SPA Girls Podcast

Each week the SPA Girls provide information, tips and honest advice on self publishing for indie authors. Hosted by four experienced self-publishing writers, we provide a mix of interviews, craft shows, and marketing information that will help you start your self-publishing journey. Join us today!

SPA Girls Podcast - EP505 - Sierra Simone - Writing to your own beat 06/18/2025

SPA Girls Podcast - EP504 - SF Romance with Tamsin Ley (Classic Replay) 06/11/2025

SPA Girls Podcast - EP503 - Co-Writing Success with Molly O'Keefe and Stephanie Doyle 06/04/2025

SPA Girls Podcast - EP503 - Co-Writing Success with Molly O'Keefe and Stephanie Doyle Molly and Stephanie are two writing besties who launched an incredibly successful pen name, Hailey Shore, writing romantic comedy. This episode we dig into how they intentionally set out to create this pen, their advertising and launch strategy, things they’ve learned along the way, and a few snafus too. These two amazing authors are incredibly down to earth and honest and provide some of the best advice on mindset and business you’ll hear that’s absolutely relevant to authors at all stages of their careers. Find them at: Hailey Shore Molly Fader Molly O’Keefe / M O’Keefe Stephanie Doyle / S Doyle Molly Fader/Molly O’Keefe/ M. O’Keefe Award-winning author Molly O’Keefe published her first Harlequin at age 25, and hasn’t looked back since. She’s now the two-time Rita award winning and USA Today bestselling author of more than 50 contemporary romance novels, as well as women’s fiction under the name Molly Fader and darker romance under the name M. O’Keefe. She lives in Toronto Ontario with her husband, two kids and rescue dog. Stephanie Doyle / S. Doyle Stephanie Doyle started writing at age 16, had her first book published by Harlequin at the age of 26, and has continued writing and publishing ever since. She has published 30+ books under two pen names, and is currently writing Contemporary New Adult under the pen name S. Doyle. She lives in South Jersey with her cat Lex, and her two kittens who have taken over everything. 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you'll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at ✍️ Visit for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode! /episode/index/show/spagirls/id/36843865

SPA Girls Podcast - EP502 - Book Launch Strategies with Janie Crouch (Classic Replay) 05/28/2025

SPA Girls Podcast - EP502 - Book Launch Strategies with Janie Crouch (Classic Replay) USA Today Bestseller, Janie Crouch, shares amazing tips and advice on how she built her readership, launched her romantic suspense, and how she approaches the Business of Authoring and separates it from the creative side of writing. This is a classic replay of a fantastic episode we recorded originally in April 2021. Janie's writing journey began in the academic world. With a B.A. in English Communication from Montreat College and both an M.A. and Ph.D. in Communication Studies from Regent University, she initially channeled her creative energy into scholarly work. Her doctoral dissertation explored how people form relationships with sci-fi and fantasy characters—revealing her lifelong passion for genre fiction. While her academic advisors often encouraged her to "dial down the drama," that same dramatic flair now fuels her bestselling romantic suspense novels. () Janie’s discusses her release strategy, approach to advertising – what has worked for her and what HASN’T, as well being very upfront about her income and how much she’s spending on advertising to grow her sales. Janie also discusses how she's found the pros and cons of publishing widely versus Amazon-exclusively. Connecting with her readers has been a key component to her success via her facebook reader group and newsletter. About Janie USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author Janie Crouch writes what she loves to read: passionate romantic suspense featuring protective heroes. Her books have won multiple awards, including the Romance Writers of America's coveted Vivian® Award, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Booksellers’ Best Award for romantic suspense. After a lifetime on the East Coast, and a six-year stint in Germany due to her husband's job as support for the U.S. Military, Janie has settled into her dream home in Front Range of the Colorado Rockies. When she's not listening to the voices in her head—and even when she is—she enjoys engaging in all sorts of crazy adventures (Ultramarathons across Kenya; Ironman Triathlons, treks to Mt. Everest Base Camp...), traveling, and being a mom of four. Her favorite quote: "Life is a daring adventure or nothing." ~ Helen Keller 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you'll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at ✍️ Visit for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode! /episode/index/show/spagirls/id/36742445

SPA Girls Podcast - EP501 - Virtual Assistants for Authors - Interview with Kevin Tumlinson 05/20/2025

SPA Girls Podcast - EP500 - Behind The Mics 05/14/2025

SPA Girls Podcast - EP499 - Interview with Ana Huang: Multi-Million Copy Bestselling Author (Classic Replay) 05/08/2025

SPA Girls Podcast - EP499 - Interview with Ana Huang: Multi-Million Copy Bestselling Author (Classic Replay) A SPA Girls Classic Replay. This episode features an interview with the incredible Ana Huang, multi-million copy bestselling author of new adult and contemporary romance! Ana is a super-smart, hardworking author with a tonne of great advice that she generously shared with SPA Girls Podcast listeners in this information-packed episode. We range in topics from marketing, to TikTok, to branding, to translations, and everything in between. A must-listen for authors at all stages of their writing career. NB Since recording this podcast in 2023, Ana has achieved many more #1 bestsellers (see her website for details) and publishing milestones including that has picking up the rights to adapt ‘s romance novel “” and its sequels into a TV series in a seven-figure option deal. About Ana Ana Huang is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of fourteen contemporary romances, which have collectively sold over 21 million copies worldwide. Her subgenres range from sports to billionaire and suspense, but all of her books feature her signature blend of steam and swoon. Her work has been translated into thirty-four languages, and she has been featured on Good Morning America, the Drew Barrymore Show, the Today Show, the Washington Post, and more. A BookTok phenomenon, her breakout Twisted series has over two billion views on the platform. It is currently in development for television at Netflix. Ana is also a crossword puzzle enthusiast and an avid traveler. She’s visited nearly forty countries, several of which have served as inspiration for her books. Where to find Ana Huang: 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your questions. Come on in and join us, we’d love to see you there! ✍️ Visit for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch the recording on our @spagirlspodcast /episode/index/show/spagirls/id/36481860

SPA Girls Podcast - EP498 - When To Pivot 04/29/2025

SPA Girls Podcast- EP497 - Writing The Black Moment with Rachel Bailey (Classic Replay) 04/23/2025

SPA Girls Podcast- EP497 - Writing The Black Moment with Rachel Bailey (Classic Replay) One of our most popular writing craft episodes deserves a replay: Writing the Black Moment with USA Today Bestseller, Rachel Bailey. NB re audio quality, we apologise that this isn’t to our current standard (despite new editing), but we’re sure you’ll find the content worth listening to nevertheless! A fantastic tutorial on how you can take your writing to the next level! In romance fiction, the black moment (also called the dark night of the soul) is the emotional low point—when it seems like all hope is lost, the relationship is broken beyond repair, and the characters may not find their way back to each other. Some technique tips include: 1. Make It Deeply Personal The black moment hits hardest when it attacks the characters’ deepest fears or vulnerabilities. Ask: What is your character most afraid of? What do they believe about love that this moment confirms? How does this moment feel like the ultimate betrayal or failure? 2. Use Physical and Emotional Reactions Let your character feel it in their body—give them tears, anger, numbness, or gut-punch dread. Make readers feel it. 3. Let It Be Messy This moment is the emotional climax. Don’t hold back on drama, raw dialogue, misunderstandings, or irreversible decisions (or ones that feel that way). 4. Show the Stakes Make sure the reader understands what’s truly at risk—not just the relationship, but something deeper (identity, trust, belief in love). ABOUT RACHEL Rachel Bailey is a lover of books, dogs, and popcorn. Luckily, she has two dogs, a popcorn maker, and bookshelves overflowing with books, so she’s covered on all fronts. Despite spending her life trying to scam more time to read, she’s managed to graduate with degrees in psychology and social work, as well as a PhD in English, and now has her dream job – making up stories for a living. Her books have hit bestseller lists, have won and been nominated for awards, are published in over twenty-six countries and have been translated into sixteen languages. Rachel’s first three novels were released in 2010, and all three became USA Today bestsellers. She has since had books released with three different publishers and dipped her toes in the self-publishing waters, though she recently took a break from publishing to complete her PhD. A past president of the Romance Writers of Australia, Rachel regularly teaches writing workshops at local, national, and international conferences and writing festivals. Find her at: 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you'll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at ✍️ Visit for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode! /episode/index/show/spagirls/id/36275665

SPA Girls Podcast - EP496 - Using Tropes Effectively with Jennifer Hilt 04/16/2025

SPA Girls Podcast - EP495 - Advertising Secrets with Nicholas Erik (Classic Replay) 04/08/2025

SPA Girls Podcast - EP494 - How To Strengthen Your Story Structure 04/01/2025

SPA Girls Podcast - EP493 - Edit Like A Pro, interview with Mary-Theresa Hussey 03/26/2025

SPA Girls Podcast - EP493 - Edit Like A Pro, interview with Mary-Theresa Hussey What ten editing tips should all authors know? We share in this classic replay of our interview with Editorial Consultant, Mary-Theresa Hussey. Prior to becoming a freelance editorial consultant, Mary-Theresa (known as Matrice) worked at Harlequin for more than 25 years, editing nearly a thousand titles. As editor, senior and executive editor, she read, acquired, revised, rejected and critiqued triple that. Many of the books she has edited went on to find places on both the NYT and USA Today bestseller lists. About Mary-Theresa Hussey How do you recognize an editor? Aside from a love of finding typos in menus, guessing plots while halfway through movies, and an insatiable curiosity about the how and why, an editor will often be adaptable, flexible, know the rules—and know when to ignore them because it makes a better story. Mary-Theresa Hussey--also known as Matrice--knew from the start she loved the stories found in books—and that she didn’t want to be a writer. Some courses in Villanova University where classmates critiqued each other's papers made her intrigued by the role of the person behind the author. A native New Yorker, she worked with Harlequin for over 25 years, editing nearly a thousand titles. As editor, senior and executive editor she read, acquired, revised, rejected and critiqued triple that. Now she’s bringing her experience to the freelance world. Aside from her love of genre fiction, she likes tv and movies, traveling, taking pictures and browsing on the internet. She’s always eager for the next good story—and hoping it’s well-told. Contact her at Links Mentioned: Resources mentioned: Tiktok – follow @iamthatenglishteacher for grammar and punctuation tips KM Weiland’s Structuring Your Novel () Enneagram : Myers Briggs: Purdue Writing resources: 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you'll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at ✍️ Visit for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode! /episode/index/show/spagirls/id/35864565

SPA Girls Podcast - EP492 - Writer Roundtable with the SPA Girls 03/18/2025

SPA Girls Podcast - EP491 - Maximize Your Backlist Book Sales with Laurelin Paige 03/11/2025

SPA Girls Podcast - EP491 - Maximize Your Backlist Book Sales with Laurelin Paige A Classic Replay of an episode we recorded with the fabulous NYT Bestseller, , a few years ago. Her advice is just as relevant today to invigorate sales on your backlist books. Laurelin defines a backlist as a book that's more than 12 months old. Top tips she discussed in this podcast CRAMMED with amazing advice: 1. Keep a calendar for the upcoming year and write in your new releases, then pad around it with backlist titles for “working” once a month 2. The easiest thing to recharge a book is designing a new cover – even if the old cover is good, people want to look at something new. Don’t be precious with your covers. 3. Change your mindset from traditional book marketers: lean into the strengths that indie gives us – and that’s likely changing covers annually When considering her backlist, Laurelin first looks at making cover changes (for entire series ideally – if you can’t afford to do them all at once, then save up rather than doing one at a time). She tries to pair a cover change with a bookbub / freebooksy / blog tour etc – treat the book like it’s a new thing 4. Experiment with lowering the price. A sale can attract new readers (once every six months). Always put your best book as your freebie. Timeframe – it’s never too early to have a sale. Laurelin likes to wait to get the full price audience to see the book first, then reaches a new audience with a sale. For books in KU, she also prefers using five free days rather than a countdown deal. 5. Free Prequels – experiment with these (cliffhangery endings leading into the first book of the series) Need to be wide (can be just Nook for price matching) if you’re in KU. Can do these before AND after release. Laurelin plans prequels ahead of time. 6. REPACKAGE – especially if getting rights back from trad pubbed books, re-edit, retitle (with a note for readers), recover, always tell readers where to go to the next book. 7. Front and back matter: Laurelin has her full backlist listed in the front matter with a newsletter signup (free book monthly given away thanks to newsletter swaps with similar authors); backmatter focuses on the next step you want readers to take – ie next book. 8. Work your newsletter – send 2 / 3 times per month. Mention your other books frequently. Don’t release then forget them – people need reminding. In every newsletter feature one of your backlist. 9. Marketing is cumulative. You have to keep pushing your backlist. 10. Consider moving in and out of KU if you have more than one book. Treat the move as a new release – do a blog tour etc. 11. Connect books in series, even if there’s no connection for better read through (eg “Summer Reading Series”. 12. Change Titles – is there a catchier way of reaching new readers? Ask what your title tells you about the book. 13. Make your book look new in a different way. Put it in a boxed set? If wide, look at what is ranking well in the Apple charts for your genre and examine cover trends; if KU, look at Amazon. 14. Bundle with other authors – eg “Hot for the holidays” multi-author bundle 15. Don’t shy away from reworking (editing / rewriting / repackaging) existing backlist if they’re not selling Don’t take these tips in isolation. It’s important to ask yourself the overarching question “What can I do to make people find this particular book?” Stop focussing on release week and measuring your success (or failure!) with that. Get out of that mindset! About Laurelin Paige With millions of books sold worldwide, Laurelin Paige is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Author. She is a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Killing Eve, or dreaming of Michael Fassbender. She's also a proud member of Mensa International though she doesn't do anything with the organization except use it as material for her bio. She’s represented by Rebecca Friedman for literary and Jon Brown at Ensemble Entertainment for film. Find Laurelin at: 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you'll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at ✍️ Visit for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode! /episode/index/show/spagirls/id/35645725

SPA Girls Podcast - EP490 - Success Tips For Selling Books on KOBO - with Tara Cremin 03/04/2025

SPA Girls Podcast - EP489 - Interview with NYT #1 Lucy Score (Classic Replay) 02/25/2025

SPA Girls Podcast - EP488 - Kickstarter for Authors with Oriana Leckert 02/18/2025

SPA Girls Podcast - EP488 - Kickstarter for Authors with Oriana Leckert If you’ve ever wondered about - where to start, if it’s right for you, and tips for running successful Kickstarter campaigns, this episode is for you! We’re delighted to have Oriana Leckert from Kickstarter here today to explain All Things Kickstarter for authors! What is it, and why should authors be using it? Oriana answers best practices for running a successful campaign, the challenges of Kickstarter and common mistakes authors make - and how to avoid them! About Oriana Leckert Oriana Leckert is deeply passionate about the written word, in all its wild and wonderful forms. She is currently the Director of Publishing & Comics Outreach at Kickstarter, and has long been a writer, editor, publishing and crowdfunding consultant, and cultural hipstorian [sic] in Brooklyn, NY. Having worked in and around the media for more than a decade, Oriana was Kickstarter’s Senior Journalism Outreach Lead, Creative Content Director for Per La Mente, Director of Matchmaking at Gotham Ghostwriters, Editor-at-Large for Hyperallergic, Copyeditor at MTV News, Associate Editor at Random House, and a store manager at New York’s famed Strand Bookstore. She has also served as a freelance editor for , as well as offering a to individuals. Find out more about Oriana at Explore Kickstarter at: 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you'll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at ✍️ Visit for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode! /episode/index/show/spagirls/id/35298570

SPA Girls Podcast - EP487 - Writer Strengths with Becca Syme 02/12/2025

SPA Girls Podcast - EP486 - Holly Roberds talks Fandoms 02/05/2025

SPA Girls Podcast - EP485 - Interview with Bella Andre (Classic Replay) 01/28/2025

SPA Girls Podcast - EP485 - Interview with Bella Andre (Classic Replay) Bella is a true Indie Superstar with more than 10 million books sold (so far!). We interviewed her when she visited New Zealand for the conference a few years ago and this is well worth a re-listen. Bella is an inspiration and talks about her path to self-publishing, how she made it as an Indie, and her advice for people aiming to follow in her footsteps… is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Sullivans®, The Maverick Billionaires and The Davenports series. Having sold more than 10 million books, Bella Andre's novels have been #1 bestsellers around the world and have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists 93 times. She has been the #1 Ranked Author at Amazon (on a top 10 list that included Nora Roberts, JK Rowling, James Patterson and Stephen King). Apple iBooks named her one of their “Bestselling Authors of All Time” (alongside Nicholas Sparks, Nora Roberts and EL James). And Publishers Weekly named Oak Press, the publishing company she created to publish her own books, the Fastest-Growing Independent Publisher in the US. After signing a groundbreaking 7-figure print-only deal with Harlequin MIRA, Bella's The Sullivans® series is being released in paperback in the US, Canada, and Australia. Known for “sensual, empowered stories enveloped in heady romance” (Publishers Weekly), her books have been Cosmopolitan Magazine “Red Hot Reads” twice and have been translated into ten languages. Winner of the Award of Excellence, The Washington Post called her “One of the top writers in America”; and she has been featured in Entertainment Weekly, NPR, USA Today, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and TIME Magazine. A graduate of Stanford University, she has given keynote speeches at publishing conferences from Copenhagen to Berlin to San Francisco, including a standing-room-only keynote at Book Expo America in New York City. Find Bella at 💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons! ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you'll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions. All the info is at ✍️ Visit for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info 😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode! /episode/index/show/spagirls/id/35056360