The Author Next Door

In this episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell sit down with fitness expert Fitz Koehler to talk about resilience, longevity, and how movement can transform both your health and your mindset.
Fitz shares her powerful journey through cancer recovery and explains how fitness helped her rebuild strength, energy, and perspective. The conversation explores practical strategies for staying active while managing busy schedules, along with the role of nutrition, discipline, and mental resilience in long-term health.
In this episode, they discuss:
Fitz Koehler’s inspiring cancer comeback story
The four pillars of fitness: strength, cardio, flexibility, and balance
Simple ways to incorporate movement into a busy daily routine
Why nutrition matters for energy and longevity
How discipline and resilience shape long-term wellness
🚀 Learn more about Fitz Koehler:
 https://www.instagram.com/fitzkoehler/
📚 Fitz Koehler’s books:
 https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Fitz+Koehler
🎗️ The Cancer Comeback Series:
 https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Cancer+Comeback+Series
🎙️ Fitz Koehler Podcast:
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fitz-koehler-podcast/id1471234567
💪 Hottie Body Fitzness Challenge Community:
 https://www.facebook.com/groups/hottiebodyfitness
🎙️ Learn more about the show:
 https://theauthornextdoor.com/
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 https://bit.ly/49hvRVp

In this episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas sits down with Cassie Newell to talk about her journey into traditional publishing and what authors need to know about querying, researching agents, and navigating rejection.
They explore the realities of balancing indie, hybrid, and traditional publishing paths, along with practical strategies for researching agents, pitching effectively, and understanding what opportunities are worth pursuing. 
In this episode, they discuss:
How to research agents using tools like QueryTracker and Publishers Marketplace
What authors should know before entering the query process
How to handle rejection, ghosting, and the emotional side of querying
Balancing indie, hybrid, and traditional publishing goals
🔗 Connect with Cassie Newell:
https://ckdarling.com/
🛠️ Resources mentioned:
Publishers Marketplace: https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/
QueryTracker: https://querytracker.net/
Joanna Penn on AI: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/
🎙️ Learn more about the show:
 https://theauthornextdoor.com/
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 https://bit.ly/49hvRVp

In this episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell sit down with bestselling author and indie publishing expert Kevin Tumlinson, of Author Anchor, to talk about scaling your author business with virtual assistants.
Kevin shares how authors can move beyond doing everything themselves and start building systems, hiring support, and treating writing like a business. From onboarding and communication to leveraging tools like AI, this conversation offers practical strategies for increasing productivity, streamlining marketing, and creating long-term growth.
In this episode, they discuss:
When it’s time to hire a virtual assistant and scale your author business
How to find, onboard, and build strong relationships with VAs using Author Anchor
Why documenting your processes is key to growth
Using AI and tools to enhance productivity and marketing
Shifting your mindset from writer to business owner
🚀 Learn more about Author Anchor:
https://authoranchor.com/home
🔗 Connect with Kevin Tumlinson:
 Website: https://kevintumlinson.com/

🛠️ Resources mentioned:
 Book Brush: https://bookbrush.com/
LastPass: https://www.lastpass.com/

🎙️ Learn more about the show:
https://theauthornextdoor.com/

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 https://bit.ly/49hvRVp

In this episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell sit down with Aimee Ravichandran of Abundantly Social to talk about what actually works in social media and book marketing right now — and how authors can stop feeling so overwhelmed by all the noise.
They discuss consistency, audience fatigue, platform selection, community building, and the difference between chasing vanity metrics versus cultivating real reader relationships. The conversation also dives into Facebook groups, Instagram engagement, newsletter growth, paid ads, and why authors need to think long-term when it comes to marketing their books.
In this episode, they discuss:
Why consistency matters more than chasing every algorithm change
How authors can show up online without feeling like content machines
Which metrics actually matter when measuring marketing success
Why authentic community beats follower count every time
How social media, promotions, and paid ads work together over time
✨ Learn more about Aimee and Abundantly Social:
 https://abundantlysocial.com/
🎙️ Learn more about the show: https://theauthornextdoor.com/
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In this episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas sits down with Sam Namias and Tom Papaspyros, founders of Crewfiction, to talk about one of the biggest hurdles indie authors face after publishing their first book: marketing.
They explore why so many authors feel overwhelmed once the writing is done, how simplifying marketing systems can unlock creativity, and why connection—not complexity—is the key to long-term success. The conversation dives into email marketing, reader segmentation, collaboration between authors, and how tools like Crewfiction aim to streamline the process so authors can focus on storytelling.
In this episode, they discuss:
Why marketing is often the point where authors quit
The importance of building authentic connections with readers
How email marketing remains one of the most powerful tools for authors
The value of collaboration and community among indie writers
Why simplifying marketing systems can increase creativity and consistency
🚀 To learn more about Crew Fiction, sign up here:
 https://l.gourl.es/l/151d0af4f3b6d6862eb94997a0d25f20268f1c48?u=11689812
(Disclosure: This is an affiliate link. If you choose to sign up, it helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.)
🎙️ Learn more about the show: https://theauthornextdoor.com/
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