SPA Girls Podcast
Self-Improvement
About
Join the SPA Girls each week for the top self-publishing podcast!
Episodes
- From Zero to $100K per Month – A Prolific Author’s Business Strategy ft. Elana Johnson (EP#555 Classic Replay)
We loved our first chat with Elana so much that we kept the mics running! In this follow-up episode to #553, Elana dives into the business side of her prolific career — the release strategies she swears by, the advertising that actually mo…
- No Sugarcoating the Author Business ft. Bestselling Romance Author Elizabeth O’Roark (EP554)
The indie author realities no-one talks about (much). Bestselling romance author Elizabeth O’Roark joins us this week for one of the most refreshingly honest conversations we’ve had on the show — covering everything from her Random House d…
- Inside a Prolific Author’s Daily Routine ft. Elana Johnson (Classic Replay EP#553)
🔁 CLASSIC REPLAY — Originally recorded in 2020 and the advice is just as relevant today. How does a USA Today bestselling author write 84,000 words in 10 days? In this episode, Elana Johnson — author of over 130 books across three pen nam…
- Ethical Digital Narration: What It Means for Indie Authors ft. Phil Marshall of Spoken Press (EP#552)
Phil Marshall, founder of Spoken.Press, joins the SPA Girls Podcast to discuss ethical AI narration for indie authors. The episode covers the meaning of ethical AI narration, the differences between TTS and STS, and audiobook distribution…
- Success Through Switching Genres – with Romance Author, Daniela Romero (Classic Replay EP#551)
This episode features a replay of an interview with author Daniela Romero, who successfully transitioned from Urban Fantasy to Contemporary Romance. She shares insights on the decision-making process, marketing strategies, and branding cho…
- Book Formatting Made Easy – with Brad Andalman of Vellum (EP#550)
Brad Andalman, co-founder of Vellum, joins the SPA Girls Podcast to discuss the book formatting software. The episode covers Vellum's Pixar origins, its functionalities from manuscript import to export for Kindle and print, and advanced de…
- How to Run Your Author Business Without Losing Your Mind ft. Corinne O’Flynn (Classic Replay – EP#549)
In this episode, USA Today bestselling author and life coach Corinne O’Flynn shares insights on how authors can manage their businesses effectively to prevent burnout. The discussion covers identifying early signs of stress, implementing f…
- Supercharge Your Backlist – How To Make Old Books Sell Again (EP# 548)
This episode of the SPA Girls Podcast discusses strategies for re-energizing an author's backlist. It covers updating book elements like covers and blurbs, optimizing metadata, adding bonus content, and utilizing advertising and bundling t…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP547 – Success Writing Small Town Romance – with USA Today Bestseller, Kait Nolan (Classic Replay)
Romance writers gather ’round – Kait Nolan, bestselling author of smart, sassy, small town Southern romance is in the SPA! This is a classic replay of an awesome episode we recorded with Kait a couple of years ago, and well worth a reliste…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP546 – Interview with Lucy Score: Breaking Out, Advice For New Authors
She’s back! NYT #1 Bestseller, Lucy Score last joined us back in March 2021 , before Things We Never Got Over launched her into the stratosphere! In this episode, Lucy talks about what her breakout moment actually looked like from the insi…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP545 – Six Figures Writing Short Romance with Sadie King (Classic Replay)
Classic replay of an inspiring episode we recorded in August ’23 with SADIE KING, a hugely successful author of more than 120 short romances. *** USA Today Bestseller, Sadie King has grown her publishing business from zero to six figures i…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP544 – 5 Tips To Harness Trends
From incorporating popular tropes to social media trends, the SPA Girls have a robust discussion around what they’re doing to harness trends to reach more readers and sell more books! Links mentioned: Melanie Harlow’s Harlot Authors group…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP543 – Use Brain Science to Hook Readers From the Very First Sentence with Lisa Cron (Classic Replay)
Want to hook your readers from the very first sentence? This episode is for you! This is a fantastic Classic Replay of an interview we recorded with Lisa Cron a few years back. Lisa Cron is a story coach and the author of: Wired for Story:…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP542 – Using AI Assistance for Authors – with Alessandra Torre
AI is a hot discussion point in the author community these days, and we’re joined again by bestselling author and educator, Alessandra Torre , to help us unpack this topic. At the outset, we acknowledge that this is a difficult topic to co…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP541 – Interview with Kaye Kennedy: Launch To Success
Well worth a re-listen, this episode was originally recorded a few years ago when romance and romantic suspense author, Kaye Kennedy, scaled her author business from zero to a million page reads in just six months. Kaye utilized her busine…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP540 – The Inflexion Point with Nicholas Erik (Part Two)
Part Two of Two Listen to Part One here “Currently …. we’re at a unique industry-wide inflection point. Whether you’re a new or established author doesn’t matter. You have the opportunity to grow your career much faster than under normal c…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP539 – The Inflexion Point for Authors with Nicholas Erik (Part One)
Part One of Two “Currently …. we’re at a unique industry-wide inflection point. Whether you’re a new or established author doesn’t matter. You have the opportunity to grow your career much faster than under normal circumstances.” ~ Nichola…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP538 – Easy Networking For Authors – with Celeste Barclay (Classic Replay)
“ The hardest part is the first step – be brave enough to reach out! “ A lot of us are introverts and the idea of “networking” gives us chills (and not in a good way). Historical Romance author, Celeste Barclay, recorded this show with us…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP536 – How To Write A Cozy Mystery with Nancy J. Cohen (Classic Replay)
Have you always wanted to write a cozy mystery but don’t know where to start? This classic replay we recorded a few years back with Nancy J. Cohen will get you going! Cozy Mysteries are hugely popular with readers and authors alike, and Na…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP535 – Get Your Author Business Organized – with Lorna K. Bailey
Getting Organized: Business Systems For Authors with Lorna K. Bailey Self-published a book? Congratulations you’re now running an author business (whether you want to or not). Whether you have 5 books or 50, being an author is a LOT of pla…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP534 – How To Develop A Success Mindset with Amira Alvarez (Classic Replay)
Amira Alvarez is the founder and CEO of The Unstoppable Woman, a global coaching company helping entrepreneurs, empire builders, athletes, creatives, and rising stars in all fields achieve their dreams and goals in record time. This classi…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP533 – New Year Writing Resolutions
Happy New Year from The SPA Girls! 🎉 Whether you wrote one chapter or one hundred in 2025, we’re so proud of you. Here’s to fresh pages, new stories, and another year of chasing your author dreams together. Let’s make 2026 your best publi…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP532 – Our Publishing Naughty & Nice List
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the SPA Girls! It’s time to check off our 2025 Publishing Naughty or Nice list for what worked, and what really didn’t!
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP531 – Interview with Lee Savino: Millionaire Author Mindset (Classic Replay)
Lee Savino is a whirlwind of positive energy, and this classic replay of an episode we recorded with her a few years ago will inspire and motivate you – we guarantee it! Lee Savino is a seven-figure romance author with multiple USA Today a…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP530 – Interview with Lucy Monroe: Lessons from Trad To Indie
From Traditional To Indie – USA Today Bestseller Lucy Monroe shares her publishing journey, mindset and marketing wisdom, and business strategy advice – especially useful for rolling with the publishing-world ups and downs! About Lucy With…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP529 – Interview with Nalini Singh: Worldbuilding for Authors (Classic Replay)
Every book you write is part of a world and you need to know as much as possible about the world before you start writing—but be prepared to pivot! So how do you build a fictional world (whether contemporary, paranormal, fantasy, or histor…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP528 – Effortless Dictation with Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer
We’re delighted to welcome Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer, historical fiction author and writing instructor. We’re diving into how dictation can totally transform the way you write: think faster drafts, more creative flow, and less stress on your…
- SPA Girls Podcast- EP527 – Writing MM Romance with Lucy Lennox (Classic Replay)
This is a fabulous classic replay of our interview with USA Today Bestseller, Lucy Lennox . Lucy saw extraordinary success straight out the gate, from when she first published her MM romance, Borrowing Blue, in November 2016. In fact, by h…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP526 – Interview with Amazon #1 Bestselling Romantasy Author, Stacia Stark
In just a few years, Stacia Stark gone from unknown new pen name to Amazon #1 Bestselling Author of Romantasy. She has also signed a major trad deal with Avon with her trad debut coming out in December 2025. Stacia is an inspiring guest wh…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP525 – Interview with Honey Phillips – Success Writing Sci-Fi Romance (Classic Replay)
This is a classic replay of a very popular episode with USA Today Bestseller, Honey Phillips. Honey joined us in the SPA to talk about Science Fiction Romance – what it is, what are readers looking for, how she got started writing in it, a…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP524 – Interview with Becca Syme
Planning, Priorities & Publishing We’re thrilled to welcome back Becca Syme to the SPA to talk about Planning, reducing your Decision Fatigue, the difference between anxiety and intuition, and how to decide what publishing strategies work…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP523 – Writing Short Romance with Mia Brody (Classic Replay)
Writing compelling short romance targeting the timed short reads categories (2 hours or less) is a real skill and this is a classic replay of one of the Queens of instalove / short romance: Mia Brody . No matter what length book you’re wri…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP522 – Interview with Chloe Archer: Managing Writing + Your Day Job
Wondering how to juggle a demanding full-time job with having an author career too? We’re joined today by the fabulous Chloe Archer, who is doing exactly that! Chloe Archer writes popular queer sci-fi and paranormal rom-coms. And alongside…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP521 – Marketing Tips with Vanessa Vale
Within five years, USA Today Bestselling romance author, Vanessa Vale, forged two pen names from scratch to seven figures , using the strategies and techniques she discusses in this episode and in her Thrifty Tips for Authors class. The be…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP520 – 10 Years Of Podcasting! What We’ve Learned …
On 2.10.2015 we published our very first SPA Girls Podcast episode and OH THE NERVES! But we persisted and here we are, ten years later, ten years wiser, 520 episodes later and a million magic moments of inspiration, advice, publishing wis…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP519 – Marketing for Authors with Olivia Zugay
Author Business and Marketing Strategist, Olivia Zugay, is here with some wonderful tips on gaining discoverability, improving reader retention and focussing on long-game thinking without overly relying on chaotic social media! About Olivi…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP518 – Interview with Sarra Cannon (Classic Replay)
Feel like a hamster on a wheel trying to get ALL THE THINGS accomplished but never quite managing to do the important stuff? This is your episode! A classic replay from 2023 that’s well worth a relisten! Self-publishing since 2010, Amazon…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP517 – Interview with Mark Leslie: The Realities Of Being An Author Today
Mark Leslie (Lefebvre) is an author, professional speaker and bookseller with more than thirty years of experience in the publishing and bookselling business. In this episode, he brings a wealth of experience and reassurance to those of us…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP516 – Interview with NYT Bestseller, Michele Scott (Classic Replay)
A classic replay of our interview with the awesome Michele Scott, originally published in August 2022. It was our great pleasure to interview Michele Scott, a NYT, Wall Street Journal and Amazon bestselling author of over forty novels and…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP515 – What’s New In Publishing?
It’s conference debrief time! We’re here with all our best writer tips and reflections from the recent Romance Writers of New Zealand annual conference! Links mentioned: Sadie King talks series planning : https://selfpublishingauthorspodca…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP514 – Interview with Annika Martin, Success Writing RomCom (Classic Replay)
Writing bestselling romance with incredible character chemistry is something that NYT Bestseller Annika Martin excels in. Annika, who also publishes romantic suspense as Carolyn Crane, has seen incredible success writing two books a year (…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP513 – Interview with Anya Mora, Writing Through Challenging Times
When the going gets tough, it can be really hard to get (or keep) going. Today’s episode has empathetic and practical advice from the incredible Anya Mora about working through life challenges, recovering from burnout, trusting your instin…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP512 – Manifesting Success with Renee Rose (Classic Replay)
You’re worth it and your work is worth it. 15-time USA Today bestselling romance author Renee Rose is passionate about helping other authors find and maintain an abundance mindset to catapult their careers and create their best future. She…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP511 – Attending Reader Events
Wendy, Cheryl and Trudi are off to RARE Melbourne in October 2025 and busy organising ALL the things! So this episode we share all our BEST TIPS (merchandise sourcing, what works, what doesn’t), table set up, what to wear, how to approach…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP510 – Writing Paranormal Romance with Lillian Lark (Classic Replay)
Wondering how to write a great paranormal romance? What’s the difference between paranormal and monster romance and what are readers looking for? And how to connect with readers on tiktok and other social media? This is a replay of a fun e…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP509 – The Artisan Author, interview with Johnny B. Truant
Tired of chasing the “Amazon Algorithm”? We’re delighted to welcome Johnny B. Truant to the SPA. Johnny is here to discuss the alternatives to “rapid release / fast publishing” mindset to one of an artisanal author and publisher. We always…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP508 – Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance – with Keri Arthur (Classic Replay)
Keri Arthur is a NYT Bestselling author of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Initially traditionally published, she is now fully self-published, and in this episode she talks to us about that transition and shares tips and processes fr…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP507 – Erin Wright Publishing Wide – Latest Tips
USA Today Bestseller, Erin Wright, is the Queen of Publishing Wide and shares with us fantastic advice on: direct sales, AI audio and human narration, AI translations, woo commerce v shopify, kickstarter and platform specific tips. About E…
- SPA Girls Podcast – EP506 – MM Romance Success with Jay Hogan (Classic Replay)
BEST SELLING ROMANCE AUTHOR JAY HOGAN is a New Zealand author writing mm romance and romantic suspense, primarily set in New Zealand. This is a fantastic episode, well worth a replay, with Jay’s unique insights into writing MM romance, mar…