Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:57 — 49.3MB) | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS | More
TB messes up numbers. Again.
TB is scrambling to get caught up with work before her trip to London to visit the one and only Clare Lydon. TB had two triumphs this week, including sending two episodes of Girl Love Happens to the editor and cranking through the first draft of the cowrite with Miranda MacLeod. The fear of a deadline is urging TB on.
Clare is back from her holiday, feeling refresh. A good thing, because she’s prepping Before You Say I Do for a March 10th release. The first ARC members have given the book an enthusiastic thumbs-up. Clare is being very calm about the launch and keeps saying, “What will be will be.” TB should learn from this. Clare has also made progress on her Christmas romance, and her editing deadline isn’t until October. She’s totally got this one.
The duo moves on to the topic: can you make a full-time living from writing lesbian fiction? They break down the stages of their careers, and surprisingly, almost the same amount of time elapsed from the start to when they realized they could support themselves by writing full-time. Both of them have had ups and downs, and neither started out of the gate knowing everything, which is nearly impossible when founding a new business. Over the years they’ve been in the lesbian fiction business, they’ve learned what it takes to make a living, which includes being consistent, adding to your backlist, locating different income funnels (audiobooks, paperbacks, ebooks, translations, merchandize, Patreon, etc.) learning advertising, connecting with readers, and being nice just to name some of the keys to success. Also, it’s important to keep learning, and when you hit a rough patch, just keep going.
Clare’s Book: Before You Say I Do: www.clarelydon.co.uk/books/before-you-say-i-do
Link to podcast episode mentioned: www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep-227-elana-johnson-part-one-productivity
Patreon: www.patreon.com
Do you have aspirations of writing full-time? Let them know. Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com, and leave a comment on the episode. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.
Stop back next week for another hilarious conversation about what authors Clare and TB would have at their dream dinner party.
Happy listening!
Clare and TB
As a straight male I am not your normal demographic, but I love the podcast, it always brings a smile to my face. I started reading lesfic when a friend gave a me a copy of a Clare Lydon book and asked for my help to read it for her book club, I got hooked immediately. I know your books have helped people and their families, who were struggling to cope with coming out; the work you do is much more than just entertainment, you both really help people; but please tell me that I am not alone, please confirm that you are aware of other men who read your books?
Hey Richard, lovely to hear from you! Thanks for your kind words about our books.
I can confirm that we hear from many men who read and love our books, so you’re not alone. I know I speak for TB too when I say that we love our books being read by everybody, so we’re thrilled that you’re on-board. Romance is read by readers of all different stripes from around the globe, so why not lesbian romance?
Spread the word and let’s bring our particular brand of HEA to as many readers as possible!
Clare x