Why do the highs and lows of an indie author career always hit when you least expect them? In this episode of the SPA Girls Podcast (EP558), it's just the four of us — Cheryl, Shar, Wendy, and Trudi — talking openly about mental resilience and how to weather the emotional rollercoaster of self-publishing. We unpack the panic of watching your numbers drop, the comparison trap, and the burnout that can quietly creep up on even seasoned authors.

Whether you're spiraling over a bad sales week or questioning whether your writing matters at all, this episode is a reminder that the dips are part of the journey — and you will come out the other side. We share the real tools we've used to climb back up: managing what you can control, setting boundaries with social media, knowing when to fold 'em, and learning to be gentle with yourself.

#SelfPublishing #AuthorMindset #IndieAuthor

📌 IN THIS EPISODE:
• Why you can't measure your worth against your Amazon ranking
• The "money date" approach to checking your numbers without the panic
• How comparison and online echo chambers fuel the spiral
• Accepting that change is normal (blame the saber-toothed tiger)
• Recognising and recovering from burnout
• Knowing when to say yes — and when to walk away
• Controlling the narrative and asking for help
• Remembering your "why" and defining your own version of success

🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SPA GIRLS:
🌐 Website & free self-publishing resources: http://www.spagirlspodcast.com
🎧 Listen on your favourite podcast app — search "SPA Girls Podcast"
💗 This podcast is supported by our amazing Patreon community!
⭐ Join at the $10 tier for access to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group where we discuss marketing, writing, and answer your burning questions: http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast

Subscribe so you never miss an episode!

#WritingCommunity #WritingPodcast

🔁 CLASSIC REPLAY — This episode was originally recorded in 2021 and the strategy is just as relevant today. Helen has since gone on to become an internationally bestselling romantasy author with multiple series, proving the long-game approach works.

What if you could earn six figures a year writing just ONE book? We sit down with International Bestselling Fantasy author Helen Scheuerer to unpack how she built a six-figure self-publishing career on a single annual release — the opposite of the "rapid release" model most indie authors are told to follow.

Helen took her traditional publishing education (Bachelor of Creative Writing, Masters of Publishing) and applied it to her indie career with stunning results. If you're a slow writer, a perfectionist, or a deep-world fantasy author who can't churn out four books a year, this episode is for you. We dig into Helen's launch strategy, her decision to leave traditional publishing behind, and the marketing approach that lets one book a year perform spectacularly.

About Helen

Helen Scheuerer is the Sunday Times bestselling author best known for her romantasy series, The Legends of Thezmarr and The Ashes of Thezmarr. Her work has been highly praised for its strong, flawed female characters and its action-packed plots. She also publishes advice for authors with her nonfiction series, Books For Career Authors.

Helen's love of writing and books led her to pursue a creative writing degree and a Masters of Publishing. She has been a full-time author since 2018 and now lives amidst the mountains in New Zealand where she is constantly dreaming up new stories.

Find her at: https://helenscheuerer.com

🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SPA GIRLS:

🌐 Website & free self-publishing resources: http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com

🎧 Subscribe to our weekly episodes on your favourite podcast app — search "SPA Girls Podcast"

💗 This podcast is supported by our amazing Patreon community! ⭐ Join at the $10 tier for access to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group where we discuss marketing, writing, and answer your burning questions: http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast

#SelfPublishing #romancewriter #writingpodcast #writingcommunity

What if you could make more money selling audiobooks direct than on Amazon and Audible combined? In this episode of the SPA Girls Podcast (EP556), USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Hefner returns for a third time to break down exactly how she's doing it — and how indie authors can market audiobooks wide, build a direct store that converts, and stop relying on a single retailer.

Rebecca walks us through the Facebook ad strategies, Pinterest funnels, newsletter excerpt formula, and bundle pricing that now drive the majority of her author revenue from her own Shopify and Payhip stores. We also dig into the rapidly changing audiobook landscape — Spotify, YouTube audiobooks, Kobo Plus, and why repackaging your existing catalog into box sets is one of the smartest moves you can make right now. Whether you're brand new to direct selling or already running a wide audiobook strategy, this episode is packed with practical, no-fluff advice from someone testing it all in real time.

👤 ABOUT REBECCA HEFNER:

USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Hefner grew up in Western NC and now calls the Hudson River of NYC home. In her youth, she would sneak into her mother's bedroom and read the romance novels stashed on the bookshelf, cementing her love of HEAs. A huge Buffy and Star Wars fan, she loves an epic fantasy and a surprise twist (Luke, he IS your father).

Before becoming an author, Rebecca had a successful sales career. After launching her own indie publishing company, she is now a full-time author who also helps coach authors especially on publishing Wide strategies and direct selling.

Rebecca's author website is rebeccahefner.com and visit https://indieauthorvault.com for a free listing of curated resources for authors.

She is also the admin of the Marketing Audiobooks Wide group on FB (https://www.facebook.com/groups/marketingaudiobookswide) and Buy Direct From Authors (https://buydirectfromauthors.com/) which we highly recommend you join.

📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Indie Author Vault (Rebecca's resource hub): https://indieauthorvault.com

• Buy Direct From Authors: https://buydirectfromauthors.com

• Indie Audiobook Deals: https://indieaudiobookdeals.com

• Marketing Audiobooks Wide FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/marketingaudiobookswide

• Rebecca's Wide & Direct Author Substack (linked from Indie Author Vault)

• BookFunnel — audiobook & ebook delivery

• Payhip, Shopify, Fourthwall — direct store platforms

• Book Vault — print-on-demand for signed bookplate orders

• Stuff Your Earbuds — audiobook promo event

• Bink Cummings — Facebook traffic ad advice on Threads

🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SPA GIRLS:

🌐 Website & free self-publishing resources: http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com

🎧 Listen on your favourite podcast app — search "SPA Girls Podcast"

💗 This podcast is supported by our amazing Patreon community!

⭐ Join at the $10 tier for access to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group where we discuss marketing, writing, and answer your burning questions: http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast

Subscribe so you never miss an episode!

#WritingCommunity #WritingPodcast