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A self-published author's diary

A self-published author's diary

By: Elodie Nowodazkij
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The behind-the-scenes of self-publishing and writing with Elodie Nowodazkij, indie author of first kisses, second chances, things that scare the crap out of her and things that make her laugh out loud. Elodie's been self-publishing since 2014. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/elodie-nowodazkij/support102447 Art Literary History & Criticism
Episodes
  • Numbers: A TikTok Experiment As an Indie Author (the yay, the nay, and what it costs), pre-order numbers and more

    Numbers: A TikTok Experiment As an Indie Author (the yay, the nay, and what it costs), pre-order numbers and more
    Jun 18 2026

    This one's a numbers-and-behind-the-scenes episode. I share a full preorder update across all five of my current books, platform by platform, the good and the zero, and where I'm at ten days into a thirty-day TikTok experiment in 2026 (I know, I know).

    The BookTok part is genuinely interesting to me: one video crossed 2,000 views and somehow racked up more than eight hours of total watch time, while its near-identical twin stalled at 94 and I have no idea why. That's kind of the whole lesson.

    I get into what's working, where in the world people are actually watching from (hello, UK), how many of them clicked through (spoiler: two), and yes, what it's costing me in focus, because I opened the app nineteen times in one afternoon and that felt worth admitting out loud.

    Plus: the Belgian VAT answer that arrived in eleven pages, the Barnes & Noble payment I'm still chasing, a trip to the ER that cancelled a posting day, and trying to use my phone less.

    And I'm going to interview the chemical engineer about how to write a believable one. If you've got a question for him, send it to elodie@elodienow.com. He refuses to see them in advance. So. :-)

    If you've tried TikTok and it worked for you, or really didn't, come tell me. We can commiserate, or you can show me your data.

    • BeccaCon + Becca Syme's Write Better-Faster Patreon — the author-business conference and the experiments-homework that started all this: https://betterfasteracademy.com (Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/beccasyme/posts)
    • Wide for the Win Circle (where I posted about the Barnes & Noble delay): https://wideforthewin.com/
    • L. Penelope — "The Fire That Forges You" (My Imaginary Friends), on documenting your process while you're in it: https://myimaginaryfriends.substack.com/p/the-fire-that-forges-you
    • Jami Albright — The Summer That Changed Us — the book that wrecked me (Steel Magnolias meets Schitt's Creek with the heart of This Is Us): https://books2read.com/b/mdZvPW — jamialbright.com
    • My Christmas Wish-List (preorder, now July 31st): https://books2read.com/MyChristmasWish
    • Cancer Is Not My Brand (preorder): https://books2read.com/cancerisnotmybrand/
    • Nice Guys Don't Kiss Like That at Christmas: https://books2read.com/NiceGuysDontKissLikeThat
    • A New Year's Eve Like No Other (third in the Nick & Em series): https://books2read.com/ANewYearsEveLikeNoOther
    • French editions — Ma Liste de Noël and Un Réveillon Pas Comme Les Autres

    If the episode was useful, a rate-and-review would make this self-published author's day. Happy writing, and happy, happy reading.

    www.elodienowodazkij.com

    www.elodienow.com

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    29 mins
  • Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life

    Writing and revising, Author Taxes & the Emergency Room: 3 Days in My Self-Published Life
    Jun 11 2026
    I had different plans for this episode. And then I ended up in a Belgian ER at 6:45 in the morning with hives and a lip that decided to start swelling. So... change of plans.This week, I'm taking you behind the scenes of three days in my life as a self-published author: the writing, the taxes, and yes, the ER.I talk about:My ER stories as a writer (and former cancer patient) in three countries (the US, France, and Belgium) and how those experiences end up in my books, including the nurses who made everything easier (hi to the one who called me Bebe)Finding the small good moments even in crappy situations, and why sometimes that's easier said than doneWhy I moved the preorder date for # My Christmas Wish-List to the end of July (spoiler: there was just no way)Bringing Plato (our beagle who we said goodbye to in 2025 ) into My Christmas Wish List, and how writing him helped me get back into the storyRevision talk: digging deeper into character voice, the "worst and best" to make characters more three-dimensional, a scene more alive and why knowing where the dog is in every scene actually mattersThe Belgian VAT saga continues (I called the FinMin help line, I sent an email, I wait)And Cancer Is Not My Brand is now up for preorder! What a wonderful way to announce it. Such a nice segue.Links mentioned in this episode:Preorder Cancer Is Not My Brand: https://books2read.com/cancerisnotmybrand/Preorder My Christmas Wish-List (now coming end of July): https://books2read.com/MyChristmasWishNice Guys Don't Kiss Like That at Christmas: https://books2read.com/NiceGuysDontKissLikeThatBecca Syme's QuitCast for Writers — "Why We Want You to Prioritize Your Health This Year as Authors" (also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ1Lm5o3IcI)The Creative Penn — "Writing Through Grief and Rebooting an Indie Author Business" with Jami Albright: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2026/06/01/writing-through-grief-and-rebooting-an-indie-author-business-with-jami-albright/Jami Albright's website (and her book The Summer That Changed Us): Steel Magnolias meets Schitt’s Creek with the heart of This is Us.https://jamialbright.com Choose your favorite e-retailer https://books2read.com/b/mdZvPWSusan Dennard on writing more than one book at once "Finishing what You Start": https://stdennard.substack.com/p/finishing-what-you-startTell me where you're listening from! Email me at elodie@elodienow.comMy websites: https://www.elodienowodazkij.com and https://www.elodienow.comMy Substack: https://elodienowodazkij.substack.com/My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@authorelodienowodazkijMy Patreon: Elodie's Writing Nook https://www.patreon.com/c/elodieswritingnookThank you so much for listening from the US to Nigeria, Hong Kong to Lithuania, Belgium and France and Germany (and hi Alex, hi Maman, hi Gisela). I hope your socks are fluffy, and if you're writing, that the words are flowing. Happy writing, and happy, happy reading.
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    30 mins
  • Numbers: Amazon blocked one of my e-books (one that had been live for ten years)

    Numbers: Amazon blocked one of my e-books (one that had been live for ten years)
    Jun 4 2026

    This One is About Amazon Blocking One of my e-books - one that had been up for ten years.

    In today's episode, I share how many returns that book got over years, the sales number, the reviews, what I decided to do.

    I also talk about moving a pre-order, and a little bit about craft - thinking about how to improve my books.

    Mentioned in this episode:

    - How to get your Amazon account back: https://bit.ly/TBCYA

    - Alliance of Independent Authors: https://www.allianceindependentauthors.org/

    - Becca Syme: The #1 Thing Authors Can Do To Increase Demand For Their Books (The Quitcast 8.13)

    - Ines Johnson: Page Turner Take off - I don't think it's available outside of her Kickstarter yet.

    - Margie Lawson: A Deep Editing Guide to Make Your Openings Pop!
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    19 mins
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