The Authorpreneur Blog
Amelia D. Hay is a virtual writing and business coach for fiction writers and the host of The Authorpeneur Podcast. Every week, on this blog, she will teach you how to develop a story idea, create compelling characters and outline your novel. Learn how to write your first draft, revise your story, self-publish, establish your author platform, and reach readers. In her, Behind the Scenes Podcast Diary (BTS) she shares an honest account of her journey to self-publishing her novels.
BTS040, Low Budget Book Promotions Gone Wrong | May and June 2021 Author Diary Update
In this episode, I discuss experimenting with more low budget book promotions on a 99 cent sale on my first-in-series novella, Missing. Naturally, things didn’t go as expected. So, I dive into why I believe my low budget book promotions went horribly wrong.
BTS039, Writing Multiple Books at Once, Low Budget Book Promotions, and Multiple Streams of Income | January to April Author Diary Update
Coming up in this episode, I discuss the progress I made writing multiple books at once, the results of my low budget book promotions, including download statistics, and I discuss my efforts to add multiple streams of income to my author business. And I share my biggest lessons learned with multiple streams of income.
BTS038, Story Origin Newsletter Swaps, Price Matching an eBook on Amazon and Lifting a Preorder Penalty on Amazon | November and December Author Diary Update
In this episode, I discuss the results of my very first story origin newsletter swap, price matching ebooks on Amazon to free when you’re not enrolled in the KDP select programme, and how I lifted my pre-order penalty on Amazon.
BTS037, Write to Market, Free Book Formatting Services and Hiring an Alpha Reader on Fiverr | October Author Diary Update
Coming up in this episode, I discuss my plans to write to market, my new book formatting services and how you can use them for free, and a-ha moment I had about my book Missing, which I’m hoping will result in more positive book reviews.
BTS036, Moving Web Hosts, Getting Book Reviews, and Writing Book Two In a Series | September Author Diary Update
In this episode, I share how after months of frustration with the slow speed of my website, I took the plunge and moved web hosts. And, I discuss along with the results of another free promotion on Kobo, and my experiments with pre-orders on Amazon.
A Quick Guide on How to Get Interviewed on Podcasts for Fiction Authors
The problem with helpful book marketing suggestions like”get interviewed on podcasts,” is no one actually tells you how to create a pitch that will land you an interview. In this episode, I will share three tips and a six-step formula that will help you craft a better pitch and hopefully, get you a podcast interview. Obviously, I can’t make any outlandish claims or promise you’ll get interviewed on podcasts. But, I can promise to show you how to present yourself to hosts, so that they can see the value you can contribute to their show.
BTS035, Developing a Writing Habit After Months of Struggling | August Author Diary Update
Coming up in this episode, I share how I finally developed a writing habit after months of struggling. And, I discuss my efforts to chase reviews for my mystery novella, Missing. Plus, I found a fun alternative to Patreon.
BTS034, Struggling to Write Book Two in a Series and the Results of My Free Book Promotion on Kobo | July Author Diary Update
Coming up in this episode, I discuss how a well known free ebook platform shared my novella to its audience and the equally unexpected results. And, I review the outcome of my free ebook promotion on Kobo. On top of all of this, I talk about how I’m struggling to write book two in a series.
BTS033, Opting Out of Kindle Unlimited, My First Free Promotion on Kobo, and Outlining a Short Story | June Author Diary Update
Coming up in this episode, I discuss my decision to opt-out of Kindle Unlimited or KDP select and shifting my focus from book sales to getting more book reviews. On top of all of this, I’m making a special announcement, at the end of the show.
BTS032, Publishing a Second Edition of a Mystery Novel and Using Book Blogging Tours as a New Author | May Author Diary Update
Coming up in this episode, I will discuss my progress with publishing the second edition of a mystery novella Missing and the results of the book blogging tour. And, I share the results of my boosted Facebook post and my Book Doggy promotion.
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Hello!
My Books
A Body is on the Lawn, and a Killer is on the Loose
When Will Thatcher, doesn’t show up for work, James Lalonde is forced to attend an afternoon tea with Alistair Carmichael in his place. The lovely autumn afternoon tea comes to an abrupt end when a body turns up on the lawn of the Carmichael Estate with strange markings on his neck.
But, something is missing, a priceless painting is off the wall. However, it’s no ordinary painting, it’s a Van Gogh purchased in an auction a few months ago. After discovering fresh tracks, most likely left by the murderer James realises the murder is still in the estate.
Can James figure out who the thief and murderer are before he or Alistair is next?
A Murdered Judge. A Dark Secret Silenced.
Rookie reporter James Lalonde is bored. And, he isn’t a journalist. He’s an all-round dogs-body, to editor-in-chief, Rhys Kelly. But, his luck has finally changed. After eavesdropping in on the morning editorial meeting, James learns he has his first-ever story. There’s one catch. If the story gets too complicated, it will be taken away from him and given to another journalist with more experience. Sure it’s a boring interview with the soon to be sworn-in magistrate, Albert Harrington, but it finally gets him out of his six-month slump as an editorial research assistant.
The following day, James turns up to his interview with Albert to discover a trail of blood smeared through Albert’s house, an empty safe, the murder weapon on the floor, but no body. Detective Anwar Khan turns up to the crime scene, puts two and two together, and believes James murdered the controversial magistrate. Can James clear his name and write his first-ever story before his editor takes it away from him?
$2.99
Excalibur is Missing. A Killer is on the Loose. One Reporter is Determined to Uncover the Truth.
James has a nose for trouble. But that’s nothing new. This time, things are different–his life is on the line. James is the chief editor of a small newspaper. It’s hardly captivating work. He’s bored. But all of that is about to change.
Late one evening, he returns home to discover his long-time girlfriend and journalist, Valentine, has left. Early the next morning, James fails to reallocate her assigned story. To avoid blank space in the culture section and losing his job, he decides to write the story on the local museum’s latest acquisition, Excalibur. But, there’s one thing he didn’t count on–Excalibur is missing, and a dead body is at the crime scene.
If you love gripping cloak and dagger mysteries with twists and turns, then you’ll love this first instalment in the James Lalonde Amateur Sleuth Mystery series. Get it now.
$2.99
What I’m Writing Now!
Final Draft
86,532 of 85,000 Words
Yesterday, I sent Duplicity off for proofreading. Yay! And I’ve set up preorders for this novel on Kobo, B&N, and Google Play with a release date of the 24th of November 2022. And, I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
Publishing Updates
First Draft
0 of 60,000 Words
I’ve decided to add an extra book between the second book and the start of the byline series, where James arrives in New York. Book Three will be set in a 24 hour period in London. This novel will be available in ebook on all major ebook retailers by the end of mid 2022. And, the paperback editions soon after. I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
Revised Draft
112,960 of 99,000 Words
Book Four the James Lalonde series needs one final round of revisions before I can hand it off to my editor. This longer novel will be published on all major ebook retailers in early 2023. And, the paperback editions soon after. I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
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