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SPA Girls Podcast

SPA Girls podcast - self publishing for authors
SPA Girls Podcast
Latest episode

368 episodes

  • SPA Girls Podcast

    Book Formatting Made Easy – with Brad Andalman of Vellum (EP#550)

    29/04/2026 | 1h 13 mins.
    What if formatting your book could take minutes instead of hours?

    In this episode of the SPA Girls Podcast (EP550), we sit down with Brad Andalman, co-founder of Vellum, the book formatting software (Mac-only) that’s transformed self-publishing for indie authors. Brad shares the surprising Pixar origin story behind Vellum, walks us through exactly how the software works, and reveals some of the newer features — including double-page chapter spreads — that most authors don’t even know exist.

    Whether you’re a brand-new self-publisher about to format your first book or a Vellum veteran who suspects you’re not using it to its full potential, this episode covers everything from the basics (importing your manuscript, choosing styles, exporting for Kindle and print) through to the advanced design tricks that make your books look professionally typeset. Brad also explains why so many authors have started writing inside Vellum itself, and shares how the platform has evolved over the past decade-plus.

    All the SPA Girls are avid Vellum users (even Shar, who’s a Windows girl but bought a cheap Mac just to use it years ago!). If you’d like to try Vellum before you buy, hop over to Vellum.Pub (full disclosure, this is an affiliate link that supports our podcast. If you’d prefer to not use it, just google Vellum Pub)

    👤 ABOUT BRAD ANDALMAN:
    Brad Andalman is the co-founder of Vellum, the leading book formatting software for indie authors. Before Vellum, Brad spent years at Pixar working on animated films, where he and co-founder Brad West built professional-level software alongside their design work. Together, the “two Brads” launched Vellum to put beautiful book design into authors’ hands.

    🔗 https://vellum.pub

    📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

    Vellum: https://vellum.pub

    Vellum tutorials on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VellumApp

    🔗 CONNECT WITH THE SPA GIRLS:
    🌐 Website & free self-publishing resources:
    http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SPAGirlsPodcast

    🎧 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!
  • SPA Girls Podcast

    How to Run Your Author Business Without Losing Your Mind ft. Corinne O’Flynn (Classic Replay – EP#549)

    21/04/2026 | 1h 6 mins.
    Feeling buried under your author business? Juggling deadlines, launch plans, newsletter, ads, admin, social media, and somehow you have to also get the actual writing done? Trust us, you are not alone!

    In this episode, we sat down with USA Today bestselling author, certified life coach, and podcaster Corinne O’Flynn to talk about how authors can organise their businesses, prevent burnout, and stay sane when the to-do list never ends.

    Corinne has lived it. After years of writing-to-market, chasing the algorithms, and running on a rapid-release treadmill, she hit deep burnout — the kind that doesn’t lift after a weekend off. What she discovered on the way out became the foundation of The Calm Entrepreneur: a back-to-basics approach to the admin, systems, and daily rhythms that make or break an indie author career.

    We dig into why so many of us end up stressed and overwhelmed, how to spot the early warning signs before full burnout hits, and the practical fundamentals you can put in place so your author business works for you instead of running you into the ground.

    If you’ve ever thought “I love writing, so why does this feel so awful?” — this one’s for you.

    In this episode we chat about:

    How writing-to-market and rapid release can quietly lead to burnout

    Why recovery isn’t just about rest — it’s about rebuilding your foundations

    The admin and systems most authors avoid (and what happens when you do)

    Getting back in touch with the things you’ve put on auto-pilot

    How to build a sustainable author business that still leaves room for a life

    Why organising is a skill, not a personality trait — and anyone can learn it

    Corinne’s words say it best:

    “Before this burnout experience, I was not someone who operated from a place of stress. I loved my work and somehow got lost in the mire. Getting back to the place where I work in ease has been transformative for me, and it’s something I think I need to share with the world. I believe it’s possible to thrive in your business and live your full life without losing your mind in the process.”

    🔁 Classic Replay — This episode was originally recorded in 2022 and the advice is just as relevant today, maybe more so.

    About Corinne O’Flynn

    Corinne O’Flynn is a USA Today bestselling fiction author, certified life coach, certified Quantum Human Design™ specialist, podcaster, nonprofit executive director, and multi-passionate entrepreneur with over twenty years of experience being self-employed. She’s on a mission to change the way we talk about work and life, productivity and success — helping authors, solopreneurs, and small business owners simplify their businesses, reconnect with their passion, and get it all done without the overwhelm.

    🔗 Connect with Corinne: www.corinneoflynn.com

    💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons!

    ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions.

    All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast

    ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info

    😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast

    Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!
  • SPA Girls Podcast

    Supercharge Your Backlist – How To Make Old Books Sell Again (EP# 548)

    15/04/2026 | 48 mins.
    Got a backlist gathering dust?

    In this episode of the SPA Girls Podcast (EP# 548), we dig into how to breathe new life into your older books and get them earning again. Most indie authors pour all their energy into the next release and forget that their backlist is the engine that funds everything — so we’re walking through exactly what to refresh, what to promote, and how to bundle older titles so they keep working for you.

    Whether you’ve got three books or thirty sitting quietly on Amazon, this episode gives you a practical checklist to get them moving again. We cover cover refreshes, blurb fixes, metadata clean-ups, bonus content for newsletter growth, ad strategies, and the bundling tricks that turn old books into new income.

    #SelfPublishing #BacklistMarketing #IndieAuthor

    📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

    The Best Book Promotion Sites in 2026: [URL]

    BookFunnel: https://bookfunnel.com

    BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com

    🔗 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!
  • SPA Girls Podcast

    SPA Girls Podcast – EP547 – Success Writing Small Town Romance – with USA Today Bestseller, Kait Nolan (Classic Replay)

    08/04/2026 | 1h 7 mins.
    Romance writers gather ’round – Kait Nolan, bestselling author of smart, sassy, small town Southern romance is in the SPA! This is a classic replay of an awesome episode we recorded with Kait a couple of years ago, and well worth a relisten. These days Kait not just writes small town romance, but also romantic suspense (as Harper Jackson), and her writing and marketing advice is spot on!

    About Kait Nolan

    Kait Nolan is a USA Today best selling, RITA® Award-winning Mississippi author who calls everyone sugar, honey, or darlin’, and can wield a ‘Bless your heart’ like a Snuggie or a saber, depending on requirements. She believes in love, laughter, and that tacos are the world’s most perfect food. When she’s not writing, reading, or wrangling family (both the two-legged and the four-), you can find her obsessively watching The Great British Bake Off. You can check out her darker alter ego Harper Jackson for romantic suspense.
    Find her at : kaitnolan.com
  • SPA Girls Podcast

    SPA Girls Podcast – EP546 – Interview with Lucy Score: Breaking Out, Advice For New Authors

    31/03/2026 | 58 mins.
    She’s back! NYT #1 Bestseller, Lucy Score last joined us back in March 2021 , before Things We Never Got Over launched her into the stratosphere!

    In this episode, Lucy talks about what her breakout moment actually looked like from the inside, how she’s navigated the shift from working author to household name (and instant #1 NYT Bestseller), and what’s stayed surprisingly the same.

    We dig into the practical stuff , including her evolving covers, brand-building, the Riley Thorn series, and advice for emerging authors.

    Plus the mindset it takes to keep showing up at the page when the pressure (and the audience) keeps growing.

    Lucy is just as genuine and delightful behind the scenes as she is in public, and we couldn’t be more thrilled for her success (and why this is the third time she’s been on the show!).

    Whether you’re deep in your publishing journey or just getting started, this honest, fun and inspiring conversation is a must-listen (or watch).

    ABOUT LUCY SCORE

    Lucy Score is an instant #1 New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance. She grew up in a literary family who insisted that the dinner table was for reading and earned a degree in journalism.

    Her books have been translated into thirty languages and her international bestseller Things We Never Got Over has been optioned for television.

    She writes full-time from the Pennsylvania home she and Mr. Lucy share. When not spending hours crafting unforgettable characters, Lucy can be found reading books other people wrote, snacking, and sometimes even working out.

    https://www.lucyscore.net

    💗 The SPA Girls podcast is sponsored by everyone who supports us on Patreon. Thank you so much, we love our listeners and our patrons!

    ⭐ Join us at the $10 tier, and you’ll be invited to our private Self-Publishing Mastermind group for authors, where we discuss all things self-publishing, marketing and writing PLUS answer all your burning questions.

    All the info is at http://www.patreon.com/spagirlspodcast

    ✍️ Visit http://www.SelfPublishingAuthorsPodcast.com for our FREE self-publishing resources, podcast episodes and info

    😊Watch our weekly show on YouTube @‌spagirlspodcast

    Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen, so you don’t miss an episode!

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About SPA Girls Podcast

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