Author Like a Boss Podcast

Be open to opportunities around you and love what you do. In this episode, Renee Rose shares her experience of having the best outcome in her life by following her guts. She had a degree in creative writing and knew she would be a writer. Her opportunity came after discovering 50 Shades of Grey, wherein she knew she could also write the same genre of books. She has sold over two million copies of her books, mainly focusing on romance. Tune in to learn how to maintain an abundance mindset and why loving your book is key to creating the best future for yourself. Plus, Renee shares a helpful ingredient that might just catapult your career: ego sauce. Get full access to Author Like a Boss at authorlikeaboss.substack.com/subscribe

There is so much more authors can do with their books. In fact, it need not only provide you with one income stream. You can leverage them to provide you with multiple streams of income. Today's guest is proof that this is possible. Ella Barnard sits with Willow Winters, an author who has over 50 books published and continues to deliver addictive love stories. In this episode, Willow shares how she has built an empire around her writing and even extended it to a nonprofit community. She talks about utilizing her works and creating audiobooks and merchandise from them. What is more, Willow also talks about the importance of investing in beautiful book covers, how you need to find your community, and being authentic. Get full access to Author Like a Boss at authorlikeaboss.substack.com/subscribe

Every one of us has an inborn talent. Some are already visible at a young age, but some are just not that apparent until they grow up and discover it for themselves. Tasha L. Harrison, our guest today, knew writing was her passion and was confident that she could do it well. Tasha was burned out when she decided to build a community of writers and launch a Patreon. She then came up with a challenge for the members of the community to write #20kIn5Days, which provided motivation and new fresh ideas for the participants. Find out how Tasha is dealing with her writing and her community in this episode.  Get full access to Author Like a Boss at authorlikeaboss.substack.com/subscribe

How do you succeed in writing cozy mysteries? Ella Barnard welcomes Cheryl Phipps, a USA Today best-selling romance author. Cheryl advises how you want more people to look guilty or have the potential to be the criminal. Then there should be love and trust, usually the sheriff, deputy, or forensic person. But writing the story is just the first step; there’s still the publishing and marketing to work on. If you believe in yourself, jump in with your boots and all. The more stories you put out there, the better you become. Join the conversation for more real-life writing wisdom! Get full access to Author Like a Boss at authorlikeaboss.substack.com/subscribe

Many writers, if not most, wear multiple hats while pursuing their author’s journey. There are moments when you need to prioritize and choose yourself. Here to share how she did it is Lexi Ryan. Lexi is a romance and YA fantasy author working in self-publishing and traditional publishing. In this episode, she joins Ella Barnard to share the ups and downs of her author’s journey as a stay-at-home mom, especially during the pandemic. From being on the brink of quitting to now being an award-winning author and bestseller at New York Times and USA Today, she opens up about her lowest moments and the important lessons she learned. Learn from her struggles and success by tuning in! Get full access to Author Like a Boss at authorlikeaboss.substack.com/subscribe

KU publishing or Kindle Unlimited can be good for new authors but wide marketing is still the best way to go. You can your backlist first then go wide after so that you can reach more readers. Marketing is very important especially if you're new to the game. Learn more about wide marketing, duet writing, and all things romance with Ella Barnard and her guest Courtney/Lyra Parish/Kennedy Fox. Courtney is a romance author with over 45 books self-published at this point, and she started with ZERO experience. She is behind such book series as the Roommate Duet and the Checkmate Duet series. Learn how she manages to make many different entry points for new readers to come jump in. This is very important when writing any series! Also, discover why it's better to write with a partner that shares your same goals. Listen in! Get full access to Author Like a Boss at authorlikeaboss.substack.com/subscribe

So many books out there dive deep into how to earn millions in the easiest and fastest ways possible. But for Lee Savino, she achieved her millionaire author mindset not just because of financial strategies but also by investing time in what she genuinely loves. She joins Ella Barnard to share how she built her wealth by reinvigorating her passion for writing, setting aside her self-doubts, and being bigger than every roadblock ahead. Lee now shares her secrets to the world through the Facebook group she started, Millionaire Author Mastermind. She also looks back on how she met co-author Renee Rose, the person who helped declutter her mind and transform her money blocks. Get full access to Author Like a Boss at authorlikeaboss.substack.com/subscribe

For a writer's work to succeed and thrive, one needs to find their marketable voice. They need to make let their personality shine through their words. In this episode, Ella Barnard teams up with bestselling author Nana Malone to talk about the author's voice. Nana discusses marketability, diversity and helping other up-and-coming authors get marketed. Tune in to this insightful conversation and learn how to find your own voice. Get full access to Author Like a Boss at authorlikeaboss.substack.com/subscribe

Many people want to read about midlife romances involving characters who are over 40 having a second chance at romance. Ella Barnard welcomes L.B. Dunbar, the author of over 30 romance novels, including Small-Town World and Rock Star Mayhem. L.B. shared how she was ready to close shop and stop writing when her readers asked her to publish After Care as a novel. You’re never too old to reinvent yourself. Even if you miss the first sign, the universe keeps speaking and nudging you in the direction you should be going. Join the conversation to learn more about shifting genres, writing what feels good, and writing to a more mature audience. Dive in! Get full access to Author Like a Boss at authorlikeaboss.substack.com/subscribe

As an aspiring author, you need to find your tribe, your community. If you are indie publishing, a group of people who are in the same boat as you is all you need. This is what SciFi romance writer, Maddie Syn did. She is an independent author who writes love stories in alien worlds. Some of her works include The Guardians of Re'Utu books and Big Feels. Learn her writing process and what methods work for her. Discover how she started blogging in the erotica genre. Find out what works for you and acknowledge what doesn't work for you. Learn all about that today with your host Ella Barnard as she talks to Maddie about her journey into creative writing. Get full access to Author Like a Boss at authorlikeaboss.substack.com/subscribe

As a writer or creative of any media, finding creative inspiration that resonates with an audience can be hard. For today’s guest, the inspiration that came from her life, and her community helped her achieve that balance. Oriana Leckert is the author of Brooklyn Spaces: 50 Hubs of Culture and Creativity, which grew out of a multi-year project chronicling the rise and fall of under-the-radar creative places across New York City. Tune in to her chat with Ella Barnard on how this project opened doors for her and the community she forged along the way. As the Director of Publishing & Comics Outreach at Kickstarter, Oriana also helps creators bring a marvelous array of literary projects to life. Don’t miss out as she shares valuable tips to help you succeed on the platform.  Get full access to Author Like a Boss at authorlikeaboss.substack.com/subscribe

Every literary genre has something refreshing to bring to the table. Paranormal romance writer Tasha Black recalls how co-writing with other authors helped her keep bringing exciting stories to her avid readers. She believes that collaboration and passion can bring new ideas to life. In this episode, Tasha and Ella Barnard chat about all things writing, editing, and marketing. Listen in as they share how you can start writing from your heart and customizing your author process. Get full access to Author Like a Boss at authorlikeaboss.substack.com/subscribe

The key to being a successful self-published author isn’t just writing stories. You also need to have smart marketing that attracts a loyal audience. In this episode, Ella Barnard chats with romance author Ines Johnson on how she balanced inspiration with an effective advertising and marketing plan to achieve results while writing the stories she loves. Ines caters to two audiences, one as Ines and the other as her pen name, Shanae Johnson. Join in on their chat to learn more about Ines’ strategies for building a backlist, her writing process, and tips for using ads. Get full access to Author Like a Boss at authorlikeaboss.substack.com/subscribe

Do you believe the myth that you can’t be artistically and commercially successful at the same time? Ella Barnard sits with Alana Terry, a 6-figure author of more than forty published novels, to talk about the abundance mindset. Alana shares her struggles with her limiting beliefs throughout the years. And how she overcame them as she earned more through Facebook ads. You can write beautiful novels and earn money by doing so when you learn marketing. Another fear is the myth that rich people are greedy. But Alana believes that money is a personality magnifier. If you are a generous, loving giving person making $5,000 a month, you will be a loving, generous giving person when you make $10,000 a month. Now with a bigger impact!  Get full access to Author Like a Boss at authorlikeaboss.substack.com/subscribe

Starting your author's journey isn't always the smoothest. You have to do a lot of pivoting until you find what works for you and your audience. In this episode, Lana Dash joins host Ella Barnard to talk about how she's done the work of continually learning her craft and studying the market to achieve success in self-publishing. Lana is an indie Amazon bestselling author who has published over seventy short contemporary romances filled with curvy heroines, sexy heroes, and plenty of humor. She shares her start in writing short stories, the benefits of being in a writer's group, and the importance of building your brand. If you're an aspiring short story author, this is an episode you won't want to miss.  Get full access to Author Like a Boss at authorlikeaboss.substack.com/subscribe