This is a podcast for authors by authors! (And also readers who want the scoop on what authors are REALLY thinking.) Join Valerie Biel and T.K. (Tracey) Sheffield as we share topics to help our fellow writers as well as fun tidbits on what we’re reading and where we’re roaming. Our inaugural year, 2024, had 10 episodes on topics like agent searching (episode 1), indie vs traditional publishing (episode 4), book launch basics (this episode), helpful writing conferences (episode 2), why we write what we write (episode 3) and our last episode listing our angels and assets of 2024.
In 2025, we are focusing on the process of indie/self publishing. We’ll walk through getting started, along with how to approach the tasks indie publishing requires—reviews, editing, formatting, cover design, marketing and more!! (And take a deep dive into defining hybrid publishing.)
Thanks for reading Reading, Writing, & Roaming with Author Valerie Biel! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
ABOUT US—YOUR PODCAST HOSTS:
Valerie Biel is the author of the award-winning Circle of Nine series and mystery-suspense novel, Beyond the Cemetery Gate, and middle-grade novel, Haven. She’s also a publicity professional who aids other authors with their book launches and marketing. You can find her here on Substack at Reading, Writing, & Roaming or at ValerieBiel.com.
Tracey writes stories for readers who want to laugh and escape. She is the author of the award-winning Backyard Model comic culinary cozy mysteries, and other books. She is found at her website, T.K. Sheffield Writes, and her Instagram, The Backyard Model.
ABOUT SEASON TWO: EPISODE 8
In this episode, we’re talking about post-launch marketing and beyond—even well beyond your launch year. (This is part 2 of the marketing discussion. In part 1, we covered prelaunch marketing and book release celebrations.)
Some of the things we talk about in this episode:
* Social Media efforts
* Advertising on BookBub, Facebook, and Amazon
* Promo Stacking
* Library and bookstore efforts and more!
* How award contests can fit into your marketing plan
TIMING NOTES:
We begin with chit chat
At 10 minutes, we talk about what we’re reading . . . we’re both raving about Overruled by Christy Wopat (release date 11/11/25), Dying Cry by Margaret Mizushima, and the latest installment in Sherrill Joseph’s Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries — Macadamia Street: Hidden Skeleton.
At the 15-minute mark we discuss roaming and at 16:45 we talk about roaming, mostly of the bookish variety.
The book marketing discussion begins at the 20-minute mark if you want to avoid all our fluffy fluffiness! (But you’ll miss a lot of fun if you do that — just sayin’.)
Resources / Links Mentioned:
Advertising Your Books — Part One: BookBub Ads
Advertising Your Books — Part Two: Facebook Ads
Advertising Your Books — Part Three: Amazon Ads
Our most popular podcast of 2024: Traditional vs Independent Publishing
FOR INDIE PUBLISHING ADVICE / ASSISTANCE:
Val’s Substack — Full of indie publishing advice
Send Us Your Questions in the Comments!
Don’t hesitate to comment below if you have questions about any of the topics we’ve covered. We’re happy to answer questions directly to you via email and in subsequent episodes to help everyone!
See you in November! - Valerie & T.K.
