The Author Next Door

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell sit down with award-winning author and military veteran Zac Diamanti to explore how personal experience, storytelling, and strategic thinking can shape a successful author career. Zac shares how his background influences his fiction, why storytelling can be a cathartic process, and how he approaches author business decisions w...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell kick off May by breaking down the business decisions they’ve made over the past year and the core essentials every indie author needs in place to build a sustainable career. They discuss the mindset shifts that come with treating writing like a business, along with practical systems for banking, bookkeeping, planning, marketin...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell sit down with thriller author Marc Avery to talk about how he built book-signing momentum across the country by starting small, staying persistent, and learning how to connect with readers in person. Marc shares how he approaches bookstores, plans signings, and uses authenticity, conversation, and consistency to turn casual in...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell sit down with Shamayne Olivia to explore creativity, self-discovery, and what it truly means to embrace your voice in midlife. Shamayne shares her powerful journey through loss, reinvention, and personal awakening, offering insight into how women over 50 can reconnect with their creativity and step fully into their second act....

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas explores how color theory can strengthen author branding and help writers create a more memorable, cohesive visual identity. She breaks down how colors shape reader perception, signal genre and mood, and influence the overall experience readers have with your books, website, and event materials. From book covers to merchandising, this episode o...

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...

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...

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 onboardi...

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 m...

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...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Cassie Newell and Angela Haas break down marketing trends for 2026 and what authors should be focusing on moving forward. From authenticity to direct sales, they explore how the marketing landscape is shifting and what that means for indie authors. They reflect on what worked in 2025, what didn’t, and why 2026 is shaping up to be the year of community buil...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell explore how to craft interconnected romance series that keep readers invested across multiple books. From sustaining chemistry to planning character arcs, they break down what makes a series feel cohesive without becoming overwhelming. They discuss how world-building, setting choices, and emotional continuity shape reader loya...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas sits down with romance author Holly Lyne to discuss the continued dominance of romance in today’s publishing landscape and what that means for indie authors. They explore why romance accounts for more than half of the most sold Kindle titles, how reader expectations shape the genre, and why understanding subgenres and tropes is essential for su...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell sit down with bestselling contemporary romance author Danika Bloom to talk about her journey into romance writing, the power of representation, and why the genre deserves far more respect than it often gets. Content note: This episode includes brief discussion of sexual assault and explicit themes in the context of romance wri...

In this episode of The Author Next Door , Cassie Newell and Angela Haas explore the deeper value of romance literature and why it continues to resonate so powerfully with readers. They discuss how romance teaches emotional literacy, normalizes communication and consent, and centers healing in ways other genres often don’t. From character depth to evolving genre trends, this conversation reframes r...

Welcome to Episode 54 of The Author Next Door — and a special sneak peek of our very first Author Next Door After Dark episode 🍷 In this After Dark preview, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell pull up a chair, pour a drink, and dig into a topic we love to challenge: 👉 Romance is not a genre — it’s a skill set. From thrillers and fantasy to sci-fi and action, romance (or relationships) shape emotional...

🧾 If you’ve published a book or two and you’re thinking… “Now what?” — this episode is for you. In Episode 53 of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell kick off the year with the unsexy-but-critical topic most authors avoid: business goals . Because once you decide you want to earn income from your books, you’re not “just writing” anymore… you’re officially a small business owner ....

✨ What happens when you stop chasing numbers—and start chasing joy instead? In this episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell sit down with indie author Holly Lyne to reflect on a year of unexpected growth, mindset shifts, and creative breakthroughs. Holly shares how 2025 became a transformative year in her author journey—one where simplifying goals, reconnecting with creativ...

✨ A new year means a fresh reset—for your writing, your goals, and yourself. In the first episode of the year, Cassie Newell and Angela Haas sit down to talk honestly about their writing goals, personal aspirations, and what they want this next season to look like—both on and off the page. They dig into why focusing on one meaningful goal can be more powerful than chasing everything at once, how...

🎉 Fifty episodes, countless lessons, and one incredible author journey. In this milestone 50th episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell celebrate a year of real conversations about writing, publishing, and creative growth. Joining them is Dr. Jodi Blinco , a transformative leader, author, and mindset coach who shares powerful insights on personal growth, purpose-driven goal...

📚 Reflecting on a full year of writing, podcasting, and indie author life. In this special episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell take a heartfelt look back at their past year—what they learned, what surprised them, and how the writing and publishing journey continues to evolve. Angela and Cassie share insights from their own author journeys, reveal lessons they wish they’...

📚 How do you pitch your book, find an agent, and break into publishing—without losing your mind along the way? In this episode of The Author Next Door, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell chat with Laura Goode, award-winning author, poet, and Stanford professor, about the art and strategy behind getting your book agented, published, and paid. Drawing from her new craft book Pitch Craft: The Writer’s Gu...

🚨 Writers, beware! Not every opportunity is what it seems. In this eye-opening episode of The Author Next Door , Angela Haas and Cassie Newell break down the most common scams targeting indie authors —from shady “review services” to fake book award schemes—and share real experiences to help you stay safe, smart, and empowered in your author journey. They unpack how to spot red flags, protect your...

🎧 Thinking about turning your book into an audiobook? In this episode of The Author Next Door , Cassie Newell and Angela Haas sit down with professional narrators Heather Costa and Jeffrey Kafer to break down everything indie authors need to know before taking the leap into audiobook production . They discuss when to make the move, what costs to expect, and how to navigate profit-sharing and roya...

🎙️ Writing the book is just the beginning—let’s talk about what it really costs to be an author. In this eye-opening episode of The Author Next Door , Cassie Newell and Angela Haas dive into the hidden expenses of the writing life , from the tangible costs of publishing and advertising to the emotional toll authors rarely discuss. They unpack both the traditional and self-publishing sides of the i...