Indie Authors Uncovered

Sue and Donna dive headfirst into the grammar debates that keep indie authors up at night — starting with the most divisive punctuation mark on the internet: the em dash. Is it a stylistic power move or a crutch for writers who can't commit to a period? And why does everyone suddenly have such strong opinions about it? From the Oxford comma wars to the semicolon's identity crisis, this episode unp...

We're pulling back the curtain on the money talk nobody prepared us for when we started this indie author journey. Spoiler alert: it's not just editing and cover design. In this episode, Donna and Sue get real about the financial surprises that caught them off guard as self-published authors. From the "small" expenses that add up faster than plot holes in a first draft, to the investments nobody m...

It's here – episode 10 and the season 1 finale of Indie Authors Uncovered 🎉 We're wrapping up our first season by spilling the tea on our goals for 2026. What we're dreaming about, what we're planning to change, and what publishing lessons we're carrying forward into the new year. This one's raw, honest, and maybe a little emotional (okay, probably emotional). We're talking about what worked, wha...

What's working, what's not, and the unexpected victories we didn't see coming. In this episode, Donna and Sue are getting real about their wins for 2025 - the planned ones, the surprise ones, and the "wait, that actually worked?" moments. From marketing strategies that finally clicked to writing goals that didn't implode, we're sharing what's been moving the needle in our author businesses this ye...

Donna and Sue are back with their honest take on "The Bright Side of Christmas" by Morgan Elizabeth – because what's the holidays without a little romance and real talk? In this episode, the co-hosts dive into Morgan Elizabeth's holiday romance, discussing what worked, what didn't, and everything in between. From character development to plot choices, they're sharing their unfiltered thoughts on t...

Ever gotten a review so bizarre it made you wonder if the reviewer actually read your book? Join Sue and Donna, as we share our most memorable reader reviews—from the heartwarming ones that kept us writing to the absolutely baffling feedback that left us speechless. Like the time a reviewer told Donna she needed a lobotomy. Yes, really. In this episode: • The reviews that made our day and reminded...

Amazon might be the 800-pound gorilla in the room, but it's not the only place your readers are shopping for their next great read. In this episode of Indie Authors Uncovered, we're pulling back the curtain on the often-overlooked opportunities to connect with readers beyond the Amazon ecosystem. Sue and Donna dig into the real talk about diversifying your reader discovery strategies. We're sharin...

Is your goal list longer than your TBR pile? 📚 Join Sue Mills and Donna R Madden as they spill the tea on setting writing goals that actually work (not just the ones that look good on Instagram). In this episode, we're getting real about: ✨ Why most author goals fail by February ✨ Setting realistic targets when you're juggling day jobs, families, and life ✨ The difference between "publish 12 b...

Balancing the Day Job and the Dream Juggling a full-time career and your writing passion? You're not alone. In this episode of Indie Authors Uncovered, hosts Sue Mills and Donna R Madden dive into the real talk about time management when writing is your side hustle, not your only gig. Sue and Donna get honest about the challenges of carving out writing time between work meetings, family commitment...

Indie Authors Uncovered - Episode 3: Pantsers vs. Plotters: Finding Your Writing Style Are you a meticulous planner or do you write by the seat of your pants? In this episode, Donna and Sue dive deep into the age-old debate between pantsers and plotters! oin us as we explore: ✍️ What it really means to be a pantser or a plotter 📚 The pros and cons of each writing approach 🎯 How to figure out whi...

Consider this episode your indie author cheat sheet—written in our tears and typos. We're getting brutally honest about every facepalm-worthy mistake we've made on our self-publishing journey. From launching a book without an email list (rookie move) to spending $500 on a cover that screamed "2003 clipart," we're confessing it all so you can skip straight to the smart decisions. Think of us as you...

Welcome to the podcast where self-publishing gets real . We're pulling back the curtain on indie authorship—the good, the bad, and the autocorrect fails that made it to print. Each episode, we're spilling the tea on everything traditional publishing won't tell you: the messy first drafts, the marketing mishaps, the 3am formatting breakdowns, and yes, those typos that somehow survived five rounds o...