Tag: writing

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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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mentioned in this episode:

Thank you so much for listening/reading!

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

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

❤

Elodie

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

❤

Elodie

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

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

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

Elodie
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…

❤

Elodie

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

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

Dipping my neuropathic toes into the world of subscription for authors as a self-published author…

Elodie

IMPORTANT: I am moving my self-publishing and writing posts over to Substack... Of course, you can still listen to the episodes on my podcast, too.

On this blog, I’ll still talk about writing sometimes and will share a few insights I’ve learned along the way about my process and my characters and my books, but I’ll go deeper into self-publishing over on my A Self-Published Author’s Diary Substack.

Today, for example, I share an edited transcript (with visuals and more info) of my latest podcast episode.

Read Dipping my neuropathic toes into the world of subscription for authors

So, what does that mean?

As always, thank you for listening and reading!

❤

Elodie

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

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

A self-published author's diary, podcast

Defining “success” as a self-published author …

Elodie

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

Today is all about business plans and building blocks and defining success as a self-published author.

Mentioned in the episode:

  1. Zoe York’s Romance Your Brand series: https://romanceyourbrand.com/books/ 
  2. MRW November meeting: Building Blocks for Success w/ Zoe York
  3. Wish I’d Known Then … For Writers podcast with Sara Rosett and Jami Albright: Tammi Labrecque on What to Email to Newsletter Subscribers: https://wishidknownforwriters.com/tammi-labrecque-on-what-to-email-to-newsletter-subscribers/
  4. Self-Published Authors Defining Success: https://www.tiktok.com/@aselfpubbedauthorsdiary/video/7165127597616074027

Do you have any questions about self-publishing/writing?

How to support this podcast?

Ways to help Ukraine

Thank you so much for listening!

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

Defining "success" as a self-published author … – A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

Today is all about business plans and building blocks and defining success as an author. Mentioned in the episode: Zoe York's Romance Your Brand series: https://romanceyourbrand.com/books/  MRW November meeting: Building Blocks for Success w/ Zoe York Wish I'd Known Then … For Writers podcast with Sara Rosett and Jami Albright: Tammi Labrecque on What to Email to Newsletter Subscribers Self-Published Authors Defining Success: https://www.tiktok.com/@aselfpubbedauthorsdiary/video/7165127597616074027  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: http://www.instagram.com/aselfpublishedauthorsdiary   Visit my website: http://www.elodienowodazkij.com  I'm on TikTok: @elodienowodazkij and the podcast too: @aselfpubbedauthorsdiary   Buy me a coffee: ko-fi.com/aselfpublishedauthorsdiary   Become a monthly a podcast supporter (starting at $0.99 per month): anchor.fm/elodie-nowodazkij/support
A self-published author's diary, podcast

Kickstarter for Authors: What To Do When Your Kickstarter Does Not Get Funded … (and what I would do differently)

Elodie

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

Today is all about my Kickstarter not getting funded for #TheLeftoverBride audiobook: what I would do differently, what I learned and what I did after it didn’t get funded …

Mentioned in the episode:

  1. The Creative Penn Podcast: Kickstarter for Authors With Monica Leonelle: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2022/03/28/kickstarter-for-authors/
  2. How Brandon Sanderson’s Kickstarter Project Broke the Bookish Internet: https://www.kickstarter.com/articles/how-brandon-sanderson-s-kickstarter-project-broke-the-bookish-internet
  3. Why I used Kickstarter to fund my audiobook production: https://blog.findawayvoices.com/why-i-used-kickstarter-to-fund-my-audiobook-promotion/
  4. #TheLeftoverBride audiobook Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/theleftoverbride/the-leftover-bride-audiobook-production
  5. Get your #TheLeftoverBride audiobook copy today on the eretailer of your choice…https://books2read.com/u/m2RQ26

Do you have any questions about self-publishing/writing?

How to support this podcast?

Ways to help Ukraine

Thank you so much for listening!

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

Kickstarter for Authors: What To Do When Your Kickstarter Does Not Get Funded … (and what I would do differently) – A self-published author's diary: The Ups and Downs of Self-Publishing (and everything in-between)

Today is all about my Kickstarter not getting funded for #TheLeftoverBride audiobook: what I would do differently, what I learned and what I did after it didn't get funded … Mentioned in the episode: The Creative Penn Podcast: Kickstarter for Authors With Monica Leonelle: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2022/03/28/kickstarter-for-authors/ Why I used Kickstarter to fund my audiobook production: https://blog.findawayvoices.com/why-i-used-kickstarter-to-fund-my-audiobook-promotion/ #TheLeftoverBride audiobook Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/theleftoverbride/the-leftover-bride-audiobook-production Get your #TheLeftoverBride audiobook copy today on the eretailer of your choice…https://books2read.com/u/m2RQ26 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: http://www.instagram.com/aselfpublishedauthorsdiary  Visit my website: http://www.elodienowodazkij.com  I'm on TikTok: @elodienowodazkij and the podcast too: @aselfpubbedauthorsdiary  Buy me a coffee: ko-fi.com/aselfpublishedauthorsdiary  Become a monthly a podcast supporter (starting at $0.99 per month): anchor.fm/elodie-nowodazkij/support