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The Self Publishing Show

James Blatch

Join James Blatch has he navigates the fast changing world of indie publishing. With the biggest guests in the industry and tips on how to stay ahead of the crowd.

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#464
Yesterday · 39 min
SPS-464: Romance Tropes That Work For Everyone
This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca are together in Pennsylvania after celebrating the wedding of their friends Lucy Score and Tim. James even had the honour of officiating the ceremony. There's also exciting news for Lucy Score fans: Things We Never Got Over is heading to the screen, with filming for the Amazon Prime series, titled Runaway, about to begin in Vancouver. Inspired by Lucy and Tim's own friends-to-lovers story, James and Cissy dive into romance tropes and why they work. Cissy runs through some of the most popular tropes with readers right now, from enemies to lovers and forced proximity to fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, second chance and fated mates. They look at how tropes create conflict and reader expectations, how authors can combine several tropes in one book, and why the same relationship dynamics can be useful well beyond romance. Key Talking Points Why building an audience and strong author business matters before a breakout moment arrives Why tropes have become such a powerful part of romance marketing How BookTok has helped make readers increasingly trope-aware Enemies to lovers and why it remains such a popular trope Forced proximity and the "one bed" microtrope Combining multiple tropes to build conflict and tension Fake dating and arranged relationship scenarios Grumpy/sunshine and opposites attract Friends to lovers and second-chance romance Protective and morally grey heroes Fated mates Using romance-style relationship dynamics in thrillers, crime, fantasy and science fiction Why successful tropes still need believable characters, conflict and emotional development A preview of next week's discussion on book promotions and BookBub Featured Deal performance Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com Discount code: IWC15 SPS Live 2027 TICKETS are now available here is the link for more information: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/spslive
#463
September 3 · 44 min
SPS-463: Big News From KDP
This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca have a packed episode of indie publishing news, starting with a significant change to Amazon's preorder rules. Authors can now set up preorders up to 18 months in advance and postpone them twice without penalty – enough to tempt even preorder-phobic James into considering one for his next book. They also discuss a legal case involving Amazon Ads, Cissy's plans to test a Goodreads giveaway for her upcoming release, and the opportunities for indie authors in the Italian market following James's conversation with the team behind Indieverse in Milan. Later, Cissy shares an experiment using ChatGPT and Claude to create an interactive, visual experience around the world of her historical romance series. This leads into a wider conversation about AI, reader-facing marketing and the pressure some romance authors feel around using AI in their businesses. Key Talking Points Amazon's new 18-month preorder window Authors can now postpone a preorder twice without penalty James considers setting up a preorder for his next book The North Carolina Attorney General's case involving Amazon Ads Cissy's Goodreads giveaway experiment for her September launch Goodreads Giveaway Month and whether giveaways are worth testing Tracking launch data with Claude The Indieverse conference in Milan and the Italian indie publishing market Opportunities for English-language indie authors publishing in Italian An upcoming SPS conversation about the Italian market Cissy's AI-created interactive world-building experience for readers Using ChatGPT to create historical inspiration images Using Claude to build interactive marketing experiences AI as a tool for launch preparation, data and book marketing The debate around reader-facing AI use in romance Authors deciding their own boundaries and approach to AI Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com Indie Writers Club / SPS Support: https://learnselfpublishing.com/support Down Under Mystery Club: https://ajblythe.com/podcast Cissy's: Walk the Border Password: vivian
#462
August 28 · 54 min
SPS-462: The Meta Ads Panic!
Big news this week, the first two speakers for SPS Live London 2027 have been announced! Melanie Harlow and Theodora Taylor will be joining us in London. James and Cissy share the news and talk about when tickets will be going on sale, with Patreon supporters getting first access. James is also back from his travels in New Zealand and Australia, and there's plenty to catch up on. They talk about the latest changes to Meta advertising and what losing some of the usual targeting and placement options could mean for authors running Facebook ads. They also return to the conversation around RARE London and its AI policy, look at the growing importance of newsletters for book discovery, and Cissy shares what she discovered after digging into the preorder numbers from her own books. Key Talking Points SPS Live London 2027 – Melanie Harlow and Theodora Taylor announced as the first speakers When SPS Live 2027 tickets will be available James's New Zealand writing retreat and trip to Australia RARE London and its AI policy Changes coming to Meta/Facebook advertising Losing some targeting and placement controls What the Meta changes could mean for author advertising The importance of strong ad creative, blurbs and book pages Newsletters and how readers are finding books What Cissy learned from looking back at her preorder numbers Whether longer preorders actually result in more sales Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com SPS Patreon / Support: https://learnselfpublishing.com/support SPS Live London 2027 ticket information will be live in September: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com
#461
August 20 · 38 min
SPS-461: The Book Launch Process
This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch checks in from his final day in New Zealand while Cissy Mecca takes us behind the scenes of her upcoming historical romance launch. They discuss realistic launch goals, building an ARC and influencer team, setting a marketing budget, and choosing advertising strategies that have actually worked for you rather than simply throwing money at launch day. James also shares insights from Written Word Media on how authors at different stages of their careers are approaching AI, plus plans to test different Facebook ad setups and share the results with the SPS community. Key Talking Points Cissy's strategy for launching her upcoming historical romance Setting realistic goals and expectations for a book launch Building ARC, street team and influencer support Finding and approaching relevant book influencers Deciding when to send physical books to creators Creating a launch budget that feels sustainable Facebook versus Amazon advertising Why proven strategies matter more than simply spending more James's upcoming Facebook ads testing and challenge/webinar Written Word Media's findings on author attitudes towards AI James's plans for another writers' retreat in Florida in 2027 Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com SPS Patreon / Support: https://learnselfpublishing.com/support
#460
August 13 · 45 min
SPS-460: Crossing the AI Boundary
This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch checks in from New Zealand with Cissy Mecca to tackle the increasingly complicated relationship between authors and AI. They discuss AI watermarking and detection, the problems authors could face when AI is used for editing or research, and the strict anti-AI rules appearing at romance reader events. James also reports back from his New Zealand writing retreat, while Cissy shares how she is using AI to build and manage her new reader ambassador hub. Key Talking Points AI watermarking and what it could mean for authors The problems with AI detection and false positives Using AI for proofreading, research and author business tasks RARE's strict rules surrounding AI use The growing risk of authors being wrongly accused of using AI Research into whether readers can distinguish AI from human-written fiction James's New Zealand writing retreat and Facebook ads session Using book reviews and AI to identify marketing hooks Cissy's new Border Ambassadors reader hub Using AI to manage ARC readers, assets and launch teams Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com Indie Writers Club / Patreon: https://learnselfpublishing.com/support
#459
August 6 · 47 min
SPS-459: Your Book As An AI Movie (Part 2)
This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca conclude their two-part conversation with Michael Evans, founder of Creatorwood. They delve deeper into how AI is transforming books into cinematic experiences, discussing the practical realities of creating feature-length films, the current limitations of AI video, and how authors can use visual storytelling to reach new audiences. Michael also shares his vision for the future of AI-powered entertainment and how authors can position their intellectual property for the next wave of publishing innovation. At the start of the episode, James also announces that SPS Live 2027 tickets will be launching soon and reminds listeners about the exclusive Creatorwood giveaway, with 1,000 free viewings of the AI feature film adaptation of David Viergutz's Scare Mail. Key Talking Points Part 2 of the interview with Michael Evans, founder of Creatorwood Turning books into feature-length AI-generated films The opportunities and limitations of AI filmmaking today Choosing which stories are best suited to visual adaptation Building new revenue streams from your intellectual property The future of AI-powered entertainment for authors Why story remains more important than technology Creatorwood's vision for connecting authors directly with audiences Announcement of SPS Live 2027 dates and ticket launch Creatorwood giveaway: 1,000 free viewings of Scare Mail Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid – https://prowritingaid.com Creatorwood: https://www.creatorwood.tv/homepage Free Scare Mail viewing giveaway: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/creatorwood
#458
July 30 · 41 min
SPS-458: Your Book As An AI Movie (Part 1)
This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca are joined by Michael Evans, founder of Creatorwood, for Part 1 of a two-part discussion about using AI to turn books into trailers, short films and feature-length adaptations. They also discuss developmental editing, author voice and improving your craft. Part 2 arrives next Friday, when the giveaway link will be shared. Creatorwood is offering 1,000 free viewings of its adaptation of David Viergutz's Scare Mail, with Patreon subscribers receiving early access. Key Talking Points: How Creatorwood turns books into films AI video opportunities for authors Book trailers and short-form marketing Developmental editing and author voice Part 2 and the Scare Mail giveaway Links & Resources Mentioned: ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com Creatorwood: https://www.creatorwood.tv/homepage
#457
July 23 · 45 min
SPS-457: Craft is King (Again)
This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca argue that as AI makes it easier than ever to produce competent books, craft is becoming an author's greatest competitive advantage. They explore why developing a distinctive voice, creating emotionally resonant stories, and continually refining your writing matter more than ever. Alongside the discussion on craft, they also cover the latest AI developments, compare tools like Claude, ChatGPT and Fable, and share practical advice on using technology without losing the human qualities that make readers fall in love with books. Key Talking Points Why craft is making a comeback in the age of AI How a distinctive author voice sets your books apart from AI-generated content What "voice" really means—and practical ways to develop your own Why emotionally resonant writing creates the word-of-mouth every author wants The difference between writing quickly, writing slowly, and writing well How editors and writing coaches should strengthen your unique style, not standardise it Understanding that improving craft looks different for every writer The influence of TikTok and shareable reading moments on modern storytelling The latest updates from Fable, Claude and other AI tools Choosing the right AI subscription and building an effective workflow Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com Claude AI: https://claude.ai ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com Google Gemini: https://gemini.google.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com Anthropic: https://www.anthropic.com
#456
July 16 · 43 min
SPS-456: The Robot Read My Backlist
This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca dive into the next wave of AI tools for authors, focusing on Fable and the rise of agentic AI. They explore how these new tools can ingest an author's entire backlist, create series bibles, analyse metadata, support developmental editing, and become long-term business assistants rather than simple chatbots. Along the way, they share updates on their own writing projects, discuss practical AI workflows, and look at how tools like ChatGPT's new Sites feature are rapidly changing what authors can build without coding. Key Talking Points What is Fable and how does it differ from traditional AI chatbots? Agentic AI and why it's a game-changer for author businesses Building a series bible from an entire backlist Using AI for developmental editing and metadata optimisation Why authors should ingest their content while pricing remains low James shares how AI is helping him plot Book 5 without writing it for him Practical examples of AI organising story structure and chapter planning The real costs of AI-powered publishing workflows Creating AI "decision filters" to avoid shiny object syndrome and stay focused Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com Claude Fable 5: claude.ai - just open claude.ai (or the desktop/mobile app) and pick it from the model dropdown. Patreon: learnselfpublishing.com/support — where listeners can sign up for the Indie Writers Club Patreon (tiers: Quirky Friend $5/mo, Reliable Narrator $10/mo, Main Character $15/mo). https://youtu.be/Dd7FixvoKBw?si=dGSQ65NIC9Y7EkEK https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/fable-download
#455
July 9 · 57 min
SPS-455: Lessons From Rock 'n' Roll
Episode Summary This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca welcome author and former music industry executive Jack Williamson to discuss what authors can learn from the entertainment industry. Jack shares how a career spanning 17 years in music, followed by psychotherapy, inspired his transition into writing fiction, and why storytelling, branding, and understanding genre expectations are essential for building an author career. The conversation explores lessons from the music business, creating immersive reader experiences, writing authentic romance, and how authors can think more like entertainers when launching books. Key Talking Points Jack Williamson's journey from the music industry to indie publishing What authors can learn from the music business about building an audience Why storytelling is at the heart of every successful creative career Writing authentic romance inspired by real-life experiences The importance of understanding genre expectations and reader promise Building a book launch that extends beyond the novel itself Using original music and multimedia to enhance the reader experience Branding lessons authors can borrow from musicians and performers The value of treating your author career as a long-term creative business SPS banter covering football, conferences, and the indie author community Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com
#454
July 2 · 49 min
SPS-454: Launching a New Series
This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca dive into the latest AI developments, including changes to Claude's subscription tiers and what they mean for authors using AI in their daily workflows. They also discuss TikTok marketing, the risks of AI-generated recommendations being manipulated, and why authors need to think critically about discoverability in an AI-driven world. Cissy shares an update on her upcoming fantasy romance launch, including cover design, budgeting, and building a comprehensive launch strategy, while James reflects on book formatting mishaps, marketing lessons, and England's World Cup campaign. Key Talking Points Claude's new subscription limits and what they mean for authors Comparing Claude, Gemini, and other AI tools for writing and business tasks How AI-generated recommendations can potentially be manipulated Why authors should stay informed as AI changes search and discoverability TikTok marketing tips and understanding how the algorithm works Cissy's upcoming Black Sails of the Border fantasy romance series Cover design investment and the cost of illustrated covers Building a launch strategy using AI alongside proven marketing methods Launch planning, advertising, newsletter swaps, and budgeting James shares a formatting mishap that surprisingly didn't affect book sales Why readers often notice story over formatting imperfections Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com Cissy Mecca: https://meccaromance.com
#453
June 25 · 50 min
SPS-453: Three Questions Every Author Should Ask
This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca reflect on The Self Publishing Show Live 2026 and discuss what happens after the excitement of a conference ends. They explore the importance of reviewing progress at the halfway point of the year, assessing business goals, and deciding what to focus on for the remainder of 2026. The conversation covers productivity, TikTok marketing, author accountability, using data to make better decisions, and feedback from SPS Live attendees. James also shares plans being considered for future SPS Live events, including more hands-on workshops and potentially expanding the conference format. Key Talking Points Why a mid-year business review is essential for authors Assessing goals, progress, and priorities for the second half of the year Using data and metrics to make smarter publishing decisions TikTok marketing and deciding where to focus your time The challenge of balancing creativity with business planning SPS Live attendee feedback and highlights from the event The possibility of adding a third day to SPS Live Ideas for future hands-on workshop and implementation sessions The value of accountability and sharing plans with other authors Avoiding overwhelm by focusing on a small number of key objectives Homework: James & Cissy's Mid-Year Author Check-In Questions: What number are you proudest of from the first half of 2026? What did you stop doing, and was it the right decision? What is your Q3 pivot — what are you going to do differently? Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com SPS Live Digital Ticket & Replay Access: https://learnselfpublishing.com/digital Cissy Mecca Romance: https://meccaromance.com Two Authors' Podcast: https://youtu.be/QhYcucRQeBw?si=yPfqRHW_P4INK1RI
#452
June 18 · 39 min
SPS-452: Lessons from London
This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca reflect on SPS Live 2026 and the Cambridge Retreat, sharing their biggest takeaways from the event and the sessions that made the biggest impact. From direct sales and BookVault strategies to AI workflows, reader engagement, advertising, TikTok marketing, and writing for commercial success, the pair discuss the practical lessons authors can apply immediately to their own publishing businesses. The episode serves as a post-conference debrief, highlighting the trends, tools, and mindset shifts that are shaping the future of indie publishing. Key Talking Points Key lessons and standout moments from SPS Live 2026 & The Cambridge Retreat Direct sales opportunities and simplifying fulfilment with BookVault Using AI to streamline author businesses and administrative workflows Building AI projects and systems rather than relying on individual chat prompts Advertising strategies and improving marketing effectiveness Why consistency beats chasing viral success on TikTok Reader engagement, newsletter performance, and audience growth Writing for commercial success and understanding reading-age expectations The importance of clear, accessible writing ("Saxon over Latin") Practical actions authors can take immediately after attending a conference How successful authors focus on implementing ideas rather than collecting them Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com SPS Live 2026 Digital: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/spslive-digital BookVault: https://bookvault.app Tammi Labrecque: https://newsletterninja.net Gunning Fog Index — estimates how hard a piece of writing is to read. The formula is: Fog Index=0.4×(wordssentences+100×complex wordswords)\text{Fog Index} = 0.4 \times \left( \frac{\text{words}}{\text{sentences}} + 100 \times \frac{\text{complex words}}{\text{words}} \right)Fog Index=0.4×(sentenceswords+100×wordscomplex words)Where: Words per sentence = total words ÷ total sentences Complex words = words with three or more syllables, usually excluding proper nouns, familiar compound words, and common suffix forms. So in plain English: Fog Index=0.4×(average sentence length+percentage of complex words)\text{Fog Index} = 0.4 \times (\text{average sentence length} + \text{percentage of complex words})Fog Index=0.4×(average sentence length+percentage of complex words)Example: If a passage has: 120 words 6 sentences 12 complex words Then: Average sentence length = 120 ÷ 6 = 20 Percentage of complex words = 12 ÷ 120 × 100 = 10 0.4×(20+10)=120.4 \times (20 + 10) = 120.4×(20+10)=12 So the Fog Index is 12, meaning the writing is roughly suited to someone with a 12th-grade / late secondary-school reading level.
#451
June 12 · 26 min
SPS-451: Live at The Self Publishing Show
This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Sissy Mecca record live from SPS Live in London, surrounded by more than 500 authors from around the world. They share the atmosphere from the conference floor, discuss some of the standout sessions, and chat with special guests including volunteer coordinator Adrian Wills, Draft2Digital's Dan Wood, and Doug Pratt and Nick Harvey from the Two Indie Authors podcast. Topics include fandom building, direct sales, the future impact of AI on publishing, conference networking, and the power of community within the indie author world. Key Talking Points Behind-the-scenes insights into running SPS Live The vital role volunteers play in creating a successful conference experience Building author fandom and reader loyalty beyond the ebook Lessons from Damon Courtney's "Taylor Swift Method" presentation Why direct sales and special editions continue to grow in importance The value of author conferences for networking and learning How the indie publishing landscape is changing through AI Why authors need to understand AI, even if they choose not to use it The increasing importance of reader relationships and community building Dan Wood's perspective on industry trends and adapting to change A conversation with Nick Harvey and Doug Pratt about podcasting and the indie author community The unique atmosphere and energy of SPS Live compared to other industry events Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com Draft2Digital: https://www.draft2digital.com BookFunnel: https://bookfunnel.com The Two Indie Authors Podcast Vellum: https://vellum.pub SPS Live: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/spslive
#450
June 4 · 57 min
SPS-450: How to Work a Conference (Not Just Attend One) with James Blatch & Cissy Mecca
This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca share practical advice on how to work a conference rather than simply attend one, ahead of SPS Live in London. They discuss how authors can prepare in advance, choose the right sessions, network confidently, ask useful questions, and turn conference inspiration into real action afterwards. The episode also covers author scams, AI discoverability, changing AI tools, and how writers can use conferences to build meaningful connections and long-term career momentum. Key Talking Points How to prepare before arriving at a conference Why authors should treat conferences as an investment Choosing sessions based on your current goals Making the most of panels, Q&As and speaker access Networking naturally without feeling awkward Why generosity and genuine curiosity help build stronger connections How to take useful notes and turn ideas into action Avoiding post-conference overwhelm Staying alert to scams targeting authors AI discoverability and why metadata, niche positioning and FAQs matter Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com SPS Live 2026 schedule: https://learnselfpublishing.com/schedule SPS Live digital ticket: https://learnselfpublishing.com/spslive-digital Meta's subscriptions: https://www.meta.com/en-gb/help/subscriptions/960854640235758
#449
May 28 · 1 hr 2 min
SPS-449: The New Rules of Book Discovery with James Blatch & Cissy Mecca
This week on The Self-Publishing Show, James Blatch and Cissy Mecca discuss the major changes coming to Audible and ACX, including the new royalty model and updated enrolment requirements for audiobook authors. They explore what these changes could mean for indie publishers, the growing opportunities in wide audio distribution, and why authors may want to think beyond Audible. Alongside the industry discussion, there's plenty of SPS banter covering podcast microphones, pop filters, romance conferences, and the ever-changing publishing landscape. Key Talking Points Audible's new royalty model and ACX enrolment changes What indie authors need to know about audiobook distribution updates Exclusive versus wide audio strategies Direct audiobook sales using platforms like BookFunnel Spotify's increasing presence in the audiobook market Concerns around royalty transparency and reporting Why authors need to remain flexible as publishing evolves SPS banter about podcasting, microphones, and author life Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid: https://prowritingaid.com Use code IWC15 for 15% off annual subscriptions. ACX: https://www.acx.com BookFunnel: https://bookfunnel.com Self-Publishing Show Live: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/spslive The New Rules of Book Discovery PDF
#448
May 21 · 39 min
SPS-448: A Glimmer of Hope in the Age of AI with James Blatch & Cissy Mecca
Episode Summary James and Cissy tackle a "bits and bobs" episode covering the changing indie publishing landscape, with a focus on Amazon's evolving AI-driven algorithms and what authors need to do to stay discoverable. They discuss why clear genre signalling, strong metadata, covers, blurbs, titles, and reader expectation alignment are becoming more important than ever. The conversation also touches on pricing psychology, the value readers place on author access and premium offers and the importance of stepping away from mental work with physical hobbies. Key Talking Points Why Amazon's AI and algorithm changes may reward authors who clearly understand and serve their ideal readers. The importance of aligning covers, blurbs, titles, keywords, characters, and genre promise to create a strong reader experience. Why authors should audit their books and metadata rather than panic about the flood of new AI-generated content. Pricing psychology and why readers or clients may value products more when the price reflects that value. The benefit of switching off from mentally demanding creative work by doing something physical and absorbing outside writing. Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid (Sponsor – code IWC15 for 15% off annual subscriptions): https://prowritingaid.com Becca Syme: https://betterfasteracademy.com https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/barnes-and-noble-james-daunt-ai-books-b2978925.html https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRtQCMNE/ https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRtQD3nA/ Self-Publishing Show Live: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/spslive SPS Live 2026 Party: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/party-on-the-boat
#447
May 14 · 49 min
SPS-447: You Are Your Brand with Isabelle Knight, James Blatch & Cissy Mecca
James and Cissy are joined by PR expert Isabelle Knight to discuss why authors are not just selling books, they are also building a brand readers can connect with. Isabelle explains how indie authors can identify their own author story, understand what sets them apart, and use that foundation across websites, newsletters, social media, events, and publicity opportunities. The episode also touches on Amazon's AI categorisation issues, Meta ad frustrations, upcoming romance conferences, and why professional author presentation matters more than ever. Key Talking Points Why author branding starts with understanding your own story and what readers associate with you. How to identify what makes your books distinct from others in the same genre. Why readers connect with the emotional truth behind your books, not just the plot or trope. How indie authors can use their author story across bios, websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, festivals, and events. Why marketing should align with both your ideal readers and what you genuinely enjoy doing as an author. Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid (Sponsor – code IWC15 for 15% off annual subscriptions): https://prowritingaid.com Build Your Author Brand / Isabelle Knight: https://buildyourauthorbrand.com Romance Writers of Australia Conference: https://romanceaustralia.com/pages/events Romance Writers of New Zealand: https://www.romancewriters.co.nz/event/2026-rwnz-conference-registration/ Self-Publishing Show Live: https://selfpublishingshowlive.com
#446
May 7 · 41 min
SPS-446: The Boxset Experiment with James Blatch & Cissy Mecca
James and Cissy dive into the growing world of direct sales, Etsy stores, and special edition books, exploring how indie authors are expanding beyond Amazon and turning their books into premium gift products. They also discuss the importance of professional branding photography, why readers increasingly connect with authors personally, and the latest Meta AI lawsuit involving pirated books used for training AI models. The episode features a detailed behind-the-scenes look at James's new Cold War-themed Etsy shop experiment, complete with slipcase box sets, MI6-style packaging, collectible golf balls, and premium gifting ideas inspired by the "gifting economy." Meanwhile, Cissy shares her experience with duplex paperback covers, sprayed edges, Etsy merchandise, and building collectible reader products around her romance worlds. Key Talking points: Why professional author photography matters more than ever Building an author brand in the AI era Readers buying into the author as much as the books The Meta AI copyright lawsuit involving pirated books and LLaMA training Direct sales and Etsy as a growing opportunity for indie authors Turning books into collectible gift products BookVault duplex covers and special editions Creating reader merchandise tied to fictional worlds Using Etsy as a discovery platform for new readers SPS Live updates and upcoming sessions on direct selling Resources mentioned: ProWritingAid – use code IWC15 for 15% off annual subscriptions: https://prowritingaid.com/ SPS Live 2026: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/spslive SPS Party 2026: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/party-on-the-boat
#445
April 30 · 53 min
SPS-445: Real Cops, Real Stories, Better Fiction with James Blatch & Cissy Mecca
James and Cissy welcome former Milwaukee police sergeant and author Patrick O'Donnell to discuss his new book, Police Stories: The Rookie Years, and the real-life experiences behind his writing. Patrick shares gripping stories from his early days on patrol, including a near-shooting, a fatal stabbing case, and the realities of policing that often get misrepresented in fiction. The episode also covers indie authors being excluded from a new publishing prize, questions around Amazon's algorithm and Kindle Unlimited, and how writers can use expert communities to make their crime and police procedural details more authentic. Key Talking Points The New Adult Book Prize and why excluding indie authors feels especially frustrating given indie publishing's role in building the genre. Ongoing questions around Amazon rankings, Kindle Unlimited borrows, page reads, and whether indie titles are being pushed down in the charts. Patrick O'Donnell's police career, from rookie officer to sergeant, and how those experiences shaped his nonfiction and fiction writing. A powerful real-life story from Patrick's rookie years involving a knife suspect, a fatal stabbing, and the emotional reality of first responder work. How the Cops and Writers community helps authors get police procedure, crime scenes, law enforcement culture, and investigation details right. Links & Resources Mentioned ProWritingAid (Sponsor – code IWC15 for 15% off annual subscriptions): https://prowritingaid.com Cops and Writers Facebook Group: https://facebook.com/groups/copsandwriters Patrick O'Donnell – Police Stories: The Rookie Years: Available on Amazon Indie Writers Club / support page: https://learnselfpublishing.com/support LaunchPad course is open for enrolment: https://www.learnselfpublishing.com/launchpad

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