Indie Authors Uncovered

Sue Mills and Donna R Madden

Welcome to the podcast where self-publishing gets real. We're pulling back the covers 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 of edits. Whether you're a seasoned indie author, thinking about self-publishing, or just curious about what really happens behind the scenes of those books in your Kindle library, this is your safe space. Grab your coffee (or wine, we don't judge), and join us for honest conversations about the indie author life. Because if we can't laugh about that time we misspelled our own character's name for an entire chapter, what can we laugh about? New episodes drop weekly. No gatekeepers, no pretension—just real authors keeping it real.

Episodes

  1. Let's Talk About Grammar!

    Mar 6

    Let's Talk About Grammar!

    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 unpacks the grammar "rules" that indie authors wrestle with every time they sit down to write. Sue and Donna get honest about their own grammar hang-ups, the mistakes that still slip through even after multiple rounds of editing, and whether perfect grammar actually matters to readers — or just to other authors watching from the sidelines. They also talk about when breaking the rules is a creative choice versus when it's just... a mistake. Because there's a difference, and most of us have been on both sides of that line. Whether you're an em dash enthusiast, a hater, or someone who just learned what an em dash is — this one's for you. What you'll hear in this episode: Why the em dash became the internet's most controversial punctuation markThe grammar rules indie authors argue about the mostHow to know when "breaking the rules" is working for your writingReal talk about the typos and mistakes that haunt every self-published bookWhere readers actually draw the line on grammar in indie fictionSpilling the tea, the typos, and the plot twists — one episode at a time.

    36 min
  2. The hidden costs of indie publishing: What we wish we'd known

    Jan 16

    The hidden costs of indie publishing: What we wish we'd known

    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 mentions in those "how I made six figures" posts, we're spilling all the tea on what indie publishing actually costs. What you'll hear: The sneaky recurring costs that drain your budget month after monthMarketing expenses we didn't budget for (and some we wish we'd skipped)Where we wasted money as newbies vs. where we should have invested moreThe difference between necessary expenses and shiny object syndromeHow to budget realistically without killing your author dreamsThe hidden time costs that turned into money costsWhether you're writing your first book or your fiftieth, this honest conversation will help you plan smarter and avoid the financial faceplants we stumbled through. We're sharing our mistakes so you don't have to make them. For readers: Ever wonder why authors are always talking about preorders and reviews? This episode pulls back the business curtain so you can better support your favorite indie authors. Grab your coffee and join us for the money talk we needed five years ago. #IndieAuthorsUncovered #SelfPublishing #IndieAuthor #AuthorLife #WritingCommunity #SelfPublishingTips #IndiePublishing #AuthorBusiness #PublishingCosts #AuthorTips

    37 min
  3. How to Attract New Readers: Finding Your Readers Where They Actually Hang Out

    12/04/2025

    How to Attract New Readers: Finding Your Readers Where They Actually Hang Out

    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 sharing our own trial-and-error stories—including the face-palm moments and unexpected wins—when we ventured beyond the familiar blue and orange buttons of Amazon's "Buy Now." We'll explore practical platforms and strategies that actually work for indie authors, from BookBub and other promotional sites to direct sales, Kickstarter campaigns, and building your own author website with a shop. Plus, we're getting honest about the platforms that sound good in theory but might just waste your precious time and marketing budget. Whether you're worried about putting all your eggs in one basket or you've been burned by an algorithm change, this episode gives you actionable steps to start building relationships with readers on your own terms. No fluff, no BS—just two indie authors keeping it real about what it takes to survive and thrive in today's publishing landscape. In This Episode: Direct sales platforms: the pros, cons, and real numbers Email lists and newsletters: your most valuable asset Social media strategies that actually convert readers (and which ones don't) How to balance your time between Amazon and other platforms Join us for an honest conversation about expanding your reader reach without losing your mind in the process.

    1 hr
  4. Time Management When Writing Isn't Your Only Career

    11/20/2025

    Time Management When Writing Isn't Your Only Career

    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 commitments, and everything else life throws at you. They share their own hard-won strategies for protecting your creative time, maintaining momentum on your projects, and avoiding burnout when you're wearing multiple hats. Whether you're writing before dawn, during lunch breaks, or burning the midnight oil, this episode is packed with practical tips for making the most of limited writing windows. From setting realistic goals to knowing when to say no, Sue and Donna explore what actually works for authors who are building their publishing careers one stolen hour at a time. Perfect for indie authors who are still working toward that full-time writer dream—or for those who've chosen to keep their day job and write on the side. Because you don't need endless free time to be a successful author; you just need to work smarter with the time you have. Join the conversation and discover how to make your writing dreams work with your real-world schedule. #IndieAuthors #WritingCommunity #TimeManagement #AuthorLife #WritingTips #SideHustle #IndiePublishing #WritersOfYouTube #AmWriting #AuthorTips #WritingAdvice #DayJobWriter #AuthorCommunity #IndieAuthorsUncovered #WritingMotivation #ProductivityTips #WorkLifeBalance #WritingGoals #SelfPublishing #AuthorPodcast

    46 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to the podcast where self-publishing gets real. We're pulling back the covers 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 of edits. Whether you're a seasoned indie author, thinking about self-publishing, or just curious about what really happens behind the scenes of those books in your Kindle library, this is your safe space. Grab your coffee (or wine, we don't judge), and join us for honest conversations about the indie author life. Because if we can't laugh about that time we misspelled our own character's name for an entire chapter, what can we laugh about? New episodes drop weekly. No gatekeepers, no pretension—just real authors keeping it real.