting VAT invoices to Amazon manuallyA Patreon update: three new paid tiers now live (Emotional Support Crew, Spicy Pickles, and Raccoon Author), and what free members and newsletter subscribers can still expectAn early audiobook release for # Sweets For Love, going out chapter by chapter on PatreonA Barnes & Noble payment update and a quick note on my ongoing TikTok experimentDisclaimer: This episode is not tax, VAT, or legal advice. It's a personal account of one indie author's experience. Please consult a qualified tax advisor, VAT specialist, or your local tax authority for guidance specific to your situation.Stick around for the blooper reel. I still cannot say "EU VAT" cleanly.Links mentioned:Patreon (with the Raccoon Author tier): https://www.patreon.com/c/elodieswritingnook/membershipFAQ VAT (old document I think): https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GZJMEVQJPYBGJ8Z7FAQ VAT (newer FAQ): https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GZU8XMCDUGR6PM7FContact: elodie AT elodienow.com
Are you ready to set foot into Gavert City, the small Texan town with a history of mysterious disappearances and murders and cults where falling in love almost seems dangerous?
Those three stories filled with tension and twists will keep you up at night and may break your heart before piecing it back together.
Included in this box set:
Fear Me, Fear Me Not (Erin and Dimitri’s story)
A serial killer has been terrorizing Gavert City for years…what if it’s my father? My forever crush Dimitri may try to protect me, but he can’t protect me from the truth. Here’s what we all know: Sometime this week or the next or the one after that, we will find another dead girl. Every year, a girl disappears, and every year, she’s found dead with an angel wing carved into her cheek. And this year is no different. Another girl disappeared.
“I have seen this book being described as “Scream” meets “Friday Night Lights” and I absolutely agree! I’m a fan of both and found this book to be amazing! This book has everything! Suspenseful, romantic, and just all-around amazing! Kept me glued to my Kindle and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good thrill!!”
Amazon reviewer
See Me, See Me Not (Tessa and Luke’s story)
My sister disappeared years ago…but her body was never found. My mom wants to believe she’s still alive. I’m not sure what to believe. I know that I miss her. I know that I feel responsible…I’m the reason she disappeared. And I’m not the only one with secrets. My childhood crush, Luke, is back in town, and there’s a darkness to him that wasn’t there before. He’s hiding something, but when he finally tells me he escaped a dangerous cult, will we be able to help each other heal or will our pasts come back to crush us?
Once again, Elodie Nowodazkij weaves together a gripping story. Emotional and suspenseful…
Amazon reviewer.
Trust Me, Trust Me Not (Lacey and Hunter’s story)
I may have jumped from a building engulfed in flames. I may have thought I was ready to start college after living secluded in my stepfather’s dangerous cult. I may have believed I was finally safe. I was wrong. Can Hunter, the firefighter who saved my life, help me move on? Or will danger always lurk around us?
Thrilling, yet touching, story of two amazing but broken characters…
Amazon reviewer
COMING SOON IN THE GAVERT CITY SERIES
Miss Me, Miss Me Not… Pre-order it today on Amazon (more retailers coming soon)…
I’m watching her. I’m watching her as she hides the tears and pretends to smile. I missed her. But now that she’s back, I won’t let her go. Ever. Did she miss me?
Nadia may have survived a serial killer but the harrowing images of her boyfriend’s murder haunt her day and night… Now, away from Gavert City, will she be able to move on? As a stalker watches her every move, Nadia is in danger again.
If you're an indie author self-publishing wide, or specifically on Amazon KDP, and you're based in the EU, this episode is for you (or at least, it's for you to commiserate with me). I walk through my ongoing, unresolved, and occasionally maddening experience trying to figure out EU VAT reporting for my Amazon royalties as a Belgian-registered sole proprietor and US citizen self-employed author.Topics covered in this episode:Amazon KDP's EU VAT Invoices requirement and the self-billing agreement, and why that option isn't showing up in my accountWhat actually happened during a two-hour Amazon KDP support chat, including an agent who left mid-conversation and wrong information about my tax formsWhy a US citizen living abroad still has to file a W-9, not a W-8BEN, no matter where they liveWhat I found digging through KDP's own (and partly outdated) VAT help pagesThe next step I've identified but haven't tackled yet: submitting VAT invoices to Amazon manuallyA Patreon update: three new paid tiers now live (Emotional Support Crew, Spicy Pickles, and Raccoon Author), and what free members and newsletter subscribers can still expectAn early audiobook release for # Sweets For Love, going out chapter by chapter on PatreonA Barnes & Noble payment update and a quick note on my ongoing TikTok experimentDisclaimer: This episode is not tax, VAT, or legal advice. It's a personal account of one indie author's experience. Please consult a qualified tax advisor, VAT specialist, or your local tax authority for guidance specific to your situation.Stick around for the blooper reel. I still cannot say "EU VAT" cleanly.Links mentioned:Patreon (with the Raccoon Author tier): https://www.patreon.com/c/elodieswritingnook/membershipFAQ VAT (old document I think): https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GZJMEVQJPYBGJ8Z7FAQ VAT (newer FAQ): https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GZU8XMCDUGR6PM7FContact: elodie AT elodienow.com
Are you ready to set foot into Gavert City? “The perfect books for fans of Criminal Minds and the movie Scream…” are now available on Kindle Unlimited as a boxed set. You can also get it as paperback.
Have you already read all the books and do you have a few minutes? You can leave a review and help other readers find this bundle of books.
Are you ready to step into Gavert City? The small Texan town with a history of mysterious disappearances and murders and cults, where falling in love almost seems dangerous? Those books filled with tension and twists will keep you up at night and may break your heart before piecing it back together.
Included in this set:
Fear Me, Fear Me Not (Erin & Dimitri’s story): A serial killer has been terrorizing Gavert City for years… what if it’s my father? My forever crush Dimitri may try to protect me but he can’t protect me from the truth. Here’s what we all know: Sometime this week or the next or the one after that, we will find another dead girl. Every year, a girl disappears, and every year, she’s found dead with an angel wing carved into her cheek. And this year is no different. Another girl disappeared.
See Me, See Me Not (Tessa & Luke’s story): My sister disappeared years ago… but her body was never found. My mom wants to believe she’s still alive. I’m not sure what to believe. I know that I miss her. I know that I feel responsible… I’m the reason she disappeared. And I’m not the only one with secrets. My childhood crush, Luke, is back in town and there’s a darkness to him that wasn’t there before. He’s hiding something… But when he finally tells me he escaped a dangerous cult, will we be able to help each other heal or will our pasts come back to crush us?
Trust Me, Trust Me Not (Lacey & Hunter’s story): I may have jumped for a building engulfed in flames. I may have thought I was ready to start college after living secluded in my stepfather’s dangerous cult. I may have believed I was finally safe. I was wrong. Can Hunter, the firefighter who saved my life, help me move on? Or will danger always lurk around us?
If you're an indie author self-publishing wide, or specifically on Amazon KDP, and you're based in the EU, this episode is for you (or at least, it's for you to commiserate with me). I walk through my ongoing, unresolved, and occasionally maddening experience trying to figure out EU VAT reporting for my Amazon royalties as a Belgian-registered sole proprietor and US citizen self-employed author.Topics covered in this episode:Amazon KDP's EU VAT Invoices requirement and the self-billing agreement, and why that option isn't showing up in my accountWhat actually happened during a two-hour Amazon KDP support chat, including an agent who left mid-conversation and wrong information about my tax formsWhy a US citizen living abroad still has to file a W-9, not a W-8BEN, no matter where they liveWhat I found digging through KDP's own (and partly outdated) VAT help pagesThe next step I've identified but haven't tackled yet: submitting VAT invoices to Amazon manuallyA Patreon update: three new paid tiers now live (Emotional Support Crew, Spicy Pickles, and Raccoon Author), and what free members and newsletter subscribers can still expectAn early audiobook release for # Sweets For Love, going out chapter by chapter on PatreonA Barnes & Noble payment update and a quick note on my ongoing TikTok experimentDisclaimer: This episode is not tax, VAT, or legal advice. It's a personal account of one indie author's experience. Please consult a qualified tax advisor, VAT specialist, or your local tax authority for guidance specific to your situation.Stick around for the blooper reel. I still cannot say "EU VAT" cleanly.Links mentioned:Patreon (with the Raccoon Author tier): https://www.patreon.com/c/elodieswritingnook/membershipFAQ VAT (old document I think): https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GZJMEVQJPYBGJ8Z7FAQ VAT (newer FAQ): https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GZU8XMCDUGR6PM7FContact: elodie AT elodienow.com
Wishing you happiness, health, laughter and lots of love! And the magic of books to read and maybe write for when you want or need to get lost or found or understood (or maybe gain an unterstanding) in a story…
If you're an indie author self-publishing wide, or specifically on Amazon KDP, and you're based in the EU, this episode is for you (or at least, it's for you to commiserate with me). I walk through my ongoing, unresolved, and occasionally maddening experience trying to figure out EU VAT reporting for my Amazon royalties as a Belgian-registered sole proprietor and US citizen self-employed author.Topics covered in this episode:Amazon KDP's EU VAT Invoices requirement and the self-billing agreement, and why that option isn't showing up in my accountWhat actually happened during a two-hour Amazon KDP support chat, including an agent who left mid-conversation and wrong information about my tax formsWhy a US citizen living abroad still has to file a W-9, not a W-8BEN, no matter where they liveWhat I found digging through KDP's own (and partly outdated) VAT help pagesThe next step I've identified but haven't tackled yet: submitting VAT invoices to Amazon manuallyA Patreon update: three new paid tiers now live (Emotional Support Crew, Spicy Pickles, and Raccoon Author), and what free members and newsletter subscribers can still expectAn early audiobook release for # Sweets For Love, going out chapter by chapter on PatreonA Barnes & Noble payment update and a quick note on my ongoing TikTok experimentDisclaimer: This episode is not tax, VAT, or legal advice. It's a personal account of one indie author's experience. Please consult a qualified tax advisor, VAT specialist, or your local tax authority for guidance specific to your situation.Stick around for the blooper reel. I still cannot say "EU VAT" cleanly.Links mentioned:Patreon (with the Raccoon Author tier): https://www.patreon.com/c/elodieswritingnook/membershipFAQ VAT (old document I think): https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GZJMEVQJPYBGJ8Z7FAQ VAT (newer FAQ): https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GZU8XMCDUGR6PM7FContact: elodie AT elodienow.com
And the magic of books to read and maybe write for when you want or need to get lost or found or understood (or maybe gain an unterstanding) in a story…