Episode 037 / Cozy mystery author Zara Keane shares how changing genres allowed her to write to her strengths. We also delve into nurturing our newsletters, chatbots, and selling direct.

 

Come over and say hi to Jami and Sara in the WIKT Facebook group! You can find show notes and links at wishidknownforwriters.com.

Intro links: 

 

In this podcast episode, you’ll discover:

  • Why finishing that first book is so important
  • How our writing processes change and evolve and how we can’t pin down a single system and replicate it again and again
  • Why trying to do it all is a mistake and the importance of filtering advice
  • How Zara moved from romance to cozy mystery
  • Zara’s “experiment budget” and her attitude to testing
  • Writing to your strengths–writing in a genre that lets you use your natural talents to their fullest
  • Nurturing your newsletter
  • Filtering readers who find you through a promotion
  • Using a serial novella in your newsletter
  • Using content themes to guide content creation for newsletter
  • Zara’s recommendations for getting started with chatbots
  • Benefits of selling direct with Payhip and Bookfunnel: flash sales, coupons, and built-in discounting
  • How Zara created a Christmas in July, promoted it to her newsletter, which gave her a financial return on par with a Bookbub featured deal 

Genres discussed include cozy mystery, romance, and romantic suspense. 

Links: 

Zara Keane

RWA

NaNoWriMo

Bookbub

WIKT Interview with C.C. Hunter

How to Outline a Cozy Mystery   

Newsletter Ninja

Mailer Lite

Flo Desk

New Author Discovery

Manybots

Novelbots – Cecelia Mecca’s course on chatbots