The Author Next Door

Before you start setting ambitious publishing goals for 2027, take a look at the author business you've already built!
In this short solo episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas shares five practical things every indie author should do before December 31st to evaluate what's working, simplify what's not, and prepare for a more productive new year.
Whether you're publishing your second book or your tenth, these simple housekeeping tasks can help you make smarter decisions about where to spend your time, money, and creative energy.
In this episode:
Conduct a mini author business audit to understand your revenue, expenses, and return on investment
Give your author website, social profiles, and newsletter links a 30-minute checkup
Build a realistic publishing and marketing calendar by working backward from your next milestone
Learn what your existing readers are telling you through reviews, feedback, and engagement
Create a stop-doing list to eliminate unnecessary expenses, activities, and obligations
Angela also shares a few lessons from her own author journey, including why comparing your business to someone else's can lead you down the wrong path.

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What happens when two authors share one fictional world, seven character perspectives, and wildly different ideas about who should survive the next chapter?
Authors Jeff Elkins and JP Rindfleisch IX return to The Author Next Door to celebrate the release of Season Two of NRDS: National Recently Deceased Services, their queer paranormal comedy about an underfunded federal ghost-hunting agency that's spectacularly bad at its job.
But behind the supernatural chaos, questionable government agencies, and 666 F-bombs is a fascinating creative partnership. Angela and Cassie dig into how Jeff and JP outline, draft, edit, and occasionally derail their own plans—all while trusting each other to make the story better.
The conversation also explores a challenge many authors face: how to build a series with a large cast without overwhelming readers. Plus, Jeff shares why the second book took longer than expected, JP explains how a redesigned cover transformed their in-person sales experience, and everyone swaps ghost stories just in time for Halloween.
In this episode, they discuss:
How two authors with different creative styles co-write a series
Building trust, handling edits, and embracing the "yes, and" approach
Why creative detours and delays can sometimes improve a manuscript
Introducing large casts without overwhelming readers
Managing multiple POVs and developing characters across a series
Learning from books that don't work for you as a reader
Why book covers matter when selling books in person
Ghost stories, supernatural encounters, and Halloween chaos
👻 Connect with JP Rindfleisch IX:
https://shop.jprindfleischix.com/
✍️ Connect with Jeff Elkins:
https://jeffelkinswriter.com/
🎙️ Explore the Dialogue Doctor:
https://dialoguedoctor.com/
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What does it take to turn a writing career into a thriving author business? Sometimes it starts with a little crime scene tape and a willingness to talk to strangers.
Former Milwaukee police sergeant and returning guest Patrick O'Donnell joins Angela and Cassie to share his journey from writing crime thrillers to publishing true stories from his 25 years in law enforcement. But Patrick isn't just writing books. He's finding creative ways to sell them, building relationships with local businesses, and turning everyday conversations into opportunities to connect with readers.
From book signings at coffee shops and community events to media appearances, podcast promotion, and early preorders, Patrick shares the strategies that have worked for him and what he's learned when things didn't go as planned.
In this episode, they discuss:
Writing true police stories versus fictional crime thrillers
Finding unconventional places to sell books
Creating displays that attract potential readers
How to pitch your book in 15 seconds
Building relationships with bookstores, businesses, and local media
Learning from unsuccessful book signings
Using preorders, back matter, and podcasts to support book launches
The advantages of collaborating with other authors
🚔 Connect with Patrick O'Donnell and the Cops and Writers Podcast:
https://copsandwriters.com/
📚 Buy the book! 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0GSLDPD55
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What happens when the book you're supposed to be writing isn't the book your creativity wants you to write?
Romantic fantasy author Alycia E. Anderson joins Angela and Cassie to talk about balancing romance and fantasy, navigating reader expectations, building immersive worlds without overwhelming readers, and knowing when a manuscript is finally ready to leave your hands.
Alycia also shares how getting stuck on one book led her to write an entirely different novel and why that creative detour ultimately gave her the energy to return to her original series with fresh eyes.

In this episode, they discuss:
• The difference between romantic fantasy and romantasy
• Marketing books that don't fit neatly into one category
• Why creative detours aren't always procrastination
• How to know when a manuscript is actually finished
• Creating slow-burn romance with enough yearning and payoff
• Building fantasy worlds without info dumps
• Why creative writing deserves to be treated like an art form

Connect with Alycia E. Anderson:
📚 https://linktr.ee/authoralyciaeanderson
📸 https://www.instagram.com/alyciaeanderson_author/

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https://theauthornextdoor.com/

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What makes a romance dark? Is it the spice level, the themes, the characters—or how far an author is willing to take the reader emotionally?
In this episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell talk with dark romance author Kelly R. Nelson about writing emotionally intense stories, handling difficult themes, and finding the balance between darkness, vulnerability, romance, and healing.
Kelly shares how she approaches the spectrum of dark romance, researches perspectives outside her own, and learned to rethink her stance on trigger warnings after talking directly with readers. But the conversation goes beyond craft. Kelly is also navigating that familiar sophomore-author question: I wrote the books…now how do I get people to read them?
From bookstore signings and hand-selling to social media, author branding, and simply being willing to try something before you know whether it will work, Kelly shares what she's learning while building her indie author career.
In this episode, they discuss:
What makes a romance "dark"
Balancing heavy themes, spice, vulnerability, and healing
Writing intimate scenes from different character perspectives
Trigger warnings and reader expectations in dark romance
Finding your readers instead of trying to reach everyone
Why Kelly has found success selling books in person
Treating your author career like a small business
Why sometimes you have to stop preparing and just try the thing
Learn more about Kelly R. Nelson:
https://www.kellyrnelsonstoryteller.com/
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