If you have a good idea for a business that provides value (by making something people want, need, like or enjoy), it’s easy to get sidetracked by details that don’t matter, and waste months playing around with websites and logos (by which time, you’ve probably had a totally new and better idea!) You need to test your ideas faster by …

For several years I’ve used Instafreebie and BookFunnel to give out ARCs (advanced reader copies) to my email list. Recently however, there have been some KU controversies concerning free book giveaways for authors enrolled in the Kindle Unlimited program. I want to be careful not to break terms or get in trouble with Amazon, so I did some digging. I’d previously received a …

Six years ago I wrote a personal post about the challenges of being a full-time digital nomad, “Starting over with nothing at 32.” Over the years it’s gotten more traction than I expected so I thought it was time for a reprieve. I recently turned 38 (during the winter solstice) and I still have just about nothing to show for …

I’ve been trying to make passive income online for the past few years. Until recently, I’ve worked with clients, so I had to “earn” my money by selling time. But I’ve built some digital assets (design templates + online courses), and I have lots of content and a fair amount of traffic, which means, for the first time, I can …

Several years ago I published a book on “how to write, format, publish and promote your book without spending any money.” Download the book: PDF VERSION | KINDLE At a book conference recently, one of the most popular talks was on the same subject. I’ve put together tons of resources to help authors publish on the cheap, but it’s worth pointing …

Work in progress! Someone asked for a ‘quick and easy guide’ to Facebook advertising for authors, so I wrote this:   1. Use your hook/story for text. Test out 10 different hooks. Test out some with reviews. Make sure you mention the genre clearly, but incite emotion. 2. Don’t use your cover, use a pretty image that attracts readers of …

I have a suspicion that most of those “how to wake up early” posts are written by morning people – those annoying chipper people who smile too much. They mean well, but can’t understand the complexities of sleep deprivation facing sufferers of sleep disorders. Personally, I don’t believe in waking up early. I don’t think waking up early makes you …

I talk a LOT about best practices for author websites and your Amazon page, but people keep ignoring me. I know this because I review author platforms and websites almost daily, to help authors find places they can improve conversion. Conversion is IMPORTANT. Amazon and Google are keeping track of how long people stay on your page, and whether or …

  My Guerrilla Publishing course has lots of information and can seem overwhelming, so I just wrote a summary of all the important bits. This includes some of my launch strategies and a basic glossary of useful publishing terms. If it’s useful, please share!   The most important step to publishing successfully is:   1. Write a good book in …

I’m watching a new show called “Kevin Probably Saves the World” – and normally, even though I write fiction about fallen angels, I wouldn’t be that interested in the “plucky but failed protagonist gets help from angels to do small acts of kindness” trope. But it’s actually really good and I’m enjoying it. It makes me nostalgic for when I …